Downward Dog 2017

Possible spoilers:

If you like to know what your dog thinks about you, you'll probably like the show Downward Dog. It kind of reminds me of Bryan in Family Guy, except it's a real dog. I didn't really like the show Wilfred - because that was a guy in a dog's costume, so I didn't think I'd enjoy watching Martin, the star of the show. But, after the first episode, I think I'll stick around for a few more.

So far, the show has introduced Martin, his owner, her boss, her boyfriend, and Martin's cat nemesis. It would be interesting to see if a lot of talking animals will have a part in the show, kind of like the movie Babe.

I don't know if Martin will somehow get lost and travel around helping people, or if every episode will be him interacting with his owner. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

DFA Passport Renewal 2017

I tried the DFA online appointment system. I was scheduled over a month ago. When I arrived on my designated time slot, 3 to 4 in the afternoon, there were about 50 people ahead of me. Is the processing time so quick that they can fit in 50 people within that time frame?

Then, I realized that the 50 people were all mixtures of new applicants, renewals, and perhaps other reasons for having an appointment with the DFA. It would have been nice if they separated renewals from new applicants. That is probably one step in streamlining the process.

Second, there should probably be an OIC checking if the applicant has all the necessary requirements before telling the applicant to wait in line. After waiting for about 45 minutes, and finally being let inside the DFA processing area, the checker who was receiving photocopies of I.D.s told me that they needed my birth certificate. I presented them with the original NSO issued birth certificate, but they said it has to be the green one issued by the PSA. I know that in a bureaucratic setting, workers are probably just concerned with following the rules so that they don't get in trouble with their superiors. But I cannot understand why renewing a passport requires a birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) when I already have an old birth certificate issued by the NSO. And my date of birth and place of birth has already been established in my old passport which I applied for in 2009. (Renewals, in my opinion, should no longer require a birth certificate. And as far as the PSA is concerned, all they do is enlarge the original Birth Certificate. So if the original details on the birth certificate are not clear, you practically have a useless document. If they are going to charge 315 pesos for the document, then they should at least have all the information on the original document printed and verified along with the birth certificate they send to the person so that the DFA cannot say that some of the fields are unclear. But again, instead of requiring a birth certificate, the DFA should just be able to verify a person's date of birth and place of birth from the PSA since these are the only fields required for a passport.)

Also, I cannot understand why the DFA has to keep the original birth certificate? That costs 315 pesos to apply for online and will take between 3 to 5 working days to arrive by courier after payment has been made. Is the PSA without a government budget that they need to partner with the DFA in order to earn money. What did the DFA do with my original birth certificate record? Throw it away or incinerated it? And that was only eight years ago.

Shouldn't government agencies be able to cross-check records with one another? Why does the Philippine Government have to be so backward in the age when people post Instragram photos regularly? Isn't it enough that the government earns so much on taxation - that there's plenty of opportunities for corrupt officials to pocket huge amounts? 950 pesos to get DFA approval to travel abroad. 315 pesos to get PSA's approval for whatever you are applying for - job, passport, etc. Plus fees for the government I.D. which you will need as an additional requirement. It's like each agency is trying to make money by being a blocker for whatever you are applying for.

I pity the new graduates and people who are applying for a job for the first time. You haven't even started earning an income, and the government is already milking you for money. Why does a printed document have to cost 315 pesos when a photocopy only costs 50 centavos. Same thing with a driver's license - 350 for an I.D. that can't even be supplied on time. Then there's NBI, BIR, SSS, Philhealth, Pagibig... the list goes on and on with every agency wanting to take money out of your pocket.

If government agencies would just coordinate with one another, there wouldn't be a need to get a birth certificate and photocopies of a government I.D. All one would do is give one's name and an inter-connected network of government agencies should be able to check your birth certificate, current valid government issued I.D., and personal information. Why fill out an online sheet if Step 3 at the DFA still requires the DFA personnel to re-enter your personal details. Why re-input your fingerprints if the NBI already does this? Why re-enter your signature if the PRC, and any other government I.D. you apply for requires this?

The government should help ease the burden of it's citizens, not make their lives more miserable. There is a lot of redundancy in government agencies, because quite frankly, that is the only way the government can create jobs sometimes. But if majority of the jobs that government provides are careers as pencil pushers and gatekeepers, you can't expect this country to develop innovative minds that are focused on value creation.

Cost of Applying for a Passport as of this writing:
Birth Certificate ------    315 pesos
Regular Passport -----    950 pesos (15 working days wait period)
-------------------------------------
Total Cost ------------ 1265 pesos

Optional Additional Costs
Courier delivery ------   150 pesos (Passport delivered at your doorstep)
Express Passport -----   250 pesos (Additional charge to cut down waiting period to 7 working days)
-------------------------------------
Total Cost ------------ 1665 pesos

Isn't it enough that we pay our taxes when it is automatically deducted from our payslips and from the goods and services we avail of? A government can become too greedy in that it has to make it's services a money-making scheme, too. A government should support its citizens and help them become productive. A productive citizen will be able to generate income that can be used to pay for taxes. A printed piece of paper shouldn't cost 315 pesos when printing out a page from a computer shop is only 25 pesos and sending it by courier is 150 pesos. A photocopier inside a government agency should not charge 3 pesos per page of a xeroxed document when a regular photocopier would only charge 0.5 pesos. And an organization should not be charging 1720 pesos for a certificate of good standing needed to apply for a PRC license. (Yes, granted that the organization says that the certificate of good standing is only 20 pesos, but you can't avail of it without paying for their membership fee.) Then take into account the monthly penalties for not renewing the PRC license when the government isn't penalized at all for not issuing driver's licenses and car plates on time.

I've probably gone off-topic, but I'm just dissatisfied with the way our government is being run despite the promised change that should have come.

The Flash Episode 21: Savitar's Origin Unsatisfactorily Explained

Spoiler Alert:

My head hurts. I'm trying to understand the explanation of Savitar's origin, but it just doesn't work for me. Savitar is Barry Allen's time remnant. Four years into the future, Barry Allen creates several time remnants to try and stop Savitar. So, if this was the case, who was the first Savitar? It couldn't have been the time remnant at the very first instance of Savitar's appearance. The writers could actually use this loophole to create a new storyline of the very first Savitar, and could probably borrow from comic book lore.

And Savitar, is for me, at this point of the show, is technically a speedster suit. So, it doesn't make sense at this point that Barry Allen created it cause Barry, despite being a scientist, isn't exactly a builder like Cisco. It could have been created by some other being, perhaps from some alien dimension. It could also have been created by Cisco and Team Flash, but for what purpose... before falling into the hands of the first Savitar - the one who isn't Barry Allen's time remnant. That way, continuity is established and this whole story line, despite being purely fiction, will sound more logical.
And unlike Arrow, which seems to be nearing the end of the series, there are still a lot of stories to explore in the Flash. We haven't even encountered Max Mercury, and Bart Allen - despite episode 21's attempt at making a pun at the expense of Barry's memory loss. It kind of sucks that the ultimate villain always seems to be a speedster. But I guess all heroes always go against a villainous version of themselves. Which I guess is the comic book world's way of saying that we are our own worst enemy - and it is up to us to make sure that the better version succeeds at the end of the day.

Zarks Burgers

Zarks Burgers has been around for a long time, but yesterday was the first time I was able to try it because most days, the places are swarming with customers. And I finally understood why. Their servings are hefty for their price. There were five of us and we only ended up paying around two hundred pesos per person.

I've tried Jollibee burgers, McDonalds burgers, Burger King burgers, Wham burgers, Army Navy burgers, and Wendy's burgers. And I can say that Zarks is somewhere in between that burger spectrum. Jollibee, McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's burger patties are too small for their prices. And they skimp on their vegetables. So if you go for these burgers, chances are, you still are not satisfied after having one. Army Navy and Wham give quality burgers - sometimes the meat is so heavy, you can't even finish a single burger. But they can be a bit expensive. A Zarks burger is just in the middle. Not to heavy on the tummy, but just right for a filling meal.

And they have mustard in their restaurants, something I think every burger fastfood should have. Mustard isn't just for hotdogs. Mustard with ketchup is great on a burger.

And one thing I also liked was their onion rings. I have tried Burger King onion rings and I have stayed away from these ever since and stuck with french fries. But Zarks onion rings are really great. I don't get overwhelmed with that annoying onion taste. It's really very subtle.

So if you're feeling a bit adventurous and want to try a new burger chain, then I would recommend Zarks. I don't think they deliver yet, which is too bad, but maybe later on, they'll catch up with Jollibee, McDonalds, and Army Navy, and begin delivering burgers at your door step, too.

The Expanse TV Series 2017

This show is already in its second season, and the reason I haven't really written about it before was because its development was a bit slow paced for me. In a nut shell, season one was about the discovery of the Proto molecule - the first evidence of life that wasn't of earthly origin.

This show is the closest thing sci-fi fans have to a Star Trek like series nowadays. And so far, mankind has only been able to colonize Earth, Mars, and some parts of the Asteroid Belt. But mankind has been split into three factions, each trying to gain an advantage over the other, and the Proto molecule might just be the key in terms of building a superior military force. Some scientists have tried to merge humans with the alien tech to try and create new soldiers. But, me thinks working with alien tech is a bad idea. Predictions: the human factions might have to unite as one to beat this alien threat.

If you enjoy politics in a sci-fi series, this show sure has plenty of that. There haven't really been any mind blowing technologies featured on the show that geeks and nerds haven't seen on Star Trek or in movies like Iron Man or the X-men. It would be cool if they would feature mechanized suits that could help battle the alien threat. So far, their weapons and suits are more ala Mass Effect or Star Ship Troopers. But I guess the creators of the show are trying to be realistic with the tech humans can achieve.

One of the logos on the show kind of reminds me of the Federation logo. I guess if other alien species were to appear on the show, that would kind of make it cheesy like Defiance. Maybe for later seasons, but for now, a human focused show is actually a working formula for me.

It's also good that the ship's crew is kind of in flux at the moment. It reminds me of how the Voyager crew was formed. I have a feeling the big Aussie-accented Martian woman will become part of the crew at some point. Might even be a love-interest for Amos. And it sure wouldn't hurt to add a blond girl at some point.

And a big thank you for killing off the detective character. I didn't think he was actually of help to the show. And right now, the potty-mouthed female ambassador is the most interesting character for me. She should always have some kind of ace up her sleeve to show just how good of a strategist she is.

Revisiting The Hundred Islands

Note: prices are as of the time of the writing of the article

It has been more than twenty years since I've been to The Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan. Years ago, there were still islands which you would consider as untouched. They were simply islands that your boat lands on, and you're pretty much on your own. If you didn't bring a tent with you, you'ld have to sleep under the stars. And there were no portable toilets on the island, so you would have to find an area where you could pee or poop privately.

Now, there are stores on the island and portable toilets. Some vendors will even offer to cook crabs for you at 300 pesos a kilo. And most of the islands that have beaches you can land on have some kind of cemented wall stating the name of the island. Some islands now have lights powered by solar panels. Some have concrete cottages that you have to rent for 600 pesos. Some islands have zip lines so that you could travel from one to the other. The islands now also have a marshal. And I guess the biggest change for me was the statue of Christ which can be seen from the Alaminos port.

There are so many people now. It might be because everyone was on vacation during the Holy Week. But it is hard to appreciate a beach when there are a group of people every ten feet. Years ago, we only shared a whole island with one or two families.

The boat ride now has a flat fee of 1400 pesos plus 80 pesos per head. There were five of us so we had to pay 1800. The trip from the Alaminos port to one of the nearer islands would probably be about an hour away. And you have to make sure you take a trip early in the morning. By 3 p.m., the port refuses to give boarding passes to tourists because the waves can become too dangerous for travelling.

I asked our boatman how long he had been doing his job for a living. He said that he stated out when he was 17 years old and now, he is 55 years old. I asked him if he ever got tired of it. He said that it helps feed his family, and that tourism is only viable from December to May. He fishes for the other months of the year.

I wonder if the government can help out these boatmen by providing them with solar panels and electric motors for their boats. That way, they could save on the cost of diesel or gasoline fuel. I've seen a diesel motor boat in Venice converted to a solar powered electric motor.

We only spent a few hours on the island unlike before when we slept on the island. A vacation that is full of stress isn't a vacation at all. Perhaps the 2000 plus pesos we spent could be better used on a hotel room with hot water, air-condition, cable TV, wifi and a swimming pool.

John Mayer's Still Feel Like Your Man Chords

Here's my chord attempt at Still Feel Like Your Man by John Mayer. Hope you like it.

Intro
I still feel like your man
I still feel like your man
I still feel
I still feel
I still feel like your man

Stanza Pattern
DM7                            A7sus
The prettiest girl in the room she wants me
DM7                            A7sus
I know because she told me so
DM7                            A7sus
She says come over
DM7                            A7sus
I'd like to get to know you But I just don't think I can

Chorus Pattern
         Em Asus - A
'Cause I still feel like your man
F#7                    Bm7 - A
Still feel like your man
Em Asus - A
I still feel like your man
F#7                       Bm7 - A (DM7 - A7sus transition to stanza)
Still feel like your man I still feel like your man

Stanza Pattern
DM7                            A7sus
I still keep your shampoo in my shower
DM7                            A7sus
In case you wanna wash your hair
DM7                            A7sus
And I know that you probably found yourself someone somewhere
DM7                            A7sus
But I do not really care      'Cause as long as it is there

Chorus Pattern
         Em Asus - A
'Cause I still feel like your man
F#7                    Bm7 - A
Still feel like your man
Em Asus - A
I still feel like your man
F#7                       Bm7 - A       (DM7 - A7sus transition to stanza)
Still feel like your man I still feel like your man

Bridge

Ebma9 Bbma7sus2
-----      -----
e x          x
B 6         1
G 7         2
D 5         0
A 6         1
E x         x

Ebma9 Bbma7sus2
Still like the letters in your name and how they feel, babe
Ebma9 Bbma7sus2
Still think I'm never gonna find another you
Ebma9 Bbma7sus2
Still like to leave the party early and go home, babe
Ebma9
And don't you know, babe
A - Asus - A (repeatedly)
I'd rather sit here on my own and be alone, babe

Chorus Pattern
         Em Asus - A
'Cause I still feel like your man
F#7                    Bm7 - A
Still feel like your man
Em Asus - A
I still feel like your man
F#7                       Bm7 - A (DM7)
Still feel like your man I still feel like your man