We've moved!

Mister Beebop is now on WordPress!

http://misterbeebop.wordpress.com/

Thank you Blogger for starting this shiznit up.

Jacobe Veterinary Clinic: Avoid At All Costs!

If you want a vet who will be condescending, negative and rude, Jacobe Veterinary Clinic in Marcelo Green Village is the place for you.

I brought my dog "P" to the clinic for his regular grooming. Now my dog, like most Shih Tzus, has a skin infection which causes flaking. Our regular vet at Animal House already prescribed medication for him, which I administer regularly. Sometimes this flaking causes itchiness, and my dog chews on his own fur, resulting in a few tangles in parts. So all I needed from the folks at Jacobe was for them to cut my dog's hair in a puppy cut and remove the tangles.

But when I got there and was just starting to explain the situation, the vet in residence (RON DELATADO) immediately cut me off and said that my dog's fur was tangled all over, he must be shaved completely, and that a puppy cut was simply impossible. I said that only the "hot spots" had tangles and if they could just try a puppy cut since they had done it for my dog two times previously, thank you. But the "vet" continued to insist that no, it was impossible.

Delatado: "Hindi talaga pwede. Buhol buhol na kasi e".
Me: "Are you saying that every inch of him is tangled, when we can both clearly see that it is not true? Is that your solution to everything? Just shave him bald?"
Delatado: (in a patronizing tone) "Ma'am, ako po ang doctor dito, at oo, yan ang sinasabi ko. DAPAT KASI ARAW ARAW SINUSUKLAYAN YAN E."
Me: "EXCUSE ME. DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME THAT I AM NOT DOING EVERYTHING FOR MY PET BECAUSE I AM, AND EXCUSE ME, I DO COMB MY PET'S HAIR EVERY DAY, BUT LIKE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU, HE TRIES TO CHEW IT OFF!"

And yes, I was already talking to him in English while he still kept speaking in Tagalog because when I get really angry, I revert to English with a strong American accent. And a sassy finger wag.

Then he proceeded to lift my dog by his front paws to look at his stomach! My dog is always stressed out whenever I bring him to the groomer's or vet anyway, so coupled with this treatment he was unable to control himself and peed, right on the vet's scrubs. How did the vet respond? He got mad, said "Tsss!" in a peevish way, and just let go of "P". Whenever this happened at other groomers or clinics, nobody reacted because they understood that animals really do get stressed and do all sorts of stuff. But this supposed "vet" at Jacobe actually got mad!

No vet - and I have gotten to know a lot over the years of being a pet owner - has ever been so condescending to me, ever. No one has ever shamed me for not taking enough care of my pet. Hello. The fact that I bring him regularly for treatments should be enough indication that this is no mere street animal! And vets are supposed to be more compassionate, because what else would compel you to choose a career caring for creatures who can't thank you personally or pay you back?

The only reason I brought my dog to Jacobe was because of convenience - it's just a 10-minute drive from our house, and we don't even have to use the service road.  But after this treatment, convenience is no longer a factor. I will never again subject myself to the behavior of this rude and stupid douchebag.

The Doctor is IN...SUFFERABLE.

Movie Review: Jersey Boys

I saw the Jersey Boys movie last week with my niece and I loved it. I have to mention that I went with my niece because she'll get huffy if creds are not given. They made me wait a month after its release in the US, and made me go to the far land of Makati because it was only playing in select theaters here, but it was worth it.

I am a huge fan of the musical.  I play the cast recording all the time, and I may also have the teensiest crush on John Lloyd Young. Teensy tiny crush. He played the original Frankie Valli on Broadway and won a Tony for it. He came back to Broadway after a few years and also performed on the West End.  You already know that the musical is about how Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons came to be, right? It's sometimes referred to as a jukebox musical, in a derogatory way. This is totally wrong. Jukebox musicals are so called because they take the already-released hits of a composer or singer and fit them in the context of a play. But Jersey Boys is about a singing group, and the songs are performed chronologically - from their first hit to their last. The musical is about their story, and the highlights just happen to be hit songs. And if you've been exposed to any form of TV or radio in the past 30 years, you would know these hits - "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like A Man", "Working My Way Back To You", "Who Loves You", etc. Personally, the one song I was aware of was "Walk Like A Man" because of its use in the movie Heart and Souls. I loved that, so I was prepared to love Frankie Valli. Also, he did sing the theme song to Grease.

Movie adaptations of Broadway musicals are, more often than not, epic fails. See: Rock of Ages, the biggest gob of spit in Broadway's face. Seriously, Tom Cruise proved that he was the biggest dementor of them all for sucking all the joy and fun out of that musical, and basically for sucking everyone else's will to live. But Clint Eastwood did everything right with Jersey Boys.

First of all, he got the original Broadway actor to play Frankie. Even if it's been 9 years since he started the role. Almost all major roles went to stage actors who played their movie roles on the stage as well. The exceptions he made to this rule were also perfect - Vincent Piazza plays the crucial role of Tommy DeVito, who serves as the foil for Frankie, and he was just "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"-incredible. (See what I did there?) And also, Christopher Walken. Has Walken ever sucked at anything? I don't think so.

Secondly, Eastwood got the musical writers to work on the screenplay. And it showed. Throughout the movie I could feel the respect for the original material. Of course, you have to have a different set of expectations when watching a movie based on a musical. Not everything is going to be the same. In this case, there was more backstory development, some songs were expanded, which was great - and some were shortened or cut altogether. This was my one gripe - they totally cut "Fallen Angel"! That would have been a perfect moment for Frankie. That song comes at one of the most poignant moments in the play, but for some reason that I honestly still can't understand, Eastwood decided to leave that out. All we heard was the intro as a sort of instrumental background.

Having said all that, I really felt that the film captured the essence of the play. Most of the dialogue was actually a word for word reproduction from the play. And the actors sang live, which gave the musical performances a raw genuineness and warmth. And these are Broadway actors, people, which means they have the chops! And the last scene, from the Hall of Fame Induction, just gave me goosebumps all over. By the time of the finale, which was almost the same as in the play and was a fitting tribute to it, I was barely keeping it together trying not to cry. You could tell that the crowd at the theater also got into it because everyone burst into spontaneous applause after that last scene.

The movie soundtrack is also another reason to be happy. The title says "Music From The Motion Picture and Broadway Musical", so you get versions from the play, original versions from The Four Seasons, and of course the recordings from the movie. And you get mashups of The Four Seasons and John Lloyd Young! The seamless transition from Frankie's voice to John's means, as my sister tells me, that they sang in the same key. Which really... isn't John Lloyd Young awesome?

I know there have been some mixed reviews for this movie, but I for one was extremely satisfied. I give it a score of 99% (because damnit, I wanted my "Fallen Angel"!) and I cannot wait for the DVD to come out so I can watch it again and again and again.

Facebook is controlling our emotions!

There's all this hoopla about a recent study that revealed how Facebook conducted a social experiment on unwitting people. Supposedly they chose a group of users and controlled the tone of the items that showed up on their feed. Those who got mostly negative stories reported feeling bad after a while, while those who got the positive stories were either as happy or happier afterwards.

First of all, WELL DUH. Did we really need a study to tell us this? That's why there's the unfollow button, everyone. Use it! This is seriously one of the best updates Facebook has introduced, ever. It lets you control the content of your feed while still keeping those all-important superficial connections alive. Because we don't want to hurt the feelings of those people that we don't really care about in real life.

Another life-changing Facebook update? The "I don't want to see this story" option. Again, use it! It's a gift from the gods! If Facebook tries to shove an assy suggested post down your throat, shove it right back.

And are we really surprised that Facebook would do this? We practically have to sign our souls away the moment we set up an account. Look at how they ruined Instagram! Everybody knows that Facebook is the apocalypse and Mark Zuckerberg is the devil.

Why You Gotta Be So Ruuude?

So are you already obsessed with Rude by MAGIC! ?
All it takes is one listen and you will be hooked. This has been on repeat on my computer for days.

When you get to the transition in the chorus ("Marry that girl"), I dare you not to jump around and do your best reggae dance move.

10 Best Lyrics Ever

Based on a totally unscientific, non-music-theory-based analysis. Which means I just really like them.

1. "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The End, The Beatles

My favorite lyric ever. So much so that I had it permanently etched on to my skin. It basically encapsulates the Golden Rule and all religious philosophies in two lines. Paul McCartney is a genius.

2. "We'll shine like stars in the summer night, we'll shine like stars in the winter light. One heart, one hope, one love. " - With Or Without You, U2

This is the coda to With Or Without You that Bono only ever sings live. This was never recorded and it's a treat for fans if he decides to sing it at concerts. Knowing it's not on any album makes the existence of the words even more special.

3. "Well, I'm standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see.  It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me." - Take It Easy, Eagles

Try singing it - so many words but everything flows together so smoothly. And try singing it without cracking a smile - it's impossible!

4. "You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby." - Boys of Summer, Don Henley

Is there any other song that evokes the mood of summer better than this one? And this line made me determined to buy Wayfarers.

5. "I've looked at life from both sides now, from win and lose and still somehow, it's life's illusions I recall, I really don't know life at all." - Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell

Because really, we don't know shit.

6. "You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl, and I can't be holding on to what you got when all you got is hurt." - One, U2

The song that saved U2. And the line that proves that Bono is God...-like.

7. "Going back to the corner where I first saw you, gonna camp in my sleeping bag I'm not gonna move." - The Man Who Can't Be Moved, The Script

You can almost feel Danny O'Donoghue's heart being ripped out. Also another wordy lyric that is just perfect when sung out loud.

8. "You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead." - Two Of Us, The Beatles

Paul has said that he wrote this for Linda. But music journalists also point out that he wrote this when The Beatles were falling apart, so this was also about John. Doesn't that make you just want to bawl your eyes out?

9. "I've been tryin' to get down to the heart of the matter but everything changes and my friends seem to scatter, but I think it's about forgiveness." - The Heart of the Matter, Don Henley

Don Henley is the master of the powerful realization.

10. "I may not always love you but long as there are stars above you, you never need to doubt it, I'll make you so sure about it, God only knows what I'd be without you." - God Only Knows, The Beach Boys

People never seem to get that this is a love song. You have to get past the first line! That's the twist to it all. I think it's called irony. I also think it's one of the best songs ever.

10 Reasons To Love Wimbledon

Wimbledon is already underway. I am not as enthusiastic about this since my boy Rafa is struggling to hold his serve in the first round as we speak. But I've decided to list my reasons to love this Grand Slam and all the traditions that make it unique. Maybe this will cheer me up.


1. It's played on grass.

The only Grand Slam left to do so. The US and Aussie Open used to be played on grass too, a long time ago, but now only Wimbledon is left. Grass is supposedly very difficult because the ball doesn't bounce as high, is very fast, and travels unpredictably. So it's perfect for serve-and-volleyers like Sampras and Borg. Though of course we know even those who are mostly baseliners or grinders like Nadal can succeed. Grass can also be very slippery, so every year you see some pretty interesting falls (as long as nobody gets hurt, of course).

Sampras equaled Emerson's then-record of 12 Slams at Wimbledon, and is
tied with Federer for most singles titles at 7./www.totalprosports.com

2. Tennis whites.

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament that requires players to wear predominantly white clothing. You'll find no garish neon shirts, loud colors or abysmally designed tennis dresses here *coughSerenacough*. This gives The Championships a serene and pristine air about it.

3. There's only one players' box.

At Wimbledon, unlike the other Grand Slams, the players' families and friends have to sit in one box only. They are literally sitting in two rows, one in front of the other. You can imagine the dilemma this gives their supporters - can you be as loud as you want while cheering for your guy? How much do you have to dial it down as consideration for the other side? And the camera's numerous and frequent cutaways to the two girlfriends,  showing the two extremes of emotions - one is almost always biting her nails while the other is pumping her fists - are as entertaining as the match itself.

4. Strawberries and cream.

Do you know any other Grand Slam, let alone any other sports event, where strawberries and cream are routinely consumed by the spectators? Only at Wimbledon!

5. Players have to leave together after every match, and curtsey to the Royal Box.

Losers can't just skulk away or throw tantrums while heading to the locker rooms. Both players have to leave the court together, which also means the winner can't go around basking in his victory and keeping the loser waiting. And if the Queen or Prince of Wales is present, both players have to curtsey to the Royal Box together. How classy.

6. Wimbledon has its own seeding system.

Wimbledon doesn't care if you're No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Wimbledon will just give you a very stiff and British, "Oh. Jolly good. Well done." and then go right back and seed you No. 10. Their rankings are based on the performance of the players at the championships. So even if you happen to be No. 12 in the world, but you've won the trophy a couple of times, you can still be the top seed.  Sort of puts the players in their place.

7. Women are called Miss or Mrs. when announcing the scores.

So unlike in the other Grand Slams it's, "Game, Miss Sharapova." And it's the Gentlemen's, not just Men's Singles. Very polite.

8. It's actually The Championships of a very elite club.

What we all know as Wimbledon is actually The Championships of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. And the club is so elite that only tournament winners get to become members. And also if you happen to have made any notable contributions to tennis. But the winners become lifetime members. All for winning seven matches.


9. No sponsors' ads around the court.

Look closely. The sidelines are unmarred!

10. The Centre Court tradition.

It's such a given that it's become one of the perks of winning the Championships - the next year, you know you'll be playing the 2 pm opener at Centre Court. It's the place of honor awarded to Champions, like kicking off the festivities. It announces to the world that whatever happens this year and for at least one match, you're still the reigning Champion. Champion coming through!

Wimbledon is pretty awesome. It only becomes not awesome if Nadal doesn't win. It's not looking particularly promising this year but still, vamos Rafa.

Nadal won in an epic final in 2008, so epic that if it had lasted one more point,
it would have been too dark to continue./www.mirror.co.uk