So much for my happy ending Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
Let's talk this over It's not like we're dead Was it something I did? Was it something you said? Don't leave me hanging In a city so dead Held up so high On such a breakable thread
You were all the things I thought I knew And I thought we could be
You were everything, everything that I wanted We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away All this time you were pretending So much for my happy ending Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
You've got your dumb friends I know what they say They tell you I'm difficult But so are they But they don't know me Do they even know you? All the things you hide from me All the shit that you do
You were all the things I thought I knew And I thought we could be
You were everything, everything that I wanted We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away All this time you were pretending So much for my happy ending
It's nice to know that you were there Thanks for acting like you cared And making me feel like I was the only one It's nice to know we had it all Thanks for watching as I fall And letting me know we were done
He was everything, everything that I wanted We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away All this time you were pretending So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh... So much for my happy ending
David A. does it again! After last week's excellent performace, David once again wowed the judges with his soulful rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine." Paula Abdul was teary-eyed after his performance! Simon says, "Right now, you're the one to beat. And there are 19 very miserable contestants here tonight.."
He is unstoppable! Woot. I hope he gets into the Top 12. Catch American Idol Season 7 on QTV-11, every Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6PM.
Opening attachments isn’t the only type of mouse click that can get you in trouble. Clicking on hyperlinks in e-mail messages or on Web pages can take you to Web sites that have embedded ActiveX controls or scripts that can perform all sorts of malicious activities, from wiping your hard disk to installing a backdoor program on your computer that a hacker can use to get in and take control of it.
Clicking the wrong link can also take you to inappropriate Web sites that feature pornography, pirated music or software, or other content that can get you in trouble if you’re using a computer on the job or even get you in trouble with the law.
Don’t give in to “click mania.” Think before you click a link. Links can also be disguised in “phishing” messages or on Web sites to appear to take you to a different site from the ones they really point to. For example, the link might say www.safesite.com, but it actually takes you to www.gotcha.com. You can often find out the real URL by hovering over the link without clicking it.
8. Share and share alike
Your mother taught you that it’s nice to share, but when you’re on a network, sharing can expose you to dangers. If you have file and printer sharing enabled, others can remotely connect to your computer and access your data. Even if you haven’t created any shared folders, by default Windows systems have hidden “administrative” shares for the root of each drive. A savvy hacker may be able to use these shares to get in. One way to prevent that is to turn off file and printer sharing--if you don’t need to make any of the files on your computer accessible across the network. This is especially a good idea if you’re connecting your laptop to a public wireless hotspot. You can find instructions on how to do so at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1277222,00.asp.
If you do need to make shared folders accessible, it’s important that they be protected by both share-level permissions and file-level (NTFS) permissions. Also ensure that your account and the local administrative account have strong passwords.
9. Pick the wrong passwords
That brings us to another common mistake that can expose you to attacks: picking the wrong password. Even if you don’t belong to a network where the administrator forces you to select strong passwords and change them regularly, you should do so. Don’t pick passwords that are easy to guess, such as your birthdate, loved one’s name, social security number, etc. Longer passwords are harder to crack, so make your password at least eight characters long; 14 is even better. Popular password-cracking methods use "dictionary" attacks, so don’t use words that are in the dictionary. Passwords should contain a combination of alpha, numeric, and symbol characters for best security.
A long string of nonsense characters may create a password that’s tough to crack, but if you can’t remember it, you’ll defeat the purpose by writing it down (where an intruder may be able to find it). Instead, create a phrase you can remember easily and use the first letters of each word, along with logical numbers and symbols. For example: “My cat ate a mouse on the 5th day of June” becomes “Mc8amot5doJ.”
10. Ignore the need for a backup and recovery plan
Even if you follow all these suggestions, an attacker may crash your system or your data may be corrupted or get wiped out by a hardware problem. That’s why it’s essential that you always back up your important information and have a plan for recovering from a system failure.
Most computer users know they should back up, but many never get around to it. Or they make an initial backup but don’t update it regularly. Use the built-in Windows backup program (Ntbackup.exe in Windows NT, 2000, and XP) or a third-party backup program and schedule backups to occur automatically. Store backed up data on a network server or removable drive in a location away from the computer itself, in case of a natural disaster like flood, fire, or tornado.
Remember that the data is the most important thing on your computer. The operating system can be reinstalled and so can applications, but it may be difficult or impossible to recreate your original data. (See "10 ways to protect your data" for additional suggestions.)
Nonetheless, you can save time and frustration by backing up your system information too. You can create mirror images of your disks using popular “ghost” or “clone” programs. This will allow you to restore the system quickly instead of going through the tedious installation process.
Project Runway 4. Their last field trip was to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. They were asked to look for any work of art that will serve as their inspiration for their next design. There were 5 of them, but only 3 will be on the finals where they'll have to create their own line to be shown at Olympus Fashion Week (months from now). This episode was the last designing challenge, thus 2 will be eliminated. However, only one was (Sweet P.). Christian and Jillian were in. Rami and Chris, the bottom two other than Sweet P., were deadlock for the third spot, thus they were both allowed to create their own line for Fashion Week. However, there will be a twist: just days before the biggest show, Rami and Chris must present the 3 strongest creations in their line and Heidi (Klum) and the judges will decide who will ultimately participate at the Olympus Fashion Week alongside Jillian and Christian.
Survivor Micronesia. The fans lost the Immunity + Reward Challenge because of Chet, a gay fan. Just before the Tribal Council, however, it wasn't him, but Mary who was eliminated unexpectedly. She didn't see it coming.
The Amazing Race Asia 2. It's the finale! Marc and Rovilson had an early lead, with Adrian and Colin and Pamela and Vanessa just minutes behind. On the final Roadblock where one team member must remember all the countries they've been all throughout the race and arranging the countries' corresponding national flags in the correct order, Rovilson trailed behind. In the end, Adrian and Colin (Singapore) were the ones who arrived first at the final Pit Stop, followed by Pamela and Vanessa (Malaysia). Marc and Rovilson (Philippines) came in last - a 3rd place finish.
*images from Wikipedia. These logos are copyright of the respective owners.
Museum Visit. Me and some of my Hum. II classmates (and blockmates as well) went to Met (The Metropolitan Museum of Manila) for a required gallery viewing. It was only my fourth time (?) to go to a museum. There were several exhibits there. Some of the Permanent Exhibits include The Classical Philippine Goldwork and Pottery (Basement) which features a lot of ancient Philippine accessories made of gold and ivory. On the other side of the basement are earthenwares made of clay. Changing exhibitions include HEROËS ANÓNIMOS OF A BRILLIANT STRUGGLE: Art Making and Art Makers at the U.P. School of Fine Arts (my favorite), WEN FANG: INSIDE THE SCHOLAR’S STUDIO (GEMS OF CHINESE CULTURAL ANTIQUITIES), and ENLIVENING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE: An Exhibit of Hau Chiok and His Students. We are asked after to write an art critic about one of the exhibitions and then choose one work of art (a painting) to evaluate in-depth. My personal bet is Augusto Fuster's "Interior de la Galeria Ongpin."
MOA_ing. After lunch, friendly Fai and I headed to SM Mall of Asia to scout for our med. interview attires. Actually, Fai was more after MOA's Executive Optical to get herself a new lens for her glasses. We dropped by at TimeZone to have a glimpse of what's waiting for us there. DDR-Supernova 2 for 22 pesos each. Crap. We also visited Power Mac Store. I was hoping to see the new MacBook Air. But there wasn't any. Also, on our way home, Fai and I have discerned why The Mall of Asia is only 2 levels high. It's just common sense, really. =p Here's a hint: It has something to do with geography and the economy. MOA is the perfect representation. Lol.
Today. I am about to satisfy my craving for reality shows. I am subscribed to 9 YouTube video uploaders, hoping to get updated as soon as new reality TV videos are available. And just now, new episodes of The Amazing Race Asia 2, Project Runway 4, and Survivor Micronesia are on queue! Yay.
What's going on in these shows:
Project Runway 4. It's down to 5 fashion designers. My personal bet is Rami Kashou. In this episode, the contestants will be having their last 'field trip.' Most of them feel nervous because the last time they had a field trip, they had to deal with female wrestlers of WWE (they had to design outfits fit for a wrestling match). I wonder what this last field trip is all about.. Also, Christian gets a little bitchy to Jillian in this episode.
Survivor Micronesia. Only the second episode of the new season which highlights the ultimate twist: "fans versus favorites". Ten die-hard Survivor fans up against Ten All-Star Survivor castaways of previous seasons. Last time, during the first Immunity Challenge, the fans beat the favorites, leading to Johnny Fairplay's eliminaton. Can the fans maintain their lead? Or was it just beginner's luck fueled with overflowing excitement? Take a look at what's up at episode 2:
The Amazing Race Asia 2. It's the Final Leg. It's a race between Marc and Rovilson (Philippines), Adrian and Colin (Singapore, I think), and Pamela and Vanessa (Malaysia). After retrieving their lead from Adrian and Colin, Marc and Rovilson are now holding up to that final Pit Stop. Go Team Philippines! I also love Pamella and Vanessa. They're hot.
"..Weekends are for the warriors."
"Weekend Warriors" Performed by: A Change of Pace Album: Prepare The Masses (2006)
If you haven't seen this film, try watching it this season of hearts. It will blow you away. The both of you. If you're single, uh, well, I suggest you put 'Love Actually' on top of your list. Have fun!
Synopsis:
The Beatles' songs may have provided the soundtrack for the lives of those coming of age in the 1960s, but their extensive catalogue acts as the literal soundtrack in this romantic musical from visionary director Julie Taymor. Newcomer Jim Sturgess stars as Jude, a young man working on the docks in Liverpool. Eager to escape, he travels to Princeton where he meets Max (Joe Anderson). But it’s his meeting with Max’s younger sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) that changes him. They quickly fall in love, but their relationship is tested by the chaos of the late 1960s and Max’s unwilling tour in Vietnam. Throughout the film, characters burst into classics from the Beatles: frat boys sing "With a Little Help from My Friends," while Uncle Sam bursts from a recruitment poster with strains of "I Want You (She’s So Heavy)." U2’s Bono makes a cameo as a counterculture leader and croons "I Am the Walrus," and actor-comedian Eddie Izzard provides a trippy rendition of "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite." Sturgess has the voice, charm, and good looks to fill Shea Stadium with hordes of screaming young women. As Jude, he’s earnest and certainly capable of carrying the film. Wood capably balances Lucy’s naiveté and knowledge, easily moving between her love for Jude and her passion for her cause. Though the performances are strong, it’s Taymor’s gifted direction that makes ACROSS THE UNIVERSE so fascinating to watch. As in FRIDA and Broadway’s THE LION KING, she proves herself an artist with creativity few can match. Director of photography Bruno Delbonnel also deserves praise for his contribution to the striking visuals. He has worked with Jean-Pierre Jeunet on AMELIE and A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, and he brings the same sense of romance and whimsy to this unique musical. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes)
"All You Need Is Love" Performed by: Jim Sturgess, Dana Fuchs, T.V. Carpio & Martin Luther McCoy Album: Across the Universe: Music from the Motion Picture (Deluxe Edition) (2007)
4. Install and uninstall lots of programs, especially betas
You like to be on the cutting edge, so you often install and try out new software. Beta programs are usually free and give you a chance to sample neat new features before most people. There are also many freeware and shareware programs made available as Internet downloads by their authors. We know you’d never do it, but some users even install pirated software or “warez.”
The more programs you install, the more likely you are to run across ones that either include malicious code or that are poorly written and cause your system to behave improperly or crash. The risk is greater with pirated programs.
Even if you install only licensed, final-release commercial software, too many installations and uninstallations can gunk up the registry. Not all uninstall routines completely remove program remnants and at the least, this practice can cause your system to slow down over time.
You should install only the programs that you really need, stick with legitimate software, and try to minimize the number you install and uninstall.
5. Keep disks full and fragmented
One of the results of installing and uninstalling lots of programs (or adding and deleting data of any kind) is that it fragments your disk. Disk fragmentation occurs because of the way information is stored on the disk: On a new, clean disk, when you save a file it’s stored in contiguous sections called clusters. If you delete a file that takes up, for example, five clusters, and then save a new file that takes eight clusters, the first five clusters’ worth of data will be saved in the empty space left by the deletion and the remaining three will be saved in the next empty spaces. That makes the file fragmented, or divided. To access that file, then, the disk’s read heads won’t find all the parts of the file together but must go to different locations on the disk to retrieve it all. That makes it slower to access. If the file is part of a program, the program will run more slowly. A badly fragmented disk will slow down to a crawl.
You can use the disk defragmenter built into Windows (Programs | Accessories | System Tools) or a third-party defrag program to rearrange these pieces of files so that they’re placed contiguously on the disk.
Another common cause of performance problems and application misbehavior is a disk that’s too full. Many programs create temporary files and need extra free space on the disk to operate. You can use Windows XP’s Disk Cleanup Tool or a third-party program to find and delete rarely used files, or you can manually delete files to clear space on your disk.
6. Open all attachments
Some folks just can’t help themselves: Getting an e-mail message with an attachment is like getting an unexpected gift. You just have to peek inside to see what it is. But just as that package left on your doorstep could contain a bomb, that file attached to your mail message could contain code that will delete your documents or system folder or send viruses to everyone in your address book.
The most blatantly dangerous attachments are executable files--those that run code--with extensions like .exe, .cmd, and many others. Files that aren’t themselves executables, such as Word .doc files and Excel .xls files, can contain embedded macros. Scripts (Visual Basic, JavaScript, Flash, etc.) aren’t directly executed by the computer but are run by other programs.
It used to be that you could assume plain text (.txt) or graphics (.gif, .jpg, .bmp) files were safe, but not anymore. File extensions can be “spoofed”; attackers take advantage of the Windows default setting that doesn’t display common file extensions to name executables something like greatfile.jpg.exe. With the real extension hidden, it shows up as greatfile.jpg. So the recipient thinks it’s a graphic, but it’s actually a malicious program.
You should open attachments only when they’re from trusted sources and only when you’re expecting them. Even if the mail with the attachment appears to come from someone you trust, it’s possible that someone spoofed their address or that their computer is infected with a virus that sent the attachment to you without their knowledge.
Ateneo Children's Theater presents HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
February 9, 2008. The goal of this event was more of us, the volunteers, making the street children (c/o Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Manila) happy and entertained, more than us being entertained by the show as well.
It was a very early Saturday morning. The Pahinungod office announced a 6AM call time. Maybe to avoid traffic. The show started 9AM at the Ateneo de Manila University's Henry Lee Irwin Theater. The crowd was full. Full of kids (about 95% of the audience).
In general, what we were about to see was a theater version of Disney's highly famous High School Musical, which will be performed by the Ateneo Children's Theater (ACT) actors, and other performers from St. Bridgette's and Miriam.
Take note: All were Grade 4 to Grade 7 kids, but we were blown away.
Kudos!
The three kid-friendly assistants (L-R: Me, Fai and Lala)
My assigned kids with their Kuya Ian
"What I've Been Looking For" Artist: Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel Album: High School Musical (2006)
"And if all we've got, is what no one can break, I know I love you, if that's all we can take. The tears are coming down, they're mixing with the rain, I know I love you, if that's all we can take."
I want to remember this day, with my eyes wide open.
"Dreams cast into the sky, I'm moving on.. Sweet beginnings do arise.."
On my way to school today..
I forgot my file case at home. I had to go back. Why? Because in there was the favor that Alaine and Lovely had asked me. Whew.. talk about effort. Hopefully I get to join the 'show'.
I was excited to bring our thesis draft in school. Not because I was some kind of a nerd, thesis-addict, but because it's the second draft! Woot.
Speaking of second, I'm having second thoughts on my plans of going to Ateneo School of Medicine if ever I don't make it to UP. Seriously, UE is, again, beginning to enter the picture. I don't know. Help me God. But then again, the fact that UPCM has given me the chance to talk (that's on the 19th) is a little bit shaky. I have done this before last December when I was asked to go back to the province and had the doctor (who is a member of UP's Regionalization. Program) interview me there. Unfortunately that interview was terrible. Or I guess I just expected a lot from that interview. Goodness, I don't have something to wear yet.
For the first time ever, I was actually worried that I am already (3,600 seconds) late for my Humanities II class.
I wasn't actually expecting for another FIK day today. I'm tired. I did my laundry yesterday.
Today at school..
On my Med. School issues: none. I was too busy thinking of something else.
On Hum. II: What's even weird is that I still decided to go on and attend the lecture ('cause I don't usually do that, especially when I'm over half the time late). It paid off eventually. What I don't really get is how the heck I am going to answer the questions for the essay about 'Molecular Beauty' which is due on Monday. Darn.
On the thesis: Well, I was expecting some kind of, uh, concern about what happened today. Apparently there haven't been any. Busy times, I guess. Or there's just an overflowing amount of trust. Totally unlike me. Lol.
On the people I was hoping to see: None of them showed up except my Hum. II classmates and Alaine and Lovely. Cool, huh? Yeah, great. Of course, aside from these people, there were those who where 'unexpectedly there.' People who I don't want to see, but still made their way and pissed me off. Good thing they didn't notice me, 'cause I, surprisingly, enjoyed the view. THEIR view.
Today after school..
I ate. A lot. That's how I make myself comfortable when I'm alone. Plus the fact that I was starved to death, too? Ah... such a bliss.
I thought of shopping.. specifically for what I am going to wear during my interview. But nah.. my bills are on the way. Better wait for those first.
I thought of getting a haircut. My body agreed. So there.. me in a barber shop.. with Patrick. Kuya Patrick. Really nice. It was just my second time there, and the place still looked awesome. What I sooo love about this place is, well, it's affordable. I mean, Gruppo Barbero is not just a barber shop, it is one of those 'THE barber shop.' And then they make you pay at a reasonable price. Another nice feature is their hairstyle catalog. For men. --> the best thing since PSPs. (Haha, kidding). After a good almost-an-hour session, I was about to leave when I decided to pamper myself a bit and have some more from that place. The result: Wow. I never felt this good. Now I'm thinking of dropping by the place once in a while, whenever I feel stressed and need some comfort. This is the place to be.
On my way home..
On Gruppo Barbero: Hey hey hey. After all the things that I asked them to do to me --> I need to cut my spending for the next couple of weeks. Here's the deal: I'M ON A TIMEZONE BREAK FOR TWO WEEKS STARTING TOMORROW.
"Bury me (You thought your problems were gone), Carry me (Away, away, away...)"
"Swing, Swing" Artist: The All-American Rejects Album: The All-American Rejects (2002)
"..everything is changing when I turn around, all out of my control, I'm a mobile."
10 Dumb Things Users Do That Can Mess Up Their Computers
(Part 1)
By Debra Littlejohn Shinder, MCSE, MVP
We all do dumb things now and then, and computer users are no exception. Inadvertently pressing the wrong key combination or innocently clicking OK in the wrong dialog box can change important settings that alter a computer’s behavior or even crash the system.
Nervous newbies are often fearful that one wrong move might break the computer forever. Luckily, short of taking a sledge hammer to the box, the consequences aren’t usually quite that dire. Even so, users often do create problems for their computers and for your network. Here's a description of common missteps you can share with your users to help them steer clear of preventable problems.
1. Plug into the wall without surge protection
Here’s one that actually can physically destroy your computer equipment, as well as the data it holds. You may think your systems are in danger only during an electrical storm, but anything that interrupts the electrical circuit and then starts the current back again can fry your components. Something as simple as someone turning on an appliance that’s plugged into the same circuit (especially a high voltage one such as a hair dryer, electric heater, or air conditioner) can cause a surge, or a surge may be caused by a tree limb touching a power line. If you have a power outage, you may experience a surge when the electricity comes back on.
You can protect your systems against damage from power surges by always using a surge protector, but it’s important to be aware that most cheap surge protectors will survive only a single surge and need to be replaced afterward. An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is better than a surge protector; it has a battery that keeps power flowing smoothly even when there’s an outage, to give you time to gracefully shut down.
2. Surf the Internet without a firewall
Many home users plug their computers right into their spiffy new cable or DSL modems and hop onto the Internet without realizing that they’re putting themselves at risk from viruses and attackers. Every Internet-connected computer should be protected by a firewall; this can be a firewall built into the broadband modem or router, a separate firewall appliance that sits between the modem/router and the computer, a server at the network’s edge running firewall software, or personal firewall software installed on the computer (such as ICF/Windows Firewall built into Windows XP or a third-party firewall program like Kerio or ZoneAlarm).
One advantage of personal firewalls on laptop computers is that they’re still with you when you take the computer on the road and plug into a hotel’s DSL or cable port or connect to a wireless hotspot. Just having a firewall isn’t enough, though. You must also be sure it’s turned on and configured properly to protect you.
3. Neglect to run or update antivirus and anti-spyware programs
Let’s face it: Antivirus programs can be a royal pain. They’re always blocking some application you want to use, you often have to disable them to install new software, and they have to be updated on a regular basis to do any good. Seems like the subscription is always expiring and prompting you to renew it--for a fee, in many cases. But in today’s environment, you can’t afford to go without virus protection. The malicious programs that AV software detects--viruses, Trojans, worms, etc.--can not only wreak havoc on your system but can spread via your computer to the rest of the network. In extreme cases, they can bring down the whole network.
Spyware is another growing threat; these are programs that install themselves on your computer (usually without your knowledge) and collect information from your system that is then sent back to the spyware program’s author or vendor. Antivirus programs often don’t address spyware so it’s important to run a dedicated spyware detection and removal program.
"I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately All I have to do is think of me and have peace of mind I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do Or who I'm supposed to be I don't want to be anything other than me.."
I don't need to be anything other than a prison guard's son I don't need to be anything other than a specialist's son I don't have to be anyone other than a birth of two souls in one Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately All I have to do is think of me and have peace of mind I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do Or who I'm supposed to be I don't want to be anything other than me
I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turn I'm surrounded by impostors everywhere I turn I'm surrounded by a identity crisis everywhere I turn Am I the only one to notice? I can't be the only one who's learned
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately All I have to do is think of me and have peace of mind I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do Or who I'm supposed to be I don't want to be anything other than me
Can I have everyone's attention please if you're not like this and that You're gonna have to leave I came from the mountain, the crust of creation My whole situation made from clay, dust, stone And now I'm telling everybody
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately All I have to do is think of me and have peace of mind I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta to do Or who I'm supposed to be I don't want to be anything other than me I don't want to be I don't want to be I don't want to be I don't want to be anything other than me I don't want to be I don't want to be I don't want to be
"I Don't Want To Be" Artist: Gavin DeGraw Album: Chariot (2003)
"What's the worst word you could possibly imagine?"
I'm not good in reviewing movies. Please bear with me.
Atonement is a late-2007 film adaptation of Ian McEwan's critically acclaimed novel of the same name, directed by Joe Wright, and based on a screenplay by Christopher Hampton. It was produced by Working Title Films and filmed throughout the summer of 2006 in Great Britain and France, starring James McAvoy (Mr. Tumnus the Faun, Chronicles of Narnia) and Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice). (Source: Wikipedia)
Here's what Rotten Tomatoes had to say: "A very successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel." Stats: 82% of 171 critics gave the film positive reviews, with a consensus that the film's "strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and lovely score make for a very successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel.
Synopsis (from Rotten Tomatoes): On a sultry summer day in 1935, an upper-class British family prepares for a dinner party at their country estate. The players: Briony Tallis (newcomer Saoirse Ronan), a precocious preteen writer; her older sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley), Cambridge graduate and femme fatale; Robbie Turner (James McEvoy), the housekeeper's mensch-y son, who carries a torch for Cecilia; and various visitors and family members. A series of misperceptions, fueled by the summer heat and Briony's childish hurts and fevered imagination, lead to a dramatic false accusation that lands Robbie in jail. We meet all three characters five years later in the thick of World War II, as foot soldier Robbie prepares for the Dunkirk evacuation and the two estranged sisters train as nurses in London. Director Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice) deserves high praise for translating Ian McEwan's highly internalized, multilayered tale of guilt, redemption, and the power and limits of the artistic imagination, into a sumptuous visual feast that not only conveys the intricate plot points of the novel, but dives headfirst into the emotional subtleties that make the story so wrenching. Whether any of the characters' actions are ultimately atoned for by the end of the film is a matter of perception, but Wright's sympathetic eye ensures that every player gets a fair trial. The young director favors long, lingering close-ups that trace every flicker of feeling--Ronan's luminous blue eyes clouding over with righteous gravity; the tremors of hurt and anger and love in McEvoy's sensitive face; the defiant jut of Knightley's jaw as it melts into tender affection. The honey-drizzled look of the first two thirds of the film contrasts achingly with the tension and seriousness of the action unfolding (and the grim intensity of the wartime sections), and the scenes on the beach at Dunkirk include some of the most masterly camera work of any recent film. ATONEMENT is a powerful story, retold in a way that even die-hard fans of the book will appreciate.
*image (C) Working Title Films & Universal Studios
Trailer:
"Cee, You and Tea" Artist: Dario Marianelli feat. Jean-Yves Thibaudet Album: Atonement - Music from the Motion Picture (2007)
"..how do I stop myself from being just a number. How will I hold my head to keep from going under.."
The more eager I am to graduate on time, the more problems arise. At least even on the most basic process of applying for graduation. I did apply last December. But weeks after, when the "official list of graduating students for second semester, AY 2007-2008" was released, my name wasn't there. IT'S NOT ON THE freakin' LIST! Worried mode. Hmm.. *think* Okay, check on it at the OCS.
Ian: Ate, yun na ba talaga yung final list of graduating students? 'Coz I don't see my name on it, eh, nag-apply naman po ako. Heto nga po yung isang copy nung approved form. OCS: Ah, hindi pa, i-uupdate pa yun. Ian: Okay. Thank you po.
After a few more weeks. Three weeks to be exact.
THE list wasn't updated.
Another two weeks. Something happened. Not THE list. But a NEW list was posted. In front of the Dept. of Biology office. What it says: "We would like to inform you that the following students have not submitted their Enlistment Survey Forms (ESF) for the first semester of AY 2008-2009." And what a surprise: I SAW MY NAME ON IT.
Okay. Breathe Ian, breathe. WTF?!? I am a graduating student! No need for a new ESF. WTF?! Panic mode. Okay, okay.. uh.. Reality check. I went through my curriculum vitae: All Bio subjects - clear. PE - clear. NSTP - clear. SSPs - clear. AHs - just 1 left, Hum. II, currently enrolled this semester. MST - I passed NS5 and NS8 in one sem. Electives - just 1 left, Rad. Biology, currently enrolled this semester. Thesis - currently working on.
Waaaaaa. Nothing's left out. I'm right on schedule. But why oh why? Theories began circling inside my head. I know I submitted my App. for Graduation form beyond the deadline. So maybe, OCS hasn't really updated their list yet. But hey, why am I included on the new batch of enrollees (for next year)? That's too much..
So there. OCS had to do the talking. And guess what I have found out:
CAS' Office of the College Secretary (OCS) lost their copy of my Application for Graduation form! Wow. So all this time, not even once did the OCS think that a graduating student named **** Ian ****** ever existed within the walls of CAS.
Well hopefully, after clearing this out with OCS, I will now be an official graduating student.
CASE CLOSED.
"Down to the wire, I wanted water but I'll walk through the fire. If this is what it takes to take me even higher, then I'll come through, like I do, when the world keeps testing me, testing me, testing me."
"Vultures" Artist: John Mayer Album: Continuum (2006)
"..and I'm juggling all the thoughts in my head, I'm juggling and my fears on fire but I'm listening as it evolved in my head.. I'm balancing on one fine wire.."
I was so bored at home that I didn't let even the simplest task that will make me leave the house just pass by. Well, I succeeded. What was just a simple day for me to go to school and return Ann's Rad. Biology notes became a major one. As a matter of fact, this day became a 'hit three birds with one stone' event.
1. Ann's Rad. Biology notes I borrowed this almost two weeks ago. What a surprise that I haven't copied anything yet when she reminded me that she's about to get it back. So there, I returned it. Fresh and untouched. Too bad that class discussions resume on Monday and I haven't had any notes of the previous lectures. Way to go Ian. My attitude is just so... non-med. school. Better change for the better!
2. Thesis Draft courtesy of Dr. Co She returned it -- at last! What was planned to be a quick drop-by at the Dept. of Biology office this morning became a total freak show. Five hours, ma'am. Five. But everything turned out okay, so far. It seems that the corrections that our two readers made are almost similar, making our next editing quite easier. Yay.
3. Molecular Beauty by Roald Hoffman How can a chemist say that a particular molecule is 'beautiful'? Weird, huh. This essay that I am required to read and react on is about a chemist's notions on molecular aesthetics -- the beauty that lies between every molecule. I was quite at ease at first when I knew about this essay since I thought that I might be able to understand his ideas easily because I have been bombarded with chemistry (including biochemistry) subjects before. Hmm. But no. The way the author wrote the essay is just too difficult to comprehend. Very tricky. I guess I have to read it over and over again. Deadline's on the seventh.
Another thing that's been on my mind today was the unending assumptions and discussions about 'life after biology'. Biology IS the study of life. But after four years of it, I am more lost than ever about life. Ever since the idea of me not being accepted to ANY medical schools here in the Philippines came to my consciousness, my thoughts about it have begun juggling over my head. At first I was like, "nah..for sure, no matter what, there will always be a med school where I will eventually end up." Of course this statement is true. But then, at this point, a lot of realizations are beginning to surface. And digging deep into these realizations is the fact that it's not just "going to medical school" anymore. It's now about CHOOSING the medical school. And not just a med school, but the RIGHT one. *sigh* Right now, the best thing that we could all do is make sure we're all prepared for whatever that might happen. Trying to think of Plans B, C, D, and so on is not a bad idea, just don't let your mind revolve around those too much. That's why they're the alternatives. When Plan A doesn't work, then that's the time to consider Plan B. So, unless Plan A hasn't been trashed yet (hopefully not), Plans B, C, D, and so on are still nothing but a piece of crap.
"..Life plays such silly games inside of me and I felt some distant cries, following. And they're entwined between the night and sun beams.. I wish I were free from this pain in me.."
"One Fine Wire" Artist: Colbie Caillat Album: Coco (2007)
