Give Chess a Chance

Condoms for First-Graders and Up?

2010-06-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

A school in Cape Cod (Massachusetts) recently added a policy that allows elementary students to receive condoms without the knowledge of their parents. Granted these students would first be grilled by their guidance counselor and they would be "likely denied the condom," it still makes me wonder what these school officials are thinking.

I'm not a prude here or anything, but come on, the words "elementary students" and "condoms" should not be in the same sentence. Kids shouldn't be involved in the act of making kids. Period.

Think about it. Enough drama and complications can already arise from adolescents and adults who are doing it, what more with kiddies and their fragile emotions?

Besides, policies like this aren't protecting them, and no, they're not teaching kids to be responsible either. They're sending messages that nowadays, society is treating sex really lightly. Way too lightly.

Geez. If some people keep on giving children things that were once just for grown-ups, what is there to look forward to in adulthood?

[via Examiner.com ]

First meal of the day trumps lunch and dinner for fast food chains

2010-06-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Ever heard your parents tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Well, the restaurant industry sure has, and they are vigorously nodding their heads.

That Sausage McMuffin you had this morning isn't just fuelling you throughout the day; apparently, breakfast meals are fueling the fast food industry as well.

Findings of market research company NDP Group show that breakfast accounts for nearly 60% of the restaurant industry's traffic growth in the last five years. According to Jack Russo of Edward Jones, the reason why breakfast is such as hit is that it is "a default area for growth." He furthered that, "Lunch is mature, so there's not much room there. And dinner is always a tough sell, because people usually want something better than fast food at that time." I have to say, these researchers really did their, well, research.

I must agree that they have a point. I may not be a morning person bu to me, breakfast food definitely makes my list of comfort food (It’s right up there together with chocolates as well as pizza and beer.) No wonder restaurants such as Denny's and IHOP succeed with their breakfast-dominated menus; the aroma of pancakes, sausages, or coffee can get us up and running no matter what time of day.

[via TIME]

Web Surfers Trust Internet Heavyweights More than Facebook and Twitter

2010-06-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

Much to no one's surprise, Web Giants Google, Apple and Microsoft are still better at keeping people's trust than top networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

That's according to a recent survey conducted Zogby International. The market research company surveyed around 2100 individuals on their take on various types of media, and results indicate that overall, users nowadays trust tech firms more than traditional media.

And topping that tech firm bracket? None other than the top three Internet Bigshots. Of course, this isn't to say that Social Networks such as Facebook and Twitter suck when it comes to privacy. It just means that big firms like Google, Microsoft, and Apple are doing a great job in leveraging their hard-earned resources, reputation, and corporate identities. Facebook and Twitter, being relatively new, may not be quite there yet. But I'm really not worried about our two favorite social networks. With their growing amount of followers and resources, it’s just a matter of time before they catch up with the big boys.

Nonetheless, if you ask me, the most important ramification of Zogby International's study is the fact that it will get leading websites to spruce up their privacy settings. After all, nothing makes a company suck up to the public more than unflattering statistics.

[via Telegraph.co.uk ]

Beach parties are awesome, but you might end up like this guy if you take it too far

2010-06-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

An unconscious man was spotted on a pool float drifting somewhere near the Mexican Gulf, about a mile away from Florida 's shores.

According to the coast guard, they suspect that the man was pitch drunk, and was apparently still wasted and passed out when they rescued him. He woke up eventually, and paramedics were able to examine him.

I don't really know what drove the man to drink himself into his floating slumber, but he is one lucky guy, that's for sure.

This story could have easily ended with his bloated corpse washed up in some beach, scaring the hell out of surfer dudes. Thankfully, the waves looked kindly on this man, and instead of "eews" and "ughs", the news only ended up giving me a few chuckles.

[via FOXNews]

Lady Killer in Every Sense of the Word

2010-06-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

I understand how women can sometimes fall for the bad boy, but isn’t proposing to a guy who’s on trial for murder taking it just a little too far?

Jordan van der Sloot is the main suspect for the murder 21-year old Stephanie Flores in Peru on August 30, 2005. He is further accused for the disappearance of American teenager Natalie Holloway in Aruba, also back in ’05.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Van der Sloot bragged that while he was imprisoned in Peru, he received numerous marriage proposals from women, including one who even wanted him to impregnate her.

If you ask me, however, it’s definitely in Mr. Van der Sloot’s best interests if he focused more on his defense, rather then scheduling his conjugal visits.

[via NYPOST ]

10 Things I Realized (or re-realized) in 2009

2009-12-22T23:07:00.000-08:00

1.I once read this proverb about how gossip hurts at least three people: the ones being talked about, those who hear it, and those who spread it. This year, I've been all three, and wow, masakit nga. It dawned on me that hey, I have a life, and I'd rather find something better to do with my time.

2.I realized that in most cases, the things that annoy me about the people I love, are also the very things that I adore about them. So sa mga kaibigan kong sensitive, stoic, walang preno, makulit, malakas mang-asar, mashadong maganda/pogi, at iba pa... I love you guys and girls just the way you are. And I wouldn't change a single thing about you.;)

3.“Over-thinking leads to over-drinking.”

4.Bad news is never easy. It's not easy to hear, it's not easy to deliver. But if you have someone who sticks with you through the worst news, then you know you've found someone special. =)

5.Complacency sucks. NEVER give in to this.

6.Never over-estimate your gas tank; or better yet, make sure you that carry ample gas before heading to a drinking session at a friend's place.

7.“Before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean” –Bob Marley

8.http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=169360638661 –Bob Ong

10.The sitcom How I Met Your Mother rocks. (Yes, it took me this long to catch up. Sorry naman. Haha.)

Happiness doesn't have to come in the form of a paycheck or a party.

2009-07-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Always smile about the little good things, but never let the small mean ones get you down.

I used to say that to myself all the time, but I’ve somehow forgotten about that mantra during these last few months. But because this week has been all about the little things, I’m reminded that it’s about time I go back to paying attention to the small stuff that really get me.

Like pleasant YM chats/offline messages. Or the fact that someone can still remember details about incidents from seven months ago. Or the perfect tint of sunglasses. Then there was that conversation that I was able to strike up with Cute Fifth Floor Guy because I noticed his new haircut. Not to mention the regular phone calls that Krisi and I have been having in the morning and at lunch. Finally, I love the fact that certain people are starting to warm up to me. (It’s about time!)

Yep, I’m glad to say that the past couple of days have been full of nice little occurrences that keep a spring in my step. It’s the little things that keep me genuinely happy, and it’s too bad that I’ve overlooked these bite-sized blessings during the last number of months.

It dawned on me that I’ve been so focused on work and on other people’s lives that I missed the details that really matter. I’ve also been so focused on “fun” that I failed to see that having fun and being happy are not necessarily the same.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that I won’t pay attention at work, nor will I stop chasing good times with fun-loving people. I suppose it’s just realizing that happiness doesn’t have to come in the form of a paycheck or a party. Gasgas as it may sound, I don’t have to look too far, because there are many small yet significant events happening all around us, all the time. :)

***

One BIG thing did take place this week, and that was the No Doubt concert last Wednesday. The band was, as expected, totally awesome. Not only did they play all my favorite songs, but the energy level of their performance was so high, I was singing and *gasp* dancing/jumping the whole time.

When I got home, I didn’t feel an ounce of drowsiness. Classic talaga. It was definitely one of the most FTW nights of the year. Cheers, Krisi! Sa uulitin! =)

Oh yes, it is.

2009-03-30T15:27:00.001-07:00

The medium is the message.

--Marshall McLuhan

I'm taking a break from all the multitasking to be pensive.

2009-03-26T12:21:00.001-07:00

You know we just don’t recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they’re happening. Back then I thought, well, there’ll be other days. I didn’t realize that that was the only day. (Field of Dreams)

Not applicable to everyone, of course. Anyway, the first part caught my attention. If I thought about the importance of certain moments while they were happening ("This moment is so important, I MUST cherish it."), wouldn't all that thinking get in the way?

I think that the weight of significant incidents can be felt most either BEFORE or AFTER they occur. Either we anticipate something too much, or we look back at it with overwhelming regret or fondness.

I'm not making much sense, am I? Oh well. Back to work.

Heartbreak in Retrospect

2009-03-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

I was browsing through last year's posts and I found this:

I love you. But it’s not enough. It’s not enough for my heart or yours. I know that love is supposed to be unconditional, and how one shouldn’t expect anything in return, but this only applies to people who are not in danger of losing themselves. Yes, loving someone unconditionally is a good thing, I’m not gonna argue with that. But loving someone unconditionally without compromising the love that you have for yourself? Now that’s a GREAT love.

I guess we’re not meant for greatness.

(06/02/2008)

—-
That was me nine months ago. Back then, it felt like I was in chains and there was only one person who possessed the key to free me. (Not that I wanted to be freed.) But it later dawned on me that all I was in love with was a ghost--a faint manifestation of something I desperately wanted. I was clinging to something that barely even existed, I could only catch it in shadowy corners and fleeting moments.

Disillusionment was a bitch. But a valuable realization came with it too: Ghosts can’t carry keys and to hell with that, I didn't even need one. It all came down to strength. Strength brought about by unyielding will and love for one’s self. I found that all along, that was all I needed to liberate myself from the chains that I was in. (I also had ~~a little~~ help from my favorite people, of course.) In any case, reading that post from last year makes want to go back, so I can hug my former self and say, "Honey, you'll be laughing at this in no time".

To slightly digress, I'm reminded of this conversation I recently had with someone. He said something like, "Some women complicate things only to realize later that THEY are the problem". Save for the women only part, I can't say I blame him for saying that. But the up-side to this is finding that the solution is within ourselves too. Trust me, there is no feeling more liberating than that. Of course, we find solutions in different ways. There are times when answers creep up on us unexpectedly, while other times, reality decides to give us a bitch-slap. Either way, we learn something. And yeah, it's tempting to wish that I could go straight to the solution and skip the complicated part, but where's the fun in that?

Postscript:

While I'm able to laugh and roll my eyes at the drama of the past, a part of me still revisits it--not out of nostalgia or heartache, but out of vindictiveness and disdain. Writing this made me see that it's time to completely stop the re-runs of that particular season of The Chessie Show. No more anger, and no more plots of revenge. Just good riddance and Last Words by The Real Tuesday Weld playing in the background. It's a song with sad lyrics and a number of lines that I can relate to, but its melody is something that I can only describe as glad and optimistic. Not to mention a line that could not sound any sweeter to my ears:

These are the last words that I will say to you. =)

On a Scale from What to What?

2009-02-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

When I hear somebody sigh, ‘Life is hard,’ I am always tempted to ask, ‘Compared to what?’

--Sydney J. Harris

When describing something, how many times have we used the “Scale from one to ten” method? Loads, right? We label one side of the scale with an adjective and put the opposite of that word on the other side. Hot to cold. Fierce to tame. And usually, we associate concrete things to these adjectives. Fire and ice; a lion and a lamb.

We create these scales and yardsticks in our minds because it’s easier to wrap our heads around a concept if we have something to compare it to.

Leave it to the notion of “existence” to be an exception to that. I mean, going back to the quotation above, when asked how hard living is, is it right to answer this using our yardsticks? If so, what are we supposed to put on each end of the stick? (Life and Death? Life and... (someone else's) Life?)

Tama na nga. Puro ka tanong eh. I guess it just goes to show that life is way too big and elusive to be placed on the measuring instruments in our heads.

And maybe I’m over-analyzing again. For all I know, Sydney J. Harris merely wanted to tell us to stop complaining about life and just start living it.

She said what?

2009-02-13T11:40:00.000-08:00

September 2008 --A typical slow morning at work (or so I thought):

Dana (Filipina receptionist): I’ve been looking all over for you. Mrs. Kim is asking for two copies.
Chessie: Copies of what?
Dana: I don’t know. All she said was ‘two copies’. I assumed that you're already up to speed.
Chessie: Crap. Mrs. Kim is going to kill me. (Our boss was very stern towards people who were slow or irresponsible.)

*I find Mrs. Kim in the conference room with two visitors.
Chessie: You wanted to see me?
Mrs. Kim: Yes, yes. Give me two coffees.
Chessie: Ohhhh. COFFEE. Alright, hold on.
(I fetched them their cups of coffee, and then proceeded to attack Dana who was already giggling at her desk.)

Yes, my former office mates and I still get a kick out of remembering that story, but lately, it feels like I'm in a pirated version of a movie with bad audio and lousy subtitles. It makes me want to pull my hair out. I mean, come on, people speaking the same language have enough trouble understanding each other as it is.

But I shut up, I listen, and I muse. The the more I think about it, the more I see that this hair-pulling desire is coming from a different frustration. It's not the fact that there are different native tongues out there, because honestly, I think these things are very crucial here. Heck, would the country that I'm in right now even exist without all that diversity? I doubt it. Language helps define a nation, and without it, a country's culture wouldn't be as distinct. Or as rich. Or as beautiful. And as an advocate of all things pretty, I don't have any business putting this on the language barrier.

Besides, body language and intonation count just as much as whatever's being said out loud. Instead of "barrier", it's way better to attach "challenge" to the whole concept because it makes us think outside and beyond spoken words. There are more ways to interact with other human beings and finding them could even make us better individuals--the types who are more considerate and creative. Or at the very least, we become people who think and use our heads before opening our mouths.

Needless to say, I'm no longer in an environment where I can use my love for words as much as I'd like. Sentences need to be as brief and as simple as possible, and sometimes that means kissing those prepositions, conjunctions, and other parts of speech goodbye. I guess I just miss being around people who share the same passions that I have. Yes, that is really what's making me want to pull my hair out.

That, and the fact that I've seen how most of my Asian and Hispanic office mates work. Most of them are very smart and talented. It's just too bad that their admirable traits are overshadowed by heavy accents and slow-speak. Oh well, if all else fails, we can always hire a translator, right?

On Movement and Holding Back

2009-02-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

There are times when I think that some people have such a high regard for me that I don’t deserve it. I get queasy thinking about how I may not be able to live up to expectations, and one of my biggest fears is to hear the words, “You’re not the person I thought you were” from someone that I care about.

But then there are people who treat me like a kid; like I’m supposed to fade into the background, because I’m not ready to play with the big guys yet. And I don’t like THAT either.

So where does that leave me?

The answer seems obvious at first. The proactive, empowering solution is to be that person that the good people expect me to become. Stop brooding, and just grow up and move it—one way or another. It’s that simple, right?

I wish.

Being hasty in terms of progress can do more harm than good. If you move forward too fast, too soon, you’re bound to leave something behind and you’re bound to miss a few good stops along the way.

That makes me think that life really is a journey. Clichéd as it may seem, I believe that life is this road trip (not fun if you don’t spend it with friends and loved ones) with winding highways, turns, and stopovers. And for the past couple of months, I’ve just been going straight--on cruise control. Yes, I’m moving forward, I manage to keep up with the times and I continue to breathe, not to mention age, but am I really getting somewhere?

I’m safe where I am right now. Somewhat happy and I’m not starving, but I’m not living my ideal life either. Besides, I know that all this safety will take its toll sometime soon. Which is why I’m contemplating on the best way to move forward. Only, it’s not that simple because of the internal (self-esteem, emotions) and external (social, economic) factors in the back seat.

Vehicle metaphors aside, pondering about life, the present, and future puts the song *cringe* Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman inside my head. (Go on, gag or laugh at the triteness of it all.=P)

But seriously, the line “all I need is time” is relatable, but it’s vexing as well, especially for someone who doesn’t have patience as her strong suit. It poses a certain question: When it comes to waiting for yourself, exactly how much time should be allowed?

Irreconcilable Differences

2007-09-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

While I don’t have the exact statistics with me, I believe that more than 80% of Hollywood marriages break up citing “irreconcilable differences” as the main reason for their split. I used to roll my eyes at this idea.

Up until recently, I never believed in irreconcilable differences because, well, let’s just say I wanted to have faith in happy endings. But I realized, having experienced this first hand that some things, some people, and some ideas, like parallel lines, will never meet eye to eye.

I guess if the conflict boils down to principle or ideals, it can easily fall under the description of “irreconcilable”. These are the things make us who we are, and they are the hardest things to compromise, let alone give up. Clashes in ideologies are occupational hazards. They come with the territory, and sadly, they are unavoidable.

So what makes people hold on or stay in a situation in spite of clashes and predicaments? Well, I can name a number of reasons. It all depends on what’s in it for the individual. There’s power, money, pressure, passion, and love for the job and the people in it. There are more, but these are things off the top of my head. Personally of course, I respect some reasons more than others.