THE BLACK BLOG: Dieses Ist Ronnstein

After The Sabbatical

2008-06-03T07:22:00.004+08:00

I know that those who have been reading this blog ever since its conception are by now wondering why things suddenly came to a halt. And I believe that most of you might even think that this blog has finally met its demise.

The truth is, after that blog rant I posted last February 18th, I lost the drive to update this blog simply because life - for me - suddenly went downhill. It all has to do with my employment with my (previous) employer. It could've been simple: employer decides to shut the company down and pays all its employees their dues and benefits, and then all the now-ex-employees move on with their lives and finds work somewhere else.

But it wasn't, and still isn't.

It has been almost 90 days since we last received any money from our ex-employer. And if my computations are correct, they owe me at least 2 months' separation pay (a month's salary for every year of service) plus half a month of unpaid wages for service rendered for the latter half of March. It might not be that much compared to the company's officers and bosses with their large monthly salaries and all, but 30-plus grand is a big deal to me.

It could've been money to pay for my outstanding debts. Or money to pay for rent, buy me food, and get me around as I look for other employment opportunities. But, up to now we still have to see when we will ever get paid. Most of the items in my collection (some of which even made their way into this blog), have been sold off just so I could manage to feed and shelter myself for these past four months. Not that I've become too attached to the material things in life but those items took me a large amount of time and money to obtain, only to end up being sold at only 3/4 to even 1/2 of their supposed resale value. Ouch.

So when are we ever going to get paid? Nobody knows the answer to that, and it could already be money that most of us might be waiting for in vain.

Stupidity At It's Lowest

2008-02-18T19:31:00.007+08:00

18 February 2007:

At around 11am this morning, after going to the bank to withdraw some funds I went to LBC Walter Mart Pasong Tamo which is located near where I live, to have some eBay items I managed to sell mailed out to their respective buyers. It had been agreed upon the night before, that I would have their items sent via LBC instead because: 1) they live at a very considerable distance from where I reside, and 2) my hectic - and unpredictable - work schedule severely limits my ability to make any meet-up transactions.

I consider myself a regular customer at that LBC branch, having used their services for a number of times in the past to ship out my eBay items to out-of-town buyers. I never had any unfavorable experience with their staff. They were friendly and would often start a conversation with me regarding my eBay items, which consist mostly of action figures and mini4wd cars.

Not until this morning.

I had - via eBay auction - successfully sold some G.I. Joe Sigma 6 action figures and, as I have mentioned earlier, was about to have them mailed out to their respective buyers. Entering that LBC branch I noticed that the staff that I have gotten used to taking care of my packages weren't there. Instead, there was a lone woman taking care of the branch and all it's usual business activities.

I asked her for a quote - how much the shipping cost would be - and showed her the items. She asked what items they were. I unrolled the bubble wrap that protected two of the action figures that were also placed inside individual ZipLoc bags. And then she saw the Sigma 6 equipment locker where I kept the figures' accessories so they would not get misplaced. I obliged and she inspected the contents.

And then she saw the guns:

Not real guns - not even replicas - and most definitely, not airsoft BB guns.

And so, with the conviction of an intelligent being, she flatly tells me: "bawal ito" ("these aren't allowed").

Me: "Ano?!" ("What?!")
Dumb Clerk (sternly): "Bawal ang mga ito." ("These are prohibited.")
Me: "Bakit bawal?" ("Why are they prohibited?")
DC (power-tripping tone in her voice): "Bawal ang mga baril." ("Guns are not allowed.")
Me: "Hindi naman totoong baril 'yan, at ang liliit pa! Bakit ipagbabawal 'yan?!" ("Those aren't even real guns, and they are so tiny! Why should they be prohibited?!")
DC: "Basta bawal ang mga baril." ("Because guns are prohibited.")

Wanting to smack this person upside her head, to try shaking an iota of intelligence into her, I realized it would only create some kind of disturbance inside the LBC branch. Instead, I put back the items inside my sling bag and stormed out of the place.

Feeling so pissed off, I went to an internet cafe upstairs and logged into LBC's website. I filed a customer complaint but, up until now (it's already 8pm) I have not even received an email notifying me that they have read my complaint. So what else is new? This is the very same shit I experienced with this cunt-ry's Labor Department.

By the way, just to let you all know how "big" these "guns" where, here is a scale comparison:

They're so tiny they wouldn't have even created a small bump on her head if I had ever thought of throwing these at her! These "guns" are made of rather soft plastic, without even a working mechanism inside. I've seen jeweler's screwdrivers creating more damage than what these could do!

And so, thanks to these stupid lady clerk, I have to travel tomorrow morning to the Megamall in Mandaluyong and then to Gateway in Cubao, just to meet these customers and then travel back to Makati afterwards so I can go to work.

So far, this has got to be the most stupid human being that I have come across.

No wonder this country is in shambles.

What Does It Take?

2008-02-17T22:09:00.002+08:00

What does it take to make an employee stay in a company? Attractive incentive packages? Higher-than-average compensation? Bountiful benefits? Cool bosses? Complete facilities and hi-tech equipment?

Most of the time it's a combination - if not all - of those.

But sometimes, it's a very simple thing that it often gets taken for granted: SALARIES BEING RECEIVED ON TIME.

I just cannot see the logic nor the place of being paid late in the overall scheme of things in this universe. One needs to put fuel before any flame starts to burn. One needs to put gasoline in a car before it can run. So why the fuck should a human being be forced to do more work before receiving any of his past dues?

Promises, promises. "Tomorrow" turns to "in a few days", which then turns into "next week", and then "it's coming - hang on", which in turn becomes "we're not sure yet". Easy for them to say. They probably do not have bills to pay and other people to feed. Or they have set aside this huge trust fund.

Employees being treated like kids, with these promises. It's not their fault when the head honcho makes poor business decisions.

People are leaving and yet Big Boss acts nonchalantly, never addressing the issue to his subordinates.

"Hello. Anybody there?" Dimwit.

I just hope he has enough to cover his face, once the shit finally hits the fan.

And this cunt-ry's Labor Department? Sheesh. Couldn't even send an email to notify you that they have received your complaint. So much for going hi-tech, you brown morons. Fuck this country's government - fuck them all to Hell. Different names, but monkeys all the same. All they're concerned about is their next seat in the coming elections.

A Chance To Escape From It All

2008-01-27T19:29:00.000+08:00

I guess I need a break from all the work-related ranting I have been doing ever since this year started. Sad to say that our office woes haven't been completely given a solution, and this feeling of uncertainty as to how much longer we will have work looms over us like a dark cloud.

If I only had a choice, I would spend at least a year unemployed, kick back at home and spend time on my hobbies. But I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. So much for wishful thinking.

Though I despise summer, it is going to creep in anytime soon and I will again be having a hard time breathing the hot air (I have asthma). I never really looked forward to summer, except maybe when I was still just a kid and summer meant no school for about two months. But way back then the asthma had already been with me, though no school meant one less thing to worry about everyday so I guess it was a fair trade for "freedom".

"No more classes, no more books. No more teachers' dirty looks," as the line of a once popular song went - though it was immortalized in my mind by Bugs Bunny. I didn't get the "dirty looks" part, though. Must've been a lot of lecherous teachers in that school.

And so summer will be a-coming in soon. With this, the thoughts of the majority of the population will converge on one single idea: to cool off in a beach or resort somewhere in one of this country's several popular summer destinations.

Which could only mean one thing: all these popular summer destinations will once again be crowded. And I hate being in the middle of a mass of human flesh - I just can't get to relax in a crowded place. So, if you are also like me, who would like to relax but would like things to be, uhm, less crowded, I have got a suggestion for you:

Somewhere south of the Philippines is a travel destination that has not yet become a cliché unlike Puerto Galera, Boracay, Subic or wherever, and is still as pure and as untainted as can be. This paradise is located in Camarines Sur and so, if you and your friends or family would like to experience something new this summer, why not visit Caramoan?

I'm not going to spill the beans right here; so if you would like to know more about this "secret destination", kindly visit The Caramoan Blog. My friend will be more than happy to entertain your queries.

Another Thing To Be Pissed About

2008-01-20T17:13:00.001+08:00

I'm taking a break from my personal rantings at work (though we have yet to be paid fully) and rant about something of a more national scale.

I just came across a newspaper headline about this country's aviation safety rating being downgraded to below global safety minimums. Even though I have not taken a plane to go somewhere, this news just pissed me off. With Php 3.1 billion projected annual income, it's a wonder how the management has failed to correct safety deficiencies.

But given the fact that they have monkeys for bosses to run the show at the ATO, it's no wonder why things have become FUBAR'd.

What next? I think sacking those responsible is indeed a start, but it's not enough.

Tie 'em to the landing gear and have the plane takeoff, level at 50,000 feet and then land. Do this several dozen times.

The Suspense Is Killing Me

2008-01-13T17:36:00.000+08:00

It has been announced again by our employer, that we WILL be paid THIS coming Tuesday. Whew! Finally!! What a relief!!!

NOT!

Because, you see, after all these weeks of the CEO crying wolf, we have grown indifferent of all the broken promises. Irreparable damage has been dealt, especially to the morale of the company's personnel, and some of us have decided to jump ship and look for greener and more stable pastures.

Not only that, some of us have damaged the trust we have tried to maintain with the people we owe money from.

Just take into account my own tribulation these past six weeks: I now owe the cellphone company two months worth of bills and managed to have my line temporarily cut off. I owe overdue rent for the room I'm renting, and also some significant amount of money to a colleague I had taken out a loan from, last October. And I've been practically living in the office premises for this past week.

I have yet to pay for some items at eBay which I had won LAST MONTH, and for this, my Feedback Rating is now in danger of being given several non-paying bidder strikes which will mar the otherwise flawless Rating that I have tried to maintain for the past sixteen months.

So once we get the money, most of it will only go to our payables. Just like an outdoor breeze briefly grazing one's skin.

On the (somewhat) good side, being broke for the past one and a half month taught me a lesson as well. It has taught me to cast off my attachment to the material side of life. It gave me the courage to downsize my growing action figure collection, to only the figures that I really like. It has taught me to let go of the excess, and keep those that are really dear to me.

But then again, I had to sell even some of the ones I like that were really hard to find -- those that had me spending time and money hunting for.

So it's back to square one with the hunt, and I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Distractions, Distractions

2008-01-09T16:50:00.000+08:00

As mentioned in my previous post, we have not been paid at work for more than a month now. And this has been both a major inconvenience and a source of distraction, day in and day out.

I've experienced a couple of Holiday Seasons without a job, but this is an entirely different situation. It is more difficult when one is expecting something to come in and it doesn't, than when one isn't expecting anything arriving at all. Unlike some of you who might be reading this, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I do not have a trust fund nor a multi-million dollar inheritance. Nor am I an overpaid executive in some large corporation.

It has become tedious, to try to explain to the people I owe money from, that my paycheck has been moved to yet another week. Day in, and day out. Not everybody can be as understanding and considerate as I am, when somebody owes me some money. Bills and payables have started to pile up.

Looking for another job isn't as easy as it may seem to some of you. Because, in this country (guess where I am?), you need money to earn money. How else am I going to travel around the metro to show up for a job interview, if I don't have any money to take me anywhere in the first place? And if I do ever land on a new job, it's this silly "tradition" in the local employment industry that a new employee has to wait for one month before he can receive his first paycheck.

One month? So where do I get the money to feed me, house me, and get me to work and back home everyday, for an entire month? Isn't this why I was looking for a new job in the first place - for the money?

So I am stuck here in this dead-end job, along with my colleagues who are as broke as I am now.

And so, to fend for my everyday expenses, I have been selling my action figure collections on eBay. Yes, the same ones I have worked hard for and traveled around just to look for. The same ones that had me staying glued to the computer monitor, trying to snipe them at eBay. And I am selling them cheap, just so they could be converted to much-needed cash quickly. Shit. I'm selling my collections at a loss.

One step forward, two steps back.

When will this nightmare ever end?

2008

2008-01-07T17:46:00.000+08:00

Time flies so fast, another year has come. I never realized I haven't been posting for some time now. New Year's resolutions? None, frankly. Because it seems that the more I set goals, the higher the chances that I won't be achieving any of them.

I've become too preoccupied with eBay. That, and more than a half-dozen or so action figure forums I joined during the last half of 2007. I've gotten myself hooked with action figure collecting once again, after dumping my Mini4WD hobby last year.

Collections can get expensive, but quite rewarding. Especially the hunt for those hard-to-find "hot" items and variants. And so while I am at work, I also have another internet browser open besides my already-busy Mozilla with 30+ tabs simultaneously open (for work purposes) just so I can monitor what's being posted up on eBay.

And then there's the action figure collectors' forums I've joined. Most of the time I just read all the silliness that gets posted up or contribute some knowledge or helpful information to those who are in need, and learn some as well. Sometimes I even post my items up for sale. But for all the haggling and no-shows I've encountered in the forums, I've decided to keep my selling strictly at the 'Bay.

Ahhhh... eBay. All was well until our paychecks at work started to get delayed. And as of this posting, we haven't been paid our salary for the whole month of December, plus the remainder of our 13th month bonus and 5 days' worth of unused vacation leave.

What makes things worse, is that I am currently stuck with 6 eBay auction items that I have won last month which have yet to be paid. All because of my employer's promises that our money will arrive "next week". The next thing we know, "next week" has now been more than a month, and our payables have started to pile up. Rent's overdue, and so is my cellphone bill (my line got cut off yesterday). And the 6 eBay items I have yet to pay for? My account is in danger of being given several simultaneous non-paying bidder strikes.

So much for that 100% positive feedback rating that I've worked so hard for, since September 2006.

What a way to end 2007.

What a way to start 2008.

Still Here...

2007-11-19T03:25:00.000+08:00

Today marks the first month since that fateful Friday afternoon where I almost met my Maker. 19 October 2007, at around 1:25PM PST (GMT +8), an explosion shook one of the Philippines' premier shopping malls, killing about a dozen innocent civilians and injuring 112 more.

I had included in my itinerary a day before, that I was to go to the bank before lunchtime to inquire why the hell my new debit card did not seem to be working. And, after that, I was supposed to go to that very same mall which eventually blew up, to have my lunch and then check out any new items that would strike my interest.

The night before, I set my mobile phone's alarm at 10:30AM, but for some reason I only shut it off when it activated. I went back to sleep a few hours more, even though I was no longer feeling sleepy. I was also fully aware that I had to haul my lazy ass to the bank before it closes for the day, or end up stuck with a non-functioning debit card until Monday.

But something was trying to tell me that I should take my time that day, and not be in a hurry to go somewhere or do anything. When I finally gathered the energy to pull myself out of the bed, it was already 12:35PM.

I took a slow, lazy shower, and finished at around 1:15PM. I was getting myself dressed when I heard a soft "thud", at around 1:25PM. I initially thought that somebody from the unit upstairs must have dropped a heavy object onto the concrete floor.

Still not in a hurry one bit, I left for the bank at 1:45 and was surprised how there was already a traffic jam on the major thoroughfare by that time. When I got off the jeepney (I only commute), I saw ambulances and fire trucks rushing towards the direction of the mall. Could be a fire or an accident somewhere, so I thought to myself. As I approached the bank, I noticed that its shutters were already partly lowered even though it was around 50 minutes before their scheduled closing time. I hurried in and was the bank's very last customer for the day.

As I was patiently waiting for my debit card issues to be resolved, that was when I got to hear what had "happened". There was an explosion at the mall, so said some of the bank's employees who had just come back in after some Halloween decor shopping. The mall was closing down early because of the explosion which, the employees said, originated from a Chinese restaurant in that mall. Gas explosion, they theorized.

So right after they finally fixed my debit card I went to a smaller shopping center, which was located near the place where I rent, instead.

It was only when I got to the office later that night that I learned the extent of the damage, by watching the evening news on television. I thought to myself, this wasn't just an "LPG explosion" -- I have seen the damage an LPG explosion had done to a restaurant 18 years ago. This one was way larger.

And the explosion did not happen inside a restaurant, unlike the news that had been circulating earlier when I was still inside the bank.

Ground zero was located right where I usually pass through, every time I go to that mall:

It sent a shiver right down my spine. I could have been right there, if I had forced myself to get up and out of bed when the alarm rang.

Was it luck, or was it something else? A friend told me it was providence. But whatever one might think of what it really is, I can only say that it was a close call for me.

Up until now the authorities have not been clear as to what really caused that explosion. Is the public deliberately being misled by certain powerful individuals? Are we all being lied to; being given the runaround? Innocent people got hurt - and several died - that day. No self-serving, power-hungry reason can ever justify the loss of innocent lives.

May God rest the souls of the innocent, and eternally torture those who are responsible. No, wait - God does not do that. May the Devil always hound those who are responsible and make their existence as miserable as can be.

First Post for November

2007-11-03T04:39:00.000+08:00

And hopefully, this won't be the last post this month. :) I seem to always get sidetracked with all the things I have to do at work. Though browsing while on duty is still allowed, I spend most of my surfing time nowadays searching for good deals at eBay, trying to snipe some good items at the very last minute and selling some items as well.

Looking back at my younger years, the 31st of October and November 1st were always something I would look forward to. Halloween was kind of a fun day for me and my childhood best buddy, Patrick. We weren't planning to go trick-or-treating in the evening, but more of creating mischief in the neighborhood by trying to scare those who were actually trick-or-treating. Or give them the creeps at the very least.

We would always be dressed up as ninjas - which was our favorite costume back then - and we'd try to sneak into and through the neighbors' lots as much as possible, without getting detected by the homeowner. Or their pets. If we were to do the same thing at our age nowadays, I think it would already be trespassing and we'd most likely get our asses arrested and charged.

And on the morning of November 1, me and my "family" (long and different story, those quotation marks) would go to my grandma's grave at the memorial park. A couple of times, best buddy Patrick was also there to join us. We'd put up a tarpaulin tent early and spend the rest of the day there. It was pretty much like a picnic, and also served as some sort of a "pre-Christmas reunion" for me and my relatives. It was fun way back then, though I don't know now. Is it just me, or is the sun hotter today than it was during my younger days? Must be all the pollutants mankind has dumped into this sorry planet that's wreaking havoc with the environment.

Times have definitely changed, and I spent Halloween and November 1st this year - and last year, and the years before that - at work. Patrick now lives at the southern end of the country with his very own family, I've moved to a rented room near the business district (I still haven't a family of my own), and we're both too old to be roaming around the neighborhood dressed as ninjas. I also lost my patience to wade through a mass of living human flesh at the memorial park and yes, I do think the sun has gotten much hotter than it used to.

And when the day was over , we'd be heading home and my thoughts would then be on...

December!

What?! Almost November Already?!!

2007-10-26T02:04:00.000+08:00

...And I promised myself to post in this blog more often, now that the Wallaby/Kiwi training at work has ended.

But now we have some extra "chores" at work -- they call it "testing", I'd like to call it "proofreading".

Which goes to show how the Universe seems to conspire against you, by throwing more activities to keep you preoccupied and prevent you from doing something creative. Bugger it. Why does this seem to always happen to me? Or does this also happen to anybody else?

There now is an accumulation of toys that have yet to be reviewed. My dorm closet has now been filled with toys, and has displaced all my clothes. And because of this I need to buy one of those large Tupperware-type tubs soon, which will be a pain in the arse to transport from the store, back to the dorm. Ah well, at least those tubs will make moving my stuff to a new residence easier when the time finally comes.

Speaking of residences, I miss all those years living inside a subdivision -- everything seemed to feel more secure (well, at least in Ayala Alabang), the air was cleaner (dust used to accumulate in the electric fan's grilles - now I see soot in the grilles), and the neighbors were generally, uhmm, more attractive (hey, I'm now renting space in a boarding house near Washington Street in Makati, which can partly be classified as living in the dumps. Can you really blame me?).

Going back to the toys, I wish I had a decent cellphone with a decent digital camera to take pics with. One that's got a macro function at least. My fucky-sucky Sony Ericsson k610i doesn't have that. Nor does it have a built-in flash. Which explains the poor quality of most of my toy photos in this blog. This also explains why I decided to postpone any further action figure review in this blog. Postponed at least until I get a decent cellphone which has a decent camera - say a Sony Ericsson k750i - I don't really have the need or use for my k610i's 3G connection because using it is rather costly and still useless for me anyway.

Or miraculously get the money to buy myself a Canon S2 IS at the very least.

Ahhhh, money. It's always the factor that prevents me from doing the things I need, like, and want to; and getting the things to have them done. Just like this gallbladder removal -- it has been seven years, and I still haven't had it removed. Surgery costs a fortune nowadays, and being unable to go to work post-op isn't going to be of any help either.

And while we're now in the subject of money, banks here do not seem to give anyone a loan unless he or she has money in the first place. Which means that if you don't have any cash to start with, there ain't any chance that anyone will help you earn more of it. This means that my plans of venturing into the toy retailing business, by partnering with a friend and his toy shop, is just like aiming for the moon. And so does getting this buggered gallbladder removed.

What next? Train of thought just got derailed by the sudden influx of questions here at work. Damn it. Could be Murphy's Law. Or the Universe messing with me again.

I Can't Believe It's Already Mid-October

2007-10-12T12:59:00.000+08:00

Time flies so fast, I never realised (yes, that is spelled with an "s") that almost half of October has already passed by.

Funny how I promised myself that I will try to keep my posting to a faithful, constant schedule. But I kept on getting sidetracked to other activities, both at work and otherwise.

My eBay sales are doing fine. It would have been better, if I could finally get a bank loan approved. Then I would partner with a friend's hobby shop, and start making some serious money and not just depend on reselling used stuff on the 'Bay.

And just as I was about to gather new ideas for my blog stuff, I, along with most of my colleagues at work, had to attend a week-long training session in *gasp!* the morning shift, which started last Friday. This training was for the company's upcoming New Zealand / Australia account (which accounts for my fancy spelling a few paragraphs back). Well, I'm glad to say that training session is now officially over, and I can go back to gathering my thoughts and material for this blog.

Wrong!

I'm now doing overtime at work, because the office seems to have been undermanned by their scheduling decisions. Oh, well. This helps me earn more pay by doing overtime, anyway. And to think it's Ramadan, so there's some additional holiday pay in for me as well.

It's just that I cannot get on my train of thought when all these questions begin to pour in, and usually it's when I'm just about to get into the groove in writing down my thoughts. Aaargh! Frickin' Murphy's Law!

Blimey. Ah well. No worries, mate.

A Confusion of Terms

2007-09-25T23:11:00.000+08:00

Those who have been faithfully reading my blog posts would have known by now that I am a collector. I have been collecting stuff even before I realized I had this "obsession" as a hobby. It started with Matchboxes, Legos (which I haven't written about yet), comicbooks (a traumatic ending which has also yet to be divulged in this blog), Mini4WD's and once again, action figures.

And though I have always wished I was financially capable to collect each and every item (in the collectors' circle, they call such a person a "completist") in a product series, it isn't really the case. I have to settle with purchasing items which I really, really like, and feel would be my hard-earned money's worth. The good thing to come out of this is that I only have (in my opinion) the best ones in my collection.

But getting the best of the lot isn't always that easy. Especially when one starts out late and most of the items are no longer in production. Which goes to say that late starters - or should I say, "late bloomers" - like me would have to settle for trade forums and auction sites such as eBay to find the items we're looking for. And by that time, items either start to (1) become pricey, or (2) would only be found cheap halfway around the world. So if it, perchance, happens to be case number 2, it's the shipping and Customs fees that can put a huge dent in one's wallet.

In addition, what makes things harder for me is my lack of a credit card for PayPal verification purposes, so I'm not capable of selling or bidding on auctions overseas and will just have to settle with trading locally. For now, at least.

Joybidders, scammers, shill bidders, and bogus accounts are universal and has become a natural part of the eBay experience. Not necessarily just eBay, but online trade and auction sites in general. I just have to be very careful of who I trade with. And for the ten months I have been trading on the 'Bay, I have managed to have two accounts requested to be shut down because they won the bids for my auctions but never paid up nor communicated with me at all.

And now, my ranting begins.

What gets me irritated is the fact that local merchants do not seem to know the difference between what is "rare", and what is "hard to find". Oftentimes, some capitalizing individuals deliberately hoard an item in the hopes that stocks will run out and they will have a huge share of the market and as a result, end up with a huge amount of money by jacking up the prices to ridiculous and impractical amounts.

Such was recently the case with the Transformers Movie 2008 Camaro Bumblebee which disappeared from the toy stores' shelves all too quickly. And when such an incident happens, one can be assured that the items will start appearing on auction sites such as eBay. But I guess that's how business is here in this country. Unlike some toy store chains in the US where they limit a customer's purchase of a hot item to one or two pieces maximum. I've even heard of an incident during the initial local release of the Transformers Movie Leader Class Optimus Prime and people had waited in line at a popular toy store before opening hours, only to be greeted by a sales clerk as the shutters were finally opened and be told that someone had already bought all fifteen of the items in stock.

Why in the world would somebody bloody need fifteen Optimus Primes in the first place?!! Ahhh... the Filipino "entrepreneurial spirit" of course. He, or she, hoards every single item available on the stockroom and then manipulates the law of supply and demand to his/her favor. By limiting the supply and creating demand, the price for the item will now be at his/her mercy.

And now, the real ranting starts.

So what would be the most probable venue to sell these hoarded items if the hoarder does not a store of his/her own? Why, the 'Bay of course.

One can easily guess the title header of the item in the auction: "*Name of Hoarded Toy* RARE!!!"

You see, I can easily forget about their greed and shrug it off because all of us have been greedy at one point in our lives. What royally pisses me off is their utterly ignorant play of words by deciding which is RARE and which are not. Fuck!!! A limited edition numbered release (e.g., 1000 worldwide) can be called RARE. A manufacturing / packaging error can be called RARE. A mint condition Transformers Movie 2008 Camaro Bumblebee, after 30 or so years when 90 or so percent of them have been broken / discarded / forgotten into obscurity would then have the right to be called RARE. A Treskilling Yellow postage stamp is RARE. Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis is RARE. But HOARDING EVERY SINGLE ITEM IN THE STOCKROOM THEN SELLING IT OFF ONE BY ONE DOES NOT MAKE AN ITEM BLOODY RARE.

Folks, it's as simple as this:

* RARE - Explained above.
* VERY HARD TO FIND (VHTF) - 1. When all the greedy entrepreneurs have successfully hoarded every single item, and the stores have attempted but failed to replenish stocks. 2. When the item has been out in the market for a couple of years and all production have ceased (discontinued), and there is only a very limited number available visible in the market.
* HARD TO FIND (HTF) - 1. When the very same entrepreneurs have hoarded the item, but never realized that the stores have replenished the stocks somewhat. 2. When the item has recently run out, but production has not been officially discontinued.

Sometimes I wish I could just send all these merchants a message and cuss at them for their stupidity without having my account shut down and be banned from the 'Bay.

Busy Month

2007-09-25T01:58:00.000+08:00

Time goes by so fast, I never realized that September is about to come to an end.

It has been a pretty busy month, as evidenced by the sparse posting in this blog.

It all started when a longtime friend visited the country (she's now based in Germany) and I had to act as "tour guide/bodyguard" for her. *lol* Met some of her friends, too. Well, she's now back in Germany. Good for her. This country's such a crappy place to live in nowadays.

Then, some audio equipment sales and eBay transactions. And attempting to find out where I could get a loan so I could finally start this business I have in mind. Hopefully before December comes. But then again, with all these banks being so tight-assed about approving my loan application, I begin to wonder if only the rich deserve to earn more money. This country is SO fucked up.

I just wish that this long uphill battle will come to an end. Soon. I only have about thirty more years to enjoy my existence in this world, and I've already wasted most of it coping up with living in a broken family and all the crap that went along with it, and working my ass off just so I could stand on my own two feet. I know I deserve a break sometime, somehow -- and I'm not talking about being confined in the hospital again.

But, will that big break really ever come?

Fuck. How the hell should I know?

There Is No Cure For Stupidity

2007-09-13T22:26:00.000+08:00

So there I was, grabbing some food to eat at my favorite pizza place, just a few hours before writing this. I placed an order for a slice of Supreme Pan pizza and half a spaghetti in tomato sauce.

As I was about to approach the counter to pay for my order, a crew asked what drink I would like to go with my food.

Crew (smiling): "Sir, what drink would you like?"

Me (smiling back): "Uhm... Iced tea, please."

Crew: "Large?"

Me: "Uhm... Regular."

Crew: "Large only, sir."

Me: "SO WHY THE FUCK DID YOU HAVE TO ASK ME FOR THE SIZE, WHEN THERE IS ONLY ONE FUCKING SIZE AVAILABLE?!!"

And the restaurant stood still.

Actually, that last sentence was just in my imagination. I did not yell at the poor crew, but I honestly almost snapped with that stupid remark/question. I cannot see the need to ask for options when there is actually no other option available. It just wastes time. My time. Their time. And the other people in line.

Just like the saying goes, "common sense is not so common."

PERSONAL COLLECTION #6: Night Ranger Quad with Duke

2007-09-05T03:11:00.000+08:00

"At ease, boys and girls. As per blog author's orders, today I will give a review of... well, I will review a bit of myself, and pretty much this "Night Ranger Quad" ATV for all those who give a damn about Sigma 6 and the many versions of yours truly that Hasbro has released during the recent years of this toy line."

"First of all, you have to pardon the rather grainy quality of the images, since the photographer (and author of this blog review) is still ill-equipped with the necessary equipment to take decent, professional-quality photos... Other than a crummy 2-megapixel Sony Ericsson k610i cellphone. Lemme just place this helmet on the rack and, if all is fine with you readers, then let us proceed."

"Aside from my cool-looking blue helmet, I am also issued with this nifty-looking NV - or to those unfamiliar with military tech jargon, "night vision" - goggles. Granted that it's not as cool as Snake Eyes' Night Ops headgear, but it still does the job."

"And, with a gentle push of the handlebars, up comes this night vision camera sensor HUD - that's "heads up display" for you military tech jargon noobs - at the front of the ATV..."

"...And by pressing on the gas tank cap..."

*ka-chakk!* "...The ATV's hood armor opens up to reveal more of the rocket launchers underneath it."

"Looking closer underneath the front hood, you can see a simulated suspension system for the front wheels. Hey, notice that the Quad has real rubber tires! But uh, if you ask me, I would've preferred that Hasbro made real spring suspension and steering system rather than that spring-action NV HUD camera and rocket launcher pop-up armor gimmick."

"But it still simulates "real" suspension and steering... Somehow. As you can see as I demonstrate how the front wheels adapt as I lean myself, along with the bike, to my right..."

"...And now to my left. Cool! Ain't it?! Whoopee..."

"OOPSIES!!!"

*THUD!* "Ehnn..."

*BOF!* "Ooooooh... My... ...Family jewels..."

"...There goes... ...my hopes for... ...Conrad Hauser Junior."

"Moving on to the front of the Quad, we have a grappling hook attachmed to a faux-winch system..."

"...And some bright green spring-launched rockets, reminiscent of G.I. Joe's neon-colored weapons during the '90's, which contributed to the blog author's decision to quit collecting 3.75-inch G.I. Joe figures."

"Now if you could help me prop the Quad up a bit... Okay, now... At least, we can see that there is REAL suspension for the Quad's rear wheels. Though the suspension travel ain't all that far, it's still a cool addition to this vehicle."

"Now on the equipment rack, the Quad comes equipped with a pickaxe, a shovel, and some extra rockets. As one can clearly see, this Quad is well-equipped for a mission. Except for an extra tire and a tire pump in case of a flat. And some extra fuel."

"There is also a knife and my trusty ol' Switchfire pistol. Kii-yahhh! Yo soy mucho macho! Ayiyiyiyiyi!!!"

"Uhmmm... Dunno where I'll put these, though. I wasn't equipped with a holster and a scabbard."

"Aha. I can see that the knife can be placed onto the slot on my thighs. Kinda dangerous for me, though -- carrying an unprotected knife on my leg like this."

"Well, I guess that concludes this review. As you can see, this Quad fits well for its intended night ops theme, especially the color scheme (hey, I made a rhyme). This is still a cool vehicle for the Sigma 6 line, though it could've been a bit better."

"Oh, hi there, Timber. What have you and the Silent One have been up to lately?"

"Hey, waitaminnit... You're not thinking what I'm..."

"Oh, no you DON'T. You're not gonna pee on those new tires, you mangy mutt!"

"Now scram! Vamoose!! Before I chop you into itty bitty pieces like your namesake!!!"

"And don't ya ever think of sprayin' your fluids onto this Quad, ya hear?!"

"Dogs and their masters..." *Tappity tap* "???"

"Er..."

"Oh, hi there, Snakes! I see you're heavily equipped right now. So... Uhm... How did the mission go?"

"This axe? Uh... I was uh... Just demonstrating the uhhh... By the way: nice shiny swords you have there!"

*chomp* "?!! Uhhhmmm..."

"Okay, hafta go now. See you in the bridge in 10 minutes SHARP... For a mission debrief. Noooneeenooonneeenooo..."

Mall Security Is A Joke

2007-09-04T03:32:00.000+08:00

I recently borrowed an acquaintance's Marui Colt MkIV Centimeter Master Airsoft pistol, to try and see if I can help him sell it (and gain a little profit on the side). It came with a carrying case and looked pretty much like a legit gun.

But before I could go to the office, I had to go to the nearby mall because they were having a midnight sale event. I wanted to see how much of a discount they were giving on G.I. Joe Sigma 6 that night (which was a bit of a disappointment, since they only gave 10%).

Then I remembered I was carrying this gun inside my bag.

And since there wasn't any place where I could leave my bag other than the package counters located INSIDE the department stores - which were, in turn, INSIDE the mall itself - I decided to just go on in and see if mall security would notice (I must be rather bored with my life that night).

Turns out that after all those detectors and security frisking me and inspecting my bag (I was going in and coming out of the mall several times), they were either too lazy and/or stupid to notice that I had a rather noticeably heavy pistol case inside my bag. That, or they trust my smile too much.

Now, what if I had a real gun and decided to shoot people inside the mall or hold up a store or a group of people? What would have been the consequence for all the shoppers inside the mall during that crowded Friday night?

Could Be Engrish

2007-09-04T03:12:00.000+08:00

I was about to log into the 'Net in a nearby cafe during my recent off day, and found this pasted on the computer monitor:

They could be having more than their fair share of cybersex in there. *LOL*

NOSTALGIA: The A-Team Action Figures

2007-08-28T22:20:00.000+08:00

Back in 1984 (I feel so old), toy maker Galoob released the A-Team action figure line to coincide with the television series which was popular at the time. And, naturally, me and my friends had to get our hands on these. My neighbor had one first, then I had mine a few weeks after Christmas.

We both purchased the 3.75" Soldiers Of Fortune 4-pack, since none of us really cared about the Bad Guys 4-pack that was also available. Oh well. The more, the merrier.

Each figure came with 10 articulation points (could actually be 12, if one considers that the arms can also swing from side to side in addition to rotating up and down), and some weapons and accessories:

Hannibal included a demolition backpack, detonator, and a rifle (plus that grin on his face).

The Face came with a flamethrower and a rifle (plus a grin on his face also).

Aside from the grin and the rifle, Murdock came with a mortar launcher with a stand.

B.A. Baracus came with an ammo backpack, and that rifle again (they say it's an M-16 but I think it looks different). It's also interesting to note that B.A. is the only action figure in this set who is not wearing a grin on his face (he does look a bit catatonic, though).

Me and my friends had tons of fun with these. One of them would always use Hannibal, since he feels like he was the leader of our group; his younger brother was a pretty face and would always use The Face. My best friend was the tough one in our group, and so would use B.A. Baracus. Me? I'm a nutcase.

These toys were on the brittle part, though. Their thumbs snapped off rather quickly, and we were left with mostly thumbless figures. Notice also their jaundiced hands (except for B.A.), owing to the fact that the flesh color were only painted on. This also chipped off in no time.

And so, after the summer of 1985, G.I Joe came into our world. What happened to these figures? I guess my Joes buried them somewhere in the yard, along with my Matchbox collection, Action Jack/M.A.C., and Star Wars action figures.

Images courtesy of toymania.com.

The Audition

2007-08-25T21:46:00.000+08:00

There's much to say when somebody holds an audition and isn't clear as to the details of the audition itself.

I am not pissed that I did not get the part, but perhaps I am pissed as to WHY I did not get the part.

But before I delve into that...

I did not find it pleasant, nor amusing, that the "organizer" made us wait only under the trees and a few tarpaulin tents that were barely enough to protect everyone from the elements on a hot and humid day while waiting for their turn to be auditioned. From 9am to 5pm, most of us waited, under the heat.

This is one of the main reasons why I never visit my grandparents' grave on All Saints' and All Souls' Day anymore: sitting under the cover of a tarpaulin tent all afternoon under the elements. I enjoyed the sun when I was younger. But all the pollutants that mankind has stuffed into this forsaken planet has somehow screwed up the weather -- I do not remember the sun being as painful to my skin as it is nowadays. Nor do I remember spitting out gray-colored phlegm the morning after I've been out in the city, either -- there is also much to say about this country's fucking government still allowing the open use of diesel fuel, but that's for some other future blog post.

And while the auditions were held inside a university's campus, there wasn't any place nearby to get something to eat or drink. At least somewhere near enough that whenever the numbers are being called, it would be audible -- there wasn't any P.A. system set up outside, just some girly man shouting out the numbers. Adding to this, is the fact that one has only 15 minutes to respond when his/her number is up. Miss it and kiss your audition goodbye.

And so there was I, dry throat and drenched in sweat, stomach growling for some food. I did not foresee it coming. I had the impression, owing to the poster, that this was to be a simple audition: either one gets the part or not. That was my mistake. I did not buy any food or drink before I went to the venue.

My first taste of water since my 8am breakfast before going to the auditions came in at around 4pm, when a vendor dropped by to sell some orange-flavored soda and mineral water. COLD WATER. Bad for anyone's singing voice, but much-needed by my system. I tried swirling it around my mouth for a few moments just to warm it up a bit and not affect my voice, but 7 hours worth of thirst took over and so I gulped the remaining contents down.

As my number was about to be called, somebody set up a hotdog stand. Amazingly idiotic. It has been 8 hours since auditions began and it was just during the final hour that somebody realized to set up some sort of food stand. Must've gone through some thick bureaucracy shit inside the university before being given a permit to set up a food stand inside the premises. And with the oil used to cook them 'dogs, there was barely enough time to remove all that grease from my throat and be able to sing as well. So, against my growling stomach I refused to ingest any food for the meantime. "Meantime"? Shit. I've gone without food for 8 hours already.

So what pissed me off big-time?

I was only informed of this audition, a week before it was to be held. While the poster was accurate as to the details of the venue, time and date of the auditions, there were other essentials that were not expressly mentioned in that poster. There were contact details on the poster, and inquired I did.

My SMS (translated and expanded form, for those who are not familiar with 'abbreviated' SMS language used by Filipinos): "Good evening. Will the auditions push through this Friday?"

Reply: "Yes, it will."

SMS: "How many songs?"

Reply: "2-3 songs, but not whole."

SMS: "Okay. Should it necessarily be (the band's) songs, or would it also be okay to sing other songs? Sorry for asking so many questions."

Reply: "(The band's) songs are not a requirement."

Cool. Not a requirement. I could quickly get the band's songs' lyrics in my head, but it's those nuances in singing the songs that take time, and less than a week is barely enough time for me. So I went to the auditions armed with every song I know, except the band's songs. After all, it wasn't a requirement. 'Bring your own voice', as I recall what was printed on their poster.

I arrive at the venue, to be greeted by a giant tarpaulin of the band and what seems to be a tv schedule for a show. What the hell?! This wasn't a simple audition after all. Was this going to be some kind of reality show type thing? I hate almost every friggin' "reality" show that has been aired on television.

I was handed some sort of pre-audition contract, stating that while this "contest" is ongoing, I am not entitled to any residual stemming from any public or television appearance/event, if ever I'm chosen as one of the finalists. Great. Not only have I figured myself in some sort of contest, I also have to shell out for my own transportation expenses to wherever they want us to show up.

And it wasn't to be just a simple audition. Some genius/es decided to split it into two auditions, as if it was necessary, by having an "initial screening committee" before auditioning in front of the people who are really in the music industry, i.e., musicians. So this was why it was taking us ages to wait for our turn.

I wanted to back out, but since I've already traveled all the way to the audition, I might as well go give it a try.

And so, after 8 fucking hours of waiting under the elements with only a small bottle of water to refresh my throat on the eighth hour it was, finally, my turn.

Having the bad luck of somebody who has been struck by lightning more than twice, they decided to move the initial screening upstairs just as it was supposed to be my turn. So move upstairs we all went, including the equipment. Well, not all the equipment. They were either too lazy to set it all up again upstairs, or too lazy and/or too stupid to figure out how to reconnect a simple P.A. setup (which was obvious, since they could figure out where to put the cable jack in) so they decided that we, the remaining auditionees for the day, sing our songs acapella without the help of any amplification.

After singing my first piece, they asked me to sing one of the band's songs. Just what I needed. Thank you so much to whoever that fucking idiot is, who replied to my SMS inquiry and told me that the band's songs were not a requirement.

And so after all was sung and done, I was told by this 'initial screening committee' that I was not prepared for the audition, and that my image does not fit with the band.

Not prepared for the audition? I've got about a hundred songs inside my head, motherfuckers! I've been learning songs longer than most of you rocker poseurs have ever been in the 'music industry' or thought about getting into it. Too bad for me, that I do not know any of the band's songs because I've never EVER really listened to most of the crap they put out. Too bad for me, that I never really listen to most of the offal played on the radio, nor do I watch stupid MTV nowadays.

Too bad for me, that I never dress up like most of the emo-wannabe youth nowadays. They got one thing right though: my image does not really fit with most of the local bands nowadays who put image first before any real, original talent. Bands and/or "artists" who need to sound or look like some foreign group, just to get the attention of today's shallow superficial youth.

Maybe they should've stated that it was a "sound-alike, look-alike" contest, instead of just an audition. Then I could've saved time and effort, and did something more productive and intellectual that day.

Third

2007-08-22T00:04:00.000+08:00

Saigo no kisu wa
Tabako no flavor ga shita
Nigakute setsunai kaori

Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Anata wa doko ni iru n' darou
Dare wo omotte 'ru n' darou

You are always gonna be my love
Itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

Tachidomaru jikan ga
Ugoki-dasou to shite 'ru
Wasuretaku nai koto bakari

Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Watashi wa kitto naite 'ru
Anata wo omotte 'ru n' darou

You will always be inside my heart
Itsu mo anata dake no basho ga aru kara
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

You are always gonna be my love
Itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Mada kanashii love song
Now and forever...

"First Love", by Utada Hikaru

NOSTALGIA: Star Wars Action Figures

2007-08-13T05:39:00.000+08:00

Here are pictures of what was once my collection: vintage Star Wars action figures. Looking back, it's rather funny how their articulation was so basic during those days: five points (and on some figures, four points) of articulation - neck, arms and legs. So there wasn't much fun in posing these figures, but they were one of the coolest toys back then.

This Hammerhead was my very first Star Wars action figure. I now do not know what came over me, to buy such a horrible looking toy. Ugh. It could likely be my utter desperation to own a Star Wars action figure, just when all the good ones were no longer in stock. Blame it to my folks' "award before reward" b.s., wherein I have to show very good grades at school before they decide to buy me cool toys -- after much begging and pleading at that.

One of my favorites in my Star Wars figure collection was this Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot. I especially liked how this figure looked.

And, strangely, this came with some kind of sweet-smelling citrus scent which stayed on the figure for so many years. I never had an idea what it was. Even up to now.

Third one in my collection was this Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot figure. It was another Boba Fett-less day as I scoured the toy shops, so I had to settle for this one.

This AT-AT Driver was my second favorite Star Wars action figure. It came with a nice-looking rifle but just like the Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot that I had, its head did not turn. Bummer.

After being frustrated for such a long time with that Boba Fett figure, this was the LAST Star Wars figure I bought. I got tired of the limited articulation anyways, so I decided that I might as well stop this obsession and move on to other ones. *lol*

Boba Fett. This is the action figure that was ever so elusive.

I never had one, and I don't think I'll ever do.

PVC Anime Figures -- A New Hobby?

2007-08-08T08:46:00.000+08:00

Browsing through pages upon pages of items being sold off eBay as I was pondering the near possibility that I will dispose my whole Mini4WD collection through that website, I ended up on an item which struck my fancy: PVC anime figurines. I have already seen some of these being sold at toy shops but due to the limited selection available here, it never made me curious enough.

Not until now.

Stumbling upon Danny Choo's excellent website by way of Google (ahh, the wonders of being an internet researcher), I saw a very beautiful PVC anime figure: Mirei San. I think this is one of the hottest looking PVC figures I have ever laid my eyes upon, and I knew I had to get one.

I took the liberty of downloading some pictures of Mirei San (my apologies, Mr. Choo), just to help those who read this blog understand what I meant when I said 'beautiful' and 'hot':

Scorchin'. Now if I could only find out where to get one of these. Or two.

I guess I've found a new hobby to take Mini4WD's place.

I just hope my G.I. Joes won't bury these figures again somewhere, someplace. *lol*

Images courtesy of dannychoo.com

Hello Kitty for bad Thai cops!

2007-08-06T23:30:00.000+08:00

Here's an article from Yahoo! News:

Mon Aug 6, 7:38 AM ET

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thai police officers who break rules will be forced to wear hot pink armbands featuring "Hello Kitty," the Japanese icon of cute, as a mark of shame, a senior officer said Monday.

Police officers caught littering, parking in a prohibited area, or arriving late — among other misdemeanors — will be forced to stay in the division office and wear the armband all day, said Police Col. Pongpat Chayaphan. The officers won't wear the armband in public. The striking armband features Hello Kitty sitting atop two hearts.

"Simple warnings no longer work. This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor," said Pongpat, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok.

"(Hello) Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps," Pongpat said.

He said police caught breaking the law will be subject the same fines and penalties as any other members of the public.

"We want to make sure that we do not condone small offenses," Pongpat said, adding that the CSD believed that getting tough on petty misdemeanors would lead to fewer cases of more serious offenses including abuse of power and mistreatment of the public by police officers.

Hello Kitty, invented by Sanrio Co. in 1974, has been popular for years with children and young women. The celebrity cat adorns everything from diamond-studded jewelry, Fender guitars and digital cameras to lunch boxes, T-shirts and stationery.

Way cool, if you ask me. Wish something like this could also happen here in the Philippines. But with all the corrupt monkey cops around, I'd bet Sanrio would have to triple their production of these armbands. And if you disagree with me, then just shut the fuck up. Go make your own blog.

I am a bigot for a reason.

Image courtesy of Yahoo! News.

The Simpsons Movie

2007-08-04T00:35:00.000+08:00

Feeling like I was carrying the world's boredom on my shoulders yesterday during my off day from work, I decided to forcibly pick myself up off the bed and go outside. But since there was nothing new at the toy and hobby shops, it felt like my window shopping was unexpectedly cut short.

I wanted to rent a PlayStation 2 at the mall to while away my time and let the remainder of the day pass, but realizing how ridiculous E.G.G. (Extreme Gaming Grounds) charge per hour (P80 to P100) and I had no energy to travel all the way to San Pedro, Laguna where the hourly rate would be a lot cheaper (P20 per hour, but then the transportation expenses would total to an additional P100 or so), I decided to catch a flick instead.

So off I went to QUAD in Makati, to watch The Simpsons Movie.

Being an occasional viewer of the tv show, all I can say is that the movie was nothing special really. It was like watching one long episode of the show. But it was indeed edgier and funnier, compared to the episodes shown on television. The most memorable (and funniest) scenes for me was the Itchy and Scratchy portion during the beginning of the movie, and Bart's nude skateboarding stunt ("We thank the Lord for this bountiful... PENIS!!!"). Green Day's appearance at the beginning was also cool.

Was it worth the P120 ticket price? I do think it was better spent watching that movie rather than giving it to the capitalists of E.G.G. or traveling all the way to Laguna to play some PS2 games.

And at the end of the film when the credits begin to roll, Maggie utters her very first word: "sequel?" Hehe... Why not, Maggie, why not?

NOSTALGIA: Die-cast Car Collection

2007-08-01T01:36:00.000+08:00

Back when life was so much simpler, and toys were just the same (to my knowledge, that is), I had my first experience in being a collector -- a "hobbyist" if one might like to call it -- with my modest die-cast Matchbox and Tomica collection.

Growing up in a not-so-middle class family, seldom was the chance for my folks to allocate a budget for my toys. I often, if not always, had to prove myself by getting good grades at school, just so I can get them to buy me something new. But still, the prohibitive costs of the toys that I DID like to have prevented me from acquiring them. And to make matters worse, if my folks would've had the money for me it was most of the time too late -- either because the hottest toy that I had wanted during the time had been replaced with a new, more expensive trend, or it was still so popular that after the school's grading period they were almost impossible to find since stocks had run out.

And because of this, most of the time I had to settle for something more practical - something easily found in the store shelves: die-cast cars. These cars might also be the reason why I like cars up to now.

My first die-cast Matchbox car was this 1969 Lotus Europa which was given to me during my preschool days. Wait a minute... Preschool? I skipped preschool and jumped straight to 1st Grade.

So that makes this my first die-cast car (along with a Toyota Sprinter, which I haven't found a picture of) before I started going to school.

Most of the vehicles in my collection weren't even something I had liked or wanted. They were given to me as gifts by some relative who didn't really care as long as they had something for me during Christmas, or on my birthday:

Just like this 1972 double-deck bus named "The Londoner". I can't recall if this was given to me by my aunt or some other relative. I never really cared for this one, so this wound up in the water most of the time.

The same also goes for this 1974 Hondarora. It had no use other than be displayed, because that kickstand that's keeping it upright was always in the way. That and the fact that I had been given a Star Rangers motorbike+sidecar toy (I still have to find pics of that) which was way cooler with its rubber tires and removable figures. I remember getting tired of that kickstand and cut it off with some pliers.

This 1975 Atlas Truck was way better than the previous two, but I still couldn't care less about dumptrucks because my grandparents wouldn't let me play with sand, soil, or anything that had "germs". *lol*

I can't remember whom I got this from. My mother perhaps. Ma, how could you?!! Hehe.

A 1975 Fandango. So named because of that blue fan-like projection at the back which spins as the car's wheels roll. That fan also had the tendency to get stuck, so the fun factor for this car would dive down to zero everytime that happened. I think I got this from a cousin. Or this WAS taken from a cousin's. Bad kid, me.

Another one of those things that they thought I found cute: a 1975 Mini Ha-ha. Well... Ha ha ha ha ha. It wasn't funny then, and it still isn't funny now.

This orange 1975 Vantastic was anything but. I think I traded this for a Hairy Hustler (somewhere below).

And so my aunt gives me this 1976 Hovercraft for Christmas. Gee, aunt, thanks. By now I know you know I like sportscars, and this does NOT look anything like it.

A 1976 Mercedes Benz container truck, with a removable container that also had opening hatches. At least I could put something inside the container. Too bad these toys weren't made to scale, so I'd put a baby gecko inside, or a ladybug -- guaranteed to freak my friends out. *lol*

Gah!!! Another one of them Atlases. This time a 1976 Skip Truck. I think I also traded this off. I just can't remember for what, though.

This is a 1977 Ambulance (looks like a Ford). At least this had some use whenever I'd pretend my sportscars figured in an accident. Rear doors open so they'd also find a baby gecko inside from time to time.

Grandpa was into those big American station wagon-type cars, so he brought this 1978 Cougar Villager home for me one night.

After some time, he also picked up this 1978 Renault 5TL, for good measure. It wasn't a station wagon this time, but more of a hatchback. Grandpa likes anything colored blue.

My aunt (or was it my mom?), to annoy me even further, got me this 1978 Shunter train on another birthday.

Mom got this 1978 Wreck Truck for my birthday. This went well with my 1977 Ambulance.

I can't recall who gave me this 1980 Ford Courier Camper, but after getting tired of that ubiquitous camper shell, I decided to saw it off which left a gaping hole at the roof of the pickup truck.

Some in my collection were acquired through trades with friends:

This 1970 Dodge Charger MkIII looked cool, so I traded off one of my vehicles for this (dunno which one it was, though).

I personally think that trading off my 1975 Vantastic for this 1971 Hairy Hustler was a good decision.

I found a second-hand 1979 Plymouth Gran Fury squad car, being sold by some sidewalk vendor outside school one day, and decided to buy it to complement my ambulance and tow truck. I lost this one while playing at a friend's house -- fell down their water-logged basement and I didn't bother going after it (after all, the water down there was from their leaky toilets. *Eww*).

As always, I cannot recall with whom and with what did I trade off for this 1981 Swing Wing. I loved the F-14 Tomcat, and it was even the very first model kit I assembled (more on that next time).

And now, on to the good stuff in my collection:

I loved Mustangs, so I wasted no time trading off one of my least liked vehicles for this 1972 Boss Mustang.

This 1975 Pontiac Firebird was one of my long-time favorites. I played with this so often that most of the blue sparkle paint chipped off, and the chrome plated parts tarnished.

I also found this 1976 Dodge Challenger as one of my favorite cars in the collection. Funny how I seemed to prefer American muscle during the early years.

One day I suddenly seemed to have become interested with large-wheeled four wheel drive vehicles, like this 1976 Jeep. That "Golden Eagle" artwork on the hood looked cheesy though.

My grandma used to love watching that British crime-action TV drama "The Professionals", where I first saw this 1978 Ford Escort RS 2000. Funny how it wasn't until around six years later, that I was to finally find this on sale.

This started my love for everything Porsche: the 1978 Porsche Turbo. This looked kinda bulkier than normal, compared to my other sportscars though.

This was the very first sportscar in my collection: a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette. Another one of my long-time favorites, I left this one as a souvenir to a neighbor when we moved residences in 1984.

Perhaps one of the very first cars in my collection that had suspension-type wheels, this 1981 BMW M1 became an instant favorite. The hood opens and I would put small stuff in there (not baby geckos now though *lol*).

A 1981 Ferrari 308GTB. The car that introduced me to the world of Ferrari. I loved this car so much that I bought another one, after I accidentally scratched the paint and somehow rusted the spring leaf "suspension" on my first one. This also reminded me of Magnum P.I., though Tom Selleck was driving a 308GTS on that one.

As my curiosity for off-road 4x4's was starting to grow, I bought this 1981 Flareside Truck to complement my 1976 Jeep. This was way better than the Jeep because this now had "suspension" on its wheels.

As with all things 4x4, I took this 1982 Audi Quattro in my collection after buying a remote controlled Audi Quattro.

This car will always remind me of the WRC. This, I think, is also where Toyota got their design idea for their Corolla DX back in '83.

Knight Rider was my favorite show during '83 - '85, and as such, I hunted high and low for this 1982 Pontiac Firebird. Too bad I couldn't find a black variant, which would've made this look more like K.I.T.T.

I can't recall buying this 1983 Corvette. This might have been part of a good friend's collection that ended up in mine. This reminded me of Faceman's car in the A-Team.

Aside from the Matchbox brand, I also had some cars from Majorette (which I haven't found pics of), some other obscure brands (like my Lamborghini Countach), and Tomica:

This 1974 Nissan Fairlady 240Z was one of my favorites in my collection, and seeing a real one parked in my neighborhood make me like this even more.

I primarily loved this 1977 Shinden BMW because of its fat wheels. Those very same wheels would end up in my 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo, when I "chopped" this one up.

I've been a fan of Formula One ever since I can remember, so I didn't have a hard time deciding whether to pick this six-wheel 1977 Tyrell P32 up or not.

The same goes with this John Player Special Lotus Ford 78. I just forgot who drove this car in Formula One. Was it Gilles Villeneuve?

I first had a Dome 0 as a pullback action car, which was about three times larger than this Tomica 1979 Dome 0. Me and my friend liked this car so much that we each bought one for ourselves.

My most favorite car, a 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo. After a while I felt that its wheels were too thin for a sportscar, so I chopped my 1977 Shinden BMW and gave its wheels to this baby.

So there you go: another part of my toy collection history. Sometimes I still toy with the idea (no pun intended) of starting a die-cast car collection again, or those fancy looking DUB cars. But it's going to be another expensive hobby, and I can't even keep up with my GI Joe Sigma 6 collection. Oh well. Perhaps some other time.

Photos courtesy of Areh's Matchbox Picture Dictionary and HelloToTomica.

Ferrari On Fi-yahhhhh!!!

2007-07-30T06:43:00.000+08:00

Whew! After a blogging "drought"...

It's just an amazing coincidence that a friend and I actually saw this car whiz by Buendia Avenue in Makati City, the same morning before this happened at the South Luzon Expressway:

"Isn't it a bit too early to start a bonfire?"

White Honda Civic: "Betcha I can outrun you now..!"

Guy at left, to the two other guys: "Hey, guys! Good thing I brought some marshmallows!"

Orange, red and black IS an attractive color combination...

Up in smoke goes a $200,000 piece of precision equipment.

What's even more of an amazing coincidence is that this is most likely the very same car I took some pictures of, during the car show last March, 2007.

Guy in white shirt: "I knew I should've given that old woman the WHOLE Fita biscuit..." (inside joke)

Asche zu Asche...

From an article in Wikipedia: "The F430 has displayed a notable engine irradiation problem for early model years. This issue regards an engine-overheating flaw which caused a fire in the engine bay, usually leading to the destruction of the car. The catalyst for the fire is the sustained high-RPM work of the engine. The massive heat exhaust flowing through the exhaust manifold may come in contact to a variety of hoses or oil perspiration which act as the fuel for the combustion."

Might not be a work of "precision" after all.

From what I've read in several forums, Ferrari was to send someone to investigate the cause of the fire and, if found to be entirely a defect, will replace the car 100% free of charge.

Except, perhaps, for the taxes in importing the vehicle over to Philippine soil.

But if I were the car's owner, I wouldn't worry too much about the taxes. I bet with that kind of money, to be able to afford a vehicle such as this in the first place, he'd most likely know some powerful people working at the Bureau of Customs. So it won't be a big deal for him, bringing them Customs big guys over to some exclusive club and giving 'em some "freebies".

Good thing that it wasn't a Porsche or a Lamborghini, 'coz then I'd be upset. Ferrari? Meh.

Where Did All The WWE Shirts Go?

2007-07-25T22:38:00.000+08:00

The local release of some 'licensed' (meaning they were locally manufactured) WWE merchandise -- shirts and apparel, to be exact -- more than a year ago, was something that was appreciated by many Filipino WWE fans like me. It allowed local fans to wear their favorite wrestler's shirt, without having to spend as much as $25 for a piece of WWE merchandise (these licensed shirts cost only around $7).

So, where have these WWE stores gone?

Not trying to be a market analyst or anything, but in the beginning, they released the popular shirt brands (HHH, Batista, John Cena, Edge, etc.) which was instantly gobbled up by the consumers. Further down the road we experienced a shortage of the hot items and were treated to the lesser attractive shirt designs as they shifted their focus to shirts such as those of Booker T, and shirts with pictures of half-naked male wrestlers.

A picture of a half-naked muscleman on my shirt? I'm a WWE fan alright, but I'm not THAT kind of fan.

Adding to this was their now-worsening slow production and very limited stock distribution of the more popular brands. I think this started with Triple H's "King of Kings" shirt design, which took a MONTH to finally get one for my own. This delay in production eventually deteriorated further during the release of the DX cartoon shirt which, after searching for almost two months, I had to finally settle for a shirt that was one size smaller.

This lack of foresight doomed our chances to buy the latest WWE shirts, just like the one pictured above, and contributed to the closure of the WWE stores. Too bad. It was cool while it lasted.

Photo courtesy wweshop.com

PERSONAL COLLECTION #5: Sigma Strike Duke

2007-07-21T21:16:00.000+08:00

Suffering from writer's block a couple of days now after being so pissed off at the Customs for greedily taking advantage of some items shipped over to me by a friend overseas, I decided to just write about another item in my action figure collection.

I wanted to post pictures of the items in question, but it would only spoil things down the road when I finally get to feature each of those items in another one of my "Personal Collection" posts.

I've never been a Duke fan -- not during the ARAH 3.75" figure days, and even up until now. And I personally think Duke's been overexposed in the Sigma 6 'verse due to the number of versions Hasbro made of him (Snake Eyes also had several versions out, but he's my favorite character so... so I'm biased! Shoot me! *lols*).

But I've always had this fascination about the Sigma Strike Duke, ever since I first saw this version in the reviews section of Sigma 6 Central early this year. During that time this was still being sold abroad and on evilBay in the range of $24 up, and I can only vaguely remember seeing this on the store shelves last year (probably glanced on it, but since they were priced way higher locally back then I might have selectively erased any traces of this in my memory). So I guess anyone can imagine my surprise when I came across this item on sale for around $15.50 about six weeks ago. Such dumb luck! It was payday and I had the dough to shell out for the two remaining items on display, but finally decided to pick up just one.

The first thing I noticed about the figure after removing it from the box, is that it is a bit heavier than one would usually expect of a Sigma 6 figure. This might be because the figure was sculpted with body armor, thicker arms and legs, to simulate a full-armored, battle-ready Duke. The downside to this is that the upper body weight seems to make the hip joints loose, or this could also be a manufacturing defect. And the arms were molded in black plastic, so the flesh parts on the elbow joint instantly chipped off when I first moved the joints.

The helmet slightly resembles the ones used in the HALO video games, hence some people calling this the HALO Duke. My only gripe with this headgear is that the visor/faceplate seems loose and easily detaches from the helmet. Otherwise, it really complements the overall look of the figure. Duke's removable shoulder armor also nicely adds to the overall bulk of the figure.

For the backpack, Sigma Strike Duke is supplied with a variable-payload mission-specific weapons system (or that's what I would like to call it) with a battery operated (3 x AA-size) backpack/jetpack which, by pressing three different buttons located at the top of the pack, produces several sound effects and also triggers either the red LED lights on the jumpjet's boosters or the green LED lights on the main weapon. The red button triggers the "power-up mode" sound of the backpack, and makes the jumpjets' LED's flash. Pressing the blue button triggers the thruster sound of the jumpjets and also makes the red LED's light up. The green button activates the sound and light effects for the weapon systems. The jumpjet's nozzles can be rotated, and there is a switch on the lower part of the backpack which has settings for "on", "off", and "demo" which was the default setting when the figure was still in the box, so one can sample some of the sound effects.

Sigma Strike Duke's backup weapon is a Switchfire pistol which comes with a holster that attaches to the right thigh of the figure. Too bad that the holster's peg mounts are smaller than the standard pegs found on Sigma 6 figures. Maybe this indicates that the holster is an integral part of the Sigma Strike weapons system, but I'm not sure about that one, though.

As for the main weapon systems, Sigma Strike Duke carries four large weapons, all of which activates a cool sound effect whenever a weapon is attached and detached:

Perhaps the least useful of these weapons is the Power Cutter Saw. I cannot see it's usefulness in battle -- perhaps in rescue and structure breach situations this may have some kind of use. Pressing the green button on the backpack activates the saw sound effect and lights up the blade.

The Flame Blaster flamethrower is something I would prefer over the Cutter Saw anytime. Green button on the backpack activates a flame sound effect and lights up the flamethrower nozzle and tank. Weapon also fires a spring-loaded flame projectile.

The Power Pulse Blaster is a better weapon than the previous two, IMO. Again, pressing the green button activates lights and sounds but also firing the spring-loaded weapon projectile will trigger a missile firing sound effect along with a whistle and then, boom! A nice touch if I may say so myself.

And finally -- the biggest of the BFG weapons systems of the Sigma Strike Duke -- the Laser Cannon. This weapon is BIG. In fact, it is so big that the figure can hardly support it's weight, especially with those loose hip joints. It can be quite tricky to pose the figure with this weapon. The barrel has a hinge which allows the weapon to be folded. Again, green button on the backpack triggers a very cool laser sound combined with a strobing green light effect.

I can say that this is an excellent figure to add to one's Sigma 6 collection, especially with the reduced prices now. But since Hasbro is paving way for the new figures (not Sigma 6, sadly, but still 8-inch figures), stock availability might be of a problem nowadays. Good thing I went to the mall that day.

PISSED OFF

2007-07-20T06:11:00.000+08:00

Here is a simple message to all the corrupted monkeys in the government -- from the lowest, bottom-feeding clerks to the heads of state -- who have pushed this country deeper into the dunghole that it has already been in for so long:And along with this message, my fervent hope that God strike you dead sometime soon. Amen.

Future Superhero Flicks

2007-07-19T03:47:00.000+08:00

Avi Arad Productions has several superhero film projects in line until 2009.

Here's a tentative list of what's up and coming in the next two years:

* The Hands of Shang-Chi (2007) - In 2009 there will be a Shang-Chi movie, but this has not been confirmed.

* The Punisher 2 (2007) - As of May 2007, director John Dahl was in talks to direct the movie, but recently has stated that he will not helm the film.

* Iron Man (2008) - Slated for a May 2, 2008 release. Starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man.

* Iron Fist (2008) - It has been announced that the film is currently in development, with Ray Park set to portray Danny Rand/Iron Fist. Slated for a 2008 release.

* The Incredible Hulk (2008) - Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt. Target release date: June 13, 2008.

* Nick Fury (2008)

* Ant-Man (2008) - In February 2007, director Edgar Wright said that the project was in "a holding pattern" while the script was revised, with casting yet to begin. The director reported that he would have news for the film in a few months. He has been researching nanotechnology for the film.

* Wolverine (2008) - The script was finished as of October 15, 2006, and Jackman indicated there would be a year before shooting. Vinnie Jones and Tyler Mane may reprise their roles as the Juggernaut and Sabretooth, respectively. Twentieth Century Foxare scheduling Jackman to start filming in September or October 2007 once he completes Australia, for a 2008 release.

* Deathlok (2008) - In 2007, a Deathlok feature film is at the script stage at Paramount Pictures, with screenwriter David Self.

* Sub-Mariner (2008) - On September 13, 2006, Universal Pictures announced that director Jonathan Mostow was attached to rewrite and direct Marvel Studios' Sub-Mariner. Kevin Misher is producing through his Misher Films, along with Marvel Studios. The screenplay had initially been written by David Self.

* Luke Cage (2008) - No stars have been confirmed, however actor Tyrese Gibson is in the running for the title role.

* Dr. Strange

* Ghost Rider 2 (2009) - On February 9, 2007, Marvel producer Avi Arad announced the development of Ghost Rider 2 at a press event.

* Magneto (2009) - In May 2006, Ian McKellen said he would reprise the role using the computer-generated facelift applied to him in the prologue of X-Men: The Last Stand. In April 2007, David S. Goyer was hired to direct, with the announcement actors in their twenties would play the characters. Goyer will use the script by Turner, which follows Magneto trying to survive in Auschwitz, and meeting Xavier, a soldier, during the liberation of the camp. He hunts down the Nazi war criminals that tortured him, and this lust for vengeance turns him and Xavier into enemies.

* The Avengers (2009) - It was revealed in early August 2006 by a stock market report that The Avengers was listed under Marvel films in development. It was later revealed that Zak Penn, writer of X-Men: The Last Stand, will be writing a live-action Avengers script.

* Thor (2009) - In mid-2006, Marvel Studios announced plans to release a Thor feature film scripted by Mark Protosevich. Matthew Vaughn was negotiated with to direct in 2007.

* Captain America (2009) - In 2007, Marvel Studios president of production Kevin Feige announced that a Captain America movie would follow the 2008 Iron Man film as the studio's next independently financed project.

* Spiderman 4 (2009) - In January 2007, Dylan Baker, who portrays Dr. Curt Connors, expressed interest in portraying the character's villainous alter-ego, the Lizard, as has Raimi. Producer Grant Curtis is also a fan of the character, and has also expressed interest in Kraven the Hunter. The Lizard was in an early draft of the second film's script. Raimi said that if he returned to direct, he would take advantage of the established character of Dr. Curt Connors to introduce the Lizard. Raimi also expressed interest in setting up the Sinister Six with introductions to the Vulture and Electro. Sony plans to release Spider-Man 4 in the summer of 2010.

Source: Wikipedia

PERSONAL COLLECTION #4: Sigma 6 LONG RANGE

2007-07-16T01:32:00.000+08:00

I have to admit : I wasn't a fan of the Sigma 6 line, nor was I into collecting action figures again after I sold off my 60+ 3.75" G.I. Joe figure collection to a friend six years ago. It was a stupid yet very necessary decision I had to make, back then. The good thing was that I sold them all to someone I know, so they'll always be in good hands.

And, after six years of action figure abstinence, here I am again: collecting action figures. Jaded at what the local Mini4WD racing scene had become (a new haven for small-time gamblers and cockfight enthusiasts, IMO), I sought after another more meaningful and rewarding hobby.

But, it was almost too late: after hesitating for so long due to the initial, prohibitive prices of Sigma 6 figures around two years ago (each figure was priced at around P1,300 back then), I was now only left to choose from the few remaining varieties available on store shelves. So when I saw this next figure on the shelf, I knew I had to pick this one up real soon, or be sorry again.

Long Range is Sigma 6's resident transportation specialist and target acquisition expert. This figure's main weapon is a large (and by "large", I do mean large -- when fully assembled, the rifle stands taller than Long Range himself) sniper rifle, which has a strong resemblance to a Barrett sniper rifle.

The rifle is made up of separate pieces: the body which includes the stock, two barrel configurations, scope, tripod (which is made up of three separate pieces itself), and a grenade launcher. The rifle also has a neat "recoil" effect when you slide the bolt back.

His secondary weapon is a sawed-off shotgun which even has a fold-down double barrel. The shotgun also has a keychain attached (most probably the keys to the R.O.C.C.). Too bad that I only got a Long Range figure recently -- they released a limited series variant (1000 - 1500 pieces only) that had a black skull attached to the keychain.

Long Range also has a nasty looking knife with a serrated blade.

I love the overall look of this figure. He has a distinctive head sculpt which has a short ponytail and a scar running over his left eye, that gives him a battle-hardened appearance. And his knee-length trenchcoat really serves to distinguish him from the rest of his teammates. His subdued color scheme was well thought-out, perfect for a sniper to remain undetected.

Highly recommended.

WHAT THE..?

2007-07-15T22:15:00.000+08:00

Decaffeinated coffee? Not that I've been living under a rock all this time but, what the heck is that? What the hell for?

It's like a smokeless cigar, or cola with no fizz. Or bubble-free soap...

Or oxygen-free air...

*lol*

Told 'ya this was going to be a random blog.

Congratulations, MacGyver!!!

2007-07-14T22:24:00.000+08:00

I recently read at the Joe Battlelines forum, that our fellow member Mac won for Best Sigma 6 and Custom Of The Year, over at Commando Customs.

To say that this gal (you heard that right, Mac's a 'she') does amazing custom figures would be an understatement. And, to prove my point, may I present some of Mac's customs:

Shipwreck

I personally like Mac's treatment of Shipwreck over Hasbro's "Sigma-ized" version. That one may look scary tough, but in this custom version Shippy demands respect while still looking as tough as ever, always ready to kick some Cobra butt.

MacGyver

Mac's all-time favorite character (hence her nick), she really made a good-looking custom of the man who can do anything with his Swiss Army Knife.

It even has MacGyver's don't-leave-home-without-it kit, which includes the Knife.

Murdoc

What would McGyver be without his persistent nemesis? This custom Murdoc looks deadly serious, getting ready to make MacGyver's life harder than it was the last time.

Scarlett

I believe this was the pièce de résistance. I have no idea how she did it, but Mac really pushed the envelope on this one.

Way to go, Mac! You deserved to win. Here's to more of Mac's customs in the future.

NOSTALGIA: My First Action Figures

2007-07-13T03:46:00.000+08:00

Googling through pages upon pages of websites, I stumbled upon another set of memorabilia which was once part of my childhood: my very first action figures.

I can only remember that it was around 1980 when I first saw one of these, from my neighborhood friends. And, naturally, I wanted one for myself. Little did I know at that time, that it was to be the beginning of one of my "obsessions" that I still suffer *lol* up to this very day: collecting action figures.

ACTION JACK Sea Rescue
This 3-inch (I might be wrong on that measurement, though) yellow figure started it all. These were priced much, much cheaper, compared to the Voltes 5 and other Japanese manga robots that were very popular in the country during those days. So it was easier to ask my grandparents to get me these without having to get very good grades in school and show them any awards, and convince them into finally buying me one (after much groveling, at that).

This figure came with a helmet, a pair of flippers, a lantern, a weapon which looked pretty much like a spear gun, and an oxygen tank whose flimsy straps broke all too quickly. But it did the job during those days: endless fun playing in the water (this was a sea rescue figure, in the first place) -- either in the pool when our family and relatives had summer outings, some big water container, or whenever my grandma was doing the laundry and wasn't looking I would put this in the washing machine (sans the accessories, or risk losing them in the spin cycle). This figure kinda floats in water, so it was easy to take this out of the washing machine when grandma was going to check on her laundry.

Matchbox's Mobile Action Command
Looking through some Matchbox cars to add to my collection one day (I collected die-cast cars made by Matchbox, Tomica, and Majorette. But that's for another post, some other time), I saw these on the shelf beside the cars. So it was my luck that I had recently received another award at school, and grandpa had just received his pay from work.

Grandpa bought the Snow Rescue Vehicle (the blue one on the catalog picture above) by mistake. D'oh! No snow here in the tropics. I was wishing he got me the black one in the middle, but it was too late.

Oh well, it still did the job. At least I had another figure. As for the accessories: aside from the snowmobile, it came with a pair of skis, a helmet, a pair of ski poles, and an oxygen tank. This figure was a bit heavier compared to the Action Jack and sunk in the water, so he didn't go into the washing machine during laundry time or else I'd be in trouble with grandma. *lol* It also had an added articulation: it's feet can swivel left to right. This was also more durable than the Action Jack, because I remember the yellow figure's torso splitting along the seam after 5 years or so.

I have no idea where these figures went, though. A friend could've taken them, or got lost during one of our change of residences. Or they could've been gagged and buried by my GI Joe figures when I was sleeping. *lol*

MINI 4WD: The Death of a Hobby

2007-07-12T01:18:00.000+08:00

Several years' worth of trial-and-error, searching - and researching - for the right parts combinations to build cars that could at least complete the full three laps. Of hunting for hard-to-find cars, parts and accessories. Of customizing those hard-to-find cars - irreversibly damaging some, in the process. Of travelling more than 20 kilometers, come rain, come shine - 15-pound toolbox in tow - just so I can test my car setups. Of bearing with greedy merchants, all trying to earn bigger money by creating demand, through stock manipulation. Of keeping my patience with equally greedy race organizers, who ask so much by letting a race last up to the wee hours of the morning so they could earn more through the number of race entries, but only give so little in prizes. Of participating in disorganized race events. Of seeing the same faces win races, over and over and over.

But the fun has disappeared. Competition replaced by gambling. This wasn't what I wanted to be in, this wasn't how I envisioned things would become. I wanted to race with hobbyists who were into this hobby as a source of entertainment during their free time, not with gamblers who made it a source of income by entering every race event they get to hear of. I made some friends, and saw the ugly side of people.

NOSTALGIA: My Very First Rock Album

2007-07-11T03:31:00.000+08:00

I was seven years old when my dad brought this album home, for me. When other kids were still listening to kiddie stuff, I was already having my first taste of rock music.

It has been 28 years since that summer night when I first played this album on my grandma's turntable, but I can still remember the first time I heard My Sharona's drum intro on her old "quadrophonic" audio system. Lols.

That drum line was what made me want to become a drummer. Their music taught me to like rock music.

It has been 28 years. Their drummer has died, the lead vocalist has to undergo brain surgery to remove some tumors, and My Sharona is still on the list of my favorite rock songs.

And I still haven't gotten that drum part down pat.

PERSONAL COLLECTION #3: Sigma 6 FIREFLY

2007-07-09T00:48:00.000+08:00

Guess what? Yeah, another toy review. Hey, it's either this or I could blog about the stuff I ate at someone's party like some people do, but that's just not me. Who cares about what I ate? Why should anybody care about what I ate? And why should I give a (expletive deleted, rhymes with "buck") about what other people ate?

So what's with the cocky attitude, one might ask?

Well, cockiness is what this character has lots of. Codename? Firefly. A saboteur and mercenary who offers his services to Cobra in the ARAH storyline -- yes, he is not a member of Cobra and as such, has to be paid by Cobra Commander after every mission.

Though in the Sigma 6 storyline, he initially sides with the Joes; unbeknownst to all his Sigma 6 teammates and his superior, Lt. Stone, that he is actually a Cobra spy. Firefly traps the Sigma 6 team and turns them over to Cobra. He then shaves his head as a sign of loyalty to Cobra and, after a climactic battle with Lt. Stone, leaves with Cobra Commander.

Going back to the action figure, I can say that the body was molded to a straightforward Sigma 6 style suit. What sets this apart though, are those unique looking boots and shoulder pads which I think makes him stand out among his Sigma 6 teammates.

And that head sculpt -- that face molded into a cocky grin with that evil-looking soulpatch. He's a bad guy all right.

The paint scheme for this figure is an attractive black / reddish orange combination which fits his personality since he's mostly into explosives.

As for his accessories, I like the elastic webgear and his removable hockey mask. The elbow and knee armor also give another dimension to this figure and lets him stand out among his Sigma 6 "teammates".

His weapons include a submachinegun with a removable magazine, two "flame sticks", and a spin-trap device. In my opinion, I would have liked it more if this figure came with two SMG's instead of just one. And those flame sticks kinda remind me of Star Wars, so I don't really know whether to like them or not.

What I find useless is the spring action spin-trap device that is included with this figure. I have no idea how he would be able to lug around such a large weapon in battle. I think it would've been better if he came with some explosive and incendiary devices instead of that clumsy-looking spring action spin trap thing.

Overall, this is easily one of my favorites in my Sigma 6 figure collection. I highly recommend this figure, especially at it's price point, and is a must-have for everybody's 8-inch Sigma 6 collection.

Live-Action G.I. JOE Movie?

2007-07-07T20:18:00.000+08:00

Just as those with keen observation skills and fans of both the Transformers and G.I. Joe, who've seen the Transformers movie might have noticed, there were several hints (or, "cameos") during several scenes which could indicate that a real-life G.I. Joe movie might be in the works, soon:

- In the opening sequence, during Blackout's invasion of the Qatar SOCCENT base, the officer ordering the Pave Low to turn away, step out, etc., was named Col. Sharpe.

- Another possible cameo was after the SpecOps guys landed at the SOCCENT base, a pair of African-American guys are seen playing basketball -- one of them was talking in rhyme.

- One of the F-22 Raptors had a name written in the cockpit: "Capt. B. Armbruster" -- Capt. Brad J. Armbruster, aka "Ace", is a Sky Striker pilot in the G.I. Joe series.

- The Laurentian Abyss, where the fallen Decepticons were dumped off near the end of the movie, is the same abyss where G.I. Joe and Cobra fought for the heavy water in the first mini-series.

- The black Sector 7 vehicles that were escorting Bumblebee and the Allspark look very similar to G.I. Joe A.W.E. Strikers.

- Josh Duhamel's character, Capt. Lennox, first appeared in the G.I. Joe vs. Transformers comic book.

- The movie prints were delivered to theaters under the code name "Cobra".

- The hacker's (Glen Whitman) room, had three model planes hanging by the window. One of them looks like a Sky Sweeper from SpyTroops, and one looked like a Sky Striker.

Whether a Joe movie will really be made, remains to be confirmed. But one can't help but take notice of these cameos and think that it was all just coincidental.

YO JOE!!!

Bashing the TRANSFORMERS Movie Bashers

2007-07-05T22:22:00.001+08:00

I never really go to every new movie being shown, because I hate crowds. That, and the fact that I only like a handful of movies. But there will be times when I would bear being in line among a mass of human flesh, just to see, or experience, something good. This movie was one of those times. In fact, this was only the second time this year, that I had to do the "queueing thing" (the first being Spiderman 3).

Granted, that the film had it's flaws. But I didn't go and watch it with the expectations that it was going to be THE perfect, most intellectually-provoking movie of the year. I went to see it, to have FUN. And what fun it was to see these robots come into 3D life in the big screen.

Now, I don't give a flying broomstick as to what the naysaying, nitpicking critics have to say about the film. This film, for me, was about fun. Live action robo-fun. If they want to see something purely intellectual, then they should stick to watching documentaries. If they want to see old-school, first generation Transformers, they should stick to watching the cartoon movies and episodes. Don't go and spoil the fun for us.

TRANSFORMERS Merchandise Launch

2007-07-02T06:06:00.000+08:00

Strangely enough, this 'merchandise launch' of the Transformers movie toy line came weeks after the toys were first seen on the shelves, but it was an okay event nonetheless. Some collectors had their Transformers on display, and there were also some fan art. There was a merchandise area for shirts and toys, and a table where there were laptop PC's playing Transformers cartoons and video games.

Here are pics of some of the Transformers that were on display:There were also several mini-games, such as trivia questions, and transformation time trials to see who can transform a randomly-picked figure. There was also a "coloring book" contest where - surprisingly - twentysomethings participated, and a timed on-the-spot drawing contest where (shameless plug coming up) yours truly won 3rd Place.

Yours truly doing the initial sketch:
Finished product:

PERSONAL COLLECTION #2: 2006 Wave 4 STORM SHADOW

2007-07-02T01:43:00.000+08:00

This was the second 8-inch Sigma 6 action figure that I purchased: Storm Shadow.

I've been fond of ninjas ever since my younger days. I still remember buying ninja magazines, and the times when I and my childhood friends would play dress-up ninjas at night, tresspassing (lols) on neighbors' premises mainly to see whether we would be noticed.

So it was also the same with my action figures when I learned all about GI Joes way back in 1986. Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes figures were instantly - and at the top - of my GI Joe wish list (though my first 3.75" GI Joe figure was Sci-Fi, because these figures were hard to come by back then).

And, 21 years later, these two figures were once again the priority figures to start my 8" S6 collection.

It was by pure luck that I came across this figure in the toys section of a department store, and in my opinion it was a good decision on my part to have bought this on impulse. Why? Because at the time of writing, this figure has practically vanished from the shelves. And the only two pieces I have seen on separate hobby shops have now been overpriced to more than US$50 each. Gotta love those greedy capitalists.

Again, the body sculpt is exaggerated to anime-like proportions, as one may have noticed in the pic above -- bowling ball deltoids and triangular triceps on those oversized arms. And those hands. Those big hands. They remind me of Mr. Bean's hands. Or baller hands. ;p But those oversized limbs are, I think, what gives this figure its character, along with those feudal Samurai-like pants and black bandaged forearms.

As for the weapons, this figure comes with a lot of them. A Samurai sword and its scabbard, Ninja BAT swords, nunchaku with flip-out blades, mace chains (pictured at left), foot claws, climbing suction cups, a grappling hook, and a spring-loaded bola launcher (well, that's what they were calling 'em so I'll just go along with it).

I just wish that they included some sort of strap for the scabbard, and perhaps something to allow Stormy to carry all these stuff around -- I bet he'd have a hard time creeping through enemy territory with a nunchuk in one hand, mace chain wrapped around his neck, and the Samurai scabbard in his mouth - especially with that facemask he has on. And then there's those big suction cups, foot claws, and bola launcher.

I can't say that I'm a fan of those Ninja BAT swords, though. They should've left that to those BATS, and gave Storm Shadow another sword. Much like on the first 3.75" Storm Shadow figure, where he had two swords, and a backpack to keep those and the nunchuks in place. As for the bola launcher, it was a nice looking but useless weapon in my opinion. Just like those giant suction cups.

Overall, I think this is a very decent figure to have in one's S6 collection.

2nd VIRRA MALL TOYS and COLLECTIBLES EXHIBIT

2007-07-01T06:14:00.000+08:00

Three words: "what happened here?!" I got to the mall where the event was being held, at around 5pm, expecting throngs of hobbyists, collectors, fanboys and what-have-yous -- much like what I had encountered during the ToyCon at Megamall. I saw a pretty chick with henna tattoos on her cute face walk past by, but she wasn't wearing anything special -- just a shirt on and... shorts (nice legs!). LOL

I also expected tons of Marvel- and DC-related product on display.

I saw the opposite.

There were some cosplayers on the makeshift stage/ramp, just chatting with their fellows. Other cosplayers were inspecting the toys.

So, what were the toys on display?

First of all, I thought I went to a different event. The stage backdrop was Transformers The Movie. WTF?!! So why put Marvel and DC characters in the tarps and on the website in the first place?

I expected Marvel- and DC- themed cosplayers. All I saw were anime cosplayers.

I was expecting numerous Marvel & DC figures and dios on the exhibitors' tables. But there were more non-superhero related merchandise on display.

Good thing admission was free. Though I had to endure traffic just to get there.

Rating: 1 / 5 (a "1" for that cute chick with face henna)

IS THE iPhone REALLY WORTH THE HYPE?

2007-06-29T01:42:00.000+08:00

I have to admit, I love how the iPhone looks. The design is uncluttered -- streamlined. It's got fun features. But is it really worth the hype that it has generated? That I do not know. Yet. But based from the specs and reviews I have been reading about in several websites, it might not be as great a device that some consumers think it is.

It would be very likely that a trendsetting "techie"-slash-fashionista (ugh) here in the Philippines, who's got the money to burn, would gladly, willingly, shell out $500 - $600 just so he/she could be among the very first to have this device.

600 bucks? I could buy a laptop or a PS3 with that amount, which I'd likely get to use more often. Or I could get myself some more, already-hard-to-find Sigma 6's, and some 25th Anniversary GI Joes. Or a Lance Armstrong Oakley Radar and a pair of Oakley Standard Issue Assault Boots.

So, what's my verdict on this device? I'd prefer to wait. And here are some reasons why:

4Gb: $500. 8Gb: $600. The 8Gb will only hold about 2,000 songs and a handful of videos and full-length movies. If you're thinking this would replace your iPod, think again. And I've read that at the moment, it's only available thru AT&T (in the US). So you have to buy this at full price, plus sign a two-year contract - the cheapest plan: $60 for 450 minutes, plus an additional $36 for the activation. So, for two years, that's close to spending $2,000 just for the service. And if one thinks that the iPhone can be used without service, Apple's website states that the two-year agreement is required for activation which includes iPhone's features.

The iPhone does not run on a 3G network. It runs on the slower EDGE network. A comparable phone like the Treo 750 ($199 with a two-year contract) runs on 3G. I've also read that it does not have the ability to sync with corporate internal email systems, lacks a keyboard, and there are reservations regarding battery life. And the fact that it's still a first generation gadget, justifies my decision to wait -- and wait long enough: the iPhone will only be available in Asia by next year -- let's just hope Apple has improved this product by then.

WHY PLASTICS YELLOW

2007-06-27T08:56:00.000+08:00

I'm reposting an article originally written in about.com by Matt Guzy, about why action figures discolor and even turn brittle, when they get old:

While there's been formal research done on the topic, it's going to be tough to find. I don't know what kind of library you have around you, but any book on polymer photodegradation should give you some basic info, which is what I'll try to do here. But I have to point out that its a complicated issue. I don't know what specific polymer figures are made of. I can make a guess, but well, I won't. I do know that different materials are used for different parts of figures, for example, the torso and limbs of POTF2 figures are different polymers. Same goes for vintage too, I think. I tried getting some information on this out of a few companies for a column I'd like to write, but they aren't sharing. Without that information I can't give you specific references, sorry.

Ok, quick crash course in polymer chemistry. Polymers are large molecules that are made up of many units of a smaller molecule, the monomer. And I mean large, polymers can have thousands and thousands of these units in a chain. What your figures are made of is a mixture of a polymer (or more than one) and a bunch of additives. For example there's probably a UV-absorber (I'll get back to this), plasticizer (same here), unreacted catalyst, short chains of polymer, and unreacted monomers. These aren't simple materials, and the properties of the material are governed in part by this mixture of components.

Alright...moving on to photodegradation. Most people will say keep your toys out of direct sunlight and that's totally right. In fact, that's what causes the discoloration in vintage StormTroopers and Snow Job. This discoloration is the effect of interactions of the material and UV-radiation (light, but the UV wavelength range is the problem-causing area). In both cases there, a piece of the polymer molecule is broken off of the main chain and creates a free radical. These free radicals cause all sorts of problems. Damage may be manifest through discoloration, chalking, blistering, brittleness, loss of strength, warping and cracking. What I'm saying is that there's a whole lot going on. I think that the discoloration that occurs results from a change in the electronic structure of the polymer backbone, which will change its absorbance spectrum and its color, but don't hold me to that.

What polymer chemists do is add materials to the polymer blends to prevent this. That's where the UV-absorbers come in. These chemicals gobble up the radicals that are produced, preventing them from reacting on their own. But these materials can only prolong the life of the polymers, not extend them indefinately. But if you keep the figs out of direct sunlight newer figures should last a long, long time. Polymer technologies have come a long way in 20 years, and we get to take advantage of that.

People also say not to smoke around toys... but that's just a stain, not anything chemical.

Ok... one last thing. A word about plasticizers. Actually quite a few words about plasticizers. Firstly they're materials that are added to polymers to make them more flexible and easily processible (the injection molding step for example). You know that smell when you open a McFarlane figure? That's plasticizer. New car smell? Plasticizer. In time and with exposure to heat, plasticizer will evaporate out of the material...as my car's dash will support. The loss of plasticizer causes materials to become more brittle and rigid.

Wrapping this up... you don't need to worry about your figures turning into a puddle of goo. Unless you melt them, which I don't suggest because that can kill you. There is genuine concern regarding discoloration, but if you keep your figures out of direct sunlight they'll last a long time.

CAR SHOW, MARCH 2007

2007-06-25T03:28:00.000+08:00

I attended a car show last March 2007. Here are some of the cool cars that were on display:

Ferrari 575M Maranello

Ferrari F430

Ford GT40Nissan Skyline GT-RPorsche (forgot which model this one was, though)

And, the cream of the crop (for me at least): Lamborghini Gallardo

Here's my pic taken with the Gallardo. I had to sneak myself in 'coz they weren't really letting the people get near the cars. I can't really blame 'em though. I'd be fuming mad myself, if this were mine and I find out that the paint/glass/etc. has been scratched by an exhibit attendee while trying to get his/her pic taken alongside the car.

I just wished that they laid a neutral carpet color for this exhibit. The bright red carpet was too strong a color, and made some of the cars seem to be a part of the floor rather than stand out (like the Ferraris).

I didn't have time to take pics of the girls in the car show, though -- I was too busy ogling the Gallardo. *lol*

LOL! CATS!

2007-06-24T23:47:00.001+08:00

I just recently discovered this funny cat macro while mindlessly surfing the Web. Some really hilarious posts, worth checking out on one's spare time. For cat persons only.

PERSONAL COLLECTION #1: GI JOE Sigma 6 8" NightOps Snake Eyes

2007-06-24T02:25:00.000+08:00

After so much deliberation, I finally gave in and purchased my very first 8-inch G.I. Joe figure, late last February. Feeling traumatized all these years for having sold my 60+-piece 3.75" GI Joe figs -- which was a stupidly desperate decision on my part -- I had promised myself that I would never get into another Joe collection.

And so I find myself wandering off to a hobby shop in a mall close to where I live, and finding this on the pegs. NightOps Snake Eyes. I initially resisted the urge to get this, since I was still in my Tamiya Mini4WD phase and I had already burned a lot of cash for those little buggers. After admitting to myself that the local Mini4WD scene has been, to put it nicely, "so-so", with the lack of any nearby tracks to test my car setups and race events that always contradict with my work schedule, I decided to get this one. Just this one. Shyeeahhhh riiiight.

What drew me into buying this - aside from the reason that Snake Eyes had always been my favorite character in the JoeVerse - was its 27 points of articulation (did I count that correctly?). And while 3.75" purists and 6" purists might be bashing this line due to it's size, I thought it was a cool concept -- not that I abhor 3.75" nowadays (hey, it's all good to me -- 2.5", 3.75", 6", 8", even 12" or bigger! As long as I like the figure, I'll definitely be getting it), but if I were to look for and buy back each and every one of those figures I sold, I would have to subsist on noodles, handwashing my laundry, and no cellphone service for a year or so.

What I had to get used to, was how these figures were sculpted. The Sigma 6 line has a distinct anime-like style, so one will see angled muscles and bowling ball shoulders as the norm. Another thing I noticed was how Snake Eyes seemed to be anorexic compared to his 3.75" versions where he was somewhat muscular.

For his accessories, he comes with two grenades, a mini-whipstar, a webgear that doubles as a sword sheath at the back, grappling hook, a sword which has a retractable blade underneath the handle, and cool NV goggles.

Disappointingly, his main weapon is a spring-loaded rocket launcher whose barrel can be tilted 90 degrees either left or right. On the outset, I thought that its sideways-firing capability was silly until I remembered that there's already an actual 'bendable' weapon designed for and used by SWAT and special forces.

So what's my verdict? For it's price (Soldier class, which is about US$7.00) and the fact that this is my first Sigma 6 toy, this is a very respectable product.

REMEMBERING KATE JHIN

2007-06-24T02:03:00.000+08:00

06.24: Should have been your 25th. Today you celebrate it with God and His angels. Happy Birthday my personal angel.

ALL DONE!

2007-06-23T03:45:00.000+08:00

Took a picture of the two hard-to-find Lt. Stone figures, which were to be sent to a friend in Bedford, PA. I had to remove the batteries since the shipping couriers nowadays are being very careful - to the point of being paranoid, IMO - ever since that 9/11 thing happened.

So I finally got down to resealing them in clear tape and wrapping them in bubblewrap, only to find out from the local DHL outlet that they need to OPEN THE PACKAGE FOR INSPECTION.

And since I found out that it would cost me more to ship them over to Pennsylvania in their original, bulky boxes, I finally conceded and had to undo everything I've done with my packaging job. Luckily, I found a box to fit those Lt. Stones in, and finally got them shipped over to Amy in Bedford.

I now await the items she's traded for those Lt. Stones.

You know what? I forgot to get a Lt. Stone figure for my own.

THE FIRST POST

2007-06-23T02:08:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the blog!

I haven't been much of a blogger, nor do I always have something in mind to post up even though it wanders freely in thought most of the time. But I finally decided to put one up, and as of this moment I do not know which direction this blog will head to. Perhaps personal thoughts on events and other stuff. Maybe some announcements here and there. Could even be about things that piss me off. *Lol*

Whatever they will be, one thing for sure is that it's all going to be random. One might like a post I've put up, while another person might think it's all too boring. But hey, I can't please everybody everytime.