"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

May nabasa akong sci-fi novel series noon, yung "Hyperion" ni Dan Simmons and it was about how humanity has spread across the universe through "Hawking Drive" spaceships and that the Earth was destroyed by the "Big Mistake" - a scientific accident wherein a black hole swallows the Earth!

In August, CERN will switch on this humongous thing which, in my opinion, is "humbly" called a "Large Hadron Collider". I could only understand a nanobit of what this thing can do so I mix this knowledge with fiction and voila, I can imagine these scientists rejoicing at their discoveries that would shake the very foundations of Physics and then they would confidently move on to create a black hole and then ... OOPS!

Ika ng ni Alexander Pope,

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again."

So will the revolution be televised, downloaded, or will it be sucked in by a powerful vortex that even light could not escape from? Read more about it, here.

"receiving transmission..."

Flight of the Conchords - Bowie's In Space

Bowie's in space
Bowie's in space
What you doing out there, man?
That's pretty freaky, Bowie
Isn't it cold out in space, Bowie?
Do you want to borrow my jumper, Bowie?
Does the space cold make your nipples go pointy, Bowie?
Do you use your pointy nipples as telescopic antennae to transmit data back to
Earth?
Bet you do, you freaky old bastard you
Hey Bowie, do you have one really funky sequined space suit?
Or do you have several ch-changes?
Do you smoke grass out in space, Bowie?
Or do they smoke Astroturf?
Ooh!
Receiving transmission from David Bowie's nipple antennae
Do you read me, Lieutenant Bowie?
This is Bowie to Bowie
Do you hear me out there, man?
This is Bowie back to Bowie
I read you loud and clear, man
Ooh yeah, man!
Your signal's weak on my radar screen
How far out are you, man?
I'm pretty far out
That's pretty far out, man
Ooh- ah- ooh!
I'm orbiting Pluto
Ooh- ah- ooh!
Drawn in by its groovitational
(Groovitational pull)
I'm jamming out with the Mick Jagger-nauts
Ooh, and they think it's pretty cool
Are you okay, Bowie?
What was that sound?
I don't know, man
Ooh, it's the craziest scene
Yeah, I'm picking it up on my LSD screen
Can you see the stratosphere ringing?
To the choir of Afronauts singing
Bowie's in space
Bowie's in space
Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie
Bowie's in space
Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie
Eena-ma-ma-meena-mina-mowie
Phasers on funky
Eena-ma-ma-meena-mina-mowie
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-Bowie's in Space

Lyrics credit: whatthefolk.net

Malapit na ang Tag-init...

Malapit na ang Tag-init...sa Tokyo, lalabas na ang pusod, balikat, likod, mga binti, hita, tuhod, at lahat-lahat na! It gets pretty hot and humid here in the summer, just like in Manila. Kaya bahay na bahay ako sa panahon na ito. Yun nga lang, this season sets me into daydreaming mode - thinking about the beach and the sea in Pilipinas, while a salariman starts his day asleep on my shoulder (despite the sharp nudges I give him) on my may to work.
What to do then? I can't afford a plane tix to Manila right now so I've drawn up a list of things that I can do in Summer:

1. Visit Tsukiji Fish Market before an outright ban on us pesky tourists is put to work. I have never been to this place in my 10 years here, just because I have to wake up pretty early, like 4am! Now that there have been several "rules" for tourists - because they supposedly interfere with the day-to-day going ons at the Market... like touching a prized tuna with bare hands! HOMAYGASS...alam mo ba kung magkano yan?! or just being in the way of those speedy people carts that whiz through the wet and busy aisles!

2. Go to Kappabashi.
I met a chef once who told me that I should visit Kappabashi since I also love cooking and good food. It's been about 7 years since she told me so, I better get going.

3. PAINT.
Recently, a dear friend of ours crashed at our place and she noticed that there were NO new art on display at home. She has a couple of my works at her place already. Lola C has been at it ever since, "I have never seen you paint ha (may Tagalog na sya) ".... ok, ok, I will summon my muses and I hope they are not on summer leave. I also have a couple of commissions for dear friends that I have to work on. They too have been wondering wtf has happened to me. Sana magawa ko na nga ito.

4. Continue my Nihongo classes - so far so good but very slow.

5. Workout - as usual, same-o, same-o

6. Go to the Tokyo L&G Film Festival and Pride March -
http://www.tokyo-lgff.org/2008/e/index.html

e-22-loy!

Zaturnnah sa Maynila

oo ang sequel ay makikita sa blog ni Carlo Vergara!
"ra-ckyyy".. ika nga ng mga Hapon kapag naka-jackpot sila. Ako, beri beri ra-ckky! I missed visiting Carver's blog and was glad to find out that he's posted a series of the sequel to Zsazsa!
Kaya magmadali at bumisita na!

I love a rainy weekend

The rainy season has started, the weather is still cool though a bit muggy at times. A perfect lazy weekend, nothing to do but snuggle in the sofa bed, draw open the terrace doors while enjoying the soft rain and cool breeze, listen to Michael Franks and fall into a deep slumber, then wake up to a dark living room, throw in a dvd and watch, then snack on whatever in in the fridge, catch the world cup qualifiers - Japan vs Bahrain, run to the convenience store in house clothes at halftime and replenish drinks and chips, scribble, draw and blog about it.


Yummy wasabi potato chips, cold beer and well, a not so fantastic game this time, although Japan won in the last few minutes of the game.

Less is less

大学校のとき、Mies Van Der Rohe (けんちくかです)のデサインのてつがく、“less is more”,をならいました。私のかいしゃくは、“less is less”です。
むかし、バンコクにすんでいたときに、ぜいたくな生活をしていました。ちょきんが、ほとんどありませんでした。だけど日本では質素な生活なので、大丈夫です。
さいきん携帯電話のせいきゅうしょをもらったとき、びっくりしたよ！ごうけいが２ばいだったから、ヤーダです！そのりゆうが、携帯電話でたくさんしゃしんをとった、それをパソコンにおくりました。はんせいでした。ほんとは、携帯電話はあまりつかわないで、るすばんでんわだけほうがいい。そのうえ、私はククレジットカードをあまりつかわない。たまに、せいきゅうしょが、ゼロです。
マンションのでんきせいひんはほとんどない。テレビがあるけれども、ケーブルはない、電子レンジとさらあらいきもないです。ほんとに、こどものときからいままで、こういうものはぜんぜんつかわない。東京は、こうきょうのこうつしゆだんがとてもべんりなので、くるまはいらなにとおもいます。たくさんあるくことは、からだにとってよいことです。

"do one thing a day that scares you"

treasures

My chipped coffee filter and mug, both of which I could not part with. They have seen me through countless mornings, all hungover or rushing to catch my train, and more. The filter is from a dear friend who left for greener pastures and yummy pho 24/7. This is the same filter that we used to pour coffee in when I first set foot in Japan, 10 years ago, and had to share an apartment with 2 friends who readily and unselfishly accommodated I and C, since we did not have enough money to rent our own place yet. The glazed mug, a present from Lola C, well, I asked her to buy this for me since I love glazed stoneware that's hand-made.

Sabi ng matatanda sa atin, kapag may basag na ang tasa o pinggan, dapat na itong itapon dahil malas daw ito. Hmmm, di naman totoo yun. I guess it's more of a safety precaution di ba? My mug's rim is chipped in places where I usually sip coffee at so now, I have to
turn it a bit. Ewan ko ba, I am so attached to these two talaga.

I also have really worn out T-shirts and summer shorts from my Bangkok days, mostly from JJ (Jatujak Market) and a special tee from Khao Yai National Park. C and I really love these and just could not send them to the Salvation Army next door everytime we do spring cleaning.

never ending ending

Langya, kakatapos ko pa lang magsunog ng kilay sa aking maikling kuwento na salin sa wikang Hapon eh, may nag-amok ba naman dito sa malapit sa amin! Ayoko nang isalin ito, patayan nanaman, nakakapagod na! Kaya basahin na lang ninyo sa susunod na link.

A week has passed since this shocking incident in Akihabara, a popular otaku hang out, where a man mowed down some pedestrians with a small truck and then went on a stabbing spree that left 7 dead. That place would not be the same anymore.

ang aking homework... isang maikling kuwento salin sa wikang Hapon

最近　ニュースで日本は、５番目安心な国とききました。ぐうぜんにニュースで、女性がきんじょの人をころしましたといいました。女性のへやは、男の人、２番目といわれています。夜７：３０、女性は、かえりました、でも彼女は、きんじょでゆうかいされました。
そのあとで、彼女といっしょにすんでいるいもとかあねがしんぱいしました、けいさつに電話しました。それで、とりしらべをしました。男のさつじんしゃもとりしらべれました。でも、けいさつは、男のへやに入りませんでしゃた。

それで、とりしらべのあとで、彼は、彼女をくろしたほうがいいときめました！彼は、したいをきざみました！それで、トイレにすてました。

もちろん、けいさつがこのケースをもっととりしらべました。男の人のへやのなかに、彼女のしもんと血をみつけたしました。彼女のいたいのぶぶんが、ちかく のマンホールのなかに、はっけんしました！ほんとに、この二ユースがこわかったよ！ぞっとするよ！はっけんまえに、さつじんしゃが、テレビでインタビュー をされました。彼は、女性にあったことがありませんでした。彼は、へいぜんとはなしました！

いつものよに、東京では、マンションの住人は、同じマンションの人たちをしらない。でも、これからみなさんははじめてあいさつすると思います。

Ayon sa balita, ika-5 daw ang bansang Hapon na pinaka-matiwasay sa buong mundo. Kasabay ng balitang ito noong nakaraan ay ang pagkamatay ng isang babae sa kamay ng kanyang kapitbahay na lalaki na 2 pinto lang silang magkalayo!

7:30 ng gabi umuwi ang biktima ngunit sya ay kinidnap ng kanyang kapitbahay na nag-aabang sa kanyang pag-uwi! Nag-alala ang kapatid na babae ng biktima nang napansin nya na masyado nang late ang kanyang kapatid. Tumawag ito ng pulis at naglunsad ito ng imbestigasyon, ngunit ng oras na iyon, di nila pinasok ang apartment ng lalaki. Sa oras na iyon, nagpasya na ang kidnaper na patayin na ang biktima para wala nang witness sa ginawa nya. Hinati-hati ng lalaki ang bangkay ng biktima at ito'y tinapon sa toilet.

Na-interbyu pa minsan ang lalaki sa TV news at noon, sinabi nya na hindi nga nya kilala ang nawawalang biktima at kahit kailan ay di nya ito na sasalubong man lamang!

Pinagpatuloy ang masusing imbestigasyon at naglaon din na nadiskubre sa loob ng apartment ng lalaki ang dugo at bakas ng mga daliri ng biktima. Nadiskubre rin sa loob isang manhole na malapit sa apartment building ang pira-pirasong bahagi ng bangkay ng biktima.

Ako'y talgang nangilabot sa balitang ito! Dito kasi sa Tokyo, walang paki-alamanan ang mga magkakapitbahay. Sa tingin ko, mula ngayon eh mag-sisimulang makipag-kilala ang mga magkakapitbahay dito.

yikes on a bike!

Fixed gear bikes are about to go mainstream in Tokyo, and looking at how this bike is made and run, I think I'll end up with shins speckled with bruises or worse! First, this bike does not have breaks, the handle bar is as simple as it can get. Fixed-gear means you can't freewheel or backpedal! This reminds me of my kiddie bike, I could really go fast if I pedal quickly, then my feet starts flying off the pedals, and as I try to regain a foothold on the flailing pedals, they keep hitting my shins! OWWW!

I guess biking in Tokyo on a fixed gear isn't really that difficult, you have the option of the sidewalk or to run wild with the super-cool masters of the fixed-gear, the bike messengers. The sidewalk will test your patience more than your navigation skills as you weave through slow moving armies of lolas and lolos, then you also have to dodge the other bikers in the not so cool but super sturdy and practical mama-charinko (yung may basket sa harap o likod).

At night, there are more people to either hit or miss, drunken salariman (sometimes passed out on the street), harried OLs toting their Hermes or LVs and stabbing the pavement with stiletto heels and flocks of college kids popping out of a karaoke bar, ready for the nijikai (2nd round of partying). Not much oil slick on the pavement but expect more "street pizzas" (puke) on a Friday night! Now try to break on that on your fixed-gear!

Brilliant!

Wow, kasama pala sa Cannes competiton ang "Serbis" ni Brilliante Mendoza! Ang galing naman! Napanood ko yung isang obra nya dito sa Tokyo LGBT film Festival, 2 years ago, yung "Masahista", at sana mapanood ko pa yung iba nyang mga pelikula.

Sabi nga ng kaibigan ko na expat sa Singapore, this is also Singapore's first time to be featured big time at Cannes and they are so proud of it but they are more in awe of the Philippines dahil matagal na raw tayong laging kasama sa mga ganitong international festivals, lalo na sa Cannes.

Oo nga, pero sa tingin ko "Cannes" is not even a household word sa atin, kung ikukumpara mo sa "Oscars". Buti na lang may mga cinemas na ngayon sa Manila that feature international and indie films na walang bahid ng Hollywood at marami ring mga Pinoy films na mataaas ang kalidad. Sayang nga at na-miss ko ang mga karamihan nito, pero pag-bisita ko sa Pinas, may listahan na ako ng must-have na Pinoy dvds.

maikling kuwento ng lola

happy weekend dah-lengs!

si C nagulat lately nung tinanong nya yung mga students nya kung kilala nila si Bono.

"Of course, siya yung celebrity activist na gustong burahin lahat ng utang ng Africa sa mundo" - and sagot nila.

"at ano pa..." - dugtong ng tanong ni C...

"at nagpunta sya dito sa Japan at binigyan ng Keio Uni. sya ng Honorary Doctorate Degree..." - students

"alam ba ninyo yung band na U2?" - C

"U2? puzzled looks... (di nakuha ang connection, at mukhang never heard ang banda) - students

"sighs and smiles (hayy kapanahunan ko nga pala ang U2") - C, habang minumuni-muni yung U2 live experience nya sa London waaay, waaay back in time.