![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
| Author: | Manix Abrera |
| Category: | Philippine Humor |
| About: | It is a compilation of KikoMachine Komix, a comic strip published originally in the Philippine Collegian but has then moved to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It tackles typical college life, thought, angst, and other issues in a comedic manner. |
| Rating: | 4.5 / 5 |
Manix Abrera is at it again!
With the release of the fourth compilation of his most famous (and sometimes infamous) comic series, he brings laughter once more to the mouths and hearts of people. One can't help but love the characters he has created and the situations they face. More than these, however, a primary pull to buying a copy is that readers can still feel his idealism and nationalism. Like Pol Medina's Pugad Baboy series, KikoMachine Komix does not only incite laughter, but also gives its audience a sense of social responsibility to change the status quo. In a way, it allows people to humorize the otherwise upsetting politico-economic state of the country without losing the true intent of the joke-- to make people aware of the current national situation.
Personally, the appeal of KikoMachine Komix to me is the nostalgia it brings about. Because the beginnings of the comic is found in UP, the main characters show a lot of UP culture that I miss greatly. From the isawan, to the UP fair, to summer barkada escapades, and even the witty one-liners, the series triggers fond memories of college years. Fortunately, the experiences illustrated by Manix Abrera are general enough to be appreciated by most tertiary students and graduates. Hence, no one truly feels alienated while reading it. At some point or another, everyone exclaims "Shit, kami to noon ah!"
For sure, this new installment will become another hit. Sobrang sureness! =)
| Author: | Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner |
| Category: | Economics |
| About: | The authors use economic theories in analyzing various phenomena. It seeks to answer questions like "do teachers cheat?", "should you trust your real estate broker?", or "which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool?" |
| Rating: | 5 / 5 |
Freakonomics is one of the most controversial books I have ever read. Unbelievably, it successfully explains various social phenomena using economic concepts as tool on analysis. I does not talk about inflation, gross national product (GNP), gross domestic product (GDP), or others that are directly linked with Economics as a discipline; rather, it focuses discussing "freakish" topics like the rapid decline of crime in the US, the danger of swimming pools, the truth about realtors, the cheating habits of teachers, and others that are seemingly unrelated to economics.
The book is highly impressive, maybe even influential, because of how the rationality and science of Economics are applied on daily human life. It uses hardcore analytical tools like the Game Theory and regressive analysis. It focuses on incentives and risks, two ideas that economists themselves probably coined. Further, because the authors employ these tools, together with various statistical data, their arguments form great logic and are nearly impossible to disprove. Take for example the question on whether it is best to trust Realtors when selling a house. The book clearly illustrates how the lack of incentive for brokers disallows them to find the best deal for the property seller.
The controversy however lies on perhaps one of the most argued topic in the book-- the decline of US crime rate in the 90s. According to Levitt and Dubner, the decrease may be fully attributed to the legitimization of abortion. They say that because the people whose criminal age should peak during the 90s were not born, fewer people committed crimes, hence, a decrease in crime rate. A very logical argument indeed, but not so easily swallowed.
I was raised as a Catholic, and while my belief in the church as an institution has wavered a long time ago, my negative opinion on abortion has not. I still believe that life is not a choice; that if there should be any question between killing and allowing life, the answer is always the latter. I consider abortion to be one of the will-do-you-no-good things in life, much like how I think about drugs. If one contemplates the medical and social, let alone religious, ramifications of having an abortion, it simply makes no sense to get one. So, to be faced with a book that argues, and truly it argues well, for abortion is simply a horrifying experience. (Mind you, the authors only argues for the effect of abortion based on their studies, but they do not encourage women to acquire one)
Thankfully, the authors are not the preaching type. They merely present the information they have gathered and analyzed, but they allow you to believe what you wish. For this reason, the book achieves balance and does not give the reader pressure to accept all the ideas as irrefutable truths.
I'm lagging again... have to remember my first post promise. So, please expect articles on the following within this week (I hope):
Books
Books
Freakonomics by S. Dubner and S. LevittDone!- Rich Dad, Poor Dad / Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
Kiko Machine 4 (Kaligayahang Walang Hanggan, Yeh!) by Manix AbreraDone!- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
- Brida by Paolo Coelho
- The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (This I still have to borrow from a friend)
- Ploning
- Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa (Robinson's IndieSine offering for the week)
- Boy Culture (Cult film, I heard)
| Stars: | John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Zac Efron, and Nikki Blonski |
| Director: | Adam Shankman |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Story: | The story revolves around Tracy Turnblad (Blonski), an teenage girl who dreams of an equal and oppresion-free world. With such idealism in her mind, she tries out for a spot in her favorite TV show. There, she encounters the harsh reality of black/white separation, obesity, and imperfection. Nevertheless, she fights for her beliefs and triumphs in the end. |
| Rating: | 4 / 5 |
(I heard that Hairspray: the Musical was coming to Manila, so I decided to relive the movie experience before indulging myself to yet another thespian treat.)
The movie is everything that a person can want in a film. It's entertaining, emotional, and meaningful. It is amazing how they were able to integrate social issues with music and laughter.
When I first watched this last year (in Greenbelt 3, I think), I had no idea as to what it was about. I only knew that John Travolta played a woman in this movie. That was enough to push me to watch it (I am a Travolta fan. His ability to adapt to any role fascinates me). While watching it though, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't think that I would like this movie so much. But like it, I do (emulating Yoda here).
Let's start with the performances. As expected, Travolta is amazing. In perhaps his most gender-bending role, he continues to triumph. He and Christopher Walken has great chemistry on screen (how weird does this sentence sound?). Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Effron are also very good as they played their respective roles. For a newcomer, Nikki Blonski charms the audience in a big way (pun intended). However, the one who takes the stage and calls it her own is Queen Latifah. True to her name, the Queen comes with a very strong performance. Through her, you can easily feel the hardship and the hope of the blacks in the 60s. Considering that the movie is meant to be comedic, feeling strong emotions for the plight of the blacks is nothing short of impossible. Nevertheless, she takes the audience with her in the march to freedom and respect the moment she sings "There's a light in the darkness, though the night is black as my skin. There's a light burning bright, showing me the way, but I know where I've been."
Another treat that the movie provides is the great collection of tunes. Having generally sweet and simple melodies, the film creates instantaneous LSS for anyone who watches it. For sure, after watching, you are left singing (at least in your mind, but I highly doubt that the song will stay there) "Good Morning Baltimore" or "I Can Hear the Bells." What's great though is the layering of tunes. From being perky and nice, the songs become motown, soul, and dance. The difference in the musical genre though only fuses the story better, rather than distracting the audience.
The real triumph though lies in the social meaning of the movie. While the story is put in the context of the 1960s, the issues mentioned remain timeless. Oppression and inequality still abound. While the Blacks may have been integrated (though this remains highly questionable), the Latins and the Asians are now the objects of spite. The world remains racist, glorifying the white gods while putting down all others.
Obesity, another theme of the movie, is also an issue that raises the eyebrows of most people. The medical aspect, that it puts the person suffering from it in medical danger, is fully acceptable to those who are obese. However, this is not the main concern of most people. It is their perception of beauty that puts the fat people in such misery. Because "slim is in," anyone who isn't is treated with attitude approaching disdain.
The movie approaches these subjects with the idealism of a sheltered teenage girl. It encourages for a more optimistic view on racial equality and beauty. It teaches people that being different from the ideal is not a big deal, that people should be accepted for who they are. Unfortunately, like the film, there is a big gap between what is ideal and what is real.
For me, Hairspray is a triumph because not only does it serve a great helping of entertainment, but more so because it provides a good dose of lessons. People must learn. We all know where we've been, and it's no good going back.
| Author: | Malcom Gladwell |
| Category: | Business |
| About: | The book explains the concept of the epidemic, i.e. social epidemics. More than this, it teaches its reader on how to intentionally create a social epidemic so as to better the sales of a product/ service, or even solve social problems. |
| Rating: | 4 / 5 |
Gladwell's book is highly interesting. It seeks to explain the concept of social epidemics (otherwise known as a fad) and how such epidemics are a result of a "Tipping Point". He further says that such a phenomenon can be intentionally induced to improve sales or even curb crime. He introduces some concepts that, while may have been present since the start of mankind, we as common people fail to realize.
A "tipping point" is when a small action done by a small group of people can trigger a massive spread of idea. For example, a group of rich kids wore Hush Puppies, which were regarded at that time as un-cool shoes, to a hip club. From there, those who probably sought to emulate these kids also bought Hush Puppies, and them buying may have triggered other people to buy as well, and so on. This behavior trickled into the masses, such that Hush Puppies suddenly became fab, from being drab, in a very short time for almost no reason, except that a few cool kids thought the shoes were cool because no one was wearing them.
One important lesson in the book is the discussion on the key players in spreading an epidemic. These are the Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. The first are those who know and maintain "weak ties" with a lot of people; the second are what may be termed information junkies, those who seek as much information about a specific thing in order to optimize market advantage. The third are those who, as the term implies, can sell products or at least convince people to try them. These people are the key elements towards starting a full blown epidemic for they may serve as the tipping point.
More than these people, however, another critical aspect in inciting social epidemics is the quality of message itself. Without the urgency and the importance of a message, an epidemic will not ensue. Take for example, disseminating information on an imminent nuclear warfare would go faster than spreading details about a gardening seminar next month. Because of the immensity of the former in terms of importance and relevance to all, the news travels much faster. The latter however will not because it caters only to a small market, while having very little urgency.
The good thing about this book is that it provides case studies. By doing this, the readers acquire a full picture on how the theories purported may be applied to each person's life. Such detailed discussions allow us to understand, almost step by step, how an epidemic rose and fell, and what we can do as future business people to avoid the fall. I feel that it is truly helpful in our careers, especially in marketing our products or services. In essence, to identify the "tipping point" is to jack up the money... a very exciting venture, don't you agree?
| Stars: | Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher |
| Director: | Tom Vaughan |
| Genre: | Romantic comedy |
| Story: | Two very different people encounter problems in their personal lives. In an effort to escape sadness, both decide to travel to the City of Sin, Las Vegas, where they meet due to an error in their hotel accommodations, which force them to share a room. After a night of heavy drinking and partying, they find themselves married to each other. While they agree that the union is a mistake, they argue as to who should dump whom. In a twist of fate, however, they win a $3M jackpot money, but neither wants to let go of their share. When they finally brought the matter to court, the judge ruled that they must try to work out their marriage for 6 months before applying for divorce and settling the financial dispute. As they cohabitate, both devise plans to wreck the marriage to get the money in full. However, in the course of their relationship, they find out things about each other which make them fall in love. |
| Rating: | 3 / 5 |
The movie is not that bad. It's actually quite funny. Kutcher's antics (highly reminiscent of his Kelso role in "That 70's Show"... but then again, in what role is he very different from the aforementioned character?) elicited a number of laugh-out-loud moments. The script was written well enough not to be overly cheesy or trying hard. Truly, the main weakness of the movie is its predictability.
So you may argue, "well, what do you expect? It's a freakin' romantic comedy after all." Well, there is that. You cannot really expect to be blown away by the movie precisely because most romance comedies follow a certain formula. Boy and Girl are worlds apart in personality, they meet, they fight, they love, blah, blah, blah... However, what really irks me is that there wasn't even an attempt to transcend this limitation. The director and all the others behind the movie settled for a B-movie that's probably better seen on pirated DVD.
Another thing that I noticed was that, there must have been a slight miscast. Cameron Diaz looks like Ashton Kutcher's mother in the film. No longer can make-up cover the lines and blemishes that plague her face. She simply looks too old for the role. Admittedly, she does an OK job acting-wise (well, she could only do so much for such an underdeveloped character), but the physical characteristics no longer match the role. It would have been better if it were played by a matured-looking Anne Hathaway (like her role in "Brokeback Mountain"). Cameron must realize that she is long past "There's Something About Mary" and "Charlie's Angels," and must start taking more serious, challenging roles.
Would I recommend this film to my friends? Probably not, unless he/she is currently (and sickeningly) in love, which may then alter his/her disposition on predictable romantic comedies. It's better to watch this movie through a 12-in-1 DVD than a 140-peso cinema.
I've tried out blogging before. Thing is, I never had much time to update them (yep, more than one).
I promise to change that now.
This blog will mainly revolve around my core interests, usually books, movies, and social issues. Sounds heavy? Hope not. Anyway, I hope everyone reading it will enjoy it as much as I will writing it.
See ya!
I promise to change that now.
This blog will mainly revolve around my core interests, usually books, movies, and social issues. Sounds heavy? Hope not. Anyway, I hope everyone reading it will enjoy it as much as I will writing it.
See ya!
