Category: Geniuses

Elon Musk v Mark Zuckerberg

Tech Giants

Elon Musk v Mark Zuckerberg

 


6 August 2023

Elon Musk had been busy twitting today about his forthcoming fight against Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook.

The fight will be a pay-per-view on Twitter and in Zuckerberg’s Threads.

According to Elon the money raised in Twitter X will go to charities for veterans.

“This is not just any fight, it’s a fight for freedom of speech.”, Elon Musk

Who will you support?!!!

Brilliance of John Steinbeck

John_Steinbeck_1962

John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. (February 26, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American author of twenty-seven books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books, and five collections of short stories. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939), East of Eden (1952) and the novella Of Mice and Men (1937). Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception”. (Wikipedia)

Brilliance of John Steinbeck

He quoted:

A journey is like a marriage.  The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.
– Steinbeck

***

No one wants advice – only corroboration.
– Steinbeck
***

Time is the only critic without ambition.
– Steinbeck
***
Those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, ae the traits of success.
– Steinbeck

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Nora Aunor, National Filipino Artist

Nora Aunor, National Filipino Artist

Nora Aunor

Nora Aunor

There had been news which had been going around that Nora Aunor was to be officially recognised as the icon that she is.

It was a sure thing as thought by everyone. Afterall, every Filipino knows that Nora is interstellar in the acting world.  In fact, it beggars belief why Nora has not been named as a National Artist at least 10 years sooner.

Anyway, Nora Aunor was finally included in the list of artists who were to be recognised for their contribution to the Philippine Arts.  Some of the nominees, I have to admit, I have never heard of and their Wikipedia entries were  minimal to say the least.

The last hurdle for the list was for the president of the Philippines to make his approval.  Why the president, I do not know?!!!  What does he know about art?  He is no more au fait about arts than the next Filipino on the street. Therefore, the privilege of the final choice should not be given to just one person who could have a hidden agenda, thus instead of honouring  deserving artists, would end up shamed and mortified, through no fault of their own.

As Filipinos, we are the nicest people in the world but once you hurt us, imagined or otherwise, we will remember.  We will sow that seed of slight into our brains and nurture it until it grows into a gargantuan resentment and payback time is subconsciously planned, simmering at the back burner of our mind until one day we get to serve it with ferocious wanton delight. LOL  Yeah, oh yes I know that feeling so much!

I think this was what may have led to what had happened to Nora Aunor, who was a known supporter of Ferdinand Marcos. PNoy in his mind is serving Nora her just desert!

How petty! Unfortunately for the president, PNoy might actually leave egg on his face!

Nora’s snub and humiliation is not only against her but also against Sining at Lipunan (Art & Society).

Nora Aunor, the woman with the Golden voice has more talent in her little finger than most Filipinos in arts and sciences.  She can SING, she can dance and can act out anyone.  So much talent for such a tiny lady.

It is a shame that PNoy’s presidency chose to ignore so much talent from someone befitting a National Artist.  This action will have a long repercussion to his government.

 

Nora Aunor’s prodigious talents can be evidenced by Wikipedia

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Nora Aunor has been awarded, recognized and received multiple nominations from different organizations, academe, institutions, critics and award giving bodies for her work in film, television, music and theater. She is the most nominated actress for the leading role in the long history of FAMAS Awards, having nominated 17 times since 1973 when she was first nominated for “Gift of Love” but only second to Eddie Garcia with 23 nominations both in leading and supporting role. With her fifth FAMAS Award for Best Actress in 1991, Aunor became the sixth performer to be elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame joining the likes of Eddie GarciaJoseph EstradaCharito SolisFernando Poe Jr. andVilma Santos. This award is given to the person who won more than five times in its particular category. Aunor is the only performer in the long history ofFAMAS Awards to be nominated for fifteen (15) straight years from 1973 to 1987.

As of 2014, Aunor is still the most nominated actress of Gawad Urian with 18 nominations and 7 wins and the very first best actress awardee. She is also the most awarded and the most nominated actress of Metro Manila Film Festival with eight (8) best actress trophies and from Young Critics Circle with nine (9) nominations and five (5) wins. She is also the only actress to win the best actress trophy from the Film Academy of the Philippines for 3 straight years. A feat yet to be equaled or surpass by a Filipino actress.

Aunor has the most number of international best actress awards and nominations more than any other Filipino actors. She is the only Filipino actress who have won international awards from 5 different continents. 19th Cairo International Film Festival in 1995 (Africa), 1st East Asia Film and Television Award in 1997 and Asian Film Awards in 2013 (Asia), 31st Festival International du Film Indépendant de Bruxelles in 2004 and Premio Della Critica Indipendiente in 2013 (Europe), Asia Pacific Screen Award in 2013 (Australia) and from the Green Planet Movie Award (North America).

Aunor, has the most Lifetime Achievement Awards received locally and internationally for her contribution in film, television, music, and theater.

  • The most nominated and awarded Filipino actress both locally and internationally.
  • The only Filipino actor with the most number of International best actress awards (Cairo 1995, East Asia 1997, Brussels 2004, Venice 2012, Australia 2012, Hong Kong 2013, Russia 2013), and nominations (Berlin 1983, Singapore 1997, Cairo 1999, Singapore 1999, Venice 2012, India 2012, Dubai 2012, Macau 2012).
  • The first and the only Filipino actor to win four (4) international best actress award for the movie Thy Womb in Italy, Australia, Hong Kong and Russia
  • The first Filipino actor to win an International acting award in a Major Film Festival (Cairo 1995 for the movie “The Flor Contemplacion Story”).
  • The first and only Filipino actor to receive an acting nomination from a Top-Tier International Film Festival (Berlin 1983 for the movie Himala, Venice 2012 for the movie Thy Womb, Goa, India 2012 for the movie Thy Womb).
  • The first Filipino actor to win the Best Performance by an Actress at the 2012 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
  • The first Filipino actor to be inducted as a member of Asia Pacific Screen Academy.
  • The first Filipino actress to win Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards
  • The first Filipino actress to sit as juror in an International Film Festival (Hawaii 1996).
  • The only Filipino and Asian actress apart from China’s Gong Li to be featured by HBO, an American cable network, in a documentary film about the lives and achievements of the world’s greatest actresses (1997).
  • The Filipino actor with the most number of films competed and exhibited in different international film festivals.
  • The Filipino actor with the most “Best Performer” awards (6). One (1) from Metro Manila Film Festival and five (5) from the Young Critics Circle
  • The first and only Filipino actor ever to win the “Best Performer” award at the 1978 Metro Manila Film Festival.
  • The only Filipino actor to be nominated as FAMAS Best Actress for 15 straight years from 1973 to 1987
  • The most nominated actress of FAMAS Awards with 17 nominations.
  • The very first best actress awardee of Gawad Urian
  • The most nominated actress of Gawad Urian with 17 nominations
  • Chosen by the Gawad Urian as “Actress of the Decade” twice (1980s and 1990s).
  • The only Filipino actress to win three successive best actress awards in the Film Academy of the Philippines (1989,1990,1991).
  • The winningest actress (along with Vilma Santos and Lorna Tolentino) of the Film Academy of the Philippines with four (4) Best Actress Award.
  • The youngest recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” given by the Film Academy of the Philippines (1993).
  • The very first recipient of the Best Actress Award from Star Awards for Movies (Philippine Movie Press Club)
  • The most nominated actress of Star Awards for Movies (Philippine Movie Press Club) with 14 nominations
  • The only actor to received triple nominations in one award season from Star Awards for Movies (Philippine Movie Press Club).
  • The very first Best Performer recipient, the most nominated and the winningest performer (5) of Young Critics Circle
  • The Most nominated and awarded best actress with eight trophies of Metro Manila Film Festival
  • The very first Best Actress recipient of BALATCA (Batangas Laguna Teachers Association for Culture and the Arts).
  • The only actress included in the prestigious “Centennial Honor for the Arts” given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (1999).
  • One of the first actresses to be honored with the “The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service” (TOWNS) award (1983).
  • The first actress to be crowned as “Box Office Queen of Philippine Cinema” (1971).
  • The first and only Filipino actor included in the “10 Best International Actress of the Decade (Asia)” in the 2010 Green Planet Film Awards, Hollywood, California
  • The only actress of her generation to have been directed by four National Artists for film Awardees, Gerardo de LeonLamberto AvellanaLino Brocka, and Ishmael Bernal.
  • Named by Cultural Center of the Philippines as the “Actress of the Century” in 1999
  • Named by YES! Magazine as one of the “Philippines’ 15 Best Actresses of All Time” in 2004
  • Named by S Magazine as the “Philippines’ Best Actress of All Time” in 2006
  • Named by the Manila Bulletin as One of the 110 Notable Filipinos in the Last 110 Years on the occasion of their 110th Anniversary in February 2010.
  • Cited in the book, Pinoy Pop Culture by Bench Corp. published in 2001 written by Gilda Cordero-Fernando
  • Named as One Of The Most Durable TV Icon of All time in 2006 (PINAKA, QTV-11)
  • Named as One of the Top 10 Movie Queens of Phil. Cinema – Unang Hirit Sept. 28, 2007 episode – GMA-7
  • Named as the Top Female Celebrity of Kislap Magazine for the last 45 years in its November 2007 issue
  • Named as the Most Amazing Rag to Richest Celebrity – PINAKA, QTV-11, June 13, 2010 episode
  • Named as one of the Most Famous Lola in Showbiz – PINAKA, QTV-11, Sept. 12, 2010 episode
  • Guy & Pip Loveteam was named Most Popular Loveteam of All Time, Unang Hirit, GMA-7, February 15, 2008 episode
  • Guy & Pip Loveteam was named as the Most Famous Loveteam of All Time – PINAKA, QTV-11, August 13, 2006 episode
  • Her classic film, “Himala” was named as the Best Film of the 80’s – PINAKA, QTV-11, November 26, 2006 episode
  • Her confrontation scene w/ Vilma Santos in the movie, “Ikaw ay Akin” was named as one of the 10 Most Dramatic Face Off in Phil. Movies, PINAKA, QTV-11, Nov. 18, 2007 episode
  • Her confrontation scene w/ Vilma Santos in the movie, “T-Bird at Ako” was named as the Most Dramatic Face Off in Phil. Movies, PINAKA, QTV-11, Nov. 18, 2007 episode
  • One of the 101 Filipino Icons, a book by Bench Corp. published in 2007 by Ani Rosa Almario and Virgilio S. Almario
  • Cited as One of the People in Entertainment Industry Who Help Define the Century in 2006 by Glitter Magazine, Jan. 2006 issue
  • One of the Top 100 Stars of Philippine Cinema by Mario Bautista (Manila Times) Dec. 23, 1999 issue
  • One of the Best Ever Filipino Film Actresses by Nestor Torre, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct. 30, 1999 issue.
  • One of the 100 Women of the Philippines: Celebrating Filipina Womanhood in the New Millenium in a book with the same title by Abe Florendo, Oct. 1999
  • One of the Philippine Icons of the 20th Century, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 26, 1999 issue
  • One of the Top 5 Best Actresses in Local Films, selected by top entertainment editors & columnists of Phil. Daily Inquirer, Oct. 28, 1999 issue
  • One of the 20 Most Influential Persons in the Philippines, The Philippine Yearbook 2000
  • One of the Best Things About Pinoy, Sunday Inquirer Magazine, June 14, 1998 issue
  • One of the Faces of the Century, Timeless Tales of Beautiful Women in a book with the same title by Jorge Llanes, 1998
  • One of the Most Admired Filipinos for the Last Four (4) Centuries, Isyu Magazine, Jan. 27, 1998 issue
  • Named Actress of the Century by respected columnist, Ronald Constantino published in Tempo and Malaya, Dec. 27, 1997 issue
  • One of the Most Significant Filipino in the 20th Century in the TV show Tatak Pilipino of ABS-CBN, 1991
  • Named by Audrey Magazine (The Asian- American Women’s Lifestyle Magazine) as one of the Ten timeless Filipina Actresses. She topped the list among other filipina actresses (March 25, 2013)
  • The only Filipino actor honored by the City of Kileen, Texas U.S.A. with a “Nora Aunor Day” (September 23, 2006)
  • The only Filipino actor honored by the City of San Francisco, California, U.S.A. with a “Nora Aunor Day”(May 21, 2004)
  • The actress was honored by the Office of the Governor of Las Vegas with a “Certificate of Recognition for Phenomenal Talent and Extraordinary Performance” (March 31, 2006)
  • Himala was the first and only Filipino film ever to qualify in the Competition Section of the Berlin International Film Festival (1983). For its international accolades, it bagged 1983’s Bronze Hugo Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival.
  • Himala was the lone Filipino film chosen by CNN as one of the ten best Asian films of all time from the provisional list of 18 great films (September 2008). CNN cited “Himala” for its “austere camera work, haunting score, and accomplished performances that sensitively portray the harsh social and cultural conditions that people in the Third World endure.”
  • Himala was awarded the CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time (November 14, 2008)
  • Himala restored version was premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival under the Venizia Classici Section.
  • The Flor Contemplacion Story became the first Filipino movie to win the grand prize in a Major International Film Festival (Cairo ’95).
  • The Flor Contemplacion Story grossed US$ 3.3 million in its domestic and international exhibitions, making it one of the highest-grossing films in Philippine history.
  • Bona was cited as one of “The Best 100 Films in the World” by the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, USA (1997).
  • Bona is the ONLY FILIPINO FILM to be archived at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.[178]
  • One of the 15 Women in Showbiz who made Pinoys Proud by PEP in celebration of Women’s Month, March 2014
  • “Thy Womb” competed &/or exhibited at the following int’l film festivals: 69th Venice International Film Festival (COMPETITION), Venice, Italy; 37th Toronto Int’l Film Festival (World Cinema), Totonto, Canada; 17th Busan Int’l Film Festival (Window on Asian Cinema, Busan, Korea; 6th Ferra de Tutti Film Festival (Exhibition), Bologna, Italy; 50th Vienna Int’l Film Festival (Exhibition), Vienna, Austria; 2012 Brisbane Int’l Film Festival (Exhibition), Brisbane, Australia; 43rd International Film Festival of India (COMPETITION), Goa, India; 2012 Golden Horse Film Festival (Exhibition), Taipei, Taiwan; 9th Dubai International Film Festival (COMPETITION); 8TH Movies Festival World Edition, Poland; 14th Bratislava International Film Festival (Panorama Section),Slovakia; 20th Plus Camerimage Int’l Film Festival of D Art of Cinematography (Exhibition), Bydgoszcs, Poland; 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA)Winner: Best Actress, Best Director Award, Brisbane, Australia; 16th Tertio Millenio Film Festival (Exhibition), Rome, Italy; 12th Marrakech Film Festival, Morocco (Exhibition); 24th Forum Des Images Festival, Paris, France; 55th Asia Pacific Film Festival (COMPETITION)Macau, China; The Wadsworth Atenaeum Museum of Arts, CT, USA (Jan. 24-27 2013); Perth Film Festival, Perth, Australia (Jan. 2013); 7th Asian Film Awards, Hong Kong, March 2013 Winner: Best Actress; 15th Deuville Asian Film Festival, France; 37th Hong Kong Int’l. Film Festival; 20th Prague Int’l Film Festival, Czech Republic; 1st ASEAN Int’l. Film Festival Awards, Malaysia (Exhibition) March 2013; 18th Vilniaus Intl. Film Festival, Lithuania (Critics’ Choice Section) March 2013; 11th Reggio Emilia Asian Film Festival, Italy (COMPETITION) April 6–11, 2013; 5th CPH PIX (Exhibition), Copenhagen, Denmark April 11–24, 2013; 10th Int’l. Independent Film Festival (IndieLisboa)Lisbon, Portugal,April 18–28, 2013; 12th Transilvania Int’l. Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania, May 31-June 9, 2013; 3rd Asian Film Festival, Rome, Italy May 10–31, 2013; 7th Festival de Granada Cines del Sur, Granada, Spain, June 9, 2013 (COMPETITION)/ 4th World Cinema Amsterdam Int’l. Film Festival, Netherlands August 7–19, 2013 (COMPETITION); Southeast Asian Film Festival (Regional Intersections 2013) Canberra, Australia, Sept. 5-19, 2013 (Exhibition); 2013 OzAsia Film Festival, Adelaide, Australia – Sept. 13-29, 2013 (Exhibition); 3rd Sakhalin Int’l Film Festival, Russia (COMPETITION), August 23–30, 2013; 33rd Hawaii International Film Festival (Filmmakers in Focus) October 10–20, 2013; 5th London IFF (Exhibition);13th Festival Women’s World, Tuebingen, Germany (Exhibition) Nov. 20-27 2013; Around the World in 14 Films, The Berlin Festival of Festivals (Exhibition), Berlin, Germany, Nov. 29 to Dec. 7, 2013; Lua Prabang IFF. Laos, Dec. 7-11, 2013 (Exhibition); Philippine Official Entry, 71st Golden Globe Awards, Hollywood, California

In 1968, Nora Aunor was contracted by Alpha Records upon the recommendation of singer Carmen Soriano. Although Aunor’s first singles were not major hits, she subsequently went on to smash local record sales with songs like “It’s Time to Say Goodbye”, “Silently”, “Forever Loving You”, “It’s Not Unusual”, and countless others. In her seven years with Alpha Records, Aunor was able to set all-time high record sales which up to this day has not been surpassed. At the height of her popularity as a recording artist in the late 1960s and early 1970s, local records soared up to 60% of national sales according to Alpha Records Philippines.She is the artist with the most singles in Philippine recording history (with more than 260 singles). Over-all she has recorded more than 500 songs. She has notched more than 30 gold singles, a record in the local music industry. With estimated sales of one million units, Nora’s cover of “Pearly Shells” (1971) is one of the biggest-selling singles in the Philippines ever. Nora has also recorded some 46 hit long-playing albums, and several extended plays.

  • At the height of her popularity as a recording artist in the late 1960s and early 1970s, sales of local records soared up to 60% of national sales according to Alpha Records Philippines.
  • She is the artist with the most singles in Philippine recording history (with more than 260 singles). Overall she has recorded more than 500 songs.
  • She has notched more than 30 gold singles.
  • With estimated sales of one million units, Nora’s cover of “Pearly Shells” (1971) is one of the biggest-selling singles in the Philippines.
  • Nora has also recorded some 46 hit long-playing albums, and several extended plays.
  • In 1999, Nora was cited as one of the 100 Great Filipinos in Music, in an article written by Baby Gil at Phil. Star, Nov. 24, 1999 issue.

 

Recipe: Karneng Asada para kay Jose Rizal

Meat Asado for Jose Rizal

Another scrumptious recipe from our favourite GMAnetwork channel television.  The recipe below is apparently for Jose Rizal.

Jose_rizal_01

José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896)

Probably not really for him as he has been dead for more than a century. He was executed by the orders of Spaniards at Bagumbayan (always be known to be as Luneta or Luneta Park, which is now known as Rizal Park) more than a century ago for alledged inciting Filipinos to take up arms against the Spaniard, who had colonised the Philippines for 333 years.

Filipinos honour Rizal for his many accomplishments, his intelligence, his novels, his arts, his knowledge, his medical background and most especially for inspiring common Filipinos who had been downtrodden and enslaved by the Spaniards.

Rizal has a an exhaustive written materials that includes his two novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Filibuster) which so inspired the likes of Andres Bonifacio (Jury is still out, whether he should really be the National Hero and not Rizal) that he founded KKK (Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangan Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan – my rough tanslation being: Highest, Most Honoured Organisation of the Children of the Nation, LOL).

karnengasada-inside33

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 3-inch cubes

2 tablespoons lemon juice (or calamansi juice)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 large potatoes, sliced into French fries

2 large onions, sliced in rings

1 tablespoon spring onions, chopped

3 tablespoons oil cooking oil for deep-frying

PROCEDURE:

Marinate the beef in calamansi juice, soy sauce, Japanese soy sauce, salt and pepper for 30 minutes.

Heat oil, sear the beef on both sides.

Simmer the marinade and the beef until tender.

On another pan, deep fry the potatoes until crisp.

Fry onions for a minute.

Place the cooked beef on a plate and arrange potatoes on top together with the onion rings.

Sprinkle with spring onions.

– See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/shows/idolsakusina/articles/2014-06-09/10649/Recipe-Karneng-Asada-para-kay-Jose-Rizal#sthash.hKt2SPYn.dpuf

Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) – Jose P Rizal

Ampalaya 064

I read this book in high-school as part of the school curriculum. I seemed to have forgotten most of the plot but I remember it was very good. 🙂

I saw this book still prominently displayed at the National Bookstore in Manila last year and I thought I buy it and reread it once again and perhaps get a better perspective of what the story was about after all it does need a bit of special attention, it being one of the books that propelled and inspired Filipino ancestors from the 18th/19th century to take up arms and fight for independence against the 333 years of Spanish tyrannical colonisation of the Philippines.

This Noli Me Tangere version is in Tagalog. I must admit, having gotten used to thinking, speaking, watching and reading English all the time, this version  takes getting used to reading pure Tagalog once again. And this Tagalog version is the old fashion kind. As I said it takes getting used to it again. I kept stopping almost in every sentence to admire and mentally practise saying words that have become archaic in my everyday vocabulary. It is a nice feeling going over each word.

I think it was Jose Rizal himself who said:

Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay daig pa ang malansang isda.

The english literal tanslation is “Those who do not love their own language are worse than rotten fish!

No Siree I do not really want to be one of those rotten fish! LOL