Going Up!: Farewell to a Space-faring Legacy

The Space Shuttle Atlantis just had its final flight yesterday. An amazing era in space exploration has just ended, hopefully to start a new one. For one who grew up watching and liking "Iron Giant*", "Apollo 13". "Mission to Mars" or even "Contact", this news unsurprisingly tugged a small string in my heart.

As a child, it was my dream to fly up high into the unknown skies. To boldly go where no man has gone before. Or at least, to boldy follow where others have gone before. It was my innocent ambition to be the first Filipino to travel to space.

But living in a poor country, I would soon realize that these ambitions seem futile. Can our government even fathom space travel if we don't even have an efficient 'ground' travel system? Our most ambitious transportation system is the MRT-LRT system and they are not even working efficiently. Can we launch a spacecraft to the sky if our armed forces don't even have a good missile launching defense system? Are the heavens just too high for us?

In a country as ours, it is just practical to solve our terrestrial problems first (and there are a lot.) I guess for us, the heavens just have to wait.

Regarding the space shuttle's last launch, I find the statement of U.S. President Obama very inspiring:

"Today’s launch may mark the final flight of the Space Shuttle, but it propels us into the next era of our never-ending adventure to push the very frontiers of exploration and discovery in space. We’ll drive new advances in science and technology. We’ll enhance knowledge, education, innovation, and economic growth. And I have tasked the men and women of NASA with an ambitious new mission: to break new boundaries in space exploration, ultimately sending Americans to Mars. I know they are up to the challenge – and I plan to be around to see it."

A new space age dawns. Now, the target is Mars. But really, why do we even want to go risk lives, spend lots of resources just to go to space? In itself, space exploration doesn't even have any significant applications to our lives. What's with the fascination?

Warren Ellis' answer is "because it's waiting for us and it's where we're meant to be". I think I want to read "Orbiter" again.

July 5

Yesterday was Independence Day in the United States.

The Fourth of July.

It is a day of fireworks.

The day of Jubilee.

Or the day of Katy Perry.

Yes, and Filipino-American Friendship Day.

So, Happy Belated Independence Day to our American friends!

Synchronicity

In the Information Age, nothing is coincidence.

A while ago I just remembered the Inception movie and how awesome it is.

Just now, in my rss feed there is a video, a prenup video, that was based from the Inception movie.

While searching something in Google, there was an advertisement for Lucid Dreaming.

Back in 200x you'll think it is a very rare concidence. But nowadays you know it's nothing but the result of smart SEO algorithms, subconcious advertisements and user-click monitoring.

Grant Morrison's Ultimate Plan for World Domination

Grant Morrison is trying to control us humans by planting ideas into our subconscious.

If you have read some of Grant Morrison's work for the first time, you will immediately realize that they are just a bunch of trashy ideas conglomerated into an unrecognizable mess of a book. If so, I warn you then, DO NOT read that book ever again! It's all a part of Morrison's plan to take over your mind and who knows even the world. Let me explain.

The first Morrison book that I read was Arkham Asylum. I'm not a fan of his but I am a casual reader of Batman comics. Morrison's Arkham Asylum is one of the best Batman books according to many readers so I bought it. Surprisingly, it did not turn out to be a garbled mess, I actually find it to be hauntingly good. The amazingly disturbing art blends perfectly with the similarly disturbing script. I know Morrison is notorious to comic book readers for chaotic writing but this book did not appear so.

I read All Star Superman next. The book got rave reviews to many critics and comic book readers. Again it amazed me to a new level. It was very good. It actually made me become excited to read comic books again. Then came WE3. At that point I wondered why haters despise Morrison so much? Those 3 books are probably some of the best comic books I 've ever read. Where did haters get the idea of his messy writing?

Then I learned about Final Crisis.

Final Crisis-- the universally panned DC mega-event written by Grant Morrison. It has recieved terrible reviews from reviewers who describe the book as incomprehensible, disjointed, convoluted, incoherent. But I bought it anyway, I just thought Arkham Asylum, All Star Superman, WE3! But I was cautious when I started to read it, lowered my expectations a bit.

I finished the book after a few hours. It was a complete mess. I have only a vague idea of what happened, but it is too vague, everything just went over my head. In the end, I just called it a day and shelved the book in my cabinet.

A few days later, I searched in the internet about something I want to clarify regarding one Final Crisis panel. I found a complete annotation for one issue and it said something, a small detail about the issue. I became curious so I took out the book, opened it again and read the specific part mentioned in the annotation. Something must have clicked inside my brain, because suddenly, that part became very clear to me. I was astounded.

I decided to read the book from the start again.

That was my mistake. After completing the book for the second time, I found many answers. I saw it in a different perspective. I discovered some details and I'm almost proud to have discovered them. But simultaneously, I got as many questions. Again, I search the internet for annotations, but this time for all issues of the entire book.

I decided to read the book from the start for the third time. This time, I have the web annotations open. I became obsessed with finding the answers. I searched for more details. I was in front of the computer consistently while reading the book, cross-referencing the details each time I encounter one. I even bought some comic books that were said to be 'prequels' to the Final Crisis story.

I bought the two Batman:Last Rites issue first. Then I bought Batman: RIP. I became curious of this Batman iteration. I bought all Batman books in Grant Morrison's run. I have read them multiple times now. Next thing I know, I also bought Morrison's Seven Soldiers series. I've read it multiple times also; all four volumes. That's just the start.

At that point I realized Grant Morrison's master plan for world domination. He writes books in such a way that they won't be immediately noticed, books made to be conspicuous enough, sometimes look like mess. But look at them for a second time or more and your mind will be immediately subjugated. It will creep on you. You will then be under his control. Call it curiosity or anything. You'll find yourself looking for more information, for answers. You'll find yourself buying more of his books. Until finally, you will read that one Morrison book, the final book that will blow your mind and flick the final switch in your brain. All those information that was embedded in your subconscious from his previous books will then be released in one go.

It's like that scene in the Final Crisis, when the Anti-Life equation was sent to the entire world. But unlike in that story, no one will save us here, in reality. Soon, we will all become Morrison's puppet.

On July 19, Grant Morrison's non-fiction book entitled Supergods will be out on the book stores. Could it be that final switch? Maybe. I, for one, will buy it. And I, for one, welcome our bald-headed Scottish overlord.

And when Morrison speaks, it will be in 3 billion voices.

All will be one in Morrison.

Telling Stories about the Stories behind Stories

I first read Warren Ellis' Planetary in trade paperback format, more than a decade after its initial release. It is about a group of three people who call themselves the "Archaeologists of the impossible". They uncover the secrets of the pop culture and superhero genre and uncover the planet's secret history which is being horded by their rival four superhumans (who are based on the comics' Fantastic Four). The subjects range from the real story behind Japan's movie monsters (Gojira, Mothra) to an untold origin story of Lone Ranger and Tonto, to a what-if story of Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. There are stories which tells about a Galactus-like character and his demise; story about real technology behind Thor's hammer; the origin of Captain Marvel; a tale of John Constantine and Spider Jerusalem and many more fantastic ones.

The whole series basically suggests that all stories in the comic books and pop culture phenomena of the past century actually happened due in some part to the machinations of The Four. It is a very highly recommended read. If you haven't already, you should go to the bookstore now and get it. It's a must read. I can't reiterate it enough. But I don't really want to discuss or review this masterpiece work right here as it had been already reviewed with flying colors elsewhere on the net.

In the series we get a glimpse of the global Planetary organization. We learn that there are Planetary branches all over the world; Hongkong, Japan, Brazil etc. Definitely there are stories on these local places themselves that are worth a look even without the original 3 being involved. I'm thinking there should be some kind off spin-off adventure based on the original one. And I'm sure it would be great. Let Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon handle the Brazil Planetario (a dream come true). Or Yoshitaka Amano (one can wish) draw the Japanese Planetary branch. These countries are rich in stories that can be starting point for amazing Planetary stories.

In particular, the Philippines has a lot of material that can be used for this kind of stuff. In fact there is one comic book that immediately comes to mind, Trese. Created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, Trese tells the story of a paranormal investigator aptly named Alexandra Trese who takes on cases with supernatural taste. They encounter aswang, nuno sa punso, tikbalang and many other creatures based from Philippine folklore.

But in some cases Trese and the gang also get to cross with "real" (as opposed to folk tale supernatural) beings. They meet Robinson, the rumored snake under a city mall's basement who allegedly eat customers that go inside one of the fitting rooms. There's a story about Darna, or whatever happened to her after all these years. They also tell the story behind the scenes of a rags-to-riches actress from those prolific 80's movie drama.

Going back to the original topic, Planetary's Philippine branch could be named Pandaigdig ("Daigdig" = Filipino word for planet, "Pan- or Pang-" = Filipino preposition to indicate purpose, i.e. for the planet.) The Pandaigdig crew (come to think of it, Alexandra Trese can become one of the three, she can be the Jakita Wagner of the group) would tackle the secret stories behind the stories.

There could be stories that serves as an analysis of the archetypical Bida-Kontrabida synergy on Filipino action films. There could be stories about the old slapstick comedy of Palito and how he was really a Filipino secret spy during the World War 2. There could be an issue that will encompass the golden age of Filipino komiks and would have cameos by Captain Barbell, Darna, Lastikman, Panday and others. There could be a retelling of the real story behind the Edsa 1, 2 and 3 and how it was really a machination of someone more sinister and supernatural in nature. It could involve Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio, our national heroes who turn out to be more than just heroes. An appearance by Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (Is he called Pacman because he made a Pact with someone?)

End wishlist.

Anyway, I think Trese Book 4 is coming out soon (November I think) and I am eagerly anticipating it's release. It's another highly recommended book and everyone should read it. Also, Budjette Tan writes another comics title, Precinto 13 and it's another great read which focus on Captain Guerrero's side of the story, a la Gotham Central by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka. I hope it gets included in the next Trese book.

End story.

Masters of Non-sequitur Rock

Parokya ni Edgar has always been a fun, happy-go-lucky band, never taking anything seriously. Their performances always become a ruckus. Their albums always become hits. Their songs always carry that signature Parokya happy (sometimes naughty) taste. When you listen to them, you know everything is for fun, nothing serious.

Their latest album does not stray from their musical credibility. "Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers" is a fun album as one can deduce from the name itself. But more than that, it is non-sensical. Everything is non-sequitur. Everything does not follow. Having said that, the album is a masterpiece on nonsensical terms (if there is such a thing) and is a product of a truly genius songwriting.

The first stroke of talent is showcased in their song "Orange". First and foremost, the topic is completely arbitrary, it is about a person's craving for an orange. The arbitraryness of this is even emphasized in the lyrics itself.

("Gusto kong kumain ng lemon/kahit ano kahit melon."

I want to eat lemon/ anything, even melon.)

They are able to make a song from a frigging orange! The melody is very catchy and could compete with OPM classics of Rey Valera or Basil Valdez. There's even a bit of cheesy words reminiscent of the 80 OPM's poetic lyrics.

("Patikim naman ng aking pangarap".

Let me taste my dreams.)

They also have a song entitled "Red Pants". And as you might expect, this song is about red pants and a man's story involving the aforementioned scarlet-tinted lower garments. Moving ahead.

In "Walong Baso", Parokya gives a health and wellness lesson to everyone. This of course refers to the 8 glasses of water that we need to drink everyday, which we all know since we are kids.

("Sapagkat walong baso ang dapat na maubos mo

Dahil sabi sa libro na kailangan daw ng tao

Ang tubig sa katawan halos 70%

Kung hindi mo yan alam malamang ikaw ay absent sa iskul."

Because 8 glasses is what you should drink

Because it says in the book that it is necessary

The water in our body almost 70%

If you don't know it, you're probably absent from school.)

But this song is another display of ingenuity. Sing this song in a bar or beerhouse and everyone would know the "other meaning" of the 8 glasses. The tune is reminiscent of "The Ordertaker", their rendition of System of a Down's Chopsuey.

In "Lolo Bye", the vocalist sings as if he is talking to someone and telling him/her to go to sleep.

("Malambot ang kama/ kukumutan na kita. Ipikit ang 'yong mata/ at wag mag-alala".

The bed is soft/ I will cover you with your blanket. Close your eyes/ and don't worry.)

The entire lyrics makes this a very sweet song, it is basically a lullabye. But it is only sweet if you are singing it to your child, or your girlfriend or wife. In another stroke of non-sequitur genius, they entitled it "Lolo Bye"; a play on Lullabye and Grandfather Goodbye. Suddenly the lyrics becomes very sad and melancholic. It is now almost a requiem. A farewell song. He is telling his grandfather to let go, to rest and sleep. By choosing the title, the song completely reverses its mood.

The mastery for creating amazing non-sequitur compositions culminate in the album's last song, "Pangarap Lang Kita", a reprise of PNE's collaboration with Happee Sy. But in this rendition, Vinci sings Happee Sy's part of the song. Which brings a very surprising twist and gives a different albeit deeper meaning to the song entirely. This version is more rock-sounding, with a helping of electric guitars and splash of drums added. Chito's part remains the same. But it is when Vinci sings when you just get awed by the bands' unique talent for composition. Vinci sings in a very deep voice that might just bring down Barry White or the Righteous Brothers. Yet he sings the lyrics specifically made for a woman with a very serious tone. Which makes a lot of implications. You can't not listen without seeing him as a gay, macho man singing for his secret love. You will feel uneasy or feel pity for this guy or perhaps afraid. The last part sees Vinci speaking Spanish words like a radio DJ or a DOM lover. I don't know what it means but it sure sound good.

All these songs are amazing compositions. All deserving a comprehensive and deep analysis before one can truly understand the real meaning behind the lyrics. Now add a sprinkling of their signature fillers, with the same level of non-sequitur words and sounds and you'll get a work of non-sequitur art that you can post on your non-sequitur museum.

Meaningless lyrics that could only attain their meaning from the interpretation of those who would listen, like Buddhist quotes. Lyrically nonsensical but structurally profound like Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Parokya ni Edgar at their finest. I like oranges.

A Short Discourse on the Trajectory of a Chalk Projectile (Or how I lost a battle and how I wished it would have turned out)

During my college years as a physics undergraduate, I attended a chemistry class wherein the professor takes pride in putting her field of study in the pedestal. She is one of those professors who will fight to death to defend that her chosen field- in her case, chemistry- is the most important field of knowledge.

In one of our introductory classes, we were discussing chemistry in general as the central science. She discussed how all the other fields simply support the claims of chemistry.

So she was going over her class list and asking every student to debunk the notion that chemistry is the central most important science. But when the student answers, she would simply create another argument to prove that chemistry is indeed the central science.

So she started asking everyone until she arrived at me. She called my name, 'Mister --,. I raised my hand and stood up. 'You're a physics student. So how can you prove that physics and not chemistry is the most important field of science?'

I was sure that she would just negate everything i would say so i did not even think of a very elaborate argument. I simply said in a very non-convincing tone, 'In Physics, we study how the world works.'

She paused for a while and looked around the class and grinned. I was simply waiting for the ultimatum. Then she spoke, 'So, how does the world work?'

I knew that was coming all along. But i'm not in any position to argue with her so i simply answered, 'We're still studying it'. And that's it--the class eroded with laughter and she just smirked as if saying 'I rest my case'.

---

Some years after that fateful day, i look back and realize how a loser I was, not being able to fight for what i believe. One time i wondered what would become of me had i fought back. In fact i made a scenario of what I wish happened then.

---

She was looking at her class list when she calls my name. 'Mister --,. I raised my hand and stood up. 

'You're a physics student. So how can you prove that physics and not chemistry is not the most important field of science?'

'In Physics, we study how the world works.'

'So, how does the world work?'

And then I would say, 'According to rules.' She would just look at me and say 'Go on'.

'Everything in our physical world works according to rules devised by nature. How the earth revolves around the sun is governed by the Laws of Planetary motion. How some chemicals react with each other is governed the law of thermodynamics. When a ball is thrown, it follows a trajectory governed by the law of motion and gravitation. We study those things in physics. So, everything can be explained by physics from a planet revolving to a ball thrown.'

She was simply staring at me thinking of a very good rebound, for everyone from the class knew that she was on a very low position right now. And then she got up.

She asked in a very attacking tone, 'Ok so how would you solve this problem, if I throw this chalk to your face, will it hit you or not?' At that point her ears are becoming red with rage and defeat.

So I answered her matter-of-factly, 'There are two scenarios to that problem,' I said, 'One, if you are very much annoyed by the fact that you have been defeated; that chemistry is actually not the most important science, then you will throw the chalk and try to hit my face. However, two, if you are reasonable enough to accept those facts, then you will put that chalk back to the table and debate with the class in a very civilized manner or you could throw it somewhere else. Either way, I will not get hit by that chalk because you will not be able to put into consideration the following factors; First, air resistance provided by the huge ceiling fan above me. Second, the mass of that chalk which is definitely very small since it has low density. Third, the low initial velocity provided by your weak arms. And fourth, my speed of evasion. Did that answer your question?'

---

Yeah, I know it’s kind of made up and very improbable but one can dream, right?

Absence makes the heart grow

Movie Review for The Lovely Bones

I’m writing this on a dark night where my head has slowed down to a halt. I’m sleepy. My head is heavy with images. If I close my eyes, pictures linger in my mind. Image of dried-up roses. Surreal landscapes. A sinkhole. A model ship in a bottle. Teenaged retro-style girls. A serial killer. A doll house. Cornfields.

The Lovely Bones, a film by the great Peter Jackson, is in some ways a collage of unforgettable images. Just as the main character, Susie Salmon, tries to capture her life with her film camera, Jackson tries to capture and tell the story using a series of images or moments.

That heroic moment when Susie saved her brother’s life. That giggly moment when Ray first talked to Susie. That scary moment when Mr. Harvey invited Susie to his den under the cornfields.

And then those images after Susie’s death. Each scene depicts a very fantastic scenery– from a clear lake to a vast flower field. Or a winter wonderland. Or an autumn retreat. You will stop in awe with every set piece and you will admire the CG glory of it all.

The movie is worth watching if just for these amazing pictures. Storywise, there is not too much backbone to support it. You will know from the start that the narrator has been murdered. You will know a few minutes later who the murderer is. Hence you will not be given a chance to wonder nor a plot point to be curious at.

One could almost see the futility of Susie’s journey. What’s her purpose of staying? Why doesn’t she move on? What does she want? You’ll soon realize that she just wants her murderer to pay for what he did although we were not shown any indication on the film. (Or maybe she just want to kiss Ray first. I don’t really know.)

What is amazing though is how the theme of the film summed up nicely everything that happened and how Jackson has translated this to the screen. Towards the end, we were shown what happened to the people who knew Susie after her death. Her parents have moved on and became stronger. Her little sister grew up and found her love. Her murderer died of an accident. In the ending Susie narrates that these are the lovely bones that had grown from her absence. Moments that happened because of her death.

This gives a perfect explanation to the saying “Death is just the beginning”. Well, death may be the end for one person but it is a fresh new start to everyone else.

I read somewhere that death gives a new perspective to life. Perhaps, the film just want to show that every moment in one’s life gains a new meaning when death is factored in. Susie’s death is trivial– we were not even shown any grim funeral. Yet what we saw, the reactions to her death, those small moments have big impacts. Even scenes before her death were put into perspective. As photographs, they serve as memories, mirrors to her life as it has been.

One could say, the film has no deep story. But what it manages to show successfully are the moments that had grown from this lack thereof. Sometimes, absence makes things better–the way the town’s sinkhole in the movie has in a way defined the town’s lifestyle. The lovely bones that had grown around an absence.

Monstrosities

Movie Review for Splice

For me, scifi stories have a very strange yet close connection with horror stories. Horror stories utilize our fear of the unknown, or of the abnormal or of the new. Scifi stories on the other hand utilize our curiosity for the unknown, our tendency to explain the abnormal or to understand the new.

Usually in Scifi/Horror stories, the scifi aspect provides the plot, the horror aspect is derived from the context.

In the movie Splice, the scientific plot is nothing but scary, two genetic scientists (Elsa and Clive) on a project of splicing DNA of various species into a single creature in the hopes of synthesizing useful products from these organisms. But pressured by their sponsor, the scientists began doing guerilla labwork and did the unthinkable– they spliced human DNA with their specimen (which they named Dren). What would follow is a very strange rendition of Oedipus complex.

The movie is full of bizarre twists and turns. As it turns out, Dren was ‘grown’ from the DNA of Elsa, which makes ‘it’ her daughter (although one could argue that it is her sibling or even just her clone). In the movie, Elsa and Clive treated her as if she was really their daughter. In another strange turn, sexual tension between Dren and Clive led them to have sex, which in a twisted way is just natural since Dren is Elsa and Clive loves Elsa. (Mind you, Elsa caught them doing the act just to add to the weirdness of it).

Now, Dren obtained some characteristics from those species where her DNA is spliced from. One such is the ability to change gender. Right after Clive and Dren have intercourse, Dren seemed to have died. But this appeared to be just a metamorphosis to becoming a male.

Soon after transformation, the male Dren started hunting the scientists. A chase occurs until Dren manages to rape Elsa and kill Clive.

The movie ends with Elsa, who seemed to have survived, sitting in a conference room with their sponsor where she signs a non-disclosure agreement. She then stands up and walks toward the window and we realize that she is pregnant. So, Dren who is Elsa’s ‘son’ now has a child with Elsa. That makes Elsa the bearer of her son’s child– or her grandchild.

As with any science-gone bad stories, the story revolved around a very noble cause. In this case that cause is creating a means to cure all kinds of diseases of humankind.

But as with any real stories, nothing comes out perfectly in the end. There is always a factor that would mess everything up, be it a greedy global company, a scientist taking things personally, the list goes on. That is the real world.

In the real world, throughout history, science has always been associated with horror. The Manhattan Project, the Nazi science etc.

It is important to note that the horror here is not really what science produces in itself. It’s not the nuclear bomb that we invent or the half-human, half-lizard that we create.

The horror here is that in reality we humans are so capable of doing much, much frightful things than these and that we humans actually have the frightening power to create, invent or discover things that may intentionally or unintentionally cause horrific events in our lives.

Data Limiting and Circumvention: A PostHuman Tale

A few years ago, there was a report published on an American publication which showed that on the average a person consumes about 34 gigabytes of information daily. This amount of information comes from various sources; TV, radio, books etc.

Based on this report, I began writing a story on what would happen if the government began limiting the data consumption of each person. What if there were implants embedded into the brains of every citizens so that when the limit is reached, the person will no longer be able to receive any more data?

In my story, this data censorship will lead to the evolution of human perception. To maximize and/or continue data reception, people will resort to various tactic. People may begin specializing in only a few senses and block all the others. People may try to filter unnecessary information input such as static, noise neglible pixels etc. People may train to just absorb fragments of the data but optimize their mind so that they can reform the fragment to its full form. Etc.

You can read the entire story here.

Excerpt:

With this new lifestyle, the citizens have minimized their dependence to information. Newspapers became adjunct and replaced with leaflets containing thoroughly condensed daily news. Television shows were revamped completely. They would now only include 1 to 2 minute shows in their programming. Likewise, the music industry was rebuilt from scratch and embraced the MIDI technology wholeheartedly as the main medium for the songs.

This is just the first part of a big story that I'm not sure would be finished.