Headlines (Filipino Pride; dolla' dolla' bills, y'all; I wish her luck in her future endeavors as a singer and actress; Vanilla Ice did it too)

Pat Riley out, Erik Spoelstra in as Miami Heat coach

From a basketball point of view, I think this is a good move. It's sad to see a Hall of Fame coach finally call it quits, but he's getting old; the game will soon pass him by, if it hasn't already.

But more importantly, from a personal point of view, I'm thrilled because this is incredible news. Simply put, Filipino's love basketball. We really do have a passion for it, an intense appreciation for it as a sport. So for one of us to finally make it big in the NBA -- in a position as high-ranking and prestigious as head coach, no less -- is ground-breaking. This is a big step forward for us, and definitely well-deserved. In a sport that's played entirely by black people and managed entirely by white people, it's so rewarding to see Filipino-Americans finally carve out its own small niche in this market. That's some serious progression, and I'm proud.

All of this is so unprecedented and cool and unexpected and surreal. Next thing you know, something else crazy is gonna happen, like a black man being elected president. Haha.


Stimulus checks arrive, but will they work?

I'm not financially savvy enough to know whether or not this plan will successfully jump start our economy, but I do know that I can't wait for my check to get here.

It's interesting, because this article predicts that most people will not go spend-crazy with this money, opting instead to use it practically and conservatively, like on groceries and credit card debt and stuff. Incidentally, I intend on doing the exact OPPOSITE of that. I plan on using that stimulus check for a big luxury purchase, probably using it to help offset the price of a new macbook. Technically, all of this "extra" money really isn't extra at all anyway. It's still YOUR money out of YOUR own pocket; it's just given to you in advance and in one lump sum. So yeah, I guess I could use it to pay off student loans or something as equally responsible, but the way I see it is, I would never treat myself to this money any other way. If it weren't for the instant gratification of these stimulus checks, the money would be sit in my bank account. So when given this chance to spend (and highly encouraged to spend by the government), I might as well take advantage of this opportune windfall and do something I otherwise probably wouldn't do.

Hence, the macbook.

Spitzer call girl sues 'Girls Gone Wild' for $10 million

The call girl linked to the downfall of former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer sued the founder of the "Girls Gone Wild" series on Monday for $10 million, claiming he exploited her image and name to advertise the racy videos. -- the Sun-Sentinel

I can understand the motive behind this lawsuit; people are making big money off of her and she wants a slice of that cheddar. Fine, I totally get that. But the what made me laugh is the suggestion that Girls Gone Wild has "exploited" her name and image anymore than she's already exploited it herself. She's been publicly outed as a hooker -- aside from being revealed to also being a cannibal, I'm not sure her good name can be defamed any further.


Specially groomed eyebrows a headache at Oregon high school

A Portland high school is raising eyebrows with its brow grooming policy: shave 'em or go home.

Some students at Centennial High School have shaved vertical lines into their eyebrows in a trend recently made popular by hip-hop star Soulja Boy. School officials say the mark looks like a gang symbol.

Centennial administrators are telling students with the lines that they can't return to school until they shave their eyebrows off. Assistant Principal Mark Porterfield said the students are not suspended, but they are not allowed in school until they cooperate. -- the Sun-Sentinel

Haha, this is ridiculous and irrational. Talk about a school board totally overreacting. They have their policy, they have a specific dress code and decorum in mind that they want their student to abide by. That's cool, I can understand that. But this really unfair. I absolutely cannot support the practice of forcing students to mutilate themselves -- and yes, that's exactly what it is, mutilation. Try shaving off your eyebrows and see how retarded you look. This goes beyond punishment; this is public humiliation. These school officials should be ashamed of themselves for publicly embarrassing these students like this. It's a case of adults bullying children, and that's an abuse of power. To pressure teenagers -- and the worst part of all this is that it's pressuring to the point where they won't be allowed back into school -- into purposely make themselves look stupid at an age where nothing is more important than physical appearance is extremely cruel and insensitive.

And I get the concern over kids flaunting gang-related paraphernalia, but c'mon, this isn't Compton or Queensbridge we're talking about. It's Portland, Oregon. Let's get some perspective here.