How I welcome my friends

For me it is very simple. If I want to show that I appreciate somebody as a friend, I feed them. That means I cook something for them. It really shows that I put in an effort for them. Or if I can not cook, I would buy some yummy food and I invite them over to my home and feed them. Feeding is very welcoming. This practice is specially very welcoming when a friend is visiting from out of town. For me, inviting an out of towner friend to dine out just does not cut it as far as the welcome wagon is concern. It is sort of a cop out. And if I have to invite that out of towner friend to dine out, I would definitely pay for his/her meal to show that he/she is really welcomed and appreciated. That is just how I roll.

Blogging and me: 4 years of blogging.

I can't believe it has been 4 years since I started blogging. I technically started blogging by contributing to my friend's blog sometime in October of 2007. But I started my own blog in February of 2008. And it has been a good 4 years. Since I am not shy in articulating my thoughts, 4 years did fly by. Exercise and blogging to express my frustration and anger has kept me sane and therapy/medication free. My blog has been my sounding board and friend who has always listened to what I have to say. And I pretty much say anything I want to my blog. I suffered no censorship which is indeed a very good thing cause unwarranted censorship do irks me vastly. Friends, lovers and even family come and go but my blog is and will always be there for me. Indeed my BFF. Thank you "My very own Pensieve". Whether you have readers or not matters little. You will always have me.

I am hooked on Spartacus

I love this TV series Spartacus. We are currently on the 2nd season of Spartacus (Spartacus: Vengeance). There was the 1st season (Spartacus: Blood and Sand) followed by a season which was a prequel story (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena). So technically the so called 2nd season is really the 3rd season of Spartacus. Anyways, it does not matter what season they call it. What matters is that this TV series shown at Starz network is very riveting and diverting. Many words comes to minds to describe this show. Loyalty, honor, love and hope are all showcased in the storyline. There are also negative words equally as interesting, like blind ambition, treachery, betrayal, jealousy and revenge, in the plot of the show. To add to its appeal, the show is not shy in showing nudity of both hot men and women that partakes in pansexual and bisexual behaviors so common during that time in ancient Rome. The violent nature and graphic goriness might dismay some but it does not faze me. The reward of the clever dialogue and uncommon use of the English language far outweighs the gore and violence. Who would not be hooked when they say "I would break word with you before sleep takes us" instead of "I will speak with you before we go to sleep"? Isn't that just brilliant?

I can't wait for the new episode every week. I would so far easily give this show 5 stars out of 5.

PS: Liam McIntyre replaced Andy Whitfield as Spartacus in season 2 because Andy died from cancer in September 11, 2011.

Ma-puli na lang ako kung amo gid na.

Siling sang TV show Glee nga sa tuig 2030, gin pakot sang US census nga kalabanan kuno sang mga tao diri sa American naga-hambal na sang Katstila. Sa tuod tuod lang daw kaladlukan gid na pero naga-handong ako nga indi. Sa paminsar ko, ang rason nga-a damo na maga-kinatstila sa 2030 kay tungod nga ka-damo gid mag-bata sa mga latino/hispanic diri sa States. Mga puti mag-bata 2 o 3 lang pero mga latino/hispanic kalabanan siguro 8 bata nila. Ti kay kalabanan sa ila bi imol. Kung imol ka, indi ka kabalo mag family planning. Amo na nga-a. Ma-ayo lang gid kabalo na ko mag-kinastila. Pero basi indi na nami diri mag-istar sa States sa 2030. Kung amo gid na matabo, siguro i-padayon ko na lang ang akon gina-banta na mag-tigulang sa Pilipinas. Lantawon ta lang.

What the bible says about marriage.

There are several passages and descriptions in the Bible on marriage and marriage practices.

- Marriage was between a man and a woman. Wives were subordinate to their husbands. Interfaith marriages were forbidden. Marriages were generally arranged. A wife who could not prove her virginity was stoned to death.

- Married men had 1 or more concubines. There were Abraham, Gideon, Nahor, Jacob, Eliphaz, Caled, Manassah, Solomon, Belshazzar.

- Married men were polygamous. There were Lamech, Esau, Jacob, Ashur, Gideon, Elkanah, David, Solomon, Rehaboam, Abijah, Jehoram, Joash, Ahab, Jeholachin, Belshazzar.

- Genesis 38:6-10 says that a widow who had not borne a son was required to marry her brother in law.

- Deuteronomy 22:28-29 says that a female virgin rape victim should marry her rapist. The rapist should pay the rape victim's father 50 shekels.

- Numbers 31:1-18 says that only the virgin females among the defeated in war shall be spared. And Deuteronomy 21:11-14 says that a man may marry the captured women after a month of mourning.

- Exodus 21:2-1-4 says that a master may give his unmarried man slave a wife. After 7 years of service, the man may go free but not the wife and her children.

As you can see, many of these marriage practices are frowned upon in present day society. Many are even illegal. We do not really follow all of what the Bible says about marriage. So those who uses the Bible to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry are just using the Bible to justify their prejudice and bigotry. They pick those they want and disregard those they do not want. Our perception evolved as to what marriage is and that should include a man marrying another man or a woman marrying another woman.

South Pacific, the review

It has been a long wait for me to finally see South Pacific. Now that I have, I am satisfied. I was not super thrilled but I am glad I saw it. Many songs that I know of were rendered well by the actors. Their voices were strong and pleasant. It was nice to hear "Some Enchanted Evening", "There is nothin' like a dame", "I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair", "A wonderful guy", "Younger than springtime" and "Happy Talk".

Katie Reid who played Nellie Forbush had a sweet voice. She had that innocent naive middle American look befitting the role. Marcelo Guzzo who played Emile de Becque did look French. He had a full deep tenor voice that would have been better in an opera but I am not complaining. Where I found fault in him was his English with a French accent. Sometimes it sounded more like English with a Spanish accent. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine Antonio Banderas speaking. Cathy Foy-Mahi looked very appropriate for the role of Bloody Mary. She had that polynesian look and her voice was lively. Her rendition of "Happy Talk" was what I imagined it to be. Luther Billis was played by Christian Marriner. He was funny and comical in a natural way. And Shane Donovan who played Lt. Joseph Cable was quite that handsome officer. It was totally believable that many girls in the show swooned at his presence. Although he could have been more muscular but his body was good and proportioned. Liat was played by a chinese actress Hsin-Yu Liao. She was somewhat passable as a polynesian girl. The two half polynesian half french kids were played by two black kids. It was kind of off putting cause I would have preferred to see Asian kids playing those roles. It would have been more believable. A mestizo Filipino kid would have looked better for those role. But I suppose it was hard to find kids of the right age with the singing and acting talent to play the roles so the production had to settle for black kids instead of hapa kids. Erick Cheski and Jake Bridges were both funny and likable as Stewpot and Professor, respectively.

Although many of the songs were memorable, I wished there were a group dance number in the show. The company sang quite well but there was no choreographed group number that I have always enjoyed watching. Nevertheless, many of the guys in the company were delicious looking and I can forgive the lack of a dance number. Fun show indeed and I repeat, I am glad I saw it. 3.5 stars out of 5.

Men on Vacation & Art

Men on Vacation


Men on Art

Valentine's day for everybody?

To get it out of the way, Have a fun Valentine's Day. If you are married or has a lover, then enjoy this day for love. Those without, maybe next year this cowboy will catch you.

We in western society celebrate Valentine's day without so much as a thought about it. Sometimes we forget that Valentine's Day has its root as a Christian holiday. But now even the non-christian celebrate Valentine's day with their love ones just like any non-sectarian holidays (New Years Day or Independence day). Even in Islamic nations where Valentine's day is frowned upon or outlawed, many people are catching on with the common practice of giving flowers and chocolate or gift to show their love during this day. With the way media and commercialism are pushing for this "holiday", perhaps in another 100 years everybody on earth would be celebrating Valentine's day. I wonder...

Friendship that improves on closer acquaintance

As some of my friendships went south, there are others that improved. I speak of one friend Martin. Martin and I have known each other for decades now and we have been always friendly to each other. Although I have considered Martin to be a friend, the friendship has mostly been in a group dynamics. The more I got to know Martin, the more I see a goodness in him. He is always generous with his friends. He would often invite us over when he made some fancy dessert or meal. And he is there too to help out when needed. Plus it helps that he is the carefree obliging type that gets along with most people.

One time, I went to deliver some documents needed for an errand I request of him to do. And since I was asking him a favor, I thought it would be nice for me to give him a small commemorative T-shirt from an event that we have attended 6 months ago. I actually ordered this T-shirt around the holidays and just did not get a chance to give it to him. So it was even more fitting that I give it to him now to show my appreciation for the favor he is to do for me. I happen to arrive at his place as he was preparing dinner. He then proceeds to invite me over for dinner. Not only was it very nice of him to invite me for dinner, he also reciprocated my gift with a nice sweater he bought that he thought was too big for him. That gesture was beyond what I have expected. He has shown again his goodness and generosity. Indeed I perceived him as a better friend on closer acquaintance.

Fish sinigang

Ingredients:

- Fish preferably Pompret Golden (pampano).
- 1 pack of tamarind soup mix or Guava sinigang mix.
- Ginger root
- Sea salt and Iodized salt.
- Tumeric powder, onion powder and garlic powder
- dill weed
- daikon root (rabanos)
- bokchoy (pechay)

Procedure:
Wash unfrozen or defrosted fish and boil them in water. Before the water actually boils, you can put in the sliced ginger root. Also put in the tamarind mix along with a dash of sea salt, iodized salt, tumeric, onion powder and garlic powder. Season to taste. Also add a pinch of dill weed and the peeled and sliced daikon root. Let it boil for 5-10 minutes and then add the chopped medium size bokchoy. Put the stalk first and let it continue to boil on medium heat for 5 minutes before adding the leafy parts of the bokchoy. Let it boil for another 5 minutes and you got yourself a sinigang pampano fish. Don't let it boil too long cause the fish might crumble into small pieces.


You can experiment with the vegetable you mix in. You can use green papaya, carrots and cabbages too.

Landing without wheels

I have never seen a plane land without wheels. Seems like that is the stuff of movies but this clip reminded me that this happens in real life. I am surprise this plane did not blow up or got broken into pieces during the landing.

Plastic for the dog poop

I am all for recycling and conserving the resources of our planet. And I just don't say that. I walk the talk so to speak. That attitude even transcends on what I use to pick up my dog's poop when we walk outside. I have never bought those plastic bags for doggie poop ever. This does not mean I do not pick up my dog's poop. This just means I have always manage to find plastic for it. It may come from the plastic wrap of my mail order shirt or my magazine in the mail. Another good source is from daily purchases in any stores when I do not have my recycle bags with me. In the grocery, I usually have my recycle bag with me to use but sometimes I have to use the store plastic to wrap a raw meat before putting it in the bag with my other food item. Even the big plastic bag of York peppermint patties or Reeces peanut butter cups are reused to pick my dog poop. And I can proudly say I have never run out of bags to use for the dog poop even when my dog poops twice a day! So I say it is a waste for people to buy dog doggie plastic bags when they can find plastic bags from their daily life. If I can do it, so can they.