The Wheel and Axle

Archive for June, 2016

The Page Turns

by on Jun.30, 2016, under Society

Image: The Philippine Star

Image: The Philippine Star

Today, a new page in Philippine History turns. Perhaps, a new book may even be opening.

Whatever you think of either Rody Duterte or Leni Robredo – whether you favor them both, or voted just one, or despise the lot – they are our duly-elected leadership starting today.

As good citizens, we should accept the mandate given to them – a mandate which, despite the whining of some, they won fair and square.

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Biz Türkiye ile ayaktayiz.

by on Jun.29, 2016, under Society, Travel & Culture

On my way to Colombia last February, I had a 4-hour layover through Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. From there, I would fly for about 10 hours to São Paulo, Brazil and wait for about 8 hours before the final 6-hour leg to Bogota. Noooo, it wasn’t a long trip at all.

Ataturk Airport, 07 February 2016

Ataturk Airport, 07 February 2016

I had a fleeting moment of paranoia on the plane from Manila to Istanbul, thinking about the France attacks, the geopolitical climate in Europe and the Middle East, as well as the pockets of terrorist and rebel activities in Turkey itself. What if something happened while I was in Ataturk Airport?

All fears and concerns were dispelled the moment I landed in Turkey and stepped out into the cold breeze. I love the cold. I’m from a tropical country, but I hate the heat and the damned humidity vehemently. This is why I loved traveling to Bulgaria during winter last January, and this is why I loved the cold breeze of Istanbul that dark morning just hours before sunrise.

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Sometimes, digital just doesn’t cut it.

by on Jun.29, 2016, under Snark

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Judge all you want…

by on Jun.28, 2016, under Film & TV

… but don’t forget that you yourself might be living in a box.

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So I got some weapons. Time to get yours.

by on Jun.27, 2016, under Geeky, Literature, My Life

From: Jessica Rules The Universe

From: Jessica Rules The Universe

I went to my mentor’s bookshelf sale last Saturday and left with more stuff than I planned.

My primary purpose was to acquire the cool-looking ornate crucifix she had posted because, well, Buffy. I have no idea where it’s from, but there’s just something Old World about it, something so very classic Europe, maybe even Eastern Orthodox, that I can’t help but want it. I love that culture. Of course, it could’ve been from Paete for all I knew, I am ignorant of these things, but it didn’t matter. It’s gorgeous, and I had to have it.

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Drag and Dance

by on Jun.26, 2016, under My Life, Queer

My friends and I haven’t gone clubbing in years. At the risk of sounding ancient, yes, it’s because nowadays we’ve decided we prefer a quiet night-out over coffee or a chatty night-in watching movies while drinking. This is not to say we never went clubbing; we were practically rooted to the concrete streets of Orosa back in the glory days of the now-dead Malate scene.

(Aaah, yes, New York Cafe… and Bed… and Mint… and Piggy’s… oooh-la-la… that very dark second floor dance area… mmm…)

Where was I?

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The Sound of Pride

by on Jun.25, 2016, under Music & Theater, Queer, Society

It’s that month of the year again where we raise our lovely voices and bring out the sequins and feather boas. Or the white boxer briefs, depending on where you are in the spectrum.

Today, Metro Manila proudly cries out: “Let Love In! Kahit Kanino, Kahit Kailan!” Because love is love, no matter with who and no matter when. Everyday is love. Everyday is pride. As with IDAHOT, everyday should be a celebration of our diversity and our power.

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Extraordinary Angels

by on Jun.24, 2016, under Music & Theater

Frente-MarvinTheAlbumRecently, I’ve been revisiting my music collection and came upon my digital copy of the 1994 release of Marvin the Album, which brought back such laidback memories of me listening to the cassette tape (yes, kids, from the Stone Age) in the car on the way to school in the 90s.

Marvin the Album was the debut album of Australian alternative rock indie group Frente! (Exclamation mark required. This was the 90s.) It was originally released in 1992 then had an international release in 1994. With lovely, quirky vocals from Angie Hart, the sometimes-emo, sometimes-psychedelic, and always-playful acoustic music was a sharp contrast to the typically-loud garage/grunge sound of other rock bands of the time. Even the album cover seemed to be a challenge to their usually dark and angsty contemporaries.

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The Dominatrix has a bookshelf sale.

by on Jun.23, 2016, under Geeky, My Life

The dominatrix of the universe has a bookshelf sale this Saturday.

If you want to own a piece of her, okay, so maybe not exactly her, drop by and give it a go!

I may even try to get that ornate crucifix. I so need to summon my inner Buffy. It’s been a while.

 

 

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The Princess and the League

by on Jun.22, 2016, under Film & TV, Geeky

2017 cannot come fast enough.

Not only did a glorious new Wonder Woman image appear…

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