Nevena Tsoneva

Obscure Bulgaria has produced a rare light in the music industry.

Balkanization has never been so awe-inspiring.

Male Imelda Marcos

An Imeldific guy pays shoemaker $4,000 for authentic “Back to the Future” Marty McFly Nikes.

The lesson is, when you judge someone of wrongdoing make sure you judge them on the big main issues, not on the teeny-weeny details.

Israeli Ground Incursion at Gaza

No ally has stopped Israel’s aggression before. Egypt may decide it’s now or never. The trick for the Palestinians is to give back heavy losses so the rest of the Arab world may be inspired to fight Israel. The U.S. is in transition mode and the U.S. may be attacked as well. WWIII? Don’t take it from me, I only have a straight-to-video understanding of the Middle East.

Protests Against Israel

The Muslim world should take note that what they are trying to do at this moment to help the Palestinians–they’re trying to launch a worldwide protest–is the most effective propaganda of any sort. Rockets will only get them massive retaliation, and they cannot retaliate back, not while the U.S. remains the only worldwide superpower.

“Shot in the Face”

Have been trying to finish and polish this story for the entire month of December. It wasn’t the only literary project for that month, but it was the most persistent on my mind. I have been reading rather like a dilettante, and it is weighting me down like a sickness.

On”Shot in the Face,” I have trouble being consistent on the language, punishment for procrastinating, and I only procrastinated for the usual reason: I wasn’t confident the story was finished in my head.

… I’ll try to go to Thailand early this year. The club fire is tragic to some people but it will also create a diversion, widen the interstices between people, sociableness, intimacy, etc.

Vietnam I haven’t even begun to look up, and I’m sure I’ll find nothing of interest to me there.

Santika Club Fire

It’s a hip club frequented by rich kids and foreigners and they have only one exit. Most of the dead were downstairs. The women that go to Santika are the quintessential hip, Asian beauties, so quintessential my Filipino eyes suspected they had stuff doctored, including the most important stuff of all. Live bands were star-studded and the decor posh, the comparison being Embassy sans live bands (pinoys go for D.J.s). I love happening scenes in SE Asia. If I can afford it, I would be a happening man in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta where I know I will not get in trouble with the law or politicians. Hong Kong’s great if one can avoid the Pinoy social scene.

Israeli Strikes Gaza

Israel’s aim on Gaza is straight out of Deuteronomy, making war whenever and wherever God allows or wherever and whenever the Mossad tells them. Israel is practicing a calibrated war, they have given up on diplomacy, launching offensives as intelligence trickles in. The attacks are informed but unmitigated: as long as there are bad intentions and the capability to act on those intentions the bombs will fall when and where the Jews believe, to the best of their knowledge, the enemies are located.

Fire @ Discovery

Discovery Suites had a fire and guests were  given chairs outside the Podium mall. They seat on rows like a show is coming on, some dressed to the nines, an Indian in a bathrobe his massage cut short. This building is my favorite place in Manila, and is also a worthy landmark wedged between two neighboring high-rises. I like the sleek curves and the bronze color of the glass. Its location, tucked between two equally massive structures, enwraps it in the aura I like best: mild noon-day light.

Also got a copy of Harold Bloom’s How to Read and Why. He saved readers from the academics. He’s also said some superlative but definitive things about Shakespeare, who was the greatest author ever and by far the most human in any language. Know why we don’t talk anymore about the gayness of Mann and Shakespeare? Get a copy of the book. It will be in my everyday backpack throughout the week.

P.S. I discovered John Crowley from this critic. He teaches about irony, not the Jessica Zafra version, but the broader definition of the word, which is a vital part of every great book.

New Yorker Story Part 2: Is This a Rejection?

Although we do read all submissions, we cannot respond to them individually
or return them.

Thank you for your interest in The New Yorker.

On 9/13/08 10:38 AM, “Brian Brotarlo” <***********@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> Hello,
>
> Sent you a story – “***********” – April. Have you received it. Still
> haven’t received a reply.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Brian
>
>

I Like This Site: Fuck You, Penguin

Every blogger dreams of replicating the easy success of ICHC. It’s fun to do, doesn’t need much work and earns pretty decent money. Fuck You, Penguin isn’t monetized yet but with the buzz it’s getting it’s only a matter of time. I’ll personally buy a T-shirt from the site if they’re signed up to an affiliate program.

It’s first post:

GODDAMMIT penguin. You think you are SO FUCKING CUTE. I’ll show you, penguin. Maybe not today. But soon, penguin. Watch your adorable fucking back…

See what I mean? It’s cute like wild animals but it doesn’t totally succumb to saccharine lovability, which is only natural for a site devoted to penguins and such animals…. It breaks barriers, is what I mean. Here’s one of my faves so far, about the swan…

You know, there was once an ugly duckling who got picked on all of the time by the other ducks, who couldn’t understand why the duckling was so ugly. But then it turned out that duckling wasn’t really a duck at all, but was in fact a TOTAL FUCKING DICK.

Take this world-class douche, for example. Everyone is just hanging out, having a good time, and Mr. “My wingspan is bigger than yours” decides to unload on the scene. Even his swan friend is embarrassed. He probably does it all the fucking time because let’s be honest: that’s just what swans do. Me personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead with a fucking swan.

And no, I can’t say I could’ve thought of it myself. Well, maybe I could but my version would be about cute little baby pictures. Fuck you, baby. You think you’re So Cute? Do you even know how you came to be, baby? Well if you don’t, FUCK, and that’s all I can say about it. Update: Oops, idea already taken.