u/Real-Yield

I know folks would have mixed impressions of Vice Ganda as a host and the still occasional jesting on the candidates.

But one thing that the segment helped me is a deeper appreciation of the trans community, especially when it comes to cross-dressing. I have to admit that in the past, cross-dressing and drag are not my cup of tea but I respect the folks who do. Not that I am transphobic but medyo foreign pa rin for me until that time yung cross dressing, probably after many years of being in the closet na even dictated how should I dress myself.

Hindi naman lahat ng nagjojoin doon are really trans, some doon are non-trans but just dress up for the show. But since watching the segment when it first aired last June, I came to appreciate them more because nahihighlight at times the struggles they had in their queer expression and also talks about the level of acceptance that the candidates have from the people around them. And I just feel good to see the candidates (especially the first timers) to see themselves on national TV and wearing those beaitiful gowns and cocktail dresses.

At the end of the day, hindi ko parin nakikita ang sarili ko cross dressing myself because sobrang familiar na ako with men's apparel. Ngayon lang siguro, I realized that for some queer folks, seeing themselves wear dresses that they dream about makes them happy and confident. Probably now, I would be entertained in seeing people in drag with full happiness in their faces.

After my gout flares became more frequent since the pandemic, I have been self-medicating with naproxen and lots of fluids during my previous flares.

My worst one lasted for 8 days (this was in 2023) when I had firmness and fluid both the left and right ends of my left knee. At one point when the spasm that it brought on the corresponding thigh and calf muscles kicked in and the sharp pain on the knee at the front combined, it was excruciating. I remember breaking down like someone being brought to mental ward. On the 5th day, my partner wanted to bring me to the hospital but we were prevented because that particular flare was so bad that even a cold breeze was enough to cause spasms and induce pain.

Successive flares, some minor on the right toe, or ankles. Those on the knees are particularly challenging. But still did not get checked because I was so difficult to mobilize.

Finally, last Monday, my partner suggested that I should consider rushing myself to the ER. And I did, but alone (he was not in town). Long story short, I was discharged as an outpatient and was given colchicine, celecoxib and tramadol.

I have been wanting to get my situation checked medically, rather than just dealing with the flares when they come. Was told by a doctor friend that after this current flare heals, the follow up check to a rheumatologist that was ordered for me will suggest a maintenance medicine. Honestly, I don't mind. It has been very difficult to be flying blind with gout for years. So having something to help me manage it, even only to make flares more manageable (if not totally avoid it) is already a big help.

One thing is for sure, I will definitely go cold turkey on hard liquor after this. I feel that at my age (33), I already experienced enough clubbing and enjoying life with liquor that I can comfortably part ways with it.

P.S. The lab results showed that my uric acid level is at 10 mg/dL (even my doctor friend was astounded). A silver lining is that my creatinine levels, blood sugar, blood pressure levels were still normal. The ER doctor noted that the uric acid seems to be the only issue and not from any underlying problem.

Edit: Got checked by a rheumatologist and put me on febuxostat.

After two years of being a listed company in NYSE, Reddit ($RDDT) will join the main US stock benchmark, the S&P 500 on Tuesday.

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/reddit-surges-sp-500-inclusion-set-replace-avalonbay-2026-08-14/

EDIT: Bawal ang crosspost so gonna leave Reddit's own post on the news.

https://www.reddit.com/r/RDDT/s/G2aYojOOTr

Here's a Reuters editorial making the case that the era of passive investing is over.

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Glossing through the article, seems to me that the line of argumentation is rather weak. The write-up focused on macroeconomic and financial headwinds arguing going against the direction of the passive investor . But it mentioned little about structural/methodological flaws about passive investing which could spell the end for passive investors, which is the concentration risk within tech stocks.

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https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/era-pure-passive-investing-is-over-2026-06-16/

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I have currently the following cities on my watch:

• T-1: Singapore (SIN)
• T-2: New York (NYC)
• T-3: Los Angeles (LAX)
• T-4: Berlin (BER)

Chose the other three cities for basically the US East Coast, US West Coast and most of Central Europe.

Though recent Casio models with World Time functionality had new additional timezones in the Pacific such as NZ Chatham Islands (UTC+12:45), Phoenix Islands (UTC+13), Kiritimati (UTC+14), US Baker Island (UTC-12), these places are far too remote and obscure to be really whining about.