Kricket Spills The Beans

When Teacher Cuts Class

2009-11-20T08:33:00.000-08:00

i have a knack for epic long boring intros to my entries, but i promise there will be major LOLZ at the end.

last night, i got called for recits by the lovely attorney galas and only when i felt like i was going to uhm, well, **** myself pee in my pants did i realize how nerve-racking class recitations at the ateneo truly were (as opposed to … … . . uhm, not reciting? nvm. lol). maybe i was a little rusty (that doesn’t say much since i was pretty lazy, okay, really lazy back then), but it was good to feel that jackhammer-thumping in my heart again. forgive the drama, but i actually felt like a student of the law again.

anyhoo, last night, i was ready to read more of the assigned cases when the world blacked out on me (electricity went out), and when it decided to shed some light again, i was feeling way too snug in bed to actually get up and freakin’ read. actually, it’s mostly because i knew i wasn’t going to be called for recits again today, haha.

true enough, my class card didn’t get the unfortunate pick and attorney galas dismissed us 20 minutes early. said she was going somewhere important, or so i’ve heard. and therefore, i was deliriously looking forward to the rest of the night, and the weekend. i originally planned to head to jacks’ ridge to “chill out” with my bro and sister in law when he called me to head to SM instead, and just have dinner (party pooper, right?). because he wasn’t going to pick me up at school (and because i crashed my car into an innocently-parked multi-cab weeks ago), i took a cab and headed to SM.

i had the biggest laugh of the day (and perhaps the week!) when i stepped off the cab, presented my bag for inspection at the doors of SM, and noticed this familiar mass of purple beside me… .

*GASP*

*SAY SOMETHING!*

me: HELLO MA’AM!

atty galas: *cross-between-surprised-and-amused* UY NAG UNSA MAN KA DIRE DAY? (translation: hey, what are you doing here?)

me: AY MANIHAPON LANG MA’AM! (translation: just gonna grab dinner, ma’am)

atty galas: AH SIGE, DIRA LANG KO O *points to supermarket (i think)* (translation: oh alright, i’ll just head over there)

me: SIGE MA’AM. *waves madly*

*WALKS INNOCENTLY*

*WHISTLES*

*……………*

*SNORTS*

*BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER SO BOISTEROUS HALF THE PEOPLE AT SM THROW DAGGER STARES AT ME*

me: HOLYMOTHEROFBATMAN, MY LAW PROFESSOR JUST CUT CLASSES.

boy, was my night a riot or what?

PS: i’m still laughing hysterically at the thought that i could’ve just said “hey ma’am, wait up!” to her after class! or that we could’ve just freakin’ rode the same cab to SM! SRSLY, SHE WAS BESIDE ME. like i-went-to-the-mall-with-a-friend-beside-me. IT WAS SO FLIPPIN’ HILARIOUS.

and OUR FACES when we saw each other. ROTFL. epic. just priceless.

MACIFIED.

2009-10-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be a sacrilege to the MAC CULT if I didn't show appreciation of such a wondrous moment in my life., so here I am, blogging (mostly still FLAILING) over my new toy.

And as with most great stories, I'm going to FLASHBACK.

.HSALF

My poor (and stupid) HP swivel notebook imploded around 3 months or so ago. Since then, up until last Friday, I was having the laptop-less nightmare every single night. Worst, I woke up and saw my self in the same nightmare-ish reality every single day. Of course, I wanted to have it fixed, if possible, but the cost of having it done would basically equal to a similar-spec'd lappy so I decided to wait.

And that was the most difficult part.

WAITING.

Well, the wait was outrageously longer than this part of my story, but I wouldn't want to use up all the space in this post, do I? So let me fast forward.

After weeks and months of convincing my Dad he should get a Macbook (so I could have his 3gig ram, 500gig hd lappy), he finally set a date to give it a chance. WEDNESDAY, he said. We would be going to PowerHub to check the macbooks out.

Wednesday came, BUT we never went there. I ranted, naturally. I FLIPPIN' NEEDED A LAPTOP already! Buy a new one so I can have yours and I can get this agony over with!!!!!, I was furiosly thinking to myself. WHY AM I NOT THIS WORLD'S RICHEST UHMM ... TEACHER????? GEEEEEZZZZZ.

Thursday afternoon, he sent me an sms saying, Let's go to Chimes (where PowerHub is) at 5pm. I was caught in between UHM OKAY and OKAYYYYY!!!!!! but I didn't want to keep my hopes high, just in case. True enough, something came up and we weren't able to go. Good thing he moved the PowerHub visit to Friday.

Friday, at last. Today's the day, yes.

ticktockticktock...

My half-day class couldn't take any longer! I was so anxious, happy, nervous... I can't even explain how I was feeling, and WHY I felt that way. You're not getting a new laptop, it's the hand-me-down you're getting, why on earth are you all giddy???, I asked myself. So I tried to calm down as we finally left for the store.

When we got there, It felt all sorts of awkward. We were heading towards a store filled with the most GOSHDANGDROOLWORHTY gadgets ever made on this earth, and I needed to convince him to get one so I could have his, when at the back of my mind I was crying AHHHHHHHHH I WANT THAT ONE TOOOOOOO OMHECKKKKK WHY ARE THEY SO PRETTY STOP STARING AT ME YOU BRIGHT GLOWY THINGGGGGSS I HATE YOUR PRETTY ALUMINUM CASES AND BRILLIANTLY FLASHING APPLE DRAWINGS! AND YOUR SMOOTH FLOWY ICONS MOVING LIKE SUGAR ARE INSANELY CAPTIVATING, I WANT THAT AHHHHH!!!!

So, which is it?, My Dad's voice woke me up from the trance. Oh! This one, I told him, pointing to the 13-inch Macbook Pro. The tech guy told him about the specs, and I demonstrated moving the cursor about the screen AND I WANTED TO ROLL MY EYES AT HOW RIDICULOUSLY HANDSOME THE MACBOOK PRO WAS OMHECK ARGGH. I couldn't even remember what I was telling him at that point. I was in my own MAC-ADORING moment, LOST IN THE SEEMINGLY SWOOSHING MOTION OF ITS ICONS. GAHHH.

OKAY, THAT ONE. He said.

WOW, HE'S GETTING A MACBOOK. YES.

Wait, I told my Dad. You're getting a macbook pro? You didn't even touch it.

THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED.

No, its YOURS, he told me.

*JAWDROP*

*TONGUE-TIED*

*DEAD*

Well, not really, but OMGGG I JUMPED AND HUGGED MY DAD AND SQUEEEEEEEEE'D LIKE HECK, all the people at PowerHub were laughing at me. I DIDN'T CARE! HOLYMOTHEROFBATMAN A MACBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK.

Crazy moment.

Closing this first blogpost from my pretty MBP, I'm still in awe. This toy is such a sight to behold. It could take a little getting used to, but with a few days of adjusting, I couldn't explain anymore how much I FREAKING LOVE THIS THING. GAH. AND MY DAD.

Omheck, indeed.

10 Years of Westlife: Live at Croke Park Stadium

2009-02-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Cheers, Lads!

One Word: EPIC.

I just want to say for now that, whether you be a westlife fan or not, this DVD is definitely worth the watch! And I am more than proud to have been a fan for those 10 years! (Lest you think I'm old, I've been a fan since I was 13!) I'll post a full-length review soon!

For now, here are some photos! Will post more later!

10 years, 1 night, 4 lads, 1 band, 82,500 people.
Do the math.

Nicky!

Dusting Blog Off

2009-01-26T07:33:00.000-08:00

Wow, look at this place! It's all filled with cobwebs and dust!

And my golly, look at the date of my last post!

Forgive me, my dearest blog, for i have forsaken you. But worry no more, for I have renewed my love for you. Heh.

Really though, sorry to the 2 or 3 readers of this blog, I have not abandoned you. I have just been very busy with running www.archuletaphilippines.com and stuffs.

I'll try to keep dropping by here more often.

Photoshop Dummy: Archie Icons 3

2008-11-02T00:10:00.000-07:00

Was on vacation with my family at Samal Island, so it took me forever to upload this set. Not my favorite set, but thought i'd upload them anyway :(

David Archuleta Icons
Seton High, Q102, Album Shoot and Bravid Shopping Icons
100x100 px, jpeg, below 19kb
Archived at my graphics site.

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Please comment if you're taking them, thank you.
For credits, please see resources list on side bar. (Still on the process of updating some)

Music Buzz: Buy Cook's Album

2008-10-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Oh RCA.

The Duel of the Davids to the media, Brothers to either of them,
(dirty) Marketing Strategy to RCA.

David Archuleta's single was released a little over two months ago, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest single debut since 2007, and debuted at #1 on iTunes in about 19 hours. Come on, even Britney's Womanizer needed 22 hours to reach #1, and that's Britney Spears.

A little over 60 days now, and Crush is still holding steady within iTunes Top 20, fluctuating between 14-18, with scarce promotion. No TV appearances as of yet, no myspace and official site gimmicks or updates (on the latter, I'd like to say Jive/Azoff, for the love of everything Archuleta, do update them!). After the initial week's sales surge - brought about, on the bigger percentage, by his fans, his single has been living a life of its own. If his sales this week will be consistent as the weeks before, his debut single is likely to reach GOLD - in a little over 2 months! So much for losing American Idol. Oh, and did I say his music video also topped iTunes?

Apparently, all this "success" (may) have been putting some pressure on *highlight*winner*end*higlight* Cook whose ironically "power-ballad" categoried single Light On peaked at ... somewhere between #6-#8 on the iTunes Top 100. "Rock" fans are more album people than single people, so they say. In the past few days, it has been dropping spots to as low as #98 on the charts - something I feel bad about, though I'm admittedly not his biggest fan. However, as of late, Light On has shot up at least 50 spots up! And I was about to feel happy for him. Well, almost.

If by any chance, you didn't get an email from iTunes, and you're a supporter of the younger David, thank the good Lord for it.

I'm at a loss for words, aside from the title of this post, of course. Here, be my guest:

New Music Tuesday email from iTunes

"The Battle of the Davids" was one of American Idol's fiercest competitions ever, as David Cook ultimately outlasted his younger competitor to win it all. With his self-titled debut, the rock-oriented vocalist is out to prove that viewers made the right choice. Pre-order the album on iTunes and get the pre-order-only track "My Last Request" when the album is released on November 18 and the single "Light On" will begin to download immediately. (highlight mine)

5 months after the cheesy show I love called American Idol ended, here's how the winner's label promotes his album. Fueling fan wars, rekindling a painful loss, and shamelessly trashing a previous opponent, 17-year old kid (who by the way worships the ground Cooks walks on) who's doing well on his own - without a need for desperate promotion, much less any promotion at all.

Ooh, you got the Davids angry. Bad move, RCA.

Cook may or may not have a say in how his label promotes his album, and that fact still warrants I rant civilly about this as much as I can, and that I fight the nagging disappointment in my brain, but this definitely puts him a negative light. Of course, his fans on the internet say there's nothing wrong the email. Typical.

Yeah, the adjective "younger" very much makes it an achievement to be proud of. And it's an insanely brilliant idea to need to prove a right choice was made.

If there's any good thing, at all, to come out of this post, it's the certainty and confidence, that I definitely made the right choice. I'm a fangirl, I know.

Have you?

----

David Archuleta's self-titled album is out on November 11, watch out for it!
Cook's is out on November 18, by the way.

The Photoshop Dummy: Archie Icons 2

2008-10-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Thank the Lord for semestral breaks.

Here's the latest batch of Archie icons I made, mostly from the album shoots and the iCarly behind-the-scenes.

David Archuleta Icons
iCarly, Album Shoot and Studio
100 x 100 px, jpeg, below 19kb
Archived at my graphics site.

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Credits:brushes, textures, etc.
(will update post soon for resource, i'm trying to remember them)

The Photoshop Dummy: Twilight Wallpaper

2008-10-21T00:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to GP, I got lured into the vacuum called Twilight Fandom! Oh, to be Bella. tsk.
Here's a trailer cap from the upcoming movie that I tweaked a bit, hope it works well as a desktop background for you. Just click on the thumbnail below.

Twilight Wallpaper
Edward and Bella
1280 x 800 px, jpeg.
Archives at my graphics site.
to see original coloring, here's the screen cap.

Bite me, Edward!

Photoshop Dummy: Archie Icons

2008-10-20T23:59:00.001-07:00

I have no idea why I never posted my graphics/artworks here on my blog, aside from the fact that I'm basically a newbie in graphic designs. I'm still getting the hang of the entire Photoshop experience, and it's really addictive. Anyway, here's my first archive of Archie Icons.

David Archuleta Icons

Icons created from July - October 2008
100x100 px, jpeg, below 19kb
Archived at my graphics site.

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Credits:brushes, textures, etc.
(will update post soon for resource, i'm trying to remember them)

Disorder in the Court

2008-09-18T00:38:00.000-07:00

SCRA: Silly, Crappy, Ridiculous Afterthoughts
(for anything Lawschool-related or anywhere close.)

Aspiring Lawyers vs. Already Lawyers
1 SCRA 3

I know this is old email, but I ran through it again and totally laughed the heck out of me. Sometimes, passing the bar can be due to sheer luck, I guess.

DISORDER IN THE COURT

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?

WITNESS: No, I just lie there.

____________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: This myas thenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?

WITNESS: I forget.

ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?

_____________________________________

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?

WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?

WITNESS: My name is Susan!

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?

WITNESS: We both do.

ATTORNEY: Voodoo?

WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?

WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

____________________________________

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-one-year-old, how old is he?

WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one.

________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?

WITNESS: Are you shitt'in me?

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?

WITNESS: Uh.... I was gett'in laid!

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: How many were boys?

WITNESS: None.

ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?

WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?

WITNESS: By death.

ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?

WITNESS: Now whose death do you suppose terminated it?

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?

WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.

ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Guess.

_____________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?

WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?

WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Would you like to rephrase that?

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?

WITNESS: Oral.

______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?

WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!

____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

WITNESS: Huh....are you qualified to ask that question?

______________________________________

--- And the best for last: ---

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?

WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Music Buzz: Rihanna Barely Fends Off Archuleta, Who Debuts a Record-breaking #2!

2008-08-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Archie. You've Arrived!

Crush nearly beating Disturbia as to position, but leads it by 26k as to sales.

Putting "leaked" numbers and figures aside, Archuleta's debut on the Billboard Top 100 is "officially official", just barely missing the top spot taken by the with-a-disturbing-video single from Rihanna (pun intended!).

Although with limited airplay --being that radio date add goes as far as Sept. 2-- Archuleta's debut single which sold 166,000 downloads on its first week and held the #1 spot on iTunes for a week, takes the #2 spot in the prestigious Billboard chart, the "best chart debut in more than 18 months", reports Billboard's official website.

After the pressure-packed reality show Idol and amidst the current exhausting 50+ state-tour stops, this 17-year old runner-up must be having the time of his life (no pun intended!) --with the adulation of his legion of fans, who with Archuleta's demeanor appropriately call (our) themselves the "Arch Angels", with the conversion of thousands of previously-non-fans-but-was-mesmerized-by-his-amazing-voice-live, and with the countless mega-positive tour and single reviews-- and although he didn't run away with the Idol crown, Archuleta seems to be winning big time with his chart breaking antics and monster first week sales. And did I mention record-breaking?

Archie's debut single "Crush" is:

The highest debut, at #2, on the Hot 100 this year.
The highest debut of all Idol album songs on the Hot 100
The highest position of all Idol album songs (tied with Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone”) on the Hot 100.
The highest chart position for an Idol, period, since Taylor Hicks coronation single, “Do I Make You Proud” debuted at #1 in 2006. (Mj's Blog)
The highest opening for an Idol with a song not performed on the show. (Billboard.com)

Okay, so that may be a lot to remember, but I am pretty much certain Archie wouldn't have issues with it as he considers himself a "chart-dork" after recently admitting in an interview his "obsession" --owning (when I didn't even know such existed) Billboard "books" and learning hits from all over the globe)-- over billboard charts and the like even when he was younger. Billboard's Fred Bronson couldn't have said it any better:

So it's nice to report that the artist who earns Hot Shot Debut honors on this week's Hot 100 has an obsession with the charts. More accurately, and at the risk of self-aggrandizing, he is obsessed with my Billboard chart books. With his new single entering at No. 2, he has assured himself a place in the next edition of "Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits," even if he has to wait a few years to see his current single listed among the top 5000 songs of the rock era. (Fred Bronson)

With the way things are going for David Archuleta this early, and if chart positions, by any chance, indicate the future of his career, Boy oh boy is he in for great-scratch that-spectacular ride.

Photocredits: submissions to FB, FOD.

Music Buzz: Archuleta's Single Crushes Yet Another Chart; Billboard "Predictions" and More

2008-08-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

Awaiting the Big News for Little D

Archie on location, filming for MV to first single

While everyone's waiting for the Billboard Hot 100 Numbers, here's some stat of Archie's "Crush" in the Digital Downloads.

David A. crushes competition

I'm reversing the order of the posts this week, because the big news is on the download side (you're getting this even before the general music sales post goes up). David A.'s first single, Crush, makes its debut at No. 1 on the digital songs chart by selling 166,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It holds a 26,000 edge over the closest competitor, Rihanna's Disturbia. (Ken Barnes, Idol Chatter)

Although Archie may have beaten Rihanna as to the sales of their current singles, the latter may win the battle of airplay basically because adds for Crush in radio stations in the US doesn't become "officially official" 'til Sept. 2. So maybe Archie has a shot at #1 for the Billboard Charts, but I don't want to keep my hopes high enough so as to avoid disappointment - you know how fangirls can be - so I'm lowering my expectations: "Archuleta Debuts at #2" sounds fair enough to me. Any spot in the Top 5 is actually an astounding achievement for a debut, with little to no airplay (yet), to be honest.

Speaking of Crush, Archie has (most likely) just recently shot the music video for his single at Wynn's Pond, Georgia (think Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama). With his video out soon, it may be safe to say his sales may go up even more - something I'm sure Archie, a chart-geek himself together with his fans, critics, and more importantly *hints*sarcasm* haters, will be enjoying.

Music Buzz: Little David "Crushes" iTunes' Top Spot!

2008-08-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Archie debuts at #1 on the iTunes Top 100

After only 18 hours and 58 minutes, Archuleta's debut single hits #1 on iTunes, beating already-certified-chart-toppers-though-not-necessarily-the-most-musically-gifted, the JoBros and Rihanna (left img). Not bad, or rather, very impressive for a debut single from someone who didn't win the Idol Crown. What's even more note-worthy is the fact that the single was released not without competition, as Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, and the Jonas Bros. released their singles and album, respectively, on the same day. Chris Brown's single was also released just a few days earlier.

But the wow-list doesn't end there. Crush premiered only on the radio, approximately 14 days before the single was dropped to the digital market for purchase and with little promotion -- fans finding out only days before the actual premiere, no TV interviews and no Talkshow guestings, AT ALL.

ALthough his exposure in the show may have helped, it is not to be entirely attributed to American Idol --a tag that so often attaches to every have-been-idol-artists whether they bask in success or failure-- especially when former idols, some winners even, barely broke into the charts, save the given often-with-magic-rainbows-or-with-the-lryic-moment-and coated-with-cheese winner's single.

Admittedly a chart-geek, and now seeing his single debut at the #1 spot on iTunes, Archie should be in cloud 9 as we speak, although it's highly ironic for the most grounded person alive right now.

Notwithstanding limited airplay and promotion, Archie has proven that he CAN be contemporary, and bust out hits. I hate the "i told you so" attitude, but with his single sitting comfortably at #1 for at least 6 days now, Little D (as the media calls him) has just crushed the iTunes Charts, together with some haters' hearts, BIG time (right img).

Music Buzz: Archie Crushin' the Charts in Half a Day!

2008-08-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Double 7 in 13 hours!

With all the fans awaiting by their laptop screens, waiting for the ticktock of the clock and that little finger to finally strike midnight, Archie's single "Crush" has officially been released today, August 12, 2008. But just when you think the day can't get any better, my iTunes finally refreshes and shows Archie breaking the Top Songs List! And it has been barely a day, only 12 hours after the release, to be exact.

As of late, Crush is on #3 of the Pop Charts, #5 in Canada's Pop Charts, and best of all, #7 in the Top Songs List (overall). If it weren't for Itunes messing up their charts as regards updating, I would've been seeing the single on an even higher spot as some have already claimed it to be at the #6 spot. Perhaps, after posting this, I'd have to post another update? As David (Mcpheeverish/Idf) said, it seems the single is zooming up the charts faster than the system can track! Or Apple's Itunes-updating-crew is slacking off, big time.

Also, Crush has broken into the Top 10 Mp3's on Amazon, charting at #7!

All this chart-tracking makes me feel all dorky! And I feel like I'm a mother who's sending her son to the University --so excited and so emotional! I won't be holding you for long as I have more refreshing-pages to do, and perhaps more updates. Who knows how much farther has Archie climbed up the charts in the few minutes I've been posting here?

Get your copy of David Archuleta's debut single now, get them at Itunes or at Amazon. For fans outside the United States, without an Itunes Store, please leave your email adresses in the comments section of this post, and you will receive the single as a gift!

Invading Photoshop!

2008-08-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Archie Made Me Learn PS :"-)

Lately, I've been spending a decent amount of time figuring out how the tools of photoshop freakin' works. And with work, school, and love (lol!), it's been rather difficult to find enough time to really learn everything, so the little that I can spare is already something! Also, they say "Practice makes perfect", and that's exactly what I did. And although perfect isn't nearly a good word to describe how far I've gone, atleast I have realized that I have a couple of artworks - plenty (although i'm not certain if good) enough to put on a website. Setting up the website took me eons as well, but I'm loving it. For now, Archie is my ultimate subject in creating artworks - wallies, siggies, avis, etc. just because I'm his biggest fan. You can click on the site screencap (right), and it will take you to my humble site. I hope you guys can find time to check it out, and drop a shoutout on the tagboard.

Music Buzz: Archueta's Debut Single Hits the Airwaves!

2008-08-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

This Kid Ain't Going Awayayayayeah...

Finally, Archie's new single is out for the world to hear (only)! "Crush" first hit the airwaves on z100's Morning Show, yesterday, August 1, 2008 at around 7:45AM EST (7:45PM Phils, HK). I actually had to cheat on my IP address just to be able to listen to Z100's live stream of the interview/debut due to some licensing issues, so all hail Hide-My-IP. Of course, while listening, I was spazzing like a total fangirl, all giddy and skippy in anticipation --much like Nurse Joker --yet nervous and hopeful at the same time.

I love how the single has a catchy Chris Brown-ish beat to it, fun, young and very very very radio-friendly. The guitar riff just before the chorus is crazy cute, and it would be seriously a miracle if you don't end up with Awayayayayayeah stuck in your head all day long. If I were not biased, I would say it has "hit" written all over it, not that my bias affects such fact. Of course, the great vocals from Archie is already a given. *rolls eyes* Nonetheless, reviews are better if without bias, so I thought it wise to compile some reviews, comments and videos in connection to the said single which would not only showcase the hilarity of some people's line of thinking , but more importantly leave the fans' --old and recently-converted alike -- hearts aflutter. Just move further in this post, and enjoy!

Reviews/Announcements

American Idol's David Archuleta and Crush could give Clay Aiken a run for his money. Although David Archuleta appeals to the teen girl demographic, I believe his appeal is universal. On Elvis Duran's show, he was also receiving support from male fans, thirty-somethings, and senior citizens. Another fan also wanted him to record an album in Spanish. At 17, American Idol's David Archuleta has a bright future ahead of him. (Read entire article at the AP)

If Cook was the raw sexy masculinity on this past season’s American Idol, then Archuleta was the boy band barely-postpubescent cuteness. And earlier this morning, the AI runner-up was all smiles as he exited the Z100 Studios in New York City after debuting his new single “Crush” to the whole world.
And it looks like David has received a style upgrade since his Idol days, as he was sporting a very trendy blue Hurley screenprinted t-shirt with a pair of distressed denim jeans and some Converse All-Stars. If “Crush” is any indication as to Archuleta’s overall musical sound, it looks like we’ll have a radio-friend-winning album coming to a store near you later this fall. (Read entire article at CelebrityGossip)
...David Archuleta's "Crush" debuted on Z 100's Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo this morning (Friday), and no joke - this kid is going to be a HUGE star!...
People Magazine reports: The singer was reportedly shaking when it first aired, but whether it was nerves or excitement, his fans have nothing but praise for the track. You can call him young all you want, but this 'kid' is going to be a big star. (Read entire article at the PostChronicle)

Hold on to your to hats Archie fans, David Archuleta's brand new single, "Crush", debuted this morning to lots of fanfare. And I have to admit, I sort of loved it. It's very pop-y and American Idol-like -- and it is going to be a smash. (Read entire article at The Daily Blabber)

When we heard that angel-voiced American Idol runner-up David Archuleta had signed to Jive Records a couple of months back, our excitement was tempered somewhat by the news that his debut album wouldn't be released until after the one from his pitchy, balding nemesis, Idol winner David Cook. This morning, though, with still no word yet on a new record from Cook (supposedly it's coming out in November, maybe), Archuleta stopped by New York's Z100 for the radio premiere of his wonderful first single "Crush" While we don't have a definitive release date for Archuleta's album, the fact that Idol's producers are allowing him to promote it already sort of implies that his will come out first.
And while a runner-up's album beating the victor's to stores isn't unheard of, it usually only seems to happen when producers are trying to sweep an Idol winner under a rug (sorry, Cook, no pun intended) — Clay Aiken's record came out before Ruben Studdard's, and Chris Daughtry's was released before Taylor Hicks's. Cook is reportedly hard at work on music with songwriters from Collective Soul and Our Lady Peace (so you know it'll be good), but does this latest development mean someone behind the scenes secretly doubts its commercial viability? We're pretty sure we're not going to buy it! (Vulture)

It has a confectionary pop sheen, something Chris Brown could have sung. Although Archuleta’s strength has often been very adult contemporary ballad-type material, the producers clearly picked this song to give Archuleta a more modern R&B feel. I expect his big fans will eat it up and it would fit just fine on Star 94 or Q100 in between Justin Timberlake and Rihanna. Compared to other runners up, this beats the first singles by Diana, Bo, Kat or Blake and I can see it going top 20, possibly top 10. No. 1? (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

We are definitely liking “Crush”….A LOT!!! (TeenScoop)

We listened to the song and it was, in our opinion, a great freshman outing — the tune is catchy, sweet, and young ladies will swoon... (TVGuide)

ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: I finally "got" David Archuleta when he performed "Apologize" with OneRepublic on the American Idol finale. Not that I'm a big fan of that song, but its breathy, wistful feel allowed the timbre of Archie's voice to shine through a lot better than any of the big quasi-inspirational tracks his father saddled him with during the initial weeks of the competition. Whoever is putting together his debut album must feel the same way, as "Crush" is a laid-back, dreamy ballad in the vein of "Apologize" and "Tattoo." Archie even slips in some falsetto, as if to further make his combined fanbase of 12-year-olds and their mothers swoon in unison. (Idolator.com)

I was surprised by how much I liked it. I mean with title like "Crush", the corniest concepts come to mind. Of course, his voice sounds phenomenal recorded, so that was never the problem. The production must have been done by Stargate, because it sounds a lot like their previous work, especially Chris Brown's "With You". Nevertheless, it sounds really good. The lyrics are also pretty good, and easily relatable. Everyone has had that big crush on someone, so its an easy subject to write a song about. However, this song may be one of the best I have heard about the subject (Mandy Moore's was terrible)...
... I wouldn't call "Crush" awesome, but its definitely a good start for one of Idol's best contestants ever. Radio will be spinning this all fall, so don't be surprised when you hear Archie on your radio soon. Congrats to him. (Brandon's Best Worst)

Hilarious Comments (gathered from non-fans/haters in Message Boards, Sites, Blogs, YT, etc. - Of course, the haters ones are easy to determine. lol.)

I'm sure everyone thought Archuleta would have the corny 1st single while Cook would have the awesome one. Yeah, try reversing that a bit. (Brandon's Best Worst)

Ok, I'll admit it. If we are talking pure song, disregarding the singer, I would like Crush better. But because it's David Cook, I still choose Time Of My Life. (Message Board)

I hate this kid. I mean HATE him. But I love this song. (Message Board)

Okay, I am sorry, but I actually like David Archuleta’s new song Crush. But just to make up for it, here is Paperboy Eli Reed’s Am I Wasting My Time. (Meaningful Distractions)
I think this is a good first single for him. Pop isn't my thing--but it's catchy and should get plenty of radio play. (LJ)
While not a big Archie fan during the show - I'm pleasantly surprised. This song is very catchy. Total earworm, lol. I predict a fast rise up the Top 40 charts. (TVGuide)
Aww I like it. It's not a horrible ballad like I was expecting so thats even better! (LJ)
I gotta admit it was better than I expected and sounds young and current enough to appeal to the younger listeners. (IDF)
Heck, I wish I had a crush on someone right now. (IDF)
I am a big David Cook fan but I have to admit this is a really good song and will definitely be a hit. (TVGuide)
This song is like. Drugs. Just. Not as illegal, and more addicting. (IDF)
OMG, y'all are right. This song IS like CRACK. (IDF)
I seriously need to have this song on my itunes. It's way too catchy. Darn you Archuleta! (IDF)
Won't even lie, i like this song. Hope he doesn't look awkward in the video. (LJ)
I've never followed AI, but this song is good.(LJ)

and my most favorite:

Damnit, it wasn't awful. (LJ)

Rotf. It's amazing to see how it pains some people to acknowledge such immense talent! Anyway, it was fun to follow some of the stats on the web: #4 on Z100's Interactive 9 at 9, inlcuded on Yahoo's Most Buzzed, Crush being Youtube's Most Viewed, Most Talked About, Top Favorites, Most Rated, etc. The list is nearly endless, and this is barely 24 hours after the premiere of the single. The buzz has been amazing, and to a fan like me, extremely overwhelming but most importantly, well-deserved. You go, Archie!

For now, it's your turn to listen! Feel free to tell me what your think of the new single. You may listen to it below (it's currently on my blog player playlist too!):

If you want to listen to Z100 and catch for yourself a live airing of the single, you may check their live stream or listen to/view the interview and single at Elvis Duran's site. If neither works, here's a stream from Utah's 97.1 (?), or here's more youtube goodies to save the day, Enjoy!

Archie's reaction hearing his single for the first time at Z100:

Archie on Elvis Duran:

Today, Archie is officially a recording artist! I am excited for the days to come, and the future of his career which I am sure to follow! His single will be up for (legal) donwload on Itunes on September 2, however, some sources have reported it may actually be up for digital purchase as early as August 12. Some big faith Jive has on Archie, I must say! So have I, all along.

The Amateur Tastebud: Delectable Davao

2008-07-31T02:37:00.000-07:00

Have A Taste of Davao!
[Robbi and Kricket's Food Trips-turned Public Service!]

These reviews are long overdue and thanks to that, I have a wonderful title, haha. For the benefit of the first time readers (like i have that many!), this section is like where I can rave about some of the good, scratch that, best food I've like tasted so far. Judging from the column title, it's coming from a nobody (-ies) who practically just loves to eat. So no fancy spice names, no hyfaluting taste terms (apparently, my kitchen vocab can only go so far as the tastebud shows), and no pricey place recommendations whose names practically spell $ ka-ching $!

For locals and tourists alike, who happen to pass by this page, here's a treat for you as August is only a day away, and the famous Kadayawan (vernacular for good, good harvest, etc) Festival is just around the corner. With your plane tickets and hotel rooms booked as planned, there's no way you'd be throwing away a probable "time of your life" (Oh, Cookie.) by not knowing the best where to's and what to's as regards local food destinations. Thus, this post would just be the first of several entries. Also, I would like to apologize in advance for the rather inaccurate dish names as I had some issues with my blessed cellphone memory where I saved down the dish names. I am hoping the pictures from my often low-batt phone would suffice, though. lol. So, let's get those tastebuds working!

When in Davao, try Coco's!

If you're hungry, or claim to have a large appetite, this is the place for you. At least, if rice is the staple food in your region, though you can always have mashed potatoes in lieu of it. However, if you prefer the latter, that would mean missing out on the glory of the rice that is Coco's. Forgive the misplaced adjectives above but what I meant by it was that unlike most "flavored" rice dishes, Coco's rice does not take away or interfere with your enjoyment of the the flavors in the main dish itself. And from someone who is obsessed with rice, I can say their serving is HUGE, absolutely more than enough to fill you!

But what's rice without the dish? Their Babyback Ribs (above) is a definite delight! If you're not the figure-conscious type, you'd enjoy this one fo' sho'. Cooked to perfection, with the sweetness that's just right. Although available in half and whole servings, this meal is heavy enough to make you want for not just more servings, but for even more tummy space! A sure filler! The best part is, it costs less than the other BBR dishes out there.

Coco's Grilled Chicken (left) is another must-try too! Grilled just right, and topped with melted cheese and bacon bits, the flavors fight for domination as soon as the bits touch your tongue. However, I was slightly disappointed with the sweet/sour dip/sauce that came with it as I was expecting a bit more, for a lack of more specific term, descriptively flavorful. For this dish though, I recommend trying it with Mashed Potatoes instead of rice to better enjoy the flavors (I had rice with it, so I can tell!) and also since the two slices are a wee bit out of proportion with their monster rice serving.

After a rather generous meal, you may opt to try Coco's line of sweets and desserts among which We, more specifically Boo, would highly recommend their Moist Chocolate Cake (left) -- packed, not too chewy, and wildly chocolatey (cake/coating/garnish - all chocolate!). Boo actually still couldn't stop raving about how good it is, despite its rather uncreative name --one that doesn't quite give justice to its out-of-this-world-liness. How good you ask? One word, Boo says "damn".

Other great desserts include the classic Chocolate Mousse and the post-modern Apple [insert proper term that sounds like souffle or krevacuk (wait, that was a singer?) or whatever here] Pie Thingy (right) --baked apple slices with special oatmeal stuffing, with hints of cinnamon and caramel, topped with a scoop of the vanilla ice cream and nuts. Even the description already tells you how good it is. I personally loved loved loved this one. Seriously, Apple and Cinammon are already like heaven's perfect combination! Add oatmeal, caramel, the cold and classic sweet, milky french vanilla to it and your eyes are going to roll upon first bite. I honestly found it impossible not to have gone "MMmmMMmm". I bet Boo would have gone "damn" too.

Tastebud Ratings: (click here for more on my silly rating scheme)
Babyback Ribs, Moist Choc. Cake, Apple Pie Thingy:
-Need to Go Home! Ate waaaaay to much, I need to unload! (5/5)
Grilled Chicken:
-Return Act Awardee. Definitely eating this again! (4/5)
Budget Buzz: A bit pricey if you're not the "spend-for-food" type, but totally freakin' worth it!

If you want to check Coco's out, drop by their place at Torres St., Davao City.

The Dark Dreamer: Season 3 Promo and Spoilers

2008-07-27T10:33:00.001-07:00

Bay Harbor Butcher is Back!

It's the weirdest thing when you start hoping a killer doesn't get caught, when most of the time you just want them to burn in hell. Well, Sylar (Heroes) was (the love needs to be rekindled! I need Season 3! ) my first love as regards serial killers and I have sort of gotten fond with T-bag and Mahone but Dexter has this very special place in my heart, for a reason I have not yet quite understood. I love how he's subtle on the outside, but maniacal on the inside. I think Season 2 humanized Dexter though, as opposed to his dead emotions in the Pilot season. His discovery of emotions is what endears him more to his audience, I think. Anyway, here are some stuffs to tickle your murdering fancies:

Warning: Spoilers - don't blame me if I ruin your fun! (from here)

from TV Squad’s Comic-Con report after the jump.
In attendance: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Clyde Phillips and Melissa Rosenberg. Our friend Kristin from E! moderated the panel.

* Lots of boos from the crowd at the mention of how Dexter appears on CBS. I’m not really sure why, as it’s opened up to a wider audience. It’s not like it’s leaving Showtime!
* We were treated to some scenes from the upcoming season. A “botched kill” by Dexter occurs, as he wasn’t sure of the man’s guilt, and that seems to be one of the main themes of the new season. The trailer featured Jimmy Smits, of course. Dexter is also collecting more slides. The new season premieres September 28.
* Wow, I gotta say Julie Benze looked fantastic. I guess they purposely make her appear a bit more “ragged” in Dexter, because she was pretty stunning up there today.
* Jimmy Smits’s character is considered Dexter’s new “friend” on the show. The two get to a point of no return, so to speak, in their friendship.
* Themes this season: Family values and the evolution of Dexter as a man.
* Lundy will not be back this season.
* Deb will have the beginnings of a relationship next season, but it “will not be with whom you’d expect.” Clyde Phillips was very careful with this one, noting it’s spoiler territory.
* Julie Benz says she’d appear on Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse in a heartbeat, if asked.
* Phillips said that comic books would be a natural fit for the show, should it be considered later.
* When asked if Rita’s kids would play a role much like they do in the books (most notably, Rita’s son Cody), Phillips said it was something talked about before, but they decided not to go there and to challenge themselves to do something other than what the books did.
* Kiddingly asked about a CSI: Miami crossover, Hall said it’d be funny if Dexter just came onto the show, helped solved a crime (since he is a cop, after all), and that was it. Brilliant!
* Hall said his favorite kill was Little Chino, since he was so freakin’ big and it felt satisfying to bring him down.
* Marc Ecko (the Barry Bonds ball guy?!) came on and mentioned a Dexter game, coming first to the iPhone and iPhone touch. It’ll include using SMS, gestures, phone calls, and be an “episodic” game.
* There’s a “huge shocking reveal” in the season premiere. Of course they wouldn’t go into that much, just to confirm it and that Dexter says something that he cannot pull back from.

Eeeeeeeeeeeep. Those spoilers got me all giddy! My thoughts: First, it's a bummer Lundy won't be back. I liked that old chap, not the Deb-likes-Lundy kind though. Next, Dexter's on CBS? I even forgot where they aired last time. Not that I don't care, but I'm a torrent person, and my geographical location would be a perfect justification (No Fox, No CBS. So screw anti-piracy) so yeah, wherever it airs is fine. Lastly, Hall loved taking Little Chino down! haha. Oh and Dexter game, great, another reason to BUY the iPhone. Weird, i have this mental image of him crawling under the door or spraying something on wild plants - oh wait, that was Daxter. Anyway, here's a teaser/trailer. Enjoy!

Video Credit

The Lock-up: Season 4 Promos

2008-07-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here are teasers/trailers for Season 4 of Prisonbreak, my first love in TV Series. Enjoy:

Video credits: Speedy3702

Video credits: Darkufo

The Dark Dreamer: Dexter's Season 3 Spoiler!

2008-07-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

Keeping the Code?

I just remembered Dexter, all of of a sudden. So i rummaged the internet for some good stuff. Here's a major spoiler for Season 3. If you're the corny type, and doesn't want to get spoiled, skip this post.

When asked if Dex might break the code and kill someone innocent, Phillips dished, “Yes, he will. And without giving too much away, I will say we can consider it dropping a pebble on a mountainside filled with snow, and it will cause an avalanche.” from here.

My first reaction was like . . Noooooooooooooooooo! Harry's code must be kept! I am hoping, like the author of the quoted post above, that this be an issue of mistaken identity, or something. But this should be a really interesting twist! I am so freakin' excited. I want my Dexter fix now!

Some teasers at DarkUfo's.

Moblog?

2008-07-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

Yay Moblog!

So, i'm kinda late, but i'm still figuring out how the heck this thing works. I'm having serious issues with Blogger's on-the-go blogging feature, so i'm trying their email feature instead. Hope this works!

The Lock-up: Season 4 Promo Pic

2008-07-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

'Stached T-bag!

I know I haven't been very up to date, but at least I'm trying to catch up. With all the fangirling I'm going through, I have a tendency to forget about some things haha. Sorry Scofield! Forgive me and know you still are my first love. lmao. Anyway, here's the Season 4 Promo Photo.

T-bag in a suit and mustache! Sara ressurected! Scofield still hot! Mahone undrugged! New characters! Looks like we're in for an interesting season. The not-so-creative "theme" tells me the coming season might be similar to S2, where everyone is on the "go". I mean they're "on the road", if that tells you any less.

Music Buzz / Idolmania: Nuts Over Archie's Insane "Crazy" Performance!

2008-07-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Urban Legend No More

If you have followed the AI's past season religiously, I am sure you are well aware that Castro and Archuleta's Hollywood Week Day1 auditions never aired due to song clearance issues. Clips, however, showed the judges raving over this certain song the latter did which viewers never really knew what until Josiah Lemming spilled in an interview it was Gnarls Barkley's Crazy. He said the performance was so amazing it gave him chills, or something along those lines. Here's how Simon, Dawg, and Paula reacted (around 0:26 - 0:45) :

Ever since the fans knew about the song being Crazy, it's been kind of a wishful thinking to hear Archie sing it on the show, which obviously didn't happen. Although he hinted about having panned to sing it during the finale, song clearance issues barred such a dream from coming true. Of course, after the show, Jason (who i, too, love!) surprisingly got the song cleared for his tour set. I love conspiracy theories, especially with the farce that is AI but I'd rather abuse your mind, and save the detective work for a separate blog. Since the song has already been cleared, naturally Archie, ever the fan-spoiling artist, finally heeded his fans' year/months-long cries and demands as he guested on Fox 13's Good Day Utah.

Not so Random Story: That reminds me of the insane evening I had last night when I found out he would go on live to perform a song on Fox13. I followed the live stream online around 7am Mountain Time (9am Est, 9pm Phils), and was all giddy when he finally got on the set. Little did I know such excitement would turn into extreme anger when my brother picked me up. Of all the times he could, he did so at that moment when I was finally going to verify the myth of the Hollywood Week auditions, and boy did I act like a brat. I stomped my foot, furrowed my brows, and grumbled incessantly. What would you have done in such a frustrating situation? I am certain I blurted out what seemed like "Go. FLLLYYY home." to him as soon as I got in the car, to which he obliged. We zoomed our way through the road and the next thing I knew, we were home. Still at the gate, I already pulled out my laptop and connected to the feed like a crazed little fangirl. Thank God for wireless signals, as soon as the car was parked, the door flew open and I dashed thru the living room, up the stairs and straight into my room -- with my laptop screen flipped open, and the entire unit dangling on my side and held by one hand. I plugged my earphones and sat down to listen. I was majorly pissed when I missed Archie doing the weather, but was delighted to learn he hasn't performed yet. So yeah, it turned out to be a happy ending - although without magic rainbows!

Finally, here's Archie's soulful rendition of Gnarls Barkely's Crazy, performed live on Fox 13's GDU:

I think it was hauntingly beautiful! So much soul! Brilliant! Pure love!... it's an endless string of adoration. If you enjoyed that, here's an enhanced mp3 version (less echo/reverb) for download. That ends my little ramble for now.

Credits: Video - ronaldsf, Audio - sl_productions

my first shot at photoshop

2008-07-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

Just a week ago, i tried learning photoshop and hoped to figure out how the effects and all that PS jazz works. I know, it's not that big of an achievement when there are hundreds of 14-year olds out there who are already experts at PS but still, don't be a buzz kill! Of course, before anything else, I needed a subject to work on and be able to start a project. Being the extreme fangirl that I have been lately, I had no better choice than Archie. Come on, with his pretty face, an artist can never go wrong. That smile would radiate like a bursting ray of sunshine and turn the entire project into a masterpiece. It may be impossible to find a bad shot of this kid, even at his most awkward moments. The difficulty though, lies in choosing the perfect picture/s to use since every single pic just fights for that top spot. It's insane, especially if you decide to use just one picture!

Satisfied, although a bit unsure, with my own work, i tried my luck and submitted it to the weekly gallery contest at Fanblast. They have had a lot of great gallery submissions for the past week, with R4D and Andrew as my favorite artists. R4d is Filipino too, and has the most gorgeous pieces I've ever seen!

Today, I opened Fanblast and couldn't stop squeeing in extreme delight and utter joy to see my name splattered all across the front page. I freaking won! I had this huge grin on my face, I looked like a friggin' retard for about 3 minutes. I think its really neat to have won considering this was my first project, and to be alongside some really gorgeous works! If you click on the screenshot it'll lead you to the page where I am currently having my 15seconds of fame, haha.

Here are more of the entries which got honorable mentions too. Check out R4D's. I love it!

Before I lose control and go all fangirly to the nth degree, here's my first shot at working with photoshop, the "winning piece". It's a 1280x 800 jpeg wallpaper in which I used some splatter, negative and stitches brushes. Just in case you want to check it out for yourself, that is. Just click on the thumbnail below.

1280x800, jpeg.

Stand By Me-D.A.
Brush Credits

I have soooo much to learn, still, and I am so excited. I love PS! and I love Archie! By the way, You guys check this site out, its where I got my first set of brushes and vectors. I tell you, it's all sorts of awesome! So much for fangirling, I'm off to download new brushes and PS stuffs!

Tech Buzz: ayePhone vs nayePhone

2008-07-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was all giddy to receive this email from Apple. It's been, what, like just a month or so ago when I was more than determined to buy the 1st generation iPhone, only to be stopped by my psychic boo. I'm still amazed at how he predicted Apple was going to release a new version at this stage of the year. You should be the marketing manager for Apple, Robbi!

And now that my wishful thinking has been translated into reality, Apple releasing a newer version of the iPhone, that is, I'm actually going to list a few reasons on why I should keep on waiting for a better - per Robbi's calculations - release. Although this may sound like sourgrapes, it's not.

Reasons Why Kricket Shouldn't Shell Out for iPhone 2, Just Yet.

No Philippine release until September, 2008: I've been to an Apple-licensed distributor store at the mall today, and the lady matter-of factly told me this not-so dream phone of mine wouldn't see Philippine grounds til Fall, not that we have that season here. I don't want to risk having it shipped. Precious glass surface.

2 megapixel camera: Uhh..my 2 phones as of now are above 3 megapixel, so I don't quite understand how Apple tolerates a camera resolution that was popular when I was in my freshman year of law, or senior year of college for that matter. I have a feeling their engineers have forgotten that camera phone resolution is supposed to, at least, go with the year ending. 2007 had phones released with 5, 6 and 7mp. It's 2008, do the math. Oh, and did i mention no self-portrait mirror nor flash?

Multimedia Drought/Insufficiency: 3G, MMS, TV? Yes, i know the phone actually has 3G but video-conferencing being the best feature that comes with this technology, they should have seriously considered adding a forward-faced camera, am i correct? 3G without video-conferencing just doesn't make sense. I feel all nostalgic, trying to look back at my college days, with a Nokia 6630 (2.5G - for whatever reason they left out .5) when I actually had to face the mirror to fully appreciate a video call with my dad. I forgive Nokia knowing that was years ago. Back then, I also remember my local service provider advertising their latest Live TV service, at 30P/day which leaves me wondering why Apple couldn't support such feature at this time of the century? Then I remembered, Itunes! Yes. I'd have to blog separately about that. Then again, the inability to send/receive MMS. Okay, so maybe you can send multimedia thru email, but it would be a pity not to be able to open a mms message from other phones, considering you're supposed to have the coolest phone on earth.

Price: Heh, half the price my arse. Check the tiny speck on the picture, yes that one I pointed with a lamely-drawn arrow (What? you reckon i'd actually photoshop it?). It's 199$ for a two-year contract. I need to get my facts straight, but it's 5am here, so I'd just say I am shocked to learn it's actually still 600$ outside the plan. Locally, Globe Telecom is said to be the official carrier. I wonder how much they will offer a prepaid package for? I asked them about 2 weeks ago, and all the lady could say was "Info will be out by late September but it surely will be available for prepaid users". Apparently, they're still conducting trainings for those who will be assigned to the iphone department. I just stood there with an "oh, okay" face even though my brain was screaming "Hear this, i'll email you a video tutorial and FAQ page from the internet on how to use an iphone, heck i'll even gladly write one for you cause as far as i know, even my 5-year old sister knows how to surf the web, much less figure out how phones work so just give me that darn info right now, cause I need to save up, lady!". P9,000 won't be to too big of an amount to save, but it's getting past Globe's hypocritical and oozing with superiority complex plan-approving team that I'm worried about.

Memory/Expansion: What "advanced" phone doesn't have MMC/SD/MS etc slots? It's insane. Not as half as crazy as Apple saying there won't be a 32gig release though. Of course there won't be, for now. Not until the Holiday bells start jingling and the 8/16gig ones are out of stock, that is. I need to find a good eye-rolling icon.

What's the verdict, then? Naye. I'll tarry. And hope that Apple won't give me another set of reasons to "just wait for iPhone 3" by then. It would go on forever. But who knows, when that pretty glass surface glistens before my eyes come September, i'll be salivating and rendering this post moot and academic.

Music Buzz: Archuleta's first single "Crush" to air on August 12, 2008

2008-07-06T22:52:00.001-07:00

Crush, by the Crusher

Archie is reported (well, more of a result of excellent detective work by Nicole of Idolforums) to have a single listed under ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), named "Crush". This was discovered a few days ago, and naturally, all the fangirls/boys came spazzing and freaking out (in a good way) over this, possibly, as the first single out.

Lo and behold, today's news at All Access, (you will have to be registered to see this sidebar on the left) reports that Archie's new single "Crush" will impact radios on August 12, 2008 . The single will air on radios everywhere (hopefully soon enough here in my region!) although it wouldn't yet be available for download right away. This is a strategy on the record label's part to make sure the single gains enough following (not that Archie doesn't already have a ton) and exposure before putting it up. I love the fact that Archie is signed with Jive!

As for the people involved, or those he is working with for the single, here's MJ's report:

Checking out the ASCAP listing for “Crush”, it has Dave Hodges, late of the band Evanescence–and famously the subject of Kelly Clarkson’s blistering single “Never Again”–listed as a writer. Hodges wrote “Because of You” and “Addicted” with Kelly for her album Breakaway. ASCAP also lists two other writers on the cut, Jess Clayton Cates, and Emanuel Kiriakou.

More more on David’s upcoming album–it’s been reported that he’s working with The Underdogs, Kara DioGuardi and Ryan Tedder of the band OneRepublic.

So they're definitely one of the best hitmakers out there, that's for sure. And I am keeping my fingers crossed that Archie will be on top of the Billboard charts soon enough. Although i found my boo's habit for checking the US charts for what songs to look forward to as a bit obssessive, I am conceding to the thought of going all geeky and follow the US, UK, World Charts to keep track of Archie's status. I need to find a better word for obsession.

I find it funny Cowell said he "crushed the competition", and that Seacrest kept calling him "the crusher" on the show. Papa Johns even labeled him as a "juggernaut". Looks like 19E and Jive agrees. Haha, although the song may well be about heart-related issues.

To add to the fangirliness, and give you an idea of how freaking excited I am, here's how i look like:

Outrageous Stuffs: When Safe Sex Isn't Safe!

2008-07-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

No, this isn't going to be a Maxim-ish or FHM-ish kind of post, so my apologies to anyone who was expecting that sort. If it's any consolation, it's still related to sex anyway, in a rather disturbing way though. But let's get it on! (pun!)

Heck, Even NO Sex Isn't Safe!

We see environmental movements almost everywhere, from magazines to television ads - more often than not, promoted by some of the biggest stars and most famous people on the world - and covering projects as wide as "Saving the Seas" , "Clear the Clouds", and who knows what other onomatopoeic slogans are there to catch your attention. But we all know that perhaps the most common and easiest way to participate in these eco-related projects is through Recycling. Just for exposition's sake, here:

But China would beg to differ. I am sure though that you are aware of their rather distorted views on ecological, environmental, medical and ethical issues. Through the years, we have been acquainted with a wtf-ful of events: ranging from pukeworthy rather than exotic delicacies (grilled fetus, monkey brains, ant soups, newborn rodent salads and shall-i-continue-the-pukefest sort of things) to not just hazardous but deadly children's stuffs (toxic crayons and lead-infused plastic toys) to poor electronics (overheating remotes and exploding batteries). Shall I continue to elaborate, it's going to be a circus!

But the climax (pun!) of this all has yet to be reported. Only two things could have triggered this sheer genius of a creation:

1) extreme love for the environment, or
2) extreme hate for mankind. cough*biologicalwar&weaponry*cough*

So, give me the pleasure (pun is fun!) of bringing to you this nobel-prize potential, and the ultimate abomination in manufacturing history:

Candy Colored ELASTIC Headbands!

Not what you expected? That's just a teaser.

Get ready.

*drum roll*

I'm afraid it IS what you think it is.

RECYCLED CONDOM HEADBANDS!

Final blow below (can't.resist.pun.) !!!

Here's the catch: China is saving the environment, making lots of girls happy, and spreading AIDS secretly one condom at a time. And you thought you were hardcore.

At least, they washed it.

Idolmania/Music Buzz: Update Turned Rant Turned Cookie vs. Archie!

2008-06-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk?

Great. Now, im confused whether this should be under Idolmania or Music Buzz. I'll decide later, when I'm done with this piece.

It's been ages since my last Idol-related post, since I've decided to skip the ranting in relation to Cookie's effing "win" over Archie. Some 12 million (and more) people over at America must be having some terrible and serious hearing deficiencies, having voted their fingers off for Cookie. Ahem. Half of you probably didn't really vote FOR Cookie. You just voted AGAINST Archie. Well, whadayaknow, I didn't really skip my ranting post after all.

/rant.

Moving on, Here's another Post-idol "outing" for the Davids. I know, I'm an entire month late, not to mention not having been able to post about their appearances on TRL, The Today Show, Mike and Juliet, Larry King, etc, but i'm not sorry. lol. Anyway, their latest appearance was on ABC's The View. I missed it when it showed on Velvet. For crying out loud, who watches a "morning" talk show at 12:00am? Way to take things literally, Velvet! Of course, I was working my lil' booty off at work when the replay aired at 8:30am. So, screw unfriendly schedules. The Davids had their interviews, and their performances. Cookie sang his "magic rainbow" song, while Archie did Stand By Me. I'm linking the video from Rickey's.

Archie's SBM starts right after the interview, past halfway this clip:

Archey-view
by greateggs

Hott! I know. How can someone be so good live? Not to mention, being able to beat such an already-wonderful performance? Here's Archie's first SBM performance at Idol's Top 4 Week (No, i did not just pick that fact from my brain!):

Obviously, Idol is treating them both as co-winners. With all their backstage manipulations, they do owe Archie anyway. So, following their "fair" example and my ulterior motive of proving who's the [waaaaaaaaaaay] better singer, I will need to post Cookie's Time of My Life too. How unfortunate it is for him to keep promoting such a cheesy magic rainbow song, so cheesy I can dream of unicorns tonight. Funny though how throughout the season, everyone was correlating Archie with cheese, ballads, Disney etc. Oh, did I mention Cookie did a theme/song for Disney's Ad? Ha. Look who's with Disney now. The irony of this all is so great, I can only imagine the 5 stars TOML will add to Cookie's Rock Credibility. So much for the spite because after all, I love the two Davids (i still love you Cookie!).

Here is AI's first "rock" idol, with his first "pop" single:

Cookey-view
by greateggs

And to prove I'm not bitter and have moved on, here's Cookie's rendition of the Star-spangled Banner:

Okay, so maybe I was biting my nails at the beginning of that clip almost couldn't finish, not to mention struggled not just a bit watching it, but I'm really not bitter. I do not even need to make a point right? But what the heck, here's Archie's rendition of the American National Anthem:

*wipes smirk off face* Amazing how that voice can radiate even through a crappy phone cam recording! Sadly, that event wasn't televised for reasons only known to Nigel and his devil crew, because as far as i can remember Syesha and Cookie's hometown performances were aired. Only Archie's weren't. They probably wanted some "fair" exposure. I'm not bitter nor sourgraping, but I am (I hope the fangirliness of the next words/phrases doesn't pull down my blogging creds) just healing. I will, and probably already have moved on! I am just celebrating the season that was, and the Archuride that was, that is, and will be! I am thrilled! Archie will forever be my Amercan Idol!

I guess I just ended my blogging stint right there! lol *blog breaks down into cheeses..i mean pieces* Well! That sums up my Post-idol ranting, i mean posting. So who's to say crying over spilled milk ain't helpful? I mean someone's face is filled with a huge grin right now, typing behind her laptop screen, knowing the furrowing eyebrows and boiling blood pressure her post will cause some Cookies and closet Cookies *coughsPercycoughsKimja* out there. The only bad thing it has brought with this post though, was the memory of the Lakers's loss. Oh well, Boo already did his grievance/mourning a.ka. review for that.

PS: Oh, oxymorons, ironies and sarcasm make blogging SO.MUCH.FUN! Boo, here's the "expansion for articles" for you.

Tech Buzz: All Hail Firefox 3

2008-06-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Mighty Red, Yellow and Blue

The Internet World treats Mozilla Firefox as if it were the Second Coming of Internet Browsers. That, of course, leaves me guessing that majority of the webbing world is now saved and glorified, with the latest release from the Moz team, Firefox 3. It is set to break a world record, and be the devoted follower that you are by getting yours and being a part of the Guinness World Record Effort. After doing your duties as a devotee, be sure to flaunt it, as soon as you get your nifty badge (just like the one I so proudly wear!).

This wonderful news, has me all excited and eager to experience the 15,000 new improvements the team has added. I am only in my blissful first 5 minutes of appreciating Firefox 3, and is sure to report back on the awesomeness of this all. One thing's for sure, this latest release will make Internet Explorer look like a puny, sucky, lousy and worthless browser. More than it already is, to be exact. All Hail Firefox 3!

The Blogosphere: Boo Gets His 15 Seconds.

2008-06-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

Fangirl meets Fanboy

He's always had this knack for lists, reviews and all that writing blitz. Not a lot appreciate his entries, especially since he blogs (like a crazed sports fan) about, for a lack of better term, dorky stuffs. And just as I have always recognized someone with that gift of writing especially when he so wonderfully articulates the raw emotions, the passion, the intensity, and the devotion to a certain interest --which in his case revolves around Sports, Movies and Music in general -- I have never doubted how Robbi aced that category.

It was awesome to see his post featured on Yardbarker's Widget (see picture below), and his Blog featured as one of the Must-reads at Yardbarker (see picture above). I remember telling him he can give SLAM (SlamOnline) a run for their money because he writes too well! Ha, I may not be the only one psychic between the two of us.

Looks like he and I very well know how to convert our inner fan zommgg1!11! (look it up in fangirl lingo 101) moments into a useful and productive internet energy, something more commonly known as a "good read". Coincidence much? Although I admittedly ought to take some more hints from him.

Take a peek, and find out what differentiates a superficial crazed fanboy from a critical, analytic and objective writer whose brilliance apparently results from just being a fanboy at heart. Visit X Marks the Spot, and enjoy the passion and devotion of a fan, the non-bias and genius of a writer, and the sarcasm and wit of a critic, rolled into one fine blog.

Tech Buzz: iPhone Deux?

2008-06-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

Wishful Thinking, Much?

The dilemma of getting an iPhone or an iPod Touch has been driving me insane for the past few weeks. Robbi has been pushing me to get the iPod Classic, or better yet just wait for the next iPhone release.

Lo and behold, I stumble across "leaked" images of the iPhone 2 at Crunchgear. Reportedly now with 3G, front-facing camera + iChat, a slimmer body, and more color/s (red). And that Apple would release it soon? (Wow, now i know how giddy gossip sites *cough*tmz*cough* feel about "reporting [slash]made-up[/slash] news" even before it happened! It's exciting!) Boo, you're psychic! Think what mess I would've been had I bought out of impulse?

Anyway, there have been a bunch of fake "iPhone 2" images surfacing lately, and I am powerless to say this isn't so or otherwise. But you be the judge. Besides, with all the fangirling experience, speculating has always been fun!

Oh well. Yet another reason to save up. I can't wait til the holidays! And yes, I am officially and shamelessly retracting my "Who needs an iPod/Phone when there's the PSP" statement (See PSP Gushing).

Go Apple!

Music Buzz: My ArchuD2 signs with Jive!

2008-06-05T08:24:00.001-07:00

ZOMG.

Before anything else, I would like to express my sincere apology for the extreme fangirly-ness of this post, starting with the title itself, of course.

At long last, the confirmation is out! I've been dying to hear from the Press since the heart-breaking, not to mention mind-boggling, Idol conclusion some 2 weeks ago.

What's to note here is that, among the 7 record labels (yes, you read the figure right), Jive won the bid (most likely being that it's under the Sony BMG umbrella). Jive is probably the best label out there now, considering its remarkable top-charting roster: Usher, Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks to name a few and they sure know how to market their talents, giving them a fresh, young, hip and very "now" image. This is what excites me, as this fact alone is a slap on the faces of those who hate the kid - boring, no personality, bla bla. Guess the last laugh's mine? ha ha.

Excited for the single, and for the album! Yay. Oh, here's the ALLCAPS headline/news at Jive's Official Website.

(New York, NY) - It was announced today that American Idol sensation DavidArchuleta has signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records. Archuleta is currently gearing up for the upcoming American Idol tour which kicks off on July 1st in Glendale, AZ. The 17-year old is expected to release his debut album later this year.

“Signing a record contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records is truly a dream come true,” states Archuleta. “Being a fan of American Idol since season one and admiring the alumni, I am honored and humbled to be a part of that group. I’m really excited to start working on everything.”

David Archuleta, the runner-up on the current season of “American Idol,” has three songs entering the Hot 100 this week, starting with his stunning remake of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at No. 36, along with his highly-praised rendition of Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, and his finale song, In This Moment.

Simon Fuller, creator of the popular TV series and chief executive and founder of 19 Entertainment Label Group, states, “It was fascinating to watch David’s journey through Idol. He is a genuine pop star, and is a gifted singer who instantly won over a huge audience when he first appeared on the show. Since then, he has dealt with the pressure and the high level of expectation with real fortitude; he’s given us some of the best performances of the season. Without question David Archuleta has a great future ahead of him”.

Tom Carrabba, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Jive/Zomba Label Group comments, David Archuleta has already shown the world that he is a star. Here’s a young, talented singer with wide appeal and we are thrilled to have him join our roster.

David Archuleta is from Murray, Utah, a town outside Salt Lake City. He recently came to national attention and captured the hearts and imagination of a nation with several show-stopping performances on “American Idol.”

I'm guessing he's going the pop/r&b route. Back to his soul roots, then! An official site, the promotions, this and that. Oh, the good stuff that is to come! This news is sure to spark a whole new wave of speculations on collaborations, songs, chart-topping/flopping potentials etc. Hurray for message boards and the crazy fandom!

I love being a fangirl, and the drama it brings! zomg.

Lost: S4 Finale TMTH!

2008-06-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

S04E13-14 : There's No Place Like Home

Eeep. That was crazy! A googillion information in two hours! Too much to handle.

Read me right guys, I am not complaining. I am actually pumped! Ultra excited, and mega pleased. A lot of revelations have been spilled in this finale, most of which I assume weren't intentional. Since Lost is famous for inciting theories, here's one of mine: The writers probably introduced too many mysteries and held too much details for the last season and this season's early eps, respectively. More than they could accommodate, and now they had to cramp everything into the final episodes' storyline. Not that my opinion regarding this matters, but it just makes me feel like a worthy Lost Geek. This may also be due to the 2 eps cut out from the season due to the WGA strike. Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. The season's over and it was all sorts of awesome!

Ben just officially took the top Lostie spot in my heart. Love that smart-ass bug-eyed creep! Sorry Island Jack, I still love you, but more like proximity, screentime matters. lmao!

By the way, the screencap i took to head this post shows the Hoffs/Drawlar signage for that funeral parlor which housed the mysterious *shudders at the mention on it* coffin which drugged City Jack visited. That s3 finale showed, for the first time, a flash forward -- for which Hoffs/Drawlar is an anagram. Cool eh? Now, i'm a better Lost Geek than you! Jacob would be so proud.

That's it for now. I love Lost. I love Ben. I know who's in the coffin: Jeremy Bentham! Gotcha.

Achoo!

2008-06-03T04:23:00.001-07:00

(O.o)

Wow. This blog has been gathering dust, big time.

I have a folder-ful (it's not an error, it's a new word i might become famous for coining) of dishes to blog on, a recently concluded season of Lost to theorize about and of Idol to rant about, and an unexpected circumstance in life to, well, whine and gripe on.

My brain is an exciting and chaotic blur right now! So many words to say, but oh so little time. Father Time has never been a friend of mine, anyway. Pffffht.

Now that I've dusted this space a bit, I just might get back on track with my random daily, even by the hour, ramblings.

Robbi, I'm giving you a run for your (money) blog, so better be ready. [insert evil laugh here.]
*whispers to lazy self: you better not fail me!*

Idol Top7: The MC Week Recap

2008-04-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

Idol: Where Cruelty is actually GOOD.

Just when KLC was starting to pick up momentum, and when I was starting to *cough* like *cough* her, she gets the boot. Her pretty face must have been the subject of all hate when the earlier favorites got the boot before she did. Whitaker, Epperson, Malubay, Hernandez and Johns to name the lot. I will miss you, barbie doll.

After Ryan's (and his scriptwriter's) classless "method" of breaking the elimination news to Papa Johns last week, Idol Producers just cannot resist the need to get any meaner, can they?

This week, they choose to toy again with the contestants' feelings in their annual "Choose" stint. Ryan divided the group into two: Cookie, KLC, Brooke vs. Carly, Jason, Syesha. I bet they had a million thoughts per millisecond during those moments... thoughts such as, but are not limited to the ff:

Everyone: Wtf is this, Seacrest?
Carly: KLC with Cook in the "Top3"? This must be a joke.
Jason: Duuuuuude... ...this is not cool
KLC: I'm safe? Hmm, Mr. Dreds, you're next.

Wittle David, however was the last to be called on stage. Leaving confuzzled wittle David backstage the whole time must made the poor thing nervous to bits! And Mr. Not-So-Genius Seacrest should even ask him if he was enjoying. "Ooh Yeaah", replies wittle David although the audience must have reminded him that his facial expressions show otherwise. I thought he was gonna throw up at a weirdly-tanned-and-looking-orange Seacrest. He seriously thought he was going home! The poor kid must have been a nervous wreck the whole time, and forgive the fangirl in me who just wanted to hug him ."There, there..of course you're safe, sweetie." To clear the confusion as regards the impossibility of the groupings, Seacrest performs a switcheroo between Syesha and Cookie. Now, its Syesha, Brooke, KLC vs Cookie, Carly, Jason. Yes, things made more sense.

Like leaving him all by himself wasn't already mean, Ryan eventually asks David to join which group he believes is safe.The audience gasps, Carly does her famous slackjawed and killer eye look, and the producers loved, loved, loved the drama! Wittle David, on the other hand was at his extreme spacey-ness mode. The look on his face was precious! And the way he just plops on the floor refusing to choose was hilarious. Everyone applauds such show of class and extreme adorkability. Simon and Ryan was already pointing him to the safe group, and still, he just stays put as if saying "Nah, I'm good here", and when Paula tells him to move to the "middle" middle , he gives an "omg, whaa?" face. lmao. this kid can't get any more adorable! It was still very very mean, though.

Ryan, Nigel, you guys are just c r u e l.
Thank you for that, and that ultimate adorkable and endearing archud2 moments it gave.

I'm not sure though which is more hilarious, David's refusing to understand and pick which group is safe, or Carly's 30-second delay in understanding she was safe. See for yourself.

The Amateur Tastebud: The Boyd's Discovery

2008-04-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Chicken in Vinegar Sauce

I feel awful having to write this in a bad and lazy mood. But the long overdue entries are to blame. So let's get this going.

Never have I imagined vinegar to perfectly complement any fried chicken dish, but Boyd's proved me wrong. This has got to be the most awesome sauce-for-this-food thing I've ever encountered so far!

The chicken was nicely done, crisp and tasty but the dip blew me away! I even tried creating my own "version" at home. [Try: 1 part banana catsup + 1 1/2 part Pinakurat] Fyi, the latter ingredient is a local spiced (more of pasteurized?!) vinegar condiment. Anyway, this homemade dip should make a worthy, not to mention, delightful addition to your favorite fried chicken meal. Forget the gravy!

Tastebud Rating: Return Act Awardee. Definitely eating this again!
Budget Buzz: The dish costs less than a hundred bucks! Fair enough.

Beef and Mushroom Pizza

Crust is crisp and perfect, not too light not too heavy. One bite was like a total explosion of meat and cheese! I f''loved it! Cheese, Beef, Onions. All the pizza basics perfected!

Tastebud Rating: Need to Go Home. So good that I ate waaay too much and needed to unload!
Budget Buzz: Regular - a little above a hundred bucks. Double - double the price too, obviously. Family - triple. Totally worth every penny.

(pardon the pizza snap, I told you I'm too lazy right now to do anything perfect)

If you want to have a bite, you may checkout Boyd's Pizza House, beside Autoshop Compound. (i don't know the effing street address!)

The Amateur Tastebud: Farmer's Meatloaf by Gourmet Deli

2008-04-05T08:12:00.001-07:00

Breaking the Rice Diet

I remember having "Americans barely eat rice" as my number 1 reason for not being able to live comfortably in the US, not that i have gone there.

Rice is the staple food in our country, and I for one, never get full - no matter how much i eat - without it.

Surpisingly though, Gourmet Deli has proven me dead wrong. I got totally hooked on their mashed potatoes! The texture is perfect, not too pasty, not too dry. The sweet and buttery taste totally complements the crisp premium ham, which is a little too salty. The herbs mixed in, together with the fresh lettuce beneath the mashed potatoes add even more flavor to this already delectable starch overload. For someone as rice die-hard as me, I actually thought the meal was very filling. I totally forgot for a while how much I needed rice for e very single meal.

In contrast to the typical Filipino dishes where all flavors combine in one single dish, Gourmet Deli's Farmer's Meatloaf actually has each part contributing their specific flavor. The stir-fried veggie sticks came quite interesting to me, as steaming them would have probably deprived the tastebud of its unique texture - slightly burnt and crisp outside, but insanely tender on the inside. Sunny side up or Scrambled, eggs always go well with meat and the same doesn't change for this one. Or maybe I'm just biased, considering I love love love bacon and eggs.
All in all, its one of those meals you can eat at any time of the day.

Tastebud Rating: Return Act Awardee. Definitely eating this again!
Budget Buzz: The dish costs less than a hundred bucks! Fair enough.

If you want to have a bite, you may checkout Gourmet Deli at Chimes, Sales St., DC.

The Amateur Tastebud: Food Reviews by A Culinary Non-expert

2008-04-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

Most culinary reviews come from either a well-known journalist, a tv personality, an elite or upperclass figure, or a cooking expert or chef. Such reviews, most of the time, feature either the exquisiteness, or exoticness (if such both words exist) of the ingredients and the dish itself , the grandeur of the restaurant, the chef's competence and the owner's success, aside from many other things.

However I, a total non-expert (probably even dummy) in the field of culinary arts - one who has not even worn a chef's hat, who cannot even remember local fish names, and who totally freaks at being within 1 feet of a lengua (an exotic local cow tongue dish) - dare take this challenge of posting my takes on some of the most (and least) delightful food in Davao City (and, given the chance, other places as well).

I will be rating the subject (i may be confusing this with a laboratory dish!) food on the following, well, i'd like to call it scores:

Need to Go Home (5/5: So good that I ate waaay too much and needed to unload!)
Return Act Awardee (4/5: I'm definitely eating this again!)
TGIH (2-3/5: Thank God I'm Hungry, or I would have noticed I can cook better!)
Swallowable (1/5: like when all the ice cubes in your iced-tea has melted. You drink it but you don't love or hate it)
Puke-able (0/5: like when you're drinking and something hilarious/bad happens, you spit the water out of your mouth.)

Important: Do not mistake TGIH as an implication of me being bad at cooking. I have a few specialties, and am actually good, I just have not fully developed my potential as the next Wolfgang Puck.

That's not quite a clever scoring criteria, I know. But it's exactly why this may just be the perfect review, not for the culinary genius, but for the everyday consumer - he who eats just because. After all, food is not over-analyzed - actually even expelled through that found within the same word - It is enjoyed.

I've always wanted to say this anyway, Bon Apetit!

The Lock-up: The Doc is IN

2008-04-05T04:38:00.000-07:00

Hats off to PB Producers/Writers, Heads (back) on to Sara!

I don't know how to feel about this recently confirmed buzz of Sarah Wayne Callies returning to Prisonbreak's season 4 - as a regular, mind you - since Dr. Tancredi was the perfect love interest for Scofield, i thought way back in season 1. However, her stubborness and often stupidity in the season that followed turned that admiration into a love/hate notion, In fact, I actually didn't feel any sorrier than the infamous Susan/Gretchen biatch for Sara's death, or decapitation. But yes, writers, that was a bit too harsh.

Nevertheless, Sara's stubborness aside, I am actually feeling all fangirl-giddy again for a Michael/Sara reunion. After all, they're my favorite smarty pair.

One thing though, I have no idea how they are going to glue that hideous, open-mouthed decapitated Tancredi head, that left me with sleepless nights, to her neck. (Forgive the necessity to emphasize my point with the image.) But then, I trust the brilliant minds behind my first love in the 2000's generation of TV Series.

And just when I was about to think that Prisonbreak is unfortunately hitting the dust, despite the wonderful season 3, here comes the greatest news I have ever heard for the show - and this might, just might bring Prisonbreak back as one of the most highly-rated series. To PB Producers, i give you props for this wonderful "twist" - that which I may also conveniently call a "desperate" attempt to boost ratings. Well done!

The Lock-up: Prisonbreak Season 4

2008-04-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

Looks like we have a lock-up! There will be a Season 4 of Prisonbreak. Major Yay!

FOX has picked up a fourth season of the hit drama PRISON BREAK, the action-packed series starring Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller as on-the-lam brothers Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield. After spending the first season filming on location in Chicago, followed by two seasons on location in Dallas, production on the upcoming fourth season of PRISON BREAK will move to Los Angeles.

Idol Top 9: The Dollywood Recap

2008-04-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

Rami won me over, while the KLC hate continues.

Ramielle is Filipino, I know. I think she has a wonderful big voice, the little girl with the great big voice, as the judges branded her. But I wasn't rooting for her since the auditions. Strangely though, I felt really, really bad when she got the boot today.

I actually got spoiled early this morning, and read that her idol journey has come to the end. I thought it was fine. Objectively speaking, she has not delivered since after the Top24 night. But I know she has that great talent and big voice in her.

And so I watched the show. I was squeeing, again, like a little fangirl over the group medley, which is so far, my favorite. The group sang 9-5 and The Archuleta had solos, beautiful ones, thank God.

The weird trio did their weird instrument strumming. IGB clips and even more. Dolly Parton sang Jesus and Gravity. Then, the bottom 3, of which I got a 2 out 3. (not bad for a first time review, eh?). Brooke was crying and had gotten very emotional. Kristy was (still) being a pain in the arse. Ramielle was doing her adorable Oh-dear-i'm-squished-by-these-giants pout. I didn't really dwell on my fellow Filipina's fate at all. Then, TMOT. It's official, Ramielle is OUT. She broke into sobs, and out of Is-this-Atlantis-nowhere, I ended up *insert cheese here* crying as well.

I felt so bad for her, having to hug the lady who should have gotten to boot forever ago. Yes, I predicted Rami's Idol fate ends today, and *insert more cheese here* I friggin' wish I could take it back. I realized how, unpatriotic I have become. I should have shown more blind support, no matter what, not only because of her talent, but because she is Filipino (last word used as an adjective, not a noun).

There you have it, Not only did this emotional boot make me a Rami-convert (not really the Archie FTMFW kind), It also made my perception of KLC "devolve" from her being a cat with nine lives to that night bug you'd want to keep squishing but can't get dead.

Moving on.

Dying to cast a vote for your idol?

As promised, here is my TIP on how to vote for your favorite even if you are outside the US. (I'm sure Ramielle would've appreciated if I posted this a week earlier.)

Download GIZMO5 from this site. This works with XP/Vista/Mac/Linux etc.

Install it.

Register and you're good to go.

Launch program.

Click the DIALPAD tab on the console and dial your fave's number.

+1-866-IDOLS-06 was Archie's this week. I got more than a hundred through. Fair enough considering there's like a 20-30 second lull between hanging up and the console getting ready for another call.

And oh, the best part of it all? +1866 numbers are free. So vote your idol to victory. Archuleta FTW!

There. You now have a chance to not feel the way I did tonight over Ramielle's going home.

Idol Top 9: The Dollywood Recap

2008-04-02T00:58:00.000-07:00

Wow. I don't even know how to start this. Dang. I should learn how these review thingys work. Okay, here goes. If you're one of the crazy fandom-ers who go rummaging through the web for reviews, articles and bashing slash critiques, Please skip this site. My critiquing (is that even a word?) skills are rather amateur-ish as of the moment.

Out of 10,this is how I'd score the idols:

FTMFW! (absolutely brilliant 10pts)
WOOT! (great 9pts)
COOLIO! (good 7-8pts)
BLAH! (alright/okay 5-6pts)
PFFHT! (bad 2-4pts)
WTF? (like KLC's 8daysaweek. 1pt for the effort)

Oh, and I'm not really big when it comes to Country Music, and this one being Dolly Parton week, I was unfamiliar with most of the songs. This week, I'll be judging based on their performances alone, no song choice considerations whatsover. I'm Asian for crying out loud.

Ramielle - I hate to say this, being a Filipino, but she just hasn't delivered since after Top24 week. Today is no different. I'm afraid she might actually go bye bye. (PFFHT!)

Brooke - She sang Jolene, with her folk band around her on stage. I love Brooke, I think she's a good musician, but I didn't like this particular performance. At one point I thought she was like running a race. I went wth? (BLAH!)

Cookie - Sorry for the nickname. I like David Cook. I love grunge and alternative, and he's just my favorite rocker boy on Idol. I'm not rooting for him though. I liked his previous peformances, and even loved some. The same goes for this performance. I thought he couldn't handle country, but i spoke too soon. He did pretty good,from the falsetto to the acoustic guitar. Plus, I'm more than happy he took the emo look out. He may look smug all over again with his new look, but me likey. (WOOT!)

Carly - I agree with Simon, she needs to look like a star by this time. What's with all the black? Her performance was very good though. Very solid performance, imho. (COOLIO!)

Jason - Funny how Idol actually approved a rather preachy/gospel-y song to be sung on stage. Don't get me wrong, I grew up in Church but I just didn't expect the AI audience to.. well.. be very accepting of it. Whatever, maybe I'm culturally biased. I loved the performance though. Definitely NOT boring. Nice to see him out of his usual comfort zone. Liked it. (COOLIO!)

Syesha - She did the most famous of 'em all - I Will Always Love You - which I thought wasn't smart at all. Okay, she did good at the start, but the rest was just blah. When she decided to go Whitney and belt it out, I went Uh-oh. She didn't crack, but she didn't wow me either. Which makes it all the more useless. I mean, you can't avoid the Whitney comparison. So if you can't surpass that, then imho, nevermind. I didn't get the last prolonged note either. I actually went wth? Nothing against her, in fact I loved her version of Yesterday, but i just didn't like this one at all. (Wow. I seriously think I sound like Simon) (PFFHT!)

Kristy - I have been wishing she get voted off since like, forever ago. And looks like I'm not getting that this week either. She stayed around despite the horrendous 8daysaweek performance, I don't think that's going to change since country is her cup of tea. Hatred aside, I actually liked her performance. Good enough. (BLAH!)

Aussie - Finally his blues side! I loved his performance. The piano, the jazz strings, the rock, the soul. Awryt! Michael's back as one of the strong contenders, imo. Rock + Blues + Aussie = pure love. (WOOT!)

Archie - It seemed the world was on a high during his stellar Imagine performance, but it has been a rollercoaster ride since then. Fans love him even for flubbed lyrics, Haters hate him for doing "ballads all the time", and haters still hate him for doing up/midtempos saying "he should just do ballads instead". Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. It's getting really annoying, all this hate for this sweetie, but I just tell myself, If song choice is all they can fault him with, Damn, he must be one heckuva talented kid.
The Long and Winding Road, was master class. You're the voice was obscure but good. Think about it, If Cook sold Billie Jean an already famous song, like hotcakes, he's good. But what does it take for one to sell to America a totally obscure, almost unheard of, song like Archie did last week? Surely, charm can't be enough. You do the math. Like Paula said, he could sing the phonebook and we'd all fall in love. Before this turns into a love letter, I better get moving. Smokey Mountain Memories - Archie just sang it with so much conviction and emotion, even Dolly was moved to tears. He also hit notes we heard for the first time from him, and finally a glimpse of his falsetto - which is just as beautiful. His runs were wonderful, and the total performance was just brilliant. Okay, i don't want this to be an overkill. So, on the bad side, I didn't really dig the brown and beige outfit. I said that just so you wouldn't think I'm biased, but I guess the 2-paragraph review spills it all. (FTMFW!)

Bottom 3: Ramielle, Syesha, Brooke.
Top 3: Archie, Cookie, Aussie.
Who gets the boot? Ramielle. (She's nice and all, but i, too, have been very disappointed)

Results show, tomorrow. I'd post hints on how to vote for your fave, even when you're outside the US!

Idolmania 2008

2008-04-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not huge fan of Idol.
I haven't seen any episode of Season 1, 2, 3.
I started watching during the Top 4 Week of Season 4. And i rooted for Bo. (><,) I watched only the finale of Season 5. I started watching during the Top 10 of Season 6. I rooted for ChrisR, and stopped watching when he got the boot. I thought I would love Blake just as much, but nah. I didn't really join the Jordin bandwagon either. This is the only season of Idol wherein I've watched ALL the airings since the auditions.
Yes, I've seen Lapuz' Brothers Forever. Un/fortunately, Simon's horrible gut feeling of it being a hit single came to past. While having pizza last night, I thought i heard a rather familiar (in a bad way) tune. I realized it was Brothers Forever, mixed with this certain beat. I was torn between laughing and getting annoyed.
Yes, I wish they'd shown Archie's Hollywood Day1 rendition of Crazy, by Gnarls Barkley.
Yes, I loved the Aussie's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Yes, I wish Josiah Lemming didn't get cut.
I saw every single episode. And this is record-breaking, for me, considering I'm not a tv person at all.

I always wanted to write about it, but I thought blogging would jinx the chances of my favorite, so I didn't. Instead, I just squee like a silly little fangirl, all giddy inside, every Wednesday for the past 2 months or so.

Since the Top 16 week, I would follow the show live (because it airs an entire 12 hours later in my part of the world) via live blogging. Yes, through the internet. Rickey's, Slim's and Idollive's are my favorites. These three usually compete like maaadddd when it comes to putting up videos and audios of the performances first. Not that I'm complaining. I'm the type of person who cannot live a spoiler-free life. I just have to KNOW before watching. Otherwise, I'd faint due to so much...err..emotions. The same goes for my favorite series (PB, Lost, Chuck, etc) whose "suspense" I like killing off by checking DarkUFO's site.

Back to Idol, I actually couldn't contain all the squeeing and giddyness to myself anymore.

So, I thought I'd just start this errr.. review sort of thing. You just have to bear with my biases of course. I promise to reduce them to the lowest possible percentage though.
So, err. Yeah, I basically decided to join the pool of already-overflowing bloggers/critics for Idol.

To add to all the pop-culture crap and cheese, I'd end this post not on one corny one-liner, but on 3.

Welcome Aboard, self.
Idols, here I come.
What can i do? I freaking love this cheesy show!

Lawstudents vs. The Dream

2008-03-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

SCRA: Silly, Crappy, Ridiculous Afterthoughts
(for anything Lawschool-related or anywhere close.)

Lawstudents vs. The Dream
1 SCRA 2

A strip from my favorite comic duo, CALVIN and HOBBES.
(click comic to enlarge)

My afterthoughts:

True, by the time I become a lawyer, the world will already have developed a facility to go back in time and prevent a crime from happening. Minority report, anyone?

False, a "few deep breaths" are actually what we're scarce with during recitations. You can add in a "a few good sleeps" to the scarcity list.

keeping my old blog, why?

2008-03-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

For Very Sentimental Reasons.

(forgive the arrogance, but i tend to think that some people are rather dumb to not notice that a certain underlined/highlighted word/phrase is actually a hyperlink, and so i thought it would be best to just tell you anway [fyi], to please click it [the words: sentimental reasons] and just disregard this rather annoying self-interruption if you're not one of those people who do not notice hyperlinks; so you now have to forgive 1)the arrogance 2)the self-interruption and 3) the redundancy of this all because you see, if there were an existing Department of Redundancy Department, i'd most probably be qualified to head it, but then again there isn't, so that's it.[i could just go on with this, but i should really stop now].)

Lawstudents vs. The System

2008-03-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

SCRA: Silly, Crappy, Ridiculous Afterthoughts
(for anything Lawschool-related or anywhere close.)

Lawstudents vs. The System
1 SCRA 1

A strip from my favorite comic duo, CALVIN and HOBBES.
(click comic to enlarge)

My afterthoughts:

I'd laugh my a$$ off if one of my kindergarten pupils would randomly spaz about how i have politically influenced them. (^^,)

True, the joys and fun of being a preschool teacher makes up for the.. erm.. meager pay.

False, the satisfaction of TORTURING and FAILING lawstudents make up for the lousy pay of Lawschool Professors. Galas, Montejo, Valencia, Sagmit - this strip's for you, lot.

The Y-Chromosome Difference

2008-03-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

WOMAN: Aww. Tsktsktsk...
MAN: Life explained.

sound, i mean blogcheck

2008-03-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

test.
test 123.
test.

so this is supposedly an annex to my friendster blog home, the once-frowned-upon-for-being-anti-fraternity but is really just a page filled with blabbanonsense, not to mention incessant ramblings. (you get my point)...

and the result of my envy for kim's sudden liking slash plugging blogspot. . .

and yes, a confirmation of my sinister *inserts evil smiley* desire to go international with my contemporary way of whining.

just you wait and see.

test complete. . .

world, meet kricket and her distorted philosophies.

Kricket Spills The Beans

When Teacher Cuts Class

MACIFIED.

10 Years of Westlife: Live at Croke Park Stadium

*Dusting Blog Off*

Photoshop Dummy: Archie Icons 3

Music Buzz: Buy Cook's Album

The Photoshop Dummy: Archie Icons 2

The Photoshop Dummy: Twilight Wallpaper

Photoshop Dummy: Archie Icons

Disorder in the Court

Music Buzz: Rihanna Barely Fends Off Archuleta, Who Debuts a Record-breaking #2!

Music Buzz: Archuleta's Single Crushes Yet Another Chart; Billboard "Predictions" and More

Music Buzz: Little David "Crushes" iTunes' Top Spot!

Music Buzz: Archie Crushin' the Charts in Half a Day!

Invading Photoshop!

Music Buzz: Archueta's Debut Single Hits the Airwaves!

The Amateur Tastebud: Delectable Davao

The Dark Dreamer: Season 3 Promo and Spoilers

The Lock-up: Season 4 Promos

The Dark Dreamer: Dexter's Season 3 Spoiler!

Moblog?

The Lock-up: Season 4 Promo Pic

Music Buzz / Idolmania: Nuts Over Archie's Insane "Crazy" Performance!

my first shot at photoshop

Tech Buzz: ayePhone vs nayePhone

Music Buzz: Archuleta's first single "Crush" to air on August 12, 2008

Outrageous Stuffs: When Safe Sex Isn't Safe!

Idolmania/Music Buzz: Update Turned Rant Turned Cookie vs. Archie!

Tech Buzz: All Hail Firefox 3

The Blogosphere: Boo Gets His 15 Seconds.

Tech Buzz: iPhone Deux?

Music Buzz: My ArchuD2 signs with Jive!

Lost: S4 Finale TMTH!

Achoo!

Idol Top7: The MC Week Recap

The Amateur Tastebud: The Boyd's Discovery

The Amateur Tastebud: Farmer's Meatloaf by Gourmet Deli

The Amateur Tastebud: Food Reviews by A Culinary Non-expert

The Lock-up: The Doc is IN

The Lock-up: Prisonbreak Season 4

Idol Top 9: The Dollywood Recap

Idol Top 9: The Dollywood Recap

Idolmania 2008

Lawstudents vs. The Dream

keeping my old blog, why?

Lawstudents vs. The System

The Y-Chromosome Difference

sound, i mean blogcheck

Dusting Blog Off