If I were a Yank, Id be...

Again via cvj:

Ultimate 2008 Presidential Candidate Matcher Your Result: Ron Paul 80% Ron Paul is known as the libertarian candidate. He opposes the Iraq war, and is conservative on social issues like abortion and gay civil unions. Paul wants to reduce regulations on healthcare, pursue nuclear energy, and reduce taxes. He opposes citizenship for illegal immigrants, and would get rid of the Patriot Act and the Dept. of Homeland Security.
Dennis Kucinich 73%
Barack Obama 72%
John Edwards 61%
Hillary Clinton 55%
Rudy Guiliani 45%
Mitt Romney 43%
John McCain 41%
Ultimate 2008 Presidential Candidate Matcher Take More Quizzes

...although I dont want to pursue nuclear energy. I'd like to ask Ron Paul if he believes in UFOs. Take the quiz here.

(Thanks to cvj for the html tweaks, although for some reason, they only work in Internet Explorer. In Firefox, you don't get the color-coded bar graph. Probably uses different code.)

New link

New on the links section on the right is Banzai Cat, winner of the recently concluded Unreality Bites: The Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards 2, Fully Booked's second installment of its bi-annual (?) competition for Filipino authors in speculative fiction. The award was given to him by Neil Gaiman himself who had this to say about his winning entry:

The first place winner is science fiction and fantasy and uniquely Filipino and very, very, very odd in all of the nicest possible ways. And it's a story called "Logovore" about somebody who eats words and their encounters with the people--it's almost indescribable and I've never read anything like it before and was absolutely ready to go on the world stage. I looked at that story and--it could have been fantasy or science fiction and it ought to be picked up by the best of the year anthologies.

It's not everyday we get a rising star in the links section. (And he even offered to send me, a total stranger, a copy of his winning piece. Syempre dyahe naman ako. But it's much appreciated. I promise to get the book.)

Slow

The bug bit again as I was checking out eBay Philippines and found up for bids a Minox EC point-and-shoot camera for a ridiculously low price. Nope, film for it is no longer available here, and good luck to me finding a lab that would process 8mm x 11mm film, but I just had to have it. Finding a battery for it is not as difficult as finding film. It uses a P27-something, for which I can readily substitute a stack of four SR44's. I would have to split film for it myself using 35mm film and load it in the film cassette which fortunately the seller included. And unless I can find a lab, I might have to develop the film myself. That's possible nowadays without a darkroom. All you need is a dark bag, a developing tank, chemicals, and youre all set. I can have the negatives scanned at a photo lab. Right. All I need now is time. And that, I suppose, is its appeal for me. The waiting, the anticipation, and the big payoff when all youve toiled for comes to fruition. Sure most of the time, youll end up with a dud, and in those cases it's frustrating, but still. That time in between is great and is an end in itself. Film cameras havent lost their appeal for me despite the digital revolution in photography precisely because of the slowness. Ive blogged about it before.

Other forays into Luddism this past year were my refusal to have cable TV reinstalled when we moved to a new place. I realized the absolute uselessness of cable TV when one weekend at my mother's house, I couldnt find anything on cable TV worth watching. Sure it couldve been the anhedonia, but I realized much later that TV is crap, except for a couple of shows. So nope. No cable TV. The immediate effect is the increased reading time for my kids. Theyre actually asking me to go to National Bookstore or Powerbooks now when we go out. We almost always end up at Booksale, but I do splurge from time to time and get them books from Powerbooks. I also havent bought a new refrigerator when the old one gave up the ghost. That was four months ago. I used to think a refrigerator was an absolute necessity, but it really isnt. All I had to do is instead of getting groceries once a week, I get them every other day, or everyday even. This drastically cut down on our electricity bills such that I would forget to pay them for a couple of months and not hear a peep from Meralco.

A lot of things we deem necessary living here in the city really arent. During my days working with an NGO or when I worked in construction, I got sent to communities where they didnt have electricity or indoor plumbing. To poop, or take a bath, I sometimes had to go to get water from a well. I remember one house I stayed in had the toilet outdoors and it's "walls" made from sako were only so high such that when you sit on the toilet everyone can see your head from the street. Some people even say hi. At night, the entertainment was kwentuhan, usually with tuba or Tanduay or warm beer. Cold beer was a luxury when they had ice delivered. Coastal towns usually had ice delivered in trucks for the fish they caught. A familiar joke around one of those barangays, roughly translated, went something like:

"Inuman tayo."
"Ano inumin natin?"
"Tuba."
"Ano ako, bubuyog?"
"Tanduay."
"Ano ako, lasenggo?"
"Beer."
"Malamig?"

But despite the lack of creature comforts, places like that still had an abundance of social capital. Strangers are welcomed into homes and doors are kept unlocked. Conversation, singing, and jokes form lasting bonds, usually lubricated with libation. Life is slow and leisurely. One could say life is lived to the rhythm of the earth's cycles. The coconut farmers are the most leisurely of all. To us, they seem lazy, just waiting around for copra season, but really, is there any reason for them to hurry when theyre perfectly happy with the pace of their lives? I suppose it annoys city folk to see them live like that, without a care in the world, but I think we're just being asses because we depend on them for food and produce while they dont need us at all and could survive without us. If civilization broke down tomorrow, we in the city, spoiled brats that we are, won't survive. Not without them. It's just because of some twisted sense of values that we city folk are looked up to by the barrio folk. We like to keep it a secret from them how utterly helpless and dependent we are. And no one dares give that secret away.

Political Compass of the Philippine Blogosphere

First of all, a personal project Ive been involved with is winding down which means I may have more time for this blogging thing. And I think Im starting to shake off the effects of an annual bout with anhedonia which means I may actually enjoy doing this blogging thing.

Over at Placeholder, cvj has posted an interesting snapshot of the Philippine blog community (from which I nicked the title of this post) based on the Political Compass website. It's a work in progress and cvj promises to keep updating it as more data points come in. The Political Compass quiz shows you where you are in 2 axes: the vertical axis maps where you are socio-politically, and the horizontal axis maps where you are socio-economically. Among his findings so far:

Another pattern that can be detected... is the farther one is to the left on the economic scale, the less authoritarian that person tends to be.

The post has prompted an observation from newspaper columnist and political satirist Manuel Buencamino of Uniffors:

I've always associated communism with totalitarianism hence authoritarian. So I don't understand how those of us who don't buy anarchy or self regulating economics end up being less authoritarian.

Isn't it ironic that those who subscribe to economic freedom prefer to have the socio-political aspects of life regulated while those who want economics regulated prefer socio-political freedom?

Could it be because there is a false dichotomy here, separating our stomach from our minds?

One can make the observation that authoritarians, whether communists, Fascists, neo-cons, or national socialists are all basically variants of a form of government wherein the State has a loomingly large role in the lives of the people. The Filipino blogging community I suppose is wary of an all-powerful State, and with good reason. However, in the Philippine setting, wherein a tiny minority control most of the nation's resources, the Filipino bloggers still recognize the role of the State in seeing to it that the powerless are protected from the depradations of the small but powerful oligarchy. The fact is that it doesnt, and on the contrary, the State allies itself with the oligarchy and this frustrates the bloggers no end. (See also Sparks's The Philippines' Low Intensity Democracy.)

Faux risotto

Reading a traditional risotto recipe, you'd think chefs and recipe books were handling VX poison gas in the love and care youre instructed to handle it with, a food of love thing as Emeril Lagasse says. You select only the finest Arborio rice, or some other exotic (and expensive) variety, saute your herbs and aromatics, saute your rice til it becomes translucent, add warm--never cold--wine. Then ever so carefully, ladle hot broth sloo-o-ooowly, a little at a time, and keep stirring, and adding broth, and stirring, and adding broth, until your rice turns a creamy consistency. Then you add your cheese. Chop up a few herbs, then BAM! It's at least a 30 minute commitment, which is why I rarely make the stuff. The tradition is intimidating.

One day I decided to cook lugaw and grilled chicken for lunch. I marinated the chicken in coconut cream and red curry overnight, and they were ready to go. At around 9 am, I soaked Japanese rice in water. I heard it made them fluffy. At around 11:30, I started the flame for the grilled chicken and prepared the lugaw: chopped garlic, onions, and ginger and sauteed them. Then I added a couple of chicken bouillon cubes (for a cup and a half of rice), pepper, and some dried herbs. For some reason, I decided to saute the drained pre-soaked rice as well until they were good and ready, about 5 minutes. Then I dumped water on the whole thing, straight from the tap, until I felt I had enough for lugaw. If I have to guess, I suppose that's 3 parts water to one part rice. Then I covered the pot and went ahead and grilled the chicken, turning often since the coconut and curry marinade will burn.

I checked on the a few minutes later and lo! The Japanese rice absorbed a lot of the liquid. I debated whether or not to add more water, but damn if it didnt look like Italian risotto. I tested the rice for doneness and it was perfect--not too soft. The rice held its shape well. I stirred it, then took out my 4-year old aged cheese I bought in Utrecht, grated it and stirred a cup of cheese into the pot. I found some chives, chopped that, and BAM! Risotto with no fuss. And it rocked. It tasted fantastic with a rich, creamy texture. And I didnt have to hover over it for 30 minutes. It took care of itself.

By this time the chicken were ready. I took a few tarragon stalks from the backyard and laid the freshly grilled chicken on top of them. This gave them a subtle flavor of tarragon. Voila! Lunch. The kids ate every last grain of risotto.

Real life

I remembered commenting on some blog a couple of months ago that our blogs arent our lives for which I was corrected by the blog's owner; some blogs are indeed a huge part of bloggers' lives. Fortunately (or not), this blog isnt my life. If it were, it would be more boring than it already is. I'd like to post regularly, just for exercise, but that's something for the future. Real life keeps getting in the way.

To be fair to real life, it's not all chasing the next paycheck and getting those bills paid. Sometimes real life is fun. And sometimes, real life is beautiful.

Ang mga Liham ni Screwtape ni C.S. Lewis, Liham Blg. III

About this project.
Preface (Paunang Salita)
Letter No. I, II

Notes: Letter III is pretty straightforward and so I had an easier time translating it. A couple of things:
I translated 'horror' as pagkaasiwa since the use of the word 'horror' was hyperbole and the direct translation pagkatakot or pagkasindak wouldnt sound right. I have trouble with hyperbole if ever they appear in the letters. Do I translate them as-is, keeping the hyperbole knowing that they dont translate that well? Or do I go for how it sounds? I suppose I have to take it on a case-by-case basis. 'Aggravate that most useful human characteristic,
the horror and neglect of the obvious' was translated Pag-ibayuhin mo sa kanya yaong pinaka-makabuluhang kaugalian ng mga taga-lupa, yaong pagkaasiwa at di-pagpansin sa mga bagay na hindi na kailangang halukayin.

I translated 'double-standard' as pagkaipokrito. So 'To keep this game up you and Glubose must see to it that each of these two fools has a sort of double standard' became Upang panatiliin ang ganitong kalagayan, kailangang siguraduhin ninyo ni Glubose na ang dalawang hunghang na ito ay may pagkaipokrito sa pakikitungo nila sa isa't isa.

Mahal kong Wormwood,

Labis kong ikinagalak ang ibinalita mo sa akin tungkol sa relasyon ng iyong pasyente sa kanyang ina. Malaking bentaha ito para sa iyo, pero huwag kang kampante; tuloy mo lang ang pagpukpok sa kalamangan mong ito. Ang kaloob-looban ng iyong pasyente ang siyang unang pinupuntirya ng Kalaban--nagsisimula siya sa loob, papalabas--at unti-unti Niyang inilalagay sa Kanyang bagong pamantayan ang asal, kilos, at pag-uugali ng iyong pasyente, at sa anumang sandali ay maaari na nitong maabot maging ang kanyang pakikitungo sa ale. Sikapin mong mauna bago pa Siya makarating dito. Makipag-ugnayan ka kay kasamang Glubose, ang siyang humahawak sa ina, at pag-usapan niyo kung paano ninyong dalawa paiigtingin sa bahay nila ang kagawiang pagkainis sa isa't isa; munting kurot dito, munting kurot doon. Makatutulong sa iyo ang mga sumusunod.

1. Panatiliin mo ang kanyang atensyon sa mga bagay na nangyayari sa kaibuturan, sa kanyang puso, isip, at damdamin--sa kanyang kaluluwa. Sa kanyang palagay, ang kanyang pagbabago ay tanging dito nabuo kung kaya't ang kanyang pansin sa ngayon ay nakatuon sa kung anong nangyayari sa kaloob-looban ng kanyang pagkatao--o dun lamang sa bersyon nito na napurga na niya at naalisan ng mga di kanais-nais (sa kanyang pananaw) na mga bagay, at tanging itong bersyon na ito ang hahayaan mong makita niya. Itulak mo siya dito. Alisin mo sa kanyang pansin ang mga pinakasimple, pinakapayak na alituntunin at tungkulin ng kanyang bagong pananampalataya sa pamamagitan ng pagtulak sa kanya na ang tanging bigyan ng pansin ay ang mga pinaka-ispirituwal na bagay at yaong mga konseptong di na sa saklaw ng pang araw-araw niyang pakikitungo sa kapwa. Pag-ibayuhin mo sa kanya yaong pinaka-makabuluhang kaugalian ng mga taga-lupa, yaong pagkaasiwa at di-pagpansin sa mga bagay na hindi na kailangang halukayin. Dalhin mo siya sa kalagayang kung saan maari niyang suriin ang kanyang sarili habang hindi natutuklasang ganoon pala siya, bagay na kitang-kita ng sinumang kasambahay niya o katrabaho sa opisina.

2. Walang dudang hindi mo mapipigilang ipanalangin niya ang kanyang ina, nguni't may paraan tayo upang ipawalang-saysay ang kanyang mga panalangin. Siguraduhin mong ang kanyang mga panalangin ay palaging ganap na "ispirituwal", na laging ang kalagayan ng kaluluwa ng kanyang ina ang kanyang binibigyan ng pansin at hindi ang rayuma nito. Dalawang bagay na ikalalamang mo ang magiging bunga nito. Una, ang kanyang pansin ay matutuon lamang sa mga bagay na sa kanyang pakiwari ay mga kasalanan ng kanyang ina, kung saan, kung siya'y iyong gagabayan ng kaunti, mauudyok natin siyang ihanay sa "kasalanan" lahat ng bagay na pabigat sa kanya o kinaiinisan niya tungkol dito. Sa gayon, para mo na ring pinipigaan ng kalamansi ang mga maliliit na sugat na idinudulot ng kanilang pang araw-araw na alitan na kung tutuusin ay wala namang kwenta. Ito'y magagawa mo kahit siya naninikluhod at nananalangin. Di naman ito kahirapan para sa iyo; maari pa ngang magdulot ito sa iyo ng aliw. Ikalawa, dahil pahapyaw lamang ang kaalaman niya tungkol sa kaluluwa ng kanyang ina at kadalasan pang mali, masasabi nating ang kanyang ipinagdarasal ay isang taong kathang-isip lamang niya at ang kailangan mo lamang gawin sa araw-araw ay siguraduhing itong kathang-isip niyang ito ay unti-unting mawalay sa wangis ng tunay niyang ina--ang mahadera niyang kasama tuwing almusal. Sa kalaunan, magiging napakalayo na ng kathang-isip na ina sa tunay na ina para sa kanya kung kaya't walang layunin o damdamin sa kanyang panalangin para sa kathang-isip na ina ay makaaapekto sa kanyang pakikitungo sa tunay na ina. Ako ma'y nagkaroon ng mga pasyente na parang pinaiikot ko sa aking mga kamay kung kaya't kaya ko silang ibaling mula sa isang taong taimtim na nananalangin para sa kaluluwa ng asawa o anak at sa isang kisapmata'y magiging isang taong walang kaabog-abog kung bugbugin ang asawa o anak na kung kailan lang ay ipinagdarasal niya.

3. Kapag ang dalawang taga-Lupa ay matagal nang nagsasama sa ilalim ng iisang bubong, kadalasan sila'y mayroong mga gawi, o tono ng pananalita, o hilatsa ng pagmumukha na labis na nakaiirita para sa kanilang kasambahay. Pukpukin mo ito. Dalhin mo sa buong pansin ng iyong pasyente yaong pagtaas ng kilay ng kanyang ina na natutuhan niyang kainisan nung siya'y isang paslit pa lamang, at udyukin mo siyang isipin kung gaano niya kinaiinisan ito. Ipasok mo sa kukote niya na alam ng kanyang ina na kinaiinisan niya ito at sinasadya niyang gawin ito upang siya'y asarin--kung alam mo ang iyong ginagawa, ni hindi niya mapapansin na walang basehan ng palagay niyang ito. At siyempre, huwag mo hayaang isipin niya na siya rin ay may mga gawi, tono ng pananalita, o hilatsa ng pagmumukha na labis ding kinaiinisan ng kanyang ina. Dahil hindi naman niya naririnig o nakikita ang kanyang sarili, madali nang gawin ito.

4. Sa ating lipunan na maari nating tawaging sibilisado, ang pagkasuklam ay ipinakikita sa pamamagitan ng pagbigkas ng mga salitang napakainosente kung iyong susuriin (ang mga kataga mismo ay di nakasasakit) nguni't sa paraan ng pagbigkas, o sa pagtitiyempo nito, hindi malayo sa isang sapak sa mukha. Upang panatiliin ang ganitong kalagayan, kailangang siguraduhin ninyo ni Glubose na ang dalawang hunghang na ito ay may pagkaipokrito sa pakikitungo nila sa isa't isa. Kailangang ipagpilitan ng iyong pasyente na lahat ng kanyang binibigkas ay kailangan lamang husgahan na gamit lamang na batayan ay ang mismong mga katagang kanyang ginamit, at kasabay nito, lahat ng binibigkas ng kanyang ina ay huhusgahan niya gamit ang pinakabalat-sibuyas na batayan ng di lamang mga katagang naibigkas, nguni't maging ang tono ng pananalita, paraan ng pagkabigkas nito, lahat ng kondisyong umiiral nang kanyang bigkasin ito, at kung ano mang suspetsa niya kung bakit ito binigkas. Itulak niyo ang kanyang ina na gamitin din ang ganitong batayan sa pakikitungo sa kanyang anak. Kaya't sa bawat alitan nilang dalawa, lubos na kumbinsido sila, o di kaya'y kumbinsido sa kabuuan, na sila'y walang kasalanan. Alam mo na: "Tinanong ko lang siya kung anong oras kami maghahapunan, bigla ba namang nag-alburoto." Kapag nakagawian na nila ito, ang iyong makakamtan ay isang kalagayang magiging puspos ng ligaya para sa iyo--yaong pagbigkas ng taga-Lupa ng mga katagang alam niyang nakasasakit, at pagkatapos ay magrereklamo kung nagdamdam ang pinatatamaan niya nito.

Bilang pangwakas, sabihin mo sa akin kung nasaan ang matanda sa kanyang pananampalataya. Siya ba'y naiinggit sa panibagong pinagkakaabalahan ng kanyang anak?--naiinis na sa ibang tao pa niya ito natutunan, at napakahuli na, samantalang di naman siya nagkulang na ituro ang pananampalataya sa kanya noong siya'y bata pa? Naiisip ba niya na masyado itong binibigyan ng tsetse-buretse ng kanyang anak--o di kaya'y masyadong naging madali ito para sa kanya? Tandaan mo yaong kuya sa kwento ng Kalaban tungkol sa alibughang anak.

Lubos na nagmamahal,
Ang iyong Tito Screwtape