This is Me

Dear future Mark/future kid/future grandkid/future wife/whoever is reading this:

This is who I am, as of September 15, 2011.

UP Basketball First Round Evaluation

Well what is there to say, at least UP won't be going through another winless season.

The story of the year so far has got to be Jose Anton "Jett" Manuel. Manuel is no newcomer to the team, but was only getting garbage minutes last year. With the departure of big shots like Martin Reyes, Woody Co, and Magi Sison, a void has emerged which Silungan, Mbah, Gamboa and Manuel have filled. Well, to a certain extent at least.

Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines also makes these illegal

After the gigantic CCP art exhibit brouhaha, Christian groups are still pursuing a lawsuit against the artist for violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines. In order to aid them, let's look closely at the article in question and see who else they should sue.

If we censored everything people deemed offensive

  

If we censored everything that people find offensive, we would censor:

Why the Nets should get Nene

In order to solve the mysteries surrounding Nene, let's look at solving all of the questions people have about him

Mock Draft V.2

Here is the 2nd iteration of my mock draft:

1. Cavaliers -           Kyrie Irving

2. Timberwolves -    Derrick Williams

3. Jazz -                   Jonas Valanciunas

4. Cavaliers -           Enes Kanter

5. Raptors -             Kawhi Leonard

6. Wizards -            Jan Vesely

7. Kings -                Brandon Knight

8. Pistons -             Kemba Walker

9. Bobcats -            Marcus Morris

10. Bucks -             Tristan Thompson

11. Warriors -         Bismack Biyombo

12. Jazz -                Jimmer Fredette

13. Suns -               Klay Thompson

14. Rockets -          Chris Singleton

15. Pacers -            Marshon Brooks

16. 76ers -              Markieff Morris

17. Knicks -            Kenneth Faried

18. Wizards -          Donatas Motiejunas

19. Bobcats -          Alec Burks

20. Timberwolves - Nikola Vucevic

21. Trailblazers -     Reggie Jackson

22. Nuggets -          Tobias Harris

23. Rockets -          Nikola Mirotic

24. Thunder -         Jordan Hamilton

25. Celtics -           Tyler Honeycutt

26. Mavericks -      Davis Bertans

27. Nets -              Justin Harper

28. Bulls -              Josh Selby

29. Spurs -            Jeremy Tyler

30. Bulls -             Travis Leslie

Mock Draft V.1

Here are my picks for this year's NBA Draft:

1. Cavaliers -           Kyrie Irving

2. Timberwolves -    Derrick Williams

3. Jazz -                   Jonas Valanciunas

4. Cavaliers -           Enes Kanter

5. Raptors -             Kawhi Leonard

6. Wizards -            Jan Vesely

7. Kings -                Brandon Knight

8. Pistons -              Bismack Biyombo

9. Bobcats -            Jimmer Fredette

10. Bucks -             Marcus Morris

11. Warriors -         Tristan Thompson

12. Jazz -                Kemba Walker

13. Suns -               Markieff Morris

14. Rockets -          Chris Singleton

15. Pacers -            Marshon Brooks

16. 76ers -              Kenneth Faried

17. Knicks -            Klay Thompson

18. Wizards -          Donatas Motiejunas

19. Bobcats -          Alec Burks

20. Timberwolves - Nikola Vucevic

21. Trailblazers -     Nolan Smith

22. Nuggets -          Tobias Harris

23. Rockets -          Nikola Mirotic

24. Thunder -         Jordan Hamilton

25. Celtics -           Tyler Honeycutt

26. Mavericks -      Davis Bertans

27. Nets -              Josh Selby

28. Bulls -              Kyle Singler

29. Spurs -            Jeremy Tyler

30. Bulls -             Charles Jenkins

The Ayala MRT Gauntlet

In the ritual that is Philippine life, there is no more daunting test than the Ayala MRT station. Allow me to walk you through the terrible phases of this deadly challenge.

Something to think about before telling a Bible story

Here one thing to think about before you start telling those little kids their very first Bible story:

The obsolete things I'd like to show my grandkids

As we move closer and closer to an age where our entire lives exist only in the internet, a time will come when children will no longer recognize the things we used to use every single day. Well, here are some of the things i'm determined to let the future generation know about. And yes, it's already starting.

Hot Celebrities, As Defined By Me. Part 2

I may have unintentionally left some people out last time, and it would be criminal to let that pass.

Rep. Irwin Tieng vs. the dildo

I am writing this because of the recently reported news of how Rep. Irwin Tieng wants to bad the distribution and production of sex toys. This is his rationale as to why this law should be passed:

Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng filed House Bill 4509 seeking to curb the supposed "influx" of these "obscene" devices, which he said may lead to the rise of sex-related crimes in the country. 

"The proliferation of these obscene devices which are insensitively and openly displayed in shops or stalls are very alarming. The public, especially minors, being exposed to these obscenities may suffer disturbing effects and could trigger sexually impure ideas," Tieng said in a statement Thursday.

Some common anti-RH bill questions, answered. Part 1

Q: Bakit ka ba kasi makikipag sex kung ayaw mo naman magka-anak? (Why would you have sex if you don't want to have children?)

A: BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE HAVING SEX! The people that ask this question are of course, virgins or are quite young. Why do people eat fast food even if they know it's bad for them? Because it tastes good. Why do people smoke even if they know it causes cancer? Because it makes them feel good. Why do people drink alcohol even if they know it's bad for them? Because people like getting buzzed. Why do people do drugs even if they know it's addictive? Because it makes them feel good.

People like having sex because it feels good. Wait until you're married, have sex, and come back to me with this question. Let's see if you still have a ton of questions. Do not ask me this question when you have no idea whatsoever what sex is like.

Much like the other substances stated above, when it comes to things that make people feel good, responsibility goes out the window. If everyone was responsible, if everyone could just stop having sex when they don't want to get pregnant, do you think we would need an RH Bill? How effective has the Catholic church's policies been so far? How many couples can actually abstain?

The RH Bill is NOT for the people who plan pregnancies. It is not for the people that are responsible. The bill is there to help the people that do not have the means or the knowledge to be responsible. If everyone was smart and responsible and followed whatever the church said, then we wouldn't have any problems. But guess what, that isn't reality. A lot of people are stupid, a lot of people are irresponsible, a lot of people are ill-informed, a lot of people don't have a lot of choices. When a wife's husband comes home drunk and wants some sex, what can she do? Not like she can divorce him, nooo that would destroy the sanctity of the family.

People like having sex. They always have and they always will. A husband and a wife should be able to have sex without having a child. Sex should not be a chore, it should not be a mere duty or obligation. That is of course, unless you think Orwell's 1984 is the ideal society.

The Catholic Church: Mafia Dons

The Catholic Church to me is like the mafia. Or a pimp. God's pimp. Why?

Hot Celebrities, As Defined By Me

In no specific order

The inefficiencies in the Philippine public transportation system

If there's one defining characteristic of Philippine public transportation, it's inefficiency. Taking a jeep or bus to any given point takes twice to thrice as long as if you were taking a taxi or car. Not only that, but they cram as many of you as they possibly can inside the vehicle before moving a single inch. And that is why they cost practically nothing ($0.19).

This is the music I grew up with, Part 3

Part 3 of our 90's music retrospective

This is the music I grew up with, Part 2

Part 2 of our 90's music retrospective

This is the music I grew up with, Part 1

All you 90's kids, you know what I'm talking about

Your Consciousness

Have you ever stopped to think about what comes after death? For some people, it's some version of heaven or hell. For others, it's nothing. When people say that there is nothing after death, I don't know if everyone truly comes to grips about how terrifying that is.

Your consciousness is what makes you who you are. It is everything. Your thoughts, your opinions, your interests, your viewpoints, these are all what make you uniquely you. If there is nothing after death, you will simply extinguish like a candle being blown out. Another life in the billions of lives the world has seen. You will not be able to regret, you will not be able to think, you will not be able to comprehend the emptiness of your current state. You will simply... cease to exist.

This is perhaps why people are so ready to embrace religion. Because it offers us an alternative to a void of nothingness. Pretty much every religion has you maintaining your consciousness, maintaining your life after death. Whether that place is good or bad, you will still be who you are, you will still have your memories and your mind. People are not afraid of dying, people are not afraid of eternal damnation; people are afraid of simply ceasing to exist. Even the prospect of spending the rest of eternity in a fiery pit of torture is more palatable for most people than simply disappearing.Never able to think, taste, see, hear, or smell for the rest of eternity.

Think about it while you still can think.

Growing Up Is Hard To Do

Today, my last official class in UP ended. I am now simply a few final exams and revisions away from graduation. My time in UP has seemingly ended with a whimper rather than a bang, but nonetheless, it has been an amazing 5 years.

I think that i've achieved a good amount of things that most any college kid should have done in their college lifetimes. I've met good people, bad people, smart people, and dumb people. I've failed a subject twice (well technically, just didn't pass the 2nd time) and I've been a university scholar for a semester. I've gone to a couple of parties and i've stayed for hours on end in the Coffeebean studying.

I've learned a lot of things in the last 5 years. But what I know, now better than ever, is that when you look back at what you accomplished in college, it won't be the medals or the certificates that you'll remember. It's the things that seem the most meaningless that matter the most. So what was awesome in my college life?

The Idiot's Guide to Contraceptives and Abortifacients

A lot of confusion about the entire RH Bill debate seems to come from a poor understanding of the terms involved. So let's try to explain this as easily as possible.

Here is how the pregnancy happens: Guy+girl+sex = orgasm. Guy's sperm travels to girl's egg. Sperm+egg = conception. Conception = life.

I hope that was clear enough for you. Surely any idiot on Earth could understand that.

Now, on the the next concept. It is impossible to abort or kill something that does not exist. That would be like me trying to kill my son. I cannot do it, simply because of the fact that he currently does not exist.

 If a girl does not get pregnant, there is nothing to kill. Girls become pregnant because? Yes, because conception happens. How does conception happen again? Sperm+egg. Sperm is not life, an egg is not life. A sperm cell and an egg cell together is life.

So, what have we learned so far? The only way to abort or kill something, is for there to be something to kill or abort in the first place, yes? You cannot kill empty space. How is does life happen? Sperm meeting egg. This is a very crucial concept you must remember. You can only kill things that exist. New things exist when sperm meets egg.  

If She...

If she tells what you can and cannot do
If she tells you where you can and cannot go
If she tells you who you can and cannot be friends with
If she checks your phone messages
If she inspects your facebook/twitter
If she needs to know what you're doing every second
If she calls you a hundred times if you don't reply
If she becomes insanely jealous over every woman
If she makes paranoid assumptions
If she doesn't hold a door open for you
If she hates the stuff you're into
If she blackmails you
If she embarrasses you in public
If she hates your friends
If she tries you make you jealous
If she keeps saying "it's nothing" because she expects you to be a mind-reader
If she says "Fine!"
If she can't take criticism
If she can't take a joke
If she already knows the answer she wants when she asks you something
If she expects things you can't afford
If she acts like going out with her is a privilege you should be grateful for
If she tries to change you because she's embarrassed
If she doesn't offer to pay
If she won't share her meal
If she breaks your stuff
If she's acting like you're married when you've been together months
If she needs constant attention
If she imposes her likes and dislikes on you
If she doesn't respect your personal time and/or space
If she lies to you
If she tests you

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid

This entire Ayala Alabang this is just plain stupid. That's the only way to say it. Let's just look at it from one angle right now. Let's forget about any religion or any bill. What is the reason that we have doctors make prescriptions?

Angelo Reyes' Sacrifice?

I don't really understand President Ramos' recent comments on Angelo Reyes. Here's what he said:

Ramos said Reyes did what he did because he “tried to save the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines ] and its three major services.”
“He tried to save the institutions that he represented. Let’s just take it that way . . . that his sacrifice was not in vain,” said Ramos.

The Demise of Gossip Girl

I am about to write the gayest post ever, so be warned.

Lately I've gotten around to thinking that the current season of Gossip Girl isn't really Gossip Girl anymore, but a generic TV drama.

For one, the Gossip Girl character, the character that gives the very show its name and was a focal part of series, is now nonexistent. The show is named Gossip Girl, and now Gossip Girl has been relegated to a mere voice at the beginning and ending of each episode. It used to be that the main source of intrigue and scheming was about how rumors spread on Gossip Girl and what damage it could do. Now, they're still doing their schemes, but there's absolutely nothing to set it apart from any other show. There are no scandalous Gossip Girl blasts anymore, there are no more big secrets revealed and lies spread. The whole dynamic of what made Gossip Girl different is gone.

Second, hair-brained schemes are okay when you're in high school, but if you're still doing it in college as pretty much an adult it starts becoming less cute and more immature. Gossip Girl to me was a show that isn't meant to grow up. It should always be in high school, because that's the only setting that makes the characters interesting. It's where teens in limousines are unique and interesting, adults in limousines are normal. It's where Blair can be the typical queen bee. It's where Dan being not rich is interesting because of his surroundings. I mean, can you imagine Glee outside of the high school setting? Can you imagine The Simpsons if they grew old? Some shows aren't meant to grow up.

The characters of Gossip Girl are all the same people they've always been. Unfortunately you can't say the same about the setting they're in. And the show is worse off for it.

UP Basketball 2010-11

So this latest season brought yet another embarrassing zero win season to the UP Fighting Maroons in the realm of men's basketball. This year I lovingly compiled the most detailed composite boxscore of the UP team in existence. Upon reviewing this, several shortcomings immediately come into light. What went wrong after the jump.

The French Foreign Legion

Ever since I watched a documentary about the French Legion, I've been quite interested in them. It is in a sense, the ultimate collection of mercenaries. Men from all corners of the globe apply, often times to forget and start anew. Why the Legion? Because when you enter the legion, you enter under a pseudonym for at least one year. You give up all your personal belongings, you give up your identity at the door. This is where people go to escape, to be reborn.

When you enter the Legion, you enter as whoever you say you are. Your race is irrelevant. Your religion is irrelevant. Your allegiance is to no country, but to the Legion. Their motto - Legio Patria Nostra (The Legion is our Fatherland) - reflects this. You are free to retain your nationality, but the Legion is your home.