I don’t consider myself straight edge. I don’t walk around with black X’s on my hands. I can’t stand screamo, emo, or hardcore punk. I’m not vegan either, but being vegetarian for health reasons has crossed my mind many times. If avoiding drugs, alcohol, and sex makes me straight edge, so be it.

I still can’t stand screamo or punk music, though.

2: Type in “[your name] looks like” in Google search:
“Pam looks like shit!”
–> No, not right now, at least. XD

3: Type in “[your name] does” in Google:
“Pam does Montreal, P Diddy too”
–> I don’t really want to know what that’s about.

4: Type in “[your name] hates” in Google search:
“libapache-mod-auth-pam hates me: msg#00004″
–> Cool, something Apache-related, for a change! Go httpd.conf!

5: Type in “[your name] goes” or “..has gone” in Google
“Pam goes on the Monster for the first time”
–> I never rode it yet, sorry.

6: Type in “[your name] loves” in Google search:
“PAM Loves You …”
–> Yes, I do! ♥

7: Type in “[your name] eats” in Google search
“Pam eats! *****”
–> Boo. She doesn’t eat anything.

8: Type in “[your name] has” in Google search:
“Pam has finally released her long-awaited music for speech and language therapy”
–> Yeah, I am awesome like that.

9: Type in “[your name] works” in Google
“PAM works directly with your telephone system and Workforce Management System (if you have one) to quickly and accurately restore all agents to the policy you have defined for the upcoming day.”
–> I’m your super CB operator. XD

10: Type in”[your name] lives” in Google search
“Pam lives in Mexico, works in Mexico, is married to a Mexican”
–> Yeah, no wonder !soy «magnet» para los mexicanos!

11: Type in “[your name] died” in Google search
“‘It’s a tragedy that Pam died,’ Ray Manzarek says, voicing the opinion held by most who knew the couple.”
–> Aww. Pam and Jim.

12: Type in “[your name] will” in Google search
“Do you think Jim and Pam will get engaged tonight on the office?”
–> Woohoo, Pam and Jim! XD

———-

Nah, the title doesn’t have to do anything with this Google meme. It’s a great misheard lyric from the über smexxy Franz Ferdinand, by the way. It’s off their song, “Dark of the Matinee”. I love the video for this; it’s so trippy and funny! XD ♥

Also, I just got hold of The Fratellis‘ new album called Here We Stand. I haven’t listened to it properly yet, but I do have to say that I like their first one, Costello Music better. We’ll see.

And damn, they’re in New York right now! So near yet so far away!

I also just realized that Franz Ferdinand played at Duke University last April 2006, back when I was in the Philippines, taking a vacation. Talk about irony! Now Franz won’t be back in the US in a long time [not until they release a new album, at least].

Okay, I guess I bored everyone with the FF and TF talk. Sorry, I forgot nobody here digs the same music as I do. Boo.

My mom and I were talking yesterday when suddenly, she said something that I have never heard of before:

“Pinabugbog ni Imelda yung Beatles nung andun sila sa Pilipinas,”
[Translate: Imelda (Marcos) had the Beatles beaten up while the group was in the Philippines.]

And boy, was I shocked to say the least!

My brother came in and joined in the conversation. He agreed and said that one of his high school teachers told them about it. The Beatles were beaten up by some of Imelda Marcos’ thugs at the airport, on their way out of the country during their 1966 visit.

Imelda Marcos had the Beatles beaten up at the airport? Why haven’t I ever heard of this before?

So I did a bit of research and ended up with this brilliant page that features a transcript straight from the fab four’s recollection of their traumatic Philippine visit. This was taken from The Beatles Anthology documentaries.

To those who, like me, are quite shocked by this, I recommend that you read the entire webpage to be enlightened. Their ordeal has some eerie resemblance to the last few events in the movie, The Last King of Scotland.

The story in a nutshell [according to their Wikipedia page, at least]:

In July 1966, when The Beatles toured the Philippines, they unintentionally snubbed the nation’s first lady, Imelda Marcos, who had expected the group to attend a breakfast reception at the Presidential Palace.[69] When presented with the invitation, Brian Epstein politely declined on behalf of the group, as it had never been the group’s policy to accept such “official” invitations.[70] The group soon found that the Marcos regime was unaccustomed to accepting “no” for an answer. After the ‘snub’ was broadcast on Philippine television and radio, all of The Beatles’ police protection disappeared. The group and their entourage had to make their way to Manila airport on their own. At the airport, road manager Mal Evans was beaten and kicked, and the band members were pushed and jostled about by a hostile crowd.[71] Once the group boarded the plane, Epstein and Evans were ordered off, and Evans said, “Tell my wife that I love her.”[72] Epstein was forced to give back all the money that the band had earned while they were there before being allowed back on the plane.[73]

I guess that dictators’ wives are really spoiled rotten like that. The fact that she even had the nerve to maltreat the Beatles like that and give the country a bad name just shows how God-like and superior she thinks she is. To be able to tell everyone that “Hey, I beat up the Beatles! Get it? Get it? *roflmao*” would be a big ego-booster, I guess. She is, after all, the dictator’s wife.

Don’t you just love to hate Imelda?

And oh, look, they’ve made fun of her! XD

To my Filipino friends: Am I living under a rock this entire time? Have you guys heard of this before?

Coming up with titles is an art form. It should be.

When writing these blog entries, I always write down the title first. However, I often come up with a long title that would pretty much sum up my blog entry, then later on realize how inappropriate or how off-topic [off-tangent ] it actually is.

For this case, I’m afraid that I’ll be doing that again. XD

* * * *

Spanish II is fun. I’m currently serving as chauffeur to two more people [my brother and a Filipino friend living in the same area]. I’m not complaining, though–at least I’m actually doing something to stop Global Warming. I don’t think that holding energy-consuming and resource-draining concerts simultaneously would actually save the world. I have nothing against the music on Live Earth–in fact, I love most of the artists and I just had to watch when Bon Jovi, the Smashing Pumpkins, and the Foo Fighters started playing–but I hate the irony that comes with this Live Earth thing in general. It centers along the blissfully pointless–pointless, yet fun, nonetheless. Pointless and painfully ber-commercialized.

Yesterday, they interviewed two kids who were around the New York concert area. One of the kids said something like, “I’m so glad to be here, saving the world!”

Yeah, and I bet that you didn’t walk to Live Earth New York, right? How can you save the world by holding a concert? All the rock stars have arrived in their gas-guzzling limos and jets. Scientists have been telling us that we should all cut down on our carbon footprints, yet, we still think that consuming megawatts of energy all at the same time would actually save the world. Brilliant. It’s just effing brilliant.

I just hate the fact that they’re using Global Warming as another excuse to cash in on the market. Of course, it’s good that this time around, there’s a good cause involved, but then again, it’s still crass commercialism in disguise.

Green is in. It’s just another marketing trend pulling at the consumers’ eco-heartstrings–it’s genius, if I have to say so myself.

I hope that these people are actually serious. Global Warming is a real problem, not just another eco-friendly status symbol.

Meh, whatever.

</rant>

American Idol has often been criticized for its contest rules, specifically, for its method of selecting the contest winner. The method of popular vote is one of the reasons that have made the show a big hit among people all over the world. However, this same method has posed a critical issue, and has raised many questions: How would the viewers know which contestant is truly “talented”? What does “talent” mean for the viewers? Isn’t this just a popularity contest? What would happen if people would vote for the worst contestant?

The last question is what votefortheworst.com addresses. Part-mockery, part-social experiment, and part-American Idol bashing, votefortheworst.com is telling everyone how “idols” are not made overnight and how gullible American Idol‘s viewers have become. By making the worst contestant win the contest, this website hopes that people would see the flaws of the contest: how just because a person won the title, “American Idol” does not automatically mean that he or she is truly one.

Whatever happened to the musicians and artists who started off by making their own music, writing their own songs, and creating their own styles? American Idol has changed all that, and has created manufactured, put-together, “artists,” nay, “idols” who are fortunate enough to have an instant audience–moneymaking through music and television at its finest.

Votefortheworst.com puts a spin in all that. And even if they don’t, it’s fun to make a mockery out of American Idol‘s “artists-in-a-box” anyway. Either way, FOX and Simon Cowell still earn money, the TV show and votefortheworst.com get lots of attention, and the people have a lot to talk about. Everybody wins.

PS: Too bad Sanjaya got kicked out of the game. Oh well. Sanjaya’s not the only sucky contestant anyway–all of these contestants suck. As I have said, everybody wins!

While I was browsing around YouTube, I found a bunch of their videos… And then it hit me: What the hell happened to the boys? A quick trip to Wikipedia gave me startling [yet expected and inevitable] news:

“On June 8, 2002, middle brother Jordan Taylor Hanson married his girlfriend of two years, Natalie Anne Bryant (born December 28, 1983). The ceremony was held at the Ida Cason Memorial Chapel of Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The couple have three children, Jordan Ezra Hanson (born October 31, 2002) [2], Penelope Anne Hanson (born April 19, 2005) and River Samuel Hanson (born September 4, 2006).

Youngest brother Zac married his girlfriend of five years, Kathryn Rebecca Tucker (born November 29, 1983), on June 3, 2006 at a private ceremony held at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Oldest brother Isaac married Nicole Summer Dufresne (born November 25, 1983) of Panama City, Florida on September 30, 2006 at Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa.”

I mean, I already knew that the androgynous Taylor Hanson got married back in ’02, but I didn’t expect that they would have three children already! To think that I thought that Taylor Hanson was gay!

Oh, and I hate the fact that Zac and Ike got married on the same year. And Zac married the oldest girl among the three… I mean, what was that all about?!

Damn. I should stop now. I’m reverting back to my pre-pubescent, teenybopper self that was just soooo 10 years ago. But it feels strange to see that your ex-teenybopper idols have all married… It just makes me feel older. It’s like, they grew up… I guess I grew up, too.

To end this teenybopper rant, here’s one of their nice videos. It’s a far cry from MmmBop and it’s called Save Me. It’s what I currently feel right now. It’s the start of finals week, and instead of studying, I’m blogging. I mean, how stupid can I get? So somebody save me from this stupidity. I need to get a life. A social life! [That doesn't sound right! ]

Before the video, here’s a nice thing that Steph told me the other night, when I was ranting about a lack of social life:

stephL (11/30/2006 12:16:54 AM): and that, one way or another, uL meet friends nman along the way
stephL (11/30/2006 12:17:08 AM): doesnt matter how many
stephL (11/30/2006 12:17:25 AM): but i guess what matters is how those few ppl help u carry on with life
Too true.. too true.. Great words of wisdom from a great friend, albeit, far away.

Anyway, here’s Save Me. Enjoy. And tell me what you think of it. Tell me if you still think they’re fags, or if your brother thinks that Taylor’s still hot. Or if he got devastated when he found out that Taylor’s a man–and a married man at that! :O

PS: NYC was über cool! I just love that city. I took just a little pics this time, though [check multiply ]. I met up with Kitten! We saw The Producers at Broadway! Awesome show. That was the first time I’ve ever seen a Broadway show, and after watching one gave me a reason to go back to New York again. What a beautiful city. It’s the nitty-gritty, living, textured LIFE–the diversity, the juxtaposition of beauty and trash–that makes me fall in love with this city over and over again. Sure, the Southerners are much more friendlier, but Manhattan is just amazing, and I love its textures, and rudeness, and life, and its certain je ne sais quoi. *sigh*

/EDIT: Meh, YouTube has removed the live OkGo video due to “terms of use violations”. Here’s the original video that launched the group to viral video stardom:

Also adding to the horror are the dumb lyrics featured in both “idols’” new singles, “Do I Make You Proud” and “My Destiny” [Taylor Hicks' and Katharine McPhee's, respectively]. Excerpts:

“This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you proud
Stronger than I’ve ever been now
Never been afraid of standing out
Do I make you proud” –Taylor Hicks, Do I Make You Proud

Take a look at My Destiny‘s terrible lyrics:

“I have always dreamed of this
I’ll admit that there was something I missed
I’m wondering if it is for real…

It’s all changing in my destiny
Dream come true
It’s all funny now that I see
How different life turned out to be”–Katharine McPhee, My Destiny

Ironically, statistics show that this year’s season has been the biggest yet.

I guess you just can’t please everybody.

Related link: Wikipedia’s American Idol 5 entry

Figuratively.

I’ve found a bunch of funny [?] videos on the net… The very famous Saturday Night Live “digital shorts”.

It all started with Natalie Portman’s Gangsta Rapper video. I found it real funny at first… but gradually it just became so “blah”. And oh, the part where Samberg comes out as a Viking.. it doesn’t help. At all.

Browsing here and there brought another one to my attention: The SNL Narnia Rap. Funny as hell.

Searching, searching for more…

Oh, there’s another one… And another one.. And another one…

Now, the rap lyrics are all stuck in my head. A combination of:

What do you want, Natalie?
To drink and fight!
What do you want, Natalie?
To f*** all night!
We drink tea, motherf*****, f****** tea, motherf*****…
Color me mine… mine… (C-c-color!)
Three… six… twelve.. BAKER’S DOZEN!!!
(C-c-color!)
repeat ad infinitum

Those rap lyrics are all stuck in my head. And to think I’m getting my driver’s license tomorrow! XD So wish me luck.

* * * * *

Just found out that Alik is now in Illinois. Siyeeeht. Lahat na ng tao, nasa Amerika na talaga, ah. Tin B., when are you moving to Colorado? Well anyway, that’s okay, at least we’re among friends. And it’s fun. We could have reunions or something. Right, Kitten? *coughNYcough*

* * * * *
My special shout-outs go to the following people [in no particular order]. I don’t think you’ll all be able to read this, but meh, here goes:

Stephanie Marie! The first one to find out that I’ve arrived! You even dropped by our house just to check… Thanks so much, dear! Nagkulang tayo sa time, but yeah, as you said nga, we’ll see each other again! For the mean time, see you on YM! *hugs*
Vivette! We didn’t see each other AT ALL! *gasp* Sayang! Anyway, you guys have fun in your trip/gimmick. I hope to see you again! And well yeah, we still have YM…
Mitzie! Thanks talaga! You’re the sweetest! *hugs* Sayang once lang yung labas… Wala nang sumunod after that. And thanks for telling our blockmates. I know you did. Thanks, sobra. God bless, and take care of yourself! Especially sa health mo! I will always pray for you!
Jet! ‘Di na natuloy yung labas… Sayang talaga! Anyway, good luck especially sa studies… ‘Wag masyadong in love, mahirap ma-delay. Keep in touch ah. Yahoo! for YM!
Jolo! Ang daming mga plans, ‘di na natuloy. Like yung mall-hopping and whatnot. XD Thanks talaga, touched ako. Kwentuhan mo ko pag naging kayo na ni **n, ah! *wink* Regards ulit kay Tita! See you soon!
Kitten! I will try to call you ASAP, ah! I can’t call these days kasi my sis is talking to her BF.. *LoL* So yeah, competition there. But we’ll talk. Soon. Miss you!
May! Hehe, see you on YM ah! Girls–este–boys na ‘to, *LoL*. Kidding. God bless esp sa studies ah! Take care!
Kei! What’s up? Haven’t talked to you in a really long long time! :O
Eliotte! Thanks for the “letter”, I got it! Sayang di natuloy yung labas! Anyway, see you on YM!
Clarqxz! Kainis, I didn’t even get to see you AT ALL. :O Sayang!!! Argh.. Next time…
The Holograms! [You know who you are...] Thank you for the experiences.. Sobrang nag-enjoy talaga ako! Wish we did that more often.. I love you guys!!!
PamS&JB! Thanks for inviting me over, yung gimmick natin [pero sadly di natuloy ]. And the tagaytay experience pala. I appreciate it. Sobra.
Lebs! Salamat sa panghuhula kanina! Nag-enjoy ako! Astig, pwede pala talaga yung webcam ah!
Tal&the rest of BSIP! What happened to “the issue”? Keep fighting guys! Kaya nyo yan! All out support parin ako! Fight for it–it’s your right!
+RANDOM PLUGS++:
Shari,
Julie,
Rio,
Cara,
Ice,
Cel,
Bries,
TinL,
TinR…
… that’s all for now… I guess…

It’s practically midnight here in Charlotte. My parents are snoring softly as the airconditioner hums gently in the background. Someone’s blundgeoning bloody footsteps are making a huge racket outside our hotel room; more foot-stomping above us, but thankfully, no one seems to be bothered by it.

I stretch my legs and sit indian-style on a chair, typing up this last entry before the first leg to Chicago. We’ll be staying there at our Aunts’ for one night, to allow my Mom to rest up before the long stretch back to Manila. I don’t think I’ll have a chance to use the computer there as I do not want to invade cousin Mike’s PC. A day can wait.

Strangely, I have discovered that this site has been on Google‘s first page when you enter a combination of using more or less, the keywords, “Bucky”, “Covington”, “Rockingham NC”, “family”, and “wife”, probably due to this past blog entry. Which brings me to drive a point to my unlikely visitors.

DISCLAIMER: This website is NOT–in ANY way–affiliated neither with American Idol finalist Bucky Covington, his family, his hometown, or his wife [if he even has one]. D’Arvit! is ABSOEFFINLUTELY NOT a Bucky fan site. The webmaster is not even a fan of him in the first place, because Bucky has [a] an impossible accent; and [b] an impossible look. Enraged Bucky fans are free to lash out in retaliation via this e-mail address: webmaster@darvit.tk. The best hatemail will be published on my next few entries. This is a limited time offer only. So go and write–right now!

Whew. It’s good I got that over with.

It’s now 12:16AM. We wake up at 3AM. I care not. I’m used to not sleeping before plane trips [i.e. what I did on our way here]. I can’t wait to get home, but at the same time, I’m also feeling sad because my mom and I are leaving my Dad all alone here–for a whole month. But I’m sure he’ll manage by himself.

* * * * *

I have a genius concept for an online Filipino community. It’s more of an organization/advocacy inspired by this essay by Jaeyon Kim. I am still not in the place to announce my ideas, because they’re all in a work in progress. But I am sincere, and I am very much thrilled by this new idea of mine. Later on, when all is final, I shall be inviting you all to join or contribute to this community–a community, that I envision, is capable of inducing a cultural revolution.

That was a mouthful. And unclear to you, I presume. But forgive me; I’m just too excited.

* * * * *

Now since that’s all been said and done, I am now left with this passe, and oftentimes, cliched sentence:

See you guys soon! One helluva month in the Philippines! I can’t wait!

SHAMELESS PLUG: Please answer my JOHARI WINDOW which has been online for quite some time now.

PS: Yahoo! has replied and I am now very happy to report that the phishing site is now suspended.Yahoo!