My Motorcycle and my computer form a symbiote relationship.A year ago they broke down a couple of days after each other.I dont really remember which broke down first ...but what the fuck does it matter. They both broke down anyways.

So I wasnt surprised when the computer broke down two weeks after the motorcycle. In fact I just shrugged my head and hauled the 70 pound equipment to the repair shop.As I stressed in the first blog entry a year ago, its a monster machine to carry from three floors down to two floors up and then reverse that!

When the system cannot find drive:d,I was in a panic because that's where I store my edited files. So I quickly backed it up.I consulted an in - law who happens to be a computer tech.He informed me that he problem solves computers and for 1,000 bucks he would do an analysis.

When I asked for a free consultation he gave me a slip-shod advise.When I asked for a more detailed consulation he wanted to charge me with the full amount.I told him that he hoped to god I don't come across him , bleeding in the highway or in need of help somewhere because I WON'T RAISE A FUCKING FINGER TO HELP HIM UNTIL I GET A CONSULTATION FEE!I ALSO told my sister, the pathologist who also doubles as a physian that whenever that in law would need her advise...that she should charge a consultation fee.

I then asked my wife's sister who also dabbles in pc repair for fun if she could check out the pc. She said that I should bring it to her office for her to take a look see.No consultation fee of 1,000 pesos was uttered.I figured I 'd just take her to lunch for helping out.

But since her office is just a few steps away from the pc shop, I told myself maybe I should just bring it to the shop instead of bothering her.Fixing up comps is not her real job and I might be intruding in her day job which is real estate.And instead of paying a consultation fee to my -in law,I'd go to a place where if there is a problem ..then they would have the resources and the spare parts to repair them.

I hauled it back to the shop where I had the system assembled.The tech pulled this wire and this and that! Turns out that the jumpers were mixed up.He also did a memory check. Drive d is ok he said.Just the jumpers.

Hard drives have a very limited life span.You'd be lucky if your's reached four years. Nowadays the manufacturer's motto is quantity over quality!

I was looking on 5oo pesos for consultation and repair fee and the system check up. WHICH TOTALLY IS CHEAPER THAN the I consult for 1,000 fee guy!

Then we discovered that drive c which holds all my system files is the one in danger of going KAPUT!

I told the tech if we replaced drive c what would happen to all the installed programs. He said not to worry because there is a program that would just transfer and not copy the files.

So I rushed to have my yen changed to peso and plucked out a sizeable amount of money and changed the hard drive.

When I got home my back was aching like hell.But the hard work is done. All I need to do is to dive at the back of the editing systems and squish my way thru a small path at he back of teh viewscreens to re-attach the wires and cables.Then I opened the air con and just sit back and streched my legs.Ahh...

Then Joe called and asked how the pc repair went. I told him that I had my hard drvie changed to this particular brand.He said that the brand I bought was defective. He bought the same brand and in 3 days , his hard drive concked out.

Of course that had to happen. I mean I was sitting there, relaxing myself.Feet up and the cool air conditioning cooling my back and he tells me that I got a bad hard drive.A brand new defective brand name hard drive.

When I was in the shop I asked for a particular brand that I knew was good. But unfortunately they didnt have it in 40 gig. So I had to settle with this other brand. That they said was also good.

I called the computer tech again and asked if I could have my hard drive replaced with this particular brand.

They said that its possible because they now have one.

I asked when did it arrive.

Just a few hours ago when I left.

FUCKING TYPICAL!

So I told them that I would..............sigh...........bring back the pc and have the present hard drive changed to that particular brand.

AFter putting down the phone I took a deep breath and started to disconnect the cables again. I had to controt my body in more difficult positions that would shame a yogi, just to reach the cables.

Then I made a phone call to my tech guy. I said that I was going to replace the hard drive with another brand. When I told him what brand he said that he prefered that one as well.

Typical.

But he said that there might be any harddrive with that brand.

I began to get irritated. I told him that I just called their supply section. So i talked to the supply guy whp assured me that he already reserved the hard drive for me.

So BRING THE DAMN PC TO THE DAMN SHOP, TAKE TWO! But this time the sun wasnt shining. It was raining like hell. Of course why shouldnt it be raining!I was amazed that a flashflood didnt hit us when we approached the shop.

When I got there . The hard drive was changed and we began transfering the operational programs. They have this cool way of transfering th eoperating system from one hard drive to the other without haveing to reinstall everything!

Everyone who operates a computer knows what an absolute thrill it is to reinstall every program you have. Its the equivalent of repeating grade four, over and over again!

But this cool process does away with that. I asked the tech guy if we were just copying and pasting the files. he said that it wasnt like that. It was transfering!

After the process was completed. We tested the pc. First shut off and rebooth was good.later the dvd rom developed a conflict with the other drives when it was boothing. So we ad to re arrange the os.

We fixed that.Back in the editing room, as i switched it on , it went smoothly. but the second re booth. It failed to detect I DONT KNOW WHICH HARD DRIVE IT WAS!

Five days later , the system cant detect one of teh hard drvies again. So i hauled it back to the shop.

We changed the old hard drive and replaced it with another and NOW THERE'S STILL THE SAME FUCKING PROBLEM! I glared at the tech guy who fixed it the last time.He asked somebody else to take over. While the other guy was fiddling with it. A thought occured to me.Maybe the hard drive that he said was going kaput wasn't even KAPUT!Maybe he's just a bad repair guy.

So when a system check was being done on my pc, I took out the old hard drive and had it anaylzed.True enough,it wasnt even malfunctioning and there was no bad sector.

I constantly assured them that I would need it as a another hard drive for my other pc so they can accurately scan it. If they thought that I was on a witch hunt then they wil close ranks and protect their erring colleague.

So the truth came out . The hard drive was sound and stable!

And what made that gymp think that there's a problem? He heard a knocking sound on the hard drive.Amazing scientific analysis. A knocking sound. which can be attributed to a hundred things.

This guy should work for NASA.Then it would be easy to pin point what the problem was on the next challenger disaster!

Now the new guy tells me that the problem with the pc could be the motherboard or the memmory. Memmory ?Cant be! We ran a memmory check the last time. If its the motherboard then ASUS is the worst motherboard on EARTH! BECAUSE ITS ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE I REPLACED THE OTHER MOTHER BOARD THAT ALSO CONCKED OUT AFTER TWO YEARS AND ITS ALSO A MOTHERFUCKING ASUS!

TECH: " I realy cant tell what the problem is. The only way we can go about it is to isolate the matter. "

FLIM: " In laymans term. The pc is working now. But I should always have the car standing by because there might be another conk out."

TECH smiles.

FLIM: " Well at least when I haul this pc back to the car I wont have that we're safe, its fix feeling. Actually its worst. Assuming its fixed and then finding out it still has a problem than knowing that its temporarilty fix but there might still be a problem.

Some days you can never really win.

It started out with a simple morning ride. I took out the motorcycle and started to clean her up.I reached out thru those deep crevices of the engine block. The smelly and oily canyons of her swing arm. when I got to the cooling jet pipes I noticed a thin film of rust there. So what did I do I started rubbing it out.

Then I took her out and wore my new riding apparel.

After the first ten minutes, the cooling system delevoped a leak.So there was a large jet of green fluid sprouting on the left side of the bike, drenching my leg. Totally drenching my leg.The discomfort of a wet leg while going at 120 miles was increased due to the cold air that whipped around me.

And when I stopped the bike, the leak would spray anything and anyone within a 6 feet radius! When I checked where the leak was comming from...it was from the spot where I cleaned the rust off!

ARGGGHHHHH. Moral of the lesson, dont over clean... NO! The moral of the lesson...FUCK THERE'S NO MORALITY HERE!

I decided to take it to my old mechanics new repair shop. AS i dressed myself with my usual riding apparel which the above photo shows. i told myself that I wont wear my exquiste riding booths since my leg would be fully drenched anyway.But that was nothing compared to the prospect of spending the entire afternoon in a repair shop with a wet leg.

I told myself what the fuck...So when I got on the bike and ignited teh engines the familiar jet stream goes up.After five minutes the sensation of a wet leg started to irritate me. Twenty minutes into the trip, cab drivers would hail me and say...

" SOMTHING'S COMMING OUT FROM YOUR BIKE..."

YEAH, YEaH YEAH! ITS THE LINDA BLAIR MORNINg JUICE!

Now when I got to the aurora intersection, I jumped out of the bike...well nearly.
The cold coolant liquid turned into a steaming killsoup!It burned my left leg!

SHIT! Now how the fuck am I supposed to bring it to the shop? The left leg is the one I use to control the shift gears with. So I did a little improvisational driving. I lifted my left leg up the handle bar to avoid getting hit by the hot steaming coolant juice and would only bring it down when i need to shift gears!

I did this for like 40 minutes. when I reached the shop I nearly collapsed from exhaustion. And this was just the start of the week.



Just came from a toy hunting expedition and these are the only things I have to show for.I didn’t make it to the opening melee when the boxes of marvel legends arrived but from what I heard it was a feeding frenzy! A woman was elbowed in the face when the boxes were being opened by over zealous collectors who do not care for the life or limb of their kind. Her high heels went flying as she plummeted face down on the toy department floor.

Not one of the male collectors helped her in fact they even got the toys that she sheld and dashed to the cashier!

But what do you expect? TOY Collectors are known to be more savage than crocodiles or snakes! They are as greedy and inhumane as any politician you would bump into!
Collectors would grab more than one item and would snicker when you get there late and Not get the chase figure. Not only that they bring their girlfriends with them so that sorry fuck type is multiplied by 2.

You should see how the normal kids who tried buying their toys, fare! But then again just like what NIETZCHE said, that which does not kill you makes you stronger!

I have lost the passion for collecting when getting what you want means sinking to the same level as these spiritless bastards!

I don’t go to the toy conventions anymore. Its because its WHERE ALL THOSE SICK FUCKING BASTARDS CONGREGATE AND BRANDISH THE TOYS THEY AQCUIRED BY KICKING, STEALING AND ELBOWING their way to the boxes!

Then they grin their satanic teeth caps as you look at their collection. An invisible word balloon hovering over their heads saying, “ HEHEHE, I GOT MY CHASE DARK PHOENIX FIGURE AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS JUST STARE AT IT! “

My word balloon on the other hand would be, “ WELL I DATED AND HAD MORE BEAUTIFUL GIRLFRIENDS THAT YOU WOULD EVER HAVE. IN FACT THAT’S THE REAL PROBLEM ISNT IT? YOU CAN’T GET A GOOD LOOKING GIRL SO YOU JUST WACK OFF UNDER THE SHADOW OF THAT DARK PHOENIX VARIANT! FUCK YOU! “

In the toy collectors website the Filipinos are known and called GREEDY BASTARDS when it comes to hoarding! With what I have seen that is definitely true. But there are exceptions.

When I came in late, I was looking for a JUGGERNAUGHT and I bumped into RICHARD another collector.
RICHARD: “ You’re late, man! “

He was clutching a JUGGERNAUGHT.

FLIM: “ FUCK I SHOULDN’T HAVE HANGED OUT IN THE BASEMENT I SHOULD HAVE GONE STRAIGHT HERE.”

RICHARD: “ What are you looking for anyway? “

FLIM: “ I’m looking for a dead pool and a JUGGERNAUGHT! “

Then I saw a guy clutching two dead pools that leered at me and then started running to the cashier like a thief who just stole his grandmother’s oxygen tank to pawn it off!

RICHARD: “ That asshole got the last two! Anyway here take mine! “

He then offers me his JUGGERNAUGHT!

FLIM: “ Uhm thanks. But what about you? “

RICHARD: “ I got mine already. I was just shopping and I saw these two juggernaughts. What else are you looking for? You want to get CARNAGE? I have one here. “

Carnage is a very rare figure from the SPIDERMAN action figure series.

FLIM: “ Ughh… I don’t think I like that figure. No thanks.”

RICHARD: “ Trust me. Get this. You might need it next time…to trade with…”

So I reluctantly took the carnage.

FLIM: “ Its not that I’m not grateful but why are you giving up these rare toys? “

RICHARD: “ I got two already in the house and I don’t really need more. Besides I don’t like to see collectors arriving late and then having this expression on their faces like” Ohm the train left without me.” I believe that collectors should always help each other get the toys that they like. With out any profit… “

We chatted for a few minutes and then he went off and started helping the other latecomers get the toys that they missed. Too bad no more dead pool or juggernaughts.

DIGTAL CAM
Cess and I have been arguing on what kind of digital camera to buy. I was gunning for the high end one but she said that it was too bulky for her to lug around. I swore that I would be her black African porter and I’ll carry them baggages if we get the high end bulky one. Cess countered with the small is better.

FLIM: “ Digital cameras are not like cellfones. SMALLER isn’t better! In fact the smaller the camera is the shittier the picture they take. Remember when they had instamatics? Well those are instamatics! LETS GET THE BIG ONE!

CESS: “ I just want one that would fit in my bag! “

FLIM: “ Well if it’s that small then it might fit in anyone’s bag! IN FACT THEY CAN FIT IN ANYONES BAG THAT YOU Can easily leave them on a café table or a comic book counter and then someone else with a bigger bag than yours would waltz in there and fit it in their bags.”

CESS: “ And I wouldn’t want to lug something that big if we do go out of the country! “

FLIM: “ They have porters outside the country! “

CESS: “ Let me think! “

In the end we compromised. And we got something that was a little too big but not that big!

THE MANY FACES OF SELINA



KEY MASTER


THE RELUCTANT STUDENT


I always carry a set of 29 keys. Keys that open several cabinets full of books, dvds and my rare toys. It also carries the key to the viewing room. Selina always petsers me in the afternoon to watch her favorite programs. Which are … SOUTHPARK, FUTURAMA, WALLACE AND GROMIT,SHERCKS 1 & 2.

I was in the john that particular time and she kept bugging me to open the viewing room.
So I gave her the ring with 29 keys and I told her to open it herself. Then I closed the door.

As I read while waiting for the call of nature I suddenly heard a sound.

CLICK!

Which was followed by another sound that of the viewing door opening. I immediately open the bathroom door and saw her as she came in.

FLIM: “ How the hell did you find the key to the viewing room? “

I took her aside and locked the door again. I then gave her the set of keys. She took them and inspected each and every one of them. Until she came to the actual key …then and only then did she push it into the keyhole and opened the door.

I don’t leave my keys hanging around for her to inspect so I was totally floored!

AMAZING!

RELUCTANT STUDENT

Cess was tutoring Selina with her day lessons. And her way of giving the kid some initiative is to bribe her with powerpuff girl stickers.

CESS: " Selina do your assignment! "

SELINA: " NO!I DONT LIKE! "

CESS: " If you do your assignment ...I will give you two powerpuff stickers! "

Selina strokes her cheek and looks at her mom.

SELINA: " Show me the stickers first!"