[Seme(n)]str(u)al Break Week 1

So what has kept the great Joel busy this past few days? Nothing much. I have tried to spend my time on things which are most worthless. I played Warcraft 3's Defense of the Ancients (DotA) map and Counterstrike 1.6. Also, learned how to download YouTube videos.

Downloading YouTube videos
First, I searched the internet to look for the downloader. I tried three things, and here they are, arranged from okay to the best: kissyoutube.com (online), youtubedownloader (offline download), and the built-in YouTube function of the good old Free Download Manager (offline download too). So why was I interested in getting videos to my hard drive? Like what I read in a fraternity (I am not a member of any fraternity, brotherhood or whatever you may want to call it), newsletter (blue-colored paper) which I saw in UERMMMC library, something guys understand but may deny and girls will never understand: the propensity of pornography.

I'll try to justify my craving for such evil stuff. You see, I have no experience (as in zero) with respect to sex. Thus, I need to study it. And it seems that there is no better, nobler way to learn more about it than to watch and observe.

Learning Issues
There are several good things that I learned: First, do not search YouTube for porn! There are many people who posts things which are of little relevance especially when it comes to search terms like: pinoy, sex, scandal, xxx, etc., and other terminologies deemed as horny as well. Second, when you make anything a habit, it becomes second nature to you.

Form a (virtuous) habit today
This philosophy can be applied to almost all aspects of life, including virtues like faith and excellence. I want to tell you why I will never join a fraternity. I do not believe in people getting together because of nothing at all. People should associate if and only if there is a concrete purpose beforehand.

Common purpose: the Philippine example
I think that this can be related to the problem to Philippine society, nationationhood, and identity. What is the Filipino? The Filipino is a native inhabitant of the Philippines or has an origin traceable to the islands. The Philippines is a country which was named after a king of Spain, the country which occupied it for about three hundred thirty-three years. My point is that we came together because an oppression which was common. But I see that common oppression or exploitation is not enough to solidly bind us. Inter ethnic marriages are not enough. Our local ties are much tighter than the artificial national bond. The oppression has not stopped.

Ills of a good thing: Globalization
And with the advent of globalization, it looks as if they are here to stay. If the having idea that globalization is unstoppable is that of a pessimist, I guess that I am one. Globalization is good in its purest form but I believe that in reality that it is otherwise. The rich countries would definitely want to cash in, to the demise or expense of the poor countries. Beyond the economic implications of such a policy, I see a power struggle. It's a stuggle between the right to life of poor countries and the extravagance of life of rich countries. Why do I say this? Because the industries of the poor countries would die out with the entry of globalization. On the other hand, the characteristic resource-monger citizens of the rich countries would become hungry (something that failed to happen since I estimate the Great Depression).


The promise
I promise to live a semi-decent life starting now.
- Take a bath everyday.
- Study for at least six hours everyday.
- Exercise for one hour a day.
- Triple my confidence each day.