Month: June 2007

General

Heroes

By on Sunday, June 24, 2007

I’ve been marathon watching Heroes. It was much more interesting than I expected. It’s basically about otherwise normal people manifesting powers. It’s a recurring theme used in stories like X-Men. But this one focuses on the ordinary lives of the characters as they interleave with the main plot line. One thing I really liked: The heroes don’t wear fancy hero costumes. Why would anyone want to wear colorful, tight-fitting clothes anyway?

At the rate I’m going, I should be done by the middle of next week. Looking forward to it.

Rating: 4/5

UPDATE: I’ve finally completed it. What can I say? The season ender was majorly anti-climactic. What a bummer!

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General

Stair-climbing Record

By on Friday, June 22, 2007

I’ve been taking the stairs at the office intermittently since Aby brought to my attention this practical and inexpensive way to keep fit. I’ve been pushing myself harder partly to beat my own best time and partly to at least reach my officemate’s own best time which was way better than mine. Yesterday, I had all but given up on that second goal. But this morning, I was rewarded by a time of 1 minute and 36 seconds! To think I wasn’t even planning to take the stairs.

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General

Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)

By on Thursday, June 21, 2007

I don’t know why I held off watching Pan’s Labyrinth for so long because now that I’ve seen it, I totally regret my procrastination. From the title you would guess that it is a fantasy or fairy tale. Like most fairy tales, it is enchanting. But this is no children’s fairy tale. It is about the quest of a little girl to return to the fairy world. Her story takes place against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War when guerrillas were still continuing their resistance against the government. The main story and the backdrop are both compelling by themselves. Both are also quite dark, bloody, visceral, even disturbing. Even the ending, though partly happy, is also tragic. The whole is a well-made masterpiece. I love it.

Rating: 5/5

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General

Invictus

By on Thursday, June 21, 2007

by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of Circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of Chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

*Whenever life’s adversities come my way I always keep this poem in mind. But what inspires me more is that writer, William Ernest Henley, was able to survive great adversity– the poem was written from a hospital bed– and even succeeded in life. So whatever it is facing you, something worse is facing someone somewhere, and they are taking it. You can do the same.

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Uncategorized

La Vie En Rose

By on Tuesday, June 19, 2007

by Mack David, French original by Edith Pliaf

Hold me close and hold me fast,
This magic spell you cast,
This is La Vie En Rose.

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs,
And though I close my eyes,
I see La Vie En Rose.

When you press me to your heart,
I’m in a world apart,
A world where roses bloom;

And when you speak, Angels sing from above;
Every day words seem to turn into love songs.

Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be
La Vie En Rose.

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