The word palindrome is derived from the Greek palandromos, meaning running back again (palan = AGAIN + drom-, dramen = RUN). By etymology, a palindrome is a word or phrase which reads the same in both directions.
All palindromes are in Bold Typeface.
More often than not, the TITLES of the blogs are palindromes.
Its nostalgia time. Its Labor Day - that means no work (ironic isn't it) and time to get lazy in the house. Apparently I was gifted when I decided against getting lazy and started to clean some stuff in the library. I got a pleasant surprise as I was cleaning some old cartons from our old house** (incidentally, had we not sold the house, we would have celebrated 31 years - exactly on this date).
I found major finds in Vinyl LP Records , yes the real thing and mint (as a Wrigley Gum) : U2's The Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and the 12" of Where the Streets Have No Name (all imported from the UK in 1987!). Can you see my ear-to-ear smile right now? Maybe this is the reason why I really haven't bought the CD versions of this 2 great 80's album of the great band from Ireland. Haha. Now I can fairly say that I have a complete discography of the band - the best band in 80's, 90's and for 2001 and 2002. Wow!
Now, if I can only find a turntable to play it onto...
Ok. ok. How many times have we heard this news? The agents/lawyers of Anna Kournikova is suing Penthouse Magazine for putting out nude or rather topless pictures of their client in the mag's forthcoming June issue (set to be in many mailboxes next week). But what is new here? Whether or not its true, we just don't care, people just want to see the pictures themselves. Sue if these lawyers want but just do a google on "Anna Kournikova nude pictures" and you will be served with a multitude of pictures, fake or otherwise. Question here is why didn't they sue those sites ahead of Penthouse? Of course we know the answer to that.
This time, the magazine says its original since they took the pictures near the Miami beach front of Anna's house, hmmmm, privacy issues there... Get this: "The photographs are so dissimilar to Miss Kournikova that anyone who knows her, when they see the photos, will immediately know that the magazine did it on purpose to exploit her and make some additional money," said Schwab. Will Mr. Enrique Iglesias vouch for the authenticity perhaps?
By the time they clear out the decision on whether they are true or not millions of readers would have already been the judge.
Blogged at :10:20 AM
DID I? I DID!
Various bills P 10,000; Utilities, P 2,000; Miscellaneous Expenses P 3,000; the memory of your April paycheck - PRICELESS.
Did I get my pay today? I guess I did. shucks. It was gone in one day.
This is my first original Filipino palindrome to celebrate the successful first week of my blogging career. Translated, it merely means, WHICH RICHES? MANILA.
This morning I was parked in between a Mercedes Benz C Class and a BMW Z3 Roadster. I was overly careful not to scratch the surface of these cars as I alighted from my half opened driver seat door of my Mitsubishi. As I knew I had zilch in my pocket (its end of the month) I decided to pass by the nearest Automated Teller Machine. I passed by a Starbucks with some gondolas for coffee drinkers who want to have Manila sunshine at 7:30 am while sipping their coffee. One office worker was fidgeting with his Ericsson T68, I can't tell if that's the one with the camera, while his companion was with a Nokia. Suffice to say, all those drinking their caffeine fill lugged a cellphone. While on the opposite roadside, I saw a man walking listlessly from trash can to another, not minding people, searching for whatever can be had from his "treasure chests", which for almost everyone is ordinarily a trash can.
It made me think of the great divide the Philippines is in. They say its a 70-23-7 split. Those below poverty would be first number. I guess its more likely that the middle class are now moving closer to the 70, while the remaining 7% of those affluent remain to be rich, maybe even getting richer.
This morning on the radio, the president announced that there are no salary hike for tomorrow's Labor Day celeb. It was mentioned that our Filipino workers already received the highest salary increase in the region last year. Daily Filipino wage earners average $5.65 per working day. Well, that was last year, but just last week, oil pump prices jumped by at least 17%.
I was now in my ATM machine to see that I had P 435.50. Unfortunately, the machine can only dispense in peso bills with denomination of P 500s, approximately $10.00. Well that merely means, I can't buy myself a Starbucks coffee or at the very least a sandwich, til I receive my month's pay by noon. I left the ATM made for rich people and had an idea that maybe I can go see a "treasure chest" myself to see anything I could use.
I have so much self-control. I am telling you. It took me 17 hours to stop myself from writing this blog. I hate losing. And I hate teams that really keep doing it. Other than the fact that Portland has the distinction to have passed on His Airness in the 1984 draft to pick up Sam Who Bowie of Kentucky in the first round, they are also the answer to the trivia question of "the team to have been addicted to losing 5 out of the last 6 years to the same team from Los Angeles"
Here are three suggestions for next year:
1. Go change addresses and not to be in the same group as the LA Lakers. I pity Portland, having had the strongest line up man for man on paper for the last 3 years and still losing.
2. Remove the word "Trail" in their monicker. In my dictionary check - "trail" means to drag, to follow behind and yes - to lag behind. Well, those words should tell them something.
3. It must be their uniforms. That Black, Red diagonal line over their home jerseys. They are one of the last teams not to have changed anything from their threads for the last 25 years. In fact since they won the NBA championships in 1976-1977 in a team which included the original enforcer, Maurice Lucas and Mr. Bill Walton.
Well, Bill Walton is already wearing his colorful tie-dye. Who aint seen him the last few days? Why can't they follow soon?
Maybe they're thinking that Walton sir is not law why should they follow? Hmmmm....
At least, I ended the blog with an original palindrome!
Wow! Talk about dominance. Schumi won again in Barcelona. 57th win in his career and this time it was so dominant that he won by as much as half a minute from the second place. My suggestion is just plain and simple, why don't they just give Mike the over all trophy this year and save on gasoline.
Thank God for the messages that I receive every morning. My cellphone which doubles up as my alarm clock and PDA can also become my ref door. I woke up at 5:40 am to see a message from my one and only left a couple of minutes ago. Short and sweet, within 160 characters, Michele left the right words just to get me up from bed and ready. I checked my email and as expected, saw no messages.
Checked my favorite book I got a message from my Best Friend who told me that we have a great gimmick place reserved in His Father's house. (John 14:3) Today He says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27). Wow what a great one !
The Lakers and Blazers game on TV, is at the background. Its just a couple of minutes before halftime of the game. We ended up with Him saying, "Get up let us go." (John 14:31) as if cheering with me - just like a best friend watching a ballgame with me. Come on Lakers, let's wrap this game up.
Update: Lakers win the game (92-91) after trailing by two points in the last 2.1 seconds. Maybe Jesus is a Laker fan.
Why do everyone say it will be the Sacramento Kings that will beatthe Los Angeles Lakers? Even their players believe so. Man for man, the Laker Team has the advantage. Kobe and Shaq are just picking up. Experience wise, the Lakers have it. There are the usual reliables Robert Horry, Brian Shaw and Rick Fox. Those are 8 championship rings just amongst the three. Remember too they are just reserving Mitch Richmond for the Conference Finals.There is the other hired gun - Lindsey Hunter, who between him and Mitch have 28 years of NBA experience without being in a championship contender. Let's not forget Derek Fisher, Slava Medvedenko and Samaki Walker.
The only way to go is really to snug all the LA Laker guns. Every year, the Lakers can always find a way to be hungry for that ring. Besides, Phil Jackson wants to have another three-peat while Mark Madsen promises to dance a better twist this time.
Michele and I again connected. Literally and figuratively. In the sense of technology, we got hooked. In the realm of spirituality, we were brought together with the beauty of the realization to whatever plans we have. Plans that we have laid down from our hearts at the foot of the cross.
Friday night blues, Friday night blues
Solo, one, me, myself, I - Alone
A haircut. Grocery. Shop on my own.
Friday night Friday night
Friday night blues
Friday night blues, Friday night blues
Coffee, Drive Home. Sleep
How long will I endure having all these?
Friday night Friday night
Friday night blues.
I received the newsletter of Montreux Jazz Festival and the line up of artists playing for this year is rock solid (or rather "jazz" solid). Really, no lemons at all!
Now there are two great reasons to be in Switzerland by July, one is the jazzfest and the other is to be with my loved one, Michele.
Cant wait to see my Michele, much more than David Bowie, Paul Simon, BB King, Isaac Hayes, Greenday, Jamiroquai, Erykah Badu and UB40, all combined.
The billboard along Kalayaan Avenue corner C5 reads “Where are you going?” – GOD in black and white bold letters. I answered silently to myself “to the office, d’You want to come with me?…” And maybe God would have answered, “I have always been with you, everytime, everywhere...”
Reminiscent of the 80s “Oh God Books 1 and 2”, a dialogue with God would have ensued in retrospect to what happened this morning. But this billboard is not the first of its kind. There have been that bumper sticker, “Think GOD” from the movie, “Oh God”, and neon signs like “Jesus loves you”. There have been books like “Conversations with God” now probably in its nth volume and the “meetings” still continue.
Successful in its ways of reaching out to more people, advertising agencies have capitalized with their own brand of bringing God nearer in a more candid way to the masses, through the 1999 ad campaign, “God Speaks”. This time, He is depicted to have a sense of humour, “I have a sense of humor, have you seen the platypus?” Someone who they can relate with most of their lives’ issues. “I heard your prayer – I just don’t care who wins the game.”
He is also seen as someone who can make that gentle nudge and just remind you if ever you need help. “Need Directions?” Well, if you ask me, whatever works is ok with me. What is important is that people are reminded and they take action. Its not just feeling good and having a smile on one’s face when one passes by billboard signs that read “I Saw That” or “I never questioned your existence” – all signed by GOD in B&W bold letters.
Important of it all, is that we believe, we are reminded and we act. Enjoyment is secondary. I just don’t know if God knows how to send SMS messages….
ARE WE NOT DRAWN ONWARD, WE FEW? DRAWN ONWARD TO NEW ERA?
"When there's a will, there's no such thing as away"
I read this in "Happy Endings", a book by Luis K and I am an apostle to this saying. My wife and I are 10,079 kilometers away from each other. Maybe more if you count 80 kilometers from Geneva to the actual abode Michele stays in. But with new era technology? I am just 10 inches away from her. We both hook up. Two laptops. Two free Internet Connections. We have Instant Messenger, I have a webcam and we have a date. That's technology working for us.
It soothes the frayed nerves, the tired body, and, a weary heart not being able to be with each other. It bridges the distance. Technology is. It makes us feel we are there for each other. We talk. Freely. We laugh. Heartily. We smile. We joke. We scratch our nose. As if we really are there in front of each other. We share. Our day. Our plans. Our joys. Our fears. We react. Oh no. Not that. Sure. Why Not? The love that we feel is the same. May even be heightened with the trust we put in. May be made more beautiful with the longing. Are we just drawn to new era? With technology that works? We ended up. With a virtual kiss.
Sorry if this sounded like a telecommunication company advertisement. But for me, it works. I am drawn to it.
Its 35 degrees outside. I decided to go to the office and do some real office work, after doing part time (had two meetings with the CEO and COO), while watching the NBA games on ESPN.
I am going to an open mike Poetry Reading gig tonight at the Greenbelt in Makati. I love poetry. I used to write poems for my wife's consumption. But this come-up-on-stage and start-reading-in-front-of-a-crowd thing is not my cup of tea....one of these days perhaps. when i have mustered the collective courage of all 6 contestants on Fear Factor.
It really is too hot to hoot! (another palindromic title, see others below)
I just had a visit to the john due to a bum stomach. its not nice to sit there when what the room was supposed to be called "comfort" and you don't really feel it due to that piercing ache in your tummy.
I got this email about Genetically Modified Organisms,GMOs in our food and a list from Greenpeace was provided:
Greenpeace commissioned tests conducted by the independent laboratory HK DNA Chips revealed GMO contamination in the following products: Bonus Vienna franks, Rica Protina hotdogs, Campo Carne Moby hotdogs, Purefoods Beefy hotdogs, Quality Foods Budget franks, Crab Cake distributed by Foodmart Enterprises, Yung Ho soya drink, Doritos Smokey Red Barbecue, Nestle Nesvita Natural Cereal Drink, Knorr Cream of Corn soup, Isomil Soy Infant Formula, Nestle's Cerelac Wheat, Kellog's Chocos Chex, Wyeth's Nursoy, Farina's Hot Wheat Cereal, Gerber Mixed Fruits, Gerber Cream of Brown Rice, and Gerber Green Monggo, Knorr Crab and Corn soup, Maggi Cup Chicken Arroz Caldo, Campbell's Chicken with Rice, Ensure Vanilla, Tostillas Smokey BBQ Flavor, Kornets Natural Flavor, Quick Chow Instant Pancit, Purefoods Chicken Nuggets, Purefoods Chorizos Bilbao, CDO Corned Beef, Swift's Cheesy Hotdog, Campo Carne Chicken Hotdog, Hormel Vienna Sausage, and Swift Meat Loaf Embotido style.
Half of those, I actually eat every once in a while...some people are testing and killing us at the same time
Woke up at 7:50 am and decided to work from home. This work affords me to do that and I enjoy such flexibility. Especially if we talk about the traffic that builds up along the Service road from 8 am to 10 am....that will consume you and its not worth all the trouble.
I'll just have my caffeine shots, or perhaps my decaf shots...enjoy this morning's palindromic title.
Here is the real "castle in the clouds", a sight which used to be only a figment of our imagination. Like many other visions, that one has just come true.
I believe in my heart now that many other things are possible....
I love you.
Michele
I received a postcard from my one true love after her recent visit to Germany. This castle was Schloss Neuschwanstein, somewhere in the Bavarian Region. Breathtaking. Exhilariting. I have this fascination with castles. My wife knows that. I guess I lived in one of them in one of my past lives. She tells me, I probably did. As a jester to the Royal Family maybe. And she was the lonely princess....
I love the colors black, white and blue
I love the bands Depeche Mode and U2 I love to travel; sometimes just be idle
Palindromes really make my day
Just look at this poem's title
It's the end of the world as we know it.Apt isn't it? But no, I don't think so. There were worse times than these. There were more turmoil in the 70s and 90s. That's why I love the 80s. Those were the carefree days. No problems. No bills to pay. No deadlines to meet. Yes, they call me and I call myself "Stuck in the 80s". Oh well. I know its true. I am listening to an 80s song right now...you guessed it right, REM's "Its The End of the World (as we know it)"....
Sometimes you really have to screen news that you hear from the radio, see on TV and read from the papers. But more often than not, everything just becomes entertainment. No more headlines. No more world news. No more editorials. They are all bunched up under entertainment....just like these.
Woke up just a couple of minutes ago to cocks crowing. Its a quiet morning and I feel like putting some thoughts in at least to check in.
E but boob tube
E but boob tube
Was it I saw?
Wow!
Yes. That's a good start. A palindrome (just like the title of this page) Had a good dose of BBall on the boob tube yesterday. Significant of all was my team, the LA Lakers moved one step toward their date with destiny - a three-peat! I realized that its been 24 long years that I have been a rabid follower of the gold and Purple Reign. Well, if there's another that makes me become more passionate about in life, she is my partner in crime - my wife. Although I don't know which team she roots for. Hmmmmm.
Will check in too with the Great One and read and listen to His Son's great words tonight.
Was it Eliot's toilet I saw?
Was it a bar or a bat I saw?
Was it a bat I saw?
Was it a car or a cat I saw?
Was it a cat I saw?
Was it a rat I saw?
Racecar? Was it I saw? Racecar.
Life's changes are happening as we are just experiencing the prior moment. Developments in our lives have been blinding fast, I didn't realize I had a palindromic age...yes, I am not 22 years old any longer but 33 years young already. I sometimes cringe in the thought that just like a racecar I ought to take a pitstop....
Eversince I can remember, I love putting my musings on paper. But this is a welcome change. I am putting them down in the internet. If you notice, the Blog's title is a PALINDROME (not originally mine but i always try to come up with my own). I love palindromes....lines or sentences which are the same if read either forwards or backward. People find it sinister that I love doing things in an unusual way, i had a signature that needed a mirror to see that it spelled my name (Leonardo da Vinci did the same thing too). The beauty of blogging is that you capture your thoughts and immortalize them at the exact very moment....one day, when I will have enough time I can look back and read the posts immortalized by the blogs created. I am sure, my wife and I will enjoy seeing how everything was at a palindromic date of 04/22/2002 20:02:22:40.
