Because the real world is like this...

... I love gaming so much.

Cat turns into woman in P/Harcourt - 5 killed as cultists clash

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 22.05.2008

WHAT could be described as a fairy tale turned real on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a cat allegedly turned into a middle-aged woman after being hit by a commercial motorcycle (Okada) on Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway.

Read the whole article here.

Guilty Pleasure: Sketchfu

Learn how to draw cartoons, comics, and anime at Sketchfu!

I first heard about this site from Carver, Sketchfu is basically a website where you can create artwork on the spot, then publish it online, with the fun option for others to "replay" the process you took in making it.

Sigh, this work in particular was supposedly done by a 17-year-old. There are so many other wonderous works online in that site. Check then out!


Guilty Pleasure #2: first six pages to Zaturnnah sa Maynila, the next Zsazsa Zaturnnah book are now online. Check them out via Carl's site.

APOLOGY: To my contacts who Multiply hop

Just opened my Multiply Inbox to see that one of my contacts has posted some new stuff. The postings were noted to also have comments from a new username, which got me curious as to who had what to say about our pictures (since those pictures were pictures of gimmicks).

To my horror, the replies were embedded video clips from porn films.

I am currently trying to reach that particular contact of mine to inform him that he best delete those comments asap, and perhaps that he consider only allowing comments from people he really personally knows.

In the meantime, I would like to publicly apologize to all my friends and contacts who happen to open those posting from him containing those porn comments due to the six degrees of separation that Multiply work with in regards to filling your inbox with content.

Again, my apologies for this embarrassing issue.

One Year Apart

One year ago, my Panda Bear boarded a plane headed for Vancouver, Canada.
Thankfully, since that day, my Panda Bear and I remain strong and happy and together, even if the physical distance apart can definitely erode your confidence and make lines of communication harder to maintain.

But I guess, if one really believes the relationship is worth the risk and the effort, one will make it work.

Let's continue to make this work, sweetie! I got your back.

Mwah!

I miss you so much, Isha!
I love you!

Watchmen

who Watches the Watchman, Charlie Brown?

Taken from a Mark in cyberspace

BE HONEST! Answer the questions in a comment, then repost on your own journal if you like.

1. Are you currently in a serious relationship?
Absolutely. So serious I cry myself to sleep sometimes missing my Panda Bear so much.

2. What was your dream growing up?
Become an Oscar-winning filmmaker to be able to give a speech, thank my Parents before the whole world, then shout out in tagalog, "Dude Pare, Paano ba yan, Ateneo?"

3. What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could really really really really sing.

4. If I bought you a drink what would it be?
Nowadays, San Mig Light is fine.
If you want to be choosy, I'd ask for either Baileys on the Rocks or a glass of Red Wine.
Although the white wine from Cebu I had with my Panda Bear would be perfect if you could find it for me.

5. Favorite vegetable?
Okra.
Used to be kangkong.

6. What was the last book you read?
Nightfall by Isaac Assimov and Robert Weinberg

7. What zodiac sign are you?
Taurus

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
Used to have three pierced areas for earrings. They closed up na, I believe.
Other than that, aba, secret na yon!

9. Worst Habit?
I sneak out at night to grab a few beers with some friends.

10. If you saw me walking down the street, would you offer me a ride?
Only if I know you. Or if I don't but you look like someone who really needs one that moment.

11. What is your favorite sport?
Swimming.

12. Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude?
Optimistic most of the time.

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
Start a conversation, or if you're a gamer, play a game.

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
Putting my dreams on hold to handle responsibilties no one else would.

15. Tell me one weird fact about you.
I have been invited and given talks on things I never won awards for.

16. Do you have any pets?
Not anymore.

17. What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
I would probably still be asleep.
Or worry if you're one of my stalkers.
Unless of course I know you.

18. What was your first impression of me?
Okay, now I realize these "me and I" are meant to be whoever I got this questionnaire from. So, assuming this means Mr. Poa, I guess I have to honestly admit I haven't formed an impression of you yet.

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
Usually disturbing.
Then again, I used to sideline as a clown magician.

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
Too much gums.
Wish I smiled and showed my teeth more than my gums.

21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
Mark, sorry, this really is a weird question if I suppose the "my" is you.

22. What color eyes do you have?
Black.

23. Ever been arrested?
Thankfully, no.
Unless being caught by drunk cops counts.

24. White or red wine?
See Qestion #4

25. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
Half to my parents (to use or safekeeping, sila bahala). Of the remaining, a fifth to my own savings, a fifth to charity, a fifth to splurge on friends, a fifth to finally visit my Panda Bear, and the last fifth, to tide me over til the next paycheck.

26. What's your favorite place to hang at?
Currently, Malate with friends, Fandom Cafe in Cubao, or Rewind in Betterliving.

27. Do you believe in ghosts?
I know ghosts exist.

28. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Either prep for an upcoming RPG, work on DILIMAN, or just play a computer game. Haven't found anything good to read lately.

29. Do you swear a lot?
When driving.

30. Biggest pet peeve?
Drivers who don't use their damn signal lights. What? Can't move that little finger to make the damn signal before you turn?

31. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
Tobie

32. Do you believe/appreciate romance?
Absolutely. And I am living in a tremendously fulfilling romantic arc in my life.

33. Do you believe in God?
Absolutely. My Faith in the Creator is absolute.

34. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
I did in mine. Now who else wants to join in?

NEW SILENT HILL GAME! woot!!!

My favorite scary game is officially back with a new installment! Silent Hill: Homecoming is an evolution of the existing game play with all the familiar Silent Hill characteristics still intact (fog, darkness, nice light effects, creepy score and monsters, incredibly complex plots) with some new additions in hopes of making the game even more creepier.

The game focuses on a man named Shepherd who returns home to find his town covered in fog. His mother sits on a rocking chair with a revolver on her lap and muses about how Shepherd arrived too late and how his brothers are missing.

While I am excited like a giddy baby to play this game, it sadly is meant for the PS3, which means I ain't going to be touching this anytime soon.

Sigh.

Fandom Live! - The Indiana Jones Episode

Post Birthday Photo recap

While I didn't celebrate my birthday last April 25th (sniff sniff, Miss you so much sweetie!) Alvin was in town during that weekend and insisted we bring him out night after night after night! Thanks to Tom who introduced me to a bunch of new friends, one of them named Don invited us to hang out at Government, a bar in Makati as his guests. After enjoying great music and good hard drinks, we then headed to Malate to cap the night with a bit more dancing (this of course was AFTER me stopping a fight between two friends hehehe, but the details of that fight are best just forgotten).

Anyway, you can check out the pictures of that night in Jeff's Multiply.
Salamat kay Alvin for providing a camera that night, and to Jeff for posting the pictures!

Oh Look, its a White Guy playing another Asian role.

Sighs.

I feel less and less excited for the upcoming Dragon Ball movie.

They should have instead gotten Jang Hyuk from the korean movie Hwasango (Volcano High). He might not be from China/Japan, he at least does carry the character and personality more.

Seriously.

WTF is it with Hollywood forcing us to accept a white guy can believably play an evidently Asian role?

What's next? They'll rename him from Goku to something more American too? Like Georgo or something?


While I have nothing against white guys, I really really feel annoyed the people behind the Dragon Ball movie do not have the balls to insist on having an Asian guy in the lead role. Or at least someone who does look somewhat "less caucasian."

Hay...

Updates: Sci-Fi Talk, Malate Nights, Fandom Live!

Just another quick recap on what's been going on with me for the past few weeks:

Saw IRON MAN!
Although I failed to get to Alabang Town Center on time (its easier to just claim it was my fault when in truth, ATC has much to learn about customer service) and I was not able to catch the screening with the Fab sisters, I was still able to catch it with Jeff, Chiqui and her friend (Pia, I think her name was). Loads of fun galore watching the film, lots of geekgasms and laughs, especially when Jeff started raising his middle finger at the kontrabida as a sign language show of his anger at his evil doings.

Malate Nights Days are Numbered
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! Time can change me, but I can't change time.. For quite some time, hanging out at Malate with a few new found friends has been a great driving source of destress for me. Sadly, recent changes are changing it more into a distressing thing and making me reconsider if its time to hang once again with geeks, stay home and enjoy my movies, or maybe even simply do the artist thing and just close the world for a moment and take an inner child tour. Still, there will be some nights I'll indulge in a few beers and hip swinging to Shining Star... but definitely things ain't the same no more.

Company Outing at the Mountain Dew Pool
Brought the few available people with me to a "company outing" last late April to celebrate birthdays, bondings and the fact that ABBA eTranscript and Training Services continues to survive despite economic shifts and the like. We headed to Batangas and revisted the hot spring pool which I once brought my Panda Bear and some friends to for our joint birthday bash. Thankfully, I wasn't trapped in the bathroom this time. But I am shying away from posting all the other pictures that caught me swimming and running around in my speedos! Trust me, its for your own good I keep it that way.

Had loads of food that day. And by loads I mean LOADS. I ate like seven or eight plates of rice, dalag, seaweed, vegetable salad, adobo, tilapia and barbeque that day for lunch alone. Tapos nag-swimming pa!

I guess considering I am still alive and typing this blog entry, I've just invalidated that old fear of eating before swimming leads to appendicitis and death.

SCI FI Workshop for Talecraft at Powerbooks Hopefully Inspires Enough
Gave my lecture/talk/workshop at Powerbooks Megamall last Sunday (Mother's day) to a group of over twenty some people. I THINK I did good. Zipped through the boring details of the subgenres of Science Fiction and carefully mentioned the current debates on using instead speculative fiction as a term/label. Then, zipped through suggestions on how to make stories more compelling and included a suggestion to also check out Joseph Campbell's Monomyth/The Hero's Journey as a good framework for story writing.

Tried to remind everyone that although some do truly believe there are no unique stories to be told, there are unique ways to choose how to tell your story.

And challenged everyone to broaden their mindset to what science fiction should entail, as well as what can and cannot encompass as part of science fiction.

That's a LOT of activities I guess I had to recap here.
Sighs. Just feels less exciting since I didn't have my Panda Bear with me in any of them.

I miss you so much, Isha.

Yep. This feels apt.

Took a Test: Funny results!

The Loverboy Random Gentle Love Master (RGLM) FACT:You embody the German principle of Konstantzusammenschaft, which is best described in English (without using the obscure English word "sammenschaft") as "eternal togethermanship". Well-liked. Well-established. You are The Loverboy. Loverboys thrive in committed, steady relationships—as opposed to, say, Playboys, who want sex without too much attachment. You've had many relationships and nearly all of them have been successful. You're a nice guy, you know the ropes, and even if you can be a little hasty with decisions, most girls think of you as a total catch. Your hastiness comes off as spontaneity most of the time anyhow, making you especially popular in your circle of friends, too. You know not to make the typical Loverboy mistake of choosing someone who appreciates your good humor and popularity, but who offers nothing in return. You belong with someone outgoing, independent, and creative. Otherwise, you'll get bored. And then instead of surprising her with flowers or a practical joke, you'll surprise her by leaving. Your exact male opposite: The Billy Goat Deliberate Brutal Sex Dreamer Always avoid: The Nymph (DBSD) Consider: The Window Shopper (RGLD), The Peach (RGLM)

Link: The Online Dating Persona Test | OkCupid - singles | Dating My profile name: : tobito_abad

Batman is REAL!

Got this from my brother:

One day in the airport...
Airport Security - Customs Official: May I have your name, Sir?

Man: Batman.

CO: May I know your name?

Man: My name is Batman.

CO: Are you trying to be funny?! What is your surname?

Man: Superman.

CO arrests the poor guy.