On Deck: Sports Thoughts - April 15-21

Just some thoughts about sports for the past few days. :)

Petron Blaze Boosters

So Petron had two games this past three days, against the same team, but with different results. They locked horns with Talk N Text last Wednesday and last night, winning the former and losing the latter. It does sting however as last night was the first game of their best of 3 quarter finals match up. While there may be some questionable calls, specially in the 4th quarter, Petron had their chances, and sadly, they did not capitalize on it, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. TNT just made fastbreak plays one after the other. Some luck also helped TNT's cause (hello that Fonacier three?), but then again, Petron had more than their fair share of chances (Tubid losing control of the ball on a fastbreak attempt, Sims losing the ball to RDO).

That being said, at least it has shown that Petron can definitely match up and beat Talk N Text, even if they have to do it twice in a row. They do however, need to play with the same intensity all 48 minutes of the game. With the way that that Talk N Text capitalizes on mistakes and turnovers and turns them into fastbreak points, Petron cannot afford to have unforced mistakes.

On the bright side, boy oh boy, this guy is really making a big fan of me.

June Mar-freaking-Fajardo. Boy got some moves down low. Amazing footwork, with a touch around the perimeter, and an improving defense and passing. Would love to see him reach his full potential. Would be good for the national team, first and foremost, and for Petron as well. It is plenty obvious that him, and Marcio Lassiter would be the future cornerstones of this franchise.

New York Yankees

The Yankees went 4-1 from Monday to today, losing only yesterday in an extra inning affair against the Diamondbacks. The starting pitching is starting to sort itself out, most of the bullpen is returning to their lockdown mode, and the bats are coming alive, at least against right handed pitchers. The line-up they had yesterday was just painful to watch. Can't wait to have the injured players to return. The team would be crazy deep once that happens.

Speaking of injuries and depth, it is sad to know that the Captain, Derek Jeter, would be out until the All-Star Break. Infield depth is really taking a beating now. Nunez would probably be able to provide replacement level value at short, but with injuries an always lingering issue, it is kind of unsettling that the next on the depth chart is Jayson Nix. Nothing against Nix, but if the Yanks aim to compete for the title this year, they would ideally have more depth. It's not like they have any infield depth in the minors as well. They don't need All-Stars or MVP type players in every position, but they would need someone who would be able to contribute something significant, either with the bat or the glove.

And since I have already mentioned the MVP, I am standing by my prediction that Robinson Cano would win the AL MVP this year, en route to his $200M contract.

Look at that swing, LOOK AT IT!

Coming Up:

Petron goes up against TNT for Game 2 of the Quarterfinals, a win-or-go home game for Petron.

Yankees play the Blue Jays for the 2nd game of their series in Toronto. #HIROK would be starting for the Bronx Bombers.

Real Madrid goes up against Betis early Sunday morning here.

The Chicago Bulls open their 2013 NBA play-offs on the road. They match up against the Brooklyn Nets in this first round 7 game series.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is tomorrow. Practice 1 and 2 were done yesterday, with practice 3 and qualifiers later today. Let's hope Ferrari gets the pole position and races upfront until the checkered flag.

A Super Sports Sunday for me, as all my five sports team are with games. Let's see if I can go five for five.
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Playing on the background:

Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty
"When all your love is gone, who will save me from all I'm up against out in this world?"

All My Life by K-Ci and JoJo
"All my life, I've prayed for someone like you."

Rewind: After all this time, The Itchyworms are still really good.

We first heard it during this year's UP Fair. Itchyworms performed this song live before it was even released in the market. And in that instant, we became big fans of the song, and we're just again amazed at the amazing song writing talent and performance by the band.

It wasn't the usual Itchyworms though, not the light hearted kind of song like Akin Ka Na Lang, or the "pang-inuman" song like Beer. It was more mellow, but that is totally fine with me. Change is sometimes good, and in this instance, excellent.

It also helps that it is one heck of a music video. Don't tell me that that song, together with the video, didn't even pull a bit of your heart strings. Just a perfectly suited MTV for the song.

This really is a perfect example on why I love OPM. I think it is no coincidence that after this fair, me and my brother seemed to have regained our interest in our OPM collection. See, we (well, mostly him) buy original CDs of OPM artists, as we are really big fans of OPM and we believe that that is the least that we could do to help the industry. Plus, for a collection, a library of OPM albums ain't half bad, right?

So there you go, after all this time, Itchyworms definitely still has it. Have been a fan since their Antipara days, and looks like it is going to stay like that for a long long time.

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As a new part of every post in here, I'll be sharing what is playing in the background while writing my entries, coupled with a line or two from the song/s. It is very rare that I write anything while not listening to music. Obviously for this entry, I was listening to the aforementioned Itchyworms' song, After All This Time. So let me leave you with a line from the song. 'Till next time, thanks for reading The Bakit List!

" 'Cause whatever I do, it's no good without you."

Lines Quotes Shows

So I decided to search the vast world of the internet to find some of the lines and quotes from two of my favorite TV shows of all times, Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother. Below are some (well, most) of them, with a commentary every now and then. :)

"You see, everyone's got some baggage-- it's part of life-- but like anything else, it's easier when someone gives you a hand with it."

“I usually don’t like thinking about the future. I mean let’s face it, you can’t predict what’s going to happen. But sometimes, the thing you didn’t expect is what you really wanted after all. Maybe the best thing to do is stop trying to figure out where you’re going and just enjoy where you’re at.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about taking chances, and how it’s really just about overcoming your fears. Because the truth is, everytime you take a big risk in your life, no matter how it ends up, you’re always glad you took it. ”

“I don’t think people are meant to be by themselves. That’s why if you find someone you actually care about, it’s important to let go of the little things. Even if you can’t let go all the way. Because nothing sucks more than being all alone. No matter how many people are around.”

“I think one of the most universal human experiences is feeling alone. You’d never know it, but there’s most likely tons of people feeling the exact same way. Maybe because you’re feeling abandoned. Maybe because you realize that you aren’t as self-sufficient as you thought. Maybe because you know you should’ve handled something differently. Or maybe because you aren’t as good as you thought you were. Either way, when you hit that low point, you have a choice. You can either wallow in self-pity…Or you can suck it up. It’s your call.”

"It’s a mystery how one woman can drive you crazy over and over again, while another can bring you right back down to earth. In the end you have to trust that the perfect woman will always lead you in the right direction.”

"Honestly, the only thing that gives me comfort, you guys, is while I’m sitting at home staring at the ceiling just wishing that I had someone to talk to, is knowing that none of you idiots realize how lucky you are!”

"Bottom line: it’s couples who are truly right for each other wade through the same crap as everybody else, but the big difference is they don’t let it take them down."

“Nothing in this world that’s worth having comes easy”

"Who the hell cares what anybody else thinks? Just look into your heart, and do whatever the hell makes you happy."

“But anyway, I may not ever be able to tell you how much you mean to me, but I promise I will try to show you for the rest of my life. I love you"

“It’s funny how a seemingly insignificant event can set everything else in motion. And insignificant events can lead to significant events. The most minor event — even a butterfly flapping its wings — can change everything. Sometimes for the better. Even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. Of course, it still doesn’t always work out the way you’d hope. In the end, you learn to treasure the times when things go your way. And be there for the ones you love when they don’t. And most importantly, you learn to accept that some things are out of your hands. But still, with so much of life left up to chance, you can’t help but look back and wonder…. What if things had been different…?”

“I don’t love her, I just miss her when she’s not around, I think about her all the time and I imagine us one day running towards each other in slow motion and I’m wearing a brown suede vest.”

"...when I go a day without talking to you… that day’s just no good.”

“Sometimes you’d fall for someone you’d never expect, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Doesn’t everyone deserve to be happy?"

"When you meet the right person, you know it. You can’t stop thinking about them. They are your best friend, and your soulmate. You can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with them. No one and nothing else can compare.”

“Kids, you can’t talk yourself into falling in love. It doesn’t take days of deliberation. When it’s real, you’ll know pretty quickly and with absolute certainty.”

"The reason that I call is to tell you how I feel about you. I know we didn´t work out the first time, and I know it doesn´t make any sense but I can´t shake this feeling that we belong together. Is there any part of you that still wants to try again?"

“I used to believe in destiny, you know? I’d go to the bagel place, see a pretty girl in line, reading my favorite novel, whistling the song that’s been stuck in my head all week, and I’d think, “Wow, hey, maybe she’s the one?!” And now I think “I just know that bitch is gonna take the last whole-wheat everything bagel. No, it’s more than that. I’ve stopped believing. Not in some depressed, “I’m gonna cry during my toast” way, not in a way I even noticed until tonight, it’s just everyday I think I believe a little less, and a little less, and a little less, and that sucks.”

Jerry Whitaker: You got to meet the right girl. Who knows? Maybe you'll meet her tomorrow.
Barney Stinson: Maybe I've met her already. 

“If you have chemistry, you only need one other thing… Timing.. But, timing’s a bitch.”

“When I have kids and I tell them how I met their mother I’m gonna tell them everything, the whole damn story.”

“If you’re not scared then you’re not taking a chance. If you’re not taking a chance then what the hell are you doing anyway?”

 "Aren't you tired of waiting for destiny, Ted? Isn't it time to make your own destiny?"

"When I'm sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead."

"I’m crazy about you. And I want you to know if I had the choice of hanging out with anyone in the entire world or sitting at home with you eating pizza watching a crappy TV show, I’d choose you every time.”

 "...there's only one thing that I see, and I see her brighter and more clearly than anything else in this world. You know what that is? That’s love."

And one last quote, a quote that sums it all perfectly...

”...this woman has a hold on my heart that I could not break if I wanted to. And there have been times when I wanted to. It has been overwhelming and humbling and even painful at times. But I could not stop loving her any more than I could stop breathing. I am hopelessly and irretrievably in love with her. More than she knows. “

He's Baaaack!

Bakit ang tagal kong nawala?

Sorry for being out for so long! Been doing so many academics and org related stuff for the last month or so. But now, I think I need to detox a bit, and what better way than writing?

Yes, no better way than writing!

(Well, maybe except for a few things like an all-night party, or a weekend in Boracay or Palawan, or a bucket full of bacons.)

So anyway, back to blogging! As you can see, I've got a video of the song Linger up there. So before we get unto that, just some administrative matters first! :D

1.)  I'm writing a mini-running-story about..well..stuff. :) Hopefully I can post them here regularly.

2.) Elections are fast approaching! I'd like to write something about that too! And speaking of elections...

3.) Our organization, UP Tangway, is going to have an intra-org freedom writing contest, about the topic Love AND Election. I joined both the essay and poem categories. And of course, I'll post it here. There is a limit of one entry per person per category, but I think I'm going to write more than one, so I'll just post here those other entries that I won't be passing.

Okay! Now that is over, let's go on to the real post. :)

Bakit nagtatagal ang pagtingin na matagal ng nahihimbing?

For a long long time, in excess of 30 months to be more specific, I've had a crush (and just a crush) on this one girl. I didn't know her name, all I remember was her face, what she wore that day, how she walked, how she talked, and how her voice sounded. I continued to see her, be it personally or in pictures as the months pass. Eventually, by chance, I got to know her name, though I never really got the chance to interact with her.

Up until now, she remains to be the biggest crush of my life. It just makes me wonder why my "feelings" stayed as such for the past 2 and a half years. Could it be because she is still mysterious from my point of view? Is it because I haven't seen nor met anyone that could top her? Or is it because it is now transcending towards a point much deeper than a crush?

Honestly, I don't know. Honestly, I'm excited to know. And honestly, I have a bias towards a particular answer. And all the while I am writing this, I can just feel the excitement within me.

Or at least I'd like to think of it as excitement, and not fear. I may very well be just as scared to know the answers to my questions.

Why would you have to let it linger?

Thinking Out Loud: On Laptops and Classes

     One of the highlights of the start of my academic year or semester is actually looking for and buying my notebooks and pens. Yes, I consider that as a highlight for some reason. But somehow, I think that that kind of thrill isn't something that the younger generations would experience as vivid as me and my peers did.

     See, just this semester I noticed something in one of my classes. As we were about to start the lectures and discussions, I pulled out my notebook and pen, ready to take down important notes. My seatmates did the same. Most of my classmates pulled out things from their bags as well. The thing is, it wasn't notebooks and pens, instead, it was laptops, iPads, and digital cameras. While I was writing, they were typing and taking pictures. While I was turning to the next page, they were pressing enter. While I was crossing out mistakes, they were pressing the backspace key or deleting pictures.

    And it wasn't isolated to that one particular class either. In my other class wherein a lot of my classmates where freshmen, this also happened. And it was even the freshmen who were using their laptops and iPads. It kind of caught me by surprise, is this now the norm?

     I remember it very clearly, back when I was a freshman in 2007, laptops were almost exclusively seen used by the students that really needed it (e.g. students taking up BS Computer Science), or by the students who came from wealthier families. I'll probably have around two or three classmate who would use their laptops to take down notes. There were already those taking photos of presentation slides, but most used their camera phones, contrast to today's digicams and DSLRs. I even remember I had some classmates use their cellphones to record what the professor was saying during the lectures, only for them to listen to it later on to check if they missed something during the lecture. 

     Now, what am I getting at? I am in no way saying that using laptops and cameras are bad, or the students would learn less if they use laptops instead of notebooks and pens. This tells me two things. First, is that the population of the students in the university is certainly trending into having students from richer families. One may argue that the lowering costs of laptops may actually be the cause of the increase in number of student laptop users, and not because that they come from wealthier families. I won't argue against that. However, when the laptops that you see are more of the Macs, HPs, and Sony Vaios, instead of the laptop notebooks, then I tend to think that that is because to be coming from a more well of family. Now, is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. If these "rich kids" are also the most qualified students to enter the university, then there is absolutely no issue.

     Second, it just shows me how fast technology is evolving and is becoming more accessible. Like I said, just as few as five years ago, classrooms just felt so traditional and, pardon the pun, old school. Now, it feels so familiar, yet very different. It makes me think, how much more will the classrooms change in another five years? in a decade? Will notebooks be essentially "extinct" in the foreseeable future? 

Rewind - Heads!

The Eraserheads are going to have a North-American Reunion Tour. Below is the poster for the said concert tour. Obviously, there are a lot of 'Heads songs symbolized in the poster. So why don't you go give a try and guess the songs represented below?

I've got my guesses after the jump. :)

Unang Araw - Asul

Asul