On the Desperate Wives racial slur brouhaha

So apparently the writers of desperate housewives made snide remarks about doctors who graduated in the Philippines.  And Filipinos around the world, including my dad, are raising an uproar.  What is it about derogatory remarks aimed at the Philippines that trips our fragile collective ego?  And do these people really think they’ve achieved anything by making a fuss about it?

Let’s say the producers and writers of the show apologize?  What then?  Will the memories of people who watched that show suddenly disappear?  Will bigotry and racism suddenly be erased?  Fuck no.  Anyone watching that particular episode has already made up his mind about the Philippines.  The show or an apology afterwards won’t change their minds.  To them we’re still monkeys living in jungles and the only way to change that is to collectively show the world that we are much, much more than that.  That’ll only happen once the ratio of successful Filipino doctors outnumbers Filipino domestic helpers, and that won’t be anytime soon.

The United States’ foolproof Visa application

• Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, subversive or terrorist activities, or any other unlawful purpose? Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization as currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State? Have you ever participated in persecutions directed by the Nazi government of Germany; or have you ever participated in genocide?

I’m tempted to answer “yes” just to see what happens.  Just kidding. an FBI spook might be snooping around the intarwebs.

The Calm before the storm…

..is frighteningly boring.

Out of Control

Things are moving way too fast, like someone double clutched life and I’m in 6th gear with no brakes to speak of.  I’m frightened and terrified at the same time.

It stands!

 

My niece, that is.

Science debunks myth, not the other way around.

It’s funny how most of the people against population control and family planning are middle and upper class christians who fight for moral values and against “the culture” of death.  The propaganda is frightening, in that if you believe in the use of contraceptives you might as well turn yourself in to the police because you’re a murderer.

While it is true that population control will not solve the country’s problems, it’s a necessary component in mitigating the effects of a crippled system.  What good is it to wail against a corrupt government and elite that manage to keep 90-plus percent of the country’s wealth to themselves while at the same time churning out babies like there was no tomorrow?  What point is there in producing another mouth that you cannot feed?

Perhaps they should ask how those most directly affected feel about the situation, the Janitor and the labandera who barely manage to make a living while their kids sell sampaguitas and cigarettes on the streets.  Take your high moral values and sacred right and feed it to them, and see what happens.

brotherhood

When young men die, it ought to be in defense of an ideal, a country, or at worst love or a car accident.  It should never be to gain access to a silly boys’ club.

This one’s for the dudes

Just a nugget of wisdom I’d like to share with my fellow man. If your significant other ever asks you the dreaded trick question “Baby, will you still love me if I get fat?” you’re kinda screwed. If you say yes she’ll hold you to that to the day you die, and if you say no you’re just a total douchebag, so say what I say:

“Sweetie, I’ll still love you if you get fat. But fair’s fair. So if you put on 200 pounds, I’m gonna be putting on weight right with you, so we’ll be two fat people in love.”

See the whole point is, you really don’t want her to get fat, but you can’t tell her that right? But if as a consequence of her getting fat she gets a boyfriend that’s equally fat, well you’d be surprised at how good an incentive that is to keep the weight off.

Hey Chris, you said you wanted an emo post so here you go

Every now and then I question the things I’m doing and the paths I’ve taken in life.  Is this where I really want to be?  Would I be happier doing something else? Am I wasting my time in a job that I’m ok with but don’t really love?

It’s funny that these feelings were dredged up by attending a comic book convention, where I saw the members of dig deep entertainment hawking their wares.  They do action figures and sculptures for a variety of clients, including those in the comics, game, and film industry.  I wanted desperately to go up to them and talk shop, maybe ask if they have openings, but I’ve neglected building up a portfolio for so long that I didn’t have anything to show them.   I didn’t want to feel like a fanboy, I wanted to feel like I was one of them.  I just felt small again.

I realize now that I’m still not satisfied where I am, but sometimes I wonder if I ever will be.  Maybe satisfaction is just a mindset, and not an actual place that you can get to, like the buddhists say.  I mean, not everyone has to be the guy that gets to do what he loves and makes moolah off of it.  Some people are just meant to be normal, regular folk.  No shame in that.  But media and popular culture have ingrained in us the idea that we’re special, that we’re meant to do great things and change the world, and I bought into it.

I want it to stop.  I get exhausted thinking of all the things I wanted to do and never did.  I’ve tried to make some of them happen but the list just keeps going on and on.  Does it ever end?  Can’t I just be happy in a regular job in a regular life having a regular family in the future?

To DSLR, or not to DSLR, that is the question.

I sort of want to get a DSLR, but I need to figure out if I can afford one, and my reasoning for doing so.  I can’t afford to buy one for fun or just as a hobby, so this needs to be something I have a decent shot at earning some money off of, at least enough to cover the cost of the purchase.  I’m just wary because it’s sort of becoming in vogue to have a semi-pro DSLR these days, and i know friends who’ve seriously taken up the craft and have nothing come out of it.  Hopefully this isn’t just a passing phase, but we’ll see.  The folks get back from The states in June, so if I’m still hankering to get my hands on a DSLR I’ll decide by then.