QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES (newworlds.ph) -- Have you ever tried following one of those long-running fantasy book series like Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" or the Dragonlance series? Or have you ever tried reading all the "Star Trek" novels in order but couldn't find the next volume? Tried to keep up with the Star Wars Expanded universe novels? You've probably tried. But as the venerable Master Yoda would say, "Do or do not, there is no try." "But Master Yoda," you protest. "I can only try because it's too difficult to find all the books in these series. It's rare to find all 10 Wheel of Time books available in a store, or to find someone with a great number of Star Trek books I can borrow!" Master Yoda looks at you with a knowing smile and whispers, "Ah, but the New Worlds Library, there is. Know about it, do you not?" I can see you're quite bewildered. And before Master Yoda decides you have to do a single handstand while he's standing on your foot and you try to levitate some rocks using the Force because you don't know what the New Worlds Library is, let me elucidate. The New Worlds Library (NWL) is a project of the New Worlds Alliance (NWA), a network of local fan organizations of science fiction, fantasy, and horror enthusiasts. Located at Fandom Café, the Alliance headquarters in Quezon City, it is the first online lending library of its kind and scope in the country. The aim of the NWL is to provide a wide selection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror books and references, and various magazines and similar publications that its members can either read on-site or borrow. To date, the NWL has more than 1600 books in its collection, most of which were donated by NWA member groups and other individuals. There are substantial collections of Star Trek, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, and various classic science fiction and fantasy books, some of which, you won't find available in local stores, or are already out of print. So if you've ever wanted to finish that long book series but couldn't find the other volumes, try searching the NWL database, and you just might find what you're looking for. We can't count how many times visitors to the library have said "I've been looking for this book for the longest time!" while browsing the NWL collection. The NWL catalogue is available online to provide members easy access to information they need before going to Fandom Café. Members may browse the catalogue at their leisure using their workstations, check if the book is available for loan, reserve it online, and go to Fandom Café to pick up the book. If the book they want was checked-out by another member, members can reserve the book and they will be notified by e-mail if the book is already available. Right now, library volunteers are still busy migrating book information into our new database system, but a more comprehensive list of books may be found in the NWL Librarything account. Applying for membership to the NWL is easy. Secure a Membership Form from Fandom Café or request for one through the NWL website, fill it up, present the required documents, and pay the membership fee. After validation of the information in your application, you can start browsing for books you can borrow. So now that you know what the New Worlds Library is, hurry and apply for membership now! Master Yoda is watching you, and so am I... especially if you do not take care of those books. The New Worlds Library is open for business and is located at: Fandom Café Unit G-09 Regalia Park Towers, 150 P. Tuazon St., Cubao, Quezon City For more information, visit our websites: http://www.fandomcafe.comhttp://www.newworlds.phor the NWL catalog database at: http://www.newworlds.ph/elib/login.phpour Librarything account is at: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/nwa_libraryYou can also call: (02)4396586 or e-mail: library@fandomcafe.com The New Worlds Library was featured on QTV's "Sa Pulso" program. View the footage here. (For some reason I can't get the video to appear on this entry!)
 | Pepper | Aug 23, '07 11:01 AM
for everyone |
 Pepper, our lovely 6 year old dachshund, passed away yesterday, August 22. I remember how small she was when she first arrived, a gift from a family friend. My mom told me that we would be getting a dachshund puppy, and my sister and I were planning to name her Salami. But when she arrived, we took one look at her and said "Pepperoni, not Salami. Pepper for short." I bought her dog food, paid for her visits to the vet. Then I moved to Manila when she was a year old, but she never forgot me. Whenever I arrived for vacations, my mom would comment that Pepper acted happier around me. She was my baby, after all. I'm sorry I didn't pay much attention to her last time I went home during Holy Week. She moved slower (she was really fat and kinda waddled around) and I told my mom Pepper needed exercise. During the last 2 months, she was getting sick a lot. And yesterday, she breathed her last. I could hear my mom sniffling when she called to give me the news. Rest in peace, dear Pepper. You certainly did add spice to our lives.
| Eternals | Jul 24, '07 7:02 AM
for everyone |
 Got called to our Managing Director's office this afternoon, and hopped out with Marvel Eternals by Neil Gaiman & John Romita Jr. Yay! Something new to read! Too bad it's only on loan, I have to return it when he gets back from KL. Am so glad I have a boss who's a geek too!
I got my copy of Book 7 at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street last Saturday night. I started reading around 10pm and was so engrossed in the book that I didn't realize dawn was already breaking. I finished it at 530am, a little teary-eyed.
I won't post any spoilers, but all I can say is: I love Severus Snape!
I called Ricky last Tuesday afternoon at his office just to say hi, and the girl who answered said that he'd been brought to Medical City. I got worried and called his cellphone. Reitch answered and told me he was in the ICU. And on April 18, we said goodbye forever.
It's Thursday now, and I'm still struggling with the fact that I'll never hear him say "Halloooo" or call me "Pretty girl" again.
Ricky was practically family. I live alone here in Manila, and he was always there when I needed to talk to someone. I remember being unable to sleep over a problem and I called him at 4am and even if he was groggy, he didn't get mad at me. Every time there was a long weekend, he'd text to ask me if I had plans and invite me to join him and Reitch.
He was Broadwall, our pillar of strength: logistics and security chief at Conventions, consultant on protocol, Ringbearer and Bane to Ian's bane. And yet he was Papa Ball too, always ready with a quote from Monty Python, the one who endlessly teased me about my lovelife, and that big booming ha-ha-ha-ha laugh.
I cried hard last night at Brash Young Cinema. That's where we first met, at a VA meeting. See the "Don't Get Wimpy Mascots, Get the Stormballs" sign on the wall? He dictated that to me and I wrote the sign. He used to walk me home from Brash.
Everytime I was down and depressed he’d tease me “Be English, my dear! Stiff upper lip!”
Well, sorry Ricky, but this time I don’t think I can! Who am I going to bug when I want to eat pasta and gelato at Amici? Who’s going to keep the Secretariat calm during Conventions? Who’s going to be Chief Volunteer next time Neil Gaiman comes to Manila? Who's going to bug me to get a boyfriend?
I miss you terribly, Ricky.
Thank you for being one of the best friends I ever had.
Got this entry from my classmate Tes' site and couldn't resist posting it here as well!
September 21, 2006
The Department Head
The Surgery Department
St. Luke's Medical Center
279 E. Rodriguez Sr. Blvd. Quezon City 1102 Philippines
Dear Sir:
I am aware that there is a shortage of doctors in our country so please allow me to do my patriotic duty to help alleviate this alarming problem besetting the medical community. My name is Orven Enoveso but you can call me Doc for short. I would like to apply for a position in your department as resident plastic surgeon.
I have attached my resume and list of accomplishments with this letter for you to study. At first glance, I am sure you will quickly conclude that I am nowhere near qualified for the job having no formal medical background. However, I urge you to seriously reconsider this application based on the following points:
1. Even with my limited medical schooling, I fully understand that plastic surgery does not involve using Tupperware products. In fact, I am quite familiar with the fact that the main tools employed are a felt-tipped pen to mark where the cuts will be made, scalpels for making incisions, not box cutters, mind you, and curved needles to stitch up whatever was cut open.
2. I am absolutely not homophobic. Sorry, I meant hemophobic, but I'm sure political correctness is a plus in the medical industry also, right?
3. I am very organized and will never make the mistake of leaving anything inside a patient's opened up chest.
4. I am a voracious reader and I devour content like a dry sponge. I enjoy reading medical encyclopedias and have even on occasion read the book directory of medicines that my parents keep in their first aid kit. I have nearly memorized the generic names of all the entries plus their corresponding indications, safe dosages, etc.
5. To supplement my readings, I watch every show on cable TV that involves medicine and surgery and I even take notes. My regular and strict regimen includes "Reality TV", "Medical Detectives", "House", 'Grey's Anatomy', and, of course "Nip / Tuck". I even review the old episodes of "Doogie Houser M.D." to familiarize myself with early medical practices.
6. I am a team player; as such I am sure I will be able to get along well with your medical staff especially the nurses.
7. My sense of detail is acute. This I can prove to you because I have always consistently been able to identify surgical work done on most Hollywood celebrities even by just examining magazine photos.
8. I did well in Biology class in high school where we were asked to dissect frogs.
9. I have good bearing and I look good wearing a white coat.
10. Lastly, as mentioned in my resume, my main educational background is in Fine Arts and as you can see in my photocopied Transcript of Records, my grades in "Anatomy" and "Life Drawing" are outstanding. Obviously, I have a superb sense of aesthetics and keen understanding of the classic human form, both male and female, which I am supremely confident, will prove an invaluable asset in my practice, if given the opportunity.
After discussing the above points, I trust you will treat this application with the same seriousness as when you study a potential tumor. If you feel unsure about my qualifications, I enjoin you to consult with another doctor and get a second opinion.
I am available for an interview anytime and will even submit myself to a practical exam to prove what I can accomplish with my steady and dexterous hands.
Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully yours,
Orven Enoveso
They don’t call it Strong Ice for nothing.
Yes, I knew that, but the last time I had a bottle, it didn’t affect me much. So last night at Murphy’s, I decided I needed a change from my usual Negra, Cali Ice or Iced Tea. Paolo commented that I must’ve wanted to get drunk – even he would get dizzy after consuming two bottles of the stuff.
Nah, I said. I’m having only one anyway. I could handle it fine.
Three-fourths to emptying the bottle, I began to feel light-headed. Oh boy. I guess being tired during the day made me more susceptible to intoxication. Then the thought occurred to me that I wanted to experience being more than a little tipsy. The last time I entertained that thought was around 3 years ago, at Ratsky’s Cebu with my officemates, contemplating whether I should take my 8th shot of tequila. There was that rush, the thrill of being on dangerous ground, trying to see how far I could go without losing myself.
However, being part of mopping-up operations after all-night drinking sprees at beach outings – delivering helplessly inebriated officemates to their rooms, and watching them nurse splitting headaches the morning after – I’ve never relished the thought of losing control. I never want to do something I know I’d regret.
Next time I order Strong Ice, I better make sure I can take it.
No One is to Blame - Howard Jones
You can look at the menu but you just can’t eat
You can feel the cushions but you can’t have a seat
You can dip your foot in the pool but you can’t have a swim
You can feel the punishment but you can’t commit the sin
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
You can build a mansion but you just can’t live in it
You’re the fastest runner but you’re not allowed to win
Some break the rules
And live to count the cost
The insecurity is the thing that won’t get lost
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
You can see the summit but you can’t reach it
It’s the last piece of the puzzle but you just can’t make it fit
Doctor says you’re cured but you still feel the pain
Aspirations in the clouds but your hopes go down the drain
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame
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