for hard core geeks

scientists_shed_new_light_on_invisibility

i used to think that invisibility was something meant to remain in sci-fi books. hmm... i wonder how long it would take them to figure out how to teleport? the future remains promising.


other ways to change the world:

classroom 2.0: revolutionize the college experience

books 24/7: imagine what this will do for africa. or maybe life in artartica.

gprs auto-ticket: no more speeding for you, i'm afraid

dark clouds hanging

There are just days that just weren't meant to be good. Early day spoilers are the worst -- a cranky parent, a ride with the world's worst taxi driver -- and the rest of the day is doomed. Summon all things good but still it's hopeless. No matter how hard you try or how bad you want to psyche yourself up, nothing can brighten your mood anymore. Not perky siblings. Not treats. Not even a good movie. And you know it's bad when a good movie doesn't work anymore.

Thank God there's a good life to compensate for bad days.

dahil sa isang sako ng bigas, napa-post ako

it finally came, the first delivery of my bimonthly rice allowance from HP. and it hit me, this is my first real contribution to the Gagno home since I started work. it's really a long way from the once-walang-kapantay-na-bratinella.

oh, who am i kidding. i'm still a brat, and i have no idea why i would want to be otherwise. :)

googly-eyed 2

i found this today. isn't it cute?

want more? check out http://www.google.com.sg/intl/en/holidaylogos.html .

how i met your mother

guys, you just have to check out this series. the best set of writers since Friends.

remember doogie howser? he's the one on the left and he's definitely my favorite character. :)

caloy kolokoy

caloy, we will never forget you.

from team bugsy to team bagyo

From jam's rat-up-your-pants surprise during the ride going to Irosin, I knew this trip was going to be eventful.

Surely enough, Caloy greeted us with rainfall on our arrival. Here we were, an overexcited bunch on a getaway five years in the making, and we were welcomed by the rainy season's first storm.

Caloy does not know us very well yet. A storm's not enough to get us down. As soon as we settled at Mig's house, we went off to Bulusan Lake to, well, to see the lake and Mt. Bulusan. Next stop was the hot springs, which never fail to spark a discussion about Dante's peak. Add some of Irosin's giant ensaymadas and you get a lot more grins.

Since I just got my wisdom tooth pulled out, I stocked up on soup mixes, thinking I would have nothing but soup. But the moment someone mentioned 'Bicol Express' and 'Tinuktukan' during dinner, I knew that thought was out the window. Yum!

The storm brewed during the night, with a wind that went 'whoosh' and rain sprays through the window that go 'haha! basa ka na!'. It was house arrest for us during the 2nd day, with no electricity nor water. Kamusta naman ang buhay probinsya? But with true self-entertaining Bugsy spirit, we passed time with our friends Poker, Psycho Game and Pinoy Henyo. (Btw, probably 70% of our photo ops were made inside our room. Haha.)

The third day brought light... literally. I couldn't help but gasp, 'SUN!', once awake. We trooped the Dorotan private beach. My last days as a dependent were actually had a lot of firsts for me. For those who don't know me, I've always had this morbid fear of the sea. For some reason, although I love Dory, sea+corals+fishes+me = love<->hate relationship. But thanks to Tidoy, Dana, Migs, Mace and the whole troop who put up with my whining, I actually got to dive and sea the marvels underneath, even if just for a few minutes. It was also the first time I got to play frisbee with my bikini-clad friends (sorry guys, you missed out). It was also my first beach-MTV (haha! eto nagagawa ng nawawala sa sibilisasyon!).

Fast-forward to day four: It was also my first time to attend mass in Bikolano. We were leaving Irosin that day, onto Donsol where the butandings await, commonly more known as whale sharks. No, they're not whales, they're sharks. For a sea-coward like me, this actually means a whole lot. What the heck was I doing swimming with sharks? Yes, they only devour planktons, but who said they haven't got any other shark friends?!?!

But once our butanding spotter shouted 'Go!', all thinking stops and you find yourself jumping off the boat. You look down and sea the butanding swimming under you. Ayos! For those going to Sorsogon, you simply have to do this.

Then off we go home. The stop at Casagwa wasn't originally in the itinerary, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless. The sight of Mt. Mayon was enough to dwarf anyone. You know that tiny church tower peeking from the ground in Mt. Mayon postcards? I never expected to see that up close anytime during my life; that really made my day.

Never mind that I almost niffed my first day at work. Never mind that I arrived 6 am at home to my frenzied family worried about the 9am shift I had that day. It was all worth it.

Here's to Team Bugsy and to more adventures. :o)