the adventures of speech defect

ang mundo ni andong agimat

2006-06-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

last friday i had to drop by the bookstore to look for a reference material my wife was going to use at school. having no luck since the book was out of stock in the two NBS branches i inquired at.

but, fortunately the bookhunt was not really a failure. for i stumbled on a magical world crafted by a childhood friend: mr. clem arnold arre - graphic artist extraordinaire.

"ang mundo ni andong agimat" is quite read. its action packed, well drawn and written - its hip with typical street lingo mixed up with several references to filipino folklore and myth (which clem seems to be mastering with his different books). the characters are vivid and distinct. the red and black cover was definitely an eyecatcher (quite similar to the sin city series ehem ehem - har har har sorry to point out to the millerisms) for it sort of jumped at you from the bookshelves. i'm not sure but andong sort of lives a parallel to john constantine - maverick supernatural detective of sort - but andong is still distinct with his robin padillian bravado he he he

i love the book. and i hope that it'll inspire other kids (and kids@heart like me) to deviate from their routines and live a life of magic and adventure.

emo's not dead (it just got bashed)

2006-06-08T01:33:00.000-07:00

this is so hilarious that i had post it here. emobashing could be an extreme sport for HC kids. har har har

under a pile

2006-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

started out on some encoding work, though "some" is definitely an understatement.

we have a deadline to meet and the work is overwhelming (in terms of volume). the office already got two volunteers, and since they just started yesterday, they were still familiarizing themselves with the work.

in the meantime, i just have to settle in detaching my self from reality and proceed in encoding like a robot.

welcome to the matrix.

music is evil

2006-06-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

today is june 6, 2006.

and since its 666, today is also International Slayer Day.

in praise of all things evil,
i raise my devil-horned fist \m / to yah!!!

what fun it is to be evil today...

weekends are heaven

2006-06-04T18:52:00.000-07:00

i just got back from laguna this weekend. time spent there was heaven. datu and guru's smiles were narcotic. it made me realize that i miss my kids so much.

dumbledore's fave band

2006-05-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

these guys frigging rock.

check them out: http://www.daytrotter.com/article/86/harry-and-the-potters-promoters-of-dental-hygiene-and-the-wizards-who-share-their-spinal-tap-moments-with-dewey-decimal

shoe fetish

2006-05-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

my feet's wishlist for the year

i hope wishes come true :)

gorilla biscuits reunion tour

2006-05-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

its weird to feel psyched up and sad at the same time. after getting an email from revelation records about the upcoming gorilla biscuits tour, i started jumping up and down - bouncing off the walls was more like it.

GB is one of my favorite bands and they were the reason on how i took my straightedge practice not that heavy-handed.

the first time i heard "start today", i was awed by this mixture of power pop and thrash. it was not unlike anything i've heard before. and the lyrics was totally amazing. they tackled issues that were quite political but in a positive manner. it made me sit down, read the words and digest the ideas.

sure they were still kids the time they put out that record. but it was a landmark in the history of hardcore punk.

suspects of covert horizontal glances

2006-05-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

hesitation or suspicion?

estranged I am by the words we choose to use.
awed is what I feel whenever we no longer understand one another.
should I approach with caution or with open heart?
suspicions grow overnight as toneless texts are read and yet we accept them as truths.
how horizontal can be our relationships?
if we opt them to be covert kisses of souls trapped in the matrix…

lavender walls and paint fumes

2006-05-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

its 3:00am.

i can barely sleep considering that all i'm breathing are paint fumes.

i recently had my office space re-painted with lavender (walls) and black (the door and wall-mounted cabinets), it sure raised a couple of eyebrows here at the office - my boss even said "hey! what happened to your room?".

i guess some people aren't too keen in seeing something different (no matter how open-minded they claim to be).

i sure am getting dizzy with the paint fumes that i'll probably have a headache in the morning.

here are a couple tips on inhaling paint fumes (he he he)

General Hazard: Paint Fumes
Exposures to toxic fumes and particles during painting. Hazard Description
Solvents (e.g., aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, various ketones) (Burgess) - can create both health and fire hazards.

Pigments, anti-fouling and anti-rust paint components (e.g., organo-mercury compounds, copper oxide, arsenic, organo-tin compounds, cadmium, chromium) (Burgess).
Types of paints used include: anti-rust paints that contain lead (e.g., red lead paint), zinc chloride primer paints, hot plastic rust preventive and anti-fouling paints, copper-bottom paints, and fire-resistant paints.

Scenarios/Injuries
Ship-board painting is often performed in confined spaces and tanks, thereby concentrating fumes and particulates. In addition to health hazards, the opportunity for fires and explosions increases.

Lead poisoning can occur from ingestion and inhalation of lead-based paint particles. The exposure depends on the method of application; for example, rolling versus spraying. Exposure to other hazardous constituents of paints can occur in the same way.

Controls
Respiratory protection is provided using air-line and air-purifying respirators.

Mechanical air supply and exhaust are used to ventilate confined spaces and control exposures during painting operations. (Burgess; Patty's)

Spray nozzles can be mounted on extensions, thereby lessening exposure to paint components and improving visibility by reducing the amount of paint covering goggles and face shields (Burgess; Patty's). In some situations, application using brushes may provide the most satisfactory control (Patty's).

Painting with lead-based paints can be done at night when other workers will not be exposed. Supplied-air respirators are often required to avoid exposure (see Haglind).

of calloused fingers and hollow arguments

2006-05-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Criticism is a natural practice in a sub-culture with counter-cultural tendencies. However, most of this criticism is external - in way that the critique is directed towards mainstream society. This poses a problem in a community that feeds on ideas considering that internal critique a.k.a. self-criticism is frowned upon as a venue for character assassination – thus the evolution of the word war.

Word wars is common hobby* among thinking (or otherwise) individuals. It provides a venue wherein ideas are articulated, either rationally or otherwise, to synthesize (depending on whose viewpoint – some may raise that most word wars are personal in nature) whether points engaged in are valid or void. Certain exchanges in this “hobby” may or may not lead to closure depending on how those involved post their arguments and counter-arguments.

In the context of the Pinoy HC-punk arena of discourse (assuming that there is such a thing), parameters for such engagements are not defined. And it would seem that certain people relish on the situation that: it is quite easy to post accusations, that would seem baseless under scrutiny, and eventually bail out on the engagement – citing an absurd reason such as “it is my personal opinion” as cause for bailing out.

In a recent experience, I have encountered such situation wherein certain individuals pointed their fingers (in the figurative sense) at me with particular accusations. Being open to discourse, I then posted certain questions to provide them with the opportunity to articulate and rationalize their points. My queries were met with more accusations and substance in these accusations was not presented.

Ahh, such is the way of the enlightened sub-culture to engage in discourse: it is very easy to point fingers in the fashion of hollow accusations and easily get away with it. This practice somehow fosters an arena for hearsay and rumor-mongering (thus the notion that most punk discourse are “showbiz” in nature), wherein accusations and empty statements satisfy the minds and imagination of those in performance and of those who are awed by engagement – such is the blindness caused by the spectacle.

The concrete (or imagined) liberties in the Pinoy punk community are unfairly being used as an excuse for such attitudes towards discourse. It would seem that a common practice is to point fingers and then excuse themselves as a means for denial. Excuse as a medium for denial is such a sad thought for this sub-culture of ours.

How can one address such situation? (note: this question is intended to value the capacity of the individual to change the situation) I’m not really sure, for one cannot “impose” specific solutions in a “dynamic” community like punk. I do however hope that people, who engage in discourse, are more open to the possibility that the points they post may or may not be valid and thus be subject to change. Coming up with rationalizations for such points may not hurt either – for such reasons (or data) only strengthens the points raised. Closure on issues may also contribute to the appreciation of discourse as a valid exercise and not as perceived as a venue for personal/character assassination.

And maybe, just maybe, calloused fingers may be avoided and hollow arguments are ignored. Making life much more happier – in a Ha! Ha! Ha! Hi! Hi! Hi! kind of happy…

*stuff to do when one has lots of free time

the personal is the political "cliche"

2006-05-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Its very difficult to please everyone, especially when one has very opinionated views on issues. Sharing ideas and having discourse was supposedly a healthy activity but with recent and recurring experiences it seems to leave me with a bad taste.

I cant seem to remember if I imposed anything on anybody, but I do know that I exhaust discussions to the point when some people begin perceiving them as impositions.

I have always seen myself in a constant struggle to put consistency in ideas and actions, or at least put a healthy ratio between the two that somehow manifests equally.

I have always tried to be political as I thought man by nature is political, the differences lie on how one practices their politics.

One can espouse radical politics but are not adherent to the supposed ideals they express.

One may not be that radical vocally but actually puts actions before words.

One may support the structures or systems that oppress since they benefit from the status quo.

One may resist against the powers that be since they will benefit the most with its overthrow.

One may also lie outside the arena and just be a bystander, uncaring whether which way the wind blows.

(my thanks and heart for nikki mcclure)

welcome to the world of speech defect

2006-05-29T02:55:00.000-07:00

hello.

welcome to my everyday existence.

who am i?

i'm an aging punk (who is a kid @ heart), married to a wonderful person who is able to see the good things in me (though most of the time she seems to be irritated by my presence), raising two wonderful demons (datu & guru) who are impish but cute as hell.

my day job is political in nature but "welfaresque" (if there is such a word) in output (more on that later).

my interests border from the absurd to the mundane (depending on what sort of music i'm playing on each moment of the day).

one thing is for sure, music is my passion (or at least listening to it). :)