Inconvenient Truth

I have barely a week and two days before the semester comes to an end. So far, I have finished revising three essays for my Non-Fiction and my aim is to completely revise the final one before the day ends. Still, my problems usually lie in the technical aspect and overall coherence of my essays. In this part, I rely on Mami Athena for guidance. Since last semester, she's the babaylan who reads (and revises) my portfolio before submitting it to my professor.

This morning, I went to a computer store to do a canvass of computer hardware for my ambitious desktop upgrade. This store was the one responsible for my last major upgrade and since they were already familiar with my specifications, I thought things would be more convenient if I let them provide for the components that I needed. Unfortunately, my contact in that store had already resigned. In his place is a female rookie who I am not comfortable in dealing with yet.

So I took the necessary precautions to tap a former associate who is familiar with my specifications. Fortunately he still remembers our previous dealings.

When my business with a former contact was finally agreed upon. I told him that I would call next week to finalize the upgrade. Since Ms. Account Officer was still calling her contacts for the best components for my hardware upgrade, I left her my contact details so she could just inform me of the price and specs for my needs later. Knowing that choosing her as my option would be more expensive, her role would be limited to being a last minute back-up. Besides, they don't install operating systems and that would be my biggest problem after I closed the deal with them.

On my way to the office, I did a mental calculation of my expenses in the coming months. Despite the traffic along Shaw Boulevard, the results of my projections left my mind hopping from one possible conclusion to the next. The budget is all set, however, the long-term payments may leave me short of cash after every payday.

You see, the price of an upgrade which includes the brand new (and high end) processor with the motherboard may very well reach over my P10,000 budget. It does not include the extra 1 GB memory, the high-end video card, the reformatting expense of my computer and the purchase of Sims 2: Bon Voyage CD.

Truth is, the last expense above is the reason why I am compelled to upgrade my computer. In order to play Sims 2 without any time-delays, I would need a very powerful computer to compensate for its resource hoarding features. If my thrust is for academics or music, I won't put so much premium on replacing the core components of my computer. A simple reformatting would be enough.

Fortunately, I could spare a card to provide for this massive desktop overhaul. As I have said, this would be my reward for achieving many things this season. However, when I think of the other expenses that would add up after the upgrade is complete, the odds of effectively managing my finances would prove quite difficult to foresee. I did not consider the fact that I would have to enroll for my master's next semester. I am also expecting to receive my first billing from the gym this October.

Therefore, I conclude that this is indeed a Pyrrhic victory. The upgraded computer would be my ultimate prize, but the dent it will do to my finances would leave me vulnerable until next year. If only I am not this conscious about my spending, this issue would never come up at all.

Since I do not want to give up the perks that I am already enjoying, the only path left for me is to increase my work output or find an extra raket which could provide me with an extra moolah.

Computer.Games.Sims 2

Such is the price for my so-called passion.

---

Gigabyte board Intel G33 DDr2 PCIE;
Intel Core 2 Duo 2 ghz;
1 gb memory interface;
NVdia Gforce 7600 gpu pci;

Total, P22,000

No way Jose.

The Light Side Of Mugen

Let us talk about kababawan for a change.

(I)

Lately, I noticed that before I go to sleep, I make sure to set the TV on a cartoon channel instead of my usual CNN or National Geographic habit. Two nights ago, I slept very late because I was so absorbed watching a double episode of South Park at Jack TV that I forgot that I have work later that morning. I do not remember what episodes were aired, but I had a good laugh before falling asleep.

Last night the same thing happened again. I came home drunk after attending Dodong's birthday party. I turned on the TV while taking off my clothes then I stumbled on a rare episode of As Told By Ginger at Nickolodeon. For those who are not familiar with ATBG, it is an animated series that focuses on Ginger Foutley's adventures at Lucky Jr. High. Each episode is presented in a style as if it was being written in her diary. What is so fascinating about this series is that despite its teenage appeal (Think of Degrassi or Laguna Beach, though I haven't seen a single episode of these sitcoms), ABTG has depth and certain character that I could appreciate. It is as if every episode has a subliminal moral lesson embedded on it. If Spongebob is pure laugh trip, As Told By Ginger is the exact opposite. Many times the cartoon inspired me to create a sim family in Sims 2 based from the characters in this series.

So far I have not succeeded yet.

Nevertheless, I consider ABTG as one of the cartoons I wouldn't mind watching over and over again.

(II)

After two weeks of speculating what really happened to Britney Spears at the VMA Music Awards, I finally saw the awards re-telecast at MTV last weekend. So ganun pala siya, Britney was obviously drunk and wasted when she opened the awards night with the song Gimme More. And it was true, she did nothing except walk from one end of the stage to the other, bend over a little to expose her big but, and then do an unexpected dance routine, that the back-up dancers seem not familiar with. I think the reason why so many people were disappointed with her performance was because it was so sensationalized as her "comeback performance" only to witness a Britney Spears who was nagkakalat.

Good thing she didn't passed out while doing the performance.

Anyhow, for some reasons, why do I feel that after this devastating blow to her career, she would end up becoming a more popular celebrity in the end? The song Gimme More was indeed catchy (I still have to dance the song at Government/BED though) and the Britney-spearian faggies in G4M were claiming that her new album is full of trance-house tracks. If that's true, then I guess we have a new Madonna (Confessions On A Dance Floor) in the making.

Which reminds me of another thing; During the 80's Madonna was on the rampage. She was the material girl who experimented with everything that is decadent. Who knows, Britney might be simply doing the same thing. Looking at Madonna before and now, then there is hope for Britney. Nasty girls who become reformed later in their lives do succeed in show business.

In the future, Britney might even outshine Christina Aguilera, Rihanna and Gwen Stefani in the end.

(III)

During the workshop of my Autobiographical essay Trinoma, a classmate suggested that I should drop the part where I was watching Shrek 3 alone and was laughing out loud as Snow White did the cute singing scene preceding the raging animal call. For my part, I do not really see the relevance of putting it, except that it was the lightest moment on my rather heavy and sad essay. However, J. Neil protested. He said that despite my paminta image, it showed how kikay I could get when faced with such situations.

I never expected his remarks. Nevertheless I was fascinated at how he read what might be inside me. Looking back, I remember Mami Athena suggesting that I might be keeping a feminine persona inside my masculine outer shell. I tried to defend myself by explaining how it was possible when its natural for me to act masculine. Mami said that it might be just a show-off on my part. I countered her by saying that it's because of the environment. After all, I grew up with koboy straight guys during my later formative years.

Anyhow it doesn't matter really. In fact, I sense a liberating feeling knowing that I am beginning to acknowledge my two-spirit personhood. Imagine a brute keeping a feminine/esoteric soul. That might be something rare in the PLU world.

Astig yun ah.