Happy Holidays Geeks!

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The Egg By Andy Weir.

You were on your way home when you died.

It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. It was a painless death. The EMTs tried their best to save you, but to no avail. Your body was so utterly shattered you were better off, trust me.

And that’s when you met me.

“What… what happened?” You asked. “Where am I?”

“You died,” I said, matter-of-factly. No point in mincing words.

“There was a… a truck and it was skidding…”

“Yup,” I said.

“I… I died?”

“Yup. But don’t feel bad about it. Everyone dies,” I said.

You looked around. There was nothingness. Just you and me. “What is this place?” You asked. “Is this the afterlife?”

“More or less,” I said.

“Are you god?” You asked.

“Yup,” I replied. “I’m God.”

“My kids… my wife,” you said.

“What about them?”

“Will they be all right?”

“That’s what I like to see,” I said. “You just died and your main concern is for your family. That’s good stuff right there.”

You looked at me with fascination. To you, I didn’t look like God. I just looked like some man. Or possibly a woman. Some vague authority figure, maybe. More of a grammar school teacher than the almighty.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “They’ll be fine. Your kids will remember you as perfect in every way. They didn’t have time to grow contempt for you. Your wife will cry on the outside, but will be secretly relieved. To be fair, your marriage was falling apart. If it’s any consolation, she’ll feel very guilty for feeling relieved.”

“Oh,” you said. “So what happens now? Do I go to heaven or hell or something?”

“Neither,” I said. “You’ll be reincarnated.”

“Ah,” you said. “So the Hindus were right,”

“All religions are right in their own way,” I said. “Walk with me.”

You followed along as we strode through the void. “Where are we going?”

“Nowhere in particular,” I said. “It’s just nice to walk while we talk.”

“So what’s the point, then?” You asked. “When I get reborn, I’ll just be a blank slate, right? A baby. So all my experiences and everything I did in this life won’t matter.”

“Not so!” I said. “You have within you all the knowledge and experiences of all your past lives. You just don’t remember them right now.”

I stopped walking and took you by the shoulders. “Your soul is more magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you can possibly imagine. A human mind can only contain a tiny fraction of what you are. It’s like sticking your finger in a glass of water to see if it’s hot or cold. You put a tiny part of yourself into the vessel, and when you bring it back out, you’ve gained all the experiences it had.

“You’ve been in a human for the last 48 years, so you haven’t stretched out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. If we hung out here for long enough, you’d start remembering everything. But there’s no point to doing that between each life.”

“How many times have I been reincarnated, then?”

“Oh lots. Lots and lots. An in to lots of different lives.” I said. “This time around, you’ll be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 AD.”

“Wait, what?” You stammered. “You’re sending me back in time?”

“Well, I guess technically. Time, as you know it, only exists in your universe. Things are different where I come from.”

“Where you come from?” You said.

“Oh sure,” I explained “I come from somewhere. Somewhere else. And there are others like me. I know you’ll want to know what it’s like there, but honestly you wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh,” you said, a little let down. “But wait. If I get reincarnated to other places in time, I could have interacted with myself at some point.”

“Sure. Happens all the time. And with both lives only aware of their own lifespan you don’t even know it’s happening.”

“So what’s the point of it all?”

“Seriously?” I asked. “Seriously? You’re asking me for the meaning of life? Isn’t that a little stereotypical?”

“Well it’s a reasonable question,” you persisted.

I looked you in the eye. “The meaning of life, the reason I made this whole universe, is for you to mature.”

“You mean mankind? You want us to mature?”

“No, just you. I made this whole universe for you. With each new life you grow and mature and become a larger and greater intellect.”

“Just me? What about everyone else?”

“There is no one else,” I said. “In this universe, there’s just you and me.”

You stared blankly at me. “But all the people on earth…”

“All you. Different incarnations of you.”

“Wait. I’m everyone!?”

“Now you’re getting it,” I said, with a congratulatory slap on the back.

“I’m every human being who ever lived?”

“Or who will ever live, yes.”

“I’m Abraham Lincoln?”

“And you’re John Wilkes Booth, too,” I added.

“I’m Hitler?” You said, appalled.

“And you’re the millions he killed.”

“I’m Jesus?”

“And you’re everyone who followed him.”

You fell silent.

“Every time you victimized someone,” I said, “you were victimizing yourself. Every act of kindness you’ve done, you’ve done to yourself. Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will be, experienced by you.”

You thought for a long time.

“Why?” You asked me. “Why do all this?”

“Because someday, you will become like me. Because that’s what you are. You’re one of my kind. You’re my child.”

“Whoa,” you said, incredulous. “You mean I’m a god?”

“No. Not yet. You’re a fetus. You’re still growing. Once you’ve lived every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be born.”

“So the whole universe,” you said, “it’s just…”

“An egg.” I answered. “Now it’s time for you to move on to your next life.”

And I sent you on your way.

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My Top 10 geek-out list for the month of September!

10. Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0

The most affordable Quad Core Android phone in the country.
For a retail price of P3,999 only! Bravo Cherry Mobile!
Please do support our local brands. To see the specifications, click here.

 9. How I Met Your Mother

Yep, you know it. The last season, no more mystery Ted's future wife.
The mother finally made an appearance on the last episode of Season 8.
This is it. Everyone's favorite sitcom final season is currently airing in the US.
It was way back in high school when I started watching this show. Damn. :(

8. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug trailer

Four months since the first trailer feasted our eyes. Warner Bros. will
finally debut tomorrow 9pm its second trailer that we've all been waiting for.

7. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The television premiere of Agents of SHIELD aired last September 24, 2013.
More than 20 million viewers faithfully waited online and watched the premiere episode.
This was by far the biggest series opener in the online streaming to date according to the network.
And we all look forward to Agent Phil Coulson and his sarcastic, witty remarks.


6. Castle Season 6

If you don't know the existence of this show, please do not read the rest of the caption.
WATCH IT FIRST, it may get spoilery on the next sentence.
Our favorite mystery writer Richard Castle proposed to Beckett on the final episode of Season 5.
Great cliffhanger you did there Marlowe! The biggest twist on the show is this: What if Beckett
permanently took the job? What will happen to the rest of the gang, Espo-Ryan, Laine, and Captain Gates?
Will this put a strain on the relationship of our favorite duo? The premiere episode definitely
started with a bang unlike all other seasons. Watch and find out yourself.


5. Catching Fire

The trailer was epic. Jennifer Lawrence is awesome as always.
November 22 is freaking far too long. Lions Gate released the final poster
of the new and most awaited film of 2013, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The poster looks so bad-ass honestly. Imagining myself watching the film in theaters
makes me giddy and nervous about this movie adaptation. My expectation is
heightened ever since the first movie was nearly perfect and Jennifer won an Oscar.
I sure bet my ass (I keep saying ass... Hmmm.), she will kill it.

4. Breaking Bad

The series finale of Breaking Bad was devastating among the fans.
I honestly don't watch this show (I don't have enough time right now)
but I've read a lot of great reviews about it on Tumblr and TV show sites.
I've also seen how hot Aaron Paul is especially on his upcoming movie next year,
Need for Speed. Right?! The dramatic ending is that Walter White (chemistry professor
turned meth dealer to provide his family's needs after he was diagnosed with lung cancer)
died from a gunshot just before the police got to him. 500,000 illegal downloads within 12 hours after
the show finale aired. Top billed!


3. Divergent

No, it's not the next Hunger Games, completely different

form of utopian genre. Read the book because this will become the

next big franchise following the marks of Twilight and The Hunger Games.

(I didn't mention Harry Potter due to the fact that it's completely the biggest

franchise of them all, just saying.)

2. Miss World 2013

Megan Young, the first Filipina to win the title of Miss World 2013
held in Bali, Indonesia on September 28, 2013. Her winning answer on
the question, Why do you deserve to be the Miss World 2013?:
"I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides people
why they act the way they do. I will use this to show other people
how they can understand each other… as one, we can help society."
Congratulations Megan! We are all proud of you.

1. New Wizarding World Harry Potter-related film!

JK Rowling and the Warner Bros. made the shocking news
of all, they plan to make a new film in which it focuses on the character
of Newt Scamander and his adventures in search of the different
beasts in the wizarding world. Remember the husband of Luna Lovegood?
Rolf Scamander, yes, he is indeed the grandson of Newt Scamander.
David Heyman is rumored to be involved in the film production. Hopefully,
this will lead to adaptatins of the other spin-off books in the Harry Potter series.
Potterheads, rejoice!

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The Million People March.

     Philippines was previously known as "The Sick Man of Asia." Different presidencies have come and go and still graft and corruption is present. All throughout the past years, I have seen how Filipinos became hopeless and eventually apathetic to the endless bad news we hear from our crooked government officials. Then came 2010, Benigno Aquino III's timely candidacy gave hope that maybe, just maybe, our government has chance to redeem itself. I had my doubts with how he will handle the biggest responsibility one could carry in his entire life. So I did not took the risk, instead I campaigned for Sen. Richard Gordon's candidacy for President. Several candidates lost ergo PNoy won and took his oath office on June 30, 2010, at the Quirino Grandstand, the rest was history.


     The biggest challenge PNoy's administration was facing upon vowing to clean up the government with its unscrupulous ways is fixing up everything from top to bottom to achieve "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" theme. Different anomalies, scandals, and issues started to arise. Little by little, different departments are being revamped to fully utilized the public funds used. PNoy proved me wrong and exceeded my expectations. Filipinos gradually started to care again on the essential events affecting the government directly. We give our opinions regarding this and that, Malacañang including some of the legislative and judiciary listens because "Tayo ang Boss ni PNoy." I remember my Dad crying when he watched the fourth SONA of PNoy last July 2013. He said to us "Tignan mo, ang dami niyang nagawang mabuti para sa bayan, kung ganyan lang sana lahat ng politicians ay matagal ng umunlad ang Pilipinas. Thank you Lord dahil may tao pang katulad ni Noynoy." Please always pray for the health and well-being of our honest public servants for only a few good men like PNoy are left in this world.

THE LAST STRAW

     Inquirer posted a series of reports from a several whistleblowers about the P10B pork barrel scam. Sen. Revilla, Enrile, Estrada, Marcos, and 23 other lawmakers were involved in donating funds to questionable NGOs under Janet Lim-Napoles (JLN), both parties get a sizable commission once approved by the DBM. The fund they poketed are basically our taxes which the government requires us to deduct from our salary every 15th of the month. Those were hard-earned money by regular employees. The lavish lifestyle displayed by Jeane Napoles, the daughter of JLN, was the turning point for me and I knew that all of those involved needs to be held accountable and we, the Filipino people, have to speak up. JLN's scam is only the tip of the iceberg. Other senators and congressmen are doing the same thing for the past ten years under our noses without ever thinking that this large amount of money could help a lot of people in need, those who cannot go to school because they have to work and help their parents, those who cannot eat three times a day, those who sleep on the road with only a piece of carton to keep them warm. These are the people in need. They are the ones who should be given money, jobs, free education, scholarships, medical treatment, and housing. PDAFs main purpose is for the people's benefit, not them. Do they even still have conscience and think about these poor people trying to survive the hell-hole they live in everyday? They are the shitty kind of public servant. They are the chronic disease our Inang-Bayan's suffering from. Gahasang-gahasa na si Inang-Bayan, tama na.

"Maswerte na nga yung nakakain sa Vikings eh, sila nagbre-breakfast sa Hongkong, sa ibang bansa."
- Random Netizen

The Million People March slogan that went viral in the Internet.

     The social media is an answered prayer to all our problems. One concerned netizen, Ito Rapadas, vocalist of Neocolours, posted about the call for Million People March. Several friends of Mr. Rapadas reposted the Facebook status eventually it went viral on Facebook and Twitter. Now, 75,000 of our countrymen participated in the said protest in abolishing the pork barrel at Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila. The chant of every Filipino is stop the corruption, hold those persons involved accountable, and abolish the pork barrel.

Pictures from the Million People March held earlier.

A protester wearing the famous V costume.

Face of a real slaughtered pig worn as a mask.

Tribal and religious groups joined the protest.

A game featuring alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Napoles.

Several well-known individuals also joined the protest.

Shamaine and Noni Buencamino

Comedian Tado with some bikers

Bianca Gonzales

Robin Padilla and Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla

Pen Medina

Corona was boo'ed while walking along Quirino Grandstand.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle

Ms. Mae Paner aka Juana Change as Pork Barrel "literally."

Our fellow Filipinos from other countries and regions also joined the protest.

OFWs from Taiwan.

Filipino students from Melbourne, Australia

Protesters from Baguio City

Million People March in Tacloban City

Davao City protesters joins the cause.

Bacolod City

Gathering from Dagupan City

Zamboanga marches against corruption.



We did not reached the million mark but it's worth something more than that.

Bird's eye view of Luneta during the Million People March

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My unconditional love for Ron Weasley and its famous actor.

     

    It was around 2004 when I first discovered the book Harry Potter (yep, I was a late bloomer when it came to books). I fell in love and was fascinated immediately with all of its characters, the complexity of the story, and their different struggles as they journeyed through the life of war and death. What I most see myself upon is that ginger kid, Professor Slughorn always forgets the name as well as being more known as the best friend of the Chosen One.

     I guess being a middle child in the family has its pros and cons just like what Ron was going through, trying to step up his game to the spotlight, in a way matching what his brothers did upon leaving Hogwarts. I can see and feel where his insecurities and immaturity are coming from and that's what made Ronald Bilius Weasley so lovable because of his imperfection and always trying to be a better brother, friend, sidekick than the one we all read from the past books.

     The movies was a bit lacking to me when it comes to justifying who Ron Weasley is. Not to blame the screenwriters but the film subject revolves around Harry Potter and they have to put in all the significant details within those two hours of screening. One thing though is that they could have made Ron someone Harry would definitely miss the most as what the book Goblet of fire stated it (I need to stop my ranting here, this is an appreciation post, let's not open a can full of worms, the series ended for Pete's sake). 

     Still I am thankful that Rupert Grint was able to portray my favorite fictional character of all time. Never had I thought that loving Ron will lead me to become a fan of Rupert also. He's a great (and truly humble, charitable, funny, and all sorts of great adjectives to describe him) actor. His acting skills in his movies are really something. I know that he does not star in mainstream films which soars in the box office such as what Emma and Daniel are doing presently. Hopefully, the film industry and audience will a give a chance for an actor like him.

     Right now, he is about to star in a major theatrical play called Mojo in where he'll portray a character named as Sweets, a junior gangster with amphetamine addiction. The performances set to begin at the Harold Pinter theatre in late October (London based fans out there, please do support him in his new project). I pray and continue to wish that Rupert Grint will flourish just like Ron Weasley did by the time the last page of the famous series Harry Potter was written.

Happy 25th birthday Rupert Grint!

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The 30th Death Anniversary of Ninoy Aquino.

I will never be able to forgive myself if I will have to live with the knowledge that I could have done something and I did not do anything. 

- Thoughts of the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

(1932-1983)

Somebody died to restore democracy. Together with his death is the death of Dictatorship. Let’s not waste this heroism, let’s be more of a DISCIPLINED CITIZEN OF THIS FREE COUNTRY. 

For more information, on who Ninoy Aquino is, visit Malacañang's designated page on his 30th Death Anniversary today.

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Typhoon Maring intensifies Habagat.

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