Casino Royale

Of all the James Bond books, Casino Royale happened to be the first one I read when I was in high school. I remember it was a boring summer, and after watching one of Roger Moore‘s outings (which I remember to be Moonraker), I wanted more. I also remember choosing it because it was the first of the series, and besides it wasn’t thick enough to overwhelm me.

Imagine my surprise then, when instead of the rather comical, space age type story I was expecting, I instead got a very intense, very serious story about a secret agent whom, while passionate about his work, was conflicted between it and the mutual attraction developing between him and British Treasury official Vesper Lynd. Deciding to pursue a quiet life with Lynd, a twist evolves when Lynd admits she is a double agent and commits suicide in order to spare him, leaving a note assuring him of her love. Bond is hurt and humiliated, but reveals later still his genuine feelings for her.

Continue reading Casino Royale

Of Aggregators and Unique Content

Over the past two weeks, I’ve noticed two new websites that siphon posts off of Ballex and Kikay. This site: http://skincare.simra.net/, which got RubyG’s post on Skin Food, and this site: http://basketball.sports-guru.com, which gets almost all of the posts off of Ballex.

These sites are called aggregators, which live off of content from different sites, and make it their own.

Now, let’s analyze that statement for a moment. First, the site has to a. Live off of content from different sites. That’s easy enough, with aggregating scripts and RSS. The fact I allow syndication means it’s ok with me that other people cite my websites. That’s the way the internet is and to disallow that is stupid. If you think about it, it actually helps the sites get even more popular, so that’s cool.

Continue reading Of Aggregators and Unique Content

Open Source is Good. To a Point.

Erwin Oliva wrote today about how an RP Software Association opposes the Open Source Bill, here.

I expect a great deal of mud slinging to start from either side. What would be good though, is for both to start stating examples of either’s strengths, instead of long winded statements heavy on hypothesis, such as “…imposing restrictions (on graduates) on what kind of training can be offered defies all logic and reason” and “As an industry association, we encourage the fostering of forward-thinking innovation and creativity — necessary characteristics of a healthy software industry and essential pillars of the ‘FLY HIGH 2010’ software industry targets.”

Continue reading Open Source is Good. To a Point.

My Neighbors

For some odd reason I want to write about my neighbors.

To the right of our house (if you come out of the gate), are the Schellekens, featuring M and B, whom like many of the residents of our village, are retirees, and are both pushing the latter part of 70, I think.

To the left, and downhill from us, are George’s family (sorry I forgot his surname), who are probably around my age or older, but are pensioners of a sort due to a terrible plane crash the OFW husband (George) suffered in 2003 while in Dubai, and is currently recuperating from. And from which, I believe their income is derived, after having noticed, nosy as I am, that neither of them are employed inspite of their numerous material accoutrements.

Theirs is a Wikipedia – worthy story, believe me, which if I would tackle writing if I had the time, and or any other such excuse that I am capable, believe me, of making. At some point however, I believe I likely will.

Continue reading My Neighbors

Contribute

Wanna write for Movie Exchange?

Writing for this site is a labor of love. We aren’t profitable (yet), and we aren’t important enough (yet!) to get movie tickets or freebies. In the meantime, writing about movies demands your best. You have to write with your heart – to reach inside you and find exactly what it is that makes you love – or hate, a movie.

If you think that’s crap, then the rest of the internet awaits you. But, if you love movies passionately, and understand that writing about a passion deserves no less than your best, then your opinion deserves to be read.

If you’re up to it, email me, and tell me why you want to write for Movie Exchange.

CINEMANILA 2006: Synopses of Films in Competition

CINEMANILA 2006: Synopses of Films in Competition

From more than fifty (50) films coming from no less than forty (40) countries Cinemanila proudly presents nine (9) films chosen to compete for the prestigious Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award:

2006 Cinemanila International Competition:

  1. 9th Company
    Director: Fyodor Bondarchuk (Finland-Russia-Ukraine)
    Link

    The film follows a band of young recruits from a farewell ceremony with friends and family back home, through their often brutal training in Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley, up to a bloody battle on a mountain top in Afghanistan against the mujahideen.

    Best Foreign Language Film Nominee (Russia)- Oscar Awards
    Golden Eagle- Russian Academy of Cinema Arts

    2. Continue reading CINEMANILA 2006: Synopses of Films in Competition

Further thoughts on the Dove thing

I had originally planned this blog to be merely about tech, then it turned to tech and personal stuff, which then shifted to announcements for the goings-on at Kikay, Ballex, MomEx, MovieEx and PCEx. But now I realized, I don’t have a blog of my own now do I? And if anything, the one thing I know how to do is to blog, and so once again, I’ve decided to make it an annoucements page for my blogs and personal stuff.

At any rate, am just posting to address an issue that had come to fore from KikayEx’s (ie., me and Jill’s) visit to the Dove Event a few days ago. Thoughts to wit:

Continue reading Further thoughts on the Dove thing

KikayEx attends its very first press event!

We received an invite to the “Dove Campaign for Real Beauty” website launch 4 days ago. I was actually wondering if someone was pulling our leg. After I confirmed however, we got this:

Hi there!

I’m glad to hear that you guys can make it to the exclusive launch event that will unveil Dove’s next Campaign for Real Beauty. You’ve been chosen to attend because of your influence in the blogging sphere, and we hope that you can help spread our message to other like-minded women.

See you there!

It was from Madz of OgilvyOne Worldwide, Dove’s PR. Funny how I’d always wanted this to happen, and when it does it sort of feels surreal. At any rate, we attended and had a great time:


Some people had more fun than others :)

Continue reading KikayEx attends its very first press event!

ABC Sports will feature BallEx Tomorrow!

ABC Sports will feature posts from Basketball Exchange tomorrow!!

Here’s their letter:

I’m Quel Valencia of ABC Sports and we’ve been browsing your weblog “Basketball Exchange” for sometime now. We’d like to request your permission to use the three blog entries posted by John Dacanay focusing on PBA lookalikes:

http://basketball.exchange.ph/2006/10/03/pba-look-alikes-part-i/
http://basketball.exchange.ph/2006/10/06/pba-celeb-lookalikes-part-ii/
http://basketball.exchange.ph/2006/10/11/pba-celeb-lookalikes-part-iii/

We’re planning to feature some of the lookalikes during the halftime game this Wednesday. I hope you could reply as soon as possible through email or through text.

Thank you and good day!

Continue reading ABC Sports will feature BallEx Tomorrow!

Aklatangpambata was featured by the Probe Team!

I missed it, but the episode was aired last October 11, 2006. From the Probe Team archive:

Have shoes, will travel. But then, who said you needed shoes to see the world? Change that to: have book, will see the world! Reading affords one the opportunity of being to so many places in the world, of going through vicarious experiences, and of feeling a gamut of emotions. The problem begins though when you can’t even afford to buy books. The good news is, a group of volunteers, headed by librarian Troy Lacsamana opened a children’s library in Barangay Paltok, Quezon City and they conduct storytelling sessions on Saturdays. This library is giving the chance to children in the neighborhood to their right to learn, have fun, and truly be children!

Continue reading Aklatangpambata was featured by the Probe Team!