Jessica Zafra's Blog, page 343

They start early, don't they? (updated with a statement from the UP MassComm graduation committee)

Fabia alerted me to this item in the Lowdown column in the Manila Standard. Some students belonging to this year's graduating class of the University of the Philippines' College of Mass Communications have hit upon a novel idea to make some money, get free stuff and subsidize their numerous parties. The students in charge of [...]

They start early, don't they?

Fabia alerted me to this item in the Lowdown column in the Manila Standard. Some students belonging to this year's graduating class of the University of the Philippines' College of Mass Communications have hit upon a novel idea to make some money, get free stuff and subsidize their numerous parties. The students in charge of [...]

Brits: Still disappointed. Murray: Still Scottish. Fred Perry: Still the last British slam winner.

Djoker just did everything right. Photo from the Guardian. Player trying not to be a one-slam wonder defeats player trying to be first Brit in 75 years to win a slam. Novak Djokovic (easily) defeats Andy Murray 6-4 6-2 6-3 to win his second slam. His first was also at Melbourne three years ago.

Rapunzel in 5-7-5

Rapunzel—there's another disturbing fairy tale. A hidden tower with no stairs, the only access a high window that you could reach by grabbing onto the heroine's hair?? Tangled, the new Disney musical retelling of Rapunzel, avoids the unanswerable questions (How does she shampoo? Won't her neck snap when someone rappels with her hair?) in favor [...]

Monocle looks at OFWs

There's an article about Overseas Foreign Workers and the Philippine economy in the February 2011 issue of Monocle. Lots of pictures, and it presents the Filipino worker's skills in a good light. Since the 1970s, the Philippine government has offered training to Filipinos wanting to work on oil tankers belonging to Danes and Norwegians, construction [...]

On the bright side, you're getting killed by Jason Statham.

View the slideshow: The Sixteen Worst Ways To Be Killed by Jason Statham 5. The Technical Suicide. Statham hacks off your hand, then uses your own severed hand, which is holding your own gun, to shoot you in the head. (Crank)

Nabokov was right about butterflies

Vladimir Nabokov may be known to most people as the author of classic novels like "Lolita" and "Pale Fire." But even as he was writing those books, Nabokov had a parallel existence as a self-taught expert on butterflies… Read Nonfiction: Nabokov Theory on Butterfly Evolution Is Vindicated in NYT.

Ask Jon #6: Decoding dirty stupid guy/girl tricks

Our straight guy columnist Jon Morales returns from a longish hiatus. Here is his answer to an anxious reader. Dear Jon, Every time we have a disagreement my girlfriend threatens to break up with me. I don't want that to happen so I always end up giving in. But we have been together for three [...]

Roger and out.

Djokovic def. Federer 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 6-4. I don't know how Djokovic beat Federer in their Australian Open semifinal. Sportswriters will write thousands of words analyzing the match to gloss over the fact that they don't know either. Viewers can watch the replays from all angles but they won't know either. Only The Fed and [...]

Spot The Evil Twin # 1

Welcome to our new regular feature, Spot The Evil Twin. We figured that since our resident googler Brewhuh spends so much time online, we would exploit her search talents for this one. Our first STET: Actor Colin Farrell, now starring in Peter Weir's The Way Back, and Gareth Holgate of the Philippine rugby team. Brewhuh: [...]