Iron Man 2
So after what seems to be never ending a question on whose actor is playing who, The Iron Man 2 is on. Early trailers of the movie have already hit the net. Youtube.com counter is stacking up the hits, and why not? The trailer looks very promising.
Robert Downey Jr. is reprising his role as Tony Starks / Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow will again play the role of Pepper Potts; Starks’ executive secretary. The biggest surprise in this movie is Don Cheadle. The skinny Cheadle will replace Terrence Howard as Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes / War Machine. Rumors have it that money have something to do with the changes. According to an article in Wikipedia:
As Favreau (Director) and Theroux (Scriptwriter) chose to minimize the role, Marvel came to Howard to discuss lowering his salary – Howard was the first actor hired in Iron Man and earned the largest salary of the cast. The publication stated they were unsure whether Howard’s representatives left the project first or if Marvel chose to stop negotiating.
That was later denied by Justin Theroux (Script writer of Tropic Thunder where Robert Downey Jr. played a role) saying that “the role of War Machine was scaled back and then beefed up”.
Mickey Rourke who almost did not accept the role (again because of money issue) will join the cast as the Ivan Vanko/Whiplash. Okay. I understand the confusion. Hardcore marvel comic fans would be shouting sacrilege about this, well, maybe not. But in Iron Man 2, for reasons only the writer’s would know, they integrated two characters into one. Ivan Vanko (who is supposedly the alter ego of the first Crimson Dynamo), and the villain Whiplash (now known in the comic books as Blacklash) whose name in the marvel universe Mark Scarlotti are merged as one character. The only thing that is common on these two characters is the fact that they both use electricity as weapon.
Aside from the battle Between the Iron Man and whiplash, the plot will also evolve around Tony Starks’ problem with alcoholism. During a promotional tour, Robert Downey Jr. revealed that the story will be a crossover of Demon in a bottle (Iron Man Vol. 1 #120, March 1979 to #128 November 1979) story arc and origins. Demon in a bottle is written by David Michelinie and Bob Layton with art by John Romita, Jr., Bob Layton, and Carmine Infantino for marvel comics.
Other characters in the movie are: Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Sam Rockwell (who was first considered for the role of Tony Starks in Iron Man 1) as Justin Hammer, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, John Slattery as Howard Stark, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Paul Bettany as the voice of JARVIS (Starks’ computer).
Iron Man to is set for release in 2010
Robert Langdon Returns in The Lost Symbol
Dan Brown brought Robert Langdon back for the third time in his new novel called The Lost Symbol.
rumors about the new novel began coming out as early as the Da Vinci Code began breaking records sale in bookstores. Hints of the storyline for the next novels are actually hidden in series of numbers and letters printed on the original cover of the Da Vinci Code. This series of letters and numbers are said to be coordinates that points to the exact location of the CIA headquarters in Langley Virginia. It was said that the title of the next novel was The Solomon Key. The rumors are wrong folks. We now know that the title is The Lost symbol. Funny thing is that, an authors have actually published a book with the title GUIDE TO DAN BROWN’S THE SOLOMON KEY. It was said that the the novel “The Solomon Key” will involve the CIA and It will revolve around the cryptic code that was included on the back cover of the Da Vinci Code that reads “Who will save the widow’s son?” Now that the new novel no longer carry the same title and, it seems, has a different plot all together. I am wondering who in their right mind would still buy the GUIDE TO DAN BROWN’S THE SOLOMON KEY book. 
The Lost Symbol has Harvard symbologist getting entangled with the codes of the old master Leonard Da Vinci all over again. Here is a sneak peak to the story line of the new novel, The Lost symbol:
Leonardo’s Prophecy?
Last month, while in Florence, Professor Robert Langdon uncovered an ancient parchment that historians now believe may be the work of Leonardo da Vinci. The encoded parchment—bearing the name La Profezia (The Prophecy)—raised eyebrows when scholars discovered it was signed “LSPDV.” (Leonardo’s full name was Leonardo Ser Pieri Da Vincio).
More intriguing still is the legend that the visionary Leonardo, in the days before his death, made a powerful prophecy about the future. Could this be Da Vinci’s long lost prediction? Historians remain eager to learn what this parchment says. The code has yet to reveal its mystery, but Robert Langdon is very close to finding the key to deciphering the message.
Leonardo’s encoded message consists of 24 symbols. Robert Langdon is certain there exists a key, and he is working very hard to find it.
Not enough? I know the feeling folks. We all have to keep our emotions in check and wait for the release of the book on September 15, 2009. Amazon.com is now accepting pre orders. So if you’re interested and you feel the need to at least do something about it, have your copy reserved now.
My New Blog Is Up
My new blog is up. It has been fun conceptualizing it. Few more tweaking on the codes and it will be running like a well oiled machine (hopefully, hahahaha).
please visit http://ronism.net , leave some coments so I could link you up on my roll.
Can’t blog, I’m busy blogging!
Okay, It’s been what? 2 weeks? a month? I lost count of the days. I was so busy blogging that I forgot to blog. Confused? hahaha. Okay. Let me explain. for the past few weeks I have been so busy with work and blogging. Yes blogging but not for yelosworld. I was planning to lauch 2 niche blog site simultaneously, I have been scouring the dark corners of the cyberword for an affordable but reliable host. Been busy planning domain names and keyword searchers and all that blue collar stuff that comes along with it. Been busy writing a niche blog about work and busy conceptualizing an experimental blog. Writing pillar articles for blogs are something that requires attention and its not easy when you are trying to at least make 1 article very after a day. so that’s it. My excuse. hahaha, till next post folks. God Bless!
Glowed In The Dark
Just when the lights are off, we shone the brightest.
Last March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM up until 9:30 PM, it was lights off in 647 cities and municipalities in the Philippines. No, it was not because of a power shortage, it was for a nobler reason- the Earth Hour. The Philippines ranked # 1 amongst all the countries that participated on this global event. The #2 spot was occupied by Greece with 484 cities participating. The official ranking was released by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) office.
647 cities and municipalities estimated to have over 15 million participants from the country is a giant leap from the estimated 1 million participants from last year’s earth hour. This is clearly a sign of the country’s growing awareness with the environmental problems that we are facing.
Earth Hour is a brainchild of the World Wildlife Fund and the Sidney Morning Herald. The event started last 2007 when 2.2 million Sidney residents participated by turning their lights off including non-essential appliances for an hour. Since then Earth Hour is celebrated annually every last Saturday of March all over the world. The Earth Hour 2009 was participated by 88 countries and more than 4000 cities. A small country consisted of a group of islands in the Pacific led the way this year.
Is it something to be proud of? Of course it is! We maybe a nation of diverse dialects and different cultures but Filipinos knows how to unite when unity matters most. We are a nation of proud workers who took pride in the work we do no matter how menial it is and not a nation of servants who deserve nothing but scraps (as a racist Hong-Kong columnist claims). We are a nation who respect religious freedom and not prosecute those who differ from our belief. We are a nation of humble people who are slowly rediscovering our sense of patriotism again. Deep within this dormant flame lies an ember that still burns of Bayanihan. Let the Unity shown by this Malayan race during the Earth Hour 2009 stand as a testament to that.
Of Blisters and Touches
Let me take this route,
A battered path
By generations of souls
The pavement is rough
Mine soles blistering
A voyage for the senses
When sense doesn’t exist
Like dogs baying at midnight
Praying for reprieve
Reprieve they ought to have
For a wandering soul
Without hope for rest
It is the absence of hope
That keeps them hoping for hope.
A chaotic cycle we live in
So trek ad infinitum
When vultures abound
Laying awake while a dirge is said
Soothing voices amidst mockery
A requiem for the living
So stop while you could
And lie still if you must
The earth breaths beneath
Every tremor is a groan
Every breeze is a smile
Let it go slow
Hues are recognized
By sight
Not by touch
Like heat that remains
When the last ember died out
The secret of the journey
Is not on the destination
It is by knowing the way.
Realized how to recognize
The rest would fall into its place
A Journey Back To Endor
The banana orchard at the back of my aunt’s house is long gone and I can barely remember how it looks like already, but if I close my eyes and think hard, I could still remember how it feels like to be there.
The orchard was a part of Manong Pancho’s property. It is untended, mosquito infested and magical. The banana orchard use to be our playground. I still remember how much my mother hated it when I play there because of the stains on my clothes when I go home. Yet no matter how many times I get pinched at my arms for playing there, I can’t resist going. We love pretending to be Ewoks, the furry, short, stocky, flat-faced, bear-like looking creatures living primitively in the forest moon of Endor. This George Lucas creation that first appeared on the movie Star Wars became our constant persona when we are playing at the banana orchard. That banana orchard was our Endor.
Usually when I arrive at the orchard, the brothers, Mado and Mar are already there, since they live the nearest to the place. also the brother tandem of Jon and Tirso (not their real names), and so with cousins Dino (not his real name) and Rowen.
When we’re playing ewoks, I was always Wickket, the leader of the ewoks, the other guys would think of their own names. Yet even though we play parts as ewoks our natural personality would eventually turn up. Mado and Mar are inseparable even when their roles (according to their names) as ewoks should not. Dino is quick to smile, he is a daredevil but he listens to me. He likes adventure and the youngest of us all. Jon is the bossy type and Tirso is the playful one. Rowen on the other hand is the silent type. We have different personality, looking back now; I wonder how we survived as friends.
When we assume the ewoks persona, everything turns magical. A simple banana tree would turn into an impregnable fortress, stones would turn into gold, sticks would become spears, the orchard would become the forrest of endor, and we would become immortals. Child play and all its grandeur, its magic and its sense of justice.
Time passed, we grew older I guess. and our forest of endor was forgotten. The awe for the mystery of endor was replaced with teenage adrenalin when we entered high school. We attended different schools. I found new friends, and my childhood friends found theirs.
I left our municipality to attend the university during college. I have lost track to almost everything from my hometown. I guess I stayed away too long.
When I finally had time to stay home, I was informed that Dino was sent to a juvenille detention facility. He was accused of raping a girl. There are rumors that he was high on drugs during the time the incident happened. I could hardly believe my ears. Dino the smiling kid? rape? My mind is trying to grasp a reality that it cannot absorb.
Time passed and we moved on, I was always away from home, but I tried to come home every chance I get. Everything is doing well when I heard the news that Tirso was arrested for stabbing someone to death. I heard that the stabbing was a result of an altercation during a basketball match. I sighed while listening to my mother telling me the news. I can’t just believe it is possible. I asked my mom who had he stabbed, she told me a name. The name sound very familiar, I her asked again, I heard it right the first time. It was a friend of mine during my high school days.
As I was writing this, a line from an old song called “constant change” keeps playing on my head, it goes; “have we outgrown our peter pan and wings?/ we’ve simply grown too old for tales of knights and king…”
Where have Endor gone? Where is its sense of fair play and justice? have we left it behind the banana orchard along with our childhood eons ago? Right now, if only I have a way to go back to that orchard in the time of the ewoks and the forest of Endor, I would.
A Testament of Faith
This book marked the return of bestselling author Anne Rice to the catholic faith and perhaps it also marks the end of a great series about the damned, more popularly known as the “Vampire Chronicles”.
This book is about the child Jesus in a whole new light. The story about a child confused on having the power to kill a boy by simply wishing him dead and the power to bring the boy back to life. A child curious about the mysteries concerning his birth that his family seem to keep it for themselves and discuss it in hushed voices most of the time.
The story began in Alexandria, Egypt,. several years after Jesus and his family went there to escape herod. After having told through a dream that it’s time for them to go home, Jesus and family packed and set back to Nazareth, the home of his parents. where they were reunited with family members who stayed behind.
Aside from the conflict in their journey home and the mystery sorrounding Jesus’ birth, The story also tell of Jesus’ education and his coming of age.
A biblical story told in an Anne Rice style narrative, too little could go wrong. Vampire or no vampire, Anne Rice is still a great tale spinner.
News went out that a film based on the book itself was scheduled to start shooting somewhere in Israel last 2007 with the hope that it will hit the screen later in 2008 but with no other clear reason aside from “creative differences” the project was shelved.
Playing Memories in the Box of Smiles
Smell induces memories. It reminds us of things, of places, of times, of events that so long ago took place and was cramped up and locked into the lonely and forgotten corners of our mind. Waiting patiently to be revisited and smiled upon once more.
Whoever thought that rummaging through the dusty boxes in the forgotten nook in your house could be something that is worth doing? Who would think that a simple dusty box sitting in the dark corner under the stair could pack so much smile. Smiles that resonates from laughter dating back from many moons ago. Back when your muscles are less weary and your mind was less fogged. In the time when the heat of the sun is enough to warm your soul and the memory of the moon would keep you longing for the night. Back when things are much simpler.
Today, I was seating on my office chair. I was staring at my empty screen, watching the cursor blink. I can’t think but i needed to. I was pushing my brain to function too much, so much that I actually felt my head hurt. The pain seems to tear everything inside my head. I actually felt afraid that the pain would destroy so many stray memories I left along the corridors of my mind. I am in my mid 20s its to early to loose them.
I got out of my chair and stretched my back a bit. Ergonomic chairs are not as good as they are advertised. Anna called for me from her chair, offering me a strawberry. I took one and smelled the fruit. It’s red and smells so sweet. I thanked Anna and went back to my chair and slouched. I closed my eyes and let my mind travel. The smell of the strawberry is so familiar. It smells like Christmas during my childhood; fun and carefree. It specifically smells like the strawberry perfume that my aunt, who was then working in Manila, gave my mother for Christmas. I remember putting the empty bottle of that perfume in that box along with my old doodle notes and some cheesy love letters written on linens with a sweet smell that I have received from pretty young ladies in high school back then. And some empty linen pads that I intend use for writing sweet nothings that I never had the guts to make happen. The box also contain the first six chapters of the novel entitled “Curtain of Smoke” that I began writing when I graduated from high school, something I am not so sure I could finish, Nevertheless, something that I enjoyed writing. In my life, that box contains my stash of smiles.
Sometimes I am amazed how we use the dig into the recess of our past to nullify the worries of the present. It is amazing how smell can put a smile back into our faces. It is amazing how playing memories from that box of smile could lighten up my day, even just from this ergonomic chair.
