Robots and Romance

HBO showed “Bicentennial Man” this afternoon and I was just so taken away with the robot Andrew’s poetic description of sex…

“…that u can lose yourself… everything… all boundaries… all time… that two bodies can become so mixed up, that u don’t know who’s who or what’s what… and just when the sweet confusion is so intense you think you’re gonna die… you kind of do; leaving you alone in your separate body, but the one you love is still there – that’s a miracle. You can go to heaven and come back alive. You can go back anytime you want with the one you love…”

If only real men (as in humans) were that receptive to the romance of making love, huh? Hehehe.

The movie, based on the short story of one of my favorite writers Isaac Asimov, reminded me of a news article on the internet a couple of years ago about human-robot marriages becoming possible and even “legal” in the year 2050 -- a forecast by David Levy in his book "Love + Sex With_Robots". Certainly that’s a very interesting topic to discuss and debate on… ethical issues… emotional limitations… Is this the new social evolution?

Lately, Japan (particularly this inventor Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University) has been coming up with humanoid prototypes and they freak me out. All throughout our history, romantic defiance has been about RACE (he’s black and she’s white)… RELIGION (he’s a Muslim and she’s Catholic)… SOCIAL CLASS (he’s a Montague and she’s a Capulet, hehe)… and now we’re facing GENDER issues (he’s Adam and he’s Steve)… and if futurists are right about their approximations, we’ll have the “He’s human and she’s a robot” love drama. Can LOVE exist between a soul and a software?

Anyway, the idea of humans and robots “getting it on” just freaks me out. It’s probably because this iconic scene from the cult B movie “Cherry 2000” was solidly imprinted in my nine-year-old mind when I saw this on Betamax in 1987. This was funny and freaky at the same time. But it definitely sends the message that making love to a robot can be a FATAL ATTRACTION!

Ordinary People Extraordinary Love

I looove LOVE so it should not surprise you if one of my prized possessions is this People Magazine issue published in February 1996. It was their special feature on "The Greatest Love Stories of the Century" and of course they meant the 20th century. (I shall blog about its contents soon)

I was in college back then and ready to have my first "relationship". Ooh I was such a hopeful romantic. I found this and dreamed that some day I'd be able to write a compilation of love stories too. I'm not there yet but listing down these ordinary couples with extraordinary LOVE in them is certainly a step towards that dream.

The couples featured in this blog though are not celebrities (except for one, hehe, you'll found out) but rather friends and some are our mentors in this life ministry called "marriage". Nevertheless, their stories have inspired me and my husband, and hopefully you too.

Click HERE for the stories of the "juniors" -- our friends

and click HERE for the stories of the "seniors" -- our marriage mentors.

Veiled Hats for a Cocktail Wedding!

Photo by IMAGE NATION

I knew veiled hats would soon enter the whims of the Pinay! Courtesy of Studio Blush, Inc. here are a couple of photos showing a very offbeat bride in her ultra-chic veiled hat made by HatMomma! This is sooo perfect for a cocktail wedding... or perhaps an afternoon tea reception? It's very British dah-ling! I looove it! Just a month ago, I was wondering about whether hats will make a comeback in the wedding scene again. It was a big trend in the '70s. Well, it's obviously a hot wedding trend so go and be one of the first brave brides in the Philippines to ditch those mile-long veils and trains that are sooo last decade!

Photo by IMAGE NATION

Here are more hot and hip hats that are perfect alternatives to the long veil... And a cute option for bride's maids instead of the usual floral hairpieces...


Photos from this SITE...

A Modern Muslim Wedding

A good friend of mine recently got married in her hometown in Zamboanga. Nessa & Ahmed had a modern and pompous semi-modern Muslim wedding. I feel bad I wasn't able to go due to my very busy schedule but here are some photos that she shared. Check out her pre-wedding traditional Muslim dress and the RED HOT SHOES she wore during the modern ceremony. Who says you can't have fun amidst the traditional ritual? :-)

Nessa & Ahmed

Ruby Red Shoes to match the Romantic Red Roses