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-

My Sites

Hey guys. Here's a list of the sites I am visiting while I go online.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com

Friendster - http://www.friendster.com

Blogger - http://www.blogger.com

Starmometer - http://www.starmometer.com/

Philippine Entertainment Portal - http://www.pep.ph/index.html

CNN - http://edition.cnn.com/

Listverse - http://listverse.com/

The Oatmeal - http://theoatmeal.com/

Cracked - http://www.cracked.com/

Demonoid - http://www.demonoid.com/

The Billboard - http://www.billboard.com/

UP Batibot - http://www.upbatibot.com/

what's yours?

-Cris Virgil Pescadero-

i can't blog right now

i can't blog right now.

i can't think of a good topic to talk about.

i can't think of a theme to use.

i can't think.....

you see, i can't think because an effin' friend is mad at me and i don't know why.

i can't think of a topic because i kept on asking myself what the heck went wrong, or what did i do wrong?

i can't blog because as i try to open up a topic i become confused and go back to the mind that i don't want to have, ya know, this mind who kept on asking what i've done wrong.

i can't blog because what's in my mind as of this moment is the very memory last night when he snobbed me and shooed me away like i don't exist.

i can't blog because he is not replying to my messages, because he does not tell me what the effing problem is, and because he is such a bitch.

i can't blog because i am worried i might lose another friend again.

i can't lose a very good friend, no, not this time.

*ps. guess this is a blog after all.

-Cris Virgil Pescadero-