CHAIN OF THOUGHTS: February

Here are some February scribbles

Spider-Man
Here’s what recently significantly happened to Spider-Man/Peter Parker. This is taken from a Wikipedia article.
The story begins in Amazing Spider-Man #544. With Aunt May slowly dying after being shot by a sniper during the closing hours of the Superhero Civil War, Peter Parker is forced to ask Tony Stark for financial assistance. Iron Man first attempts to bring Peter in for opposing the Superhero Registration Act, but stops when he learns of May's situation. He listens to Peter, but tells him he can't help him. He does however send Jarvis with a $2,000,000 check that will cover May's medical needs. Peter then sets out to help May, any way he can.
Continuing in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24, Peter seeks council with Doctor Strange. Doctor Strange informs Peter that he can do nothing to grant Aunt May her life back. However, he helps Peter seek the aid of several others including Doctor Doom, the High Evolutionary, Reed Richards, and Doctor Octopus. Without Strange's approval, Peter attempts to go back in time using one of the spells. He harms himself in the process. Strange heals his wounds and sends him on his way, encouraging him to be by his Aunt's side at her death. On his way to the hospital, Peter is confronted by a little girl, who says she holds the answer to his problem.
In The Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2) #41 Peter talks to the little girl, who runs off. While pursuing her, Peter encounters two men; An overweight software tester who says he wishes he were a hero, and a middle-aged technology magnate, who says he'd give up all his fortune just to be with a girl he'd known and lost years ago. Peter then encounters a woman in red, who tells him that the two men he met were him, from alternate possible timelines where Peter was never bitten by the radioactive spider. The woman transforms into Mephisto, who tells Peter he can save Aunt May. But as payment, Mephisto wants, not Peter's soul, but his and Mary Jane's marriage. In return for saving May, he wants to wipe all memory of Peter's marriage to MJ from all but one part of their souls, so that he may listen to those parts' pain for the rest of eternity. Peter and Mary Jane are given until midnight the following night to decide their answer.
As the story concludes in Amazing Spider-Man #545, Peter and Mary Jane agree to the deal after several hours lamenting over the decision. Mary Jane whispers to Mephisto that she can offer him something in return for removing the knowledge of Peter's identity from the world. Before sealing the deal, Mephisto reveals that the little girl was a representation of Peter and Mary Jane's possible child that they will never have. Mary Jane reassures Peter that the two will somehow find each other again. Mephisto changes history so that Peter and Mary Jane never married, and Spider-Man did unmask but, no one seems to remember whose face was underneath. Peter wakes up alone in bed, living again with Aunt May, who is alive and well, in her old house, which burned down prior to siding with Tony Stark. He attends a party being held for one of his friends, a resurrected Harry Osborn back from rehab (who did not die, as a result of Mephisto's magic). He glimpses Mary Jane sadly leaving the party. They then all toast a "Brand New Day".
* * *

I sympathize with Peter Parker, Spider-Man, not only because he’s one of my favorite characters, but because he don’t deserve this. Mary Jane is just too important to him. It is common knowledge to Spidy fans like me that Peter Parker is a misfortune magnet. But even with all this problems and pains that bombards his life as Peter Parker and Spider-Man, he continues to do good things. One of the best things in his life is MJ, one of his strengths, and he in some degree, he forgets the strain of being a “misfortune magnet” because he had MJ.

I don’t know why I had been affected by these current happenings to Spidy. Anyway, in the past, he had lost MJ before but found her again, and Spidy had greater problems than this, but he prevailed over them. Given the time (and a writer’s good storyline), all of this would come to a good end.
I don’t know why I’m being too sentimental about it. Maybe it is because of this Valentines feel in the air.

Valentines
“Why do you not like Valentines?”
“It’s pagan,” I reply with a laugh.
Of course, though Valentines do really have pagan origins and symbolisms (like Christmas), but that is not really the reason. I am not just into this “love and romance and valentines and such” stuff.
And I don’t like red much.

LA Lakers
But I like the purple and gold.
My beloved Lakers have Gasol now. I hope the Lakers, led by Kobe will win a championship this season. Go Lakers! I hope they dominate February with many wins.
I like the Lakers a lot. And the Laker Girls, too.

Girls
When Stephen Hawking was asked by Larry King what he thinks is the greatest mystery in the universe, the great physicist replied, “women.” I agree with the genius.
I cannot understand the fairer sex. They are just too difficult to read. Sure a father may understand a daughter, or a husband a wife, or a boyfriend a girlfriend, but when it’s man-woman, I don’t think so a male will.

I’ll admit it here…
As being a person is concerned, I respect females. I am not prejudiced when it’s come to this – as persons. I’ll admit they are good or equal or superior to men in some things if they really do, I will recognize it without bias – as persons. Females are good friends and acquaintances – as persons. Yes, all these as “persons.”
But, I will admit it here, I have a dislike and distrust of the female sex.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate them. And I am not prejudiced by them. And I do not think of them as the inferior sex. No. No such thing. I like them as persons, and as friends, as sisters, as mothers, as aunts, etc.
I just have this dislike and distrust of females.
Maybe because females are dangerous if you allow them to affect you.

Analogy
Maybe an analogy illustration can explain it. Just as Christ commanded, “love the sinners, and hate the sin.” So, I may like and trust a female as a person or as my friend, but dislike and distrust females. Sure, it’s not much of a perfect analogy since being a female is not a sin. It’s just… ah, okay, I’ll admit it, it’s not an appropriate analogy. But I hope you get the point.

Feminism and The War of the Sexes
Females had become very active of “female emancipation” and cries of “equality” since the 19th century. Oh, feminism is very popular. I know some about it – heck, I read a lot you know. I agree with “equality” of the sex and rights of suffrage and such. But when feminism goes on the extreme – like branding males as evil, insisting of God’s feminity, Sapphism, or believing that females are superior to male and that they have the divine right of always “knowing what is best” – we got a problem Womankind who are into feminism are very prone to extreme feminism. There is a danger there. Norms and effective systems are threatened.

Yeah. Male and female are equal, I agree with that. As far as sex is concerned, male and female are equal. But in other senses, male and female equality is impossible. There are roles that are best done my men than women (and, fine, I’ll add, “vice versa” to not appear biased). Females see the world that seems to be male-dominated and patriarchal, as male oriented… but this doesn’t mean female inferiority. Female should not think so, because if they do, when they feel insecure and inferior, they will believe in extreme feminism.

Sure, I admit maybe all this “emancipation” and feminism started because of male arrogance. But feminism is also arrogance. Extreme feminism – specifically – is arrogance oriented, and biased. It brainwashes women, and it treats males as the enemy… and it start to make harmony between male and female impossible – which is not.

Males, feeling threatened of this, begun to fight it wrongly. Making chauvinism.
My mother once told me that I am a chauvinist. Maybe slight. All males have some slight chauvinism in them, as defense of this irrational and extreme feminism. But I will not defend extreme chauvinism. It’s as much as an evil as extreme feminism. Sexism is evil.

This open and close war between the male and the females is a reality. Some make sci-fiction stories (feminist authors mostly) where there is a war between the two sexes, and the male being wiped out and the world, with only females remaining, becomes a paradise. I don’t think so a world with one of the sexes missing is a paradise, God created Eden with a male and a female. Anyway, this sci-fi scenario may happen if this “war” about gender domination gets out of hand.

There are instances where there are good-humored debates about which is the superior sex, it’s good as long as it’s a good-humored debate and discussions, as long as there is no extremities. God has designed roles and systems. And we will have just to trust God that His system is the best, and there is no issue of “dominance” or “superiority” in this system.

But I still distrust and dislike the females.

Women Leaders
No, I don’t mind being lead by women. I’m not prejudiced. As long as she’s a competent and respectable leader, no problem with me.
But it’s frustrating to be lead by someone who’s not.

Movies
I find movies good relievers of frustrations.

Anyway, it’s February again and romance is popular. And romantic movies, too. I am not much into the “romantic” genre, but I admit I enjoyed some because of the good story or/and concept. Here is the list of those romantic movies I watched and liked (there is no order nor chronology).

Cutting Edge – this is about a hockey player who decided to figure skate with a pro-female figure skater as a partner in a couple figure skating contest. I don’t know why I enjoyed this but I did. It was the first romantic movie I liked.

Notting Hill – “I am just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” Ugh. Plainly stupid. One of movie history’s worst lines. But Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts had chemistry, the Spike character was hilarious and it had some fine points.

A Walk to Remember – good story.

Music and Lyrics – I decided to watch it because of the music theme in it. I found the story enjoyable.

Sleepless in Seattle – again I forgot the story and why I liked it.

Shallow Hal – Hilarious, and because it paired gorgeous Gwyneth Paltrow to funny Jack Black. Moral of the story, “Beauty dwells in the heart.”

Pretty Women – another story I forgot but liked. I just remember it was about an executive (Richard Geere) and a hooker (Julia Roberts).

I am not exposed to much “romance” movies. If you notice, must of the movies I mentioned are romantic-comedies, so I probably watched them for the sake of the comedy, or because my parents were watching it and I decided to hang around and watch it too. I don’t know of I enjoyed other romantic movies aside from those I mentioned. If there were others, I probably forgot about them. And maybe there are other great and enjoyable romantic movies I hadn’t watched, so I cannot give comment to.

Books
As for romantic books, no I am not into them. But since I love literature, I had read some. But given the choice, I’ll choose classic romance like “Pride and Prejudice” (although I still hadn’t read it anyway) than those there are nowadays. But I like the story of one titled “Oliver’s Story”, because it has a good story.

Music
In my non-preference of “love and romance and such” in terms of genre in other arts or fields, I guess I have to make an exception here since most of the songs and music created were about “love and romance and such.”
Besides, Paul McCartney said (or sang), “Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs. And what’s wrong with that?”
Good point, Sir Paul.

Dating and Relationships
I got nothing against dating and relationships… but they are risks, and not to be taken lightly and jump into them quickly.
Personally, I avoid them. I had some glimpse of these things a long time ago, and I admit, I can’t handle it. Besides, I have no money and time for such things. And, simply, because I am not interested.

As Ending
I admit I had felt “emotional thrills” and can be affected initially by a females allure or seduction – but only initially, subsequently it often wears off. Things like this don’t happen often anyway, since I am not interested much in this “love and romance and such” stuff and avoid such things.
But even in my cynicism of “love and romance and such” – because they are just “emotional thrills” – I am not biased to admit, that maybe, they are important. And maybe God gave such emotions and concepts to humans for a reason, like giving a taste of what is not much of comprehension and reality to us, such as the Love of God.

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Late Night

I am at my peak when it’s night
I’m no vampire
I am just at my peak when it’s night
Where I have the most energy and “life”
Late night
Ah, the best time of the day

There are two kinds in which I spent it
Out or inside the house
I like both
Late night out usually means parties
I like parties
I like the food most about it

But, honestly, I like late nights inside the house better
There are a lot of things to do
Now, inside the house I will be either:
Asleep or awake
Sleeping is one of my interests
But I usually sleep late
(And I enjoy sleeping in the afternoon more anyway [note: the best thing the Spaniards brought the Filipinos is siesta. Don’t argue.])
Late nights are for…
Reading
Watching movies or TV
Meditating
Thinking
Drawing
Praying
Writing
Listening to my mp4 player
In rare times, studying
And lots more
I get to enjoy doing these things when it’s late night

Before I forget, eating is the best thing to do when it’s late night
Midnight meals
Refrigerator raids
When you have the absolute freedom what to eat
I like to eat any cold leftovers from supper
Chicken
Beef
Pansit
Lauriats
Combos
Anything goes
One of my favorites is a late night snack of coffee and crackers and cheese

I just enjoy the night
The best time to relax
To unwind
To rest
To do what things I like
Alone
With the stars brightly shining above the sky
And no tropical sun’s heat
Or day noises
I don’t know why
Really
Maybe because no matter how bad a day is, the night usually lessens the “badness” of it
Or maybe because it seems all the time and silence in the whole universe is during late night
Or maybe because since I share the world during the day with other people, but in the late night, it seems I have it all for my own

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NAMES

Names are always fascinating. Why is someone name as such? Can a person’s name reflect his personality? Can a person’s name describe him? Can a name break or make a person? Such questions arise about names.

There are a lot of funny things and inconveniences regarding names. Like name-calling and teasing, where a person gets hurt when being branded with insults and insulting names. Or when your name got misspelled in your birth certificate; either you adopt the misspelled name in the certificate, or use the name you supposed to have by having a lengthy and costly legal procedure.

It’s fun and interesting sometimes to find the meaning of your name, or why you are given such name (there was a book in our high school library that has the meanings of some modern-name names, and we planned to steal it but never did. Actually, it was the only book in the library that got our clique [CCC] got interested in). Like those guys in the Bible, who’s names’ meaning were really appropriate with whom they are as persons. Parents named their children because of a combination of their names, or named their children after a favorite celebrity or other idols (I know of kids who were named Sidney Sheldon, Agatha Christie… and someone who was named after the Queen of Pop). Or like the Negro slaves after being emancipated were given the privilege to choose their own surnames.

Our stat prof told us about a former student who had Becile as surname, and a middle initial of M, and therefore goes, M. Becile. There was also another former student of his with the surname Moron, and the name of Alexander. Alex was an excellent varsity runner, and he was nicknamed "Alexander the Great" after the famous Macedonian conqueror of the past. But my prof, ever playful, told Alex, "You may be a great runner. But to me, you are still Alexander The Great Moron." I also have a schoolmate of mine, my junior, in high school, whose surname was being joked about in our clique like "She probably despises her father", or "I bet she’ll marry soon to get rid of her surname." It is because her surname was "Penis".

My father has a namesake who is a convicted rapist – to our family’s amusement. If you search engined my father’s name in the Internet, you’ll find in the results, among his blogs and articles, a court article about someone who has the same name and was convicted of rape. Another story like this was of some teacher of mine in the past who was refused by the NBI in giving a clearance because she has a namesake who was a wanted smuggle and thought that she and the smuggler was one. Talk about inconvenience.

Some people hate their names that they rechristened themselves with nicknames. Like Nancy Drew’s friend Georgia Fayne who does not like her given name but prefers to be called George instead, and gets mad if you call her by “Georgia”, her given name. for my part, I like to be called “Bernel” instead of “Frenson”. Only my mother, two high school professors, and a stubborn friend and batchmate survived after calling me “Frenson.”. To friends and relatives, I am “Nel” and “Bernz” (my real nickname is “Nel”… some classmates [or was it churchmates?] started “Bernz”). But I like “Nel” better.

Nicknames are as fun as names. William is a Bill, Robert is a Bob, Richard is a Dick, and John is a Jack… and I don’t know why. Some nicks are made because of someone’s character or reflects or summarize him as a person like “The Great” (Napoleon, Catherine, Alexander, etc.) or “Iron Lady” (Margaret Thatcher); or animal references like Pig (greedy), Fox (cunning), Snake (treachery) or Sloth (laziness); or because simply it was a shortening of the name like Tim for Timothy and Jess for Jessica.

But even is a nickname or name makes or break you, defined or discredits you, has goodwill or notoriety, lovely to hear or funny or offending, a name is just a name without the person. The person himself is the one important; since it is the one give justice or injustice to the name given or attached to him.

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Network Wars

If asked if I’m a Kapamilya or a Kapuso, I reply, “Neither. I prefer to watch cable.” Yes, I rather watch cable, but, sure, I watch some shows from both networks. I may find myself watching game shows, cartoons, news, noontime shows, feature and investigative shows, and others. I watch to be entertained. I don’t care what station. But I am surprised that many people are not like me. They had developed “blind” loyalties to either “Kapamilya” or “Kapuso”. I think there is nothing wrong to be loyal to a favorite station, but blind loyalty. That develops a person into a biased and brainwashed one like that a TV network is some kind of religion or ideology. There is something wrong with that. I observe people like this, with this blind loyalty, a “Kapamilya” or “Kapuso”, and quarreling with someone with the opposite loyalty. Crap.

I think this “Kapamilya” vs. “Kapuso” thing between ABS-CBN and GMA is getting out of hand. The two networks war is in extreme now, with both out-advertising and discrediting each other. I know business is supposed to be war according to the Japanese, but I never expected that it can become hostile. Not only are the managements involved in this, but also the talents of the two networks are quarreling also (like the verbal war between Joey De Leon and Willie Revillame). Worse, the viewing public is drawn to the conflict and takes sides, either Kapamilya or Kapuso, and takes the quarrels and debates among themselves, among family and friends.

With this new controversy of “rating fixing” of research agency AGB Nielsen (“alleged systematic, organized and well-funded attempt” to rig television ratings), the two networks are in an all out war, and it sickens me. It sickened me more when GMA made a promo in their commercial time regarding the controversy, which seems like a sign of insecurity and guilt. And then ABS-CBN made a promo of their own, regarding it. Actually, this war between the two networks is okay for me – if it’s limited to the both of them (consider it just additional “spice” or story… like those in WWE or NBA). But as I’ve said, there are already loyalties, and this “war” can – if not yet – extend to the public, thanks to GMA’s promo.

What’s with all these ratings anyway? More ratings=more profit? I don’t pretend I know all about ratings and statistics – heck, I only got a 2.7 in Business Statistics – maybe so. But isn’t fighting like this, then making promos to get public sympathy, is childish? I don’t know... maybe fighting will bring them more ratings. I don’t know how the public reacts anymore.

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2007 Scribbles

2007 was a fun year. Here are some reflections (and preview of 2008)

- I am thankful for God for continually making me pass my course this year. I pray that the Big Guy would continue to bless me in my studies.
- I just turned 18 in 2007, and so far, life in “legal” age has been okay. I am now “legally” responsible for myself, and entitled with the privileges (and consequences) of my age, like voting, watching R-18 movies, drinking booze (and, heck, going to jail),etc. Yes, I’m now 18, but, of course, still studying, and living with my parents, and all that, so I’m not really that independent yet. Turning 18 made me think if I’m already in a life on my own – it’s only now a few years away before my folks kick me out to explore life in my own. Did 18 years prepare me for the “real world”? Am I really stronger now? Can I completely handle the harshness of reality? I still have a few more years to think of this though… a few more years of growing up still. Maybe, I hope, by then I am sure of myself that I’m ready to be on my own.
- I don’t mind much when everywhere suddenly turns into a war zone during New Year and New Year’s Eve (though I don’t like firecrackers, because of the noise, and the smell of the smoke, and the danger, I do like fireworks because it explodes harmlessly and beautifully above the sky.), but during Christmas Eve and Day? I like the Filipino tradition of long Christmas, but a long New Year celebration – and starting on the season of Christ’s birth? I don’t like it. Christmas is supposed to remind us of Bethlehem and not Iraq.
- Finally, after waiting a long time, the Legend Killer, the youngest heavyweight champion in history of WWE, Randy Orton, finally got another world championship, this time the WWE Championship (I’m glad). But it’s a pity, Chris Benoit died horribly, killing his family before killing himself. I hope the public would not think that all pro wrestlers are wackos in real life – they are only supposed to act like it in the ring.
- The reunion concert of Led Zeppelin and “Live Earth” were the two gigs I missed (and wanted) to watch in 2007. I hope I can get a DVD of both.
- The Philippines lost the FIBA qualifiers for the Olympics and then lost the SEA games crown. Awww, painful. At least, Pacquiao continue to win his bouts.
- Marvel Comics’ Civil War was big, and the post-Civil War condition is certainly interesting. Captain America got assassinated this year, and there’s distrust and bad feeling in the air. What can the House of Ideas bring us in 2008?
- Kobe Bryant won the 06-07 All-Star MVP, but will he won the regular MVP this season? (I hope so) The Spurs had won the 06-07 championship, and will they repeat again? (I hope the Lakers win the championship this year)
The NBA is exciting as always with the start of 07-08 season. I’m disappointed the Celtics got Garnett instead of the Lakers. With a Pierce and Allen Celtics, I still don’t think they can go win it all… but with Garnett, probably. And so far, the Celtics is doing great because of the Big Three.
It’s painful to watch as the Celtics beat the Lakers (Again, why the Lakers GM did not make an effort to obtain Garnett? I can feel Kobe’s frustration)… but I have to remind you, it’s not like the Celtics’ Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale vs. the Lakers’ Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy like the old times, it’s Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett vs. Kobe Bryant. Kobe maybe the best in the NBA now, but he can’t go against the Big Three all at the same time.
However, the LA Lakers are doing fine so far. I hope they keep on wining in 2008.
- Kimi’s F1 Grand Prix championship was a classic. I did not expect that he’ll win all the last races… and that Hamilton had bad luck in the last two races (he did not even need to win at all, but to just get enough points, I think, a 4th was good enough). It would had been cool to have a black rookie as champion. And, oh, Alonso is moving back to Renault… it seems he can’t risk being outshined by Hamilton in McLarren.
- I hope that when Trillanes plans a revolt, he'll make sure it works. He should have learned his lesson during the Oakwood days, but he repeated his mistake in Manila Pen. Next time, if there is a next time, which I doubt, plan well and make sure it succeeds. It doesn’t guarantee that a win in this year’s Senate election guarantees a success in a revolt. Annoyance is what the public felt during the Manila Pen takeover.

A lot of good things is to come this 2008. The Beijing Olympics is coming. Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania is just around the corner. Pacquiao has great fights coming this year. Good movies are coming this 2008, like the next James Bond flick (Daniel Craig’s second one as 007) and Iron Man (I don’t know if it will become a hit… there was a lot of dislike for him during the Civil War). I can feel there are a lot of interesting things to happen in 2008 (and I hope I can pass Financial and Cost Accounting). May God bless us in the year of the rat. (I though “pig” was bad to hear, but “rat”?! Oh boy)

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X-mas Stories

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love the atmosphere of it, and I’m not talking of the weather and the temperature. It seems you can feel everything is different when it’s Christmas. I simply like everything about Christmas. The holiday. The merrymaking. The gift giving (kids like me can’t wait for the mullah… and those younger for the toys). The jubilance. The carols and songs. The religious significance (some kept on pointing out that Christmas is not really the date of Christ’s birth, and that it has paganism in it… sure, I know of the pagan symbols and connotations in Christmas… but the best argument is, let the pagans use the holiday and symbols for their purpose, but let the Christians use Christmas for God’s glory and for goodness, and it does not matter if December 25 is not the exact date of Christ’s birth; we are celebrating the birth of Christ anyway and not the date! The date is insignificant, the birth and the meaning of it are the things important.)
And, of course, I love Christmas stories.

Yes. The Christmas stories. There are a lot of them. From literature and traditions to TV specials and movies.

TV series and cartoons have Christmas specials when it is the holiday season – and those episodes are classics. Like the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Christmas special where all the Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters are together; and the Archie’s Weird Mysteries episode of the Christmas Phantom, who was actually Santa Claus himself, granting Archie’s wish for Christmas. I like to watch such Christmas specials, especially marathons, on TV. They are among the most entertaining shows ever. You get to see episodes that are very different from regular episodes. One example is the Christmas episode of Mr. Bean (the live version, not the cartoons); it was one of the best in the series.

During Christmas season, Christmas cartoons are aired on TV. I found three channels that did this effectively in my childhood. One was HBO, (not only did HBO rock when it comes to cartoons like Spawn and Sin City, but also of its Christmas toons) with cartoons like “Rudolph’s Shining Christmas”, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, and “Frosty the Snowman”. In the local networks, GMA did okay. I enjoyed their airing of several Christmas cartoons every afternoon, and of the cartoon series “Claus”, a cartoon series of a boy Santa Claus. Disney Channel is the third; not only did they air Christmas episodes of their regular set of TV series, but also other Christmas specials and movies.

And how about the movies? Christmas movies had pretty good stories, too. The Home Alone series were all set during the Christmas season, and it showed great Christmas principles as well as the best hilarious (and painful) pranks and booby traps a little boy can do. The Santa Claus movies of Tim Allen were okay, too. And Christmas specials does not only happen to TV shows, but also to movie franchises like “Richie Rich”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “All Dogs Go to Heaven”; all of them have Christmas movies.

Though, yes, Christmas stories are more effective on TV or movies, let us not forget that it is also present in literature. Since Dickens’ classic “The Christmas Carol”, to Agatha Christie’s “Holiday for Murder”, Christmas has been used an effective theme of a story, or a background even if it is not the main theme. Christmas stories are also in comic books and cartoon strips. “Mickey Mouse and Friends”, “Calvin & Hobbes”, “Peanuts”, “Archie and Friends” and, especially, “B.C.”, are among the many that had created great stories by using Christmas as theme or tool… we find Uncle Scrooge McDuck, unbeknownst to him, treating the entire Duck clan for Christmas; Calvin’s father sacrificing his work so that he can spend time with his son to make a snowman (very Christmas spirit); Charlie Brown’s sister Sally mistaking “reindeer” for “rain gear”, as one of Santa’s trademarks; Archie collecting rare photos of things that can only happen in Christmas, missing a genuine shot of Santa Claus, but getting a shot of Jughead kissing Ethel, a thing that can only happen once in a lifetime; and B.C. and friends, with stories about the true meaning of Christmas, authored by the B.C.’s Christian cartoonist, Johnny Hart… the list goes on a long way of classic stories like these. Even superhero comics and mangas (even anime series have great Christmas episodes), like Yu Yu Hakushu, have great Christmas issues when it is the season.

“Christmas” should be an established genre in fiction. Good is present in the story if Christmas is used – even if it used just as a setting, a tool or a background. Great conflicts, plots and entertainment arise from a story with Christmas in it. Not only are Christmas stories entertaining, but also heartwarming and full of lessons to be learned. Christmas stories create fascinating characters like “Ebenezer Scrooge” to “The Grinch”. In regular continuity of stories, Christmas episodes or issues stray from the regular flow of the story sometimes, but it becomes a classic nonetheless. Like when Yusuke helped a stray spirit, and when psycho vigilante Batman shows compassion and emotion. And it creates unexpected but refreshing twists like in the “Archie’s Weird Mysteries” Christmas episode.
Yes, Christmas stories are certainly among the best stories in the world.

* * *

Christmas stories are special, entertaining and good. But maybe it is so because of the meaning – the true meaning – of Christmas, and the true story behind it all. Though there are a lot of good Christmas stories around, we should not forget the number one Christmas story ever. A true story of the Savior who was born in a manger a long time ago. The world has never been the same since then.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

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SPIDERS

Here is a scenario:
Someone, a female very often, sees a spider. It will take about a second or two for it to register to her that it was a spider. And another second of hesitation to confirm that it was a spider. Then the scream, “Eeeeeeeeee!” It’s so high pitched that it can break glass. “A spider! A hideous spider!” She will then either kill it herself with her shoe, or call someone, a male very often, to kill it for her.

When scenarios like this happen, my sympathy is on the spider. You see, I like spiders; they’re my fave kind of insects (technicaly, they are not really insects). Arachnids. I don’t know where this fondness of mine on spiders started. It might be because Spider-Man is my favorite comicbook character since I was a toddler that I grew fond of spiders, too (and I wondered if being bitten by an irradiated spider really gives you superpowers). Or because like other Filipino boys, I find it fun watching two spiders fight hanging on a stick. Or maybe because I find their webs, and when they make their webs, cool. Or is it because of a children story called “Charlotte’s Web”? I don’t know.

I am not afraid of spiders since I was a baby. Even of the big ones with venoms. And I never kill spiders, nor ever will, just as I won’t kill a cat. They are such interesting and complex creatures… one of God’s bests.

I heard a story of someone who does not know of God in atheist China, I think, what without the help of a preacher nor a Bible began to believe in god when he saw a spider. He cannot comprehend something as complex as a spider making its web exists even if there is no God. So, he concluded that there is God. Spiders, God’s little missionaries.

Fascinating are these God’ creatures that live all over the world, on mountains, in forests, in caves, desserts, and even underwater. Spiders don’t only eat insects, but some kinds also eat small fish and tadpoles. Another interesting thing about spiders I that male spiders are much smaller than females, so the females sometimes mistake males for other insects and gobble them up!

One of the things I like about spiders is they kill mosquitoes. Just as much as I liked spiders is my hate for mosquitoes. That’s why I don’t get rid of webs often, the more webs there are, the better the chance of a mosquito getting captured by a spider and get killed (of course, I have to remove the webs when they are already too thick for the light of the fluorescent bulb to get through). Oh, another cool thing, I saw a spider biting the head off a cockroach, and then sucking its blood… radical.

There is one characteristic in spiders that people should copy. Perseverance. Break their webs and they will only repair them or make another one. They never give up. Just like the spider in the song “itsy bitsy spider”. It continued on its way up the water spout after it was washed down by the rain. We, humans, should also learn to persevere and continue in our way up our “water spouts” even if the “rain” washes us out.
I think the guy who wrote that song likes spiders, too.

So, please, don’t kill a spider when you see one. There are 10,000 different kinds of spiders in the world, and all of them are not worth killing. The little guy is only minding his own business, do likewise. Only kill a spider when it is as huge as the ones in the movie “Eight-Legged Freaks”, you’re a fool if you don’t kill it if you have the chance.

All’s left is finding out if a bite from an irradiated spider really gives you powers like Spider-Man.

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