My Final Birthday Wishlist

This is it! The last iteration of my birthday wishlist. These are the things that I would really love to receive for my birthday.

• Sid Meier's Civilization 5. I started playing the original Civilizaation in high school, got Civ 2, then when I stopped upgrading my PCs I stopped playing it. I tried a copy of Civ 5 a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Now I realize I wouldn't mind owning my own.
• 1 terabyte external hard drive. So I can back up pictures from all computers in the house.
• A 40-inch belt. My weight stabilized at 97kg. Last year, around September I was at 102kg, got to my lowest during December at 95kg. The belts I have here are either a bit too tight or really loose. I prefer the belts similar to the ones we used in ROTC, the ones that don't need eyeholes. So that you can adjust them to any tightness or looseness.
• All-around basketball goggles with graded lenses. So I have a spare set of eyewear, and in the event I choose to play basketball I'll be able to see clearly.

And that's it! Those are the four things I really would love to receive this birthday.

Out.

When Enough is Enough

There will come a time when you realize that you are just forcing yourself to do something. When you realize that all the efforts, all the hope you've been clinging on to aren't worth it. That you've been living a lie, or that your time has come.

I have reached that point right now. I realized this about a week ago, during one fateful conversation. I was expecting help and support, instead I got a rude awakening. It was a dose of the truth, I know. It was for my own good, and I acknowledge this fact. I understood the purpose of finding out the truth, but that conversation was not the appropriate time for me to know it. 

People are wired differently, some people can take it on the chin, stagger, then fight back. I am not one of those people. When the going gets tough, or when I fall, it takes me a while before I can get back up. But I always do.

I needed help, instead I got salt rubbed on my wounds. And because of that, I realized that enough was enough. And since then, when I fell, I've stood up. But it doesn't end there. Now that I'm standing again, I'm clawing my way up even more. Because I know I am not where I should be. I am in a hole I dug myself in, and the only way out is for me to climb up.

It reminds me of the scene in The Dark Knight Rises, when Bruce Wayne climbs up the pit and tries to escape. That's me now. I'm trying to escape. I'm trying to shed the rope so that I can achieve the success that I desire. It may come sooner, it may come later, but I will achieve my goals.

Out.

2013 Birthday Wishlist 2.0 - The Automotive Edition

So I've already written a v1.0 of my 2013 birthday wishlist. Now it's time for another wishlist, this time an automotive edition. No, I won't be asking for cars. I'll be asking for stuff to upgrade and fix my current daily driver - my mother's 2001 Rav4. And I'll be as generic as possible. I may like cars, but I haven't done enough research to be very specific with this wishlist.

So here we go, starting with what I really want the most to what I "least" want.

1. Brighter, all-weather headlamp bulbs and fog lamps. You know what I mean. Instead of your standard halogen beams you'll be getting a more yellow beam. They say it improves contrast at night. Our old Lite Ace originally had yellow bulbs but either the wattage was too low or I wasn't that good a driver yet. But I always, always had a hard time at night with it. Hence my request for brighter bulbs. Instead of your standard 50/60 watt bulbs, I want something a bit brighter. But not 90/100 watt bulbs. That would be too bright and blinding to oncoming traffic.
2. Clear tint for all windows. I want the clear tint that blocks out heat but keeps visibility great.
3. New head unit for the sound system. And a new antenna. No more of those "gimmicky" rubber antennas. I'd rather go back to the classic metal antennas that you can pull up or push down.
4. New power window motor. One of the power windows in the rear isn't working anymore. I'd love to have it fixed again just because I hate having anything broken in the car.

And that's it. I could start posting about outrageous things I'd want for the car (like a hood scoop from a diesel Rav4 of same make, or nice 18" rims, new big brake kits, or even improved intake and exhaust systems) but really, with the way I drive and my practicality, I'll be happy if I get one of those things above.

Out.

Gadget Review: Dragonwar's Dragunov Mouse

I've been needing a new mouse for quite a while now. So I bought one yesterday. It's the Dragunov Ergonomic Laser Gaming Mouse from... I guess Dragonwar? This is my review of the mouse. Take note I've only had it for a day when I wrote this.

image taken from the net

Why this mouse? And why did I need a new mouse?

• The price was right. At PhP495 it was cheap for a gaming mouse.
• I was stupid. The store selling this had it's boxes lined beside Razer gaming mouses (mice?). The packaging looks very similar to Razer products. So I thought I was getting a Razer mouse that was on sale because it was old stock. So stupid me.
• I need a middle mouse button for 3D. I use 3ds Max. My old mouse's middle mouse button was broken. So I couldn't use Max properly without it.

What's great about the Dragunov?

• The price. At PhP495 it is way cheaper than the mouse I was planning to get, a Logitech wireless mouse that was exactly the same as my old mouse.
• The dpi button. The resolutions available are 800, 1600, 2400, and 3200dpi. At the click of the dpi button, right below the mouse wheel, you can adjust how sensitive your mouse is when you move it. I can flick my mouse and the pointer on the screen could barely move an inch, or I can move my mouse an inch and the pointer with fly all over the screen. I exaggerate but that's the most basic explanation of the dpi button.
• The feel. The grip is rubbery and pleasant to the touch. The weight requires a comfortable amount of force I need to exert to move it. Holding the mouse feels natural.
• The cable. This mouse isn't wireless, but I like the cable. It's not made of rubber. It's made of some nylon-ish mesh that covers the wiring. Looks nice and very professional.

What's not nice about the Dragunov?

• It's not a Razer mouse. Honestly, that's the only gripe I have. I'm not a techie guy, and I never really wanted to own a Razer. But I thought I had the chance to own one for a cheap price. Blame this on me, of course, for not reading the box properly. Then again, the nearest Razer gaming mouse beside the Dragunov at the store costs AT LEAST FIVE TIMES MORE than the Dragunov, it was around PhP2495 if I recall correctly.
• Durability. I have no idea how long this mouse will last. My previous Logitech mouse still works, I just gave it to my wife because of the non-functioning middle-mouse button. But that Logitech is still working almost perfectly. The scroll wheel still works. Just not the f*cking middle-mouse button.

In closing, I didn't buy the Dragunov to be a gaming mouse. I bought it as an all-around mouse that I can use for my 3D projects. And if you ask me, it was definitely worth it. I'll try to post an update in a few months if it is still working or not. But for the price and the feel, it is definitely a buy.

Out.