It’s Koosi’s birthday. And Drogon’s! Today he is The Oracle.
Koosi would’ve been 15 years old today. We miss her everyday, though we still see her in the corner of our eye, jumping from shelf to table and flaying the spines of books in the process. She picked Drogon as her successor, and since we don’t know the exact date he was born, we hereby designate 12 April as his birthday. (Our vet did say that he was about 18 months old in September last year.) So our annual ritual of divination continues.
Photo by RickyV
Happy Birthday, Drogon!
You may ask The Oracle questions about your future. Post them in Comments. Drogon will answer your questions all weekend.
I am two! Send more questions!
The oracle locket with Koosi’s kitten pictures
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
April 12th, 2014 at 01:27
Happy Birthday, Drogon! Have great years ahead of you! I just need to vent this out, and I need someone’s sound opinion so I guess you’d grace me with this.
I have just finished watching Citizen Kane and Vertigo – something I wanted to do for the longest time. While watching Citizen Kane I was convincing myself that it was good – though I could not point out why it was good other than thinking “yeah, I like the plot structure; oh, Hogwarts looks very Xanadu; I see now where Scorsese referenced Wolf of Wallstreet; yeah this is good”– so I read and watched reviews and learned of how it pioneered film-making techniques which are common nowadays. So I thought “yeah, whatever”. But I could not make myself move on so I made myself watch another film made in 1941 to convince myself that Citizen Kane was a masterpiece, and I chanced upon a screwball comedy film by Alfred Hitchcock called ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ which I totally enjoyed. With ‘Smith’ and Hitchcock (who at that point of Welles’ debut to directing was already a prolific director) as point of comparison, I thought maybe Welles and his collaborators were really good to have thought all that. So that made me think why then a subsequent Hitchcock film took Citizen Kane’s prime spot as the ‘Best Movie of All Time’. So I watched that film Vertigo. I admit I expected much from Vertigo. I was looking for “great shots” that were in Kane. I thought maybe the special effects were quite an accomplishment at that time so, yeah, it’s all good, but… And the story to me was just fine – or maybe I’ve just seen others in the genre much. I just got to like it after reading Roger Ebert’s review – I see Vertigo is like Hitchcock being vulnerable and self-critical. But yeah, between the two, I prefer Citizen Kane. So that’s it, maybe you could help out a film ignorant guy like me.
Drogon, will you ask the human for me – which does she prefer – Citizen Kane or Vertigo? What do critics and those who like Vertigo so much see that I don’t? Why is Vertigo “the best”?
April 12th, 2014 at 02:35
Drogon, Oh Mighty: who will I marry – Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, or Chris Pine? And will Game of Thrones ever have a movie?
April 12th, 2014 at 05:13
Do you think the guy I just met will be THE ONE?
Happy name day Drogon! And thank you Koosi for all the guidance and cuteness you have given me and the entire JZ readership through the years :)
April 12th, 2014 at 05:24
Felicitations, Saffy and Drogon!! Question for the Oracle(s): should we start taking Mandarin lessons in case China takes over The P.I.?
April 12th, 2014 at 07:16
Drogon the beautiful: will I be granted what i asked for during my court hearing on April 24 (sole legal and physical custody and some other changes to the current court order and permanent restraining order)?
April 12th, 2014 at 08:03
For weeks I’ve been dragging myself to work.
It pays the bills, yes, but I’m not happy anymore. About 2 weeks ago, I was this close to filing a resignation. And then I read on Facebook:
Don’t quit your job just because you’re not happy
Your bills don’t care if you’re not happy.
Should I quit or stay?
Happiness or Security?
April 12th, 2014 at 12:59
Ro: Hello! It’s my birthday! As your birthday present to me, I wish you to slap yourself several times, and then repeat.
It is commendable that you take the trouble to watch the films that critics and writers have decreed the greatest of all time, but that does not mean you have to agree with them. These lists are simply a guide to aid your viewing choices, you do not have to be their bitch. Clearly the makers of the list see something you do not see—perhaps because tastes differ, or because you do not have the perspective one can only acquire from seeing movies from the early days of Cinema.
The important thing is to keep an open mind. Do not dismiss a film sight unseen just because it got bad reviews, or because it is too popular and contains characters with superpowers. Each critic has her own agenda: figure out what this is, then make your own decision.
My human believes Citizen Kane is a work of genius and probably the greatest movie ever made, but she also laughs her head off at Elf. She adores Hitch like a weird great-uncle and has seen every one of his movies, of which her favorites are The Lady Vanishes and Vertigo. She is abnormally attached to Vertigo and recently had her annual viewing. You can find many of her articles about Vertigo on this site, as well as links to the essay on Vertigo by Chris Marker, whom she also loved, look him up.
Start with this:
http://www.jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2013/07/03/museums-in-the-movies-2/
Make that your mantra where Cinema is concerned: Look it up. There is a Search box on the right side of the page, use it. Now slap yourself again for not having thought of that. I am a cat and I know these things.
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 13:04
allancarreon: The answer is….
None of them! Hahahahahaha! Thunder and lightning effects, with jungle tom-toms, monkeys chattering and lions roaring.
These persons you mention exist in another dimension: Cinema. The versions of themselves in that dimension are different from the versions that exist in actual workaday life, so take comfort in the fact that You don’t really know them. Hahahaha! Thunder and lightning, etc.
And if you search for them in your daily life you will be grossly disappointed. So do not search; wait for them to appear.
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 13:10
allancarreon: Yes, there will probably be a Game of Thrones movie if George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is not completed before its final season wraps.
Given the pace at which GRRM works, it is highly likely.
The looming series deadline might actually benefit Martin. Time constraints may force him to write shorter, more succinct books. After A Storm of Swords, the books have been rather baggy and unwieldy. Very enjoyable still, but too loose.
I am Drogon the cat and it’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 13:18
greeneggsnham: Congratulations on meeting someone. Now grab the nearest hardcover book by George R.R. Martin and hit yourself on the head with it.
You are being unfair to the new person. You expect him to meet standards that were set long before you knew he existed. In doing so, you doom your relationship.
There is no One. There are many Ones. Allow them to be themselves.
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 13:22
redoctober: It is always useful to know other languages, but ask yourself what your intentions are. Do you mean to kiss their asses the minute they land?
Perhaps you need clarity. Put on a heavy boot. Now attempt to kick yourself on the head with it. This requires practice. One, two! One, two!
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 13:24
CaitlynsMomma: Koosi tells me this is an issue you have been bringing up before the Oracle for a few years.
Yes.
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 13:33
TheOrbiter: If you loathe your job so much that the thought of going to work everyday makes you want to throw yourself under an onrushing train, quit.
But you hesitate, so your need for security outweighs any loathing you may feel.
Perhaps what you need is a couple of days off to ponder What You Want. What kind of job would you be happy in? You don’t want to find another job so you can pay the bills, only to find that you hate it even more than this one. Until you know what you want, you will end up bouncing from one unsatisfactory employment to another.
“I don’t want to work” is not an answer. You are not a cat. I am a cat and it’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 18:01
Happy Birthday, Drogon! I like your name very much. Forgive me for asking two qurstions, Great Oracle, but I really have to know the answers. 1) How does one let go of so much anger and resentment? 2) What motivates a person to join a phony event called a “fun run”? Isn’t jogging a solitary thing to do? Why join a herd? Aren’t these people aware that they are nuisance on the road, specially in BGC every freaking weekend. Is it for The Cause? For Mother Earth? Dont they leave more carbon footprint and trash by joining such phony events? Will there come a time they realize to do the fun runs elsewhere like say a track oval or anywhere that’s not in Manila? Every time I see these organized joggers causing traffic I want to run over them hence it is important you answer the first question.
April 12th, 2014 at 20:52
Hi Drogon, happy Birthday.
Speaking of milestones, there are so many things marking their landmark anniversaries this year – Cobain’s 20th death anniversary, Britpop ( 20th), Karate Kid (30th). Locally, some notable things celebrating their milestones are Bagets (30th) and D’ Punks (30th). Do you think Pinoy cinephiles will give D’ Punks a proper anniversary tribute complete with film showing (with Daft Punk playing a DJ set, harhar)? Noted local showbiz geek, Butch Francisco called D’ Punks, the “most maligned local film of all time”. Everyone loves to make fun of that movie but I have yet to meet a Pinoy movie addict who has actually seen the film. The closest thing I’ve seen was a Bubble Gang spoof with Ogie playing PJ and sexy star Daniella as Leni. Has your human seen D’Punks?
April 12th, 2014 at 22:31
thegreatcornholio: I am familiar with your name, for when the humans ingest too much caffeine they pull the neckholes of their t-shirts over their heads and shout, “I am Cornholio!” and go around muttering something about “t.p for their bungholes”.
For letting go of great amounts of anger and resentment, you could try taking up tennis and other sports that require striking balls very hard, or contact sports such as rugby and ultimate fighting. Playing stadium rock at full volume is also useful, though one should probably listen with headphones lest the neighbors arrive to test your ultimate fighting skills. My human recommends writing as a form of therapy, having made a career of it.
Most people do enjoy herding, being ignorant of the joys of solitude, or fearful that left to their own devices, they will discover how boring they are. There is nothing you can do about these “fun runs” as they are cloaked in good intentions such as health, charity and group solidarity, and involve other factors such as peer pressure and social climbing.
Console yourself with the thought that the regular running of long distances will cause their knees to give out. Not mine, for I am a cat and it’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 12th, 2014 at 22:39
misterluspo: There is no shortage of cinephiles eager to mark the anniversary of D’Punks. The problem is getting a good copy. Also, the producers/distributors have rights over the material, and public screenings will require their cooperation as well as a new permit from the MTRCB.
I do not know if it is the most maligned film in local history. There is still Payaso starring German Moreno and directed by Celso Ad. Castillo, and that one where the son of Lito Lapid called himself a banana. My human has not see D’Punks, but remembers its trailer well.
April 12th, 2014 at 23:45
Maligayang kaarawan sa iyo, Drogon! Nawa’y bigyan ka ng kalusugan, maraming laruan at mapaglilibangan, mga kutkutin, at higit sa lahat ng patuloy na pagkamangha at interes sa maraming bagay!
Nais ko sanang malaman… ikaw ba’y namamasyal pa rin sa mga mall?
April 13th, 2014 at 01:22
Happy birthday, Drogon! I’m bored with my life. What to do?
April 13th, 2014 at 01:23
Your Grace’s Royal Feline, Lord Drogon, if ever season 4 of GoT ends first than G.R.R. Martin’s penultimate part, do Its Lordship see HBO will do a prequel of sorts in season 5 (the reign of the Mad King and the exile of the “dragon spawns)? Thank you, Your Grace.
April 13th, 2014 at 02:20
Happy Birthday Cat. It is your first time being the Oracle, so I’ll give you something easy.
1. Wasn’t it yesterday we used to laugh at the wind behind us?
2. If the answer to the Ultimate Question is 42, then what is the Ultimate Question?
3. What is my problem?
April 13th, 2014 at 12:55
Happy happy birthday to you, Drogon :-) Treats are on the way! (Much love to you too, Koosi!)
I’m broke and sure to be miserable this coming long weekend. What do I do? I’ve been reading slo-mo, like I’m just going through the motions – it’s that bad – and I’m pining for a rockstar vampire who, incidentally, bears a striking resemblance to one of your dads. Is there hope from this slump, what do I do?
Thanks :-)
April 13th, 2014 at 13:26
silentfollower: Maraming salamat! Nais kong mamasyal sa mall, nguni’t maraming ginagawa ang aking tao at wala siyang oras para ako ay ipasyal. Sa isang linggo ay pupunta kami sa bahay ng aming kaibigan upang ma-inspeksyon ko ang ilalim ng kanilang mga muebles.
April 13th, 2014 at 13:36
johnbristol6: You’re supposed to be hard at work completing the first draft of your novel, which is due in mid-June. If writing bores you, then you will not meet your deadline. Welsher! Wuss! Weenie! Deadbeat! Shirker!
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 13th, 2014 at 13:43
wangbumaximus21: It is my understanding that season 4 covers the second half of the third book (the most eventful in the series) and part of the fourth. So there will be a book and a half left for seasons 5 and 6. Martin has two years to finish two books. According to the Vanity Fair interview with Benioff and Weiss, Martin has already told them how the series ends, so they may not even wait for the books to be published. They are working under time constraints, as the child actors will soon be children no longer. However, a prequel with the Mad King would be and interesting way to “stop time”.
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 13th, 2014 at 13:48
Momelia: That is easy!
1. You are quoting a song by Diana Ross. You are gay!
2. 6 x 7
3. You cannot write unless someone gives you a specific subject or problem. So here is what you will write: Fairy Tales! The Sleeping Gayelle, Little Red Riding Hoodie, Shonderella, etc. You will be the Sisters Grimm. “Sisters” because multiple personalities.
Start with The Six Swans
http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/grimm/bl-grimm-6swans.htm
The Seven Ravens
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm025.html
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/TwelDanc.shtml
It’s my birthday! Send treats! Prince says Hello, get your ass off my couch.
April 13th, 2014 at 13:51
UVDust: Perhaps it is the heat that enervates you. It’s time for a project!
1. Read Coriolanus.
2. Write out all of Coriolanus’s speaking parts.
3. Email them to me.
It’s my birthday! Send treats!
April 13th, 2014 at 18:06
Thanks Drogon! I am now sober and no longer bereft of my good (?) sense. Agree w your advice – will just take this one date at a time.
How do we get treats across to you?:) what would you like to have?:)
And to thegreatcornholio – as someone who joins fun runs I’d like to offer some perspective. I do it because I like to see how I stack up against a larger sample of the running population. There’s also nothing like the adrenaline rush from running a well-organized race – I find that I tend to do better when I’m in a race than when I’m just running alone or w friends. I agree that races could be better organized so the impact to the non-running public is minimized but as Drogon said, as long as people turn up for these races for whatever reason they will keep happening. There are many things in life we can’t do anything about, but how we react to these is always within our control. Try intense interval running around a track – it helped me w my own rage issues *getting off the soapbox now – have a date to plan, hihi*
April 13th, 2014 at 21:02
Belated happy birthday, Drogon! May Koosi nod in approval of your oracular efforts. I saw this video and thought you might enjoy it:
http://m.wimp.com/escapesvet/
April 13th, 2014 at 22:21
Happy birthday, Drogon! Would you prefer catnip or food? How do we send the offerings?
My question: Are feelings toward the politician requited? Should the doubting party desist from all claims?
April 13th, 2014 at 22:23
Happy birthday, Koosi! Say “Hi” to my Sadie for me. You will know who she is. She is one of the sweetest tabbies in the world.
April 14th, 2014 at 00:50
scheherazade: Thank you! We have lots of catnip so cat food, please. The Customer Service staff at National Bookstore in Rockwell are very nice.
The answer is yes, but you do know that the politician will do whatever is best for the politician, all requited feelings notwithstanding. Do nothing, let the other party do all the work.
April 14th, 2014 at 00:52
greeneggsnham: You are offering unsolicited advice to a person with rage issues. Hahahahahahahaha! I do not have to be The Oracle to know your instinct for self-preservation needs honing.
April 14th, 2014 at 00:53
stannum: Thank you! The video is funny. He looks like me! But I never escape from my vet. The staff adore me.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:12
Hahahaaa, Cat, Cat. You are as funny as the Dearly Beloved Oracle. Bless her soul. Oh oh, I just finished reading a Brother Grimm collection, I got it at the Booksale in Megamall for P20. It was cheaper than half a pack of my cigarettes. I will be joining the most recent LitWit challenge, I am more than halfway done, and I could be in trouble if one of my sisters misinterpret what I am writing.
Here’s to more birthdays, Cat. You rock!
I’ll bring you treats the next time we meet since I don’t have a cat of my own to… give treats… to. Haha, muahness from Pasig Cirrehhh!
April 14th, 2014 at 15:56
Happy birthday Drogon!!!
Can you tell me if I should tell him that I am in love with him?
April 15th, 2014 at 04:51
My apologies, Drogon the beautiful, but this is the 4th time I’ve had to take this stupid human to court. This time involves a restraining order.
April 15th, 2014 at 07:37
Belated Happy Birthday, Drogon
As you know ginagaya ko ang idol kong si Suzanne Reyes..
Late entrance, early exit. ‘Yan ang dramatic!
Medyo nag wo worried nako dahil nagiging obsessed ako sa mga BEAUTIFUL GLAMOROUS, RICH PEOPLE na nag sui suicide ie. L Wrenn Scott recently, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, Ruslana Korshunova, Viveka Babajee, Daul Kim…kapag nag su surf ako ng net eh sila ni re research ko ang buhay nila parang nagiging idol ko na sila.
Sa tingin mo ano nangyayari sakin?
April 15th, 2014 at 17:50
swanoepel: Hindi na ako sumasagot ng tanong dahil dalawang araw ding ipinagdiwang ang aking kaarawan, nguni’t natuwa ang aking tao sa iyong tanong, na inihatid ng isang charcoal-grey Mercedes. Nawa’y makinang pa rin ang iyong golden tan, beetch.
Hindi naman karumal-dumal ang pagkakaroon ng interes sa mga magaganda, glamorosa at mayayamang tao na nagpatiwakal. Natural lamang na magtanong kung bakit ang mga tao na nagtataglay ng mga katangiang ninanais at kinaiinggitan ng madla ay nakuha pa ring tapusin ang kanilang tila marangyang buhay. Bakit nga ba?
(Kahapon lamang ay itinanong ng kaibigan naming si Aye kung ano kaya ang tumakbo sa isip ni Mick Jagger, na saksakan ng yaman, noong malaman niyang sa kanya pa mapupunta ang mga pag-aari ng nasirang kasintahan.)
Bakit hindi ka magsulat ng nobela o pelikula tungkol sa kanila? Babasahin ko ito.
Marahil ay inaaliw mo lamang ang iyong sarili. Makakasama lamang ito kung wala kang ibang magawa kundi magsaliksik tungkol sa kanila.
April 17th, 2014 at 08:05
Send ko sa email mo after holy week yung complete movie kong title “ENCHONG”
Coming of age theme siya may pagka (Muriels Wedding) , may pagka (Memento) rin siya dahil ending ang start at parang puzzle na ma so solve, at kung ang (Harry Met Sally) ay may orgasm scene na tumatak sa movie dito may tatatak na love scene na pag uusapan at ang ending dito ay parang (The Help) napaka powerful na kukurot sa puso at sasabihin mong “tuloy ang buhay” bittersweet inspiring feelgood movie siya. At higit sa lahat may connect dito ang mga suicidal idols ko (L Wrenn Scott, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, Ruslana Korshunova, Viveka Babajee, Daul Kim )
Basta ang Lead Role= Enchong Dee at Major Support Role= Ruru Madrid (love love love him so much)