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.