This COULD Be My Last Post For 2012...

... So here goes nothing.

It was a wild and crazy year, in all aspects. Work, home, personal, financial, whatever. Good, bad, and everything in between. But I will say this:

I am thankful for everything that happened.

Everything that happened to me made me become the person I am now. Personally I feel like a better person. I feel like I've matured enough and improved myself enough to realize that I need to focus on being positive.

It was a good year. Because that is how I choose to view it. It's all a matter of perspective, and I'm very glad that I'm finally, FINALLY, starting to see things in a different  way.

I still regress once in a while. It cannot be helped, but I can try to avoid it. And I also now realize that I do need help to become a better person.

So to everyone and everything that has helped me become who I am now, thank you.

Out.

The Quest for the Next Smartphone

I've owned one smartphone already. A Motorola XT720. It was great until I dropped it on it's face and effed up the LCD screen. Sad, after that it slowly started to die slowly. I've been using temporary phones since. Phones I borrow from my dad.

Now that smartphones are more popular and common in the Philippines, I think it's high time I got myself another one. A friend is also thinking of migrating to smartphones, and so far we both have the same choice: The Samsung Galaxy Note II.

Now before we delve into my reasons why I'm strongly considering the Note II, let me explain why the ever popular iPhone 5 is out of the question. Price. Even if you avail of the iPhone 5 in the bundled plans from Globe, you'd still need to shell out PhP15000 for the 64gb phone. Now, a Galaxy Note II and a Galaxy SIII both require only PhP4800 cash out when you get the plan of Globe. So it's cheaper. That's the only reason why I'm not considering the iPhone 5.

Besides, from what I've read the android Samsung phones are equal, if not better, than the iOS phone.

But why the Galaxy Note II? Simple, most of the kind folks on our facebook contacts preferred the Note. Maybe it's because of the size, maybe it's because of the powerful processor. I have no idea. All I know is even I'm considering the Galaxy Note II.

The only problem now is if I'll be able to afford the cash out (looks like it) and if I'll be willing to spend PhP1800 a month for the unlifsurf plan (still having second doubts about this). And finally, I'd better get a very good protective casing for the Note in case I accidentally drop it like my old smartphone.

Out.

It's December 21, 2012...

... and the world hasn't ended yet.

Not surprised, though. Apparently no one considered that the Mayan calendar could reset once it ran out? You know, sorta like how our Gregorian calendar works?

Out.

My Affordable Wishlist

A few days ago I posted my Christmas wishlist. It's nearly impossible for me to get those things I wished for (unless some local multi-millionaire or billionaire reads my blog and gives me one of the things I wanted - no strings attached). This time, it's my affordable Christmas wishlist.

• At least one pack of Hanes briefs.Why this specific brand? It started a few years ago when they ran their ad campaign saying you'll never get "bacon briefs" with their product. So I gave it a shot. And I've been very happy with this product since then. Although to be quite honest the garters do end up shriveling, but only because I had been using that pair for at least two years.
• A couple of pairs of socks. For the affordable kind, I prefer Burlington socks. Either these sport socks or this other type, that I haven't tried out, called the Shock XT socks. Why this specific brand? Because they've been tried and tested personally and I enjoy their durability.
• 16gb or 32gb flash drives. Because you never know when you might need them. On another note, it would also be great to have a 16gb microSD card with adapter. Because I'll never know if I'm going to end up with an android smartphone. And because I can use that microSD card with the adapter for my digital camera.
• Any Nike basketball shorts with pockets. I still have a dream of having an all-Nike shorts cabinet. Why? Because I can wear them as pajamas, use them in the house, or wear them when I go out. I already have four but I don't want to ruin them due to wear and tear.
• A new bag. I know I have a lot of bags, but it's one of those things I like having many options to choose from. Either of these three bags from Pacsafe will do, a small-ish backpack, a bigger backpack, or this shoulder bag. I'm intrigued by Pacsafe because they're supposedly anti-theft. But nothing beats being vigilant and careful. I know this bullet point is more expensive than the previous ones, but it's still relatively affordable.
• One or two Sony Dualshock3 PS3 controllers. So I can buy a few kid-friendly games that my wife and daughter can play with me.

And that's it. Those are the things that are part of my affordable wishlist.

They say it is better to give than to receive. And while I agree with that, there is nothing wrong with wishing for things too.

Out.

Newtown, CT Killings

Ten days before Christmas. Or eleven, depending on timezone.

It had an even greater effect on me now that I'm a father. How can things like these happen? I cannot imagine how bad it must be for the families who lost their loved ones. I can only hope that they can eventually find peace of mind and maybe, just maybe, forgive the killer for what he did.

I was amazed at the range of reactions from athletes I read about in ESPN. The best reaction I read was from Chris Kluwe, an NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings. Here's what I read from the article:

"The way we deal with this tragedy in CT will tell us a lot about where we're headed as a society. Do we only address the symptoms (i.e. just gun control laws)? Or do we also address the disease -- how we treat each other and those who need help," Kluwe said in a couple of posts on Twitter.

It's the holiday season. In times like these, we should always think about these kinds of things. How do we treat other people? Kindness, compassion, and common-sense should be prioritized. Whatever happened to caring for other members of mankind?

Out.

My 2012 Christmas Wishlist

Here we go again! It's that time of the year where I start daydreaming a lot of the things I want to have. As always, these are purely fantasy based (unless I win the lottery or something similar). So here we go.

• A decent house and lot to call my own. Two-car garage, at least three bedrooms, two toilet and bath with maid's quarters. Someplace almost in the center of everywhere, with lots of options available to take coming and going. Sort of like where I live right now with my family.
• Subaru Impreza WRX STi A/T Hatchback. Yes, an automatic STi. Why? Because I'm going to use it as my daily driver. And because I honestly think the hatch looks better than the sedan STi.
• Diesel Kia Sportage. Another vehicle? This one's for when the STi's color coding. And this one is also for family days and long road trips. Also for the rainy days when sudden flooding can happen.
• Canon 5D Mk III body. And a dry box. Ever since my 30D fell to fungus in the CMOS sensor I've felt an emptiness in my inner photographer. P&S cameras just don't do it. Why body only? Because I have two decent lenses here to fit the body, and I can have those lenses cleaned.
• Olympus TG-1 Tough. I still need a P&S for convenience's sake.
• Dean Dimebag "Wanted" ML guitar, Korg G3, and a Marhsall Amp. So I can play guitar when I feel like it.

These things are theoretically possible for me to achieve. If I work hard and get lucky. Working hard I have no problem with, but it's the getting lucky part that seems to be a problem.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Or Happy Holidays to the non-Christmas folk out there.

Out.

Time for a Quick Release

It's back. I felt if before in my previous job, and I feel it again.

What am I talking about? You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you know you have work, but you don't want to go? It's back. It comes and goes, and I can still force myself to go and work. But it's there.

It is not a coincidence that this started happening once a certain turn-of-events at work happened. I do not wish to elaborate, partly because I still respect my employers, and mostly because this is the internet.

It's nothing serious. Everyone goes through this. Some people ignore it, I choose to take it as a warning. Perhaps it is time to start considering my options. Time to start looking around, making some connections, and asking some friends for some favors.

It's pretty obvious what I'm hinting at. In fact, I'll even go so far as to put it in writing. I've updated my resume and am in the process of updating my demo reel and portfolio. Meaning that the horn to signal the hunt for new employment opportunities is about to be sounded.

Why now, why so sudden, and why so serious? Simple. I've got a daughter who will turn two in less than a month. Education, medicine, food, clothing, etc. are not cheap in the Philippines. At least, the good quality kind are not cheap. And I have no plan of skimping on my daughter, nor my wife.

And so I offer this quick release. It is time. Time to start looking. Who knows, perhaps I might end up starting my own business. We shall see.

Out.

My Latest Dream Car Garage

And here we go again, another edition of "My Dream Two-Car Garage" is up and posted. My category this time is vehicles available on the Philippine market. No budget, but keep in mind I always remain realistic about costs. So I guess no cars at all for my fantasy two-car garage.

Just kidding.

Right now I'm currently obsessing over two vehicles that I wouldn't mind having for a two-car garage, the Kia Sportage, and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi hatchback. Here's why I want these two right now. Let's start with the more practical one.

The Kia Sportage. It may not seat as many people as my previous family car ideal, the Toyota Innova. But it looks better, and it can still fit five adults easily. Now, which Sportage am I drooling over? Either the diesel or the top-of-the-line version. The diesel because of the amazing torque figures, and the top-of-the-line because it's the top-of-the-line. I've been seeing a couple of these on the road, and they all look nice. They even have daytime running LED lights, and a back-up camera you can view from the rear-view mirror. Two features a dad like me really likes.

Now for the Subaru Impreza. Why the WRX STi hatch? Because it's got automatic transmission. Why in the hell would someone like me want a supercar level car with automatic transmission? Because I want it for my daily driver. I need the comfort of the automatic transmission for the stop and go traffic of everyday life. The only time I would not drive this would be when it's number-coding or when I have to bring my family to my in-laws. Oh, and if the rain's are bad and flooding could possibly happen.

And that's it. Two cars I'm obsessing on right now, two cars I'd want to have in my dream two-car garage.

Out.

Bad Timing

So just when I was trying to start plotting my life properly a huge roadblock happens. I don't know if I can talk about it now, and I am not even sure if I will hit the roadblock or not.

But it is a wake-up call. Time to start looking for options and be more aggressive.

Out.

My Job

Some of you may have noticed in my description that I am a 3D artist. Some of you may have also noticed that I rarely make a work related post. The reasons are simple.

• My work has a lot of Non-Disclosure Contracts. So I really can't talk about what I do, no matter how vague I put it.
• I'd rather not post my thoughts about what is going on at work online. This has to do with my freedom of speech. While I am free to write whatever I want, I would rather not let anyone who knows my blog know all my thoughts. I am censoring myself already to prevent hurt feelings and other potential legal problems.
• There are so many things I would rather write about, work is not at the top of that list. Check my posts. Mostly daydreams, lots of car related posts, and food related posts. Those are the things I like to write about for now.
• I have another blog, a portfolio blog, that I planned to use to write about anything work-related. Sadly I have not updated that blog in months. Even years, maybe.

If you want to read work related stuff, look to my early blog posts. I was still "a fool" then. I cursed clients, moaned sudden overnight overtimes, and basically wasn't even trying to find a bright spot about my job. Those times are done. I now know better.

Out.

Fluctuating Blog Posts

I've been noticing that my posts for this year are way less that what I posted last year. Almost half right now, and it looks like I'm on pace for about fifty posts for this year.

That's not such a bad thing. In fact, I'd say it's all for the best. Why?

• Lack of inspiration. Sure I post at least thrice a month, but lately my posts haven't been too meaningful. Mostly just my typical car nutter posts, or my daydreams.
• Quality over quantity. I may not post as much lately, but at least all (yes, all) of them are original posts. None of the recycled slam books or fill-in-the-blank blog posts.

Sheesh. Only two reasons why it's not such a bad thing? Sigh. Lack of inspiration again, I guess.

Out.

Remembering the Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2011

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to watch the 2011 Singapore Formula 1 Grand  Prix with my father. It was one of those times that I will always remember and cherish. It happened almost a full calender year ago, and tonight, as I await the 2012 Singapore GP to start, I've decided to write down the things I still remember about those amazing three days Dad and I spent in Singapore.

• The F1 cars are really loud. The Porsche Carrera GT cup cars and the lower formula cars were loud, but paled in comparison to the marvelous F1 cars. I tried to listen to one or two F1 cars pass without ear plugs, and it hurt. Then I made the mistake of taking off my ear plugs when about four or five F1 cars were just seconds apart and passing by our section of the grandstand. Amazing sound, big mistake. Even the backmarker F1 cars were really loud.
• McLaren's cars are shiny. Mirror-like silver paint job. When you look at them at night you can really see the sheen.
• Most of the drivers enjoy the events taking place before the race. Like the driver's parade. I remember Lewis Hamilton and a few other drivers filming the grandstands as they passed by. Vettel was waving to the crowd. Schumi was lounging at the back of his vintage car. They all seemed to be having fun, or at least enjoying the last few stress and pressure free moments before the race started.
• The Red Bulls, and some other cars, had this weird drill-like sound whenever they hit the brakes at the turn past our place in the grandstand. Dunno if that was due to traction control (do they even still have traction control?) or if the undercarriage of the car was rubbing against the curbs.
• Finally, the track crew was amazing. There was one section of the track that needed repair before the race and they managed to do it with no delays to the schedule. Awesome job.

Well, those are some of the memories I had of the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix. The best memories I have are the times Dad and I had a blast watching it live.

Out.

Comfort Zone

A few weeks ago I decided to do something that would move me out of my comfort zone. For those of you not in the know, I hate being out of my comfort zone. For this particular scenario, allow me to describe this comfort zone.

I prefer to be in control. I want to know all the variables and all the scenarios, that way when (if?) something bad happens I will still be able to execute possible back-up plans that could fix things out.

Unfortunately for me, I made a big decision that put me out of this zone. Just two days ago things happened that were not in my comfort zone. Yesterday was more of the same, and to tell you honestly I was slightly freaked out. I couldn't control anything, and I didn't know what to do. It took all of my strength to maintain calm and analyze things in a different way.

It's still a learning experience for me, and I totally hope that I can somehow find a way to turn this new scenario I am facing into a comfort zone. If that happens then that means I have succeeded in the decision I made. If it doesn't, well life goes on.

Out.

The City Vehicle

I have just changed my stance on the ideal city vehicle. If I could afford to buy and maintain two cars the ideal daily driver, city vehicle I would choose would be the Suzuki Jimny.

Now the Jimny is still overpriced, in my opinion. The top of the line, automatic transmission variant costs PhP815,000 and that's not including taxes, registration, insurance, etc. The model is relatively old, it hasn't had a facelift in a couple of years. But it's the best choice for a daily driver city car, in my current opinion.

Why? Earlier today a delivery truck and an Avanza taxi got into a fender bender. I was driving home using my mom's 2005 Rav4. We could not get through because the Rav was too wide and both vehicles were taking up too much space on the road. They would not move because, according to the taxi driver, the inspector wasn't there yet to take photos and file a police report.

It was annoying because I could not get through. Other cars managed to get through, and I basically clogged the small gap. Apologies to other motorists. I would have backed up if the cars behind me didn't tailgate. Needless to say I doubt any other cars would have made it through the small gap, except narrow cars.

The Jimny is a narrow vehicle. It would have fit easily with some clever maneuvering.

Take note, though, that I said the Jimny would be an ideal daily driver city car. I will not choose it if I could only afford one car, seeing as how I have a family already and the car is relatively cramped in the second row (specially with me driving it). I have tried to fit at the back of a Jimny with the front seat set-up for my position and there is little to no legroom (a simple test of space I do when I visit car showrooms is I set-up the driver's seat to my comfortable position then I sit behind to see how spacious the back is). But that's because I'm five foot ten.

But as a city car, it's perfect. My wife and I can fit easily. The second row can carry our groceries and other miscellaneous stuff. If flash flooding occurs, it's relatively high enough that we won't have to worry about flooding the inside or the engine. It's got a 1.3L engine that seems like it could give good mileage. And it's got four-wheel drive. The legit four-wheel drive. So in the event that I have to, say, climb over some sidewalks to avoid traffic (like earlier today) it could have tackled that problem easily. Hell, it could even carry my daughter and her nanny should the need arise.

Plus, despite its age, it still looks good in my eyes. The only modifications I'd do to a Jimny would be to maybe add a snorkel (purely aesthetic but would give me the option to try off-roading, also for deeper floods) and replace the mags. That's it.

Out.

Pathetic

I wanted to write this a few weeks ago. I'm only writing it now because I've got more perspective on it. Here we go.

I think it's pathetic that I actually put money over personal safety.

The story goes like this, during the heavy monsoon rains I mostly rode with my mom when I went to work. The reason is my wife didn't have work during the rains because she's a preschool teacher. The day after the government cancelled all work, both private and government, the rains were still pretty bad.

I had heard from an office mate that his wife was saying that some private offices had cancelled work already. The office where my mother worked was also sending home their employees.

So what happened at work? Well, they just announced that everyone was encouraged to go home once work ended. No early dismissals. Just go home as soon as work ends. And I almost followed it. That wasn't the bad part.

I was rationalizing with myself that it was okay to lose one to two hours of my salary just to go home early and avoid the rush hour traffic. Crazy, in hindsight. Anyway, personal safety won. I left work early, with the approval of my director and my producer.

What happened after that? Almost everyone in the office went under time like me. When they saw that going under time, with permission, was allowed everyone went home. Or at least almost everyone. I guess they were just waiting for someone to go home early for them to realize that they could do the same too.

So in hindsight, I thought my actions were pathetic. I didn't even consider my personal safety, just because I didn't want to lose a few hundred pesos of salary. That's something I realized was just wrong. Always, always put personal safety above almost all else.

Out.

Flooding

I was fortunate enough to not be in the Philippines when Ondoy hit a few years ago. The flooding was bad, and my family was fortunate enough that our house was not affected by the flooding.

Last week though we experienced worse conditions than Ondoy. Lots of places were heavily flooded, school was cancelled for almost a whole week. Work was cancelled for a day. And here's the kicker: It wasn't a storm that caused the flooding this time. It was monsoon rains, being pulled into Luzon by a storm that was already in China.

That storm in China came from the Philippines. When it was here in the Philippines the results weren't as bad as when it left. And that was scary.

I just hope that the events that happened will open more eyes for everyone to start doing something to unify the nation, clean up the environment, and avoid another set of flooding.

Out.

One Car Garage

If I were to have a one car garage, what car would I want in it? This is where I try to answer that question. Of course, my answer will most likely change in the future. Also, the fact that I have a wife and child are big things to consider. Plus I drive slow so I'm not too keen on getting hyper-fast exoticars. Actually the rides (spoiler alert, I wrote 'rides' and not 'cars') I will be writing down are spacious and practical.

• The luxury option. A Range Rover Evoque. There's a automatic transmission, 4WD, diesel option. It's not a "hardcore" off-roader, and I don't go off-roading. The ride height is tall enough and it  looks amazing.
• The practical, realistic option. The Toyota Innova. The diesel Innova with automatic transmission, of course. Preferably the Innova G because of the fog lamps, something I actually need when I drive at night.
• The fun, restomod option. A classic Volkswagen Type 2 Bus. I say restomod and not restored because I'd like the bus to have modern tech inside, and hopefully better safety features. Also a better performing engine (hopefully the original engine but fixed up to improve performance) to make the bus a 21st century roadworthy vehicle.
• The speed freak option. Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Yes, I don't drive fast but I still want this car. What model? Either the hatchback STi, or the 2004 STi. Those are my two favorite models of this car.

So those are four answers I have for the question of what car I'd have in a one car garage. I'd be happy to take any of those four cars. Although realistically the Innova would be the one I'd be most happy to own since that's the only car I'd probably be able to afford maintenance on. Then maybe the VW Bus, the STi, and finally the Evoque.

Though if I did get an Evoque, I'd probably just sell it and buy a top-of-the-line Innova. Use the change to invest in a business or just buy a house with a two-car garage.


Out.

My "Dream" Refrigerator

Back in my grandmother's house in Lucena there used to be an old Fridigaire refrigerator. It was, if I'm not mistaken, maybe a 70s or earlier model. I remember this because I used to raid it for food when I was younger.


Now that I'm a lot older than before, I still remember that ref. And I want to bring it here to Metro Manila, upgrade it myself, and use it at home. Because man that ref looks nice. Very retro, very sturdy.


Now, I have no idea how to restore and modify a refrigerator. But it would be a nice pet project to do during weekends. I just need the know-how and the parts to do it. And I also need a big pick-up truck and some burly men to help me bring it here.


So what would I do with it? I guess fix the interior, make sure the seals are snug, and replace the cooling unit to more energy efficient and environmentally friendly parts. Of course, I'd also paint it both inside and out. In either the original white color or maybe some nice pastel color. If I'm crazy maybe do some pinstriping on the outside.


Why am I suddenly thinking of this? I've been seeing a lot of the show Kings of Restoration on History Channel. Those guys are amazing, and it seems like what they do is both fun and a way to preserve our past. I would love to restore some classic piece and modernize it.


Out.

Post Birthday Reflection

So my birthday has come and gone. Another year over, another notch on my belt. Older, wiser (?), and hopefully a better person.


Not really.


If I read people correctly, I'm still the same selfish asshole they knew from way, way, way before. I have not improved in any way whatsoever. Maybe a small bit, but I'm still the same person.


I would like to think they are wrong, but I honestly don't know. Fuck it all. No matter what I do someone will always think I'm a loser asshole.


Out.

My Simple Birthday Wishlist

Time for another wishlist. This time I'll be writing down stuff I want that is easily available. So here we go.

• New underwear. Maybe two or three packs. Its not that I'm out of clean underwear, but it's time for me to maybe replace some of the looser ones and add a few more so I never, ever, run out of clean underwear.
• Cargo shorts. I've only got about four or five decent pairs of shorts so it's pretty obvious that I use those a lot every weekend. So it would be a nice addition to my collection to get some new pairs of cargo shorts.
• USB Hub. My old one broke. I need a new one.
• Nike basketball shorts with pockets.
• Dry fit t-shirts.

And that's all I can think of right now.

Out.

My 2012 Birthday Wishlist

I don't do this yearly, but I thought I'd write one down now. I'll be turning 32 in a few days and I thought I'd get greedy and list down my wants. And as a change, I won't be listing down some of my other relatively far-fetched wishes.

So here goes...

• A new cellular phone. My current phone's LCD is shot, it's doing weird things already, the battery life is very erratic. In short, this isn't really a want, it's more of a need. I need a new phone. I just need a phone that can call people, send and receive SMS and MMS messages, and it should have a decent camera phone (for emergency purposes). I was thinking of having my old k750i fixed, but that just seems cheap, not frugal. I don't need an iPhone 4S, but I'd prefer to have another android phone, but better than and more durable than my phone. Ideally it should at least be an Xperia Active or better.
• Canon EOS 60D or a better model. My old 30D has mold on the CMOS sensor, and only now do I realize how much I miss taking pictures with my DSLR. Point and shoots don't quite cut it when I'm really in the mood to take pictures.
• Olympus TG-1 iHS Tough or Canon Powershot G12. I know I mentioned I wanted a DSLR above, but there are times when a point and shoot (P&S) will do. So why not get a P&S that has more manual options than your typical P&S? I currently have a Pentax P&S, and it does the job more often than not, but I feel a need to control my shots at times and it just doesn't let me do that. But the Pentax does have a lot of cool features that I enjoy using.
• Custom Falcon Northwest Laptop. I wasn't even aware of this company until a few weeks ago. The laptops they offer, along with the customization features, are even better than Alienware's. I'd like a top of the line laptop with solid state drives and top of the line video cards.
• Nike basketball shorts with pockets. These shorts serve so many purposes for me. I can wear them at home, as pajamas, for basketball, for jogging, and sometimes when I go out. They're not only stylish, but because of the pockets they're practical as well.
• A queen sized bed. My daughter's getting bigger, and recently she's been "sleep walking" over her crib and onto the bed with my wife and I at night. So rather than worrying about accidents, I'd rather get a wider bed where all three of us can fit comfortably. Note, comfortably. We'd probably fit in the current bed but it really is uncomfortable, specially for my wife as she is the lightest sleeper among us.

Those aren't all the things I want for this coming birthday. Those are just the things I feel like listing down. You all know about my other wishes. Like my own car, my own house with a big garage to tinker around with cars, and a toy car (Beetle, Type 181 or Kombi) to play with.

Out.

A Surprise Gran Turismo 5 Car

It had been quite a long time since I last played Gran Turismo 5. For a quick background story, I was level 16 and some of my best cars were a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Ferrari 512bb, and a Renault Clio Sport.


As another aside, I do not have a PSN ID. So my GT5 has not a single patch. What I got when I bought the game is what I have up to now.


Anyway, I started playing again and I tried to race in the MR Races. I tried using either the 512bb or the Clio Sport. The problem with the Ferrari was that I had maxed it's power and it was very unstable when I pushed it as fast as I could. The Clio Sport, no matter how much setup I did, just couldn't compete against the MR race cars.


I don't claim to be a great GT5 driver. My driving style has improved since GT2, but I still have a tendency to do subtle powerslides in my driving, and I really have a hell of a time managing racing slicks. As an example, my 512bb has medium racing slicks and the rear wheels are all red after five laps around almost any track.


Well I was having a hard time at the MR races. The best finish I got at Deep Forest was sixth out of twelve. I was saving my money for either the McLaren MP4-12C or another high powered supercar. I had almost forgotten about one of my favorite supercars...


... The Ford GT.


I had made a mental error thinking that the Ford GT had the same power output as my 512bb. Well it technically was true, stupid me. You see, my fully set-up Ferrari produced better HP and torque output than a stock Ford GT. And I forgot about one important detail. The Ford GT was. Still. Stock.


So I bought a Ford GT, and with what little cash I had left got it the best suspension package, a performance chip, and the best intake and exhaust upgrades. And I won the MR Deep Forest race.


It was a close race, but it was fun. When I saved up enough money I upgraded the car again, adding stage 1 engine tuning, stage 1 weight reduction, and the best drivetrain upgrades (minues the limited slip differential, I still can't tune those properly). Now I feel confident enough to race my Ford GT in the other races that I used to have a hard time placing when I was using my Gallardo.


So what the hell was I thinking? Is the Ford GT really that great in real life? I don't care. All I know is I fell in love with the GT40 in Gran Turismo 2, and I've been a fan of the car and it's "descendants" ever since. So I'm really happy I now have a Ford GT that can win races. Plus the races I race it in are relatively balanced, meaning I still have to drive real well to win. I don't rely on super horsepower to just outrun every other car.


Out.

Why I Stopped Playing The Sims Social on Facebook

A few weeks ago I decided to (finally) stop playing The Sims Social on Facebook. The Sims Social is a free online casual game. So why did I stop playing?


It was because of the swimming pool quest. Normally I don't play quests because I usually just do what I want in the game. But then I wanted that pool. Unfortunately, after spending the time allotted to finish the quest, I failed. And it was frustrating.


I had spent almost all of my simcash (well, it was free simcash, but it was simcash nonetheless) and annoyed almost all of my friends who still played the game and I still didn't finish the quest. It pissed me off. A lot.


Yes, I do understand that The Sims Social is a game that requires having a lot of friends who also play the game. Hence the name. But at the same time, I found it insulting and frustrating that the game developers were going to penalize people who had less friends who played the game.


No, I do not want to add people I don't know just because they play the game. I have an office mate who did that. He finished the quests. Should I have added random people I saw on their fan page? No. That's not how I use Facebook.


I also stopped playing because I went on vacation with my family for about a week. While there was an internet connection where we went, I was too busy relaxing to actually bother to play the game. And you know what I realized? I don't really need to play the game. It was a fun time killer while I enjoyed it, but I just didn't enjoy it anymore.


When I did return to my regular life, I did load the game once or twice a day, but only to approve the quest requests of my friends who still played the game. But now I don't even bother clicking on the game. I'm even thinking of deleting the app from my Facebook account.


I honestly feel like the game developers could have thought of a way to let people with little or no friends who play The Sims Social finish quests without resorting to using real world money to finish quests, or without needing to add random Sims Social players as friends. But alas, that's not how they roll. So I won't be rolling with them anymore.


Out.

My Reaction to the Pacquiao-Bradley Fight

Last Sunday, Philippine time, Manny Pacquiao lost in a split decision to Timothy Bradley via split decision. Some say it was highway robbery, that Pacquiao should have won. Some conspiracy theorists believe they made Pacman lose so that the rematch would earn more. I really could care less.


Now, I'm not a boxing fan. I'm not even a hardcore Pacqiuao fan. But what I am is a Filipino, and I was proud of how our Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) handled everything after the match.


There was no complaining from him. He accepted the decision, and that was it. At least, as far as I know. He was gracious in defeat, and that really impressed me. Manny Pacquiao was not a sore loser, and for that I am proud of him, how he handled himself, and proud that Filipinos can be like that.


If there is any example we can take from the boxing superstar, it's how to handle defeat. Stop complaining, move on, and be a man.


Makes me prouder to be a Filipino.


Out.

Vacation Reflection

A lot of stuff I learned, realized, or thought of during vacation. Strange how that happens. Usually a vacation is when you empty your mind of thoughts and just relax, but that's not how I roll. So here are some of the thoughts that passed through my head, and maybe a short explanation of each.

• The Philippine North is such a beautiful place. From Isabela to Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Sur, and even La Union, the sights to see were very beautiful and inspiring. Most of the cities and towns were clean and organized, and the density of people were considerably less than in Manila. Which brings me to...
• The nearer you get to Metro Manila, the "shittier" things start to become. I kid you not. Drivers become ruder, litter increases, roads get worse, ugly buildings start replacing the beautiful rustic homes, I can rant all day long about this. And it's sad since we Filipinos have such a great place to live in, but it's also us who are making it ugly. Not just physically but also spiritually and even economically. So please, let's stop with the talangka mentality, and let's just all work together to make this country something we can ALL be proud of.
• I would love to road trip driving a classic VW Beetle, but it won't likely happen. Lots of reasons. First, lack of aircon (that can easily be fixed with a few mods to the car). Second, lack of funds to buy one and fix it up. Third, Lack of trunk space. Fourth, lack of people who'd want to actually road trip with me on a classic VW Beetle.
• There are good people everywhere who want to help make this country a better place. You just have to find them and help them out. I'm off to start looking for these sort of people.
• It's easier said than done. Try as I might to be a positive person, it still is very hard for me to actually be positive. The thoughts of negativity are still there. But it can be done, I can be positive I just need conscious effort on my part to actually correct all of my faults.

Well, that's it for now. I don't want to bore you with everything I thought of during vacation. Just some of the more important ones.


Out.

Blogging from Pagudpod

I've been on vacation for the past few days, and it has been refreshing. No stress of working everyday, no hassles of traffic, no deadlines. Just plain relaxation. It has been great.


Sadly all vacations must come to an end, and my vacation is nearing its end too. It's a great thing I planned ahead and extended my leave by a day so that I don't have to go back to work with a vacation hangover.


This has been a great vacation, I really enjoyed the time I spent on the beach with my family. I look forward to doing this again soon.


Better start saving, then.


Out.

The Toyota GT86...

... will be making a few cameos around Metro Manila starting tonight up to Sunday night, as far as I know. Man, what a fine car. Wish I could head over to the locations it would stop by at, but I'd honestly rather stay at home and rest.

For anyone who wants the schedule of appearances, here it is:

May 25
6:00-8:00pm - Eastwood City Stopover near Johnny Rockets
8:00-8:30pm - Along C5, Tiendesitas/Silver City
8:30-9:00pm - Julia Vargas/Ortigas Home Depot/Metrowalk PITSTOP
9:00-9:30pm - Ortigas/Emerald Avenue/Robinson's Galleria going to Shangrila
9:30-10:00pm - Edsa Shaw Towards Makati/U-Turn going to Fort Bonifacio
10:00-10:30pm - Burgos Circle/Fort Plaza/Bonifacio High Street Pitstop
10:30-11:00pm Serendra/Market Market

May 26
1-2pm EDSA to Robinson's Galleria
2-230pm ADB Avenue, Podium, Megamall, Shangri-la Mall
230-245pm San Miguel Avenue towards Metrowalk
245-3pm Ortigas Ave towards Valle Verde/Green Meadows
3-4pm PITSTOP at White Plains Starbucks
4-415pm Katipunan towards UP Diliman
415-445pm Quezon City Circle/North Avenue/Trinoma/SM North EDSA
445-5pm EDSA right Quezon Avenue/Timog to rotonda towards ABS-CBN
5-530pm Tomas Morato/E.Rodriguez/Gilmore/Ortigas
530-6pm Greenhills/Promenade/Connecticut Avenue
6-8pm PITSTOP Greenhills Little Asia Promenade
8-845pm EDSA to Magallanes towards Alabang PITSTOP Shell Magallanes
945-1015 Villamor/Resorts World/Newport City 

May 27 

9-10am Toyota Bicutan
10-1030am Around Better Living
1030-11am SM Bicutan/Going to South Super Highway
11-1115am South Super Highway/Exit Sucat/Sucat Road to BF Homes
1115-1130am BF Homes to Toyota Alabang Zapote
1130-1145am Commerce Road/West Gate/ATC
1145-130pm Stopover @ Alabang Town Center
130-2pm Filinvest Exit/Festival Mall/SLEX
2-230pm Sta Rosa Exit Pitstop at Paseo De Sta Rosa
230-3pm SLEX/Tagaytay
3-4pm Robinson's Grocery/Pitstop Starbucks
4-6pm Mile Hi Diner or Kitaro 

Out.

Time for a Break

When you start dreaming that you're still working at work, it's time for a break. This is nothing against what I'm doing right now. It's just a simple fact for me. I'm in too deep with work, and it's just starting to become a powerful drain on my mental and emotional side.


I'm not yet an emotional wreck, and I hope I never end up as one. But I need a vacation. Thankfully that part has already been planned for the past few months.


I cannot wait.


Out.

More Car Madness

There's a new car I really want. It's the new Prius C Four. It's basically a hybrid Toyota Yaris. If I'm not mistaken, the Prius C is the smallest Prius being offered by Toyota in the United States. The Four means it's the top-of-the-line model.

Why this car? Well, it's quite a simple answer. It's a hybrid, and it's a perfect city car. It's not that big, it looks spacious enough inside to fit me, my wife, my baby, and her nanny for our weekend trips, it has folding rear seats in case we have a lot of stuff to carry around, and being a hybrid it would actually encourage me to drive smarter and more practical. Yes, the ground clearance isn't as high as I'd like it to be for the Metro Manila streets, but it's not as if I can actually own one right now here in the Philippines.

First of all, it's not being sold here (yet?). Second, I don't make enough to be able to afford a brand new car. And finally, even if I had money to get one, it's not my priority (a place to call my own would be on top).

I've watched a couple of reviews of the Prius C online, and I've read my fair share of reviews too. And all I can say is, this car would be perfect for me. I enjoy the challenge of maximizing the fuel in the tank. I don't like driving my car like I'm on a death race versus Michael Schumacher. And I've always had a soft spot for "small" cars.

Out.

Positivity

It's still so hard to maintain a positive attitude. I can't even stay positive while driving, as my road rage still takes control of my thoughts and my mouth. Thankfully it doesn't overwhelm how I drive, so yes I'm still a relatively "slow" driver who likes to maintain enough space with cars in front and all that stuff.


But to be quite honest, I am feeling a lot more positive now than I was, say, a year ago. Things have changed and I have brightened my outlook on life. Has it made a difference? Well, in some ways, yes. But in other things, no. Which isn't really that bad because at least things have changed in one way or another.


Now I have to learn how to let go. Maybe once I learn to let go of things, whatever they may be, I can be even more positive. All I need is a conscious and continuous effort on my part.


Out.

My NBA Anti-Tanking Solution

I have no idea how similar this is to Bill Simmon's "Entertaining as Hell Tournament" in some aspects, but here's my take on how to prevent NBA teams from tanking.


You reward the teams with the best record not to make the playoffs with the higher chances of landing a higher pick. Basically it's the other way around from the current system. As for the teams that make the playoffs, just keep the current format of how they get their draft order.


Why would I suggest this? Because it encourages every team to be competitive from the start of the season to the end of the season. It also gives teams who are one piece away from making the playoffs a big chance to land that piece in the draft. And it also gives high draft picks a good chance to be in a winning situation early in their careers.


When a team gets mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, what reason do they have to keep winning? Nothing. Because then they'd do their best to keep losing so they can get a higher draft pick (unless the draft that year isn't very deep). So to encourage teams to keep playing to win, reward those teams that win with better draft chances.


Isn't it logical? Why will you reward a team that will embrace a losing culture with a good draft pick? Wouldn't that be counter-productive, because it will be difficult to create a winning atmosphere around a team that gets used to losing? Even for just one season, the damage it could do to players, coaches, and staffs mindsets could be bad. Specially in today's NBA where almost everyone (from my standpoint, at least, and I did say almost) seems more concerned with how much money they take home rather than how to play the game of basketball at the highest level.


But what about the teams that end up with the worst losing records? Won't they be forever stuck in a losing record if they only get mid-level draft picks? That's their problem. If they don't want to keep losing, if they want to keep their fans, and if they want to make sure they keep raking in the dough then they will have to be a smart organization.


One downside I do see in this is that the good teams who usually make the playoffs as a low seed have an incentive to tank to get a high draft pick. This could lead to league-wide tanking for seasons with a deep and talented draft. Then again, I never said my plan was fool-proof.


Out.

Dwelling on the What Ifs

I just realized today that I dwell too much on the past. I dwell too much on the "what ifs" and "what could have beens" more often than I should. In fact, I think I should force myself to stop thinking about things that will never happen, or are highly unlikely to happen (like winning the lottery - something I always daydream about).


Don't get me wrong, its not bad to dream. What is bad is if you focus too much on your dreams and it eventually becomes an anchor that drags you down. Something that happens to me a lot of times. I think too much about things that are out of my control, I start to think how my life would be so much better if those things happened or did not happen, then I start to get depressed. It's not really that healthy.


Dreaming and using those dreams to achieve your goals is good. Dreaming and getting depressed is not good. Obviously.


So what should I do? I should stop thinking about the what ifs and what could have beens. I should start viewing them (since I can't totally stop thinking about them) in a positive way. And I should learn to deal with the cards I was dealt with, or the cards I chose to have. It should be that simple. And hopefully I can do just that.


At least now I know my problem, and I seem to have found a solution to it.


Out.

My Goals in Life

Everybody has goals in life. I know I do. And here I will share some of them. Most likely the most common goals, and most likely the most important ones. So here we go.

• Have a place to call my own. I want my own house. Something I bought with my own money, and somewhere I can feel safe and secure. Hopefully it will have at least a one car garage.
• Have my own car. I still drive my mom's old car. And while it's still reliable and nice, it still isn't something I own. I'd like a family car. Something along the lines of what I've always been blogging about. Some reliable car with an aircon that can get my family and I to where we want to go safely and in a decent amount of time while being economical and fun to drive.
• Retire at an early age BECAUSE I can. This means that I'd have to be set for life soon. I want to have more time to do things I want to do with my wife. Travel. Bake. Cook. Explore the world, explore this country. Do things we want to do when we want to do them.
• Be wealthy. I think Shaq said it best when he said that while NBA players were rich, the guy signing their paychecks was wealthy. I'd rather be the latter than the former. Why? Because the former has to earn his money, while the latter makes his money.
• Have my own "toy car." I've always wanted a project car for myself. It could be a classic Beetle, or a Kombi, or even our old Lite Ace. Bottom line, I'd like to own a car that I could have fun tinkering around in and maybe fixing up. A car that could also become "a reliable car (with an aircon, I hope) that can get my family and I to where we want to go safely and in a decent amount of time while being economical and fun to drive."
• Have enough money to provide the best I can provide for my family. As it stands right now, I am so woefully short of doing this. So I need to step up my game.

Yes, those are some of my goals in life. And I honestly hope I can achieve them.

Out.

My New Ideal Family Car

Toyota has released the new Innova. You can check out it's official Philippine site here. Strangely, they haven't updated the gallery of pics, becaused based on the headlights, the pictures in the gallery show the old Innova.


But I'm not here to talk about the new Innova. I don't like the headlights. I think it will take some time to get used to, specially since it reminds me of the Honda Odyssey (you can see what the Odyssey looks like here). Plus the lines on the Innova are more angular now, not like the old curvy lines.


Which means I've got a new favorite, and ideal, family car in mind. The NEW Toyota Avanza. Yes, it seems like it's a "step down" compared to the Innova. The Innova might seem a bit more high end than the Avanza, yes, but who cares? The new Avanza looks great. It's high end model is cheaper, if not equal to the cost of a low end Innova. It can seat almost as much as the Innova. It may not have as many features as the Innova, but it still fits into my category of what a family car should be.


Let's go for spacious first. Again, an Avanza can seat five people with a huge cargo space at the rear, or fold the rear seats down and you can seat maybe eight full-sized adults. Perfect for a family consisting of a husband, a wife, two children, and maybe a nanny or two.


Second, it's practical. It has a 1.5L engine, which would be just right to move it. I don't think it's underpowered, since I've driven a 1.5L engined Lite Ace. Both vehicles aren't meant for speed, and I don't drive fast myself. Also, the Avanza is a pretty tall vehicle so you don't have to worry about flash floods or deep potholes.


Finally, it looks great. The new Avanza looks way better than the old one. It has curvy lines, it has a futuristic look, the headlights don't look bland, the taillights don't look bland. It just looks great. Period. In fact, it looks like a better version of the old Innova, if you ask me.


And those are the reasons why the new Avanza has replaced the new Innova on the top of my list for ideal family car.


Out.

A Farewell to the Lite Ace

Our family's Lite Ace is gone.

No, we didn't sell it. Nothing negative happened. Last Tuesday my father drove the Lite Ace to his mother's house in the province and left it there, to be used when he visits my grandmother and when he goes to the province to do stuff related to his (and my mother's) future.

That car has been almost everywhere in Luzon. We've driven it to Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte, and we've taken it to Naga, Camarines Sur. I think it's been to Baguio, and it's been almost everywhere here in Metro Manila.

I got my driving chops using that car. And I even scraped the side of the car on the gate of the village going in. My dad was furious, and I was panicking. I did not have enough sense to step on the brakes. I guess he was expecting too much from someone who had been driving for a few weeks that time. Plus I had learned driving in a car from the driving school. A car whose wheels were in front of the driver. The Lite Ace had the wheel slightly behind the driver, and hence needed to turn later. It was a lesson I learned the hard way, and it was a lesson I would never forget.

I'm hoping to see that car again someday. Maybe when I visit my grandmother in the province. That's the best chance I can get to see it again.

Do I still want it back? Maybe, but to be quite honest it IS an old car. And the parts are getting harder to find. And the service center of Toyota isn't exactly the best in service. So maybe it's best that it was moved to the province, so I can slowly let go of it.

Thanks for the good times and the memories, Lite Ace.

Out.

Why Am I Negative (One Theory)

Don't ask me why, but I really am a negative person. I have no idea why, and no idea how it came to be that way. I have a few theories.


One theory is since I was the eldest grandchild, and an only child to boot, I was spoiled, coddled, and over-protected. Too much being careful and too many "no's" during my childhood may have given me that no attitude in life, and it carried over up to now.


What scares me about this is how true it could be. I do remember as I child I was innocent and happy, but I always kept hearing from my grandmothers a lot of don'ts. Don't talk to strangers, if anyone approaches you offering candy call for help, and lots of other similar warnings. Now, those things may not be wrong, but if drilled into your head almost non-stop it does begin to take a life of its own. Distrust starts brewing, then fear, and eventually negativity.


You may be asking yourself why I don't do anything about it now that I'm old enough and "wise" enough. Well, being aware of my negativity is one step. And I am now in the process of trying to become less negative. But it is hard. Imagine getting used to a certain mindset your whole life. It will take huge amounts of willpower and forcing oneself just to make a difference. And knowing myself, I will still need lots more willpower and force.


Out.

On Temper

I have a nasty temper. I don't deny it, and I don't hide it.


It's been a problem of mine since I was a little boy, and up to now I have difficulty trying to control it. But I have made great steps to improve myself. Yes, there are times that it overwhelms me and I start ranting like a depraved lunatic. But nowadays it is harder to trigger that overwhelming feeling.


The best way to control it, I've discovered, is to try to stay calm. Counting is true, but not from one to ten. More like, keep counting until I calm down. I can also try to remember that I am almost thirty-two years old, and I shouldn't be getting so angry at so trivial a thing, whatever that thing may be.


I have a feeling this temper will be a lifelong battle, but unlike when I was younger, I now feel more capable than ever to control it. And if I can keep it up I will be more in control in the future.


Out.

Hyundai Veloster

A couple of weeks ago while on our afternoon break at work, my officemates and I saw this orange Hyundai looking for parking along the sidewalks. It looked like a totally new model, and I was totally stumped on what it was.


A few days later while on the way to the airport to pick up my mom, I saw the same model car, same color, hell it could have been the very same car I saw a few days ago. This time I had the benefit of checking out it's rear and seeing it's name. The Hyundai Veloster.


Now why did I choose to link to the Car and Driver site? Simple, it was through that site that I found out that the Veloster has assymetrical doors. Something I did not notice when I saw it since I only saw the driver's side. Apparently The driver's side has only one door while the passenger side has a front and rear door. It's a quirky design, but it works for me. For one, most of the time the driver's side is away from the sidewalk, so it would make things safer for passengers to get in via the passenger's side. Something the Car and Driver article mentioned.


Now, I have no idea if Hyundai will sell this in the Philippines. I'm guessing the Veloster I saw was an import. If they do decide to sell it here, I hope it's relatively affordable. The technology seemed a bit too advanced for it to be priced in the "Toyota - Honda" price range, I fear it might get priced closer to the "BMW 1-Series" range, but I could be wrong.


Out.

Armchair GM Featuring the New York Knicks

Before I begin I have to let it be known that I'm a bigger Melo fan than an Amar'e fan. And I'm not really a Knicks fan, I'm only rooting for them because of Melo, and to a lesser degree Amar'e. However, for the real life Knicks to be successful under Mike D'Antoni's system I do know that Melo just won't work. So I played around with ESPN's latest NBA Trade Machine and I came up with two possible trade scenarios that might help the Knicks (and also help the other team in the trade). Let's not forget that the estimated wins added or lost are just that, estimates.


Trade Number 1
The Knicks trade: Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert
The Celtics trade: Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen


Okay, so the Celtics in theory get -7 wins while the Knicks get +7 wins. How is that fair to the Celtics? Well, for starters the Celtics get two younger players (although Melo has been in the league for quite a while, he is still relatively younger than Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett) they can build on for the future. Melo and Shumpert would greatly benefit from the leadership two successful future hall-of-famers would give them. Melo would just assume Pierce's scoring burden, and the two have similar play styles so the transition might not be that difficult. Pierce can slide over to shooting guard and be more of a support scorer instead of having to carry most of the scoring load. Garnett could focus more on defense and rebounding too since Melo can also operate on post ups. Let's not forget about Shumpert, who is also a pretty good defensive minded guard. He just needs to improve his shooting and his passing a bit more.


The Knicks get a true point guard in Rondo. This is someone who fits perfectly with D'Antoni's system, and I'm pretty sure Rondo will always find the open man. Let's not forget that Rondo is also a very good defender and combined with Tyson Chandler would greatly improve the Knicks' defense. With Ray Allen they get a marksman from three, someone who could steady the team with his veteran leadership, and his play style complements Amar'e's play style instead of clashing with it. Plus Landry Fields would benefit greatly if he were to learn from one of the league's greatest shooters.


Trade Number 2


The Knicks trade: Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert
The Nets trade: Deron Williams and Johann Petro


I'm more of a Rondo fan than a Deron fan but this one gives the Knicks a little more offensive firepower. Again, Deron is a passing point guard who can score, and I'm sure he would love to have a pick and roll partner again. Plus Deron would be better offensively than Rondo. Petro's just there to balance the salaries to make the trade work.


As for the Nets, they finally get Melo, who is signed on long term meaning they don't have to worry about Deron leaving their team after this season. Shumpert was added to possibly replace the void left by Deron and hopefully learn from Avery Johnson. And if the Nets aren't planning on getting Dwight Howard anymore, a core of Brook Lopez - Carmelo Anthony - Iman Shumpert does sound good. I can't believe I'm that high on Shumpert, but I am.


Well, those are two trades I thought of that might help the Knicks and their trade partners. If it happens in real life it will be interesting, but if it doesn't, I didn't lose anything.


Oh, and if you're wondering why I don't have a trade with a Western Conference team, I just couldn't find a team with a good point guard who might be willing to get Melo. Sorry, Suns, but Steve Nash is a bit too old to consider.


However, just for fun's sake let's try this trade out I just thought of...


(Bonus) Trade Number 3


The Knicks Trade: Carmelo Anthony
The Suns Trade: Steve Nash and Josh Childress


Nash returns with D'Antoni for a few more years (I can't guess how many more) however the biggest risk here is that Nash won't have the benefit of Phoenix's excellent medical staff so he might run the risk of more injuries. Plus, D'Antoni has a habit of playing his starters too many minutes every night. Childress is just there to balance the salaries.


Melo moves to Phoenix, but never mind. Their owner wouldn't pull the trigger on this one. If what I read is true, the Suns' owner wouldn't want to spend on Melo and go to the luxury tax.


Out.

Katsu Curry

I don't have any pictures to support my article, but take my word for it. If you are in the Makati area and you're looking for a good tasting katsu curry you can always head by Zaifu in the Rockwell Power Plant Mall.


So far I've had katsu curry in about three or four places in Makati but the best I've had is at Zaifu. It has nothing to do with the cut of meat, but with the curry itself. It just tasted the best. 


But the best katsu curry I've had in the Philippines has to be in Ryuma at Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The cut of meat, the sauce, and the rice all blend together so well that I would gladly visit that place again for another round. Plus the other offerings of Ryuma aren't that bad either. And they are really affordable.


Out.