SINIGANG

Rejuvenating an Old Site, Sort of... Why You Shouldn't Delete an Old Blog Site!

2008-09-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

a new design

As most of you know, this blog has moved to a better home using the Wordpress platform. If you delve deeper, you will find that my old posts are now mirror copies of articles found on my new site at mysinigang.com.

Yet I couldn't get myself to delete this old blog.

It's my blog's first anniversary! This is the day I made the big switch from my Friendster blog to Blogger a year ago. I decided to revisit 'my past...' As I navigate in this old site, I realized why I kept it and why I should continue to hold on to it.

Why You Shouldn't Delete an Old Blog:

For Posterity
Your old blog is your beginning, your genesis. Because of it, you now have a better, stronger, more stable blog. This is where you learned the ropes in blogging. When you look back, you have something concrete to see and remember.
For Archiving
Your old blog contains all your original materials up to the point when you made the switch. I've actually used 'archiving' to my full benefit when one of my popular articles was plagiarized. I was able to use it as proof that I own the post in question and when it was first published and such. (Of course, you can pre or post date articles now but archiving coupled with other tools can help in proving plagiarism of your articles.)
For Back up
In this case, I'm not paying anything to maintain this site. Why not use it as back up or fall back when s**t happens to you?! In this internet hijacking age, any blog is at risk to hacking or anything related. We are all vulnerable. Should something happen to your Wordpress or any blog, you have an old blog to go back to. Of course, the old blog can not replace what was lost in the new site but at least you have one thing to hold on to. It's hard starting over but it's better than NOTHING (that's why, it is important that you back up your database and files!! Back up, back up, back up!).
For Internet Age
If there's one area where age matters, it's the internet! The older you are in the internet, the better; the more Google and other search engines will love you! With age comes maturity of the site, with maturity comes credibility and worthiness. I'm talking about legitimate blogs here; not scrape or spam sites. As you site ages, your ranking in Google grows; it becomes more important to Google and other search engines.
For keeping old records
... such as backlinks, site history, page rank and traffic. I'm not so sure if I believe the notion that Google penalizes a blog site for duplicate content. Perhaps for static websites like business sites duplicate content matters but for blogs, I don't think so. Or if it does, it doesn't have that much weight. Why? I'm using my sites as the guinea pig.

I have moved twice since I started blogging. My Friendster blog (which I still keep as well) and this Blogger blog pretty much are 80% identical. I transfered majority of my stuff from friendster here. In the same way, all the contents from here- I moved to Wordpress also. That's three same articles in three different websites. Duplicate content rules explain that it is not good for search engine optimization and ranking and should be avoided at all cost. It further says that in effect, search engines may consider your site a spam for showing duplicates in other sites and so will be branded as such. The likelihood that your site/posts will NOT show up in search is great and that Google may even take your PageRank.

The reason I'm not sure it matters in blogs because I have not lost my PageRank in both my old and new site. If you can see, this site has a PageRank of 2. My new site has PR2 as well.
For Keeping Backlinks
This is related to the above. Backlinks are like the backbone of your site's ranking in search engines. The more backlinks you have, the better you are fared. If you delete your blog, you delete ALL records of your existence in the internet. In my case, I have a blogspot URL here and my own dotcom URL in my new site, how does the blogspot URL help my dotcom in terms of backlinks when they are not the same URL?

If you have your old URL intact, people will be able to track you when they land on your old URL. Would you rather have a 404 page can't be found than an old yet reliable pages where people can find you and go to your new site?

Over time we have accumulated many links one way or another via exchange links or somebody giving us a link love or another quoting our site in their post. There is no way we can trace all our links. It is very time consuming to search for it. One way linking is very hard to manage as well since it entails contacting the other for changes. If you delete/change a permalink to your site, then there's no way one can find you again unless they know you and can go to your new site.

Your old blog keeps all those old permalinks and backlinks connected with other websites which you can no longer change. The old blog gives you a better chance to be found again by previous readers or old colleagues.
For FREE ADVERTISEMENT!
Why not use your old blog to promote your new one?! I've had many people go to my site coming from this old blog. If I deleted this blog, would they have still found me in my new site? The chances are slim.

While checking my Adsense account, I found out that Google still tracks my ads on this site while also crediting me on my new site!! I didn't think about that. All page impressions and clicks here count! Unbelievably, this site is still a traffic drawer and I'm getting decent hits which translates into Adsense money in the long run. Every penny counts!

There you go. I would think twice before deciding to delete an old blog. We never know, just might come handy for later!

Sinigang for the Soul Has Moved!

2008-03-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

I opened an old link to this site, Sinigang using an older computer and found out that my new site doesn't redirect or auto load as quick or not at all when java or some other scripts isn't installed on the computer!

This blog moved to a better home in January 2008! Kindly update your link with me and or if you're new to the site, please go to the new site to get the freshest articles. Thank you and see you at the other side!

Welcome 2008!

2007-12-31T03:36:00.000-08:00

Just sharing some snow your way...
am still dressing up my new homepage in Wordpress! It will be up very soon... :-)

In Julia Roberts' Defense: A Fan's Dissection of "Three Days of Rain"

2007-10-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

BY SOME UTTER LUCK, I found myself in Bernard B. Jacobs Theater at 242 West 45th Street in New York June 17, 2006 for the matinée show of "Three Days of Rain." There are over 40 competing Broadway and off-Broadway performances twice a day in NYC's Theater District. It's hard to pick the best show to watch. Obviously, musicals are more lively and entertaining because of its music, props, costume changes, lights and dances. Plays on the other hand are restricted in one setting with monologues and dialogue. You have to be all ears to understand what is going on in a play. With that, I wouldn't have chosen to watch a play over a musical. With the exception that it is THE Julia Roberts playing the female lead in the play "Three Days of Rain."

I observed every nook and cranny of the packed imposing theatre. The audience were a mix of young and old, affluent and impoverished like me and the in-betweens! I stood there with eager anticipation, with knots in my stomach, anxious as though I was a relative or a family of one of the performers, praying that he/she may not forget lines or trip on stage. Close. I am a Julia Roberts fan since I was 15, watching her earlier forgettable films Mystic Pizza, Steel Magnolias and Flatliners. But then came Pretty Woman and Dying Young. I was hooked. Then came Stepmom, My Best Friend's Wedding, Runaway Bride, Notting Hill and Erin Brockovich, at this point I thought she is the ultimate movie star! She is a goddess, perfect in every way, and ought to be named the greatest movie actress of all time!! Ok, perhaps I'm being OA (overacting)!

I have every reason to be nervous seeing her that afternoon. The snobby critics of Theater weren't very kind to Ms. Julia Roberts' earlier performances. They tried to destroy her and I can only hope she will try theatre again someday soon and won't give up Broadway all together. The perplexity of it all was that, even with the negative comments people were drawn to the show with sold out tickets for the entire 12-week engagement and even the critic of all critic couldn't help but admire the unique beauty in front of them. They were star-struck like everybody else.

This is her first time. She learns that in this form of acting, it isn't about star power but is all about stage presence and connecting with a live audience. One doesn't need a theater background to tell a good and no-so good role playing. Judging from what I actually saw, she has quite a ways to go in stage acting. In this humbling performance, I am awed almost pained to see my Julia Roberts not knowing what to do with her body, so oftentimes she just stands on stage stiffly. She struggles over her lines with an unsure, uptight posture, twitchy hands, tensed voice that some lines are almost inaudible to hear as she croaks to deliver her lines from memory without intensity and gusto. The only real intensity came not from the ongoing drama on stage but from the bond she has long established with her fans. In that sense, she connected. It wasn't out of empathy or shame for her from the audience but like family, her fans not only adored her but respected her even more for trying what could be the greatest challenge of her career- performing before a live audience, without room for error- no soft lights to accentuate her face, no take 2 or 3 if she forgets a line, no fancy props or dress change. It was just her natural, beautiful in an uncanny way face and the audience.

I'd like to say that Ms. Robert's performance isn't entirely her fault. I'm blaming director Joe Montello who proved that Ms. Roberts is just way too big of a star for him to handle; that he doesn't know how to utilize her talent for her to shine. Also that she is just way too big of an actress for this low-key, shady play of Richard Greenberg. It is a deep, emotional, funny story- almost
engaging! I would have enjoyed this reading not watching it in a play. I can't imagine how they could turn this into an exciting, gripping movie as rights for a movie has already been sold by Greenberg. Even Julia Roberts couldn't save this play and that's probably how far it would go in terms of Broadway showing.

The two other movie stars having had Broadway experiences in the past came out as the better performers, showing a little bit of confidence onstage and really connected with the audience in a theatrical experience way- not the kind of star-fan connection between Ms. Roberts and me. Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper shined in a way Julia didn't in Act I. The very dramatic and realistic rainstorm (where it rained for three days) outshone all three in Act II.

I still have lingering questions for Julia though. Why oh why, did you choose this not-so particularly absorbing play as your Broadway baptism of fire?! What were you thinking? Didn't you think you'd be better off as a heroine in a light romantic-comedy play than as a nervous-wreck character with complexities in life? As a heroine you'd be memorable and charming and comfortable instead you were this insignificant character in this tangled web of three players. You can get away with that in the movies but being a character in a play asks for much more than you could have given at that time... But I am with you. I will be here for your next movie. I will be here for your next Broadway show. Suffice it to say that I am a Julia Roberts fan and will always be a Julia Roberts fan regardless of how she fared in "Three Days of Rain." ©

Three Days of Rain
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
242 West 45th Street
New York City, New York
Broadway Premiere: 19 April 2006
Closed: 18 June 2006

- 22 june 2006

Does Lea Salonga Works Magic for Les Misérables?

2007-10-07T21:06:00.000-07:00

Is she the secret weapon of this musical comeback?
I am obviously biased here because we share the same Filipino heritage. However, when Les Misérables (The Miserable Ones) re-opened in November 2006, it initially advertised itself as a limited six-month engagement. Now ten months later, it has an open-run date and has scheduled shows all the way to January 2008. She wasn't among the original revival cast, she came in 3 months prior to its supposed closing in May 2007. In that short time the role Lea currently plays had to be replaced not once but twice before everyone was comfortable with the character fit. Although majority of the original cast are no longer in the show for various reasons, Lea maintains her role (7 months and counting) with the only two remaining original revival cast Adam Jacobs and Ali Ewoldt, who happen to be Filipino-Americans!

It is a pleasant surprise that it is still playing in New York. I saw the musical in May this year and I was among those who weren't totally impressed with this version. The critical reviews were rough. Learning that, I wasn't inclined to watch until they especially singled out Lea Salonga to 'save' Fantine's role. It would have been really les misérable for me to sit through an almost three hour musical if I didn't at least see Lea Salonga.

Les Miz as it's devotedly called has pretty good statistics to brag about- 16 years in New York Broadway, 22 years in London West End, ranks third as the longest-running show in Broadway history, and has been witnessed by over 54 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened in 1987, garnering 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical for that year. The Broadway production ended in 2003 after 6,680 performances.

So, what's missing with the current production? Why isn't it getting fantastic reviews? For starters, it has only been three years since its last curtain call and now she is back. You haven't missed her long enough yet! Majority of the critics say it is premature to revive her this early. And I agree because thousands of people share a great love for this show the first time they saw it. I fell in love with the original cast soundtrack not having even seen the original broadway production. That's how powerful the original production was years ago. This is the problem with revivals. It will always be compared to the original. And if you can't surpass your predecessor then you're in trouble. Next is, they are having trouble casting the right people. Mind you, top caliber theater actors have played the part and are playing the part but for various reasons, the cast keep changing. Thirdly, the current theater is smaller (by almost 300 seats) so the stage look cramped hence there are also smaller miserables ensemble visually obvious on the student revolution of 1832 scene which is the highlight in Act II. Not to be missed though is the revolving stage which was innovative and good to see! There is such fine detail in their props, and great lighting set the tone and mood on stage.

High expectations of the show is the typical downer from those who has seen the original version. I didn't have any but I wasn't blown away even with Lea Salonga's presence. The first time I heard I Dreamed a Dream on CD, Fantine's signature song- I had goosebumps and was teary-eyed because I felt all her pain and agony just from listening. Fantine's life is the most unfortunate of all in this musical of vast and multi-faceted characters. I was looking for that same intensity from Lea and I didn't feel it. "I Dreamed a Dream" if the performer nails it, is the most powerful ballad in the musical and is known to be a show-stopper- that's when the audience are so moved and so affected that they just give the song a standing ovation as if on cue and thundering applause follows. That didn't happen that night. I was not convinced of her playing a sickly factory worker turned into a prostitute in despair. I wasn't emotionally involved with her character that I couldn't make myself cry even on her death bed scene. She dies in Act I and is seen again as a ghost with Eponine guiding Jean Valjean to eternity in the finale of Act II. The thing is, it has gotten emotional in Act II halfway through the end and I was crying myself out, grieving over Eponine's untimely death, lamenting over the meaningful death of Gavroche and Valjean's touching death- when all the major characters were reunited with him in the finale. Yes, almost all of them die in this poignant show.

The two lead roles of Jean Valjean and Javert played by Alexander Gemignani (now replaced by Drew Sarich) and Ben Davis (took over the role from Norm Lewis and now replaced by Ben Crawford) respectively, weren't a standout. Their singing were solid and almost perfect but again the emotions are lacking. They're supposed to be two angry mortal enemies playing cat and mouse thru the whole musical and find forgiveness and remorse in the end but you don't feel it.

Ali Ewoldt as frail and beautiful Cosette (the girl on the Les Miz emblem) and Adam Jacobs as handsome Marius were cute and almost believable in their portrayals. Somehow, I find Ali's voice too sharp and high-pitched for a soprano range.

Ann Harada as deceitful Mme. Thenardier was delightful to watch having seen her in Avenue Q as the original Christmas Eve. She's so fun to watch onstage whatever role she's playing!

Mandy Bruno (took over the role from Celia Keenan-Bolger and now replaced by Megan McGinnis) as sweet, heartbroken Eponine and Zach Rand (playing alternately with 2 other child actors) as vagabond, street smart, Gavroche stole the show for me! These two characters though have short exposure on the show are pivotal to the entire story that I think any actor given the role are lucky in that sense because the characters are so notable and captivating in itself that it doesn't matter who plays it. You are just simply absorbed and moved.

That's what I felt the first time I heard Lea Salonga sang "On my Own," Eponine's signature song, over a decade ago. While I was watching the Les Miz revival, I wished Lea was Eponine again! She owns that song! No one can sing it better than her! "On My Own" has been sang and recorded by so many but nothing comes close to Lea's rendition. If I may refresh your memory, Lea Salonga became the first Asian actress ever to play Eponine on Broadway in 1993, perform the same role in the London production, and in Hawaii, and was the one invited to play at the historic Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Sir Cameron Mackintosh hand-selected the cast for that concert, and has come to be called the Les Misérables Dream Cast, assembling cast members from around the world.

Lea Salonga, regardless of her performance when I saw her on stage that night, is one strong, remarkable woman whom we saw grow as a child singer and actress back in the Philippines and into this fine, brilliant Sir Olivier, Drama desk and Tony Award Broadway winner! She is drawing the crowd to watch her in Les Miz. There is no question that the musical is a masterpiece otherwise it wouldn't have this long staying power all over the word. It is without doubt close to our hearts and withstands time being originally written as a French Novel by Victor Hugo in 1862. 145 years later, his characters are as real as the poor, wretched ones being oppressed around the world to this very day. I'm just saying, you still need a star like Lea Salonga to pull people in it. It is a story needed to be told. And Lea Salonga might as well be the driving force of this present revival. I don't know what her contract is with the show or whether she'd give up the role when something better comes up but meantime, catch her while you still can!

Incidentally Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, took a break from her tight schedule last week (September 27) in New York to watch the matinee of Les Miz at the Broadhurst Theater. She went up the stage after the finale for picture taking with the cast and greet Lea Salonga, Fil-Ams Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs.

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Note: Yaikks! I just got finished this article and found out that Lea is in fact leaving Les Miz this month! It is unclear as to why. She may be preparing for her next role as Cinderella to be played in Manila, Philippines but that's still in August 2008! Oh well, hurry now to New York to see her!!©

Les Misérables
Broadhurst Theatre
235 W. 44th Street,
New York City, New York
Date opened: November 2006

Official Les Misérables Website
Official Les Misérables-Broadway website

Holiday Cheers... With Food, Food, Food!

2007-12-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

What do you most look forward to this Christmas/Holiday? That's the question I asked in my mini poll. Survey says: It's food, food, food! tallied at 66%. Why, am I not surprised?! Food is a major factor in what makes a great holiday! It can make or break the entire occasion!

In the Philippines, we go all out by serving good ham and fine aged cheese and other special foodie. Then there's whole roasted pork or a heavy heaping of roasted calf and some other Filipino delicacies. In the US, well some also have the good ham and special cheese, or the good ol' turkey! (not again, we just had it on Thanksgiving day!) and then a mix of Italian, American, Asian, Mediterranean and other cuisine.

Second off in a tie at 52% is exchange gifts galore and Christmas / year end sales! Hmmm, are we really commercializing even the most glorious of celebrations, the birth of Christ? This is asking the Christians of course, including me! Just a thought to ponder...

And what do you know, the reunion with family comes in only at third with 47%! Priorities, priorities, priorities...

Last but not the least, huh, holiday? what holiday? with 19% of the total votes. Well, Christmas really is a religious Christian holiday and for non-Christians, it is nothing but any other day and for most, just a holiday off away from work. For some, it is just the celebration of the commercial aspect of it. That's nothing to be surprised about.

Like here in America where people are so diverse with different beliefs, it is imperative that everyone has an open mind that not everyone share the same meaning of Christmas as the other. So much so that some States actually have an unwritten law in commercial places like offices and retail stores to NOT greet people you don't know with Merry Christmas so as NOT to offend them but rather, greet them simply with Happy Holidays!

In a Christian nation like the Philippines, it may come almost as a shock to hear that one would be offended when being greeted with Merry Christmas! We almost always assume that everyone is Christian so it's ok to say it. Yet, if we look deeper, if we're not sure if the person we're greeting is a Christian or not- don't you think it is best and polite to simply say: Happy Holidays! instead of Merry Christmas? Just another thought...

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On a different note:

Between now and the new year, I will be officially moving my blog to Wordpress, getting my own domain and the works! I'm really getting sick and bored here in Blogger. I need change. Change should be good.

The shift would be a major challenge for me though as Wordpress is way different than Blogger but I already did it with my other site, The Postcard Collector. What a pain that was! Nonetheless, should be worth it in the long run.

With that said, you might be getting error messages or something like, the page can't be found or something. The new site may even be unreachable. Bear with me. Know that I'm doing my all to make the transition as smooth as possible for me and you. Please come back again and don't be a stranger here! Thanks!

I'd like to leave everyone with a note here :-)

Bloggers Unite: Acts of Kindness, 12-17-2007

2007-12-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing the campaign for weeks, calling all bloggers to unite for acts of kindness to do offline and blogging about it thru words, pictures or videos. Today, December 17th is the day to tell the world about the good deed done.

I wanted to be a part of it but I wasn't sure until late last week that I was joining because I didn't know what to do. For sure I wanted it to be something meaningful yet something I've never done before.

I attended a Christmas party last weekend and I met someone who belonged to a Filipino non-profit organization here in Massachusetts, Bagong Kulturang Pinoy, Inc. whose main mission is to spread children literacy through books in poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines. Their slogan is: Helping Filipino children read their way out of poverty. The history of the organization is inspiring. It spurred from a simple idea of one person wanting to give something back to her community in the Philippines. From putting up one mini-library, now 10 years later it is supporting 100 libraries (still says 90 on the website) and counting- with 80,000 books sent out each year benefiting thousands of kids who eventually become habitual readers.

I got into real good talking with her and showed my interest about the program. We exchanged contact information and told her that I'm willing to volunteer anytime they need a hand. I got an email on Monday asking me if I wanted to come for Saturday, December 15 to help out. I didn't think twice and said yes right away! I drove for an hour to get to the place, in the cold Saturday and with snow from the days before. I get to the place and spent a very good afternoon with very nice people whom I was meeting for the first time. They took me like a friend and I helped stamping out each book (labeling that it came from here), sorting them out and placing them in the famous, distinctly Filipino Balikbayan boxes (care package).

Having had 'training' in stuffing just about anything to put in my own Balikbayan boxes I sent out each year for my family back home, they commented how good my packing was making sure every inch of space is utilized and not an air left to breathe inside the boxes. They said I was able to put the books that could have gone in three boxes to fit into one! That was an exaggeration I think but I was pleased they were happy with my work.

We finished packing 8 huge boxes containing hundreds of books by the time we were done! The books are going to 6 different mini-libraries in the Philippines and I can imagine how excited the kids will be once they see the various selections we've included on the boxes. This is the kind of thing one would find fulfilling because you can actually see the work in action. You know that every book you donate and ship, kids back home will read and treasure the opportunity because having books in depressed areas in the Philippines is a luxury. It doesn't come by very often.

I went home with an utterly light feeling and with a smile on my face! It feels so good when you're doing an act of kindness especially if it's something not planned and sort of just happened. I never knew such a Filipino organization existed here in Massachusetts. Now, I am hooked! I am going to continue volunteering for this great mission and I promised to visit one of their mini-libraries in the Philippines on my vacation in early 2008 so I could report on its progress. This has truly been an opener. I have been helping in my own little way to give something back to my home country and I just added another one that truly is making a difference in the lives of children in the Philippines. What a way to start my holiday, volunteering and spreading the good cheers around!

Note: I encourage you to visit the Bagong Kulturang Pinoy website to learn more about the organization. Just reading through the different programs and how they're impacting the lives of poor kids in the Philippines is amazing. Perhaps you may even find it uplifting to share some books or make financial contributions. Help is always needed in whatever form. © 2007

Did you blog about Bloggers Unite: Acts of Kindness? Leave your URL here so we can visit your site! Don't forget to leave a note :-)

Are You a Do Follow Blogger Yet?

2007-12-13T00:36:00.000-08:00

I chanced upon the term "do follow" about a month ago and I'm quite surprised that it hasn't really taken off when I found the whole idea 'nonconforming' and even defiant of Google! I embraced the concept instantaneously!

My previous post here has been about my growing discontent with Google in general and Blogger in particular. Google launched the "rel=nofollow" tag in early 2005 to combat spamming in blogs. Major search engines like Yahoo and MSN liked the bit so they followed suit. It was initially seen as a great idea because really, spamming has become uncontrollable at that time.

What is the rel=nofollow tag?

Rel=nofollow according to wikipedia, "is a non-standard HTML attribute value used to instruct search engines that a hyperlink should not influence the link target's ranking in the search engine's index. It is intended to reduce the effectiveness of certain types of search engine spam, thereby improving the quality of search engine results and preventing spamdexing from occurring in the first place."

Simply put, the rel=nofollow tag aims to blacklist spam comments left on message boards, forums and blogs. Spam comments are comments with no relevance to what the post is all about and is usually just a link URL pointing you to a site selling or promoting something- unfortunately, most sites are of obscene nature. Spammers come in huge numbers and it is a pain to remove the comments one by one when they come by the hundreds in your various posts. Blogs where the comment moderation is turned off are the ones mainly targeted.

Why do spammers love to spam blogs?

The reason is simple. Blogs have a wide, diverse audience and usually has huge content. Most blogs also have strong PageRanks (another Google owned trademark!) and spammers want to benefit from that. When you link with a blog, search engines crawl that link and will consider that link almost as important when attached to a page that has a PageRank. So then when one is searching for something and that blog shows up, most likely that spam comment will show up in search engines as well.

With the rel=nofollow tag attached to a template by default, spam comments WILL NOT be indexed by Google or other search engines thereby will be ignored by the search engines and will have no value at all whatsoever. It render the comments totally useless from a search engine's point of view.

Now you see where I am driving at here.

While the objective is firstly seen as a deterrent for spamming, it is not totally beneficial to any blogger who cares about its readers and its blog's ranking because the search engines CAN NOT determine what a spam comment is from a legitimate comment. What it does is totally ignore all comments- legit or not!

With the rel=nofollow tag on, the reader's comments are never included when search engines rank a page's importance. So from the standpoint of PageRanking, the blogger gets nothing from the comment and the commenter gets nothing back. It's a dead end for both.

Is Do Follow the answer to rel=nofollow?

I strongly believe it is! Do Follow, writes a supporter, "is an action or a step a blogger initiates to remove the attribute rel=”nofollow” in its blog codes, either by installing a plug-in: Wordpress plugin or this Wordpress plugin, or manually for blogspot and for movable type. Most bloggers would refer to it as a campaign or a movement against rel=nofollow."

Google does not prohibit one from removing the nofollow tag. It is therefore a choice we can make. I choose to reward my readers for taking the time to comment on my posts. Personally, I only try to leave comments now to blogs that support Do Follow. We all are busy people and there are millions of blogs out there. It's impossible for us to visit all of these blogs so why not just visit the ones that will also benefit us in some way? I'd like to be able to give that to my readers and perhaps may encourage them to leave a comment knowing that their URL link will be counted by google and other search engines.

I've read that even with the rel=nofollow tag on, spammers are still out there! It doesn't stop them from doing what they're doing. So why not remove the nofollow tag to benefit us and our readers?

Blogs have other ways of fighting spams now like entering a word or sets of letters and numbers before submitting a comment or just having to enter information manually and clicking submit; these are moves a spam-robot can't do automatically hence preventing the spam from occurring. One can also turn on the comments moderation to filter comments before appearing and going live on your site. I like the idea of comment moderation because it gives me control over what's going to be attached to my site before it hits the blogosphere! I have had a small number of spam comments which I'm truly thankful moderation is on since the comments were nothing but objectionable links leading you to lewd sites!

Again, I think every blogger should make a choice and support Do Follow. It's a win-win and the benefits definitely outweigh Google's reason- that of punishing spammers. Why would we punish OUR readers?!

(Now is a great time to become a Do Follow blogger. Rob from Blogs that Follow whom I met on Blog Catalog and MyBloglog and whom I've exchanged a few emails with on the subject, is giving out Grey's Anatomy 2008 calendars to bloggers who become Do Follow supporters! Kindly visit their website to know more about the ongoing promo.)

Sneaky Google How Could You Do This To Blogger?!

2007-12-04T17:04:00.000-08:00

Related Post: What Haloscan Wouldn't Tell Us! Please Pass!!
Update at the end of the article. 11 December 2007
Update at the end of article. 13 December 2007

I've loved Google and all its products from the very beginning. I think they're far superior in Search than any other search engines. When they introduced gmail, I was among the first to use it as a secondary email though I still keep Yahoo!Mail as my primary just because I've used it forever and it's a hassle to shift things.

They developed Picasa- a photo organizing and editing tool and I use it all the time for quick editing of my photos. I have been using their toolbar even before Mozilla Firefox partnered with them as the browser's default search engine! I use Google adsense for all my blogs and sites. I prefer Google checkout when shopping! I love Google Earth and I use YouTube all the time! All my internet surfing and computing involves Google in one way or another. I'm practically a walking ad for them as I always recommend Google products to my non-geek family and friends.

The recent events with Blogger however, makes me rethink if Google actually deserves all my adulation and support! First, Google placed the "rel=nofollow" tag in our templates as default so every comment we get goes nowhere and just dies in our posts- meaning, the links left on the comments page would not be crawled by search engines for page ranking- rendering that comment practically useless to the person commenting! Second, it penalized sites who are doing pay per post and those selling text links in terms of their page rank. I don't do both so I'm not really affected by it. My website is also only 2 months old for me to even vie for a page rank!

AND NOW THIS: Google deviously and cunningly incorporated a new stupid rule they have for commenting on posts using the Blogger platform. They're making commenting almost exclusive to just Blogger readers. Other platform users like Wordpress and LiveJournal would have to contend to leaving their name either as anonymous or nickname that doesn't mean anything because there is no way of entering a URL link. Basically, non-blogger users comment wouldn't amount to anything with this kind of setup. This is discouraging for non-Blogger users obviously and makes receiving comments even harder to come by. And when we Blogger users don't do anything about it, then we probably end up with no more comments at all.

So Sneaky Google just went ahead on their own and started this thing if I'm not mistaken two days ago! Most bloggers haven't noticed this yet to react! Google didn't announce it. What were they thinking? That we users wouldn't care and if we did, just accept it?! I don't really see the logic in this! If someone outside of Blogger leaves me a comment, I wouldn't even know how to contact her back or how to get to her website because she couldn't leave her URL. Google owes bloggers for making them bigger than they already are and we don't deserve these restrictions!

The good news is there IS ALWAYS a workaround just like the "rel=nofollow"!

1. If you don't have a blog yet OR just starting: Get Wordpress!

They're a far better platform than Blogger in all counts! For one Wordpress has very classy, easy on the eyes, neat layouts! I could have chosen Wordpress but I thought I was being loyal to Google. And this is how Google repays me!! Now, it's too late for me to shift. I have gazillion links and widgets and I've submitted my URL to gazillion sites, it's too tedious to redo it all again...

2. Type in your URL on the comments page.

If you're a non Blogger user, make sure to type in your URL when you leave a comment. That way, the Blogger can still contact you or visit your site for reciprocity.

3. Rant, bitch and screw Google on this until they listen us!

They probably won't do anything but at least we let them know that what they're doing stinks! Blog about it! Share it! If you find this article informative or you've read about it here first, I appreciate your link back to this article.

4. Install **HaloScan! A Weblog commenting and trackback service.

This is the best workaround! It saved me and though I've found it by googling, I still hate Google for making me do all the trouble of changing my comments page and searching for it. Don't get me wrong, installing Haloscan was a breeze!! You can customize the look of the page and you can even put an image to it! I had mine installed and working in less than 5 minutes on both this site and The Postcard Collector site. Check out my comment page now and while you're at it, leave a comment for me. You'll see your URL and I have the "rel=nofollow" turned off! You'll sure to be rewarded by commenting on this site and at The Postcard Collector. :-)

Boo boo and thumbs down for you Sneaky Google! How could you?!!

**Author's note: Please read the updated article regarding Haloscan before installing the comments page. I now recommend installing with caution. I'm endorsing: caveat emptor or buyer beware!

UPDATE: As of today, 11 December 2007- we still have not heard from Google what this change in the Comments page is all about. Of late, I have seen some comments page with a drop down menu where you can choose which platform you use and would then require a login to get your ID. I understand this is all part of the move to end spamming- I'm all for that! Never mind if it's a bit of an inconvenience for non-blogger users. This is better than 'anonymous' or 'nickname' and not having any place to put a URL link.

What surprises me is this new drop down feature isn't available to all bloggers yet! I don't see it on either of my two blogs! I wonder if it's because I've mangled my template over and over and so Blogger can't auto-configure it. Maybe it only works for the regular templates. Bottomline, I don't have the new version, I'm dissatisfied with Blogger and I'm still bitchin'!

UPDATE: As of 13 December 2007- Finally Blogger updates it's official blog today after being silent for two weeks. Their latest blog is about the recent change on the comments page which I pointed out over a week ago. If your comments has been set to comment: anyone, then you don't have to do anything with it. To check the settings of your comments, simply go to settings, then comments and from there you will see options on who can comment. Please see photo below.

I will still be on the lookout for more Blogger changes and will rant or rave about it here! I am still undecided if I should shift to wordpress... too much hassle! Sigh.

What HaloScan Wouldn't Tell Us! Please Pass!!

2007-12-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, I was just raving about Haloscan on my last post. Now, I am going to rant about them!!

1. They imperceptibly cover the fact that when you install Haloscan, all your old comments will not show and will not be integrated with the new one!

Although the comments are not deleted and still with Blogger, it's not showing! Their excuse, "Unfortunately HaloScan cannot read the Blogger system to access any of the comments left using the Blogger commenting system. You should be aware of this before installing HaloScan."

No I wasn't aware of it because the stupid warning is located somewhere in their HELP section. Why would I go to Help when they had me sold from their convincing ad upfront and all you can see on your member's page after signing up is this:

Latest News: New Blogger Installation Wizard!

Wouldn't they be more credible if they placed the disclaimer just underneath that like: Warning: Please read before installing Haloscan. Even on their Install page itself, a warning or disclaimer couldn't be found! Isn't that trying to be deceptive?

2. Haloscan's annoying solution to the above is a code you can enter that no matter how and where I put it, doesn't work!

I found the code on their forum and there are many versions of it from people trying to find a workaround. So one help leads you to one page, and another goes to another page- until you get dizzy from all the alien codes and confusing instructions.The thing is placing the code VARIES from template to template and the more mashed up your template is, the harder to find where you're supposed to place it! I somewhat fall on that category! I just wasted an hour of my life trying to figure out something that doesn't work on my template!

3. The comments are archived after four months! So you will no longer have access to it beyond that point.

That statement is unclear and vague because I just read that on their forum and Haloscan does not make any formal statement about it which to me is another way of being cunning! This important thing plus the disclaimer should be among the ones you see prior to installing. Of course they won't tell you because they want to draw you in! I feel like a fool!

Some say you won't get access to it BUT it is still there on your comments page. With not being able to access, it just means you can't edit or delete it anymore after such time. BUT then it could also mean that it will be gone forever on your comments page after four months! No one knows for sure because Haloscan evades the question and does not address it formally.

4. They have a $12.00 PER year upgrade which supposedly will help you solve some if not all of the above issues!

Who the heck wants to pay $12.00 a year for something like a comments page? I've got enough bills to shoulder on my internet hobbies- I don't need another annual expense to add!

I am Back to my stinky blogger comments page!

Sob. Sob. Sob. For a while there, I thought I outsmarted Google!!! Haloscan has really some neat features like managing trackbacks and being able to put images on the comments page!! I apologize my dear readers for jumping on a quick solution to my Blogger woes and worse, I encouraged you to do the same!! Please help me disseminate that this is now: INSTALL HALOSCAN WITH CAUTION. I think it may work for those willing to pay $12.00 for an upgrade and those who are starting to blog- meaning no comments yet to deal with from Blogger.

The good news is: it is also such a breeze to go back to your old template!! I'm assuming when Haloscan asked you to back up your old template that you did!! Please tell me you did because going back to your previous one is so easy!

Go to your Template and then edit HTML. Click Expand widget template. Upload a template from a file on your hard drive. Browse on the template and hit Upload. Save it and your done!

Cut and paste the new comments you received from Haloscan. Enter manually to the stinky Blogger comments page. You're done.

I AM NOT HAPPY about all these and I am seriously considering moving to Wordpress. Wordpress bloggers seem to be happier bloggers! Perhaps, I'll do that as part of my new year's resolution. My issue on moving is that I have to change URL and resubmit my new URL to the world again!! And then I'd have to figure out Wordpress itself. It seem like a complicated platform and something totally new territory for me! We'll see. Maybe Google will be a little bit better in a month! I doubt it...

Wordpress users, would you tell this Blogger user how easy Wordpress is? I need encouragement! LOL

It's Officially Winter in Boston!

2007-12-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

Hence, the suffering begins. My suffering anyway.

We had the first snow of the year today. Every time the temperature drops to 0C (32F), it reminds me again why am I still in the coldest part of the East coast? I hate Winter. I hate the cold weather! But Boston is truly a beautiful place to be at in the Spring and the Summer! So goes my cycle and dilemma. In the Winter time, I want to move out of this State! In the Summer time, I don't want to be anywhere else but in Boston.

Today was just a mild snow storm, (a major would be about -20C) but the thing with mild is everything gets iced the next day. You don't wanna walk on ice! I've slipped here and there walking on ice, literally fall flat on my back! That happens when you step on an unsalted area and yeah, when you're as clumsy as I am. You can't let that happen to anybody walking in front of your house because if they break a bone or something, you can get sued! Seriously.

While living in the cold area has its advantages (no flies, rodents, mosquitoes, you don't sweat! food aren't easily spoiled, everything looks extra nice when covered in snow...) I find more disadvantages to it.

The nights are longer and colder (4pm is like 8pm at night)! Driving is awful and doubly dangerous when caught in a snow storm especially at night. Others like the idea of hiding in layers under one's clothing, not my style! I'm a beach girl! Even with tons of layers, my hands and feet are still icy, my lips chapped, face flushed and since I always forget to wear a hat, my nose and ears- frozen! The air is dry so my nose tends to bleed a little.

Much as I love not sweating, some people think it's all right NOT to take a shower in the Winter. When you're in a crowded and enclosed area like the train or elevator, there's an almost suffocating smell in the air! I think it's also because they think it's all right to wear the same clothing for days since it's still 'clean'. The heating bill is outrageous, you wish you'll just hibernate to skip turning up the heat! In an article from Forbes it mentions the 20 most expensive cities to heat in the United States and Boston ranks first. Oh and did I almost forget to mention that you're responsible for cleaning up your own driveway and dig into the snow to get your car so you can get to work... So you're outside for an hour or so shoveling and clearing up your area especially the sidewalk for people to pass. You can hire someone to clean for only $100.00 each time!

Snow taller than me! The smile is only for the photo op. Believe me, you'll hate winter too!!

Ok, I must admit the first Winter and snow experience were exciting! I felt like a kid who discovered "Neverland." But only lasted a day... I'm miserable in the Winter. Really.

Massachusetts and the East Coast are not really the most popular areas Filipinos would choose to migrate (except perhaps for New York) primarily because of the weather. There are only about 10,000 Filipinos in Massachusetts as opposed to the warmer and always sunny California with over a million Filipino migrants. Yet, the 10,000 seem to love it here because it makes them feel like they belong to the "upper class" (sosyal) as one Filipina I met said to me; While living in California seems like you've never left the Philippines at all because it's too Filipino congested, she further added (meaning what? "lower-class"). I found the comment rather amusing if not shallow and ignorant. I wanted to make a snowman out of her! But I will not rattle on that now.

It's officially Winter in Boston. Let me out of here!

7 Things You Don't Know About Me

2007-11-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

I'm not much of a gut spiller online, I'd rather prefer what privacy I have left intact. I do share some here and there in my posts, and every once in a while I hide behind my poetry and fiction stories- real and fabled colliding. Still I would neither deny nor admit I'm that character or this character. Up to you to conclude and the twist may be, that you're amiss!

Memes and tagging seem to be the trend for personal bloggers who want to be intimate with their readers. I dread that because it entails giving away inner thoughts; yet the hardest seem to be telling the whole world specific facts and current personal information about oneself. I'd rather hide!

To me that raises a red flag. I've encountered personal blogs who practically share every vital statistics about them that it is so easy to track them down, they just might as well hand in their wallets! They're practically inviting would be stalkers and online identity theives. I hate to break the party, I'm just saying there are unscrupulous invididuals who make us their easy target based on what we say alone in our blogs!

Nonetheless, I somehow knew it was only a matter of time when someone would in fact tag me! Though it gave me a headache as to what I should reveal (or not!), I'm most happy to oblige in this exercise just because the Pinay Dreamer, one of my fave blog neighbors tagged me. This person is passionate at what she does. A blogger who is as super a mom and a wifey as she is a prolific writer and an expert wakeboarder all in one cool packaging!

She wants me to reveal seven things YOU readers don't know about me! Fair enough. I think that I could share general pieces of me without inviting trouble to myself. Or am I just being too paranoid? I'd say cautious... :-)

1. I belong to the 10% of the adult population who are southpaw or leftie.

I remember how difficult it was for me growing up as one. Although I wasn't forced, I was strongly encouraged to write with my right hand. Arm chairs for lefties were non-existent at that time. Tools are always designed for right-handed people. Try cutting paper with your left hand with a right handed scissor! I get confused even now, following directions where a right handed person shows me how to do things and I have to do it with my left! I wouldn't trade it to be right-handed though! Being a minority leftie is somewhat unique!

2. I have a terrible body clock.

My brain starts to work at midnight. I'm half-dead at daytime. On normal days, I sleep at 3am. On weekends, I could stay up til 7am and get up after five hours sleep or I could sleep in as much as 12 hours and miss an entire day then only to be awake the entire night until it's daylight! When I'm out, I'm out like a light! Noise, light or any commotion don't bother me. So I don't hear the alarm. On important appointments, I'd have 4 alarm clocks running on snooze and still ask someone to call me or be there just to give me a nudge- perhaps throw a bucket of cold water on me! I don't sleep on normal hours but put me in anything that moves: bus, car, train, plane, motorcycle, I'd be sleeping in 5 minutes anytime of the day with my mouth open and head banging all over the place!

3. I like animals but only if they're not mine!

I don't like the responsiblity that goes with taking care of them. I used to have lotsa hamster as a kid and loved them but someone would always attend to it after I'm done petting them. The same is true with kids right? you adore them, only when they're not yours! haha! Oh sure, I'd love to have kids of my own someday- I just hope I can petition my fave nanny here to the US. If not, there's always grandma! Ok, Ok I love kids and I'm going to be hands-on with them! Kids are different, you nurture and love them and they respond with such warmth and joy and they can talk! All the pressures and heavy load gone just seeing them smile. For now, I love my nieces to death!!

Cats are as popular of a pet as dogs are in America. I'm sorry but I don't like cats- whatever kind (maybe Puss in Shrek, that's it!). Perhaps it is cultural because in the Philippines, they aren't really considered house pets. I hate crawling animals, insects, amphibians and reptiles with a passion! So goes without saying, I shriek at the very thought of even seeing any kind of snake or a toad! To touch it would be even worse! Eeewwww!! (Sorry Ivy, I don't think I could go near Sedira!)

4. My first ever real paid job brought me many firsts.

First time to be out of the country. First time to live alone at age 22 for close to six months of training for an Editorial Assistant job in Tokyo, Japan. First real heartbreak! I broke up with my boyfriend of 3 years before I left the Philippines. First paycheck. First time to really cook- ate a lot of canned food, eggs, and instant ramen noodles-- I found out, it wasn't so bad for breakfast! First time to do household chores but with such great amenities and conveniences! First time to mingle with other culture. First taste of living in a rich, high-tech, first world nation and with such loving, kind and warm people. First international friendships. First sake (japanese wine). First Winter and Spring. First time to see Tokyo Disneyland! More firsts that I can't tell you about...! ;-)

5. I suck in Math! I have a poor memory when it comes to names and faces too!

It has put me in embarrassing situations where up to the end of the meeting, I was still second-guesing who that person was! Not good at all! Anything to do with math and numbers, expect me to stare at you blankly. I'm bad with dates, where my keys are or what I did or ate 2 days ago! Phone numbers? I don't even know mine! My notebook is my lifeline- I put every important factoids and numbers in it!

6. I hate public speaking and I have the so-called stage fright.

I think I'm a better writer than a speaker anyway. I prefer behind-the-scene work away from the limelight. So I'm a ~~frustrated~~, ~~aspiring~~, ~~budding~~, ~~wishful~~, striving writer. No one in my family writes so I could very well believe in the cliche, writers are not born, they're made. I don't have any writing background. I basically taught myself to write by constant reading and loving the english language.

I came from a small town in the islands of Mindanao, Philippines where I finished grade school. I moved to the big city of Manila for high school and I wanted so much to join the school paper but I didn't have the confidence to apply! I was so intimidated by my new school! I sent anonymous poetry and articles and they published it!

I finally joined the school paper in college and was unwittingly good at it. I became a contributor, a section editor then eventually became editor-in-chief for the paper for 2 school years on top of becoming editor-in-chief of the school's official yearbook. I also once worked closely for our Hometown Mayor, handling press releases, speeches (ghost writing), and the like. Not so bad for a self-taught writer, eh?!

7. I have a 4-inch scar on my bikini line from a near-death ruptured appendix!

It happened Christmas Eve some years back. I was in so much pain yet I thought I just over ate from all the Nochebuena (good night) eating! Went to the hospital that night and was (mis)diagnosed as that, having a bad case of indigestion by some kid intern. I woke up with worse pain and feeling very weak, had blood in my urine and thought I was gonna die! I was brought to the hospital again and immediately the more experienced doctor knew what it was and called for a stat operation! Dang, had it been here in the US- it would have been a major lawsuit! We could have sued the hospital but we didn't! Oh yes, I still wear a two-piece bikini every Summer!

Note: If you have localized pain on the lower right side of the abdomen that does not go away, have it checked at once! Appendicitis is such a quick and easy surgical procedure when diagnosed early and if caught in time will only render a small scar of less than an inch not 4 inches!

_______________________________________________________________

There goes the seven things. Now you know! I would like to pass this on to:

Vienne, the 1. Eavesdropwriter, whose blog is another favorite! Her writings are always oh so compelling, inspiring and thought provoking! Michelle, the genius behind 2. Comics-Mix and Prolonged Absence. I'd love to see the 7 things about you in drawing with your usual witty quips and anecdotes! (if that's not asking too much, lol). Louisa, the blogger behind 3. My Emotional Recycle Bin, whose quips and take on things and life is an interesting read. 4. Techie Girl whose Techology info site and Easy Life Guide brings current and relevant articles and reviews for tech and gadget savvy! Ding's strong web presence in: 5. Inkblots and Viewpoint are always a marvel to see and read. 6. Malawika, who posts about blogging, making money online, SEO and more but hopefully will share some personal things we don't know about!! 7. Zen Bitch Speaks whose posts and poetry are always delightful and sublime!

Well, you guys have just been tagged! It's now your turn to pass on the headache as well... Do tell!

Black Friday in Retrospect

2007-11-25T01:10:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Day 2007 in pictures

I was telling you guys about how great Black Friday is having crazily participated for 4 years. However, this year I've noticed a HUGE change which may impact my attendance next year! The consumers have changed the rules and it's beyond my comprehension! After Thanksgiving Dinner around 8pm, I decided for kicks to stop by the shopping area even though I know all the stores are **closed, just to confirm the chitchats during the party that as early as noon, people are setting up tents outside the store to camp out!

Thanksgiving Day 2007: Circuit City @ 8:00pm

@ 2:30 am!! The First group in line. I hate you guys!! Lol

Black Friday madness continues...

To my horror, there were in fact tents by the side of the store!! All of a sudden the shopping mall looked like a camping ground or more like a place where homeless people go. So it was true, the first group on the line were guarding their spot since noon! One was buying a 50" LCD HDTV and the other, a 32" which would save them about $500. The other, the $300 laptop I was also eyeing! There were about 20 tents there and about 50 people. They gave up their traditional Thanksgiving holiday to sit out in the cold and wait 17 hours.

Circuit City @ 3:00 am: Camping out for Black Friday Sale

The line stretches out to 8 stores and counting...

I went home quite disappointed yet resigned to the fact that I am not going to get that notebook I was gonna give to my sister. I spent my night looking for good stuff online, bought some and even managed to watch a movie and then it was time to head to the store at 2:30 in the morning. I am crazy for still going out as early as I did but I've waited 4 hours for a standing only tickets for the musical Jersey Boys in New york, I can handle 2 and a half hours easy. I'm just NOT going to wait 17 hours! Though I did not sleep through out the night, I was warm and cozy at home and I get to do other stuff- beats lying on a cold pavement, staring at a nylon tent.

The Best Buy Line @ 4:00 am. Am not sure why Best Buy draws this kind of line when only the first 20
or 30 people actually get the better stuff. The rest are so-so...

Overall, I'm still pretty happy with my finds! I bought a colored laser printer for $120 (originally $250), 2 500GB external hard drive for $100 each (was $180 each), Magellan GPS for $125.00 (regular tag $300.00), DVD TV sets for $12.00 ($50.00 tag), DVD-Rs for 5 bucks (from $30), Belkin hubs for $6.00 (from $30). I'm still on the look out for a good Laptop price and I will continue till Monday for another major sale, this time exclusive from online retailers which they dub as CyberMonday. If you're interested to check out prices on specific items or to buy, I suggest Amazon, Circuit City, Staples, Officemax and CompUsa. Those are the sites I usually visit!

How far are you willing to go to get an item at the price you want on Black Fridays? Would you miss the special holiday, skip meeting family, instead camp out and spend a cold night outside the store? Or are you going to get a good meal in, have small talks with family, and stay home surfing for finds online in your pjs? What's worth your while? How much does your time cost? When you break it down to say the $500.00 saving for a TV- their waiting time costs about $30.00 an hour. I guess if you're earning $10.00 an hour in your day job- 17 hours certainly is worth your time! As for me, maybe I'll give it one more try next year. I will not skip Black Friday but I am NOT spending 17 hours for it plus about 8 hours of shopping. I realized that night, I maybe a shopaholic but I am not that desperate for a bargain...

*The only 2 days ALL the stores are closed in America are Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, no Holy Week holidays.

Meeting Julia Roberts And John Lloyd Young Up Close (OR How To Watch Broadway Shows The Smarter Way)

2007-10-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

SO I WAS IN NEW YORK with a friend in June 2006. We got tickets to see the Mel Brooks hit musical "The Producers". We arrived in NYC pretty early on Saturday after a three and a half hour car ride from Boston. We figured we'd check out other theaters and see if we can get good enough rates to watch more shows. Summer has officially started and NY has more visitors those days than any other season. Tickets were hard to come by unless you're willing to pay premier seats that could go as high as $400.00 per person for a show (or scalped tickets at even ridiculously higher price for good shows). Since the shows we were interested in were all blocks away from each other, we decided to split and just call if there are seats left on the theaters we were at.

First stop for me was "Three Days of Rain," which was only playing until Sunday, June 18. As expected tickets we're sold out (except for premier seats!!). But I kept pressing for cheaper seats, until the ticket guy said- "here's the deal, we're selling 'Standing Only' tickets two hours before the show on a first come first serve basis. If you want it, you have to be in line way before two hours." Those words sounded music to my ears and I was excited. "How much?" I asked. I was calculating, if orchestra tickets were at $112.00. Standing tickets must cost half of that! Shoot, $60 bucks! But what the hey, I'd take my chance. I wanted to see Julia Roberts in the flesh! And then the guy answered, "$26.25!" Holy Molly!! For a fraction of the seated seat, I get to watch the show! You bet I'll wait in line!! I don't care if it was standing or lying down on the floor! I called my friend. It was 10am. I waited in line until they open the sale at noon time for the matinée. And so after 2 hours of waiting I got our tickets to watch Julia Roberts! That's only the icing on the cake as I later find out. We had lunch and then it was time to see the play.

To my surprise, most theaters do 'Standing Only' tickets and we've never heard of it. All the time we've been going to New York to watch a show! They don't advertise it of course and tickets we're very limited to only about 20 people or less! Our tickets were numbered so each ticket had a specific area where you stand, it's not the "you're on your own because you're standing type of ticket." It was well organized.

The usher was very friendly with us when we were in our place at the back. More than friendly that I was going to tape her mouth to keep her from talking! She kept telling me what "Three Days of Rain" was all about! In my mind, I was like "look lady, I've read all the reviews and I know the boring story by heart by now. I'm only here to see Julia Roberts!" I just sweetly smiled and asked, "does Julia sign autographs after the show?" Oh boy, was I glad I kept my temper with her- otherwise, I would have never known! She said "yes, Julia is very kind and accommodating, just today she came out to talk with us and have our pictures taken with her and blah, blah..." ("Lady. Tell me what to do!!") Finally after a long talk, she tells me what I wanted to hear.

I stood there for the whole first act. A 15-minute Intermission came. That same usher came to us and directed us to 2 empty seats at the near center!! She says, "these seats are available, you can seat here for the remaining act." That lady was surely an angel! It pays to be nice sometimes! We endured the next hour pinching ourselves from sleeping (there were parts in the play that even the three characters looked like they were falling asleep themselves!) As soon as the curtain fell, I was dashing out of the theater to head for the backstage door for autographs!!

Outside, there was a barricade near the street and a few people, I showed my ticket and I was in! Security was very tight. It was a rather long wait but nobody seemed to mind! This was the cake! I would have never known where to go for autographs had we been sitting. I would have never talked to the usher at all and by the time we got out of the filled theater, Julia would have left or the guards wouldn't have let me in!

Meanwhile, Julia's bodyguards were making sure everyone were behaved. Only the ones inside the barricade were allowed to hang around the area. They were practically shoving and driving bystanders away. The guy made some funny ground rules like, "Julia has her own pen, do not give her a pen. Don't ask Julia to smile for you- she's tired, Don't ask her any questions- she won't answer. Don't ask her to pose for you, she doesn't have time. Take as much pictures as you want but don't push, if this barricade even moves, Julia is out of here!"

So when Julia came out, the whole crowd just went silent. I'm not sure if it was because of what the bodyguard said. I think it was more of a shock, mouth agape in a state of amazement that THE Julia Roberts is in fact in our midst! I was star-struck!! To quote Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, "it was surreal but nice!" She looked almost 'mortal' in gray shirt and striped gray pants and flipflops! She signed about 5 playbill (the play's souvenir program) on my side and she was gone! Just like that, she stayed about a minute on each side to sign autographs! And not even her own signature!! Apparently, she never signs her own name in autographs, she just scribbles- so we all got different scribbles of Julia but we were happy!! Damn, this stupid phone cameras!! I was fumbling with it and panicking that I won't get good shots of her. See my friend had to get our digital cameras because we were asked to deposit them before the show. By the time he got it, Julia was gone!! We were only able to get Paul Rudd's pics in good quality. Bradley Cooper didn't even show up!!! Paul Rudd actually stopped and smiled for me in my phone camera! He was so nice, stayed and signed (in his own name!) and chatted with the group.

Satisfied with our first day, my friend and I took an early start Sunday morning to conquer the unconquerable, the most popular show in broadway in 2006- The Jersey Boys! We went to the theater 3 times on Saturday to see if there were available seats for the Sunday show or if somebody cancelled out. The line was always long and the same answer, "we're sold out, try tomorrow!" So we did. Crazy as we were, we went to check the theater at 9am! Wow, three people were already in the seemingly abandoned street- sitting by the theater. It is going to be a looong day for us. We talked ourselves in for a quick breakfast near the theater. At 9:30 I asked my friend to go and fall in line while I finished breakfast. I didn't want to take any chances, slow eater as I am, that by the time I finish- ten people are already in line! We were 7th and 8th in the line!

As the time progressed, more and more people were showing up! Around 11am, the ticket guy separated the "Student Rush" and "Standing Only" group. The ticket center was about to open. They accommodated 12 students, no more and seven, SEVEN "standing only" tickets!! We were 2 and 3. We bought our tickets at 1pm!! It was fun, insane and ludicrous waiting for four hours!! But we got in! We had a fabulous time standing! And did the same thing head for the door as soon as it was over and got myself an autograph and a picture of the BIGGEST MAN IN BROADWAY in 2006! If you're a theatre buff like I'm becoming to be, be smart- go for the standing only or student rush tickets. You can stretch your one orchestra ticket easy to watching 3 broadway shows in the end! I can't wait for my next Broadway experience and you bet, I'll be waiting in line!©

Of Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Turkey

2007-11-22T00:20:00.000-08:00

Black Friday.

When I moved to the United States I had no clue what Black Friday meant. As born and raised catholic, I only know of Black Saturday the day after Jesus' death; and Good Friday for the day of Jesus' passion and death. So when I came across the term I was like, there's a Holy Day in November?!

Goodness, I got all hyped up and excited upon learning what it meant! Black Friday is THE day after Thanksgiving. It's not any other day. It's THE day of all days! It's the biggest, craziest sale of the year! It beats even the Christmas or year-end sales! Shopping galore to the max! This is when Christmas shopping officially starts. It's when retailers and manufacturers give their big thank you's to consumers by practically giving away their stuff! And when I say giving it away, I'm not kidding! The items are so cheap it's unbelievable!

current Circuit City ad, Black Friday 2007

I almost never pay for my rewritable DVDs and CDs because I buy them on Black Friday and get it free after the rebate and most stores allow you to buy up to 10 units of the 50-packs (that's 500 pieces of DVDs! All you can burn movies and mp3s!). Headsets? Webcams? you get branded ones like logitechs for free after rebate or as cheap as $5.00! Memory cards? same! 1GB of SD for $2.99! Digital cameras? half the price plus free printers! Printers by itself, free after rebate! Notebooks? an intel-core duo Compaq with everything on it for $300 after rebate plus Vista original OS, free anti-virus software, free printer and free router (marked price at $800)! Mp3 players? 30-50% off! GPS for more than half the price! DVD movies for only $3-5 each! Boxed set DVDs like House, MD for 12 bucks (regular price $50.00)! Notice how I'm only talking about electronics and gadgets? Well that's all you should be concentrating at because clothes are always on sale and sells for cheap anytime of the year. So I don't even bother to go clothes shopping. Circuit City and Staples are my main stores for this. They're pretty great with their inventory. Radioshack is ok. Best Buy? Forget it! They're ridiculous with their set-up like you need a ticket to get an item. Their sale items are so limited that even if you go there early, you still get out empty-handed. Not worth your time.

current ad, Staples Black Friday 2007

Of course almost every one in the 50 states are already planning and scheming their moves for Black Friday as early as last Monday. I have been. You can't go to the stores unprepared or you'll get nothing! The night before, you should have finished that list or encircled the ones you want from the store ad. To get the most of the sale, you have to be relentless, rude and aggressive like everybody else. Forget manners and decorum because even the most elegant of all shoppers let their hair down on this day and become vultures! You don't think, you just grab and put the items on your cart. You can't leave your cart unattended for people will take your items from your cart if you're not watching! You don't linger in the store; you pay for your items, get out as fast as you can and head to the next store! Time is of the essence! The thing with Black Friday is the sale for major items are timed and they call it doorbuster prices! When I first got here, some store offer it between 7am-11am, then the next year, it was 6am-10am and then now it's 5am-10am! To get the major items like the laptop I was talking about, you have to be among the first people in the line- like the first 20! If the store opens at 5am, that means you have to be outside the store by 2 in the morning! It's that crazy! People camped out overnight to get the xbox 360 when the latest version came out this year or when the apple iphone was introduced to the stores.

...to get the most of the sale you have to be relentless, rude and aggressive likeeverybody else...

Last year, Compusa started their Black Friday on Thanksgiving night at 9pm-12mn (They have great sales too, unfortunately the store near me closed! The nearest store is 2 hours drive! So it's not on my list this year). After the thanksgiving party, people head out to the store. I was outside Compusa at 7pm along with hundreds already lined up waiting for the doors to open. It was dark, raining, freezing cold and we were all wet yet nobody seemed to mind. By the time I got home, it was almost midnight. Then I started my online shopping trying to get deals from Amazon and others! At 3am, I start to head out the door to get to Circuit City! Did I mention sleep? Oh no, you don't get to sleep on the biggest day of the year! After being awake for more than 24 hours since thanksgiving day, I was beat up by noon time and I was done. Then I slept. Only to do it all over again the next day if you still have energy or money left! Most stores offer 2-day sales but Saturdays sales are usually so-so that I just skip that altogether and look for more online finds instead.

That's what Black Friday is. To know the history behind the term, go wiki it here.

Thanksgiving.

What can I say other than the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated here in Massachusetts in 1621?! Thanksgiving Day is basically a day to give thanks for what one has at the end of the harvest season in preparation for winter. It is an annual holiday exclusive to United States and Canada (Canada celebrates it every October). Over the years, it has become a solemn tradition for families to come together in a formal dinner to thank each other and talk about good times. It's usually a reunion of sorts for families who are scattered around the US.

I'm sorry but sometimes I couldn't relate to it because I find it a personal matter. You have to grow up in the United States to feel its impact. I don't have my family with me and I feel like a stranger amidst the people I'm eating with during that formal dinner. And I have to do it again during Christmas day. Perhaps I could compare it to our way of 'celebrating' All Soul's Day and All Saint's Day where we, Filipinos usually take the occasion to reunite with families and give respect to those who came before us. Come to think of it, it's one of our biggest holidays in the Philippines, when offices close down from Oct 31 to Nov 2nd sometimes up to 4 days off! They don't celebrate Nov. 1 and 2 here like we do. It's an ordinary day for Americans and it just passes like nothing.

We have lots of celebrations in the Philippines and being thankful to family and what you have is always part of it. We don't have a day for it but we make every opportunity a thank you day! Hence, I can't relate to Thanksgiving Day yet living here I'm sort of forced to...

Turkey

(istockphoto)

A whole oven-baked turkey is the traditional food prepared on Thanksgiving Day with cranberry sauce (I don't even like cranberry sauce!), stuffing (pass), gravy and mashed potato. Could I have white rice with Mang Tomas (pork liver gravy sauce for lechon, a roasted pig) instead?! And I don't even really like turkey! I find chicken better in terms of taste and meat. Turkey has tryptophan (an amino-acid that induces drowsiness) so high, it really makes you drowsy and fall asleep after eating. What I want is lechon! Yeah, cholesterol, bring it on! Why turkey? I don't know, same reason as I don't know why Filipinos love lechon! Google it! What I know is millions of turkey are served every year just as millions of pigs are roasted all through out the year in the Philippines.

Now you know the order of the title was according to its importance to me. Excuse me if I find Thanksgiving Day more commercial than its significance. My name is Mae and I'm a shopaholic! I haven't been sober in 365 days... Happy Black Friday everyone!

Oh Frankie Valli, You're Just Too Good Be True!

2007-10-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU. I wanna hold you so much! Where were you all my life? I might just as well be in love with the real Frankie Valli, only he's 70 years old now. BUT I am currently in love with his music and John Lloyd Young- 2006' Tony Awards Best Actor in a Broadway Musical.

JERSEY BOYS is Broadway's newest No.1 musical hit and twentysomething John Lloyd Young is Broadway's newest musical sensation! To say that the show is phenomenal is simply an understatement! There are no words to describe it. The performers are superb, memorable and perfect in their roles! The story is touching and inspiring! Clever and unbelievable! No question it won Best Musical, Best Lighting Design, Best Actor and Best Featured Actor in the Tony Awards, the highest coveted award in Theater. It is what Oscars is in the movies.

Jersey Boys is the Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. This group along with the Beach Boys were perhaps the only American groups to have survived the British Invasion of The Beatles in 1964. They sold over 100 million records worldwide making them the most successful boy band in rock and roll history.

In 1990, The Four Seasons are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know you don't know him and his group if you were born after the 70's. I didn't know him or the group either. But you'd be surprised as I am to know that majority of his songs are probably songs you love and listen to all the time. "Oh What a Night," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Dawn (Go Away)," "Stay," "Let's Hang On to What We've Got,""Bye Bye baby," "C'mon Marianne," "Working My Way Back To You," "Who Loves You," "Fallen Angel," "Sherry," "Grease," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "My Eyes Adored You" are just among his and the group's hits! All those songs powered by a great storyline and magnificent cast make it one of the best Broadway shows to watch. It's the music industry meeting the Sopranos and Goodfellas or the Godfather, put comedy and drama into it, then you have a sure winner!

The Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast) CAST RECORDING is a must-have cd to add to your collection even if you haven't seen the show! But hey, if you happen to be in New York and have only one show to watch, make it this one! ©

Jersey Boys. The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
August Wilson Theater
245 West 52nd Street
New York City, New York
Date opened: November 2005
Official Jersey Boys Website
Broadway.com

Filipina Ako. I am a Filipina.

2007-10-10T15:33:00.001-07:00

HAVE YOU GOOGLED "FILIPINA" LATELY? The internet over the years has become the most powerful source of information- more than books, other print media, tv and library. It gives limitless knowledge to the point of overloading one with too much data. As such, it gives access to any unimaginable topic, issue, news, anything at your fingertips. It can also mar reputations, make you want to throw up on the sick sites you accidentally come across, ruin companies, destroy lives. Anybody can go to any search engines to search for anything one can possibly think of. Type a word, phrase, even a question and though won't guarantee you will find what you're looking for, it will supply however countless websites (by the hundreds of thousands of links) more than enough to divert your attention and focus on the searches found instead.

Imagine my surprise when I typed Filipina and or Pinay in google! I found some objectionable listings there. Go see for yourselves. Even this paid google ads in adsense on Filipinas is quite annoying! But BIG Thanks to the aggressive and massive campaign of concerned Filipinas, they were able to bring their own websites and other relevant, informative, responsible, refined sites on page one of google, yahoo, msn, ask jeeves among others. It wasn't the case 2 years ago as I further probed, when the very word Filipina or Pinay would give out totally shameless views of what a Filipina is based on the websites available at that time. Filipinas were merely porn material, flirts, sexy, horny, and mail-order-brides- just for fun, dating and amusement!

I'm joining the concerned netizens and I would like to declare, assert, proclaim that I am a Filipina and proud to be one. If you are a proud Filipina, I urge you to make some noise in the internet. If you are a Filipina wherever part of the world you are, you can do something by being responsible with your actions online. Portray a decent image of yourself because what you do affects the entire Filipinas! True, the world wide web has no barriers, freedom of speech is highly tolerated here hence you can't censor a website. This is not an issue of censorship or morality, it is providing a balanced look of certain issues- in this case being a Filipina.

Imagine you met someone who never met a Filipina before and doesn't know anything about our country. He/she finds you interesting and would like to know more, goes online to see what's out there. Heck, he/she won't search for Philippines- won't probably even remember the word let alone spell it. He'd/she'd search for Filipina; types it on google and the first 20 results links him/her to Filipina porn sites, Filipina mail-order brides, Filipina singles, Filipina flirts, hot and sexy Filipina. What do you think that person would conclude about you and Filipinas in general?!

It's sad enough that we had to deal and we're still dealing with Filipina representation in the world as domestic helpers, lazy bums and thieves. Being pictured as merely for fun and pleasure is unacceptable! Let opportunistic people who prey on helpless Filipinas by operating porn and Filipina trafficking come, we can't stop them. BUT you can do something about it. By reading this blog, you already are. Step a little further by clicking on the links I've provided here, join forums, make comments, start your own blog (and link them to other Philippine websites such as this) talking not necessarily just about the Philippines and being a Filipina but by speaking your mind on personal issues that matter to you. In so doing, we project a Filipina definition that we are not only beautiful people but are decent, thinking individuals as well!

By having as many websites written by Filipinas and spreading it around, making as many hits or clicks as possible to the websites- we make sure that the search engines are unprejudiced in presenting all available websites about Filipinas and that the internet does not only belong to those who can pay to advertise their (monkey) business! Be proud of your heritage. Spread the word.

Updated on November 2007:

GABRIELA

The Filipina Writing Project

Filipina Images

Filipna Women's Network

Macalua.com

Filipinos on Wikepedia

Filipina: Isa ring Ina (A mother too)

Duyan

Filipino Librarian

Filipina is a Filipino Woman

Filipina Pride

Ang Mga Filipina ng Buhay ko

The Filipina in the Eyes of the World

Three Things You Probably Do Not Know About a Filipina

What is a Filipina?

If you know any other "clean" Filipina websites or about the Philippines/Pinays in general, kindly post them here so we can continue passing the word out!©

Folgers Coffee Partners With Habitat for Humanity For a Cause

2007-11-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Folgers Gourmet Selections is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to help Greater Los Angeles, which is among the most overcrowded places in the United States. By way of creating your own commercial or voting for this simple ad I made here, Folgers will donate $1 to Habitat of Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (up to $150,000).

According to its press release, "Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate poverty housing through advocacy, education, and partnership with families in need to build simple, decent, affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built more than 190 homes, transforming the lives of hundreds of people. In the spring of 2007, HFH GLA kicked off its three-year "Building a Greater Los Angeles" campaign to build or renovate more than 250 homes in Los Angeles County." Sounds like a plan!

I know there are far more worse areas in the world other than the city of Angels, Los Angeles (LA) but fact still remains, there is poverty even in the United States and there's one in LA. I believe people and companies are helping every which way they can in every opportunities that come. I am giving back to the Philippines, my home country in any small way I can. However, I live here in the US now too so this is my share... Clicking on the ad will redirect you to the Folgers website where you can vote. You can also check out and vote hundreds of ads created by others. Then there's the company ad starring Dr. Miranda Bailey of Grey's Anatomy, actress-Chandra Wilson and Journalist and world traveler, Lisa Ling.

Spare a minute or two every day to vote on the commercial or better yet, create your own (and start your own campaign) so we'll be on our way to helping Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.

___________________________
_________________________________

UPDATE. 18 November 2007: You can view the entire ad from here, but as it turns out- Folgers deleted my ad on their main site because "someone" reported it as being offensive! WTF?! I wrote to Folgers upon learning this and I haven't heard back from them yet. This is the reason why I removed the navbar in my site- someone could play a prank on you or whatever and they flag your site as inappropriate then next thing you know, blogger takes out your site on the web! Most websites are handled by autobots- for all I know, blogger doesn't have a real person attending to its thousands of mails or complaints. I could be wrong, but tell me: how on earth can this ad be offensive or inappropriate to be taken down like that?!

Show Off Your Blog, Send a Postcard!

2007-11-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

send a postcard just like this one. get creative. the sky is the limit! the address is real; that's where you'll be sending out your postcards. snail mail meets the internet age!

This is my shout-out to all of you my visiting readers. I have a new project I'm currently working on over at The Poscard Collector. The idea is pretty simple and easy to accomplish. Simply send a postcard with your blog name and URL on it. If you got time and space, you may write more like what the blog is all about or any message to the world wide web!

If you are a postcard collector, we can exchange postcards! If you are a blogger, I will feature and link your blog to mine! Be part of what could turn into something substantial later. The Postcard Collector is two-weeks old and already it has drawn a lot of hits more than this month old blog! Oh and I didn't even mention that in the spirit of fun and surprises, I'm giving out $5.00 via paypal to the first 10 people to send a postcard. In 25 postcards increment, I will give $5.00 to the 25th, 50th, 75th and so on postcard I receive. As long as I'm getting postcards, I will keep sending that $5.00! There are restrictions and 'rules' as in all projects, please go over the site now to read more... See you at the other side! :-)

Note: The picture of the Sinigang collage on the postcard is lifted from the food writings of Umami blog. All photo credit goes to the author. Check out his site for mouth-watering, appetizing dishes! This will lead you to his main blog.

Stumble Upon on This Website Yet?

2007-10-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

StumbleUpon is the new google or the new wiki that's taking the net by storm. Already boasting over 3 million users, been featured on TV and tech magazines, this is one sure find you want to keep! I just stumbled on it a week ago and I'm hooked! This is the Myspace or Friendster of bookmarks and links. There are millions of websites on the internet. One can't possibly explore even half of it in one's lifetime. This must-have helps you discover websites that are only relevant to you, according to the preferences you included.

The best thing about it is, it has a toolbar add-on with Mozilla Firefox so its so easy to use. Everytime you click stumble, you'll be in a whole new world of serendipity! It's exciting what you can discover in every click! It's building a community of people helping each other bump into something new and interesting. Everytime you stumble a site, it would ask you to rate it to help the next stumbler. In that way, only relevant sites are being distributed and the rejects are well forever be buried in the bottom of the internet ocean. A very intelligent tool! The only downside is it's addictive. I recommend stumbling only on your lazy nights or spare time-- or you'll never get other things done!

__________________________
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Click here to join StumbleUpon!
See my StumbleUpon Page

Don't have Firefox yet? It's time to get out of the dark ages that's Internet Explorer (IE). Firefox in my opinion is way cooler, faster, has more tools and more efficient. Although some OLD websites still don't support it and I find myself opening up IE or I just totally skip that website, it's still better interface than IE! I'm not sure how Firefox works in Philippine websites but it's worth having.©

The Power to Heal

2007-11-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

The current mini mock poll is over and I asked the super question: If you could have superpower(s), what would it be? Top three result says: 60% want the ability to time travel, 46% want superhuman strength and 70% want the ability to heal. I'm surprised almost nobody wants to have x-ray vision (9%) and the ability to fly (12%). The power to be invisible didn't do too bad at 21%.

As a child I've always been fascinated with anything super (who wouldn't?): superpowers, superheroes, supernatural events and at some point, (super)aliens! Once I saw E.T., I wanted to meet an alien. I was sold that they're friendly, loyal, highly intelligent and if I befriend them long enough, they would give me my heart's desire! Of course that never happened and I grow up and life just threw me disappointments, failures and frustrations. Life without E.T. on it.

Superheroes are another thing. Thanks to comic books and movies, it's safe to assume that we all want to be a superhero! The success of Superman, Batman and the Superfriends isn't because they're who they are but because we all want to be like them, so we follow their story. Their triumphs in the make believe world is our triumphs in the reality we live in.

The idea of having the power to be has always been there with me. No, I've never dreamed of having the power to rule the world but the idea of having the power to heal would be like the biggest thing ever to happen in the history of mankind. The "superhealer" will be bigger than any superhero that came before, bigger than Superman or Batman combined!

In Catholicism there is one such healer named JC but He lived thousands of years ago before the world even actually begun to live. Others have followed and they call themselves faith healers. I am a skeptic towards that because most often, one isn't healed by simply believing. One can't really be totally, physically cured by faith alone. Faith healers can not heal cancer or AIDS for example. I can believe in miracles but they're a rarity.

There are far too many sickness in this world that needs healing. The "superhealer" if there exist to be one will be the ultimate panacea. Time is slipping away for all of us. We need a new superhero! The world needs a superhealer, and fast!

"As You Sow so Shall You Reap"

2007-10-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

The Eavesdrop Writer is Vienne and her blog transforms overheard conversations from just about anywhere into remarkable short stories. Read the character(s) come alive! Feel the character. Be the charcter. What you are about to read is part of her developmental project where each week, she posts a conversation- overheard of course, and invites readers to partake in finishing the story. Anything goes. You make your own ending. This is mine.

To read the beginning of the story, click on the above button and when done, read how I end it.

His hand is shaking as he is writing. By this time, the squatter's face turns red in anger. I recognize from the way his shoulder is moving up and down that he is breathing too fast. He may be hyperventilating from stress. His intense eyes meet mine. He looks troubled every passing moment. Something is wrong. I instantly grab a handy paper bag from the glove compartment, step out of my car and approach the squatter.

Me: Hey, Are you okay? I saw the whole thing.
Squatter: I... I don't... feel... too... good.
Me: You seem in distress. Please breathe out of this bag and...

The squatter faints. I call 911! Next thing I know, paramedics gets him into the ambulance truck. As I walk back heavily towards my car, I see the piece of paper on the concrete road. I pick it up, glance at it and put it on my side pocket. I drive past the Hummer and suddenly there seem to be parking space all around.

The next day, I hand the package of material to my professor. He engages me in a conversation and oddly mentions a freak accident that happened earlier he said in the parking lot campus right where the copy center is. He said the driver of a truck is badly hurt and the police couldn't identify him just yet but they have his license plate number. The number is released to the media. I probe further. I reach for my side pocket, the same jacket I wore yesterday. I read the license number from the paper; it matches that of the Hummer guy's license plate number.

Melancholy

2007-10-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

...tears

they begin with thoughts
that would not cease
They start with loneliness
and go on in sadness-
that would not stop.

...tears
they blind me
blurring the sight of beauty
becoming oblivious to the world.

I go on in tears,
in desperate solitude
waiting for days to come
until a happy day would
soon bring me a smile-

someday.

8893

2007-10-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

the sound of the waves
gently touching the shoreline,
the wind blowing softly
caressing willing bodies.
the feel of fine sands
on one's feet,
the thousand stars
watching over...

the warm sea water seducing
wanting bodies,
why in the midst of all these,
without you,
it's depressing more than exhilarating,
gloomy and sullen
more than pleasurable
what can one make happy in times such as this?
it's not all those, no. not at all.

it's being with you-- period.

Pinas and You

2007-10-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Love be still.
Love be real.
To keep this moment forever etched.
To feel this way.

Home is all that you are.
Home is everywhere that you are.
Home is where I wanna be.
With you.