Small Grant

When I saw Cary Grant in this car, it felt like, Oceans 10. It turned out to be a BMW Isetta.

Woody Allen Does Civil Disobedience

Woody Allen wrote this piece in the late 1960s when civil dissent was in bloom in the US. Of course, it was funny in the Woody Allen of yore and know what, it still applies:

A Short Essay on Civil Disobedience

In perpetuating a revolution, there are two requirements: someone or something to revolt against and someone to actually show up and do the revolting. Dress is usually casual and both parties may be flexible about time and place but if either faction fails to attend, the whole enterprise is likely to come off badly. In the Chinese Revolution of 1650 neither party showed up and the deposit on the hall was forfeited.

The people or parties revolted against are called the “oppressors” and are easily recognized as they seem to be the ones having all the fun. The “oppressors” generally get to wear suits, own land and play their radios late at night without being yelled at. Their job is to maintain the “status quo,” a condition where everything remains the same although they may be willing to paint every two years.

When the oppressors become too strict, we have what is called the police state, wherein all dissent is forbidden, as in chuckling, showing up in a bow tie, or referring to the mayor as “Fats.” Civil liberties are greatly curtailed in a police state, and freedom of speech is unheard of, although one is allowed to mime to a record. Opinions critical to the government are not tolerated, particularly about their dancing. Freedom of the press is also curtailed and the ruling party “manages” the news, permitting the citizens to hear only acceptable political ideas and ball scores that will not cause unrest.

The groups who revolt are called the “oppressed” and can generally be seen milling around and grumbling or claiming to have headaches. (It should be noted that oppressors never revolt and accept to become the oppressed as that would entail a change of underwear.)

For a part of the rest (see comment)

Guerrillero Heroico

That is what the photogapher Korda called his photo of Che Guevara. That photo is the most widely reproduced historical image. You saw it on Tshirts, buttons and whatever. Now, a documentary has been made on the "Chevolution."
Here are some Che images I had in my computer and an old thing I wrote about Chevolution:

Clue

A boardgame we used to play when we were young was Clue (Cluedo in the Philippines) which taught us to be anal ytical and skeptical. This is a game hardly played now with PS2 and all but boy, it was fun and maybe there's an electronic version but I'm sure it's not even half as fun as the real one. Until this came along. $150! Deluxe version.

Mad's Fold-Ins You Can Really Fold With Your Mouse

The respected New York Times went down to the level of Mad Magazine and presented a folio of its more famous and politically-inclined fold-ins usually located on the inside back cover.

Let's Surf Before the World Ends at the End of the Month

because according to NASA, the Asteroid 2007 TU24 will closely approach the Earth to within 1.4 lunar distances (334,000 miles) on 2008 Jan. 29. So we better surf the end, man. Let's party like its 1999!

Big J

There is a book about the 100 top basketball players in the country. There is only one born in Baguio but then he's The One. Ok, Number Seven. The Big J. Robert S. Jaworski Jr. Born March 8, 1946 in Baguio City of a Polish father and Pinay mom. He's mum about his Pop but when i was young, I thought his father is Leon Jaworski, the Watergate prosecutor. Jawo was the point guard because he loves to point when he was a coach and say, This is you. This is me. Jawo's nicknames were "Big J" and "Living Legend." So what's the S? Eh, di "Sonny." Ha ha ha. Funny, but it stands for "Senador." OK, "Salazar." He became a senator, becoming the third basketball legend to become one. There was one time when he came to Baguio to discuss about some titled lots in Engineer's Hill. Robert Jaworski Abano and I covered him just because naman ano. Know where he held his consultation. On the basketball court, of course.

Pinoy Jackpot

Decades ago, the jackpot in Channel 13's Llave 13 (you need to know jai alai) was P1,000. That was Sandy Andolong and Tom Oppus. Thanks to nostalgia manila.

Wonder Cure

Yes, it's a vibrator. Decades ago, scientists said that it will cure hysteria. Little did they know...

Dear Sagada

I was supposed to check in at St. Joseph when I was told that they would be re-opening tomorrow (today). The horror to backpackers everywhere is that St. Jo, our dear St. Jo where we used to sleep P100 then to P150 per, is now P1,200 per room. No more single rooms and the rooms are like the old Pines Hotel suites. So where do you sleep nowadays. Sagada Inn, which has a view of sayote and sayote, is P600 for their single room. Try other inns like Rock's Inn and Mapya-aw. There must be many other rooms here but we lost one there in old St. Jo.

Then and Now

Star Wars

Thirty years ago, the universe of Star Wars was unveiled to us and we are forever grateful. The original cast had a reunion last week and Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and the tragic Mark Hamill were some of those who came:




These are those who can not make it: Yoda, Jabbah the Hut and R2D2 (sorry, Glen)