Punzi's Corner Blog

Increasing Wealth

How do you explain an increase in wealth of a government official who is not paid a competitive salary?

Is this answer correct?

Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde said the jump in Mrs. Arroyo’s assets in 2007 was just “natural” due to increasing value of real estate in the country.
“Let us not forget that the President’s husband came from an old rich family, which own large (tracts of) land and the value of real property is really increasing so we should not give malice to it, it’s just natural for her assets to grow,” he said. (from this link)

WRONG!

Any accountant will tell you that assets are recorded based on acquisition cost and not on market value. Acquisition costs cannot appreciate over time and any increase in market value of any asset is only recorded when such asset is sold at that value.

So I suggest you go back to your accountant for a better answer. I won't give you an unsolicited one.

An AI7 Fearless Forecast

Who doesn't know American Idol?

Personally, I've been following that show since Season 3, when Fantasia Barrino won. And I have been following that show intently (with a passion, and sometimes even in a detached scientific manner), since then.

During that season, I wanted Dianna DeGarmo to win, but Fantasia's brute force (or talent) made her a shoe-in to win. Turns out, a reject, Jennifer Hudson was the most successful in that batch.

During Season 4, I wanted Bo Bice to win, but he was set up with a final song that suits Carrie Underwood more than him.

During Season 5, I so wanted Katharine McPhee to win. An accomplished singer and with a beautiful image to boot, I don't know what happened and America chose Taylor Hicks. In time, that decision proved to be a bad one. I think Katharine is now on her way to a second album while Taylor bombed. He even had a free concert here at a local mall and I don't think that created much of a buzz. Daughtry is the most successful of that batch (the number 4 guy). And I think Taylor is the most unsuccessful Idol (or it could be a toss-up between him and Ruben Studdard.

During Season 6, I wanted Jordin Sparks to win. Of course, Blake Lewis was not fit to sing "This is my now," setting Jordin up for the win. I think she likewise did better that Taylor Hicks so far, even on her first year. This was the first time the one I wanted to win actually won.

How about Season 7?

After watching and reviewing the entire season re-aired in a marathon session last weekend, I have come up with this prediction:

They will set up David with a song that will suit David more, thereby enabling David to be the Season 7 American Idol.

Friday, I'm In Love

I'm still in my '80s nostalgia trip... pardon me.

I've recently rediscovered The Cure. Looking back at their body of work now, I've discovered that they're very, very good.

Here's a song I just discovered now. I did not know this song back then. But since it's The Cure, the style is very familiar to me.

Anyway, I hope you like it as much as I like it now.

Friday I'm In Love
The Cure

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Oh, Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...

I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love

Monday, you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday - watch the walls instead
It's Friday, I'm in love

Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...

Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday, I'm in love

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

The Night You Murdered Love

Ahhh, the '80s...

So many memories for me. Don't know if I love it or I hate it. But I love it for the most part.

Here's a quintessential (sorry for the big word) music video, showing the music and the trends at the time... The music is good. ABC is one of my favorites.

The Night You Murdered Love
ABC

It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
From an early age
I was taught to respect
That a broken heart girl
Ain't a thing you collect
Close your eyes and say
Nothing lasts a day
You're wasting my time
Yet I love to love you
Close your eyes and say
Honour love obey
You're wasting my time
Yet I love to love you
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
January... February... March and April May
June July sees you go by
I see love walk away
Didn't use a blade
A bullet or a gun
You poisoned the moonlight
When you put out the sun
Close your eyes and say
Nothing lasts a day
You're wasting my time
Yet I love to love you
Close your eyes and say
Honour love obey
You're wasting my time
Yet I love to love you
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
January... February... March and April May
June July sees you go by
I see love walk away
Close your eyes and say
Nothing lasts a day
You're wasting my time
Yet I love to love you
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love
It's cold outside - The night love died
On the night you murdered love

No Choir Tonight

My choir will not be singing tonight, as I just found out. And I was looking forward to this all week long. Apparently, the choir members (given their ages) will watch Neil Sedaka's concert tonight.

Anyway, that frees me up today to some other things. But I left something at the office and I may have to drop by a little later.

The festivities yesterday went very well, although it was limited to us just feating on Savory dishes.

I'll just wish everyone a good weekend.

Random Thoughts and Updates

It's my parent's 44th wedding anniversary today. They're planning to just spend it at home with their grandchildren (and us, of course) and just have something delivered, considering it's still a workday.

Wow! Forty-four years married... what a feat!

Because of this, I have to get home early so I filed a motion for teleconferencing on the lawyer's meeting this afternoon. The motion was denied because we will have a busy week next week, but I was promised the meeting will end early enough.

Apparently, our firm systems are working because I completely forgot I have a hearing this morning and the secretary reminded me yesterday.

Went to my Yamaha dealer yesterday for some updates on my flute. According to them, my flute is already here in the Philippines! Wooohoooo!

Apparently, my flute came with a big shipment of about 10 container vans and they have only gotten 2 released. So it will probably take another month before I get my new flute, but that's ok. I'm not in a hurry, anyway, because I'm still reeling from this month's expenses.

But it's just a matter of time before I will know if I have the chops to handle an upgraded flute (perhaps with the holes already open).

That's all for now. I'll probably post pictures later.

Sheer Power...

I remembered this clip from a good friend, who designed my custom blog theme (maybe it's time for me to ask him for a redesign... heheheheheh!), back when YouTube was still in its infancy.

The guy's a master at doing push-ups, as you will see here:

Pachelbel Rant

It turns out, not everyone loves "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.

Just ask Rob Paravonian:

Challenges

I know our small fledging firm is beset with a lot of challenges, as with all law firms of whatever size or prestige.

But I have to say, we're beginning to get our act together.

Clients are being served. And served well. Of course there are occasional hiccups but show me a firm that does not have them. Contrary to popular belief, lawyers are human, too, although some people (and some jokes) would like to think we are sub-human...

Firm systems, traditions and processes are now in place. We have weekly lawyer's meetings (on our litigation cases) and weekly partner's meetings (on other matters). More systems and traditions to come...

Most importantly, the people are coming together as a team. More than the systems and the services and the competence, the team effort and the human dynamics are the most important ingredients that would make or break this firm.

And I have to say, from given what I said and seen so far, this firm is going to do great things, meet all the challenges it will face and will do a lot of good.

And being there will be good for all of us. We're even going to Boracay for our firm outing. That was far from my mind a year ago.

For that, I, personally, am truly grateful.

Disgusting

The things people do...

My day started with not one, but two text messages with numbers that do not appear in my phonebook saying the exact same thing:

d2 ka reply or call nalang send ka load 150pesos importante sasabihen ko sayo last txt na e2

which roughly translates as:

Just reply or call here. Send 150 pesos load. I have something important to say to you but this is my last text credit.

What do you think of me? Born yesterday?

Had a slow day, but when I got home tonight, curiosity got the better of me and I saw "2 Girls 1 cup"... Utterly disgusting!

Then when I thought I saw the most disgusting thing I ever saw, I then watched "2 Girls 1 Finger"....

Just watching viewer reactions to the two videos should have warned me. Even Joe Rogan could not handle it, and he hosts Fear Factor...

I would not even link to these videos. If you're curious enough, don't say I did not want you...

Well, I hope my day tomorrow is less disgusting...

Away from the Net on Mother's Day

Sorry I could not post something yesterday.

Between the intermittent power and company in the house (my sister and my nieces) and my apparent need to rest (I slept all afternoon), there was no time to blog, except for one twitter post to greet mothers and single fathers like me for the occasion yesterday.

Anyway, we anticipated people flooding the malls yesterday so we decided just to order in food. And we wolfed down couple of pizzas, a couple of pasta servings and some potato dish from an emerging pizza place. The kids were particularly pleased.

Paid for Bea's trip to Boracay sometime this month. Nico and I will stay behind because of work and I really don't know if I can put in some vacation time.

Late though it may seem (though arguably, it's still Mother's Day in some parts of the world), I'll reiterate my greeting to all the mothers out there (including those I like to make a mother, but I digress) and also to all the single fathers out there (like Gabe and Ron, and whose numbers, I surmise, are increasing).

Happy Mother's Day. Even if that day is obviously contrived, you really deserve recognition all year long.