Kill Bill Vol 2

Whereas vol 1 was literally a bloodbath, Vol 2 will overwhelm you with words. The sequel is meant to answer the questions brought about by the first movie...Why was she attacked in the first place? Who is Bill? What's the Bride's real name? In the process, there's more talking and less bleeding, more story-telling than sword clashing,but not too much of it that the fight scenes are overlooked. There's still a lot of fighting inherited from the Vol 1, my favorite of which is the snake fight (as opposed to cat fight) scene between Elle Driver AKA California Mountain Snake and *bleep* AKA Black Mamba. There is also the movie's tribute to classic Asian movies although this time, they've moved from the ancient Japanese art of the Samurai to the equally ancient art of Kung Fu. I'm not too sure if its the awe the movie and its characters have for the sword or if its just my fear of sharp objects, but I just wasnt as impressed with Pai Mei as I was with Hattori Hanzo. A Hanzo sword is priceless, on the other hand, Pai Mei's lethal blow (more of this in the movie) is a legend.

Overall, I think Vol 2 still has the vital necessities of Vol 1. The shifts to Black and White are still there, the too-good-to-be-true scenes are still too-good-to-be-true and the assasins are as cold blooded as can be expected (though Cotton Mouth and Gogo are the most insane of them all). I'd say Vol 1 and Vol 2 are just about the same level, but for different reasons. The first one shocked and amazed me presumably since I had no idea what it was about while the second one had me waiting on edge for the next kick, punch, shove and gush of blood and where it didn't happen, I was hanging on to what the characters were saying, wanting to find out who, what, why and how. However, if you're the type who would rather see the action rather than hear about why there's any action, you'd still prefer Vol 1 over Vol 2.

changing skins...again

the happy phantom had to change its look again. its part of my never ending search for just the right look. I wont promise I won't change it again...but as long as I don't ruin this template and as long as I remember how tedious it is to keep changing the layout, this one stays put.

Which (of the author's favorite) rock song are you?

SR71-Empty Spaces

Your Lyrics

I'm not afraid to
go backwards and fix what we broke
My gaze falls behind, you make desire seem so easy
I hold off sleep, it's so silent without you here
Don't give up now, it would all be for nothing

I believe in second chances
I believe the years forget

Let me fill these empty spaces
Better late than never / Stay forever
Let me fill this empty space
There's always room for one more mistake

Can you feel that
I think we're moving in the right direction
I was someone else then
I'd take it back if you would let me

We were never this close when we were young
Every night I whisper your name at the top of my
lungs


Which of my favorite rock love songs are you?
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I have no idea who this group is or how the song sounds like, but the words sound promising. It sounds very optimistic...and I like that....for a change.

...and for the record, here's what Quizilla has to say about me after taking the Quiz:
You have been down this road before, but you have grown up a lot and you are willing to give it another try. You believe in second chances, just don't try to relive the past. Fix whatever went wrong the first time.

All in a day's work

I found these comments on one module I was working on the other week:




She must have been having a really good day...

To cull or not to cull?

What happens when the presence of one organism threatens another? A big issue in Kangaroo Island
in South Australia is the growing Koala population and the decreasing manna gums which support birds and insects indigenous to Australia. Environmentalists are now calling for a Koala cull as the fastest,
most cost efficient way to reduce fur count in an effort to save other animals not found elsewhere.

Its sounds like a really controversial dilemma, especially when Australia prides itself in taking care of their animals. I think the fact that Koalas are so adorably cute make the issue messier. Who, in their right minds would agree to shooting them in the first place? Politicians who would allow it risk losing votes, environmentalists who would agree would be questioned, and parents who nod their heads risk losing
their kids respect ("My mommy hates Koalas!!")

Read more about it here.

(above photo taken from a visit to the Koala Conservation Center in Phillip Island)

marrying men (and women)

This seems to be a very wedding-friendly year. I guess thats what happens when you get older. Most of the people you know are of marrying age. Well, to those who have tied the knot already, Congratulations and best wishes to you and your spouse! And for those still planning and preparing for the big day, don't forget to take those beauty naps....stress means wrinkles, and wrinkles don't go very well with wedding gowns (or barongs either)

March: Anton and Lissa
May: Schuyler and Gilbey ; Christine and Ian
June: Des and Nards
July: Joy and Charlie
September: Bert and Alpha

Did I forget anyone?

Lazy Oaf

No work today.

I should be making the most of the holiday.

But I'm too lazy. I had lunch at 2 pm. My clothes are still in the dryer. The dishes are waiting for me to lay them to rest in the dishwasher.

I just love work holidays! :)

Go You Big Red Fire Engine!!

Its the title of the Adam Hills show we watched last Saturday. He's one of the many comedians performing all around Melbourne for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

I've never really seen a stand up comedy act before, and since I know that the shows in Manila are usually flavored with the "slapstick" style of comedy, I was never interested enough to go for it. This show was different from . He carried on like he was just having a conversation with the audience and he just happened to have several funny quips to share. Well...its not just plain conversational, he did have a little song number which I thought was just hilarious.

Definitely something I'd like to do again sometime soon. I guess that means I should go see another show. After all, this isn't something we have in Manila.

Blood Red

(Photo removed...sorry Quizilla, it just doesnt go with my blog)

You're blood. You're all over the place, but you
definitely keep things moving. You're thick,
but sweet. You enjoy others' physical pain.
And you keep coming back until you finally
clot. Some people faint when they see you.


Which bodily discharge are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Flowers from me

I've never taken photos of flowers. I don't know why, but I guess its because when I'm shooting somewhere, I usually zoom in on other things and I tend to ignore the flowers. But last Friday, we walked around the Royal Botanic Garden, and it seemed ony natural that I take photos of all that color around me.

On the lighter side of things...

I have my favorite zoo photos. I've been to quite a number of zoos already and I took photos each time. So far, however, this bunch has got to be my favorite. They are by no means perfect and the most fantastic shots anyone has ever taken of animals, but I think it shows I'm improving.

And that, I thnk is the most important thing.

I hate to whine but....

My mobile has been really quiet for the last month or so. Not getting anything but the Globe promotional messages and the messages from my family which is are to be expected.

I haven't been getting that many messages from my friends. Okay, okay, they're busy. And if I were in Manila it would be the same thing, I wouldn't get anything either.

Pero KSP ako eh. And I'm really not in the mood to think of their reasons. And I texted FIVE people last saturday to say hi...I got ONE reply.

Better than nothing I suppose.

Happy Birthday Jaque!

Libre mo na lang ako when I get back ;)

On my bedside table lie four different books....

a borrowed copy of Arundhati Roy's God of Small Things, Myths of the Ancient Greeks, Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and a very old, secondhand, hardbound copy of Homer's Iliad. Of all four, I've read two of them one-fourths of the way through.

You know how we sometimes buy a dress or blouse (or a shirt if you're a guy) for that occassion that isnt there yet, but just might come up? You think to yourself you're being prepared, that you're foreseeing something and are really proud of it....until time passes and that event never comes around? Sometimes that how I feel with books. I want to have a copy. I want them there. That way, I can read them, know more about the world, be smart and be aware. But soon after reading page one you find yourself not having time,or falling asleep after reading two lines. And then not reading them at all. And then not knowing they are there in the first place.

Maybe this weekend I'll pick up one of them and then finish reading it. And then maybe I'll move on to the next, and the next and the one after that.....

or maybe I'd best set my goal to one page at a time.