Prudence and Madness

Another game in the horizon for EA Maxis, Spore, a massive online multi-genre game, is set to be launched on September 5 in Europe and on September 7 in North America and Asia-Pacific.

Some call it a god game; others simply cannot categorize it in a single game genre.  In the game, the player is allowed to design his own creature, starting from a microorganism and then nurturing it until it developed into a complex, social animal enabled to have intelligent mastery of the objects surrounding it and interacting with alien species across the hundreds of galaxies.  It is perhaps similar to the Sims 2 but is online and wider in scope.  Gameplay possibilities are enormous as one could concentrate on developing a single creature or a whole new civilization.  And while it is a single player game, one’s creatures and civilizations are automatically shared with other players, and thus the endless source of different gameplay.

Here are screenshots of the game, from the official site of Spore:

Cell Stage

Creature stage
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I want to go somewhere far, far away, even for just a few days.  To detox.  To be with myself.  To think of nobody else but myself.

I’ll be packing light.  Bring the laptop and the camera, and the cellphone (which I’ll put in silent mode all throughout my hibernation).  Then maybe a shirt or two, pants, several pieces of underwear.  And some noodle packs, so I won’t need to spend too much on food.  I’d miss my hamsters so, I guess, I might just have to bring them with me to my hibernation, since they don’t really disturb me much (actually, they uplift me whenever I feel so down or so irritated with something or someone).  And yes, a book or two would be good…

Wait, did I say I’ll be packing light? 

Never mind that.  In my hibernation, I want to check in an inn or apartelle.  No, I’m not planning to go sight-seeing, so perhaps the biggest part of my expenses will go to my hibernation place.  Enough amenities that I’ll need not to go out of the room for a length of time.  Nothing really plush, just complete enough that I’ll feel I’m not depriving myself of anything except human company.

I just want to be alone for a while.  I’d like to be able to stretch time so it’ll go slowly for me, letting me think of random and nonrandom things, reflect, meditate, dream, and possibly, engage in mental warfare with myself.  I’ll write poetry or stories, sing to myself, laugh out loud and stare at myself on the mirror.

But why be alone?

I think it would do anyone good if they’ll give themselves time to be alone for sometime.  For myself, I’ve been surrounded with people almost all the time, with patients (both the wonderful and the annoying) during the daytime and with parents (both wonderful and annoying) at nighttime, except when I lock myself up inside my room to surf the net/plurk/bloghop or when I’m about to sleep.  It’s nice to be able to connect with different people and feel that I’m doing something productive or important for somebody else.  But I feel that I don’t really have the time for myself, to do what I want to do, or to simply do nothing.  Often I wish that I’ve got more than 24 hours each day, so I could accomplish more things and have time for the seemingly unnecessary or mundane activities that I feel are important to me and which enrich me.

All of these I’ve played out in my mind and it felt wonderful.  Now, how to make it a reality.  When am I even allowed to go leave and not be bothered by other people?

I don’t know.

For now, I may just have to content myself with mental hibernation and hoping soon, I’ll be able to be physically hibernating too.

And to be more accurate, this post is already 9 days late. But it’s better…(and no, I’m not going to say “better late than never”). Just because. Haha.

The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008 Awards night was held at the Legend Villas last August 11. I was glad that there was a change of venue (it was previously slated to be held somewhere in Ortigas, I think) because the Legend Villas is more accessible for me (it’s near Forum Robinson’s at Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong).

Let me share first some photos from the event:

For those who’re wondering why I don’t have a pic during the event, I’m sorry but I wasn’t in the mood taking photos of myself because 1) It was a bad hair day (or night); 2) I came from 30-hours of hospital duty and I don’t want to parade my eyebags. ‘Nuff said. Or maybe you could just check out other people’s photo sets…

But, of course, you’re more interested to know who the winners are, and not with how I whine about my eyebags and lack of sleep. Here you go:

The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008:

Manila Foodistas
Filipino Voices
Visit Sagada
Missing Carlo
Mar Roxas for President in 2010 blog
You Got Tech
The Not so Talented DJ Montano
Davao Delicious and Music Picks
Bariles Republic and Fritzified
Bloggers Da Who

I must congratulate everyone who won (though it’s no secret that I’m a bit disappointed that one blog made it to the top 10, simply because I didn’t honestly think it’s appropriately influential). However, these are the honest results of the voting that was used to assess which blogs are the most influential. Each of the slots in the top 10 was won fair and square.

But then, hey, every blog competition/event has its share of controversies.

Also, congratulations to those who won $100 each:

Siraniko
Jacob
Jojo
Adette
Sedna16
Gilda
Micamyx
Andrew
Dianne
Ederic

It was said that collaborative blogs is the trend of Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008. Hmmm…what would be the trend for next year? I think I’ve got long time to figure it out so I could create a blog that will perhaps qualify for next year! Hehe.

Again, congratulation to everyone who are in the top 10 and to everyone who had been nominated!