Long-form

Long-form blog posts and editorials. Topics cover both personal and the world at large. 

Live for the night - 10 things I think

10 THINGS I THINK

1. I can’t believe I lived to see the Golden State Warriors win an NBA championship. I honestly never thought I’d see it in my lifetime. It’s a wonderful time to be alive as a fan of sports in the Bay Area, what with the San Francisco Giants’ dynastic run, and now, this. I feel most happy for the legions of diehard Warrior fans that have stuck with the team through many decades of misery; the 2015 title is for you folks. I know the exact feeling back in 2010 when the Giants won the World Series for the first time in over 50 years.

2. This is not a drill: Square Enix will be remaking the beloved Final Fantasy VII game for the Playstation 4 system! After over a decade of constant wanting, anticipation, and many disappointments, I cannot believe this is finally happening. Towards the end of the reveal trailer at the Sony E3 press conference, faint tears were streaming from my bewildered eyes. That fact that Tetsuya Nomura is spearheading the remake as director, alongside much of the original team, makes the announcement that much better.

Now the wait truly begins. The game is being outsourced to another studio so I’ve hope that it will be out in time to celebrate the original game’s 20th anniversary in 2017.

3. Sony also showed The Last Guardian, and Shenmue 3 at its E3 press conference. I honestly felt like a kid again while watching the proceedings. This has been an E3 for the ages, one that Sony will quite literally have to hand out free PS4 systems in future shows in order to match 2015 for pure awesomeness.

4. I think Jon Stewart might be ruing his decision to leave The Daily Show, what with the smorgasbord of characters who are running for the Republican presidential ticket. Donald Trump has thrown his hat in, for god’s sake! The jokes will write themselves.

That said, I’m quite excited to see what new host Trevor Noah can do. I reckon he’ll be brilliant.

5. I’d no idea the Jurassic World movie would be such a huge deal. Can’t believe it beat the second Avengers’ opening weekend box office numbers! I’ve been antagonistic towards movie studios rebooting the crap out of all the classic movies, but I guess nostalgia really does sell - to the tune of a 200 million domestic weekend.

As for me, I’m not watching Jurassic World in theatres. I much rather give my money to originators and creators of new ideas and stories, which is why I absolutely adore Christopher Nolan.

6. John Oliver will have to regurgitate that Bud Light Lime he drank of Sepp Blatter does rescind on his resignation as FIFA president. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if old Sepp pulls off the switcheroo: a sizable contingent of federation countries is still in full support of him.

7. Congratulations to Porsche for winning first overall at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Beating Audi in LMP1 at that historic venue is no easy task, as Toyota and Peugeot can attest to. Guess I’ll have to wait a bit longer still for the first Japanese manufacturer since Mazda to win the legendary endurance race (the pace of the Nissan LMP1 effort was utterly disappointing.) Hope it happens when I’m actually there to witness the whole spectacle.

8. It seems Cristiano Ronaldo only scores for his country Portugal when it’s a non-World Cup type match. He is otherwise downright useless during the quadrennial world tournament.

9. I’m madly in love with coffee, but I seldom - if ever - drink it because its innate acidity doesn’t jive well with the linings of my stomach. Recently though, I found out the cold-brew method of making coffee, which lowers the acidity level by two-thirds. Suffice it to say, I was excited about the prospects of drinking coffee regularly again. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be: even cold-brewed coffee proves too acidic for my innards. Shame, I’ll just have to continue to drink tea.

10. I take great joy in seeing Pablo Sandoval struggling in Boston, while the Giants’ Matt Duffy continues to thrive at third base. Karma is real indeed. 

I can't stop saying bro, bro - 10 things I think

10 THINGS I THINK

1. Yesterday was an absolutely glorious day for automotive enthusiasts: Ford announced the much anticipated Focus RS all-wheel drive monster, Porsche announced the long-rumored and much pined-for Cayman GT4 purist masterpiece, and Ferrari announced the 488GTB, the successor to the critically acclaimed 458 Italia. 

The frequent murmurs of performances automobiles having already had its golden-era can finally be put to rest. My god it's a great time to be a petrol-head. 

2. Formula 1 kicked off the 2015 season with preseason testing in Jerez, and to be honest my interest for the 2015 campaign is not all that great. The formula hasn't really changed much from the previous season, so suffice to say, it'll be the two Mercedes works drivers battling for the championship. 

Still, it's infinitely better than just one guy winning everything.

3. It's still hard to fathom just why on earth did Seattle not run the ball at the closing moments of the Super Bowl. I and everybody thought for sure they were going to punch it in once they got down to the New England one-yard line. When you have arguably the most physical running-back in the game, it's monumentally inane to put the ball in the air and count on your mediocre-at-best receivers. Marshawn Lynch could've simply fell forward and would've gotten that single yard. 

And I'm far from being a fan of Seattle.

4. The media reports over the return of measles due to parents not vaccinating their children is incredibly maddening. I strongly believe parents should have the freedom to make decisions for their children, but when said decisions have negative effects towards the general population (or endangers the child), then governments have a civic duty to put a stop to it. 

Don't want to vaccinate your child? Fine; said child should not be allowed outside in public.

5. Word on the street is the San Francisco Giants will introduce yet another alternate jersey for the 2015 season. I so hope it's the all-black one from the early naughts, but I'm not holding my breath. My money is ready if and when you do, Giants. 

6. I really want make it to Le Mans 24 hours race within the next few years. The LMP1 class is getting very competitive and exciting indeed. Nissan's new front-engine, front-wheel drive LMP1 challenger is an absolute stunner considering all other LMP1 cars are mid-engine, rear driven. Innovative technology and engineering is why I love and watch motor racing so much. 

7. Missy Elliot was the lone bright spot in the Super Bowl half-time show, and she simply killed it. When the beat dropped to "Get UR Freak On", it was straight gully from then until she bowed out from the stage. Kids these days don't know nothing about that good music from the early naughts.

8. It'd be perfect if the _Celebrity Jeopardy _skit makes a return during SNL's 40th anniversary show on the 15th of this month. Will Ferrell is scheduled to appear, and Darrell Hammond is already the show's announcer; the timing is ripe. I simply need to have Hammond's Connery tell Ferrell's Trebek he'd just fornicated with his mother. 

9. The entitlement mentality most certainly isn't just a psychological disease exclusive to millennials. As I've recently encountered, people of all age brackets are afflicted with the progressive disorder. I simply cannot stand people who refuses to take any personal responsibility. 

10. That Carls Jr. super bowl advertisement featuring the gorgeous Charlotte McKinney is everything.