Scribbling Neurons

Dream it. Draft it. Do it.

Year: 2011

  • How to Talk Right

    Is there really a right way of talking? Can we actually know how to listen and respond accurately? Is there a hope our conversations won’t end up frustratingly empty, banal, or worse yet, useless? Paul Grice proposed four maxims by which we can gauge conversations. Before you frown or get cynical, give his maxims a…

  • A Love Statement

    It’s Valentine’s Day so everyone catches the love fever. Being a reluctant romantic, Shakespeare’s sonnets often make me smile. Though I resolved not to show affections solely on V-day, I’m not cynical about the idea of making a season for love (It’s a day it’s fine to be corny). Ergo, I’m making a love statement: Love is a steady stream, not…

  • Megan Reeves Shares the Girl Code

    You’ll instantly recognize smart eyes when you see them. Playing as the tough, witty and charming FBI agent working as psychological profiler in Numb3rs, Diane Farr (aka Megan Reeves) snatched and held my attention pretty longer than brainy Amita (Charlie‘s love interest). Finding out Megan Reeves’ real-life character didn’t come as a surprise. She’s the chic that has…

  • CLOSED (SARADO PO)

    Walang Pilipinong magpapasalamat kapag nabasa ang Tagalog na saling-wika ng CLOSED (SARADO PO) sa desk ng teller sa Etisalat Network outlet sa Deira City Center Mall. Hindi ko mawari kung dulot lang ba ng pagod ko, dahil lagpas alas-9 na nang dumaan ako para magbayad ng internet, kaya nag-init ang ulo, namula ang mga pisngi, at…

  • Meet Mr. Word Star!

    What makes one a star? Florists hinted me I must be one. ASTER (a flower shaped like star) is my birthmonth flower. Yet lately, I learned that “ASTER” doesn’t always do one any good, like dis-ASTER. Image Courtesy of goodreads.com “Dis” means “against” and “ASTER” is a Greek word for “star”. People in the ancient times…

  • Aawitan Kita sa Disyerto

    What’s the best way to beat the chilly, hilly and lonely desert Safari? Some Pinoys, who had the mind and heart for real fun, thought a live band would be the best answer. Joined by Filipinos and some non-Filipinos of motley backgrounds, this sing-along by the bonfire never ceased till dawn in the midst of…

  • The Art of Splitting

    Don’t we all just split infinitives without giving it a thought? To unconscionably cut a relationship is NOT an artful way of ending it. To subtly break someone’s heart requires some skill, style — and a bit of courage- especially when the reason behind it is a new-found flame. The same is true for splitting…

  • Our Brown Envelops

    “Who would you be 10 years from now?” was the theme of our Values Education writing activity under Mrs. Bernardino (III-Rizal) sometime in 2001. Of course life-altering questions could only be brought up by Values Education teachers back then. To be honest, I forgot what I wrote and hid in that brown envelop yet Madeline Piloton…

  • Not by Ear, but by Sight

    If pronunciation teaching is aimed at achieving native-like proficiency, it’s a futile business. However if reasonable intelligibility is the target in pronunciation instruction, it’s a fruitful, promising quest. The problem now is: how do we gauge reasonable intelligibility? There’s an interesting factor known as the interlocutor’s familiarity and attitudes towards the speaker that has to be considered. Do the…