Gig Gig Gig

Busy weeks coming up! I got an invite to play on 2 consecutive nights, one with the songwriters group, and the other one is a solo acoustic style gig. I’m also thinking if I can squeeze in another gig on Sunday night. There is also the other band that I’m playing guitar on. I haven’t even began writing down the songs that I’ll perform for the gigs – let alone practice. I will be using this coming weekend to rest and to prepare for the coming gigs. I already have specific songs in mind, I will just be cleaning up some songs and probably think of things that I can talk about while on stage (I’m bad at talking…). This time I also hope I don’t forget to bring my camcorder so I can see if there are improvements and areas for improvement.

Science against Evolution

I’ve always doubted the long age dates and the “blob to you” principles that evolution was proclaiming. The sad thing is that evolution is being taught in schools as if it is an undisputed observable fact. While checking out cyberpowerpc coupons, I’ve been researching on evolution and came across this website. I found that it was both educational and entertaining. Try to read through these sample thesis and maybe you’ll rethink if your ancestor really was an ape. To quote the site: “We didn’t see it happen, we can’t make it happen again, and we don’t know how it could possibly have happened, but it must have happened somehow!” is never a satisfactory scientific explanation.

Lost in Makati

Last night we went to Greenbelt Makati to watch a movie. We rarely go there, and with the many confusing “one way” roads, I was concerned if we could get to the right parking near Green Belt Mall. When we got near Greenbelt, I did not realize that there was a new mall parking and I missed it. I braved the traffic congested road to find a U-turn slot but there was none. I had to go back to Ayala Ave. and go back inside Glorrietta area to see if I can do another turn. When I was about to do a left turn towards Green Belt, I was confronted with a no-left turn sign, which meant that was not the right route and we had to go another round at the same traffic congested road. Finally we found a nearby car park entrance on a mall that I haven’t heard of before. At least we were able to see the nice faux wood blinds and other displays while we walked our way to Greenbelt. So much for our plan to park in Greenbelt, this incident reminded me to always check wikimapia for directions before heading to unfamiliar locations.

Jonah – Part I

Last Sunday’s message was about Jonah. I’ve read that book and have heard his story countless times. It was the first time though that I heard a Pastor say that this is not a story about a big fish and that it is a story of God’s Love. How God loves imperfect persons, and how God’s love is above our human love which was what Jonah embodied. Jonah would not want to preach to the people of Nineveh because he knows that they might repent and turn from their ways. Jonah does not want these people to be saved! And Jonah went through a lot just to avoid his mission, he even thought that he could run away from God but obviously he could not. So if you are studying at a medical assistant school to go abroad and to earn decent money, and you suddenly hear God call you to go elsewhere – what would you do? If we are being called by God to go to Nineveh and we selfishly go to our personal “Tarshish” – God will bring in the storm and he will calibrate it to go as strong as it needs for us to realize that we need to follow his leading.

Car Registration Procedure

We’ve recently registered our car for 2010 at a nearby LTO extension office. What we thought would take us a day took 2 days because their computers went “offline”. I wish they had better document scanning software, the whole thing would have been easier and quick. Anyway for those of you that want to know how the registration process is done, here is how we got through it:

- Ready your old original registration (get a xerox copy as well)
- Go to the nearest LTO office
- Renew your yearly TPL (Third Party Liability) insurance (P850)
- While waiting for them to use their old type writers for the insurance, look for the emission test cashier and pay for the bill (P410)
- Once paid, go to the emission test center and wait for your car to be called.
- They will assist you to set up your car in front of the machine that will test it. They will rev the engine to check for smoke and then will wait for a few minutes of testing. They will then take a picture and will give you the receipt.
- Head back and get your TPL insurance
- Next will be the “Stencil”, or the part where an LTO personnel will stencil your engine and chassis number into your registration form.
- After all this is done, go to the evaluator again one last time so they can check your documents and then they will forward it for approval.
- You will then be called by the Cashier to pay for the remaining bill (around P1.7K).
- Wait for your name to be called at the “Releasing” window and finally get the receipt and the stickers.

Business?

Since moving back to my hometown, we’ve been researching and brain storming for a good business. On our busy street almost all the basic businesses are already covered from computer shops, to food and groceries, to sari-sari stores, to dress shops and other stores. We are thinking of the best franchise to own in the field of food business, or set up a small pet shop business, or maybe get a small furniture shop running. A lot of things on our plates right now and hopefully we can get something started within this year or early next year.

Ancestral Home

After years of living far away, I found myself back to where it all began – my ancestral home. We may have installed some modern furniture, but the house is as it was when I was growing up. Half of the house is older than I am and the other half is almost my age. We are considering to either sell this property or renovate. I’d like to renovate it, given that all my childhood friends and memories are there, but the cost maybe too high and the locality – is not an ideal place for my family to live. Our street is susceptible to flooding and there are too many vehicles passing, our one way street seems like a mini highway at times. There is also little to none play areas for my son to enjoy. Up to now I haven’t really decided yet. But sooner or later we will have to face up and decide, either to let go, or to suffer the consequences and keep.

Favorite Game Show

My Favorite Game Show is the $20,000 Pyramid. Although it is now in reruns on syndicated networks with host Donny Osmond, the original with Dick Clark as the emcee is still my personal favorite. This is still available on the Game Show Network that I can watch on cable tv Georgia.

Featuring a tricky wall of categories with different phrases designed to interest the contestants, each game is played to a maximum of 21. There are 3 round of 7 words to be guessed by the teams of 2. As long as there is no mention of the word or part of it, each player can help their partner by gesturing or rhyming. A normal person teams up with a celebrity to play each game, with the teams switching after the first one is finished.

The highlight comes when one team is declared the winner and gets to play for big money. A large pyramid of six categories is behind one player, while the other gives only a ‘list’ related to the title. There is no use of the hands here, and anything outside of the list is whistled as a foul. Unless the player reaches the top in 60 seconds, he/she only wins the amount of money listed on the back of each category.

$20,000 Pyramid is the most exciting game on TV in my opinion.