setting the standard

People in media are actually setting the standards for us, what ought and what ain't done. Without us knowing it, viewers are bombarded with a lot of trash everyday, trash in the sense that instead of developing or improving our way of life, some shows just pull us all down into the gutter. so what's the standard? Is it locally based? Do we have our own little standard in our own little corner of this world? What characterizes quality? Do we even know it when we see one?

I think local media should exert all its efforts in raising their standards whether morally, aesthetically, or intellectually. It is part of their duty to do this because they play a huge role in shaping the minds of the young. Whether they like it or not, their programs tell the viewers that "this is it", "this is how things ought to be done". Ouch. No wonder the next generation carries on the same blunders and the same level of mediocrity. Please. Let us see improvement in this area---not just a speck of it but tons of it NOW.

discipline ain't savagery

I am all for discipline in school and at home because it is only through this that we can enjoy life and enjoy peace in our community. Without this as an important component of education, our community will soon be full of rascals and criminals. But please, discipline has nothing to do with violence or other forms of physical assault that lead to physical injuries. That is no longer discipline but savagery.

Discipline is done for the good of the person being disciplined. It has limits and its purpose is always for the betterment of the human being. If it leads to violence or worse, death, then it is not discipline anymore but murder.

A stepfather of a two-year-old kid recently killed the kid by throwing her against the wall resulting to head injuries that killed the child. The stepfather reasoned out and used the term "discipline" to explain what he did. Discipline? That's murder.

earth-shaking questions in pageants are passe

Gone are the days when beauty candidates had to memorize formulas in response to earth-shaking questions like "How do you describe the woman of the new Millennium?"

Candidates are more appreciated and better judged based on their spontaneous answers to spontaneous questions. We want to hear and see spontaneity in our contestants but how can we do this when we ask such boring questions as:

1. What is the best career for a woman?

2. What is the biggest role of women in our society?

3. What challenges do our women of today have to deal with? (I mean, this one could be better)

But questions that require big answers are just laying the ground for memorized and formulated answers.

If you have observed in international pageants, final questions now lean towards casual questions that need quick and brilliant answers. A question like "What makes you blush?" could send the woman who gives the smartest answer to the throne.

There is no need to memorize answers when questions are upbeat.

no internet

Would I ever consider living in a place where internet is inaccessible? Never. And I don't think anyone who knows the benefits of having internet access would want that either.

It might sound unbelievable but a lot of people in our place, college graduates at that, do not have internet in their homes. These people just don't know what they are missing. Or are they really missing anything?

Back in the olden times, our parents and even great grandparents would tell us of how simple and uncomplicated life was then. They didn't even have the television back then but they're fine. I can very well see many reasons why life then would prove to be better than life today.

But given the fast technological breakthroughs at present, and having no opportunity of knowing what these changes are would be like living in the dark ages. Since we belong to this generation of various technological developments, I deem it necessary for each and every one to cope or keep abreast with what's new in this world today.

Not having internet at home would be like being deprived of a lot of things.

blogging as self-expression

Blogging is the best way to express one's innermost thoughts and feelings. The blogger can even opt to choose who he or she wants to access her blog. She can make it accessible to everyone at the risk of baring her soul and personal trash or choose to make it a private thing.

I think this is one of the best features of the internet. One only needs words to empty all those heavy thoughts and feelings, pour them out the way the heavens do when the clouds get so heavy.

You can be at your best or at your worst. You can dress it up or make it simple. Your blog is basically an extension of yourself so you can do anything with it.

Haven't done any blog yet? Try www.blogger.com for your free blog and get started now.

why I'm not going to the David Pomeranz concert

It's not that I don't know the singer. In fact, many years ago when I was partly working at an FM station I used to play his albums early in the morning while everybody's having breakfast. It's just that when I heard that he was coming over to Dumaguete, my initial reaction was like, "Why only now?" I think he just came too late, that his popularity has waned and that his concert no longer sparks any interest in me. I thought I'd rather stay home and listen to more popular songs if I want to.

I have a different idea of concerts. I want to go to a concert where I can clap my hands and do some dancing in my seat. I do not want to go to a concert where I only sit to listen coz I can always do that at home. I want a concert with lots of dancing in it and where I can openly scream and laugh.

Call me a killjoy but a David Pomeranz concert isn't exactly my type of concert.

what ever happened to the word "please"?

It seems like young ones today have already forgotten manners. They ask you to do things without using courtesy words like "please" or "could you please". They give commands instead the way they do it in the military.

When do we use the word "please"? Whenever we request someone to do something for us it is important that we say "please" like "Please close the door" or "Please give me that". Requests, in contrast to a command, almost always yield positive results.

an invitation

If you're from Oriental Negros Philippines you will be able to watch our weekly show called "at random". It is aired 8 to 9 in the evening of Sundays and replays Mondays 12 to 1:00 p.m. (around lunchtime)

Advertisers are welcome, just call this number 4225823. We have very friendly rates so it is one great way of giving visibility to your business with the right market.