It is a cold, cold day.

Just like it was a cold, cold night last night. And the other night. And the other. I don't know what's up with the weather. Christmas season is already over, so I don't really get this cold. Manila weather can sometimes be so freaky.

Anyway, here I am, huddled inside my blanket, facing my computer, just finished checking out my e-mail and the sites I frequently visit. I found some interesting news to keep me warm (in both joy and irritation) despite the freeze:

1. Sandara was named as one of the People of the Year last year. Well, it was her year. I vividly recall getting annoyed at her during her stay in Star Circle Quest, but after SCQ, I found myself endeared to her. Finally, I got the charm. Now, for a little not-so-secret: I thoroughly enjoyed Sandara and Hero's love team in Star Cinema's Bcuz of You that I watched it in the cinemas not once, but twice! Wonderfulness. I plan to buy the VCD as soon as it gets out.

2. Estrada comes back to the Philippines, vowing to lead people to a 'new dawn.' Ugh. I have written about this at least one time in my blog last summer, and still the sentiment remains: Ugh. I don't know what's happening to the Sandiganbayan nowadays, but I think Erap has been pampered enough. If this was Indonesia or Malaysia (not that I'm comparing), no ousted and convicted president will be able to go abroad for any reason whatsoever, much less get out of "prison." Estrada's defense team is just pulling strings and fucking around with the Sandigan's heads. No wonder one of the justices there resigned. (Which was rejected by the SC, by the way.) Show no mercy! Let guilty heads roll!

3. Metacritic releases its Best of 2004! Yep, this is definitely good news for list-lovers and movie-goers out there. Both of which, incidentally, apply to me. The critics from all different sorts of American publication have released their official Top 10 Best Movies of 2004, and Metacritic compiled them all into a single list. Now, Jel and I have a theory that if critics love it, then we won't, what with snorefests like In the Bedroom and The Hours. (One critic accused me of being a bad-movie-lover by liking The Butterfly Effect, one of my favorite films of all time.) Surprisingly, critics and we have something in common as well. Included in the top 10 are: The Incredibles, Hero, Spider-man 2, and House of Flying Daggers (this last only appeals to me because of its "aesthetics").

4. Heroes V: Fans left in the dark. Indeed. Rumors have it that the announcement of the game is to be this January, but fans such as I have difficulty becoming patient. It's almost been two years since the last installation of Heroes IV (the blech Winds of War), so it's not surprising that fans would be wanting at least some word from the makers, Ubisoft. I'm not much of a game person to know everything there is to know, but from what I've gathered from Celestial Heavens, Ubisoft is keeping a hush-hush policy, at least until the announcement goes out. Come on, guys! It's almost two years. Heroes IV is not my favorite Heroes installation (Heroes II remains on the throne), so a Heroes V installation will be a welcome change.