The Construct

This Jason Ivler thing is just plain messed up. The whole psychology of road rage is actually complex (I know some pretty calm people turn to monsters behind the wheel) so people murdering just because some unwanted two-lane tango isn’t really news.

Thing is, Ivler has allegedly been involved in several cases of road rage which resulted in people dying. And the report on how he was apprehended, who did he think he is? Rambo? We’ve probably all got messed up childhoods but this guy’s really something.

The situation just reflects the many ills of our society. Upbringing. Road courtesy. Gun control. The growing sense of invincibility of the upper class.

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When did they begin considering classified ads as breaking news? So this is of national importance?

Quick! A finance management position needs to be filled! The nation’s economy will collapse if this doesn’t get filled!

It would’ve been a lot more interesting if its an ad for an honest politician.

I have to admit that this is actually the first time I am giving the whole NBN scandal more than twenty or thirty minutes (in a whole seamless chunk) of thought. I really can’t take the migraine that thinking about corruption in Philippine politics gives me. However, I won’t really say that I am apathetic towards the issue. I read my news streams everyday and watch clips about the whole senate hearing over at YouTube. Educating oneself is always the first things to do when it comes to these things.

If asked about my opinion, I share the sentiments of thousand of others seeking truth to this matter. I do believe that the president should meet these charges head on. While not officially a member of the University Council of UP Diliman (junior faculty aren’t), I would say, I’d be in solidarity with what my senior colleagues have agreed upon. Here’s the official statement of the Council.

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For the past few days now, there’s at least one road mishap along Commonwealth Avenue. Since I live in the area, there’s no way to get to other places if not through Commonwealth. And since I drive down that road, I do get scared at times.

We might just have to thank Bayani Fernando with all the rotonda schemes he has put into place. Not only do a lot of motorists get their grim end smashing against those invisible barricades but that also meant there are no pile-ups or choke points. The only time I ever get to slow down is when I have to take those scary U-turn slots or when it’s 7AM at the Tandang Sora flyover. Speed junkies would probably like the idea but since you share the road with a thousand other drives with no idea of defensive driving, it’s like playing Russian roulette with five bullets in a six-shooter.

And what’s more irritating would be seeing banners of the president proclaiming that they’re making roads safer (at least I don’t see those banners now). There’s even this one billboard somewhere near Diliman school that says “Look up, young man! -God” (in black background and white text, no less) seems like a warning that if you avert your eyes from the road, God’s going to take you. It’s really crazy since you have the billboard does make you avert your eyes. Then you slam into a jeepney or bus or probably some crazy pedestrian who’s too lazy to use one of those pedestrian foot bridges.

I have to admit that the past week’s string of accidents has started to scare me a bit.

Author’s Note: I have to admit that the ideas I posted with my take on the blogging principalia is very rough and unpolished. Therefore, it might be problematic to give reactions to my messy mindmap. I caution bloggers who would want to explore the idea to not take every concept I throw in as parts of my final position on the matter. This is an exploration and a work in progress. Though I appreciate those who do take time to read and react.

There can be several ways on how you view the blogging principalia. One is to attribute blogging as an activity of the society’s elite. Another is to view influential bloggers as members of an elite group. And I believe that what the Pinoy blogosphere is more concerned with is the second view – that within the realm of Pinoy blogging, an elite group exists.

However, I tend to view things on three varying levels (using the CDA framework of Norman Fairclough): 1) the text, 2) the discourse practice, and 3) the socio-cultural context. With blogging, this particular framework may need to be adjusted to effectively interpret how all of these things interact with each other. I now consider the blog/s as text, blogging as the discourse practice (as a process of text production and consumption) and the Pinoy blogosphere as a possible socio-cultural context on one level and then a larger socio-cultural context that is the Philippine society. Thus, this concept of blogging principalia may necessitate a combination of the two views I mentioned above.

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