Lewd Conduct

I was appalled to hear from the six o'clock news another politician falling from grace. It was that of Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York congressman, being exposed of his sending lewd photos of himself over the internet.

I'm thinking this news would be a break from the ones I constantly hear on Arnold Schwarzenegger just because it is similar in nature. Now, there's something else to talk about especially for entertainment news and TMZ.

Men from high and low places are all weak to the flesh but those who are in high position seems to be vulnerable. They have no excuse, they are supposed to act decent and ethical at all times. Our leaders mst be moral and honorable. People look up to them. And not only that, they are under a watchful eye.

The media are always watching. If politicians are caught doing something lascivious during their moment of weakness, then their woes would have begun. The media would be there to devour them. They are always hungry for something to report, to analyze, and to talk about. And they are unforgiveable.

Insane Amount of Money

Watching the news, sometimes I cringe how some people make insane amount of money.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in meritocracy. This country benefits those who, by hard work, brilliance, charm, or accident, were able to rise economically. That, despite the financial gloom in America.

I heard of a singer-reality star turned entrepreneur who has built a billion-dollar empire out of a fashion label. I heard of a free-agent baseball player who just signed on a 142 million-dollar contract for one year (he would be paid $115,000 for every game he plays next year). I heard of the social networking site founder, someone who is considered the wealthiest of the wealthy, going into philanthropic work.

I ask God every night that this kind of luck would rain on me one day. And I believe that if I do pray hard, he would. Really. There is nothing that I could lose. I just have to get ready. And right now, I'm already bracing myself.

Showtime is My Time

I have been watching TV again for the past month. I am into my second novel but somehow, I have this great writer's block that keeps me away from it. I can't just walk into the scene so I need brain stimulation. Aside from reading, I found watching TV as equally stimulating.

As I already informed you, I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I basically own all of my hours. My youngest (the reason I became home-bound) is now three years old and she sleeps really late--about 1:00 AM--so she sleeps through noon. I know, I know, it's not good. I have to correct her sleeping habit. More so because she's going to school next year.

But as I'm saying, I have all my hours so what I do first thing in the morning is to watch a movie on Showtime. I like the movies on Showtime because they are light drama, not really high-budgeted films, but have interesting plots. The movies there could be vulgar, too, but that's because they mostly show restricted ones. I try not to watch Showtime when my 13-year old daughter is around.

So, my hubby is at work, my teenager is at school, and my little one is sleeping: it's my Showtime.

I can't believe

It has been that long since I posted here. A year ago? Time flies. I haven't been watching TV now as I did before. The year actually passed me by. The new prospect for me was to write a novel.

The good thing is, I finished my book just on the deadline. Severed Wingsis now available on Kindle (I'm sorry for the blatant promotion.) But I did write the novel and sacrificed the hours that I would otherwise be spending on watching TV.

I'm no longer a TVMomma. I have another title now. What about, novelist? Please check it out.

Too Tight

Lara Spencer of The Insider is really attractive. What I don't like about her is the way she dresses. Her clothes are too tight and all through out the show she has to really pull herself up -- I mean stand and sit erect -- with effort. All this while maintaining a smile. I think she would look natural if her clothes are at least one size bigger than they put on her.

Tori Spelling

On Bravo's A-List Awards, I saw Tori Spelling accept her award for the best authobiography for her book, sTori Telling.

In Tori's speech, she spoke of people who did not believe in her. She talked of a comedienne who makes fun of her appearance and bloggers who calls her ugly.

All I can say is, it's really hard to be in her shoes.

I've been called ugly. By my siblings, a colleague, a boyfriend, and even my own mother (I resolved not to do that with my daughters). I know they all meant it. Of course, I felt bad about it but I grew it all up. I meant as I get older, the words didn't matter anymore.

What I realize is that just like the people who have called me ugly (or who will), I am a work of God. I am perfect in His eyes. I'm here for a reason and God couldn't be wrong.

Being in a Gay Relation

Sometime ago, I watched a documentary about transvestites, I think on a British channel. This one was about women who are involved with transvestites -- either as a boyfriend or a husband. There was a part of the show when during a drag party, the guy (who was the transvestite) proposed to his girlfriend (an honest-to-goodness woman).

Women in this situation, I guess, are capable of handling it because their partners can draw the line between being a guy and a gay. The girl said that after they went out with her boyfriend dressing up as a woman, they could go out again and this time, he would act like a real man. She does not feel he is gay in any way during the moments when he is supposed to be straight. And that works for both of them.

This documentary leads me questioning myself if I would allow myself to be in this situation. And here's how I see it:

I believe that love is a decision. But I also believe that there are some kinds of love that are greater than any decision that you may think is smarter. When that happens, you are helpless but to follow your heart. Life is not perfect and so are the elements that make it up, including the relationships that we will find ourselves in.

If this has to happen to me in the future, I will be like those women. The heart of the matter here is acceptance and I guess I have the needed serenity to open my door.

My Take on Nadya

I was not really interested with Nadya Suleyman but I can't seem to avoid her. I watched Dr. Phil's show on Nadya three times. And more from The Insider.

I'm really glad Nadya didn't go with Angels in Waiting. I watched the Dr. Phil show where the Nadya was there and the ladies at Angels in Waiting were there, too. They were all old ladies past the age of child-bearing so they would never be in Nadya's position.

If I was Nadya, I would be very uncomfortable to work with them. If I have to be a mother under the scrutiny of a group that supports me, then that would hinder me from functioning as a good mother. Because I would be dependent of their support, I would be careful not to turn them down and would have to follow whatever they say and not act on my own intuition as a mother. If I have to mother my children, under a watchful eye and a threat that my babies will be taken from me, then that would stress me out and would affect my motherly duties.

Nadya has accepted donations for her babies and raised money from the media. I would say maybe she intentionally did go to the media so she would have money to pay for their needs. In a country where people favors reality shows on big families, i.e., Jon and Kate Plus 8 and the 18 Children and Counting, maybe doing what she did was not really a bad move.

Always a White Man

Before, I was addicted to Without A Trace. I watched the reruns everyday, at noontime. And when they changed it to 1 PM, I watched it everyday, at 1 PM.

Then I got tired of it.

Now looking back and thinking of all the episodes I watched, I have arrived to the conclusion that it is a "safe" show. It is a show that is based on what is happening to society. An FBI department that really exists. They are not true stories but they are supposed to be realistic.

The writers and producers are making a story on missing persons and they are very careful with the plot. The people behind the show are walking in a straight line and not taking the risk to step out of the line.

I'm talking of the culprit, the criminal, the predator, the antagonist. It's always a white man. They made plots of black and asian people as suspects -- but in the end, they were not the enemies. It's always the white people.

But what is really happening out there? Sinners can be anyone regardless of their skin color. It's okay to have a black person to be the culprit sometimes. No discrimination, just a story. And I definitely think it's okay.

What I'm saying here is that to have a good show, be neutral, balanced, unbiased, and show us black and white. That includes Asians, too.

Bizarre Food in China

Andrew Zimmerman's Bizarre Food episode on China made my mouth water. I know some of the food he featured were gross like insects and animal's penises but there are food that are really yummy, especially the street food in Beijing. Makes me want to pack my bags and go to China.

I always watch Zimmerman's show on the Travel Channel. Actually it is the only show I regularly watch over the Travel Channel. It is very interesting, it is very educational. The show introduces cuisine of different nations (and even some parts of the United States) to America. Food is very much a part of culture and it plays the most significant part of who we are.

Actually, basic Anthropology would say that nothing is bizarre when it comes to culture. Civilization is defined by each civilization and the gauge people use to measure what is civilized or not and what is barbaric or not is dependent on their culture. That being said, no culture is on top of the other.

Bizarre or not, Bizarre Food by Andrew Zimmerman gives a special twist to what is yummy or delicious. It takes a strong stomach to eat what you don't grew up on. And it takes a very broad mind to appreciate it.

Bravo TV Shows

Ever since we subscribed to high definition channels January of 2008, I had missed watching my favorite shows on Bravo and that's because it was not on HD. I just like watching the sharper pictures on HD and the non-HD channels turn me off.

Anyway, a couple of months ago, Bravo went HD so this last few days I have been watching marathons of Bravo shows that I really like, namely Top Chef, Project Runway, and Real Housewives of Orange County.

Speaking of Real Housewives, I don't watch the housewives of New York and Atlanta. I guess I don't have the enthusiasm to know these women. Too many of them to know. But maybe some day I would.

There are other shows on Bravo that I like, like Flipping Out. I wonder if there would be new episodes or a new season though.

Jonestown

The other night, I watched CNN Presents Escape from Jonestown. Even if the tragedy happened thirty years ago I shivered with all the details recounted and retold in the show. The images were disturbing, the story was haunting. I went to bed with Jonestown in my mind. Glad it was not in my dreams.

I was thinking of this man, Jim Jones, who was naturally gifted to have such charisma to attract followers of that magnitutde. I know most politicians possess such charisma. That inclination to influence others, to inspire, and to persuade. Some people with that gift use it for good, some use if for evil. Jim Jones used it to build a cult and what a tragic way it ended was more of like a success to him.

I looked at my own daughter and thought of the three hundred children who were killed at Jonestown. Their mothers were blinded by their faith that they killed their own children. And then I thought of the year 1978, I thought could be one of those children. If by some twist of fate, I could have been part of Jonestown.

I want to erase the image of Jonestown in my mind. And somehow, I even wish I did not see the show at all.

Degrassi

Last year, I happened to watch a marathon of Degrassi, a teenage series on the theN channel. I think I came across Degrassi because the children's programming in one channel that I was watching with my baby was over and the teenage programming came next.

Degrassi was relatively unknown to me but it was interesting. With a plot that went to unpredictable direction. Imagine a high school student who was president of the student council getting pregnant and didn't know, for the life of her, how to buy a pregnancy test without risking curiosity and judgment from the sales clerk. Imagine seeing that in Hannah Montana or Zoey 101? Of course not. Hannah Montana and Zoey are in wholesome teenage shows. Nope, pregnancy not allowed in the plot.

This weekened, I watched a bit of Degrassi again and came to know that "Degrassi" is a name of a fictitious high school and the setting and production is in Canada. No wonder. That's why it is on a not-so-popular channel.

Now, the student council president is not a girl but a gay. And in own his bloodletting campaign, he was told that he could not donate his blood because he had a sexual intercourse with a male, who happened to be his boyfriend. He was outraged.

In another situation, a male teacher is having a relationship with his student.

All in all, I would say that Degrassi is a one of a kind teenage show not the cutie-cutie ones where all the good morals are in place. It is not the kind of show geared at commercialism, to create a brand for clothing and accessories. Degrassi is a radical show, a very brave one at that, showing societal issues at its uncloaked state with teenagers acting out the cliche -- what the world has come to.

What Not to Wear

On very rare occasions, I watch What Not to Wear. For me, the show is boring but it does get better in the end. It is an hour long show of makeover, self-improvement, and fashion. But sometimes, I wonder if the hosts are credible enough to dress up someone the right way.

As I said, it gets better in the end. I like seeing the transformation. I like it when I see women gain self-confidence and feel good about themselves by the end of the show. Another lost soul rescured; another success story.

As I don't watch it enough, I wonder if What Not to Wear also have men as subjects. Surely, it's not only women who need to be directed to the right direction, as one of the hosts would put it. I honestly don't remember the names of the hosts and don't see the reason to find out.

The funny thing is, I wouldn't mind being in the show what with $5,000 to splurge on a new wardrobe.

Robbing the Graveyard

I heard from the local news that burial grounds are now the subject of burglary. About $42,000 in value. Some people were stealing the flower vases, which are made of brass and costs in the neighborhood of $500.00. In another park, another theft was reported: the urns were missing.

From where I came from, the cemeteries are in no way a place where you could imagine to do immoral act. Cemeteries are spooky places where ghosts live. It's a place where you don't want to be, especially at night. If you are wicked, then, the unseen dwellers in the graveyard are more wicked than you are. Even if a graveyard is a place for the dead, it is very much alive, with the power of the supernatural that can hurt you, haunt you, and scare you to death.

But here and now, cemeteries are what they are: memorial parks. A park where you can stroll by, linger, visit without fear, and yes, steal from the dead.

Lifetime HD

I was glad to see that there is already a Lifetime channel on High Definition. Since purchasing a new TV set earlier this year, I have not watched my favorite channels which have no HD counterpart. I used to watch Project Runway on Bravo, Dr. 90210 on Channel E, and yes, movies on Lifetime. But the screen was blurry and unappealing so I end up watching TNT, TLC, A&E, HGTV, and the Food Network instead -- just because they are on HD.

Recently, there was a mail from the cable company saying there will be 100 channels of HD in 2009 and they are proud to say that they are all free (at no additional cost). Duh. Isn't that an obligatory part on them since television is all getting digital anyway?

The Lifetime channel on HD is a good thing. I guess more tv, more blog.

Tatum

Tatum O'Neal told Oprah she was never not famous -- or words to that effect. Oprah, in her show, asked Tatum if it was more difficult to her being a drug addict being famous rathen than when she was not famous. Tatum told her she would never know because she has always been famous.

As a child star, Tatum got lost in the frenzy of Hollywood. She gained fame at such a tender age when she had never yet lived enough of an ordinary life. She had an unhappy childhood. Growing up, many aspiring actors her age were just trying to climb up the Hollywood ladder and she was already on her way down -- she had seen it, done it, and won it even.

Child stars have their stories to tell, like Drew Barrymore who also got lost in her teens. But the thing is, coping, learning, surviving, and standing tall from what mess show business brought on them, all comes to what they are as a person and not the fame.

Jessica Simpson Going Country

I heard from a primetime entertainment news that Jessica Simpson is going country. Well, that's not surprising. The money is in country music.

Country singers like Carrie Underwood have smashing success because their fans buy their CDs in stores. Pop song enthusiasts download music from the internet, mostly for free.

Another singer, Jewell, has changed her genre to country music. I think like Jessica, she made a good career choice. Both of them already have a strong fan base from pop music and whatever following they will have in country music will just add up to their overall number of fans.

Crime Does Not Pay

In watching Cold Case Files last Saturday on A&E, I was remined of another similar case on American Justice, also on A&E, I watch some time ago.

Both stories were of the same plot. A person somehow got away with murder but the remains of the crime showed after more than 30 years. The investigators track the the person down, made a visit to his house, and questioned him. Before even going further, within 24 hours, the criminal committed suicide. Case closed.

It's like that person has been been waiting for that discovery to happen. Like it's a monster looming over his shoulder ready to attack at anytime. The discovery is the end of the saga of his long-buried secret. And his conscience has not made his life better by his escape. Living with guilt and on the edge is not the way to live at all. It's your punishment on Earth.

Movies on TV

With all the channels available, sometimes, it's a lot better to watch movies on TV. It's just that we have so many replays going on -- from detective series to children's programs. I'm not in the habit of watching episodes twice. Only if I missed a part of an episode that I would want to see it for the second time but that is very few and far in between.

Two nights ago, we watched the Titanic on TV, a movie I've seen about five times or more in its entirety. I realized that I watched the Titanic more on its second half. The first half I have no strong recall of. Titanic is a classic, maybe that's why I don't mind watching it over again.

Which gets me thinking: maybe most TV shows are not worth watching the second time around and that's why I don't.