March 8: That Feeling

:'c

March 7

Staring at you paints a smile in my face. You may not know it but I always long for your presence. I may not show it but my heart and mind shouts your name. Much as I want to tell the whole world who you really are, like how I did with my past loves, I am not ready yet.

There is still this fear within me.

There is still this hesitation present in me.

There is still insecurity.

I hope it gets easy to tell you how I really like you. We may talk of different things in different timeframes, still I can't talk of this feeling I have for you.

It sucks, you know. :-/

February 29

I know you can't be mine, but yeah, I really don't know really where this is going. Somewhere in my heart, there's this slightest tinge of hope that you will have a change of heart. Distant it may seem, but I still feel that everything between the two of us is within reach.

You're special. You're really very special. If you only knew how much I like you, how much I want to be closer to you, how much I want to spend more time with you, I'd be more than willing to give things like these a chance. I really do not know how this all began. I just woke up realizing that I met a special person years ago. Funny how someone like you surprisingly occupied a slot there, there in that place where no one ever places with ease.

It's your smile. Yes your smile. I always think of your smile. And yes, your scent, your beautiful hair, your beautiful face. For now, I really do not know how I am going to beat around the bush. Confused, I am. I think this is impossible, but I'll be giving this some chance, anyway.

I hope you'd know how much I want you to be around me so you could stay with me, or leave me so I'd wake from this dream. I've been dreaming about you and it hurts knowing that you're beside me yet you're still far away. :c And yes, my heart's a mess. I think it's evident in my inconsistent and non-well-transitioned points.

Pick apart
The pieces of your heart
And let me peer inside
Let me in
Where only your thoughts have been
Let me occupy your mind
As you do mine

Just a Song

Sara Bareilles is not your usual artist. You don't hear her often in the radio or see her in television. Her greatest hit was Love Song, a catchy piano-based song with very beautiful tune. I was once hooked with that song, but no longer for now. Now, here's Sara Bareilles' less-known song, Gravity.

I really do not know why I got so addicted with this song. I never grew tired listening to it. It's been playing in my playlist for two years already, but it still managed to survive my inconsistent and ever-changing taste. There must be some truth to the lyrics, perhaps, as every time Sara utters the first word, my mind is blown and my heart is sank. And yes, it happens all the time.

I don't want to sound emotional as I write (and you read) this blog, so I'm ending this post for now. For the next post, I'll be posting a story about how my life was when I realized I was in love.

Set me free, leave me beI don't wanna fall another moment into your gravityHere I am and I stand so tallI'm just the way I'm supposed to beBut you're on to me and all over me

When I die, then I die loving you

Last Wednesday, I was tasked to go to a place unknown to me, or at least a place I've never been to. I went to Tuburan without any knowledge about the place--how to get there, how it is there, how the people live there, how the road is paved, etc. Point is, 'twas the first time that I've heard of such place and I took it a challenge to go there, not to get lost but to somewhat listen, explore and witness stories, and create adventure.

It was never an upset. Waking up early was the first challenge I had. (HAHA) You see, I had my alarm set at 6:30 so I could have my trip earlier, ergo earlier task done. I woke an hour (and seven minutes) after, though. The next challenge was to figure out how to get to the place without getting lost, or getting a safe transport to and fro. I went to the North Bus Terminal, and was startled by the sizes of the buses that routes to Tuburan. They were small, crunk-y and non-reliable-according-to-its-face-value buses (di masaligan), so I went on asking some konduktor to tell me the safest way possible to get to the place.

Hurriedly, I jumped into a Ceres Liner Jagnaya route, then dropped at Eskina Nogo where I have to take another bus going to Tuburan. I had to take another bus (which was huot and very small btw) to Tuburan, and had to finish some interviews with Municipal Officials and Personnel. Tasked done, and presto, I'm ready to take my way home.

While waiting for my V-Hire to go, I sat in terminal just beside a couple around their seventies or eighties. They were sitting there, as if waiting for someone to come, with their hands holding each other's. They were talking to each other, laughing at times, arguing at times, but you could see that were all smiles all the time. They sat there for almost an hour, and I just stared at them happily as they share stories that I even barely hear.

In the looks of their faces, I could say that they are not well-endowed. The woman wore a normal saya up to her feet and a polo shirt, while the man wore a pair of striped jeans and a long-sleeved top tucked in, perfected with a muddy high-cut leather shoes. They were living poorly, but by the look in their eyes, you could say that they were contented with each other's company.

Almost an hour passed, and they went their way. The man had trouble going 2 steps down (the terminal is elevated two steps up) so the woman came to rescue, telling her husband to hurry, as if angry, but never minded to help him anyway. They walked their ways, and I told myself that rarely will I see that scene again, or that will be the last time that I'll be seeing that and such a couple again. I smiled at the sight of them, and it reminded me a song from Yellowcard entitled Dear Bobbie (the video is below.) Click here for lyrics.

Forty-five minutes later, we departed from Tuburan via Trans-Central Highway Route. Just thirty minutes immediately after we went, I saw the same old couple walking all their way to the fields of Tuburan. I thought they were having the jeepney from transport. I was wrong. They were walking from the terminal up to that point where I saw them. They looked weary and tired from walking.

They were poor. They had no money to take the jeep or bus. They were weary.They were tired. But nevertheless, they had each other. :)

A Mother's Love: Timeless

Three nights ago, I found myself staring at a mother with her high school daughter. I really found it weird (and absurd) that a grownup still has to be fetched from school by her mum who seemed to be tired of doing daily household chores for the family (imagine a typical Filipino labandera). The mum seemed to be enjoying the routine as she fondled through the hair of her daughter in the whole duration of the ride. I thought, maybe, this mum is just overprotective and non-trusting of her daughter, which comes pretty the reason why she still needed to fetch her daughter.

Not too soon, the daughter shouted, "Lugar lang." She bid goodbyes to her classmates and friends who were with them in the jeep. Of course, I was still there, staring and waiting for them to depart from the jeep. Her mum went down first, but her daughter seemed no to follow her. She just sat there, as if waiting for something to happen. I wondered why. Suddenly, the mother reached out her hand, her daughter got it, and as she stood I noticed that the student is limping as if she had fallen and had her bones broken. She had difficulty going down, but her mother was there, all the way, to help her do the act. The mother even carried her under her arms as if she was a young child until she got her feet in the ground. The student still limped, not being able to walk properly, with her arms around the arms of her mother.

Later did I realize that the student has been experiencing Polio, a non-curable disorder characterized by paralysis and immobility of some of nervous reflexes. I asked another student beside me (who was a friend of that polio child) about the mother and daughter, and she said that the mum have been around her daughter since childhood, not failing to fetch her every day just to be sure that her daughter gets an education.

I was startled. I was judging through the cover of the book. I asked myself, "If I become a parent, will I have the same patience as this mother have?" The thought seemed to upset me, but the very sight of the mother and daughter that day really made me smile, not to mention a little bit teary-eyed.

As the jeep accelerated, I looked back. I saw them crossing the road, with the daughter's arms around her mother's, and the two smiling as if they are really lucky to have each other.

Seven Messages to Seven Special Persons

Person 1

You're Like the TIDE. You go up, you go down. Like the water, you're hot and you're cold. You made me confused. You are confusing me.

Person 2
I simply miss you. I simply miss us.

Person 3
I apologize for not being to express my feelings when it was still there. Regretful, I am. I nearly had you. Nevertheless, we're really happy now. Lezz be friends. Good friends.

Person 4
We could have had it all, but you screwed it. You're the best thing I never had, so far.

Person 5
Hi. Yeah. I'm sorry. I wasn't able to pull that off. I know that the feeling really is there. I mean, I have the guts to tell the whole world that I had the chance on you. I feel that you liked me, yet you told me that you're closing some doors for now. I understood that, I was willing to wait. I apologize, though, I wasn't able to live up to that promise to myself. Again, I apologize. Big time. I'm giving up on us.

Person 6
I have loved you, and I still do, but with the rate that things are going, I really have to let the feeling subside.

Person 7
Hi. I'm starting to like you. I want to know you more. Please welcome me in your life.

I Tweet Facts

The list that I am posting now is a collection of random tweets that I have that actually are facts. They come primarily from different online reading materials, or some random facts that I knew. :D Indulge!

In the UK, The Exorcist wasn’t available until 1990, when it passed the British Board of Film Censorship (BBFC) with an 18 rating.

Upon release in 1992, Mikey was banned in many countries and is still banned today in the UK.

Paris Hilton Voted the Least Trustworthy Celebrity

Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera's Moves Like Jagger in number one in Digital Sales and number three in the Billboard chart top 100

so there is this brain-eating amoeba who thrives in waters? scary

almost, but never, got there.

According to the USDA, the fruits and vegetables we eat today may contain significantly fewer nutrients than those our grandparents ate.

Nutritious food costs 10 times more than junk food.

Sharks don't like the taste of Human, and shark bites are very rare, with only 36 recorded in the US last year.

Megamouth Sharks are considered to be the most elusive of all shark species. They were only seen 49 times in India, the Pacific and Atlan

The London Gazette is the oldest surviving English newspaper, and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United Kingdom

When trying to decide on a name for his new service, Sabeer Bhatia eventually settled on Hotmail because it contained the letters HTML.

there's wuss this one time when i told you that somehow, somewhere, i met you. i wasn't mistaken. i met you in my dreams.

When a woman dresses up to go out, she puts on a blouse first. Pants come second. Men work it vice versa.

When a woman yawns she covers her mouth with the palm of her hand, not with a fist.

Women never shudder when a male character gets kicked in the groin in a movie.

the not-so-famous sorcerer Sauron of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings tops TIME's Most Evil Sorcerer.

Talking Heads, 'Once in a Lifetime' (1980) is TIME's best music video.

Voldemort is the 5th Most Evil Sorcerer according to TIME.

Micheline Bernardini modeled the first ever bikini.

Dark Knight (2008) on #2 in Time's Best Superhero Movies. The Incredibles (2004), a satiric cartoon-comedy got the top spot.

Williams College, a small, western-Massachusetts liberal arts school, has been named as the best undergraduate institution in America.

Lake Nyos of Cameroon is the world's deadliest volcano lake. In 1986, it killed 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock because of CO2 emissions.

Although the sari-sari store remained a favorite, shoppers were also increasingly patronizing hypermarkets and supermarkets.

Filipinos were also increasingly health-conscious, with 93 percent, up from 83 percent in 2005, buying healthy foods in 2010.

Filipinos were also increasingly health-conscious, with 93 percent, up from 83 percent in 2005, buying healthy foods in 2010.

Filipino consumers who compared prices before making purchases slightly increased from 77 percent in 2005 to 79 percent in 2010.

Wicca is typically a duotheistic religion, worshipping a goddess and a god, who are viewed as the Triple Goddess and Horned God.

Aquino budget allots P438.9 billion for inclusive economic growth

The last witch to be jailed in England for the crime of witchcraft was Jane Rebecca Yorke in 1944.

The Witchcraft Act of the United Kingdom was not repealed until 1951.

Over 75% of witch trials resulted in acquittal.

The most common form of execution for the crime of witchcraft, in Europe and the United States, was hanging, and not burning at stake.

A misconception relating to Adam and Eve is that the fruit they ate was an apple. In fact the Bible doesn’t state what fruit they ate.

APPLE has more cash than Uncle Sam.

The Sumerians believed they were created by the Annunaki, which was a group of E.T’s.

Try to chew food 20 times before you swallow. Slowing the pace of your eating makes it easier to recognize that 80 percent full feeling.

Norway's toughest sentence is 21 years in jail.

still i know that this extra beat is because of you.

That's basically it. got lots pa unta, but I'm kapoy na man oooi. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

it's hard. you should know

not that i don't like you, i just don't like this feeling. don't wonder if i veer away, or i no longer make pansin you. this is just me trying not to think of possibilities and not trying to entertain the feeling. :X nevertheless, you will see me around. i will try to tell the whole world who you really are; whose name i've been writing beside mine; whose name is always in my journal; whose simple thought of is an extra beat to my heart; whose profile i've been constantly viewing; whose smiles and stares i can't resist; all these, altogether, when i am ready, when i know that these no longer matter because you were just part of a past and of a future that definitely will not happen.

(short rant turned blog-ish.)

ENVY

I envy you.

I envy how many people want to be with you.

I envy how they react when you're around.

I envy how many fingers have tried to search you over facebook

just for them to at least know some facts about you.

I envy how your smile can melt the hearts of men and women alike,

how they treasure the moments you gave them your precious stare.

You are lucky you have someone, at least one, envying you.

I envy you, but there are too many out there who are envying me because I am close to you,

because I know of you more than what everyone know of you combined.

They envy me because I can talk with you any time, be with you any time.

They envy me because we share laughter, not just smiles, and tears, not just stares.

These, all these, make me think how good I am at making people envious of me.

I shall keep things this way.

Just be around. XD

This I Listened for 3 Long Hours

YOU and ME - Parachute. You familiar with this song? How about the artist? Still doesn't ring a bell? That's exactly the same reaction I had when a close friend of mine introduced to me the song. (and BTW, he's so mainstream, and gay. XD) I didn't appreciate it the first time, yes, but having it heard for the second and for the third and for the nth time created an impact on my long list of not-so-famous-favorite songs. TADA!!! If I had my iTunes functional. this song will brim its way up to top 5 or top 3 most played.

Song's about the concept of the Madonna-Lady-Gaga-Britney-Spears-Lidsay-Lohan' "me against the world," only that this time there's a YOU, making it YOU and ME agaisnt the world. (that was a very intelligent statement I got there huh. haha) There was this guy having a dream and along with him is his girl (or his guy) doing the act of stealing, and yes, the world goes against them. That would be the very literal meaning of the song, though. I leave your interpretation to you.

(i thought embedding YouTube Vids is no longer allowed. Well, anyway, here's the video of the song. hope you appreciate it.)

"Oh I keep waking up in an empty bed,
and it's reminding me of all the things I should have said,
and all we could have had."

Yes, I'm BLOGGING AGAIN

After six months of being idle, I am writing again. Here's a random post:

**********************************

I write in the simplest manner there is possible. I'm not good at words, nor at expressions, and neither do I use terms beyond my poor set of vocabulary. I don't read a lot, I only watch movies when I want to, subscribe to a TV series when time permits so, and listens to music only when I find the desire listening to crappy-pop-and-RnB-dominated charts.

I suck at writing, really. I cannot find the best possible term that will fit my statements, terms you can only find in the books, movies, TV series, even music. Most importantly, I do not use the dictionary or the thesaurus in search for better expressions slash terms.

But btw, what am I talking about, really? I was supposed to write something about YOU, and YOU and ME, and YOU and ME and the REST, yet I'm talking about my writing style and writing influences, and how simple I am in expression of my unuttered words. But well, anyway.....

At first there was YOU, or maybe there was ME, and then there was YOU and ME. The first time I saw you, I thought you were special. It wasn't the same as love-at-first-sight kind of feeling, but 'twas more of I-know-that-you're-gonna-be-special feeling, or better yet, I knew you were special. Not long time ago, I met you. Your face barely registers in my mind. You have that very common face, that very usual look that my mind fails to distinguish you from the others, that when I try to remember your face I still need to look at your facebook page and say to myself, "yeah, there, that's your face."

-unfinished-

Ang Dinalian nga STS Paper. Bow.

Towards a Sustainable Future: The Interplay between Science, Technology and Society

Cris Virgil M. Pescadero, BAPS 4

STS 40, Section E

Among the schools of thought in Sociology, we have witnessed debates on how men actually have lived in relation to its environment, and even vice versa. Idealist Dialectics presents to us how an idea can be used to make an object, stating that ideas form and create the consciousness towards the environment, that the real world is a reflection of the mind. On the other hand, Historical Dialectics tells us otherwise. It says that men, in the state of nature, will live according to the structures and needs that is present in the environment. Historical Dialectics then poses to us a simple question-what comes first, man or environment? It is then clear to say, basing it from the scientific discoveries, that the environment (or the Pangaea) actually existed way before the existence of men in the areas of the world. With the environment coming first before man, we'll take a look at how men utilized the environment to suit the needs, and further proposing sustainable ideas and concepts that will make the world livable for the next number of centuries to come.

Man's Utility of the Environment: A Historical Outline

The basic climate during the ancient times in the earliest recorded history, compared with the middle ages, presents that climate has not really changed a lot. We have seen huge ups and downs in the climate since the coming of the Industrial Age, with the upsurge of technology using carbon-emitting machinery leading the vast industrial tract. In the past, man's utility of nature is direct—with that we mean that men directly used nature for its consumption an utility. Men directly made use of the environment to satisfy their own needs. We can see a pattern in here, however, that men is, at the continuum, utilizing the environment for survival and existence. During the age of savagery, and up to the age of barbarism, men have exploited the environment. However, this exploitation was never a danger because in the natural process, the consumed items is just repatriated and replenished.

During the Middle Ages, men have actually experienced a rebirth of a civilization. In the words of Sociology, human societies can be classified into as Savage, Barbaric and Civilized. Middle Ages has presented to us, upon its closure, the development of the Renaissance where men rethought the ancient civilization. The once not-so-complicated utility of men of his environment then transformed into a very exploitative nature upon the development of new ideas and inventions, which catered to the “growing” needs of man for his own survival. These needs, although dictated by some known or unknown forces, continually destroyed the aspirations of men for a sustainable future.

The Revolutions: How these changed the then simple life of men, and its implications to the society

Four revolutions were actually recorded in the history of the world (actually, these revolutions were purely Western in context.) Agricultural Revolution started during the existence of settlements when men looked and settled in places where they can plant and practice the art of horticulture. Agricultural revolution transformed the whole human society from a primitive, nomadic life to a settling population. With the existence of settlements come the ability of men to exploit a single area which can serve as the place for farming and agriculture. We see here that men only exploited one site, thus a need for other sites for exploitation is not actually necessary.

The Scientific Revolution during the Renaissance gave rise to new inventions which made man utilize his environment to cater to his own needs. However, needs were no longer limited to just basic needs of shelter, food and clothing but by then included desires which not necessarily needed for existence. Idealist Dialectics would tell us that ideas will create man's environment. This can be true during this time. As men continually developed his own and and his environment on the basis of his desires, he is actually creating a demand for exploitation over nature. This revolution started the increasing upsurge of environmental exploitation. Worse thing is, human are still fond of creating new unnecessary needs without thinking of a sustainable future. We will tackle about these in the succeeding sections.

The Industrial revolution is probably the most labor-intensive and environmentally-exploitative revolution that the world has witnessed. Steam engine, which is a product of the industrial revolution, is a carbon-emitting technology which uses fossil fuels and coal for operation. Industrial Revolution paved a way for the development of new technologies which only cater to the needs of the people, not necessarily considering the consequences that it can bring to the environment. Industrial Revolution is a means of men to utilize the environment at its optimum. Information Revolution, on the other hand, came as a surprise when the world actually got smaller with the access of information being held by any one in the globe. Along with the Information Revolution comes the sharing of ideas and concerns that are actually patterned in ways that no man can understand. During this revolution, cultures and societies already interact with each other. With the sharing of ideas, men realize that their concerns are not actually devoid of the rest of the world's concern. Climate Change, for instance, has been observed with the sharing of information from one part of the world to the other. This revolution, although helpful in bringing up consciousness to the people, is actually not environmentally-exploitative compared with the prior revolutions that the world has witnessed.

Man's Utility of the Environment and Its Relations

With man's utility of the environment, one can see that his efforts for survival will actually lead to its extinction, and a mere threat of extinction is actually a means for the people to rethink on their actions towards environment exploitation. Although there are places where changes in patterns in the society is actually not apparent, the general patterns in the world system is actually based on the local events which is a reflection of the changes in the environment.

Man's mechanical utility was once helpful in his existence and survival as he used his environment to answer his needs. However, this utility, when not regulated, actually creates a threat to human life. During the time of feudalism, when the relations of men to the owners of production were farmer to tenant, the only means of production was the land. The land is tilled and transformed into productive land which provided for the growing demand for food during the feudal era. With the onslaught of capitalism, we have witnessed how the laborers have been exploited, and the proletariat-bourgeoisie relations was formed upon the introduction of money as a capital. Different from feudalism, capitalism has created more demands besides just food and other basic needs that is present during the relations of farmer and tenant during the feudal era. Capitalism has moved for more exploitation of the environment as it created more needs which are actually false needs. Nowadays, the capitalist system has produced a wide scale of disaster as it focuses on just mere economic structure, other than survival for future needs. What makes capitalism more exploitative that other systems is that it uses technology which are not necessarily environment-friendly. Environment-friendly machineries and technologies offer much bigger future sustainability, but its present cost is high. States tend to go for lower cost technologies because they opt for short-term goals of soceital development.

The Future of the World: Sustainability and Society

With the growing need for new technologies brought about by the needs created anew alongside the development of other things, men can only utilize environment as a resource. No other source can provide for the needs of man other than the benefits that his environment can offer. Historically, we have witnessed how humans' mechanical utility of the environment is used for survival. Alongside the need for survival is the continuous urge for the development. In the present times, survival is no longer the sole concern of the people and most especially of the society. Different means have been employed for the survival and the development of the human race. We have utility of men over his environment, we have ownership of the means of production and most especially we have technology which caters to the “growing needs” of the people.

The point of view in this modern world is no longer a survival of just one species, but rather the survival of the living. Alongside the call for this, societies in the different parts of the world compete with each other for dominion. One should not forget that the only source for any movement in the human species will come from the environment. Mountains, seashores, and rivers have been exploited and has been used up to its full capacity. In the future, some of these will disappear in the thin air. Man is the only species in the animal kingdom that exploits the environment way beyond its capacity to produce. When forests get denuded, when oceans lose its fishes, when rivers fry up, that is the only time that we will realize that money cannot be eaten.

The call for sustainable society is a multidimensional process. It will aim to tackle economic and social issues which are relevant to the continued existence of mankind. The proposals on Green Technologies as evident in some developed states creates an impression that the once states who only struggle for world dominion now opens up on the possibility of adopting a sustainable future. On the local level, we will continue to look for advantages of a sustainable development because our own mindset is still entrenched in the idea of a simple economic development which is by nature very exploitative. What needs to be done is the realization that for humankind to exist in the future generations, anthropocentrism or human-centered development is not the key. What the world needs is a neo-humanist thought that will tackle on human needs but considering whatever there is that will affect him and his society—with the environment as the major factor to be reckoned with.

ps: this is not related to the post. just endorsing. :D

Of Love and Compatibility

I went to this site upon bumping into Pure Disposition, a blog site filled with random yet interesting stuff. (It's a friend's blog. You can't blame me if I praise it. hehe)

Anyway, we have all heard about the news (or have you?) that there is an interesting change in the zodiac. This very sudden modification is brought about by the entry of Ophiuchus, the thirteenth sign. Ophiuchus, or snake messenger in English, is inserted in between Scorpio and Sagittarius, thus creating a slight change in the roll of zodiac. However, just yesterday, a friend of mine debunked this so-called change. He said that the number of zodiac, whether 12 or 13, depends on the kind of zodiac you are using (Western or sidereal.)

Ophiuchus, the Snake Messenger, the thirteenth sign of the sidereal zodiac.

Enough of the trivia, this day's post is about Love and Compatibility based on the zodiac. I am not sold to the idea of changing my sign, so I am using Capricorn (Western zodiac) instead of Sagittarius (sidereal zodiac). Here are my compatibilities.

Capricorn, the Water or Sea Goat

(Character: cardinal, earth, universal):

Keyword: "I use" - A typical Capricorn person can use the available opportunity to its maximum best. He or she is very quick to grab the chances that come along the way. They are very prudent and intelligent as well.

Responsibility, realism, patience, method, discipline, tradition, caution, convention, hard work, perseverance, self reliance and ambition are some of the noble characters of a Capricorn person. Other positive characters like business acumen, career orientation, authority, competency and clear conscience are the signifying and defining traits. On the negative side, Capricorn people could be extremely rigid, suspicious, status demanding, quite insensitive, inhibited and brooding in nature. Suitable occupations for Capricorn could be those areas that demand tremendous patience, responsibility, and perseverance; some areas of profession are science, research, development, engineering, math, farming and building. Capricorn is an earth sign and it signifies tall mountains and winter plains.

Capricorn compatibility:

Capricorn is methodic and practical and it has an affinity with other earth signs like Virgo and Taurus. Both Capricorn and Taurus are very practical and pragmatic people, with good common sense among them in their relationship, professional or personal. On the other hand, the practical and well-grounded nature of Virgo people can help Capricorn people to set up a productive relationship. However, the relationship with these signs could be very edgy and on tenterhooks, because of the characters of restlessness attached with these signs. Capricorn is a very good sign for love and romance and this quality makes it a hit with other cardinal signs like Cancer, Libra and Aries. The Capricorn-Aquarius match offers dignity and sense of purpose to make it long and enduring. A Capricorn and Capricorn partnership can go on for a long time, because they are very practical and realistic people. They can set clear and realistic career and personal goals in life and they make their goals a big reality with their hard and sincere work. Read also Capricorn love in 2011.

Capricorn Signs of greatest overall compatibility: Taurus, Virgo
Capricorn Signs of greatest overall incompatibility: Aries, Cancer, Libra
Capricorn Sign most helpful financially: Aquarius
Capricorn Sign most helpful to career: Libra
Capricorn Sign most helpful for emotional support: Aries
Capricorn Sign best for marriage and/ or partnership: Cancer
Capricorn Sign most helpful for creative projects: Taurus
Capricorn Best Sign to have fun with: Taurus
Capricorn Signs most helpful in spiritual matters: Virgo, Sagittarius

Guess it's a Taurus. Taurus, anyone?

I'm Sipon

Sipon or Colds, according to this site, is the most commonly occurring illness in the entire world. I had mine just recently, and I am currently suffering from runny nose and itchy throat. Whenever I have colds, cough usually follows after.

I'm Sipon right now. I don't like it. I'm Sipon, and it's hindering me from taking my daily bath. (Just so you know, I did not take my bath today. hehe) I'm Sipon and I can't sing well. I'm sipon and I can't sleep well cos my throat is itchy.

I don't when I'm Sipon. Sipon go away.

Bitaw uy, wa ra bitaw koy lingaw. Wa sad koy mathink na topic para i-post, sakit man gud ako ulo kay naa koy sipon. Ahw, maayo, nakonek japon sa SIPON. hahahaha

May You Have a Good Sipon Day.

On Reading and Various Thoughts

Just a month ago, I "unearthed" a few interesting books that contained interesting topics. The last that I read was for academic purposes. Never during the last semester that I read a book of my interest. Upon the discovery of the said books from the dormitory, I was a bit amazed by the variety of topics it contained. It ranged from Illustrator Tutorial to a collection of short stories, from books of Palahniuk to a collection of essays by Zafra. 'tis a good collection of reading materials, and I picked one authored by Chuck Palahniuk, creator of Rant, perhaps the best narrative that I read for the last 19 years.

'tis titled Lullaby. I am still reading through the pages of it for the mean time, so I can't give a review of it. In its book overview, and even in the first few pages of it, it indicated a culling spell that can turn you into a killer upon reading the item to someone. Babies have been killed, editor of a newspaper been taken life, sons and fathers been dead. "tis a story of life and death, only not through a natural process. Death has been imposed unknowingly by the readers or the caster of the spell. For the moment, what is keeping me from reading the book is Palahniuk's witty and comical and honest description of things. He describes simple things yet they are imposed with simple but complex imaginations. (How is that? Read the book.)

The Badgerine included Lullaby in his/her list of favorite books. He described it as "brilliant" and that "themes of life, death, construction and deconstruction was threaded perfectly throughout the story." S/he also asked whether Palahniuk's books were as good as Lullaby. Far as I read through his books, I really find his style unique and mind-tickling, even at times confusing, yet in the end you will find yourself satisfied and happy that you finish the whole book.

Enough of Lullaby, (perhaps I'll be posting a review of it soon) I've been thinking of starting to read more for my last semester in college. Our professors always reminded us of the beauty of reading and whatever it is that we can get from it, yet I was really not convinced and it led to the untouched situation of my books, especially the academic-oriented ones. Guess I have to give reading a try. Guess I have to convince my brain not to shut down as I begin reading pieces of academic stuff. And I guess I should start now.

On Photos and Brushes and Gradients and Vectors: The Photoshop Way

Been into Photoshop lately. I once had the CS4. Currently, and actually just recently, I replaced this version with Photoshop CS5 (the non-genuine one, thanks seeders! :))) Been caught, looked for serials, activated again, I guess this happened six or seven times. Anyway, been reading tutorials for the program also. However, I am saddened with the non-working status of my 3d element, guess it's with the graphics card.

One very amazing feature of the program is its pen tool, which allows you to create vectors and enabling "cartooning-yourself" feature. Here's an example.

Photoshop is also an important tool for web designers and layout artists in the creation of tabs, logos and graphics that can be used for adverts, promotions and even simple vanity. Here's an example of a vanity-laiden logo of me, which is quite significant so i can put identity to my works. :))

Photoshop also uplifts one's spirit, indirectly, through enhancement of not-so-good-looking photos. (Take Note: I used "enhancement" instead of "editions" because intrinsically, beauty is there, you just have to enhance it. :))) One can give focus on the desired parts and can add shades and bright areas to the photo. You can also experiment on the levels to give the picture a "pictorial" look.

Most of all, what I love about this program, this effin'-cool-program, is that you can do almost everything! You have brushes, you have gradients, you have patterns, you have pen tools, you have shapes, you have almost everything you need for a grand work! This program is Photoshop, and this programs is COOL.

ps. sorry for the vanity.

On The Indolence of the Filipinos

The Indolence of The Filipinos is an essay written by Rizal which was published in La Solidaridad. The article was written basically as an answer to the colonizers' assumption of Filipinos indolence, uselessness and unresponsiveness. Rizal, point-by-point, presented counter-arguments as to the colonizers' claim. As I understood it, the article basically blames the colonizers for their mismanagement and wrong administration, resulting to the indolence and uselessness of the Filipinos. Rizal gave emphasis on the tropical situatedness of the Philippines, saying that the colonizers were not actually aware of the habits of the natives in managing their time. Colonizers actually referred afternoon naps as to laziness because they are not aware of the situation and the climate of the land. As to the vices of the Filipinos, the natives started to engage in gambling when it was introduced by the colonizers. Most importantly, Rizal in his articles said that the colonizers actually prohibited the natives of education, and took all what-is-worthy-for-them from them, taking away they ambitions, thus making the Filipinos not work anymore. Point it, Filipinos no longer want to work because they are working not for themselves already but rather for the advantage of the colonizers.

One proof that the Filipinos were not indolent is their mere existence. How will they be able to continue living if not working for themselves? For example, the rice terraces in Banaue is a clear manifestation of the natives' hardwork. The Spanish colonizers viewed the habits of the natives in their slanted lenses, creating a wrong remark for the natives. Rizal defended the natives from the claims of indolence and laziness.

The worse scenario, however, is that indolence and hopelessness still reigns over the Filipino masses despite the long-due ousting of the colonizers in the country. Filipinos remain to be hopeless because they blame most of their misfortunes to the past administrations, not to mention the fault of the colonizers by injecting this mentality to the masses in general. Filipinos remain enslaved of this mentality, further creating slow progress (or no progress at all) in the society, further taking the problem to a higher level.

I would like to emphasize Rizal's acknowledgment of education as a solution to the problems in the society. To quote from Marco Hernandez, an author of a reaction paper to Rizal's work, “Education and complete analysis of this facts is very important, not only this days, but also to the next generation.” Like Rizal, we need to educate our masses regarding the problem of indolence and incompetence. We are no longer under the grips of the colonizers, (or are we still?) so we have to work no longer for other people but for our development already.

That thing called "Missing"

The last time I saw you, except last night, was on September 12. Last night was nostalgic. I was in the room where I used to sleep. I was with the people whom I used to talk with. But most of all, 'twas nostalgic talking to you again.

Simple. I MISS YOU.

err. understated. I MISS YOU SO MUCH.

I don't hate you. I can't, because I understand you. My previous blog was all driven with pride. That blog is supposed to uplift my spirit, to encourage me to not miss you. But again, I can't hate nor not miss you.

I'm missing our talk-'til-4am sessions.

I'm missing the lechon manok meals.

I'm missing the dota sessions.

I'm missing the movie marathons.

I'm missing the you-cook-the-rice-i-take-charge-of-the-sud-an habits.

I'm missing you.

I'm missing US.

Why is there such thing as missing? Ruins my praxis presentation.

err. I'm off to praxis presentation. Oops, I am still to make my powerpoint presentation.

ps I miss you.

Yes, I ain't bitter.

No, I won't chase you.

No, I won't shed a single tear for you.

No, I won't ask my friends to help me get you back again.

No, I won't waste my nights thinking about what happened to us.

I would have to thank you, actually. You made the transition easier for me. You made it seem like you were never an important person to me. You, of all, are supposed to be the person to least likely abandon me, but you were the contrary. Seems like dumping me is a very easy thing for you to do. Seems like you really don't care of me. Seems like I was never that a very good friend to you. It appears to me as if I was just a passerby. It appears to me as if I was just a plain acquaintance. But no, I ain't bitter.

Thank you. You never made it hard for me to forget you. You never gave me the hard time bringing back what was lost between the two of us because I realized I no longer need it. You, in fact, gave me the motivation to veer away from you. You're quite brilliant in making me detach from you. You seem good at making things work for you, but at the same time making it easier for the other party to forget you. You're quite good at that! I salute you.

Good job! Now, we're both free.

-Cris Virgil Pescadero-