What is the appeal of the Batman and what is the appeal of the Dark Knight: The Caped Crusader and the Dark Knight.

For Batman is the Caped Crusader and the Dark Knight. It sorts of shift from time to time. Each seemingly different from one another. And they are giving the Bonds a run for their money.

Caveat: This is not the Caped Crusader but this is the Dark Knight. A more complex man whose fate and wealth have provided him the means and opportunity to be the protector of Gotham City.

A grittier and more intelligent Batman movie.

Consider this a masked vigilante in a defacto relationship with the police force oblitirating organized crime then add to the mix a a righteous DA and sociopath a mad dog out to prove a point.

Consider these forces and then consider them at odds with each other. You get a movie of Shakespearian proportions: madness, pathos and ethos dancing the waltz and the tango back and forth.

Its not your regular villain and heroes in tights. Batman has often been the proverbial Hamlet of the DC Universe and this treatment has long been overdue.

A dynamic interesting yarn; familiar characters made three dimensional by stellar actors; and a gritty feel to Gotham City.

Nolan does what Nolan does best give justice to a story.

I do not think it will give the other vigilante/superhero movie a run for their money. It just went over them with a ten wheeler truck driven by the Joker and he is backing up.

Have you ever seen an uncut diamond? Its no much really and yet like any of its relative like the emerald, ruby or the jade it is often unassuming at first but given time and effort one can clearly see how it can bedazzle the eye.

My choice of blogs that are the diamonds in the rough so to speak. There are limits to this list. And the main limit is me. My apologies if you think any other blog should have been included. I probably have not stumbled upon it. You know blogging is sometimes like prospecting - a bit of science, a bit of voodoo and a bit of serendipity. Anyway here is the list.

THE GROUP BLOGS

1. VisitSagada.com: A niche group blog that focuses on Sagada. It gives you several practical tips and also shares the experiences of the bloggers who have been captivated by the beauty of the place to the point of Ad Naseum but entertaining Ad Naseum not online but up front. And I think this makes these boys Sagada Evangelists.

2. YouGotTech: Five or more individuals trying to bring tech sans the techesse and minus the fan boy attitude via video.Its quirky, entertaining, informative and fun.

3. FilipinoVoices: At long last a blog that brings together the different voices from the Philippine Blogging Community. This blog aint a chorus rather it is a cacophony of sounds coming from the blog jungle. Different and colorful. This is what makes it interesting.

THE FOOD BLOGS

4. Food Blog for Hungry Bachelors

The food companion for single men. Includes what, were and the how of cooking for bachelors by bachelors or those who would want to be bachelors.

5. Pass the Sauce: Cosmetic evangelist, cook and chef-in-training. Plus She is a techie. Her food blog fives you latest place she eats; the latest thing she cooks, and the latest thing her SC ate. Be entertained and learn something about the fine and fun art of eating and cooking.

6. Pinoy Life At Large: Its hard no to miss Arpee. And he seems to be everyhwere today. From the latest food tour and event. Along with Noreen the couple are a pair of genuine gourmets trotting about.

THE PERSONAL:ITS PERSONAL

7. Fritzified.com: How can you not enjoy the ramblings and the musings of Fritz. From discussing the fine things in life to social and Philosophicals. Fritizified.com is a virtual cornucopia of ideas. Time spent there is not boring.

8. SamJuan: This tells it all:

.. mga kwento ni samjuan, sino man, tungkol kanino man, kahit saan, kahit kailan, salamat walang anuman …

Minsan ba at minsan magkaparehong pananaw sa atin. Isinulat ng isang Kababatan na nasa Estados Unidos. Ito po ay isang blog na Ka-aya-ayang basahin. Hindi sayang ang oras.

BLOGS THAT ARE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

A gossip and commentary blog -

9.Bloggers Da Who: Its content talk about bloggers and at the same time provides entertainment to the Philippine Blogging Community. Highlights the good, the bad and the ugly side of Filipino bloggers. Entertains and sheds light to certain bad habits of certain bloggers who will remain anonymous - hence the name Da Who.

A tech and personal blog -

10. Technogra.ph: This blog’s beat is the Philippine technology scene. Covers commentary, news, Reviews, event coverage, and other related developments. It even has a glossary (Grammar Nazi perhaps?). Whatever.Despite its tech advocacy the blog does meander a bit. But it is ok - because it keeps thing lively.

So there. My list. Note there are some blogs that I am part of and there are some blogs that are written by friends but despite me being there or being their friend (at least I think I am) … it does not diminish the fact that they are diamonds in the rough.

Assumption is probably one of the godmothers of disasters. It is not the cause but it helps it along. One of the movies said it to well to assume is to make an ass of yoU and Me. Often this assumption extends itself into the family or circle of friends.

We assume that this is good for him.
We assume that this would be bad for him.
We assume that this is something worth doing,
And we assume that this fun.

When we assume , no when I assume we can do a lot of damage. And the danger to this is made worse by the fact that just because one is family or a friend then manners and sensibilities are put aside.

A comment becomes a stinging remark.
A jest becomes a scathing critique.
A joke goes too far.

Such happened in this particular and personal case. A joke and a jest that went too far. An assumption that it was funny but when in fact it was creating hurt. There is no justification nor excuse for it. It was just plain stupidity and callousness on our … no on my part.

Will a sorry make up for what was done? No. It is there and it has been done. Redemption and rectification is personal. So what is the use of an apology?

Perhaps to say that you admit what you did was wrong and if one were in the same situation again you would do things differently. It is an acknowledgment that one has done hurt on the person and heaped abuse on a friendship. It is to seek forgiveness from an aggrieved party and friend. It is more than just saying sorry it is also saying please forgive me for what I have caused or done.

So it comes to this we or I have caused hurt to a friend whose friendship we or I have cherished. I assume too much.

I am sorry and I ask for your forgiveness. We all do. I do.

BATMAN: I’ll do everything I can to rehabilitate you.
CATWOMAN: Marry me.
BATMAN: Everything except that.

Or this -

ROBIN: Holy molars! Am I ever glad I take good care of my teeth!
BATMAN: True. You owe your life to dental hygiene.

Or this -

BATMAN: Naturally, you didn’t know I was wearing my special Super B long thermal underwear.

Anyway, I saw this post at Benj and you might want to avail of this offer. Watch Batman and be of help.

The Sagip Buhay Foundation of the Philippine General Hospital will be hosting a premiere night for Dark Night on July 18 (Friday) 7PM at the SM Mall of Asia. Tickets sell for 250 pesos each. Please spread the word. All proceeds will go to the medications and lab requirements of indigent patients in PGH.

For details, text me (09175046630) or Dr Adrian Rabe at 09163333603.

BATMAN: Expletives will get you nowhere, Penguin.

UP@100 Moments has been extended. Why has it been extended?

1. To enable more people to join.
2. To make it more beautiful.
3. To meet more people

Basically we wanted the project to be better. And also I think Coy is spearheading efforts to have a raffle of sorts among the participants. Maybe he is giving away the much coveted UP jacket ? Perhaps?

Check the details here.

This was a time that all one needed was one’s weapon of choice and one’s imagination and all was set. Shakespeare said it best I think when he wrote: Cry havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War.

Incidentally this was the same line said by the Klingon General Chang as he was attacking the starship Enterprise in the movie Undiscovered Country. Probably one of the most Shakespeare infused Star Trek movie of all time. General Chang did proclaim that Shakespeare was Klingon.

“You haven’t heard Shakespeare until you’ve heard it in the original Klingon.”
“taH pagh, taH be?”

But I am meandering. We will get back to Shakespeare and the Klingons a bit later.

Anywho, through the years we have seen several versions of Cops and Robbers. And even Cops & Robbers is a variation of games perhaps like The Romans versus the Carthaginians or even the Spartans versus the Athenians - who knows. And it is a game that is not hard to enjoy. It has all the excitement of the chase and the thrill of the hunt: The ultimate game.

But as technology progresses so too does the “toys” involved - just look at Paintball : another fun game.

Last Sunday, though we were in for a treat. Imagine playing the game but this time your imagination is empowered with a maze and lasers At Lazer Xtreme

Cry havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War.

So there I was probably the oldest person in the group about to play the game. It has been a long time since I played this game. It was fun and we played it twice. Release your inner Klingon.

Cry havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War.

The game lasted for twenty minutes although it seemed to last longer. And this is primarily because it was fun. Let us face it there are a few games that will allow you to play make believe with your friends (this is one place where you can shoot at Atheista with impunity and all for the spirit of fun). Its fun.

And its not that expensive - check out details written by Jayvee:

LazerXtreme Rates and Packages:

Games cost P170.00 on weekdays and P190.00 on weekends. It operates during mall hours. The venue also has a function room for events and team building activities.

Birthday Party Package
Weekday Rates P320.00 per head for 2 games
Weekend Rates P360.00 per head for 2 games
Birthday celebrant plays for free

Additional games is P150.00 for weekdays and P170.00 for weekends

The function room can be rented out for 2 and 1/2 hours for events. LazerXtreme caters as well (they have decent burritos) for P3,000 on weekdays and P6,000 on weekends (consumable).

LazerXtreme contact:
Maureen Scherrie Delantar
09194652654 / 256-6467
maureen@lazerxtreme.com.ph
[Source]

Speaking as one of three forty something in the group I would say it was fun irregardless of age. And you can play it with friends and family - especially the kids.

Cry havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War.

and have a fun time.

Recommended for the young and the young at heart.

Snaps taken from the Buhay Coke Video Launch at Taste Asia. Last friday.

By the way thanks to Fritz for taking a number of snaps.

The bigger picture is here.
The photoset on multiply is here.
The slide is here (Also on Multiply)
And select snaps can be seen here.

The event was actually a launch of Coke’s video contest check here or more specifically here for details.

THE TOPICS:

Photography
Creative Writing
Videography

THE SPEAKERS/RESOURCE PERSONS

Ocs Alvarez in photography
Dean Alfar in Creative Writing
and
Mike Cabardo in videography.

THE DETAILS

What: Seminar/Talk
When: 7:00 pm 24 June 2007, Tuesday
Where/Venue: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Address: Bonifacio High Street, Glogal City Taguig

THE CATCH

The event is open to 60 bloggers only. Leave a comment on this blog so you can get a slot.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf knows that everyone has a story to tell. That’s why on June 24, Tuesday at 7 PM, join us as creative minds share their expertise in the fields of essay writing, photography and videography in a workshop that aims to spark your creativity to tell your own Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf story.