What should I blog about?

Should I blog about me
or Glee?

Shall I blog about my dog
whose cuteness knows no bounds?

How about a blog about me,
and why I want to flee?

Perhaps a post
about drowning
in a sea called
boredom?

Of perception and being good ambassadors

It's sad that some of us are bad ambassadors of our country.

I remember while waiting for a flight for Hong Kong, my companions and I overheard an American family bickering about how bad our country is. We got angry about what was said, so we confronted them and calmly told them that we understand every word they were saying and not to come back anymore if they think we're that bad, and who asked them to come over anyway?

The mom in the family apologized and it turned out that one of her sons married a Filipina and they flew to the Philippines and visited the province of the woman to meet the in-laws. Turns out that they were scammed by someone and the family toured them to not so great places. Besides the fact that it seemed their first time out of the States (something about them screamed first time traveler), much more a 3rd world country, it left a very poor impression on our country. That said, everywhere we go, as Filipinos, we should be mindful of what we do and always speak of great things about our country and its people. Everyone of us is an ambassador and we are the best marketing method for our country. No amount of great videos will convince people to appreciate the country if we ourselves are not passionate over its beauty.

REVIEW: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

I love this book to pieces. It is very easy to read, with the contents great material for discussion. Gladwell's points of discussion in the book were very practical and it gave me a lot of A-HA moments. What struck me the most is on how success can be dictated by culture, as his chapter on Korean Air explains it. Imagine how my country can change if it goes beyond the social and cultural mores that oftentimes cripple the Philippines. The parts about the world's smartest man (I can't recall his name now) and his difficulties and Bill Gates' road to success are just as striking. Malcolm Gladwell writes and engages the reader into the two geniuses' world, in a way that I cannot help but feel sympathy to the poor genius' family. I have a relative who is very smart but is not really successful because he does not have the proper attitude and willpower. It goes to prove that just having the smarts won't necessarily get you to the road of success, but having the 10,000 hours of practice combined with opportunity and attitude that Bill Gates had will. I'm sure others reading this book will find more insights and will have their own A-HA moments, as I had mine with these particular parts of the book.

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, BARBIE!

Designers are now honoring Barbie a month before her 50th birthday, according to this article.

I couldn't remember the first time I held my Barbie, but I know I've always had Barbie. I had twelve Barbie dolls, three Ken dolls, and four of the other characters. Barbie became Filipina donning Patis Tesoro's design, and I've had three of them. Barbie is ageless, despite stiff competition. A classic, yet versatile doll who manages to keep up with the times.

Well, at least for me.

Bratz may come and go, but Barbie will always have a place in my heart. She's the ultimate glamor girl, rockstar, maven, and veterinarian. She can do it all, and she represents how much the world has changed its attitudes with regards to women. Sometimes, for some of us, it takes something like Barbie to give that critical push and inspiration that we can be anything we want, as well as push us into harboring unhealthy attitudes towards ourselves.

Yet, she's just a doll.

I've always wondered how little girls play before Barbie came. Did they make believe scenarios of fame, perfection and imagination, or did they just sit their dolls down and sip make believe tea with them and gossiping? Did they roleplay with their Barbie becoming President, or make believe that they are housewives?

That goes to show how much CHANGE we've witnessed since Barbie came. Sales may say otherwise, but Bratz can't light a candle against Barbie. Not many people realize how much Barbie represents mankind and how much elegantly she bears various cultures with her bearing.

Wikipedia gave more insight on what I have already known about Barbie, and all the more gave credit to her influence in this world. I wish a very Fabulous and Happy Birthday to Barbara Millicent Roberts!

On being a virtual writer

My Second Life avatar Isadora Fiddlesticks worked very hard on this latest issue of the most fabulous magazine in Second Life! In this issue, we tackled the many faces of collaboration in this online world. In these pages, a man travels from the US to the Philippines to be with his SL and real life love, two British friends make wonderful machinima (movies made in virtual worlds and games), and we write about a couple with a passion to make your pixel home beautiful and romantic through its furniture.

Doing things together is what drives Second Life, it makes the world go 'round. I love making this magazine not only because it enables me to write and live my dream, but it also enables me to work with people from around the world. I have coworkers, writers, and photographers from around the world, and we merge in this great online community to make something we all can be proud of.

So anyway, please browse around, read the articles, and hopefully, your perception of a virtual world/online game will change for the better.

Get your own - Open publication

AVENUE MAGAZINE JAN 2009

So, I don't write much about my life. I am not so proud of it. so I am writing about my second one instead. It has been keeping me somewhat sane, but this will get old eventually, as I will soon yearn to be able to write again about things that are not based on pixels. 

But this is also a part of me, one I keep somehwat hidden, safe with you guys who are reading this. 

Eventually, I will have to write something about my real life...I have set goals this year to write more, and my friends are witness to it, and they are bugging me now. So here goes nothing.

...........

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