The Wheel and Axle

Recently, I woke up in the middle of the night, energized with new ideas for a couple of short stories. These, on top of the novel sequel that I’d been plotting in my head for some time now.

It was time to write more fiction!

Then I thought, Would I be writing fiction, or would it turn out to be fake news?

I went back to sleep and dreamt about a world where there were no stupid people propagating moronic nonsense in social media and where there were no idiots believing in them.

One week away, darlings.

Today, we remember the life of Heath Ledger, taken away from us nine years ago at the prime of his life and career.

In memoriam, here are ten things about Heath that I will never forget.

1. Heath’s performance as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain will forever be one of the most iconic portrayals of gay men in cinema.

2. He’s Australian, and I adore Australians.

3. Casanova: the film I first fully saw him in (yes, I missed Ten Things I Hate About You and others prior) and where I kind of fell in love with him.

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There is nothing more disturbing than harmful “ex-gay” programs that purport to cure homosexuality under the guise of good and holy intentions.

Recently, I got caught in a comment thread of a Facebook page that popped up on my newsfeed for some reason. It was a post promoting a Catholic seminar that would help homosexuals “struggling with themselves.” Despite all flowery words used by the ad, this was clearly a “pray the gay away” program.

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She was all this and more.

Audrey Hepburn, who passed away 24 years ago today, will always live on as one of Hollywood’s most beautiful faces and one of its lasting legends. Her latter years saw her shifting away from the limelight in order to focus on working with UNICEF.

She was truly a classy woman whose heart was as beautiful as her face.

She would have been 88 this coming May.

In memoriam, Sabrina Fairchild. Your timeless beauty and heart will continue to inspire generations to come.

There’s a reason why Wonder Woman is queen of superheroes.

This 2015 clip made me laugh. It also made me tear up, especially when Carrie Fisher talked about how she imagined she would be when she’s 70.

So apparently, January 17th is shared by awesome people as their birthdays.

There’s Muhammad Ali, who would have been 75 today had he not passed away last year. He is the gold standard for boxers, no questions asked. Everybody else can just wish they were Ali or that they could have even 10% of his skill and talent. Moreover, he was an activist who fought for civil rights back in the day.

Then there’s Michelle Obama, who turns 53 just a few days before her husband ends his historic term in the White House. Despite some fringe idiotic racist detractors, she is one hell of a classy First Lady who will go down in history as one of the best women to have been a force for good – not simply because of her husband’s office but simply because of her own contributions to society.

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Wow, 2007 feels like yesterday.

Although I personally feel that Boracay has become (and continues to further become) over-developed and needs some restraint (hey, government, please do something), it doesn’t mean that I already dislike it. I still love it, and it is definitely still one of the best beaches in the world, bar none.

It remains a top tourist destination not just because of its awesome fine white sand and the crystal blue waters. It’s also because it has become significantly more accessible and (comparatively) more affordable in the last decade or so, where once upon a time it was generally a place that only the upper and upper-middle class could go to.

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