Mao who?

In this century we witnessed the meteoric rise of extreme ideologies followed subsequently by their slow and painful death. Ideologies that are rosy and sweet on paper but wolf in sheep's clothing in reality. We saw the sadist and demonic ideologies of the Third Reichfollowed by the spread of communism as part of partaking the spoils of war and as a direct answer to the spread of American democracy. Though democracy has its flaws, none of it is as glaring and albeit more exploitive as communism. The basic idea of communism is to ensure equality in all aspects to its citizens. In reality, however, its more of an 80:20 split favoring party officers, their leaders, and their families up to the nth degree of consanguinity). This outmoded idea still plagues nations unable to temper its serpent head. The western front of communism collapsed more than a decade ago (from the fall of the Berlin wall to the fall of USSR) but the eastern front stubbornly refuse to follow suit. I likened it to an anarchist movement or a demonic cult wherein they use the powers of suggestion and mind conditioning with the ulterior motive of exploiting them to satisfy their own worldly greed. Take the case of North Korea (no need to explain that one) or the ongoing insurgents in our country (the longest in Asia). For god's sake what the hell are they fighting for? Aren't they convinced that their ideas is as flawed as the medieval concept of a flat earth? Why would they arm teenagers and allow them to die for a useless creed? Isn't it enough that a lot of lives were lost just to provide money for Joma Sison's opulent lifestyle? Why resort to an armed battle if they really want change? A lot of people are effecting change without throwing a single stone and not taking media credit for it! The only reason why this insurgency continues to persist is MONEY! MONEY MONEY MONEY! MONEY for the higher ranking officials and crumbs/morsels for the rank and file. These hoodlums/criminals/terrorist harass, extort, and even kill people just to get MONEY! For what you might ask...they need money to FEED THEIR DEMIGODS! In the end, GREED is still the underlying force that drives these lunatics to fight a war for MONEY!

Greed or Necessity

Why do people steal? Is it because of hunger, need, or desperation?

If they're hungry, then why are they at risk for heart disease because of obesity? Certainly they eat more than the average pinoy to say that they're lacking sustenance. For some of them, they get to eat at posh hotels, restaurants or even serve lavish dinners on their homes on a daily basis. Just look at our elected public "servants", they usually double in size after they're 3rd term while their constituents sheds pounds often without effort. Are they really hungry to steal from us?

Is it because of need? Maybe the need to payback election favors and expenditure! Imagine, you'll shell out millions of pesos to get elected only to be compensated much like a call center agent? Who in their right mind would not steal from us just because of their innate NEED to recover their investment? Take these few points to hammer my message: (1) Have you seen an elected official or his relatives up to the nth degree of consanguinitywho didn't became insanely rich during or after their term? (2) Why do unsightly elements who were studded with gold but looked like a goon from FPJ's movies surround a hot new politician during their campaign, like crocodiles waiting for dinner? (3) Why do provinces stay virtually the same while their mayor upgrades his car/mistress every year? (4) Why do the VP, a congresswoman, and a mayor of a prominent city ALL have the same surname? Do I need to go on?

Is it because of desperation? I think a resounding YES is in order. Desperate to hold on to power to fuel their desire for power and wealth! Maybe these names will make some agree to my point: Marcos, Ampatuan, Arroyo, Binay, Abad, Cojuanco, Villar, Belmonte... Maybe now you got my drift. That's the primary reason why the "Anti-political dynasty bill" is as taboo to lawmakers as holy water to Satan!

So, are these leeches justified to blatantly steal from us and still have the face to show it off? Are we allowing them to bleed us dry while we labored blood, sweat, and tears just to feed our family three squares a day? HELL NO!

If you share my sentiment, then DO NOT EXTEND YOUR COURTESIES AND RESPECT TO THESE LOW LIFES!
Remind them that it's YOU they're stealing from!

Eternal Damnation

Sitting in the middle of traffic, waiting for the stoplight to change from red to green, I veered my radio to 107.5 on a nostalgic trip to keep my sanity while recounting the days of "The station that rocks the nation"...after an Air Supply song I heard this..."107.5 win radio, kailangan bang pag-isipan yan?". W...T...F...!!! Suddenly, as fast as pulling my hand from a flame, I switched off my radio while resisting the urge to rip it out and throw it to the garbage bin fearing the devil will come out of it! After regaining my composure, I switched to listening to my iPod and vowed not to listen to that station again!

Materialism

In this day and age, enlightenment and spiritual upliftment seems to become less important than acquisition of wealth and power. Inner peace and contentment has become a novelty for these people that they fail to give any sense of importance nor priority to it.  PURSUIT OF MATERIAL WEALTH IS THEIR ONLY PRIORITY! They may acquire it through legitimate channels but some can resort to stealing, coercion, extortion, or blackmail. After acquiring it, they flaunt it to the world like a barbarian king holding the head of a defeated leader and parading it to his troops and then easily dumps it like a 2 dollar whore. It seems that it is their way of compensating for their inadequacies either in their physique or in their egos, much like a high school jock or primadonna obsessed with looks but quite empty "up there". Sadly, it is not restricted to persons fitting this profile, current society dictates that materialism is the NEW road to salvation, a way to instant happiness and gratification. You can see it in media (both TV and print), in top-rated shows wherein they associate happiness to prize money and gyrating women, in malls (specially during sale season), and even in church. Today intelligence is equated to winning game shows or dressing up to look like one. Worse, these ideas were perpetuated by elders and proclaimed as gospel truth! In fact, when you ask a person what are their criteria for marrying a person, very high on the list is wealth. At times its more important than love hence explaining the success of mail to order bride and unlikely inter-racial marriages.
Don't get me wrong, acquisition of wealth IN ITSELF is not bad if done for the sole purpose of improving quality of life or as reward to one's hardwork. It only becomes evil when pursued for the above-mentioned purpose or acquired through the above-mentioned means.

Butthole 1.3

"Hey Mario! Pick up the pace or I'll whack your head!" his Uncle Francisco shouted from across the field.
"Coming uncle!" he shouted back. "These palays are heavy, should be using a tractor to haul it rather than carrying it on my back!" he muttered while loading another bundle to his back.
It's midday in Cabanatuan at the peak of harvest season, rice paddies are thick with palay with its golden seeds crowning its tip. Months of hard work and patience about to pay off. Uncle Francisco silently thanked God for a bountiful harvest with no calamities nor pestilence (unlike the previous year, they almost lost their land because of floods).
"This is enough to put Mario back to college. The tractor can wait." He said to himself while loading bundles of palay to a waiting truck.
"Mario hurry up, the truck will leave in a few minutes!" He called out.
"Here uncle" he handed the bundle to his uncle."When will you get a tractor Uncle? It'll make your life a whole lot easier."
"I don't need it yet," his uncle replied, "it can wait for next season."
"Huh?" Mario said.
"I'm saving the money to put your ass back in college" his Uncle said with a wry smile carving his sun-battered face.
"College? I'm going back to college?" Mario replied with obvious enthusiasm in his voice.
"Yes, but if you screw this up you'll be working your butt here in the palay fields until you die!" warned his uncle. "This is your ticket out, don't waste it."
"I won't, I promise!" Mario exclaimed, his face brimming with hope and excitement.
Mario remembered that day as if it was yesterday. His life was full of promise, a deliverance to a good life that he deserved. But it was not to be...
The following day, thugs from the town's mayor abducted his uncle and forced him to rescind his land. He mounted a fervent but futile opposition but in the end losing his life. Mario saw his whole life crumble with his uncle's death. Not only did they lose their land but also his entire family was driven out of town. He vowed to return one day to avenge his uncle with the same brutality that they inflicted on him. With that resolve, he set his sights to Manila and hopes to come back equipped to fulfill his revenge.

Confusion

Why is it when you had all the time you want, suddenly you don't know which one to do first? And why is it when you DON'T have time then you conjure all of the things you want to do? Laxity, idleness, and decreased stimulation tends to dull the mind while chaos, confusion, and disorder forces the mind to focus and hence to think clear and straight. That is why we feel more dumb than relaxed a day before we return to our regular grind (work, studies, project), maybe because of anxiety or maybe because our regular grind is uninspiring and routinary. But for a creative mind craving for stimulation, a break/rest/vacation is necessary to "clear the slate" and start fresh. It allows you to think outside the box and tackle things from a fresh perspective. It is also critical that the environment (both for rest and work) is stimulatory with complimentary human interactions to sort of "fan the flames".
Therefore, we need the chaos and confusion of work/profession in order for us to enjoy the lullity and numbing effects of vacation and idleness.

NU107, The home of nu rock is now signing off...for now.

NU 107 had its final transmission midnight yesterday...
Shock, disbelief, longing, uncertainty, loss. These are the words expressed when the final announcement was made.
But no matter how tough the circumstances leading to its demise, NU 107 will rise again.
Giving faith to the words of the great Francis Brew, "NU107 will NEVER FUCKING DIE!"

Perseverance

Perseverance, in the face of insurmountable odds will bear fruit in time.

Persistence in your chosen path will lead to fulfillment.

Determination to march on will bring glory.

Courage to forge your own path will reveal your destiny.

No one can undermine my goals.

No one can stop me.

Try...If you dare...

Motorcycle 1.2

Found a Facebook site "I Hate Undisciplined Pinoy Motorcycle Drivers".  Now there's a forum to air OUR side of the story. We are the ones forced to follow road rules and regulations while the damn authority looked the other way against these fools. How many more accidents would they endure before they realize the error of their ways? Maybe when they're dead...

Coffee 1.2 (Bialetti Moka Express)

Today I used my new Bialetti Moka Express cappuccino and latte set. This is a recent addition to my collection of coffee brewers and the first one for espresso (different from the traditional espresso using high pressure). I'm not an expert with coffee so I won't pretend that I am. I'm just an average joe with a particular love, no obsession, for coffee. Ok my experience:

Bialetti Vacuum Pot / Stove-Top espresso is surely simple to use. Load the funnel filter with espresso grounds, load the bottom chamber with water, place on a stove, wait a few minutes, and you have your espresso. Simple isn't it? But the end product has several important differences from traditional espresso. One, there's no crema (although there's a Bialetti model with a cover on the spout to create crema). I'm not yet well-versed with the intricacies of espresso tasting (though I've honed my palate with press and drip brew) so I can't help you in discriminating its taste. The important plus side for me is cost, its way cheaper than buying an espresso machine. It's also easier to maintain (rinse with water after use), very portable with a go-anywhere design, and its gives you a sense of nostalgia. The accompanying milk frother is another plus for the Moka Express. Just don't make the mistake of drinking all of it in one go, remember its espresso not drip/press.

Alone

Alone, a word feared by many people because of its accompanying word, loneliness. Perhaps being alone is being lonely. But some people wanted to be alone for various reasons. Either to get away from stress, to get away from the city, to get away from a troubled home, to get away, to search for meaning, to search for purpose, to find peace, to find oneself.

Personally, I do cherish my moments alone, it allows me to think, listen, feel, and at times sort out the more important facets of my life. It regains my bearings when I've drifted off course and clears my sight to see the horizon. It's my master reset to realign myself to my objectives.

Being alone makes me long for my wife. Her constant presence and reassurance during aimless and rough times is like an anchor that steadies me in the roughest of storms, a lighthouse that shows me the way to shore, a ray of sunshine that lights the darkest moments of my life. Her love and affection brings comfort to the dreariest of places, home in a desolate place, courage in the face of defeat.

Though I cherish my moments alone, I would never give up my time with my wife for anything in the world.

Isolation

In a fast paced internet-connected world, the literal meaning of "No man is an island" is readily apparent. With a click of the mouse or a push of the button, you're instantly in touch to someone half a world away. But, are you in touch with yourself? Sure it's easy to get someone to talk to or entertain yourself with endless stream of media. But, how often do you talk to yourself? Listen to what your mind has to say? Be entertained with your minds' imagination and fantasies?...

In isolation, we're taken to places we've never been without leaving you seat. We get to talk to someone who is in-tune to what we really want to say. A best friend whom we can bare our souls without being vulnerable to criticism. It is where great ideas take shape and defining historical moments formed. Simply put, it's your paradise, your own garden of eden, freeing yourself from the constraints of a structured society.

Therefore, isolation is not entirely a bad thing.

In isolation, we find ourselves.

Desperation

Imagine...

• Pounding a coconut pulp with no milk coming out
• Squeezing calamansi until you break your fingers but no juice comes out
• Pounding rocks in the middle of a dessert in hopes of water
• Caught in an essay question with no idea what to answer
• Two minutes before deadline and you're not yet done
• Heavy traffic, cold rain, bladder about to burst

Desperation produces panic and disarray, chaos and violence, incapacitation and suffocation, ultimately demise.

Why do I feel desperation in the face of freedom?

Maybe, in the midst of chaos, when everything is said and done, when the dust settles and everything is lying motionless, in the dead of silence...

The horizon becomes clear, things fall into perspective, you regain your bearings, you see the light...

Maybe, we needed a time of chaos, confusion, desperation, before we see our purpose, direction, and destiny.

Coffee 1.1

Coffee, that bitter brew extracted from burned seeds from a coffee plant. For the uninitiated, that is coffee. A utilitarian drink to keep oneself awake and to jump start a slow morning. Coffee, it seems, is like fuel for our cars. You use it because you need it. It doesn't matter if its premium or regular, E10 or performance grade, as long as it burns in our engines.
But coffee is not just fuel to start our day.
Like wine, coffee is a connoisseur's drink.
Coffee, in the hands of an artisan, can become an exquisite work of art.
Let our coffee adventure begin...

Acid Test

Face-offs and duels bring out the best and worst in people. The unstoppable drive to succeed fuel the hearts and minds of those who compete for riches, honor, glory, DESTINY.
This is how I characterize two new restaurants setting up shop near our place (actually quite far if you count in the traffic). One is Mang Inasal and another is Chic-Boy. Both located at Molito Compound (At Madrigal Park, Alabang).
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!
First off, Mang Inasal:
Who doesn't know Mang Inasal? Who doesn't love Bacolod Inasal Chicken ? As a matter of fact, tasting Bacolod Inasal Chicken at Manokan is the ONLY REASON why we went to Bacolod. Just imagine...chicken marinated with soy sauce and spices...grilled to perfection...moist tender meat paired with spiced vinegar and hot rice…(cue for your mouth to water)...and finally devouring it with bare hands (cue for your hands to wipe away your saliva fountain)! For a moment, you'll think you're eating ambrosia!!! So it's not surprising Inasal chicken is a hit anywhere you go in the Metro. Just look at all the restaurants selling Inasal Chicken, it's fast becoming the next Jollibee! There were even rumors that Inasal Chicken gave Jollibee a scare and forced them to come up with Jollibee Chicken Barbeque. That's how BIG Inasal Chicken had become. But, like most good things uprooted and thrown into the grinder of commercialization, it transformed into something that's entirely different. Take Mang Inasal, I had several experiences from several branches wherein the chicken I got was barely edible at best. The chicken I got was either dry, burnt, or rubbery (I thought for a moment I was eating a table display). Worse, the meat felt and tasted like its cured rather than marinated (more like embalmed than marinated). I'm not kidding! Once you've tried the Inasal Chicken at Manokan, instantly you'll agree with me! Therefore, in my humble opinion, Mang Inasal failed to give justice to our beloved Inasal Chicken!
Next, the underdog Chic-Boy:
Chic-boy? Hearing it the first time evoked images of Ramon Revilla, Erap Estrada, Jorge Estregan (the list goes on and on!). But when you see their billboard you'll immediately get it (CHICken-baBOY! Gets?). Ok, so what's new with chicken and pork? Every Tom, Dick, and Mang Andok's does it and its consumed as our national take-out food. One quick stroll to the grilling area will reveal it's dark, delectable secret. LEMONGRASS! The same thing that makes Lechon Cebu so damn good! At this point, your taste buds starts tingling and wondering, is this as good as it looks? Sitting down and actually eating it is a different matter.
Just think…perfectly grilled pork belly...placing one piece on your mouth...you start to chew...ccrruunncch!!! Damn!!! Grilled pork belly with lemongrass and a crunchy skin, it makes you go...what's your name again? That’s only the pork belly, the chicken is another thing. Lets do the routine again...Just think…perfectly grilled chicken...placing one piece on your mouth...you start to chew...moist meat with crispy skin!!! Damn!!! It makes you go…grrrr...stay...away...if you want to live…
Need I say more?

Pinoy Love Flicks

Tell me what you think...
Young mestizo leading man, groomed as a debonair, paired with a beautiful leading lady...
Problem: his lipstick is pinker than the girl's lipstick!
Go figure...
Another one:
Same young mestizo leading man, groomed as a debonair, paired with a beautiful leading lady...
Problem: On his earlier works, he has more scenes SMILING than talking. Apparently he's better at smiling than talking.
Gone are the days of cinema that is at par with Hollywood in terms of story, cinematography, and acting.
Before, you don't need special effects to make a good movie. Now, out of desperation, they copy the storylines of successful western movies with uncanny similarity! Worse, they settle for popularity than talent in choosing actors/actresses.
Nowadays, if you want to see QUALITY Filipino movies, you go indie.
You'll never go wrong.

Butthole Chapter 1.2

Pepe was standing at the corner of Forbes and Espana in the dead of night, waiting for a cab.
"Taxi!"
"Where to boss?"
"City Hall."
"At this hour?" asked the cab driver, bewildered.
"Just take me there." Pepe quipped.
Pepe hoped on the cab, clutching his bag tightly on his side.
Along the way, Pepe looked out the window and saw remnants of a once glorious city.
What it is now is a mixture of dirt, grime, and rubble brought down by greed, drugs, and corruption.
"What a waste..." he muttered.
Suddenly a convoy of heavily-tinted cars w/ police escorts passed by recklessly.
"Damn corrupt politico, he'll sell his soul to the devil just to quench his insatiable greed." said the driver while pointing to the black Mercedes.
Pepe nodded in agreement.
"Why are you going to city hall at this hour, you have a death wish?" queried the driver.
"I'm doing one last job." Pepe said.
"Last job?"
"Yeah...one last job."
At City Hall's east entrance, Pepe waited near a pillar, a full moon giving it an eerie glow. He waited patiently, mindful of every movement around him. "This will be my last stint, I had enough of this. Too many screw-ups happening, I can't afford to blow this one up" he thought. At the same time remembering his family back home. With a wife and 2 kids, 20 years in the force isn't enough to support them through college. He needed money, not only for the kids but also for their own comfort. Greed, it seems, is slowly creeping in to him. But he always manage to reject the idea. He believed in his principles, he believed in his ideals despite his contemporaries getting it easy with bloodied hands. All he wanted was a decent life and a good future for his family. Maybe this is his way out, "I'm not greedy, but I needed this. It doesn't seem wrong. I'm not breaking any law, I'm just sharing what I know. They're all corrupt anyway, they had they're reach all the way up the Ombudsman's balls. So it's not wrong to have someone whoop their ass, even if it's the mafia out to settle a score." That's how Pepe rationalized it. "Maybe, just maybe, this viscous cycle will end up erasing both the mafia and the corrupt politicos".
Suddenly, headlights broke his chain of thought. "Here he comes" he muttered.
From the car, a young guy wearing a silk gray suit came out along with 2 burly body guards, one of them missing an eye. The trio approached Pepe, cautiously, as if they're being watched.
"Mario, you're a mafioso now?" Pepe asked.
"You like it?" Mario responded while strutting his stuff, "pays well if your loyal. You got the goods?"
"Yeah, you got the money?"
Mario showed him his duffel bag, stuffed with bundles of money.
Pepe showed his clutch bag, containing a folder thick with documents.
"That's all of it?" Mario asked while reaching out for the clutch bag.
"Yeah", Pepe answered while picking up the duffel bag.
"Nice doing business with you, as always" Mario quipped while walking back to his car.
Pepe didn't answer, he stood there waiting for them to leave. After they left, he walked towards Taft Avenue and hailed a taxi ride home.
"It's done. All hell will break loose...Got to disappear for good." He said to himself while looking out of the window of his cab.
He called his wife, "Honey, pack your things now, we're leaving. Inform the kids. You know what to do." He hang up. He needed to ensure a clean getaway before his shit hits the fan.
He needed to get away...NOW.

Departure

Change, in any form conceivable, is not always welcome. The routine that constantly reminds you of your worth and purpose, familiarity with environment and persons, the comfort that it brings almost similar to being home.
Change, in its desirable form, is necessary for growth, for maturity, for progress, for advancement, and for achievement.
Change, in its horrendous form, is destructive for human relationship, brings about instability, degradation of order, or descent to pits lower than hell itself.

That is why change is both proposed and opposed by people with either noble interest or self-serving greed.
Therefore it makes you think...change depends on what you choose, change is an act of independent assertion of your own principles and morals. Change is beneficial to the person of greatest benefit.

But then again, too much change (like too much of a good thing), CAN BE DEADLY AND DISFIGURING. No need to mention examples...
Look around...
Boys becoming girls...
Girls becoming boys...
Old becoming young...
Young becoming old...
Black becoming white...
White becoming brown...
Brown becoming beige....
You choose...

Bus

Where's your favorite place to sit in a bus?
Mine is the back corner, either side.
Why?
Two things:

1. I can easily spot a robber or some suspicious jerk way before he commits something terrible (if ever I spotted one, that's my cue to get out. No need to be a hero. No one remembers a dead hero, let alone an unknown dead hero).
2. It's a good perch to observe people.On one side, a young couple had their hands all over each other, conveniently ignoring several middle-aged men ogling at them. On the far side, a yuppie (probably call-center agent) banging his head to the beat of "soldier-of-fortune", eyes closed and head swinging every which way the bus sway. A couple of college students giggling at every picture they took of themselves with a DSLR (apparently it's the new thing after Ipod and Jejemon, will blog on it some other time). On occasion, an ambulant vendor would sell their wares (from candy to peanuts to mineral water to loads; everything seems to be sold in convenient sachets/packs) and a few "preachers" and teens asking for "love offerings". And also, depending on the time of the day, you'll get to ride with yuppies fresh from an all-night gimik to seaman applicants waiting for the nth time for their interview/deployment to college students cramming to study for their exam.

It is now the new jeepney. Whether new or second-hand junk from Japan/Korea, euro compliant or doomsday machines of death, it managed to become part of the new Manila landscape.

Butthole Chapter 1.1 (Genesis)

"Where the hell am I?"
"God, my head's about to explode..."
"What time is it?"
"Anyone here?"
"My eyes are burning..."
Detective Santos wipes his eyes, he saw blood.
"What the..."
Slowly he stood from the rickety bed, feeling his way up in the dark room. A small ray of light emanates from  a neon sign hanging across the street.
It was midnight, the room is filthy, smelling of death.
He reached for his gun, feeling only an empty holster.
"F*ck...what the hell happened?"
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a ghastly figure slumped on the floor. Blood oozing out of his head.
He moved closer, the stench around him getting stronger.
"Jones...shit...who did this to you?"
With his final breath, jones uttered, "Mario..."

Butthole

I'm making a story one bit at a time...

No particular subject, no particular theme, no particular story line...

Free flowing...like water from a stream ending up in the ocean...

Virtually an empty canvass...waiting for that first stroke...

Here goes...

Let's begin...

Birthing Pain

It's really hard to maintain momentum when starting out. One day you're brimming with new ideas that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, with plans made in such elaborate detail that your mind has trouble keeping up! But once the euphoria had subsided, we came crashing down like a brick falling in mid air. Suddenly, nothing of interest comes up, no new idea, no new plan, no nothing!

Feels like a washed up singer with a one-hit wonder...

Motorcycles

Its apparent on all of us the issues raised against motorcycles, let me enumerate them:

1. Riding-in-tandem robbers/murderers
2. Reckless riders attempting to balance another adult, a child, and an infant with several grocery bags to boot
3. Overly-confident men who rides on the fast lane @ 60 KPH
4. Riders who thought that wearing a helmet like a trucker cap worn hip-hop style is the new fad (in case you don't know "trucker-cap-ala-hip hop", basically it's a trucker cap placed ON TOP of the head rather than wearing it as it is)
5. Another overly-confident rider who rides on the opposite lane, in between lanes, at side walks, and crosses pedestrian lanes at the red light acting as if IT WAS THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO

The list could go on and on, but the million-dollar question is...what's the government doing about it? Surely mere ordinances nor a slap on the wrist won't do (Filipinos, by nature, resist authority). Concrete measures, like the ones adopted by our ASEAN neighbors, work better than the current system. Then again, the two-million dollar question is...would those bastards follow it?

Victim of technology

Doesn't it suck when you're using a new gadget or program the first time and you can't get around one damn problem?
Or you explore its functions and capabilities only to find out you're sinking deeper and deeper into hell...only to find out your better off skimming the surface?
Or you felt intimidated when confronted with a barrage of new options/gadgets/functions/blah blah blah?
Worse, out of frustration, you want to throw the damn thing out the window?...

Lesson for this experience...stick to the old and trusty...if you're resigned to it.

If not...figure it out...it's more rewarding that way.

Opening Salvo

This is my initiation to the world of blogging....

Critics...have mercy and god will reward you richly...when you die.

Others...keep on reading...you might pick up something worthwhile...

My dog...you'll get your treat later...stop licking...