Looking at the dictionary, hot means having heat or being at high temperature; but, living in this modern society, the word “hot” has already gained different connotations because it has become a slang word. It can be used to describe anything – an action, a thing, a place, an event, or a person. But I think the slang term is most commonly used to describe a person.

I asked some of my female friends to describe someone who is hot, and they gave me different descriptions. One said to me: “A hot guy has abs and buffed muscles; he is tall and handsome; and most importantly, he has sex appeal (“the ability to excite people sexually”).” Another one said to me: “A guy is hot if he is handsome, properly groomed; and, when his get-up (the way he dresses or his “porma”) is mainstream and charming (A typical mainstream and charming get-up for a guy, according to her, is casual shoes, dark colored skinny jeans, long-sleeved or short-sleeved polo).” Another said to me: “A hot guy should smell good, look handsome, and he must be physically fit.” Well those descriptions are for males only. Of course, males like us have our own description of a “hot girl”.

I also asked some of my male friends to describe a “hot girl”. They also gave various descriptions. One said to me: “Hot means that the girl is seductive and sexy – flawless legs, good body curves, and most importantly, big breasts!” Another friend of mine said: “A girl is hot if she is wearing “sexy clothes” like short shorts, mini skirt, tube, sleeveless top, or part dress; and, if she has a pretty face.” My other friend said: “If she can carry what she’s wearing (it must be “sexy clothes”) with poise; and, if those clothes are really a head-turner, then she is hot.” Those were not the EXACT words that my friends (both male and female) said but they meant it like that. I myself have my own description of a “hot girl”. For me, a girl is hot if she looks beautiful (pretty face, attractive, or good-looking), if she is sexy (good body curves, not so thin and not so fat), if she carries her dress (whether she’s wearing “sexy clothes” or not) with poise, and if she has this unique charm and sex appeal that makes me stare at her.

Looking at these different connotations, it is sometimes hard to visualize the physical appearance of the person who is being referred to as “hot”. The word alone is an ambiguity. For example, if my friend says that he saw a hot girl somewhere, lots of thoughts will play in my mind – Is that girl sexy? Is she beautiful? Is she wearing “sexy clothes”? Is she charming? Then there will be a follow-up question, how old is she?

When you say someone is hot, you are most probably referring to a young adult (20-28 years old) or a late teenager (16-19 years old). But some people in their 30’s or even 40’s (especially celebrities), are still considered hot. There are even women whom others refer to as “hot mama”, which simply means a “hot mother”. What makes that mother hot? Maybe it’s because of her sexy body, good looks and sex appeal.

The body and the looks are basically the criteria for the “hotness” of a person. And this is very true. Looking back at those connotations mentioned, being hot always involve having a sexy body and having good looks. And when someone says you’re hot, there are many possible deeper reasons behind that. Some of the common reasons are: He is just complimenting you; he is somehow attracted to you sexually; or he’s making you his sexual fantasy. So describing someone as hot can be like putting a label on him – a sexual object or fantasy. This is the bad side of being described as hot; you don’t know the real reason why you are described as such.

For me, I don’t think it’s bad to be referred to as “hot” because people have their own way of communication. Telling someone he/she is hot may be obscure but that’s how society interacts. It’s part of our culture already. It only gets bad if someone tells you you’re hot in a disrespectful manner. So whether they tell you you’re hot or not, for as long as your dignity is not being stepped on, crushed, or robbed, you don’t have to feel bad.

Bibliography:

“Sex Appeal.”http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sex%20appeal

Play now, work later. Sounds a bit reversed, isn’t it? Shouldn’t it be work now, play later? One of the photos exhibited in Vargas Museum in University of the Philippines is entitled “Play Then Work.” It shows a sunrise view of the sea with mountains on the right hand side. In the sea, there is one person swimming and the only visible part of him is his head. In the shore, there are five parked bikes containing different stuffs like a badminton racket and a bag. Moreover, there’s a short description which says something like “An ordinary day where people go swimming in the sea before going to work.”

After reading the short description on the photo, I think I know what it is trying to say. It’s about a timeline from childhood to adulthood. But the photo is showing the side of childhood because the sunrise pertains to a start or a beginning. It’s like a symbol for the early stage of life which is childhood. Moreover, the photo features a sea with a person swimming in it. It somehow pertains to a child’s future because when you look at a sea, you a see a very great distance between you and the end of the sea (horizon); and like a child’s future, there’s still a long way to go. It’s like the person in the sea is trying to move on to his future. The photo also shows bikes which obviously pertain to the typical way a child plays – riding a bike. And these things remind me of my childhood.

I remember as a child that I am always playing in the house with my cousins. It felt so free. No work and no study. Wake up, take a bath, eat, play and sleep. “Pressure” was not even an existing word for me even though I was always talking with my parents about my ambition – to be a pilot. I always felt so happy whenever I see an airplane flying on the sky, and I wanted to drive one of those flying things so I could travel the world. Well that was my childhood life; but now, it’s a different story. I am a college student now. I study and do chores. I don’t have all the free time anymore; and the word “pressure” already exists to me now. Moreover, I want to be either an accountant or an economist someday. It’s funny to notice that it’s been seventeen years already. Time really flies so fast and it changes everything.

“A film that stays embedded within the mind!” – a comment that I’ve read which was made by Cava-1 from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/. Is this really true? Well first of all, upon hearing the title “City of God”, the first implication that approaches my mind is that the film is about religion. I even think that the main characters in the film are priests, bishops, and other religious people. And the setting that comes into my mind at first hand is a very peaceful place inhabited by faithful people who are living for god and who are living normally. In short, a drama film (which I always find boring). However, my first thought about the movie is entirely disturbed as minutes pass. I am expecting some priests and some religious people in the film but they never show up. I am also expecting a peaceful setting and churches but they are nowhere to be found. Now I realize that my interpretation about the title is very wrong and it is somehow opposite to the real plot of the movie. Well let’s face it, titles don’t basically give some signs for the direct plots of movies, the titles just catch the attentions of viewers by leaving a puzzled thought to the viewers – “Why is this entitled this…?”

So why is City of God, entitled City of God? What it is about which makes it City of God? Basically, the film is set in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The City of God is really a place. It is said to be a housing project built in the 60’s and later became one of the most, or probably the most dangerous place in Rio De Janeiro. And the film focuses on that place which is considered very dangerous. Now that explains the title.

So what is the film all about? Obviously, it’s about the City of God. It’s about the lifestyles of people who are living in that place and about some important events that happened there. One of the main characters in the film narrates the whole story about his experiences in City of God – desperation, poverty, violence, gangs, useless cops, crimes, drugs, etc. His name is Rocket and he dreams to be a photographer someday. As Rocket grows up, he narrates how City of God is dominated by a particular gang led by Lil’ Ze. Lil’ Ze is like the big boss in City of God because he is a drug lord and drugs become a sort of basic lifestyle of the people there. But Lil’ Ze’s gang has a rival – Carrot’s gang. The story revolves around the battle between these two gangs and Rocket is one of the witnesses of this violent “gang war”.

While I’m watching this film, I cannot help but react on some scenes which are depicted. I’ve watched a lot of violent and gory movies but this one is different. This film is more shocking than the violent films that I’ve watched. Morality is not an existing word for the people in City of God. The film involves children, probably 7-10 years of age, who know how to handle guns; and worse, they know how to kill. I just can’t believe that kids like these exist in real life. The kids in this film are not innocent anymore, they already know how to commit crimes and they even enjoy doing it. All they care about is money and power. They just want to rule the whole City of God by portraying themselves as notorious people who are willing to kill without second thought. And their parents don’t even take notice of what their kids are doing. I can’t imagine seeing kids like these in real life. My eyes have never even seen a person struggling for his last breath, or being shot multiple times. I have never even seen too much blood like that in the film. And I never even experienced a lifestyle like that in the film. If ever I will experience that kind of lifestyle, I know what will be my first reaction – “Holy shit!” (Pardon my words, I’m just being frank). Well that’s my reaction as I’m watching those bloody scenes in the film.

At first, it never occurs to me that this film is based on a true story because I doubt that there are people who are like that in real life. But the film already confirms it. It is really based on a true story which happened in the past in City of God. As the film moves on, it gets more and more interesting. It’s making me think what will happen next. More violence, more drug use, more action, and more twists. Mixed emotions are gradually entering inside me as I’m watching this film, especially on the scenes of the delinquent kids, the killings, and the drugs. I don’t exactly know what I am really feeling during those scenes. Is it sympathy? Is it excitement? Is it amazement? Is it joy? Is it frustration? Is it sadness? Is it shocking? Well I don’t really know. Those feelings are like molecules moving round and round inside my system, trying to find their place. That’s why I consider this movie a great movie. Watching this film will be worth the time.

So does City of God really stays embedded in the mind? Well somehow it is because I myself can recall the film when I see live chickens and carrots; chickens because the film begins with a live chicken being chased, and carrots because Carrot is the name of one of the characters in the film.

After watching this film, I realize how imperfect and dangerous our world is. No matter how good you are, you cannot entirely eliminate the bad side of the world, it will keep on lingering around us. Let’s just face it, our world is like a typical movie with no certain plot, there are protagonists who are striving for the good of all but there are also antagonists who are causing the world to fall. What makes it different from a movie is that each and every one of us is the cast, the director, the scriptwriter, and the audience, all at the same time. And there are no “cuts” or “take two’s”, it is continuous – no pause, no stop, no rewind, no fast forward, and no editing between scenes.

CREDITS TO:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/

(For the plot/summary of City of God)

Economics say that people have unlimited wants and needs. And I totally agree with that. Every single day of our lives is filled with thoughts about what do we need and/or what do we want. For instance, a student going to school will simply ask himself, “What do I need to accomplish? What are the requirements I need for this week? What scores do I need to pass? What do I want to eat for lunch? I want to eat this but I’d rather save my money because I want to go gimmick this weekend. Wow! That’s a nice car. I’m going to have one of those someday.” Ever experienced that as a student? Or ever experienced wanting something that you think will make you so happy? Then what will happen next after getting what you want? Are you already so happy about it? Well at first maybe yes; but after some time you start wanting something again, something better and new, and something that will make you so happy again. It never ends doesn’t it? We will always have desires that will keep us so happy and contented.

Our ideal happiness is getting all that we desire. So it simply means that nothing is enough in this world because we keep on desiring, desiring for something, desiring for this to happen, and desiring that this will not happen. When it comes to desire, it’s like the word “enough” is not recognized. There will be desire after desire, it never ends. It’s never enough. Let’s face the music; for the record, we never felt that everything is very enough; we never felt that we couldn’t ask for more, and we never felt that our desires are intentionally forgotten and permanently erased. The desire is always there wherever we go, whatever we do. It lives in our minds and in our hearts and we can’t simply take it out because if we do, it’s like taking out a puzzle piece in our lives. It’s like saying, without desire, life is not worth living for. It’s like asking yourself, “What is my purpose in life if I don’t even know what I want or what my goals are? Why the hell am I living in this world again?” On the other hand, if you have desires, it’s like asking yourself, “What should I do to get there, or to get this or that? How much effort should I exert for this to happen? Am I doing enough?”

Because of these desires, we sometimes forget to think about others. We forget that it’s not only us that have desires; other people also do have desires. So people’s desires are like overlapping with each other. You like this to happen so you’ll do something about it; but then, he doesn’t want this to happen so he’ll also do something about it. It’s like a battle for your own desire. Some people just can’t agree upon certain things and decisions because let’s face it; men are all selfish by nature – they never know what is enough and when is it enough.

It’s true that people will always have the pursuit of happiness. And they will always find a way to reach that level of happiness that they want. But sometimes, because of too much striving for that certain happiness, they just forget to appreciate everything that they have. They even forget to appreciate the little things. They forget to appreciate that they are still living in this world full of benefits, full of wonders, full of life, full of everything. They forget to appreciate that they still wake up in the morning to start a new day, a new beginning. I mean, isn’t that all enough?

So let me ask you again, are you happy and contented right now? If yes, then you should have understood the word “enough”.