January 2011 Round-Up: So Far, So Good

Every end of the month, as an admin of this blog, I will summarize the events or posts of the month.  (Hopefully, my co-administrators will share these "end of the month" round-up post responsibilities in the future. lol)

Anyway, this had been an "okay" first month.  478 views of 267 unique visitors (IP address).  Not bad for a first month of operation.  Hopefully, our readers will expand ^__^ I am optimistic.

So, here's the round-up, after the jump...

Minstrel of Misery: Act I

- I once said to myself -

I'd rather not have you,

Than lose you when I have the chance to love you.

- And I asked myself -

If Fate shows me a damsel whose distress I cannot fathom,

Yet a beauty that pars with her agony;

Will I take the risk or lie sideways in the shadows?

- Yet I took the risk -

But ALAS, I accidentally broke my heart into countless pieces.

If there's one thing I could do nothing about right now,

Then it'd be taping my heart back like before;

The same way I imagined how you and I used to piece together.

- Mistakes were made -

I will never again try to write a thousand lines

That'd only emphasize those three words

That streams

In the lips of many

Three words...

A distortion of fragmented memories;

Breaks an unkempt heart into two,

And deluges one's life into endless torment.

- Out of the worst, I loved -

You were once a dream that nearly came true,

Now you have just become a nightmare in the flesh,

How I wish

I never saw you

again,

Then I would've kept

My sanity a bit longer.

Untitled, Left for the Heart to Guess

I know who you are,

That's why I could only say "I Love You" to myself for you,

I just wish you wouldn't hear it,

so that I could say it behind your back over and over again,

I know you,

and you know me but you don't know what's inside of me.

That's better,

now I know my eyes can still rest on you.

I. Love. You

I see you everyday,

that's enough for me

I won't talk to you,

my heart will.

I find it puzzling how you are right now.

You're a classical beauty,

not only in my eyes, but them too.

As long as you're there,

then I've no anguish within me.

I find you charming,

though I don't know why,

but this little charade of mine - 'tis my only way of appreciation.

It's passive to you, yet it's active in my heart.

I just wish, that as I lay down on my deathbed.

And as soon as I smell the sepulchral air adrift,

I just hope that I could still hold your arms around me,

your tears in my lips ~ your soft, loving cry makes me smile.

Keep me in your heart, that's all I ask,

And I shall keep you in mine, even though I'm already gone.

Memories are supposed to be remembered,

but I have your's to keep my mine alive.

Top 10 Super-Hero Animated Series

I grew up reading comic books and most (US) comic books are all about super heroes.  That’s why I love “super heroes” most (before I encountered mainstream anime) as an animated series genre.  And, so, for my first Top 10 post in the Experimental Theatre, I bring you my top ten superhero animated series (obviously… it’s the title after all).  I'm just thankful I overcame my “procrastination” so I can finish writing this.

 

Before we start, here are the honorable mentions (shows that nearly made the list): Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men: Evolution, the Batman, Wild C.A.T.S., Mighty Mouse

Now, let’s proceed after the jump…

Are you following the Jante Law?

I was reading the Zahir by Paulo Coelho when I read a paragraph about the Law of Jante. I became curious about it and decided to read more about it.

What is the Jante Law: is a pattern of group behaviour towards individuals within Scandinavian communities, which negatively portrays and criticizes success and achievement as unworthy and inappropriate. It is an unwritten rule. It sounds similar to the "Crab mentality" which brings down anyone who is going up.

The ten rules state:
   1. Don't think you're anything special.
   2. Don't think you're as much as us.
   3. Don't think you're wiser than us.
   4. Don't convince yourself that you're better than us.
   5. Don't think you know more than us.
   6. Don't think you are more than us.
   7. Don't think you are good at anything.
   8. Don't laugh at us.
   9. Don't think anyone cares about you.
  10. Don't think you can teach us anything.

The law resents those who are different, who have achieved much, who are knowledgeable and loved. As we pass through life, we encounter people who get the better grades, the better car, the better boyfriend or the better girlfriend. Its a negative trait really which not only brings the other person down, it brings you down too. Making you feel inadequate and lacking. True, I did think that way sometimes but thankfully, I made my own "law" to counter all this.

"Envy and greed will never make you happy"

That's because I think that's where all the negativity mainly stems from; Envy and greed. It makes you feel unwanted and lacking and average. I am not here though to patronize but suggest that whenever we catch ourselves thinking this way, stop! just stop and change your mind set.

Don't allow yourself to follow the Jante Law.

Let's Talk About Movies, Not Ourselves

Ok, I admit. I were to introduce myself first before posting to this group blog but I'm no good in introductions. I don't like to talk about myself. So I apologize for breaking the rule here Madeleine, let's just talk about movies then.

The Oscars is just around the corner. [(Yes I'm not really gonna introduce myself. I'm intro-phobic (is there such a word?)].

Film buffs around the world are casting their bets on who's going to win. Forget the other major awards, let's focus directly to the major-major one: the Best Picture. As the changes last year, we have 10 films to choose from, you know, to make it more unpredictable (and more stars to hang out during the after-party) To help us predict on who's going to win, I found a secret not-systematically-and-scientifically-proven-formula basing on the last decade. I'm a stat freak, but not freak enough to dig in all the other previous winners.

Here's the formula on how the politics work in the Academy: whoever wins the WRITING and DIRECTING nods, bring home the statue. Well, usually.

Here's the Best Picture winners from the last decade:

2001: Gladiator. Even though Traffic won the writing and directing credits, no one actually watched that movie, right? Remember I said usually on the statement above?

2002: A Beautiful Mind. This was the year when the Lord of the Rings franchise started. But it didn't win both writing and directing awards. Better luck next time on the sequel LOTR fans.

2003: Chicago. The Pianist won the W&D nods but why did Chicago win? Maybe a lively musical is more entertaining than a mere piano. Also LOTR sequel didn't win the best film that year simply because it was not nominated for both writing and directing.

2004: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Finally. Also won W&D.

2005: Million Dollar Baby. It won best in directing, but Clint Eastwood is enough for this film to win.

2006: Crash. This is an upset. Brokeback Mountain won writing (adapted) and directing. Crash also won writing (original) but why did the homos didn't win? I don't know.

2007: The Departed. Also won writing and directing. Easy.

2008: No Country for Old Men. Won writing and directing. I was betting on Juno that year though.

2009: Slumdog Millionaire. Writing and Directing. No sweat.

2010: The Hurt Locker. Also writing and directing. The fan fave Avatar didn't win because, again, it was not nominated for it's screenplay.

For this year, there are only 4 best picture nominees that are also nominated in both writing and directing: True Grit, The Fighter, The Social Network, The King's Speech. But my vibes say it's going to be a photo finish between the Facebook movie and the stuttering king. So whoever gets both the writing and directing statues will get the last award.

But the most of me wants an upset win by Inception. It's nominated for its writing, but not for directing, which is utterly disturbing. Did the Academy think that the best movie of the year directed itself?

I am Andy Calope, and I'm not eurotophobic.

First Impressions Last

I've never really been good with introductions, but they say the female species distinguishes you for who you are the way you introduce yourself to them. Either way, I've always had the dilemma of introducing myself to the ladies; thus I skip the formalities, laugh along with the crowd and let the good times roll.

“Let's take the good times as they go, and I'll meet you further on up the road...”

-Bruce Springsteen-

The frustrated poet that I am, I've taken a liking to matters of the proverbial heart. Listen to peoples stories, whether they're hurt or in-love, and string their emotions together; to ease someone's pain by listening to them won't gain you anything but the thought of helping them rise from the fall's an ethereal award of sort.

I stand 5'10'', weighs around 120 ~ 130 lbs, slightly skinny with a sense of

-unnatural- humor. Likes to sulk around when he's bored, eyes in the skies if he has unanswered questions, and down for frustrations. My epic randomness strikes sometimes though not always, heaving a bland, serious discussion into an out-of-this-world potpourri of thoughts.

Though there's this small piece of info you might want to look into. I ain't me all the time. Misery, so they say, loves company. An apprentice of schadenfreude, the Minstrel of Misery, a second me.

And so, my dear readers, I bid adieu. My primordial post, hopefully, hasn't disturbed you nor bored you.

Phobias Make This World a Funny Place To Be

Lately, I have noticed that people, like friends of mine, were discussing about things that scare them, thing's they are afraid of. Of course, my friends are still sane-- their fears still rational. However, a certain status comment on the wall of a friend of mine in facebook stated this.

"Anatidaephobia: The fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you."

What???!
hahaha...so this inspired me to do some search for the list of phobias that i find particulary interesting...never heard before and just plainly hilarious (and ridiculous)...
But before that, let's give some credit to what that word means.

A phobia (from the Greek: φόβος,phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear")

is an irrational, intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive and unreasonable desire to avoid the feared stimulus. When the fear is beyond one's control, and if the fear is interfering with daily life, then a diagnosis under one of the anxiety disorders can be made.


Agateophobia- Fear of insanity.

~ehh? and you think you don't have it?

Angrophobia - Fear of anger or of becoming angry.

~no anger management problem needed

Anthrophobia or Anthophobia- Fear of flowers.

~NO way...they're too adorable!!!

Anuptaphobia- Fear of staying single.

~haha! some people have this fear...haha

Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

~wut??!?! hahaha

Autodysomophobia- Fear of one that has a vile odor.

~so please don't get too near me..haha...just kidding

Automatonophobia- Fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues - anything that falsly represents a sentient being.

~haha...i kinda relate a bit when i was younger

Bogyphobia- Fear of bogeys or the bogeyman.

~there's no such thing as.....

Bromidrosiphobia or Bromidrophobia- Fear of body smells.

~hahahahaha!!!

Cacophobia- Fear of ugliness.

~my face has a natural fear of it

Caligynephobia- Fear of beautiful women.

~means you and I won't get along haha

Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia- Fear of money.

~so give em to me instead

Chromophobia or Chromatophobia- Fear of colors

~awwww! what a boring world you have!

Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia- Fear of being locked in an enclosed place

~it's not Claustrophobia guys

Coitophobia- Fear of coitus.

~I am sure I don't have this one :P

Coulrophobia- Fear of clowns.

~Oh yeah...I have this one

Consecotaleophobia- Fear of chopsticks

~weh?! is still there such thing?

Cyberphobia- Fear of computers or working on a computer

~there's another term for this one...i kinda forgot what that was

Defecaloesiophobia- Fear of painful bowels movements.

~haha...I wanna meet people who really might have this phobia

Dementophobia- Fear of insanity.

~hahaha!!! this one's crazy (fear of oneself hahaha)

Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school.

~haha...excuses for being absent

Dikephobia- Fear of justice.

~most evil person? haha

Dishabiliophobia- Fear of undressing in front of someone.
~really? gladly...i dont have this one

Doxophobia- Fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise.

~ means..don't talk to me

Ecclesiophobia- Fear of church.

~wut? it's the happiest place to be...with the family

Ecophobia- Fear of home.

~there's no place like home...

Eleutherophobia- Fear of freedom.

~rather be a slave

Ephebiphobia- Fear of teenagers.

~teenagers scare the living sh*t out of me

Epistaxiophobia- Fear of nosebleeds.

~haha...i could scare this person then

Epistemophobia- Fear of knowledge.

~dumbest person of all...profound

Eremophobia- Fear of being oneself or of loneliness.

~"don't leave me"

Ereuthrophobia- Fear of blushing.

~ hahaha! i remembered when I was a kid..I've got a feeling somthing similar to this

Ergophobia- Fear of work.

~excuses of the lazy kind

Erotophobia- Fear of sexual love or sexual questions.

~noh???

Euphobia- Fear of hearing good news.

~the saddest person in the world...damned

Eurotophobia- Fear of female genitalia.

~really??? I wonder how they these kind of phobia develops

Erythrophobia or Erytophobia or Ereuthophobia- 1) Fear of redlights. 2) Blushing. 3) Red.

~NOOO!!! that's so like on of my fave color!

Graphophobia- Fear of writing or handwriting.

~excuses of the iliterate

Gymnophobia- Fear of nudity.

~sure???

Gynephobia or Gynophobia- Fear of women.
~guys should have this...just kidding hahaha

Hellenologophobia- Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology.

~hahaha! when you're studying taxonomy you might get this ahaha

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia- Fear of long words.

~NO WAY

Ithyphallophobia- Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.

~who thinks of this kind of phobias???!

Novercaphobia- Fear of your step-mother.

~Cinderella?

Omphalophobia- Fear of belly buttons.

~ Kyle XY is your bestfriend

Papaphobia- Fear of the Pope.

~the term of the phobia just sounds funny

Paraskavedekatriaphobia- Fear of Friday the 13th.

~again..the term of the phobia is interesting

Philophobia- Fear of falling in love or being in love.

~NOOOOOO......excuses for losers!

Phobophobia- Fear of phobias.

~hahaha! how ironic

Proctophobia- Fear of rectums.

~wut?!

Venustraphobia- Fear of beautiful women.

~WHAT?! you're afraid of me? gosh...

Thanks for reading guys...who you won't get Maddyphobia^_^(

that's so lame maddy...really now)

I Need to Post Something For This Week!!!

List writing is pretty popular in the internet.  Sites like cracked, listverse, toptenz, and toplessrobot has it as their format or one of their formats in their articles.  Months ago, I started to write Top 10 lists in “The Bernel Zone”, and the traffic boomed.  In fact, 5 of my top ten most read blog posts in 2010 were top ten lists.  So, I would like to bring the “top 10”-style to this blog also. 


And that first "top 10" post is for next week...


The piece is still under construction ("top 10 superhero animated series").  Something had been up this week that ate all of my free time.

For now, let me share you my favorite sequence in the anime BLEACH instead.  I really love this because of the epic flow of events:

• Ichigo suddenly appearing to rescue Rukia.
• Ichigo stopping the Sōkyoku (which has the power of a million Zanpakutō), showing that he dramatically increased his power in a few days of training.
• Captains Ukitake and Kyōraku surprising their peers by aiding Ichigo to rescue Rukia by destroying the Sōkyoku.  
• Ichigo, without second thought, tossing Rukia to Renji below.
• And, most badass of all, at the last part, Ichigo taking on three lieutenants barehanded.

Enjoy! 

When not writing in the "Experimental Theatre", Bernel is writing in "The Bernel Zone"...

Chocolate: an Antidote for Vodka

Let me tell you first that I do not yet have any significant research findings about chocolate as a counter for the effects of alcohol. It seems kinda interesting since both of them are known to release endorphins once taken in even in small amounts. However we know that their dynamics work differently though they have some similar effects. Then, we will know that they have counter effects on each other as well. You can read more about chocolate and alcohol to know about this since I don't need to elaborate much on this.

So why fuzz about blogging this?

A week ago, I went on a drinking spree and after more than a year I got drunk again. And what helped me much was chocolate, all thanks to a very good friend of mine who took care of me. However he too doesn't know that chocolate could give a very therapeutic effect on those having a hang over (like me). So all these observations are mainly subject to my personal experience, and no serious research or experiment was done to make out such generalization. "It worked for me" is the statement.

So what's the story?

Here goes... drinking vodka one night with my cousins while we were staying at a hotel. Counting in two bottles of mudshakes, a glass of Ateneo blue (simple mixture of clear vodka, blue gatorade and I forgot the other ingredient~ made by one of my cousins), a glass of strawberry Vodka. Of course it was more than world's turning around me and my head was like a floating balloon about to pop. The rest of the details are pretty much private (wink) and very irrelevant to this topic.

So the next day hang over was terrible...like I was the sickest person in the world. Of course, my cousins were there, they took care of me.

Yeah, yeah, I am not used to drinking and it came such a shocker to my body. All my senses are down low and I so wanna eat but have no appetite. Solution to replenish the glucose and elecrolytes? Chocolate and water. And when I thought it would take me more than a day to stabilize myself, it took only a few hours of sleep, bottles of water, trips to the restroom and more chocolate.