№6: The Elusive Dash Cup Holder | The Department of Truth | GTA: San Andreas | Movies of the Week
February 8, 2021
Monday! (In my best Ahmad Rashād impression). Welcome to the tedi.substack.com weekly newsletter! At the beginning of each week*, this newsletter touches on any number of entertaining, informative, or (possibly) useful topics.
One section will feature any combination of VOTW (Video of the Week), MOTW (Movie of the Week), NetSOTW (Netflix Show of the Week), a personal favorite in BOTM (Book/Comic Book of the Month), just to name a few.
As we move further into 2021, your comments and feedback will be of immense help in shaping the direction of the newsletter. Till then, the newsletter will utilize this free flowing format.
Thank you in advance for your time and constructive feedback. Read away!
* - Unless something exciting comes up that necessitates an additional entry.
Two minutes?
As part of my efforts to release a self-help eBook by the end of August 2021, I was hoping to get the pulse of the public (so to speak) on the topics that they would like me to touch on. The general question is this: If you had an opportunity to talk to a counseling and/or sport psychologist for an hour, what would the session focus on?
Kindly click the button below for the survey.
My buymecoffee.com page is up and running!
Thank you for your time.
Tedi
The Elusive Dash Cup Holder
After months of searching, I recently discovered that the reason why it is so difficult to procure a right-hand (passenger) side Dash Cup holder for older Toyota SUV models is because they simply aren’t stocked locally. It was explained to me that Dash Cup holders are usually placed on the driver’s side and since cars in the Philippines are left-hand drive, there really wasn’t a need for the passenger side Dash Cup holder.
This line of thinking by the car manufacture made absolutely no sense to me. After all, it is plausible that a passenger would eventually require it. The car’s dashboard DOES have a slot for it?
My friend had an answer for that too. “You see, the models in Thailand are right-hand drive and since the steering wheel is there…”
“…so will the cup holder.”
As luck would have it, my friend was able to source out a right-hand side Dash Cup holder (They even got my chassis number to make sure that they sourced out the right parts). Now all they have to do is pull out that false cover (see the top-half photo) and lock the Dash Cup holder in place.
Or so I thought….
All of this for a cup holder. | Photographed on February 3, 2021 | ©Tedi Gustilo Villasor
Turns out it wasn’t that simple. In fact, the entire job took a whole hour as the Dash Cup holder assembly came in three separate parts: The actual Dash Cup Holder, the interior housing, and the screws.
They even had to take apart most of the dashboard to install it (See lower-half photo).
Thanks guys!
Book/Comic Book of the Month (BOTM)
The Department of Truth [DoT] (2020)
[Story: James Tynion IV | Interior/Cover Art: Martin Simmonds]
I have always been fascinated with conspiracy theories for as long as I can remember (The John F. Kennedy Assassination is a personal favorite) and series co-creator and writer James Tynion IV take on numerous others made this book too good to pass up. Here is the premise: An off-the-books covert government agency is tasked with maintaining the status quo by making sure that truth behind these conspiracies never see the light of day.
The art of series co-creator and artist Martin Simmonds gives The Department of Truth just the right kind of vibe. A perfect case wherein Story complements Art and Art complements Story.
Here is a page from the on-going series.
“We aren’t the Men In Black. There aren’t Neuralyzers.” - Agent Ruby (The Department of Truth | Issue #3)
In the first four issues of the series, this is the only page to clearly show the book’s two chief protagonists: Cole Turner and Agent Ruby. |Photographed February 4, 2021 | ©Tedi Gustilo Villasor
The Department of Truth just completed its first arc with the release of Issue #5 last January 27, 2021.
Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (iOS Version)
Families! It’s been almost 17 years since I last entered this particular Rockstar Games sandlot and now thanks to the iOS Version—I’m back! Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas—chronologically the 5th game to be released by the developer—and Grand Theft Auto III were two games that (for one reason or another) I was not able to complete. The plan was to eventually get back to them but console technology, interest, and priorities always ranked higher.
Des affaires inachevées. The proverbial black eye in my PlayStation 2/PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4 GTA completion record.
But with the iOS Version of GTA: San Andreas coupled with the iPad Pro’s ability to connect with my PS4 controller, I am given another chance to roam the streets of Los Santos once more.
Periodic updates to follow*.
* - I hit 61 tags as of this post.
Movie(s) of the Week (MOTW)
The Birdcage (1996)
During long trips across South Super Highway, I always make it a point to listen to a variety of informative podcasts in lieu of my favorite tunes. Among them is one called Fresh Air, a long-time American syndicated National Public Radio show that has since been adapted into a podcast.
This episode featured The Simpsons’ voice actor Hank Azaria who voiced numerous characters on the show such as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (retired | 2020) Carlton "Carl" Carlson, Jr. (retired), The Comic Book Guy, Moe Szyslak, Officer Lou, Dr. Nick Riviera, Snake Jailbird, Professor Jonathan Frink, Sea Captain Horatio McCallister, Wiseguy Raphael, Superintendent Gary Chalmers, Cletus Spuckler, Kirk Van Houten, Chief Clancy Wiggum, etc.
Azaria, who is also an accomplished screen actor in his own right, was also asked questions about his other roles, include that of Guatemalan immigrant Agador Spartacus in the 1996 film—Birdcage.
Birdcage! It had been years since I’ve last seen it!
Was what I said to myself as Azaria shared some factoids about the well-received comedy. Birdcage (1996) was certainly one movie that I could never forget as I went into the theater blind: I didn’t watch the trailer. I knew nothing of the premise (only that it starred the late Robin Williams).
Yet, no regrets in the end as I was quite entertained.
You can click on my Twitter link before to listen to the aforementioned podcast.
Here is The Birdcage (1996) trailer. Yes, I finally got to see it.
Birdcage (1996) is available on iTunes Philippines.
The Gambler (2014)
As a psychologist, one of the most difficult cases to handle—if not the hardest*, is working with someone who is suffering from poor impulse control disorder (or the inability to “say no.”). Nicotine dependence, sexual addiction, substance use disorder, gambling addiction, etc. are just a few examples of poor impulse control disorder.
The first 18 minutes of The Gambler were very difficult to watch**. Here is a man—clearly educated (a university professor)—making one poor decision after another.
For me, The Gambler (2014) offers the families of those going through similar trials a perspective of a gambler’s mindset. It is one that cannot be simply corrected at a whim. One that will require a great deal of attention and patience on the part of the family.
The Gambler (2014) is available on Netflix Philippines.
* - In my humble opinion.
** - Disclaimer: I didn’t get a chance to finish it. I just couldn’t bring myself to sit though another self-sabotaging round.
About
Tedi Gustilo Villasor, Ph.D. is a former columnist for Baby Magazine (Philippines) as well as a past contributor to NBA.com/Philippines. His other works include the indie comic books Lindol and OBIsessions.
Click here for more information on his work as a psychologist.
Official Website | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook
Click here to order Lindol (with artist and co-creator Randy Valiente) from our online partner Secret HQ.
Click here to order OBIsessions (with artist and co-creator Jann Galino) from our online partner Secret HQ.
Click on the following links to order Issue #1, Issue #2, and Issue #3 of Lindol (with artist and co-creator Randy Valiente) from our online partner Mervstore.com.
If you happen to drop by Comic Odyssey’s Robinson’s Galleria, the branch is stocked with copies of Lindol #1.
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