Sick Leave

I'm sick. I'm at home, writing this post, ever vigilant of any grumblings coming from my belly. 

If this goes on, my favorite sickness will be stomach ache. 

It's annoying, really. It pounces on you in the morning, waking you up earlier than usual. So you go the bathroom and do your deed. Then, when you're all dressed for work and dismissing what happened as a rare case of lactose intolerance, your insides curl up and wring your gut out. Then, it's back to the bathroom for another episode.

You call the morning off and inform your boss that you're taking it slow. You take your meds and hope for the best. Then, right before noon, another episode comes along and you call off the afternoon too. You're stuck at home for the rest of the day because going out might become an inconvenience, all the while trying to remember what you ate yesterday that made your stomach so upset.

Boo-hoo me, I say.

Debt Forgiveness

Just to share something after reading "The Sages" by Charles R. Morris.

When I was young, I noticed that there are some people who, confronted by the issue of the national debt, insist that the first world countries, since they are already rich, must forgive the debts of the third world countries, their borrowers.

That's a kind of thinking that borders on naivety and now I know why. Basically, it's not countries but banks which lend money to third world countries. And these banks get their money from other sources. For instance, according to one of the book's footnotes, the biggest American banks mostly got their money from the OPEC nations, which had deposited their oil earnings in these banks' overseas branches. These banks in turn found a way to convert these deposits into earning assets by granting loans to developing countries. However, since the OPEC deposits are interest-earning, the banks had to make sure the countries pay their dues on time so the banks can meet their obligations with their respective depositors. So, even if the banks maybe amenable to debt forgiveness, they can't because doing so would not allow them to meet their contractual obligations (did I just repeat myself?).

Anyway, there you go.

Being More Critical About What Songs We Appreciate

I remember one time when I was in the CFC (Couples For Christ) Office near SM. I was an active YFC (Youth For Christ, just so you'll know) member back then and we were enjoying a lull before the start of our rehearsal for a play. Some of us had managed to whip out a guitar and were "jamming", belting out some of the more popular songs during those times. 

One of the songs they sang was "Hot In Here" by Nelly (because it was cool to listen to, I presume). Inevitably, someone, I think it was Kuya Louie, thought aloud saying, "Unya, kasabot mo sa kanta? (So, do you understand the song?)" He wasn't being inquisitive at all but instead was critical about what the song was and why some of us were even singing it.

A closer look at the song's lyrics would lead one to appreciate what he was suggesting with his pointed question. The song was all about a lifestyle we frowned upon as YFCs and yet we were singing it, presumably ignorant about the song's message. 

More recently, I asked my younger sister if she understood her favorite song (At that time, it was Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" which she listened to for hours and hours). She answered matter-of-fact that she didn't and she simply liked to listen to it because of the way it sounded (Typical teenager).

Still another instance occurred when my colleagues and I visited Calinan to attend the christening of Alex's baby daughter. During lunch, one of the songs being played was "Teach Me How To Dougie" by California Swag District. I wasn't a fan of the song to begin with so when the song started playing, I shuddered and hoped that the many children (most were babies actually) in the venue hall wouldn't seriously listen to it. Still, it bugged me that someone would be willing to listen to a song with the word "fuck" and bitch" interspersed in the lyrics and even put it in a soundtrack for a children's event. Or maybe, that someone wasn't closely listening at all.

My point is simply this. I repeat this post's title: we have to be more critical about what songs we appreciate. Most of us simply appreciate a song because it sounds good but we also have to be mindful of the song's lyrics. The songs that we like reflect what we are and I would rather be caught dead listening to the Happy Birthday song on my earphones than, say, listening to another sexist, stereotypical rubbish some insist is music.

Another Blog?

I'm thinking about creating another blog, Street Cuisine. It's going to talk about the art and business of selling food on the streets. The topics are going to be about the main theme, street food.

I would have wanted my writings on street food be incorporated in this blog. But, then again, I would have wanted this blog to remain personal whereas Street Cuisine will be something I'd like to share more openly with others. 

 The end result, hopefully, will be a blog that will provide useful information on how to start a street food business and on what the street food industry really looks like from within. 

Soon.