I Feel So

When you've reached the extent of what you feel, the venting stops and you just remain speechless as you throw the white flag. I think this song pretty much sums every morsel of what stoicism must be.



Life is madness. All I can do is stare at what it does to me.

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All I Want For Christmas

I was reading a thread about things to change for the new year when I found a link that changed me. Of all the 50 tips it had, it was the picture of the Brooklyn Bridge that actually hit me. I want to take such photos too - make an ordinary place passed by everyday and make it look so special. So from low priority, here's my next priority after plane tickets - cameras.

Wish #1: I wish I have a trusty underwater camera.
Being in love with travel, it's such a shame if I can't document the awesomeness underwater as well. After weighing my options between Nikon AW100 (too pricey) and Sony TX10 (cracks easily), my ultimate wish would be an Olympus Tough TG-810. It also has panoramic features! I've always wanted to take an image where one half is land and the other's water.

Wish #2: I wish my photos have a dreamy, old-school feel.
Clear photos are nice and all. But when I'm having random moments with friends, I want photos to have a nostalgic feel whether it's via saturation or grainy quality. Thus the year-old dream of owning a Digital Harinezumi is revived. Plus points since it's really small so you won't look jeje taking pictures inside the mall. But the best thing is that it's digital, given that I never wanted to develop a relationship with film.. until Wish #3.

Wish #3: I wish I can take artsy photos.
Actually, Harinezumi can already cover this wish or maybe even just Instagram. But for some reason, I'm deeply infatuated with Sprocket Rocket. It's the combination of panorama, sprockets and just being overly exposed. I can't believe I'm saying this but: I can't wait to buy this and 35mm film.

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Sethela

Seth, my prehistoric Touch (1st Gen 8GB), finally broke down on me. I haven't been the perfect owner either since (a) I let it just fall around without any casing and (b) I leave it around in direct tropical sunlight which causes overheats. The last straw was when I took it to a shoreline and it suddenly rained. Oops.

Since I can't live without music, I didn't wait for the new gen in September. Local radio is unbearable. I can't stand one more "Kadyot lang!" or a kid wincing "WIN REYDIYO!" five times. So I finally bought the latest gen from my friend JM's Torque Gadget Online Shop for almost less than 2k in retail price.

Here are sexy pictures of Seth 2.0: Ipod Touch 4th Gen 32GB / Php 12,500.00:

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Evening Sun

For my second mix, it's inspired by roadtrip excitement - from seating on the backseat and waking up your friend since you're "Almost There", finding "Young Love" on the beach but not knowing his/her name and ending with a peaceful journey back "Home". I had a better range of genres since the recipient, Rhochella, appreciates some indie. I took the liberty and injected indie (pop, folk, rock), alternative, garage rock.

As for the album art, my friends and I do this water hair flip thing whenever we swim. I thought it was perfect cover art since Rhochella's graceful doing it. I actually had second thoughts since I have never drawn still mid-air water. But I'm glad I tried since it actually looks okay. And as a side note, font title was copied from Cobra Starship. :|

1 Almost There - Opus Orange
2 Girl Just Want To Have Fun - Starfucker
3 Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club
4 Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
5 Big Sur - The Thrills
6 Chandeliers - Summer Fiction
7 Eyes As Candles - Passion Pit
8 All Nothing - The Good China
9 Young Love - Mystery Jets
10 Daylight - Matt and Kim
11 Heaven's On Fire - The Radio Dept.
12 You Only Live Once - The Strokes
13 Lisztomania - Phoenix
14 Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

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Blue Valentine

After watching Blue Valentine, I wasn't sure if it was great or just okay. Mainly because I can't pinpoint how and when Dean and Cindy lost their love. I could have easily cried buckets if they pounded on an idea that can make a heart break. After giving it much thought, it was probably the point of the film - there's no specific scene or instance in one's life wherein you know love's gone. Love can slowly die in the course of everyday life. You get used to what you once thought was adorable and when infatuation clears up you realize that you never really liked it. Of course, it's not just that; it also tackles questions about growing up, spouse responsibilities etc. That's just how I can put it simply especially since I wouldn't know how a dying (or burning) love feels like.


There's a scene that left a big imprint on me which was Cindy asking her grandma how love feels like wherein her grandma said she hasn't found it. That grandma probably found it only in the beginning of their relationship. And so Cindy posed the question, "How can you trust your feelings if they can just disappear like that?"

I love that the movie is the cold, brutal truth - it's refreshing. Overall, great anti-love drama and plus points since Grizzly Bear scored it.

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Reasons To Sing

I thought it was one of those things I say I'll do but actually won't. Surprisingly, I actually finished my very first mixtape! Since the recipient, Chin, is a girly girl who likes acoustic, the indie sound is chirpy, sunny and inspired. In a nutshell, I want her to have reasons to sing when she hears the songs thus the album title.

1 Because I Do - Pearl and The Puppets
2 Fresh Feeling - The Eels
3 Ask - The Smiths
4 Reasons To Sing - The Crash
5 Oregon Girl - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
6 I Feel It All - Feist
7 Make Me Smile - Pearl and The Puppets
8 Babygirl - Anthony Green
9 The Violet Hour - Sea Wolf
10 Paint The Silence - South
11 Big Jumps - Emiliana Torrini
12 Long Haul - Voxtrot
13 The Everglow - Mae

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So Now I'll Never Explore

Here are reasons why I'm in love with post-punk revival: baritone, heavy bass, dark atmosphere. Unfortunately few people appreciate a melancholic sound. But The xx is different, they recreated it to something a little happier. It's post-punk goes pop.

Male deep voice is softened by partnering with female vocals. There's still hints of gloominess but arranged meticulously with concise guitar plucks and electronic hand claps. I first heard the more popular "Islands" but wasn't hooked yet. I had to stumble upon "Heart Skipped a Beat" and surprisingly "Intro" (which is an instrumental) to realize that their basslines are not just catchy; they can be haunting as well.

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Take A Bow

My recent online purchase brought by my bow addiction. Two bow rings and one bow necklace from Anagon - my favorite online accessories shop. When I opened my brown package, I found a red bow necklace. I thought it was placed there by mistake because I didn't order it. Apparently, it was a freebie. It's a nice surprise. :)

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It Breaks If You Don't Try

"People are fragile things, you should know by now.
Be careful what you put them through."

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Zachary + Johnny

Meet my two new toys: Zach and Jack.

Zach: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 / $299.99

For months, I have been searching for my perfect point-and-shoot camera. Perfect doesn't mean it has to be bursting with capabilities. Perfect means suitable for my wants and needs. So no, I wasn't looking for the overrated DSLR.

I found WX5 to be the just right. I expected it to be bigger. But it's extremely compact considering its features such as Superior-Auto (takes 2-6 photos in one press and combines into one to reduce noise), Sweep Panorama (stitches photos in one sweep), Background defocus (that DSLR effect), HD video and 3D photos. But what I like best is how good it is in low-light - with or without flash. A con though is that in one low-light feature, the picture becomes too exposed and it becomes a little blurry. The weird thing is, the hazy effect looks great nonetheless.

Here's a sample of Zach's Sweep Panorama overlooking my office:


Jack: Seagate 1 TB HDD / $120.00

Another wish list ever since college is a hard disk drive. I've been branded as The Virus Girl since freshman year in college so you can imagine how badly needed an HDD is for me. And in my 4 months as an employee, I had to reformat my laptop twice. Malware loves me that much. I didn't buy then because I wanted to make it right. If I'm going to buy one, it better be a terabyte. So here it is now.

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Stroopwafel

It's rare that I see this pasalubong lying around the house. That's why when I saw it, I immediately hoarded it.

It's Caramel Cookie Waffles (or Stroopwafel) from Netherlands. It's thin waffles layered with sticky caramel syrup inside. I've been told these are sold in Starbucks for 60.00 Php for 2 pieces. I think it's crazy.. to spend that much or even go to a coffee shop. But if I ever do crave for some Dutch cookies, I'll be burgis for once.

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All Sparks Will Burn Out

Let me tell you something about sparks. It's confusing. It's jolts of whatnot but you don't know if another felt it. You can only feel half of the spark.

It's like seeing something that others cannot. You even ask yourself if it's real or imagined. Because no matter how spectacular it is, it's pointless if nobody knew about it. If no one believes you, you're just creating your own reality.

Therefore, sparks are good as nothing. It might as well not happened at all.. unless the other end agrees on feeling it too.

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