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.