REVIEW: Source Code

Director: Duncan Jones
Lead Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal



The plot goes like this. Capt. Colter Stevens (acted by Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up to find himself in an unknown place. He is only able to communicate to others via a video feed. Later on, he finds himself being transported to the body of another man and relives the latter's last 8 minutes alive. His purpose, to find the bomb that caused the death of his "host" and a thousand more.

When I first saw this plot (of course, not the same wording), I was thrilled. I doubt I'd be able to compare Inception to any other recent movie, so I only thought about it being comparable to the interest the Vantage Point got from me.

But, lo and behold, I was speechless at the end of the movie. Why? The plot is so improbable! It's like a suspense thriller turned sci-fi turned fairy tale. If there's anything good to it, I'd say its the capacity of the film to keep the viewer from saying, "huh?" by adding more scenes that doesn't make sense.



Okay. Here's my concerns. First, the concept of source code itself. It's supposed to let the subject, which is the captain, live the last eight minutes of the life of the host, which is the dead guy. Now, the creator of the program reiterated that source code is like a clock, the events can only be visited, never altered. If that's the case, how can the captain see things the dead guy never did? Like the location of the bomb? And how come, when he says something else for each "return", the people around him react accordingly?

So then I told myself, hmmm... maybe they're dealing with alternate realities. Maybe source code can access alternate realities? There are still a lot of loopholes but at that point I can continue watching. But then, here comes a text message the captain sent from one of his "returns" to the person who walks him through the mission, saying that source code is able to alter reality. I'm like, WHAT? Is this scene from an alternate reality? Did the bombing cause the original reality to disappear?



And then, I see the captain and his love interest, walking safely from the train, without any injuries whatsoever. It's still the captain, but his reflection is that of the dead guy he constantly returns to. The ending shows that they'll leave happily ever after, but then the question is, what happened to the consciousness of the dead guy? Is this a fairy tale version of the body snatchers?

Geez, at the end of the film, I had too many questions that I ended up doing the most sensible thing--don't talk about it. Movies like this make me want to watch Inception again...

EVENT: Gmail Motion Day!

I was watching TV earlier when my brother excitedly ran down the stairs to tell me that Gmail now has a Gmail motion feature. Lo and behold, there it is!



According to Paul McDonald, Gmail's Product Manager, they've invented a new Gmail feature that allows users to utilize their computer's webcam to track their movements and respond to e-mails accordingly.

Responses include reply, reply to all, compose, send, and archive, among others. Messages can also be typed via movement, including common phrases like yes, no, i love you, how are you, and goodbye.




I mean, how cool is that! Using your own webcam as a motion detector that allows you to write your own e-mail! The guide for popular phrases can be found and printed here.



Of course, it can be as cool as it sounds. I wouldn't want to use my arms and legs and contort it to various positions just to be able to type "yes". LOL. That, and today being April 1, of course, =)

Personally, this is way way better than their previous trick of having my e-mails printed out and sent to my home address.

Way to go Google!

My Mid-Life Crisis Fears

In less than a month, I'll be welcoming my 26th year in the world and honestly, I'm not looking forward to it. My fear is that it's the start of my mid-life crisis, and I'm seriously not that happy with the way I handled my life.

I have lots of fears on my 26th birthday, and hopefully, I can cross off some of them before my 27th. =)

1.) FEAR OF GOING BACK TO GROUND-ZERO FAITH.

- I guess at this point, I've always been a mediocre when it comes to practicing my faith. I can still clearly remember when I was burning for God (that was seven years ago), and I can also remember when I started back sliding less than a year after. After that, I can't seem to find my leverage to stand up again, and I then started the pattern of being faithful before slipping down again. I've started to hate myself, but I know that it won't get me anywhere. So, I hope that with all the plans I've been making, I can finally find that anchor to lift me up from this mediocre state.

2.) FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD.

- I'm not planning on marrying any time soon. But I'm not getting any younger, and unfortunately, my Ob-Gyn has already spooked me by saying that women like me who suffer PCOS lose their chance of having a baby beyond 27. She even told my mother that I should get a boyfriend and get myself impregnated each year (I was 23 at the time) until I reach 27. Afterwards, I should just start using birth control pills, LOL. Anyway, I try not to think about it, but sometimes I just can't help but feel depressed. I certainly don't want to wake up childless at 30 and blame myself for not listening to my Ob-Gyn. Hopefully, once I get problem number 1 fixed, number 2 will go away by itself. =)


3.) FEAR OF BEING BROKE.

- LOL. Who doesn't, right? But really, I've been unemployed for about six months now and staying at home isn't too relaxing for me anymore. Fortunately I have freelance article writing gigs that help me stay afloat, but they're not full-time so the pay isn't regular in coming. Also, since there are a lot of distraction when you're all alone at home, I sometimes find myself putting off a task so I end up working weekends.

4.) FEAR OF A MEDIOCRE EMPLOYMENT.

- Well. I've been unemployed for a long time already and I'm afraid that I'm going to immediately accept any offer for a full-time position that comes my way without even thinking about it. And honestly, having 3 jobs in 4 years isn't a very good track record. Therefore, I hope the next full time job I get is in a place where I can grow career-wise and can make me stay there for more than 5 years.

5.) FEAR OF NOT GROWING.

- I've already wasted six months of my life being unemployed. I mean, in those six months I should have already finished a couple of books, or learned a new language, or learned a new skill. Instead, I've been procrastinating and spending my time looking for alternative freelance writing gigs, setting up numerous blogs that I don't even have time to update, and watching too much TV series.

6.) FEAR OF GROWING TOO BIG..LITERALLY.

- I know that as a person ages, his/her skin has less elasticity, so I'm basically afraid that I'll retain flabby arms and legs even if I'm successful in getting rid of internal fats. But, who am I to say that without trying first, right? :)

PIT STOP: Marikina Sports Center

ADDRESS: Sumulong Highway corner Shoe Avenue, Marikina City
PHONE: 682 9573
SCHEDULE: 24 x 7



Since deciding to cut off a lot of excess weight, I've been prowling a lot of available options--and ended at the the Marikina Sports Park. This huge facility houses a lot of training areas including an Olympic sized swimming pool, 15,000 seater grandstand, basketball court, covered gymnasium, badminton court, soccer field, baseball field, and sepak takraw courts.

The Marikina Sports Park also has a great schedule of being open 24 hours a day--except special holidays. The park also hosts group aerobic classes as well as jogging lessons, though I still need to research on the exact schedules for me to join. I think being with other people when working out is the best way to be motivated in exercising, and may also interest me in trying out other sports.



Although my main need for the Marikina Sports Park is to run around the oval, I'd like to try out the other amenities. Walking around the area a few weeks ago, I saw that the park has a gym with weight lifting machines--no treadmills, though. =)

According to my research, the Marikina Sports Park charges P10 for an entrance fee. Add another P10 and you can rent a locker you can put your things in. However, I also read that you'll need your own lock and key when renting a locker. =)

I haven't set out a definite schedule as to when I'll start running at the Marikina Sports Park, but I can't wait to start! ^__^/

The Pain of Losing Weight

I hit rock bottom on a trip from a weekend getaway at a friend's house. Aside from feeling tight when sitting beside someone in a public utility vehicle, I had to suffer from comments that I'm getting rounder and rounder each time they see me.

164 pounds. 74 kilograms. That's how much I weigh right now and the reason for what I think is an impeding onset of depression. A few years ago, roughly six years ago, I only weighed 125 pounds. That's roughly 6.5 pounds increase in my weight every year.

Here's a chart of my steady gain in weight for each year since 2005.


2005


2006


2007


2008


2009


2010


2011


I can still remember when I'm panicking going over 140 pounds. It's still clear in my mind when I started hitting 150. And now that I'm beyond the dreaded 160, I feel depressed, useless and hopeless, and frankly, it's really scary for me.

Being depressed over my weight isn't something that I expected to feel. I mean, some people who don't know the real deal about me say I should just cut on my eating habits, while those who do either tell me to exercise and make up an excuse for it.

As it is, I doubt if I can lose weight even by starving myself. About four years ago, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, a hormonal disorder that is common in women. My doctor gave me Metformin, a diabetis prescription to help relieve PCOS symptoms by helping the body absorb insulin. It may have worked, except the medicine is too potent for me that I ended up with gastritis. Hence, I was forced to quit the medication.

PCOS shouldn't be too bad, except that with it comes hypothyroidism, a problem in the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism and PCOS coupled together sort of blew my chances of losing weight. I would never forget when my doctor said that I can stop eating and I'd still blow up like a balloon. So much for chances, eh?

To keep PCOS from giving me ovarian cancer or making me ineligible to have a baby, I started taking birth control pills to force my body to menstruate by itself. Of course, we all know the stigma about birth control pills and their ability to get the user to gain weight due to water retention.

So now, I'm in the middle of the bridge. I'm hitting 26 in a month and my chances of losing weight are getting slimmer and slimmer by the minute. I think of cheating and buying weight loss pills, but I'm afraid of the side effects as well as burning my pockets with the cost.

With all the helplessness looming around me, I've decided that I'll do everything in my power to lose weight. I plan to lose 5 pounds for every two months while keeping myself healthy.

Through faith and perseverance, weight loss, here I come!