Well, let’s see, what can we say? My elders always used to say, “If you cannot say something nice, then do not say anything at all.” Sage advice, taken from the wisdom of years.

Then again, I did not listen to them then, either.

Tranformers promised to be a good movie from the previews. I mean, hey, is there anything much more hot for a fellow than Megan Fox in cutoff shorts sliding around on a bike? No.

Then there is that PG-13 rating.

The move plot was BAD. Stealing scenes from Species (the chick holding Shia Labeouf down in his dorm bed), Terminator: the Sarah Conner Chronicles (robots disguised as humans in order to kill important humans), and Star Wars (pick any episode you like, the creature critter hiding out in the rings of Saturn is nothing but a take off of the Sith and slapped with a thick code of malleable silicon); even the CGI was blurry (which may have been the theater, to be fair), Transformers - Rise of the Fallen fails to rise to anything like its predecessor.

What got me up and walking was the language. The stereotypes that tried way to hard to be clever, and the just plain BAD storyline were honestly stupid up to the point of my walking, but it was the language that had me moving to refund territory. Geez, I sound like the very reviewers I hate, don’t I? Well, this movie was just BAD and it was not the actors’ and actresses’ faults. The direction was BAD and so was the script.

To sum up, the language was bad enough for a PG-13 audience that I got up and walked out when the P word was used and I was sitting in a theater full of kids ranging from ages 4 and up. Sorry, and all due respect to my good friend who said to, “Yeah, but you are not 13,” I could not sit there and act as though this was appropriate. Profanity has become so instrinsic to everyday life that it was this use of the P word in this setting to make me aware of just how numb I have become to falling standards. Megan Fox, who was born PERFECT in every way, has decided her lips needed to be injected with collagen apparently. Still beautiful, her mouth appeared somewhat disfigured in this film. Why would she do that? More Hollywood insanity is all I can answer.

Pass on Transformers - Rise of the Fallen if you have not already wasted your money.

-Tim

Michael Jackson was a troubled fellow for sure. I never figured out if he really had a skin disease or if there were other issues with regards to his more and more bizarre appearance over time. There were also questions about propriety in his interactions with kids on his compound. I only qualify it by asking the question of what kind of parent leaves their kid with a man known to have questions surrounding his interactions with kids in his care.

All that aside, the man was talented. Whatever he may have been guilty of, being of questionable music talent was not one them.

Michael Jackson was a musical genius in my opinion. His re-inventing himself every so few years will be missed by me.

-Tim

My current reading list is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and Facebook Marketing by Steven Holzner. Currently, I am in love with the character of  Dagny and in admiration of Reardon. I can only work towards their determination.

I am also in the hunt for THE tome on CSS, php, and mySQL. There is no alternative to simply learning CSS if I wish to be in control of my website. Sucks, but there it is. “Ain’t nothin’ to it but to do it,” as the Turk used to say when I was down at the Correctional Academy in spring of ‘85.

CSS, or cascading style sheets, have certainly changed things since the day of static web pages back when I had my own ISP, the completely undeservedly unmourned SIS Online!, Inc. dba infosurge. We were running three servers, a Worldgroup 2.0 for DOS, a Novell file server, and a US Robotics Total Control Server with 64 integrated 56K modems and a T1 card in addition to the Cisco 2501 and all the Sportsters and Couriers we had added on as needed basis. infosurge was a BBS/ISP as many were during those days and we almost made it. I would sit in the basement with the lights out and in my boxers, LOL, or drawers as we say down here, fielding the tech support messages and phone calls from time to time while I watched the World Wide Web explode. Unless you have built something for yourself, you will not understand when I say I would sit down there and listen to the modems negotiate a connection and watch the red lights blink back and forth signaling traffic and it was a feeling of being high. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say I loved every piece of that equipment, as I put every piece in its place and made it work. Some Indian software house has the domain now, alas.

The books I have looked at so far on CSS, php, and mySQL assume an understanding of html on a level not many people have. It is possible I cannot get there from here, but most go elsewhere first. I suspect this may turn into another odyssey for me. Hopefully, it will turn into as much fun as learning servers and hardware from the ground up while trying to build a business.

This is an awesome article for folks on all sides and of all stripes to read and ponder. I do not know yet if I agree with everything the author suggests, but I certainly plan to give some serious skullscratch time to his ideas.

Check it out here in Credit Free Economy.

Tim

I am going back to the Philippines on August 26th, stoked and cannot wait.

Well, we are. After fighting with Joomla! (all due respect to the Joomla! folks, I know it is powerful because I have seen some killer sites based on it) I finally decided enough was enough and that a blog is what I want right now, not a content management system (CMS) and yes, I know WordPress is more than just a blog platform so give it a rest.

After careful consideration I decided that it m0re likely I would master WordPress to the extent that I could make it do what I wished with my book review blog than that I would master php, css, and mysql to the point I could get Earthtiger, Bear’s Book Blog’s home domain off the ground. It may have been that I was editing My Heart, My Fate as well as working a fulltime job and trying to square away a few more issues relating to another trip to the Philippines. After getting up at 3 or 4AM and editing until I had to go to work and start my shift at 7AM, getting home around 5PM, fighting with how I was going to build a supply chain from the Philippines that was profitable, and then looking at pages explaining CSS? Forget it. Sorry, not for me. You can only be good at so many things so plucka plucka plucka call me chicken.

Why the sudden dawning of the light? The take charge attitude? Going to forge ahead and bygod make this Blog Thing work? Well, I have to credit this fellow who says he can show me how to get 150,000 people to read my blog. Hey, even if I only get 15,000 folks to read my blog or even 1500 I will be happy. Yes, it is sad, this craving for attention but I read constantly and I think I know a good book when I see one. I even think I know enough about what makes a good story that I sat down and wrote one. I didn’t like it that the story ended, so I wrote another one. Now, I am working on a third and hey, I got an agent, so yay for me. I do SO hope it works out. Even if it doesn’t I wrote the thing so I AM a writer is how I am looking at it.

But back to this fellow, Ramit Sethi. He wrote a blog entry called How to get 150,000 people to read your blog post in 1 week (and how I did it) and in that blog…well, will you look at that, I had every intention of crediting his entry and when I copied the title of the page WordPress 2.7 was kind enough to insert it as a link….cool beans!

In that blog entry he had a conversation with his readers about not getting so caught up on the platform. Well, I took it to heart and here I am back on WordPress. I will probably leave my Joomla! site up for a while. I don’t know how to convert it to WordPress anyways and even were it possible, I don’t know that I would. The site was not doing what I wanted and I feel like it lost focus. I, ME, lost my focus in what I am trying to accomplish.

Current reading list is Atlas Shrugged  by Ayn Rand and Facebook Marketing by Steven Holzner.

-Tim

Here is a review I read on Babylon A.D. Here is a quote from the movie: “And while the plot is serviceable enough to keep the action moving, it is also cartoonishly preposterous”

Ahem…have you LOOKED at everyday life? Have you LOOKED at the two presidential candidates? Have you LOOKED at W? Pelosi is the answer?

Our lives and world ARE cartoonish. As for why the messianic theme continues to churn box office gold, it is because the collective consciousness of the human race knows a thing that the humanists amongst us will not discuss.

So, while the media and the government and Hollywood continue to try to drive us against and our hearts away from each other, our homeland down by driving prices up and small businesses out by driving us into a one world government, the people just continue to go to work, go to Church, and to look forward to a future where we are not oppressed by this governments Hegellian dialectic and up to our God.

THIS is why semi good movies continue to make money, LOL…that and the fact that most men, myself included, wish we had the balls to say and do and live our lives as this character.

But relax. Obama is going to make everything okay. Right?

I hope you are well. I enjoyed your review.

-Tim

———————————————————————————————

UPDATE

Well, it sucks to be wrong and it sucks to admit it, but I think the above reviewer was correct. Babylon, A.D. is very much worth going to see, but it ain’t one of the all time great movies. I like the action and Melanie Thierry’s close ups did not hurt, but yes, the movie was a bit confusing and left unanswered questions at the end.

For instance, what was the societal background that would cause all this crap to happen? Why was toorop considered a terrorist? What was the reason this religion thought a virgin birth would give them legitimacy? (Why would the writer think this is another interesting question, too. Box office sales will tell a tale here, I think) What was the point of the two girl babies? Were they to be Romulisa and Remusthina in the tradition of Romulus and Remus? Toorop was a human wolf to rear two baby girls to compare with a real wolf who reared the first seminal twins, two boys? Is this a nod to some feminist backer of the film?

Am I looking for meaning where there, LOL, simply is none?

Like I say, go see the movie. Load up on popcorn and candy, but no drinks. If you have to take a leak in the movie, there will be even less of a plot here.

-Tim

The following is written by Mary Jane of Butuan:

I am Proud I am a Filipino

August 5, 2008 2:05PM

I am proud of my heritage…

I came from brown-skinned ancestors who crossed the seas to settle in this part of the world. For more than four centuries I have been under foreign rule but I have become richer from my contact with them. Peoples from all parts of the globe have to settle here and intermarry with my ancestors. They, too, have contributed to my being as a result. I have developed a culture, a way of life, that is rich and colorful because of the varied influences of different cultures. My culture shows Chinese, Spanish, and American influences and a smattering of Dutch, Indonesian, Malayan and Japanese ways.

Although it cannot be said I am of pure breed, I am proud to say that I have earned the right to the name Filipino. For the way of life I have developed is my own and is now known throughout the world. My brown skinned brothers and I have proven to the world that our country and our people have many things to offer.

I am proud of my land that God endowed with natural resources. The bountiful seas give my people a wide variety of edible fish, shrimps, crabs, and shells. Rich copper and mine deposits are found in the heart of our mountains.

My people do not suffer extremes of temperatures. Nobody dies of sunstroke or extreme heat nor of frostbite or extreme cold. Rains especially during July and August water the fields to help yield a big harvest. Nobody really dies of hunger in my country. Although many of my brothers are poor, they still manage to eat decent meals.

God has also blessed my country with beautiful spots and breathtaking views. The majestic mountain ranges that run through a good portion of the country, the numerous islands that dot the emerald seas, the clouds that race across the clear, blue sky, the blaze of color that signals the start and end of the day - all these have rightfully earned for my country the name I am proud of my people…

It cannot be denied that tourists from the different parts of the world have been impressed with the beautiful scenic spots in the different parts of the my country but they have been more lavish in their praises of the royal treatment they get in my country. They go back to their homes with wonderful stories and about my people’s hospitality and with glowing descriptions of my beautiful countrymen - especially the young women who are rare combinations of grace, beauty, and brains. They go back home with souvenirs  made by my people of delicately embroidered dresses and handerkerchiefs, native bags, decorative items made from shells and bamboo, brassware and many, many more.

With all these blessings am I not right in saying I am Filipina?

Filipino Folklore

August 4, 2008 10:30AM

• The bride to be shoudn’t be try to wear her wedding dress before the day of the wedding or the wedding will not take place.
• Cutting a baby’s eyelashes during the first month will make them grow long and beautiful
• Give a generous discount on the first day of opening business to the first day of opening business to the first customer so that your sales for the day will increase.
• If a spoon falls during a meal, you’ll be visited by a woman; if a fork it’s man
• Going to bed with wet hair leads to blindness
• When three people pose for a photo, the one in the middle will be the first to die.
• Breaking mirror will bring 7 years of bad luck
• Whistling will cause the wind to blow
• If you happen to get lost, wear back your clothes and you’ll find way
• If the one catches the bride bouquet after wedding ceremony, she will also get married soon.
• A person with big ears will have a long life.
• A baby with a big birthmark on its body will be lucky.
• If a baby cries during his baptismal ceremony, it will have a long life.
• Wishing in the first star that one seas in the evening will make that wish come true.
• One should not pay or give money through the window because it will make him poor.
• Debts should be paid at night or it brings bad luck.
• If a white butterfly enters the house it means a friendly spirit or love or relative is visiting you.
• If a brown butterfly enters the house it means there’s good news, money and letter coming real soon.
• If a person bites his tongue it means somebody thinking of him
• A girl with white spots on her fingernails is inconstant in love.
• Counting money on the midnight of Dec 24th up to Jan 1 of the New Year will bring a person endless wealth during the whole year.

Filipina Culture and Traditions

*Fiesta Celebration*

• The Philippines is known as the “Land of Fiestas.” Filipino are proud to proclaim Fiesta celebration.
• Fiesta celebrated once a year for the Thanksgiving, especially to the farmers of the abundance of harvest and good health to the whole family.
• It is a time to prepare  different kinds of food, open served buffet style, guests or visitors partake of the food prepared.
• Celebrating fiesta has different kind of activities throughout the barangay and such gay affairs.
• People dance (sinulog) a native filipino dances style throughout the  street.
• There were band going around the barangay and enjoy the hospitality of the people.

*Filipino Christmas Decors*

• It is filipino tradition for children to visit their godparents and elderly relatives on Christmas Day for showing respect to his/her godmother by taking her hand to his forehead. In return he receives a blessing or a gift.
• Christmas Eve in the Philippines is one of the traditions most families celebrate. It is a night without sleep and a continuous celebration moving right into Christmas Day as December 24 dawns, the last mass of Simbang Gabi is attended, then preparations for Noche Buena take place after midnight.
• The Noche Buana is very much like an open house celebration. Family, friends, relatives and neighbors drop by to wish every family member Merry Christmas. Food is in abundance, often served in buffet style. Guests or visitors partake of the food prepared by the host family (even though they are already full or bloated.) Among the typical foods prepared in the Philippines during Christmas areL Lechon (roasted pig) pancit, barbeque, rice, adobo, cakes, lumpia, etc. There is also abundance of San Miguel beer, wine and liquor, w/c makes the celebration of Christmas indeed intoxicating.
• The streets are well lit and are full of activities. The children run in and out of the house to play and to eat. The Christmas Eve gathering provides an opportunity for a re-union of immediate and distant family members.
• Some families may choose to exchange gifts at this time; others wait until Christmas Day.
• Some families have talent show during Christmas Eve celebration. Children are asked to perform their talents.

*New Year Celebration*

• Before 12 o’clock the family prepare one glass of water w/floated 3 petals of rose flower and 3 calipay leaves inside the glass and eveyone are necessary to drink even one gulp of water for the good health.
• Every home should open alll doors and windows so that the blessings enter the house during the whole year.
• Turn on all the lights, radio and television to make any noise during the 12 o’clock until dawn so that the bad luck and bad spirit will be throw away.
• Everybody wear polka dots design clothes as a sign of money and endless wealth.
• Food is in abundance often served in the buffet style. In general, preparing food and activities is similar to Christmas celebration.
• Some families prepare fire crackers.

—————————————————————————————————-

…more to come. -Tim

These are the kinds of things that occupy our pinheaded Western media moguls and supposed news reporters. Lin Miaoke, a beautiful little 9 year old Chinese girl was chosen to be the face for the opening ceremony while another child, of a different kind of beauty and not so straight teeth, did the actual singing. The girls are both fine with all things in this situation, not yet having grown into the stupidities that we in the West spend all our time and energy consumed with: A perfection of features that no one can stand to who has not had surgery.

Now, when I first read the story, I was somewhat concerned for the kids, mainly the kid with the voice. My fear is that she might decide she is not pretty enough to have her face on the TV. Well, have you see the pics of Yang Peiyi? She is a perfectly lovely child. It saddens me that China was so worried about international perceptions that she was not allowed to be the face, as well as the voice, of the opening song. It only occurred to me later that Lin might be just as affected by her face, but not her voice, being used which sadly reveals the extent of modern Western mores poison in my own system.

To China: I understand why you did this, but it is silliness. Stop. There is no honor in allowing worldwide shallow concepts of beauty color your actions. It would be almost as stupid as telling your citizens to stop saving money and start borrowing more in order to modernize their economy. Personally, I admire that you have the good sense to crack down on pornography on the Internet.

To America: Christ on a crutch! You have a 9.6 trillion dollar debt that you cannot pay, mortgages that you cannot pay, banks that are increasingly insolvent, a war on two fronts, a crisis in morals in the kids and morals and ethics in our government, a 33% out of wedlock birthrate, a military that is increasingly composed of foreign nationals, your sovereignty is being sold at auction everyday by our Congress, our judges in this nation are increasingly of suspect loyalties when viewed through their judicial rulings, and we are being strangled by a Congress determined to remain addicted to foreign oil and THIS is what you focus on? With all our knowledge and benefits in the world, why do we insist on being the most ignorant nation on the planet? Hellfire, you even defend pornography as free speech yet you choke at this? Talk about swallowing camels and straining at gnats!

As for the issue of who did what and the dubbing, it is nothing more than a convenient lens through which to look to view the current state of the Western mind. I would like to say we cannot get any more silly as a people than we are now, but it would be about the 20th time I have been proven wrong because we keep doing our dead level best to win the gold for silliness and stupidness.

The flip side is that China cares what we think. I do not know why it would even go to the point of this substitution…I really don’t care because it appears that both girls are suitably honored to have been chosen to participate…but why bother? Why not just let Yang Peiyi sing? It is clear from this that China as a nation still has serious feelings of inferiority and feelings of inferiority are a dangerous thing if they go on too long. Sooner or later someone gets angry enough to step up and prove they are equal.

If I thought the Olympics were significant, I would care more I suppose. As it is, instead of dealing with real problems, we are seeing a sideshow about two children singing to open an event that will solve no problems. It is only significant in that it is an indicator of how badly the Chinese are looking for respect. When you have a 500 million strong standing army, one of the world’s third largest nuclear arsenals, and a war chest of more than 1 trillion USD tied with an inferiority chip on your shoulder, it just looks like bad weather to me.

-Tim

Bernie Mac needs no introduction. He was one of the great comedians of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He died from complications of pneumonia is what I have been reading. It is a loss to all.

Bernie Mac was one of those fellows who seemed to tell the truth even when you did not like the way he saw things. That was okay because even when he was telling you how sorry a human being you were he was making you laugh fit to split when doing it. He seemed to be able to understand others opinions and backgrounds and be able to accept others even though they were from very, very different backgrounds. As in the case of Will Smith, when I thought of Bernie Mac I thought of a man who was funny as hell who just happened to be black. I did not think of him as a funny black man. I hope you understand the difference.

He will be missed.

-Tim