The Panda Reviews the Movie How to Train Your Dragon

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. 

- Henry David Thoreau

How to Train Your Dragon is a story of a lanky, geeky lad, who wanted to be like his father- the chief and strongest dragon slayer in a village that has been infested by dragons for generations. Hiccup's father would not allow his son to train as dragon slayer. His father was somehow skeptical of his son's capabilities. But to prove himself, Hiccup invents a catapult device to target, capture, and bring down flying dragons from a distance. One night, during a dragon infestation, he was able to hit and bring down a dragon. His eventual finding of that dragon made him understand dragons and himself.

Philosophers for thousands of years have offered good advice -  "know thy self." However, this suggestion does not mean we should only know our "negative self". In the story, Hiccup was made to believe that he was not fit to be a dragon slayer, but he proved his father wrong by solving the dragon infestations not by force, but by compassion.

How to Train Your Dragon is a lesson on empathy, empowerment, and understanding. It shows that if we just try to listen - problems can solved in a better perspective. If we just  try to understand the "why" of  people, situations, and things, we can become more tolerant and understanding. If we just try to empower people by giving them a chance and showing them the way, we will be able to wake ourselves up from the nightmare of prejudice.

The panda likes this movie. Worth watching? Yes.

On My Wish List

If you are familiar with FarmVille you know that it has a reward system called "achievement ribbon." The game gives you special ribbons for unique achievements (like planting 1000 crops). The panda does not play FarmVille anymore. The game feels like it gets more and more pointless and stupid as the game goes along. Ironically,  the game's simple expectancy and reward system keep you from playing the game more. Consequently, it also teaches patience in achieving goals.

The panda adopts a similar reward concept by launching My Wish List. Whenever a sensible life goal is achieved by chance or by choice or whenever a wish comes true, he affirms it to the world.  He hopes small things like this can help him be more motivated in playing "the game" - the game of life.

On Campaign Jingles

The panda can't even get decent sleep because of the noisy campaign jingles that parade the streets every morning and continues for the rest of the day. Can't even understand who the jingle is campaigning for. It is just random noise to the beat of some ripoff novelty song. Candidates, please help yourselves. Get the best quality hi-fidelity speakers that money can buy. Choose a good jingle -- the one that has a good "hook." And please, if you want us to get to know you, don't race your way to the streets. At least kindly go on a pace where we can understand what the jingle is about and how it can convince us to vote for you. Do these suggestions at the proper hours of the day. Or else, you are wasting time, not to mention the  nuisance your noisy gibberish  jingles bring.

The Panda Reviews the Movie Shutter Island

Shutter Island is a psychological drama that shows what goes on in a psychotic mind. Leonardo DiCaprio, a U.S. Marshall, investigates the disappearance of a patient in a certain island hospital for the criminally insane. His eventual discovery of the missing patient leads him to make a choice.

It is not the eyes that see, but the brain. That is why even in our sleep there are still visions in our dreams. In the same way, it is not our five senses that feel pain, but the brain. When the pain is too much to handle, the brain creates another universe to protect itself by numbing the physical or emotional pain it feels. This is the reason why people sometimes suffer loss of contact with reality.

The panda likes this movie. First, because it is psychologically interesting. Second, it has the elements of a good story (symbolism, back stories, twists, turns, etc.). Third, it is a complex film that goes beyond the conventional Hollywood  flick. For best results, watch the movie more than once. Quote that stuck -- "Which would be worse, to live as a monster or to die as a good man?" Worth watching? Yes.

On Idleness

Nature is a cruel mother; she hates idleness of any kind. She destroys the weak, and preserves the strong. In her arms,  the purity of mind and idleness are incompatible. Idleness -- is a haven for fools and a holiday for shoddy minds. The panda must adopt, explore, and learn more, even if it means failing, even if it means crying the tears of despair, even it means enduring the scorching heat of the sun.

On The Good Life

Everything the panda does must mean something. It must be directed, consciously or subconsciously toward attaining the good life. What is the good life? Socrates once asked that question and hoped that one can direct one's life through an understanding that was distinctively philosophical, meaning, general and abstract, reflective and concerned with what can be known through inquiry. "What shall we do and how should we live?" This is the most important question. Any philosophy that makes us look foolish should not be trusted.

My Problem with Pooh

I will not introduce Winnie the Pooh to children. He (or she?) is a problematic character. Children should not imitate Winnie.

Why does Pooh have a girly voice?
Why does he wear a hanging blouse?
Why doesn't he wear pants?
(usapang lasing pero totoo bakit nga ba?)

Take for example the analysis of Mr. Maho in his Blog (http://jfmaho.wordpress.com/tag/literary-analysis) I quote:

xxx

There are many ways in which one can read literary texts. One can interpret them at face value, or one can read various things into them. For instance, did you know that the stories about Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends comprise an allegory of male sexuality; in fact, a very old-fashioned one. With the exception of Kanga, all characters are male, and they each represent different aspects of male sexuality and associated desires, inhibitions, fears, prejudices, etc. The stories also include a typically male (albeit ancient) bipolar view of female sexuality: the caring Madonna (Kanga) and the always-accessible whore (the honey pot).

1. Winnie-the-Pooh is the personification of male (adolescent) sexuality. He is not quite sure what he wants, or even who he is. His actions are often hampered by his fears or his ignorance. Winnie-the-Pooh is in fact a symbol for the penis.

2. The Honey Pot, Winnie-the-Pooh’s favourite thing, represents the male fantasy of a vagina. It is the ultimate objectification of female sexuality. It is passive, will-less, and locked up in a safe place until male lust (i.e. Winnie-the-Pooh) wants a piece of it. As such, the Honey Pot is also a symbol for the whore.

3. Piglet is the unwilling virgin. He is the little kid who wants to be a big kid, like all his friends. Piglet represents the young adolescent’s frustrations and insecurities about never being sure if the others think he’s a grown-up or if they know he’s just a kid pretending to be a grown-up.

4. The Owl represents pretence. He wants to be wise. He tries very hard to appear wise. In fact, he has come to live the image he has created for himself. He is the guy who wants wants everyone else to think he knows all about what to do with the girls, but in reality he is just the same fumbling fool as the rest of us.

5. Eeyore is downbeat, cautious, self-pitying. He is always holding himself back, never allowing himself to enjoy things. He wants new experiences (i.e. date girls), but he is never likely to do so, because he fears what it might lead to. Eeyore is the personification of repressed sexuality.

6. Rabbit is that annoying acquaintance we all know, who is convinced that he is more experienced and mature than anyone else. He is different from the Owl, who knows his limitations but hides them, while Rabbit has no self-awareness at all. He wants to be in charge of all things around him, because he knows best, even when he doesn’t. In the bedroom, Rabbit is the one with the whip, always in fear of loosing control.

7. The Heffalump represents everything that our mothers warned us about, such as bad company, unhealthy living, strangers in cars, etc., as well as their consequences, like unwanted pregnancies, naughty diseases, and so on. Still, we’re all curious animals, and we’re strangely drawn to the Heffalump, perhaps because it is so taboo. The irony of the Heffalump is, of course, that it is no independent danger at all, but a part of our own beings. In fact, the search for the Heffalump represents all those trials and errors we make as young adolescents looking for love, identity, and adulthood. Hence the Heffalump is a symbol of puberty, or more specifically, an escalating awareness of our own sexuality.

8. Kanga represents the teenage mother. (Roo is her child.) Kanga is a mother because she wasn’t afraid of the Heffalump, or at least not afraid enough. But even so, she is a responsible mother. In fact, Kanga is a symbol for the Madonna. Her main role in the story is to control Roo’s unlimited lust for life, clearly in a vain attempt to stop him from repeating her mistake(s).

9. Roo, Kanga’s baby, is the fearless, life-enjoying optimist. He is totally without inhibitions and fears. He represents all our desires for constant adventure and joy. He is like a stereotypical hippie advocating free, boundless sex. He is always willing to jump into anything, as long as it looks fun. And if it doesn’t look fun, he’ll jump into it anyway.

10. Tigger is a wannabee adventurer who wants to enjoy life, but is too dumb to understand what or why things happen the way they do. As he lacks Roo’s naive self-confidence, he also lacks the courage to go all the way. He is the insecure boy who wants to hit on the pretty girls, but always gets cold feet in the last moment (eminently exemplified in stories by Tigger climbing into the tree and freezing). Tigger represents unfulfilled sexual desires, which makes him the eternal masturbator (symbolised by his constant bouncing up and down).

11. Christopher Robin is the only genuinely asexual character in the story. In a way, he is God. He gave life to all the characters. He is the moderator of their lives. He feels for them and cares for them. He is the benevolent, respectful leader we all wish we had.
xxx

Anyway, it is not just Pooh that I have problems with:

Porky Pig is nude too. Popeye is a violent old man. Looney tunes and Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Tom and Gerry, Road Runner and Cayote are too violent for kids. Cow and Chicken is VERY SICK.

It's just wrong or maybe - I'm just getting old.

Jan 10, '10 11:39 PM for everyone  *reposted  from my other blog

On Business

You have labored long enough. You have saved enough. You finally have the capital to launch  that business. Everything is in place.

But you are NOT treating your business like a new born baby.

Want the best for it; shower it with love and affection. Be keen on what it needs -  like a parent would be to his child. Seek the advice of the experts, accountants, managers, advertisers, people who know the field - as if your child needs a doctor, a teacher, a yaya.

It is important to know if you are making profit or not.  Most of all, develop an effective, progressive, and a dynamic business system, or else, time and energy is just wasted.

The Law of Diminishing and Increasing Returns

The Law of Diminishing Returns is a law in economics which means  if one factor of production is increased while other factors are held constant, the resulting increase in output will level-off after some time and then decline. In short,

"The gain is not worth the pain."

But there is another law, ironically, the opposite.
The Law of Increasing Returns is a law in motivation which states:

"Render more service than that for which you are paid and you will soon be paid for more than you render. The law of increasing returns takes care of this."- Napoleon Hill

It always pays to go the extra mile in motivation, but be guided by economics..

On Religion and Spirituality

Religion and Spirituality are two different approaches to God. It is hard to talk about religion. It is so much of a sensitive topic that it is impossible to talk about it publicly and not offend others at the same time. But since today is Good Friday, (Jesus supposedly died for us today) the panda will try to share his take on religion and spirituality. The goal of course is nothing more than epistemic gain to help us seek our path to God.

In John 4:19-24, a Samaritan woman was asking Jesus where should people worship. She is confused because apparently, Jews insist that it should be Jerusalem, on the other hand, Samaritans claim that Mt. Gerizim is the proper place of worship.

19“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

21Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

 

Jesus' reply to the Samaritan woman was very revealing. In this verse, we can observe that Jesus is giving more importance to spirituality rather than religious dogma. Jesus tells the woman it does not matter where God is worshiped, what is more important is the kind of spiritual worship. "For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."

Here are some of the difference between Religion and Spirituality:

Religion gives too much importance to ancient religious dogma in its goal to achieve salvation.

Spirituality, on the other hand, is NOT so much concerned with the past, but instead is more concerned with the eternal now. For the spiritual, peace of mind is achieved by living in the present, it is not the past nor the  future that gives us liberation.

Fear is often the approach taken by religion. Religion reminds us that we must do the right thing if we do not wish to suffer in the future. On the other hand, the spiritual approach to God is through the path of love. Spirituality tells us that instead of fearing God, we approach him through the path of love.

Religion finds God being in the heavens. At times God can seem far from the reach of the aspiring humanity. Spirituality believes, on the other hand, that God can be felt as a living presence in our own heart. For the spiritual, God is reachable through the attainment of inner realization.

Extreme religiosity seems to be not very tolerant of other religions. For the religious, only one path can lead to salvation - their path. Their overwhelming faith in their own religion makes them feel that other religions are very wrong. This leads to their feeling of necessity to convert others to their faith. Sometimes this attitude leads to fanaticism and fundamentalism.

In short, there are sharp differences in every one's path or approach towards God. Some are more religious, some are more spiritual.

The beauty of knowing the limits of both is the sense of understanding, balance, and tolerance over the faith of others. The panda is, of course,  leaning towards the point that spirituality is more beautiful than religious dogmatism.

***
I still maintain the possibility that Jesus didn't really die.
***
 Saturday, someone sent me a message asking, "Did Jesus really live?"
- I don't want to go  into that topic... I reserve my opinions on that :)
***
Sunday, Christ has risen. But the day was gloomy. Lady panda and I ate 13 pieces of chicken wings.



Credits.
Published by Tejvan Pettinger 10/01/2007 http://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/articles/religion_vs_spirituality.html
Katherine Lehman. Is it all right to be spiritual without being religious. http://www.explorefaith.org/spiritual.html
http://z.about.com/d/weirdnews/1/0/T/0/-/-/Crucifiction_Reinactment_1.jpg

Launching the SKWALOG

The panda invites everyone to Skwalog: the new blog of rah. www.skwalog.blogspot.com Care to follow him too and please care to leave something in the comment page and chat box, so that he can follow you too. Thanks so much.

What is written at back of the panda's bedroom door?

At the back of the panda's door there is a letter size paper that has something written on it. The panda reads this every day. He reads it when he is sad. He reads it when he is happy. Sometimes he does not want to read it, but gets to read it anyway, involuntarily.

"5. Plan your work.

Many of us think we are too depressed right now to start on a new course of self creation or we are too upset, but Napoleon Hill says, that's the perfect time to learn life's most important rule. There is one unbeatable rule for the mastery of sorrows and disappointments. And that is --

the transmutation of those emotional frustrations through definitely planned work.

It is a rule which has no equal. Once we get to picture of who we want to be, definitely planned work is the best path to self-motivation.

Definitely planned work contains the energy of purpose. One hour of planning saves three hours of execution. It is impossible to work passionately with a sense of purpose and feel depressed at the same time.

Successfully planned work will motivate you to do more and more than you ever thought possible."

There, one panda secret out. Now the panda has to think of the next thing to keep as a secret.


Credits:
Steve Chandler 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself http://www.scribd.com/doc/904961/100-Ways-to-Motivate-Yourself
http://www.northumberlandcompetitionmanagers.co.uk/Data/Sites/1/SiteImages/archery.jpg

Probationary Employee

What are the grounds for the termination of a Probationary Employee?

Who is a probationary employee?
A probationary employee is one who, for a given period of time, is being observed and evaluated to determine whether or not he is qualified for permanent employment. A probationary appointment affords the employer an opportunity to observe the skill, competence and attitude of a probationer. The word "probationary", as used to describe the period of employment, implies the purpose of the term or period. While the employer observes the fitness, propriety and efficiency of a probationer to ascertain whether he is qualified for permanent employment, the probationer at the same time, seeks to prove to the employer that he has the qualifications to meet the reasonable standards for permanent employment. (Escorpizo vs. University of Baguio Faculty Education Workers Union, 1999)


What are the grounds for terminating a probationary employee?
Article 281 states that a probationary employee can be legally terminated: (1) for a just cause; or (2) when the employee fails to qualify as a regular employee in accordance with the reasonable standards made known to him by the employer at the start of the employment. The limitations in dismissing a probationary employee are:

First, this power must be exercised in accordance with the specific requirements of the contract.

Second, the dissatisfaction on the part of the employer must be real and in good faith, not feigned so as to circumvent the contract or the law;

Third, there must be no unlawful discrimination in the dismissal.

In the recent case of Dusit Hotel Nikko vs. Gatbonton (G.R. No. 161654, 5 May 2006), the Supreme Court found that the employer failed to present proof that the employee was evaluated or that his probationary employment was validly extended.
In this case, the employee was hired for a 3-month probationary period (the period provided by law is six months, but this may be shortened or, in appropriate cases, extended by agreement between the employer and the employee). For its defense, the employer claimed that the 3-month probationary employment was extended for another 2 months because the employee was not yet ready for regular employment. The employer presented, as proof, a Personnel Action Form containing the recommendation.
However, the Supreme Court noted that the Personnel Action Form: (1) was prepared on only in the fourth month, well after the 3-month period provided under the contract of employment; (2) the recommended action was actually termination of probationary employment, and not extension of probation period; (3) the action form did not contain the results of the respondent's evaluation; (4) the action form spoke of an attached memo that allegedly contains the recommendation for extension, but the memo was not presented; (5) the action form did not bear the respondent's signature.
Therefore, in the absence of any evaluation or valid extension, there is no basis to show if the employee indeed failed to meet the standards of performance previously set.

Effect of validly terminating a probationary employment:
At the expiration of the probationary period, the status of the employee becomes regular. Since the employee in the Dusit Hotel Nikko case was not dismissed for a just or authorized cause, his dismissal was illegal, and he is entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights, and other privileges as well as to full backwages, inclusive of allowances, and to other benefits or their monetary equivalent computed from the time his compensation was withheld from him up to the time of his actual reinstatement.

Credits:
Published by Atty. Fred July 25th, 2006 in Corporate and Investments and Litigation and Labor Law in http://jlp-law.com/blog/probationary-employment/#respond

KTV

Chapter I "Brad, Malate"

After his last and most difficult exam, the panda went straight to his sweetheart's house. They planned to go out on a date. The panda had no idea where they were going, but always thought Malate would be a good place to go out on a date. He has never been there.

They hailed a cab. "Brad, Malate." - They told the driver. 

They alighted near a church and started walking. The couple still don't know where to go. An idea stuck them, "KTV! Tonight will be our videoke night."

The couple started scouring the streets for KTVs bars.

Chapter II "KTV"

There is no shortage of KTV bars in Malate. Left and right there they are with their neon signs.  One KTV bar had a sign in its window "Wanted GRO with pleasing personality." Another KTV bar had young ladies dressed in very short skirts, high heels, and sexy tops standing outside its doors.

The couple was getting frustrated, that was not what they expected. The panda and his sweetheart kept on walking. They saw a familiar KTV bar that seems wholesome.

Chapter III "Look Closely"

It was the first time they had been to Music 21. The couple was greeted hospitably. They were guided to their KTV room. The rate was 84 Pesos per person, per hour. It was around 11 eleven p.m., so they told the order taker to inform them when it is already an hour. They sang their hearts away. They ordered beer. They also ordered sisig. They sang more songs, duets, Disney songs, boy band songs, songs of the heart. 

Before they knew it, it was already 1:30 a.m. They lost track of the time. They paid the bill and had ice cream for dessert.

They walk a bit to find a cab.

The sexy girls were still waiting outside the other KTV bars. Probably, there were less customers that night because it was a Monday and the start of the holy week. 

Lesson learned: Sometimes things are not always what they seem. An innocent KTV bar when looked closely are in reality clubs of lust and desire.

4,452 fail Bar exams

The Supreme Court impliedly announced Friday that 4,452 out of 5,903 (75.42 %) examinees failed the Bar examinations held last year.

The failure percentage has dropped from 79.42% last year.
In simple terms, 3 out of 4 students flunked the 2009 Bar. The Supreme Court did not bother to release the list of the non-successful bar examinees of 2009.

But while happiness is felt  for the passers, the heart of the panda goes to those who didn't make it.

Kuliglig

The Kuliglig is that motorized pedicab lurking in the City of Manila. Its usual passengers are female students and older people.

The business of operating Kuligligs has boomed. From only a small number of units a couple of years ago, they now dominate the streets of Manila.

It is not regulated by the (LTO) Land Transportation Office. It has no plate number, no way of identifying its driver or operator. It neither pays registration fees nor any  road taxes. 

The drivers of the Kuliglig are kanto boys alien to any traffic rules. They are accident magnets. They cut every street or highway as if they were the king of the road. In fact, in 2009, it is said there were more than 100 reported accidents involving Kuligligs.

It is funny to watch these drivers fighting among themselves to get pasaheros. They are ignoramus  to the fact that it would be to their own mutual benefit if they could just simply fall in line. A lot times, these drivers can also be very dishonest in charging passengers unfamiliar with the common rates.

The local government tolerates them, probably because it is election season. There are also reports that they are protected by Kotong Cops.

In short, and the fact is, these Kuligligs should not be there in the streets of Manila.  The drivers are reckless, ignorant, and have no sense of courtesy or discipline. The Kuliglig itself lacks standard safety  (like break and signal lights) features to help avoid accidents.

It is probably a good idea to do your self a favor and save your self from the risk of accidents. Do not patronize these motorised pedicabs. Riding the Kuliglig is plain stupid.

The Law of Averages

The word of the day is the Law of Averages. It is the idea that probability will influence all occurrences in the long term.

For example, in a fair toss coin, you have been getting heads for the third time, chances are you will eventually get a tail in one of the next tosses.  If you have been losing for the longest time, you are probably going to win the next. In short, one will neither win nor lose all the time in the long run.

If you have been feeling f*cked up for the longest weeks, chances are, you are going to feel awesome one of these days.When it happens, accept it. And if doesn't? Well it is probably a good idea to wait. Oftentimes, it is just a matter of time.


Credits:
want.http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/teaching_aids/books_articles/probability_book/amsbook.mac.pdf

Charisma

The panda's mother wants Charisma murdered. Charisma causes too many problems.

There are only two possibilities:First, the murder of Charisma will save the walls of the house from further crackings; Second, Charisma survives and the cracks progress.

There are two choices, none of them seem acceptable. Of course, the panda also cares about the cracks on the wall, but how can he let Charisma be killed?

Charisma has been standing there for a very long time. She and the panda were born under the same stars. Charisma reminds the panda of his childhood. She shades the house and the pedestrians from heat and gives out her fruits all year round.

The panda is against the murder of Charisma because of sentimental reasons. Charisma is not just another tree - she's a legacy.

The panda will do his best to save Charisma. He will do everything to preserve her glory. But he can only do so much - so much but only to a point where sentimental reasons are still reasonable enough.

Death and Style

The panda and his sweetheart were talking about fashion. Somehow, the discussion got mixed up with ghost stories. The result was an unresolved question on why is it that ghosts are sighted wearing clothes. Does this mean that ghosts have fashion sense?

Probably, the most common ghost stories of all are the sighting of white ladies who suppose to have long white gowns. There are also  reports of black ladies, but haven't you wondered why almost  no one has  ever seen a green lady, pink lady, or yellow lady? Who selects their clothes? Where do they get them? Are they supposed to be color coded? And why is it that usually, ghosts are described by what the were wearing when they were last seen alive?

Now, let us say that a lady dies in a beach wearing an expensive Victoria Secret bikini. Assuming that she died a sudden death and left unfinished businesses. Does that mean that her ghost will be wearing a bikini?

I guess the question "What would you be never caught dead wearing?" finally makes sense.

The Panda's Top 12 Bands from the 90s

Pompyang Punch

Here is the proof that Manny Pacquiao is fan of FPJ. He was caught doing the classic Fernando Poe Pompyang Punch.

It is either that or maybe, for a second, Manny thought he was doing a sequel of Wapakman.

Or was it a way for Manny to tell  Clottey, "Hey, wake up, we are on a fight!"

Why was it ruled an "illegal punch" by the referee anyway? Was it  because it confuses the compubox that counts punches?

Why was Clottey not punching and was instead hiding behind the high guard the whole fight ? Was it because Clottey took the referee's caution  "Protect yourself at all times!" literally?

 xxx

The panda wants to be a real boxer. He wants to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, too. But right now, he contents himself with mere air boxing.

Fearless Forecast

The panda cannot study everything, there is only a little time left. He has to choose which topics he thinks will come out in the exam. He must bet like a gambler and hope for the best.

He assumes the role of a Nostradamus who feels and connects with the energy or the world and the vibe of the consciousness. He anticipates the unexpected; he prepares for the worst.

He is brave, dauntless, and unnerved. Fearless enough to accept the consequences of his forecast, the rest is left to chance.

20 Ways On How To Save at Starbucks

Here's what everyone should do to save money at Starbucks* :

1. First, and the most important rule in saving money at Starbucks is this -- "Don't go to Starbucks!"

2. If you are already in Starbucks, don't order anything.

3. If you have to order, buy the cheapest drink.

4. Milk is healthy and expensive. Ask for a cup of milk and every 5 minutes. Drink all the milk that you can.

5. Get more sugar than you need and bring it home. Who says nothing in life is free?

6. Get as much tissue as you can, bring it home, or as a reserve it in case you have to wipe  "something".

7. Get as much stirrer as you can. Use it to play pick up sticks.

8. Starbucks has this policy that if you are not happy with your drink, they will "make it right." Drink, 1/4 of your beverage and complain to the  barista, he will very gladly "make it right". Complain as often as you can.

9. Use all the condiments. Vanilla powder, choco, cinnamon, etc.

10. Bring your own coffee stealthily placed in a Starbucks tumbler, or any tumbler.

11. Detox. Water is good for you. Starbucks water is purified. Drink as much water as you can.

12. Go to the toilet and take a dump.They have clean comfort rooms, take advantage of this. Don't forget to use as much tissue as you can.

13. Clean is in.Use as much soap as much as you can in washing your hands.

14. Use as much water in the toilet as needed, too. Keep on flushing the toilet bowl 'till it's squeaky clean.

15. Use the dryer. It doubles as a heater when it gets cold.

16. Take advantage of the air-con. Stay as  long as you can.

17. Feed your mind. Read everything that is in the magazine stack. Or bring your own book.

18. Make friends. Get to chat with other customers and cute baristas, they are usually nice and friendly.

19. Take advantage of the parking. Park as long as you can.

20. (your own suggestion here)

It's okay to go to Starbucks if you have a lot of money to burn. But, for the most of us who survive on skimpy allowance from our parents' blood and sweat, going frequently to Starbucks is not practical.

So whenever you can, try to avoid going there, but if going there cannot be avoided - maximize your benefits.


*Something I posted  in my Multiply site a long time ago.

Cube of Fate

One day, a wise old master bought a Rubik's cube from a sidewalk vendor.

He tried solving the cube. He made some rotations, left and right, up and down. He spent a lot of time solving the puzzle,  but failed.

Frustrated, the master gave the cube to the panda who was curiously  watching the master solve the puzzle.

"Here you go panda, take it." - the master told the panda. The panda accepted the cube and thanked the old man.

"Remember kid, there are things in life that we can solve and there are those that we cannot." "If you cannot solve a problem no matter hard you have tried - it's okay, just learn to let go..." - the master told the panda as he left the panda and the cube.

The panda tried to solve the cube by trying some of his own rotations, but failed as well.

The frustrated panda then brought out his laptop and Googled the key words -  "how.... to... solve.... a Rubik's cube puzzle?"

The search revealed the word that solves all Rubik's cube problems:

"ALGORITHMS."

The Cube of Fate

One day, a wise old master bought a Rubik's cube from a sidewalk vendor.

He tried solving the cube. He made some rotations, left and right, up and down. He spent a lot of time solving the puzzle,  but failed.

Frustrated, the master gave the cube to the panda who was curiously  watching the master solve the puzzle.

"Here you go panda, take it." - the master told the panda. The panda accepted the cube and thanked the old man.

"Remember kid, there are things in life that we can solve and there are those that we cannot." "If you cannot solve a problem no matter hard you have tried - it's okay, just learn to let go..." - the master told the panda as he left the panda and the cube.

The panda tried to solve the cube by trying some of his own rotations, but failed as well.

The frustrated panda then brought out his laptop and Googled the key words -  "how.... to... solve.... a Rubik's cube puzzle?"

The search revealed the word that solves all Rubik's problems:

"ALGORITHMS."

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THE Fraternity

THE Fraternity is not just a brotherhood of men. It is:

"THE" Fraternity.

Its motto: "Inclusio unius est exclusio alterius"

It is the coolest, the most elite, the most exclusive brotherhood in Shaolin Temple-like school. Everybody wants to be a member. The membership, however, is only by invitation.

Since the panda is relatively a well known figure in school, (because of the fact that he's the only panda that ever went to law school), everyone relatively wants a piece of him.

Left and right, everyday, he receives invitations from being a study buddy, to being a member of a friendship group, to organizations, to debate clubs, to student councils, to school papers, to fraternities, etc.

Of course, the most notable of the offers is the invitation of:

"THE" Fraternity.

What an honor to be invited by them. The panda, in spite of that, WILL NOT JOIN because of the following reasons:

First, pandas are naturally solitary animals;

Second, pandas are in grave danger of extinction. You do not want to subject the panda to hazing and risk his life, do you?;

Third, the panda is cute and adorable, not cool and ma-angas!;

Fourth, the panda hates unnecessary movements. (Secret handshakes, meetings, and all extraneous activities) All he wants to do is to read books, study, recite, take exams, and of course, to eat bamboo.

In short, supposing-and-assuming-for-the-sake-of-the-argument that the panda wants to be part of "THE" Fraternity - he can't; and even if he can - he won't.

It's not his fault. That's just the way nature made him -- a panda.





End Note.
1) Solitary: Animals that don't hang out in groups.
Eagles.Mountain Lions.Rattle snakes. Bears.

2) "Expressio unius est exclusio alterius" means : the express mention of one or more things of a particular class may be regarded as impliedly excluding others." Is a general principle in the subject of interpreting laws.

THE Fraternity

THE Fraternity is not just a brotherhood of men. It is:

"THE" Fraternity.

Its motto: "Inclusio unius est exclusio alterius"

It is the coolest, the most elite, the most exclusive brotherhood in Shaolin Temple-like school. Everybody wants to be a member. The membership, however, is only by invitation.

Since the panda is relatively a well known figure in school, (because of the fact that he's the only panda that ever went to law school), everyone relatively wants a piece of him.

Left and right, everyday, he receives invitations from being a study buddy, to being a member of a friendship group, to organizations, to debate clubs, to student councils, to school papers, to fraternities, etc.

Of course, the most notable of the offers is the invitation of:


"THE" Fraternity.

What an honor to be invited by them. The panda, in spite of that, WILL NOT JOIN because of the following reasons:

First, Pandas are naturally solitary animals;

Second, Pandas are in grave danger of extinction. You do not want to subject the panda to hazing and risk his life, do you?;

Third, the panda is cute and adorable, not cool and ma-angas!;

Fourth, the panda hates unnecessary movements. (Secret handshakes, meetings, and all extraneous activities) All he wants to do is to read books, study, recite, take exams, and of course, to eat bamboo. Not to mention day dream of being a rockstar, ala Eli Buendia.

In short, supposing-and-assuming-for-the-sake-of-the-argument that the panda wants to be part of "THE" Fraternity - he can't; and even if he can - he won't.

It's not his fault. That's just the way nature made him - a panda.



End Note.
1) Solitary: Animals that don't hang out in groups.
Eagles.Mountain Lions.Rattle snakes. Bears.

2) "Expressio unius est exclusio alterius" means : the express mention of one or more things of a particular class may be regarded as impliedly excluding others." Is a general principle in the subject of interpreting laws.

Drip

The panda went to the nearest Starbucks branch to study. He did this because someone told him that this is where all the cool students go to review for exams.

Upon arriving the coffee shop though, the guard would not let the panda in. 

"No animal allowed po boss." - the guard told to the panda.

"I know my  rights. I will not be discriminated just because I'm a panda." - the panda smiled as he kindly engaged the guard into a brief  verbal exchange. The panda was naturally charming and adorable.

The guard had no choice but to let the panda in.

"Sometimes the best way to win an argument is to avoid it ." "Even if you don't like the person, it doesn't mean that you should stop being nice." "When all diplomacy fails, that's when you only resort to aggression." - the panda told himself.

The customer before panda ordered "Venti-non-fat-extra-shot-Irish-cream-coffee- jelly-upsidedown-white-chocolate-mocha-frappuchino ..."

The panda  realized that generally, the longer the name of the coffee the more expensive it gets. Learning this, the panda ordered a coffee called "short drip."

The panda skimmed around the coffee shop. He still can't understand how students can study in that noisy, crowded, overly expensive coffee shop.

"Everyone, is like, so sosi here? Oh my gosh. Iz like, err.. maybe I'm not that cool enough?" -  The panda thought.

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Drip

The panda went to the nearest Starbucks branch to study. He did this because someone told him that this is where all the cool students go to review for exams.

Upon arriving at the coffee shop though, the guard would not let the panda in. 

"No animal allowed po boss." - the guard told the panda.

"I know my  rights. I will not be discriminated just because I'm a panda." - the panda smiled as he kindly engaged the guard into a brief  verbal exchange. The panda was naturally charming and adorable.



The guard had no choice but to let the panda in.

"Sometimes the best way to win an argument is to avoid it." "Even if you don't like the person, it doesn't mean that you should stop being nice." "When all diplomacy fails, that's when you only resort to aggression." - the panda told himself.


The customer before panda ordered "Venti-non-fat-extra-shot-Irish-cream-coffee- jelly-upsidedown-white-chocolate-mocha-frappuchino ..."

The panda  realized that generally, the longer the name of the coffee the more expensive it gets. Learning this, the panda ordered a coffee called "short drip."

The panda skimmed around the coffee shop. He still can't understand how students can study in that noisy, crowded, overly expensive coffee shop.

"Everyone, is like, so sosi here? Oh my gosh. Iz like, err.. maybe I'm not that cool enough?" -  The panda thought.

Watchamacallits

It is amusing how humans coin words to describe their situation in law school. In panda land, pandas don't use any words. In fact, pandas don't really have  to open their mouths to say anything. Pandas just eat bamboo the whole day.

Here are some of the coined words that students use in school:


"Recit" - Recitations. Transforms a classrooms into dark, cold torture chambers.

"On Deck" - You are scheduled to be subjected to recit, torment, death, murder, kill, for a temporary moment. Sends shivers to your spine. "Pare on deck ngayon, kelangan magaral."

"Bokya" - Going totally blank on a recit question. Or giving a wrong answer. A source of depression.  "Pare bokya nanaman ako, and hirap ng tanong ng prof, badtrip."


"Kodak Moment" - Before you get the bokya, the act of standing, smiling, and making pa-cute to the prof because you don't know the answer. It is the picture perfect moment. "Wala akong nasagot, kodak moment na naman ako kanina."

Alarm Clock Hours Time

The panda bought an alarm clock today. He wants to wake up early so he can be the first student in the library. If he does this for 15 days, he will win an island vacation, a new digital gear, and a higher chance that he will not see his masters again for the same type of kung fu-like subjects.

The problem with this goal is that it is almost impossible. He was born nocturnal.

It has been said that there is a correlation between hours of study and the chance you pass a test. The more you spend time studying,  the greater the probability that you will get higher scores in tests.

If this were true, only time will tell.

Alarm Clock

The panda bought an alarm clock today. He wants to wake up early so he can be the first student in the library. If this is done for fifteen days, he will win an island vacation, a new digital gear, and a higher chance that he will not see his masters again for the same type of kung fu-like subjects.

The problem with this goal is that it is almost impossible. He was born nocturnal.

It has been said that there is a correlation between hours of study and the chance you pass a test. The more you spend time studying,  the greater the probability that you will get higher scores in tests.

If this were true, only time will tell.

If You Can't Memorize

"Class you did not study. How come you don't know the answer, it's all in the book?" - The master addresses his students with a tone of concern.

"Class, if you can't memorize the lesson, then you should instead understand it."

The panda was listening attentively as the master shares school survival tips.

"...and if you cant understand it, then you should memorize it. It is that simple!"

The panda bobbed his head in accord as if he had just solved his long time problem of poor panda comprehension skills. He wants to learn like humans can.

The panda repeats the words he just heard to himself just to be sure he remembers it:

"If I can't memorize - understand. If I can't understand - memorize."

Panda grabs into his pocket to get a biscuit, which just so happens to be Hello Panda.

"I wonder when they will make biscuits called Hello Humans?" - the panda asked himself.

The panda took a good look at his biscuit.

The panda ate his biscuit.

Then, the panda tried to get the attention of the master by making the international-standard-hand-gesture for "May I go out?"

He went out and never went back to that class ever again.

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