Musta Na? [Life, Technology, Fun]

Lightyears

2011-05-06T03:36:00.000-07:00

Can't believe your charms worked on me
I sat on the beach wanting to be free
How could I have know I'll meet you there?
All I wanted was to release my cares...

I should have seen you from a mile a way
I should have ran, but I chose to stay
What was I thinking? Looking at you
It is as though I was shot right through..

The world can see we're different, so can I
Years placed us further than we would like
But when you smiled and stayed instead of going
Deep inside there sparked some king of longing...

How can you, so early in years
Strike away clean all of my fears?

A simple talk, a prudent smile
A stolen glance, a meeting of the eye
A walk in the dark, a short glimpse
A touch of the skin and our minds crimp...

Time is short - that's what they all say
But what do I do, whe you're lightyears away?
I know it's so wrong - I'm sure you do too
Why it feels right, I don't have a clude...

Why did I meet you, why on that beach?
Why did you have to be someone out of reach?
Could have been anyone from all of the crown
Our moment is still in mind and it's ringing out loud...

There's something about you I don't understand
When we walked in the dark, I wish I held your hand
Now I'm not sure if we'll ever meet again
But sure enough I wish we do - planned or unplanned...

Can't stop thinking of you
It's driving me nuts
I just hope we get to see each other again

- Lagosite, April 6, 2011

The Sun is Up, But The Morning is Gloomy

2010-10-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

The sun is up, but the morning is gloomy. I feel so broken right now. I am missing an integral piece. It's not the first time, but events in my life - recent and long ago - have made me think that it would never happen again. The fear was long forgotten, until much recently. I feel the whole weight of the world bearing down on me - me, forced to carry it alone. No man is an island, we were made to be with others, with someone. Now I dread that my best friend, my love, my life...has once again drifted away. Washed afar by the currents of the world, of new friends, of situations..of circumstances. Who do I tell? My chest is bursting, my eyes are wet, my mouth is dry. I am longing to tell, but to whom? I dread the counsel of my friends, you know how guys are. I can't tell my parents, lest they change their view of my love. Who do I tell? I can't keep pretending to be okay. I am a frail being - a lone being. I can't bear the weight of my yoke much longer, someone please help me carry it. I just hate the feeling of not being able to do anything about a situation. I want to be in control, that's the way I was used to. I am like my dog, itching tirelessly but not being able to reach the spot. I need someone to scratch my back. But alas! The person I solely and strongly depended on, may once again have deserted me.

For now, I must pretend...Someone notice me, please...

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Pretending I'm doing well
My need is such
I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no one can tell
...
Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Adrift in a world of my own
I play the game but to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone

Too real is this feeling of make-believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown

Too real when i feel what my heart can't conceal

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're...
Pretending that you're still around...

Words of Life or Death

2010-02-02T12:39:00.001-08:00

Kristie's aunt sent me this via email a week ago. It was only now I had the time to read it. I think this is applicable to men as well - and to all types of relationships. We should really be very careful of what we say about others, usually, it says more about ourselves.

Words of Life or Death

Melanie Chitwood

"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

Devotion:

I often hear my husband Scott say something to my sons that brings a smile to my face. "Have you told your mom you love her today? Don't ever forget you have the best mom in the world." When I hear him praise me to our sons, I feel encouraged and appreciated. From my husband's example, I've learned to be careful about the words I say not only to my husband but also about my husband.

Today's verse tells us our words can bring "death or life." In our marriages, this means our words can either tear down our spouses or build them up. I've been noticing lately if I'm more likely to say words such as, "I'm married to the greatest man." Or do my words tend to be critical, such as, "I told you so," or "You don't even try to understand me"? What about you and your words to your husband? When you speak to your husband, do you fill him up with praise or make him feel like he's not measuring up?

Now let's consider the words we say about our husbands to others. What kind of things do you say about your husband to your children, best friend, sister, or mother? I tend to be a venter when I am angry or frustrated with my husband. Sometimes I turn to others because I'm seeking validation for my angry feelings. Often I vent when I haven't taken the time first to deal with the situation with God. I'm learning that if I go to the Lord first in prayer, pouring out my heart to Him, He changes my heart and brings me to a place of repentance and calmness. Then I'm able to let go of my anger and move on or talk to my husband in a loving manner.

Scripture gives plenty of evidence that God's words have the power of life. In Genesis we're told God created every inch of the world with His spoken words. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the Word. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus heals countless people with the power of His words. In a similar manner, God wants our words to bring life to our marriages. We can choose what we will sow—words of life or words of death—and we will reap the consequences many times over.

So will you take some time today to consider the words you use to and about your spouse? Use today's application steps to fill up your husband with words of life.

Dear Lord, let my words to my spouse and about my spouse draw us closer to one another. Teach me to communicate in ways that build my husband up. Help me hold my tongue when I'm about to say something that will tear him down. If pride, stubbornness, selfishness, or any other sin is preventing me from speaking words of life in our marriage, Lord, I confess that right now. Make me aware of any words of death I've spoken in our marriage, and as the Holy Spirit brings those to my mind, help me confess and turn from them, especially any words of divorce. Break any curse on our marriage from hurtful, angry, or destructive words. Guided by Your wisdom and love, may our words to and about one another build a protective wall around our marriage. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Philippine holidays and long-weekend schedule for 2010

2010-01-01T23:59:00.000-08:00

Here is the schedule of Philippine holidays and long-weekends for 2010 based on RA 9492 and Proclamation 1841:

January 1 (Fri) - New Year's Day (five-day long weekend from December 30 to January 3)
February 22 (Mon) - EDSA Revolution Anniversary (holiday for schools only, three-day long weekend from February 20 to 22)
April 1 (Thu) - Holy Thursday
April 2 (Fri) - Good Friday (four-day long weekend from April 1 to 4)
April 9 (Fri) - Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day long weekend from April 9 to 11)
May 1 (Sat) - Labor Day
May 10 (Mon) - National Elections (three-day long weekend from May 8 to 10, make sure you vote and vote wisely)
June 14 (Mon) - Independence Day (three-day long weekend from June 12 to 14)
August 23 (Mon) - Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day long weekend from August 21 to 23)
August 30 (Mon) - National Heroes Day (three-day long weekend from August 28 to 30)
September - Eid'l Fitr (to be announced, calculated September 10, possible three-day long weekend from September 10 to 12)
November 1 (Mon) - All Saints Day (three-day long weekend from October 30 to November 1)
November - Eid 'l Adha (to be announced, calculated November 16)
November 29 (Mon) - Bonifacio Day (three-day long weekend from November 27 to 29)
December 24 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday
December 25 (Sat) - Christmas
December 27 (Mon) - Rizal Day (four-day long weekend from December 24 to 27)
December 31 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday
January 1 - (Sat) New Year's Day (three-day long weekend from December 31 to January 2)

I Lurve This Commercial!!!!

2009-06-14T18:13:00.001-07:00

I love this song....

I love bubbles....

We'll have some on our big day!!!

There She Is! [Final Step]

2009-02-01T18:55:00.000-08:00

Finally found the last chapter of the epic story between the love of a rabbit and a cat...

Love and All its Challenges

2008-08-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

I found some videos on Youtube. I know most of you have already seen some of them, but I think these are worth sharing...It all starts with a cute love story, then it gradually grows into a more mature theme...I like the way the creator uses several metaphors here...I think it's really great...We could all learn a great deal on how love and relationships grow and evolve, how we handle relationships, and how we should fight and never give up for the people we love...

Too bad I could only find four of the five on the series...I'll keep you guys posted...enjoy!!!

*There She Is! : Step 1

*There She Is! : Step 2 (Cake Dance)

*There She Is! : Step 3 (Doki & Nabi)

*There She Is! : Step 4 (Paradise)

Dreams and Prayers Realized

2008-08-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post. Some of you might have been wondering what happened to me and my love story...In short, God has made a way to make it beautiful again...Since her timely visit last May 5, 2008 (Our Anniv!), we have been blessed by God with so much renewal and growth in our relationship...Now, more than ever, I truly feel that God wills us to be together...I pray and I hope that soon, our love will be realized, and we will be together soon. I love you tart...

*For those who want to see what I'm talking about, just visit my fs and multiply accounts...^_^
Friendster
Multiply

*For everybody else, here's a very nice video I found on youtube.

Happiness and Holiness

2008-02-22T01:01:00.000-08:00

"Bee Happy." - Jolibee

That's not a bad idea. In fact, the Bible even suggests on several occasions the importance of being happy of joyful. Solomon tells us that God grants happiness to us as a privelege. (Eccl. 3:12, 7:14, 11:9)

Most of the times though, we take the search for earthly happiness too far. We see it as the most important pursuit, and even believe that our happiness is God's highest goal for us. That's when our thinking gets confused.

God's Word tells us that true happiness comes by keeping God's law (Ps. 1:1-2, Prov. 16:20, 29:18) God demands holiness and has called us to live a holy life - one that exemplifies His moral character. (1Thes. 4:7, 2Peter 3:11) In Peter's first letter we read, "As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy for I am holy' ".(1Peter 1:15-16)

When we face decisions about the way we should act or how we should live, we must keep in mind that God's command is not "Be Happy," but "Be Holy." True joy will come from a holy God-honoring life. - Dave Branon/ John Lagos

In all I think and say and do,
I long, o God, to honor You;

But may my highest movie be

To love the Christ who died for me. - D. De Haan

There is no true happiness apart from holiness

and no holiness apart from Christ.

This would have been a Special Day..

2008-02-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

If things were not the way they are, this would have been a special day. I read my peice of the Word today, and accidentally skipped a day. I guess that happened for a reason. The verse was Revelation 2:4. Pick up your Bible and read it.

Hey, I got a poem for you...

What was once filled with wonder

Lies cold within my heart;

Return, O Lord, that wonder,

And may it not depart.

The Turkish Delight Syndrome

2008-01-27T18:28:00.000-08:00

In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund was easily won over to the side of darkness by the wicked white witch. Her method was simple - she appealed to his love for rich, sweet food, as well as for status and revenge. The Turkish Delight she offered him was delicious, and it left him craving even more. So strong was its appeal that it lead him to betray his brother and sister.

The appetites of the world and the flesh are powerful and addictive tools of the devil. He appeals to our love for what satisfies our selfish and sinful desires and uses it to tempt, control, discourage, defeat and destroy us. We crave power or money or food or alcohol or clothes or sex, even though we are in danger of sacrificing our friends, our loved ones, and even our relationship with our Savior to satisfy our desires.

How can we resist the temptations of Satan? Paul said, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). He also wrote, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Rom. 13:14). And John said, "Do not love the world of the things in the world" (1John 2:15).

Put on the the Lord and walk in the Spirit. That's how to break the power of the Turkish Delight syndrome. - David Egner

When temptation's darts assail us,
When in devious paths we stray,
Let Your goodness never fail us,
Lead us in Your perfect way. - Hastings

God provides the armor to withstand temptation, but we must put it on.

Conversations with a Wise Mother...

2008-01-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

...and God is FAITHFUL, He will not give you beyond what you can bear...1Corinthians10:13...May our hearts be found resting and rejoicing in our faithful God today...

..."God will not bring us to a place where He cannot sustain us." May our faith deepen in our Lord God who graciously gives what we need when we need them. As face challenges, may we have the confidence and comfort that our Lord Jesus Christ is always on His throne. In everything, all things work together for good for us who are called by His name. The Lord will help you all your journey thru...

...John ano nangyari sa inyo ni Kristie nabasa namin ni dad sa web mo...

...John God is in control. Trust him wag ka sumuko kasama ang pagtitiwala sa Diyos. We are here for you. We love you anak. We do not know but God is sovereign he knows your heart. Trust Him. Continue in the Lord and He will give the desires of your heart. He who began a good work in you will carry it through the end. God bless you. Text ka lang were here for you...

...Di naman mag babago pagtingin namin sa kanya. But I will continue to pray for you and her. I know God is in control. Trust Him. Patuloy ka pa ring mag email sa kanya kasi distance talaga ang kalaban niyo. Pakita mo pa rin love and care sa kanya anak. Sow kindness and love and you will reap both...

...Nag email ako kay kristie kanina. Nangumusta at nag advice sa kanya. She needs it kasi wala mag advice dun sa kanya. Go on with your life email her and place all your trust in the Lord. Who can be againsts us if Jesus is in us. Keep on trusting and believing...

...Alam naman niya ang tama john baka lang kelangan niya mag isip. Wag mo siguro masyado ilayo sa mga tao kasama niya ngayon just give an advice ang let her decide. Ang most important thing diya is to pray for her guidance, faith and protection for all things. Let God take charge na lang...

...Sige lang , continue trusting God coz He knows and sees what she is doing. Si Lord ang guard mo.. He knows what is best for you and angeli. Trust Him completely. Ngayon ba nagttxt pa kayo or email?

...That's good enough. Have patience. Only God knows. Just do what is best and He will do the rest. Bear in mind we are here for you...

Songs are Deeper...

2008-01-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

Isn't it wonderful how songs seem to have deeper meanings when you feel down? It's funny, the way you think the writer knows you, or how you feel. When you're alone, and you feel like the whole world has crashed down on you, you listen more..you hear the words better...you understand...you dwell in the pain...it's so tempting to feel sorry you know, when the one thing you treasure the most falls away...

I'm a pack rat...

It is not a mystery to the people who know me, especially my friends, how attached I could be - to everything that passes by my life - everything - toys, tokens, gifts...people - in this case, the woman of my heart.

People fall in love in so many different ways and for so many countless reasons. Some, look at the skin - what's visible to the world - to them. Some look for familiarity or something in common. Some people's tastes are quite a mystery to me. It's human nature I guess, to look for someone. And when they do find that someone, they fall.

In my life, I have only fallen in love once. And I am still a prisoner of that love - a love I could never let go of. You see, unlike the majority - I gave everything..and I gave up everything for that love...my time...my hopes...my dreams..I may even dare call it unconditional love... It puzzles me how a perfect relationship crumbles. In our case, it could be the factor of distance - a factor I saw coming long before it materialized. Don't get me wrong, we prepared for it, we gave more effort, more time, more love...

I'm just the thrill of the moment...

And now, a little more than a year before she left me for the states - she really is leaving me. The reality of her being so far away from me hasn't even sank in, and now, she tells me, without a hint of emotion - over the phone - "it's over, 'di na ako masaya". Ganun lang...After everything we've been through, I can't believe she could fall away so easily - and for such a shallow and selfish reason as her happiness...I guess people prioritize their own happiness differently...People do all sorts of things in the persuit of happiness...I just never imagined the girl I gave my heart to, the person I cherish more than anything and anyone in this world, would so easily and willingly trample over my heart...my soul...my being...

I feel so disposable...like diapers...
You deal with all their crap...then they throw you away...

She should have just killed me...

Nothing's left of me now...
Nothing for me to do now...
I just listen to the songs...

the nice little guy in Pinas...is gone...

2008-01-08T01:44:00.000-08:00

You see yourself in the mirror
And you feel safe coz it looks familiar
But you afraid to open up your soul
Coz you don't really know, don't really know
Who is, the person that's deep within
Coz you are content with just being the woman in the mirror
And you fail to see that its trivial
Insignificant, you addicted to material
I've seen your kind before
Your the type that thinks souls is sold in a store
Packaged up with inscent sticks
With them vegetarian meals
To you that's righteous
You're fiction like books
You need to go out to life and look
Coz... what happens when they take your material
You already sold your soul and its...

And its gone... gone... going...
Gone... everything gone... give a damn...
Gone be the birds when they don't want to sing...
Gone people... up awkward with their things... gone.

You say that time is money and money is time
So you got mind in your money and your money on your mind
But what about... that crime that you did to get paid
And what about... that bid, you can't take it to your brain
Why you on about those shoes you'll wear today
They'll do no good on the bridges you've walked along the way

All that money that you got gonna be gone
That gear that you rock gonna be gone
The house up on the hill gonna be gone
The gold -- on your grill gonna be gone
The ice on your wrist gonna be gone
That nice little guy in Pinas gonna be gone
That whip that you roll gonna be gone
And what's worst is your soul will be gone ...

...bukas uli ang lungkot...

2007-11-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

Wow..ang galing ni Beyonce...lalo na sa malapitan...hehe..VIP!!!

Check out the pictures at my Multiply:

My Multiply

And here are the videos, sorry at medyo shaky...ang saya masyado eh...

miserable....

2007-11-06T22:18:00.000-08:00

how could you do this to me...hope your being fully honest as you claim...doubts are circling overhead by i try to shoot them down...let's see...

"...You make me come
You make me comeplete
You make me comepletely miserable

Stuck to a chair
Watchin' this
Story about me
Everything goes by so fast
Making my head spin

Used up all my friends
But who needs them
When you mean everything

I love things that we should fear
I'm not afraid of being here
So much the same
It makes me helpless alone

Nothing to share
Why should I
Care if you're near me

Give up all my plans
But who needs them
When you mean everything

I love the things that we should fear
I'm not afraid of being here
So much the same
It makes me helpless alone

You make me come
You make me complete
You make me completely miserable

I love the things that we should fear
I'm not afraid of being here
So much the same
It makes me helpless alone

You make me come
You make me comeplete
You make me comepletely miserable..."

water runs dry...

2007-11-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

i never thought i would end up in a situation as difficult and devastating as this...the person you offered your life to suddenly doesn't feel the same about you...despite all the years, all the promises, despite everything... life has a funny way of twisting you up sometimes. honestly, when she left, i had to ask for so much self control as i thought i would be the one to break us up - knowing myself...who would have thought...

this song has been playing over and over in my head for days now...i can barely differentiate night and day anymore...sleep has slipped from me...she left me once, on a plane to a distant land...now i'm thinking she should have just killed me...

"We don't even talk anymore
And we don't even know what we argue about
Don't even say I love you no more
Cause sayin' how we feel is no longer allowed
Some people will work things out
And some just don't know how to change

Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives
Don't do it baby

Now they can see the tears in our eyes
But we deny the pain that lies deep in our hearts
Well maybe that's a pain we can't hide
Cause everybody knows that we're both torn apart
Why do we hurt each other
Why do we push love away

Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives
Don't do it baby"

The Beach

2007-07-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

I miss going to Batangas...we go to our home town at least twice a year (usually for fiesta or Christmas or new year)...everytime we go there...we never miss hitting the beaches...nasugbu has many good beaches...there's the bamboo cove, natipuan, papaya, maya-maya, kawala, white sands (munting buhangin), piloto (white cove), and much much more...i've been thinking of one beach more often than the others..."interlink"...i mean, since i was a kid...i have been asking my grandparents why it was called that...doesn't seem like a good name for a beach...what does it mean??? trust ol youtube to answer my age old question...seems that it was a name of a company who invested in the site long ago...here's a clip of the ancient tv ad where i found the answers...hehe...

Let's Remember Some of the Heat of Summer...

2007-06-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hays...summer is almost gone...although we still get the occasional sunshine here in Manila, Baguio has been in the rainy season for a couple of weeks already...so, here's one of my fave tv ads to give tribute to the summer that was...

Open Season!!!

2007-05-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

I love the Philippines...There's no better country in the world, for me, at least. Whatever the problems, whoever the leaders, however we live. It will always be home. The 2007 election is fast approaching. Maybe we can still give the armor of poverty and bureaucracy a good dent. Use your heads men. It's for our future.

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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

anyone in mind?

an artist is born...

2007-03-07T02:05:00.000-08:00

Music has been a vital part of my life since i can remember...it is the life stream that pumps through my veins.. And nothing brings me back to the sensation of life like a fresh face and a fresh sound...here's a new band that i've just discovered...they play great songs written and backed up by some of the best people in the industry...of course, i really don't have to mention how gorgeous the vox is...i mean, wow... but don't let her purrrtiness make you think that they're all show...these guys command attention, and deserve it really... you only have to hear them to think that they're great, watching them perform live (and at their album launch!) is a bonus...their songs really do promote happiness and i was so happy i bought a copy of "Promotor", their first album...

these guys must know the technology behind subliminal messaging man, i mean, i can't stop playing their songs...or maybe i've stopped playing their cd but the songs keep playing on my head...and their message is clear...Happiness...hehe...

one thing is crystal though, their album is suleeettt....

i also saw them at an episode of myx something and found out a whole lot about these guys...i personally think that "the pickles" (am i right guys???) would have done good as a band name but i think "danita" does the job too...

here are some of the snapshots i took during their album launch last week...(excuse the picture quality peeps..i mean, i personally think i look much better in person...hehe...)

and here are some videos of the songs during their album launch..(courtesy of dandman29)

session road in bloom...

2007-03-07T01:13:00.000-08:00

For me, this has got to be the best week long event within the baguio flower festival (panagbenga). this part of the festival is what i always wait for, and what i never fail to be in... i mean, it's the one time of year when the hustle and bustle of session road is stopped and modified into another kind of hustle and bustle. the whole avenue is filled with resto's and grills and pasalubong stands and gardens and what nots...i love dining outside be it under the mild sunshine of baguio's lunchtime or the romantic moonlight of the city of pines...the cool breeze of the north never fails you...it has a relaxing aura which rejuvenates you and keeps you from going home...

here are a few snap shots i took during the week end i was there...

a little late...

2007-03-07T01:05:00.000-08:00

hayzzz....the valentine's day that has passed must be the loneliest i've been through my whole life...i didn't even get out of the house...i miss my baby...why'd she have to be so far...iloveyoutart!

tested by fire...

2007-02-25T02:55:00.000-08:00

there's this place we always go to everytime my friends and i are in baguio. it comes with a pool table, a bar, a karaoke room (we love this one), and a really cool (or should i say hot) bonfire outside...it's really cozy...plus it's not too noisy..perfect for all those who want a decent conversation ...the red lion pub has two branches in baguio, each has its own charm...which one is better? you be the judge, the next time you visit the city of pines...hey, why am i not in any of these pictures?

the city of flowers...enter the baguio flower festival...

2007-02-25T01:50:00.000-08:00

here's a few shots i made during the 2007 flower festival in baguio city... and by few i actually mean..well..ummm..see for yourself...

home sweet home...

2007-02-25T01:19:00.000-08:00

there's no place like home...hayz...how i wish i could stay here and sleep all week!!!

i miss baguio...

2007-02-25T01:14:00.000-08:00

i really miss baguio...that's why i go up and stay at my place there once a week...it's a 6 hour ride, but for me...it's all worth it...

Introducing...the Long Awaited...iphone !!!

2007-01-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Whoa..it took a while before Apple finally came up with this...here's an article from the Reuters of Canada:

iPhone wows as analysts ponder growth potential

By Duncan Martell

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Steve Jobs' detailed demonstration of the highly anticipated iPhone topped nearly all expectations and now Wall Street is clamoring to peg how soon and by how much the all-in-one media device would boost Apple Inc.'s bottom line.

In a trademark display of showmanship, Jobs spent the better part of his two-hour Macworld speech on Tuesday detailing features of the svelte iPhone, which merges new ways to make and receive calls, listen to music, watch videos, surf the Internet and perform other functions on the go.

The iPhone goes on sale in June, and Jobs said Apple could sell 10 million of the slim silver and black devices -- about 1 percent of the number of mobile phones forecast to be sold in 2008 -- at prices of $499 and $599, depending the amount of memory.

"Apple has begun its transformation from a computer company to a technology company that continues to broaden its market from computers, to music, to video, and now to mobile phones," wrote Bear Stearns analyst Andrew Neff in a note to clients.

Neff boosted his calendar 2007 price target for Apple shares to $125 from $100. On Wednesday, shares of Apple gained nearly 4 percent to $96.07, after tacking on more than 8 percent on Tuesday, when Jobs debuted the iPhone.

The Bear Stearns analyst, among others on Wall Street including Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore, raised his earnings estimates for Apple, citing in part added profits from the iPhone.
Still, Neff and others including Sanford Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi cautioned iPhone could face a hiccup or two from regulators and from an already crowded field of other "smartphones," most of which cost less than iPhone. Sacconaghi cited what he called the "spectacularly" high price of $499/$599 for a mobile device.

Even so, analysts noted similar objections to the iPod's original price when it was introduced in 2001: $399 for a five-gigabyte model and $499 for a 10-gigabyte model. Since then, the iPod has become the market-leading digital music player, and Jobs said on Tuesday that Apple would sell its 100 millionth iPod this year.

Apple could also, analysts said, follow a similar model with the iPhone that it did with the iPod: Start off with what may seem a steep price, but drop prices as component costs fall and volume production economics kick in, all the while adding more functions and services.

Following that, analysts said, Apple may introduce cheaper, "lower-end" versions of the iPhone, much as it did by offering the iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano. The 4-gigabyte Nano is currently the best-selling iPod, not the more capacious, "original" iPod, now in its fifth generation.

Jobs, in an interview after his keynote presentation, declined specific comment on Apple's gross margin targets for the iPhone. However, the company has said in past quarterly earnings conference calls that overall margins for its iPods are around 20 percent or more.

In addition to the 12 percent gain in the last two days, Apple's stock climbed some 18 percent in 2006 after more than doubling in 2005 and tripling in 2004.

Jobs said he was pleased with the progress Apple has made so far in its transformation to a technology and products company that goes beyond the notion of traditional computing.

"The world is going mobile. We sell more notebooks than desktops, iPods are all mobile. The majority of what we sell is mobile," he said. "We're always working on new stuff," he added.

© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.

original article: http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2007-01-10T215502Z_01_N10304740_RTRIDST_0_TECH-APPLE-IPHONE-COL.XML

What an Amazing Camera!!! The Olympus Stylus 725 SW

2006-12-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas again - a time for endless giving and sharing and, hopefully, receiving..hehehe..I bought probably everyone I know a gift or something fantasmo for the holidays...everyone but myself...I still haven't decided on what phone I'm gonna buy myself...Man it's just that there's always something newer and much complicated around the corner...I wouldn't be surprised if after a few months from now, companies would incorporate a refrigerator or something on their mobile designs...I'll try to give up on the idea of buying a perfect phone for now...

So let me see..what else is on my gadget list...I know!!! I'll buy myself a digicam!!! Off to the mall!!!

I've only been to a few shops but I think I'm pretty decided on the camera I'll get...Being the adventurer that I am, I think I've finally found a camera that can keep up to my pace...Something I could bring with me on my off-road cycling, mountain climbing, snorkeling and other outdoor expeditions...Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, The Olympus Stylus 725 SW...In case you guys don't know, The S and W stand for "shock" and "water" proof respectively...

Here's a summary of its relevant features from www.image-resource.com :

The Olympus Stylus 725 SW digital camera is an update to the existing Stylus 720 SW model, which was announced at the Spring 2006 Photo Marketing Association tradeshow. As with the rest of the Stylus line (known as Mju in Europe), the Olympus 720 and 725 designs are based around a weatherproof body that ensures wherever you go - in rain, sleet or snow - your camera will go right along with you. The "SW" in the name of both models hints at two more unusual features though - these cameras are rather impressively both shock- and water-proofed.

It is in this area that the one significant difference between the Olympus 725 SW and the original 720 SW model can be found. Where the '720 was waterproof to a depth of three meters, the Olympus 725 is waterproof to an even greater depth of five meters. As with the original camera, the Olympus 725SW is also shockproof to the MIL-STD-810F standard as well - meaning that the camera can withstand drops of up to 5 feet from any angle without harm.

Despite its array of waterproof seals and shock absorption technology, the 725 SW remains pocket-friendly and relatively lightweight. Other features look to be unchanged from the original model. The '725 includes an Olympus-branded 3x optical zoom with a 38 - 114mm equivalent focal length range and F3.5 - 5.0 maximum aperture, folded by a prism to allow the lens to be mounted at right angles to the front of the camera. This allowed the camera's designers to protect the delicate lens components, as well as to completely seal the camera body with no need for a lens to extend out of the camera body when powered on. The lens is coupled with a 7.1 megapixel imager and 2.5" LCD display that has 115,000 pixels. As is common on many digicams these days, this LCD is the sole method of framing images, as the Stylus 725 SW forgoes any form of optical viewfinder.

Autofocus is via contrast detection, and ISO sensitivity ranges from 64 to 1600 equivalent and can be controlled automatically or manually. The Olympus Stylus 725 SW also offers what the company calls "Digital Image Stabilization" mode - which should not be mistaken for true hardware image stabilization, where either lens elements or the image sensor are moved based on sensors that detect camera shake. The 725 SW is simply boosting ISO sensitivity to gain a faster shutter speed and using software deblurring, both of which will reduce blur at the expense of noise and/or image detail.

By default, exposures are determined with Olympus' Digital ESP multi-pattern metering, with spot metering also available. Users can also tweak the exposure with +/-2.0EV of exposure compensation, in 1/3EV steps. Shutter speeds range from 1/1000 to 4 seconds, and the Olympus 725 offers automatic or preset white balance control courtesy of six presets, but no custom white balance mode. The 725 SW also includes a four mode internal flash, and offers beginner-friendly control over images courtesy of a rather generous 24 scene modes.

As well as still images, the camera can also capture movies at VGA or lower resolution, at a rate of 15 frames per second with clip length limited only by available storage space and battery life. The 725 SW also has a twelve second self-timer to let you get into your own pictures. The camera stores images on xD-Picture cards, or 19MB of built-in memory. It also offers video and USB computer connectivity. Power comes from a proprietary Lithium Ion battery, of either Li-40B or Li-42B type.

Not Another Phone?!!! The Sony Ericsson K800i

2006-11-27T04:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah!!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! It's my office break again...I'm out looking for some grub, then I notice that the mall right beside my office building was a bit jammed with small stores selling cellphones. So I was a bit side tracked. I was planning to buy a phone (from a few posts back) and I thought to myself hey, what a perfect time to ask around for it. I forgot about my dinner for a while and my hunger turned to something else. I was looking for the cheapest place to buy the Samsung d900. I found out that it got a LOT cheaper since the last time I asked around for it.

So there I was, eyes darting about, haggling with the store owners when this little phone caught my attention...It was the Sony Ericsson K800i...Well, it's a bit thicker than the d900, but hey, it's 3G capable! I mean, I can use that a to surf the net using my laptop (which I haven't bought yet) whenever I am travelling or in a remote area. I personally think that the camera look is really appealing. Hey, it's like I don't have to buy a digital camera now...But I really want to get that digicam by olympus which is water proof (I'll cover that in another one of my posts).

After dinner, I rushed to my pc and read some reviews online. Many of the folks who own it have lots to commend about it. But of course, it does have its share of misses. What got me thinking was that it didn't have an optical zoom. That could really have been a great plus. And most owners have a lot to say about its lens cover...and video quality...and its size...

...so here I am...back in square one...on my quest to find the perfect phone to spend good money on...but i really like this one...i guess i'm just going to wait a bit longer if sony ericsson's going to send out an upgraded version or something after Christmas...

...here's one of the online reviews of this phone i found particularly useful...

...there's always something new...

Sony Ericsson K800i 3G Phone Review

The Sony Ericsson K800i is a classy & compact 3G mobile phone which comes with an outstanding Cyber Shot™ digital camera feature & is also known as the Sony Ericsson Cyber Shot™ phone. The phone comes in a very sleek velvet black coloured casing which is highly attractive. The phone comes in a very useable size which is 105 x 47 x 22 mm & the weight feels perfect at 115 grams. The K800i comes from the same family as the Sony Ericsson K790i & both of these phones come with the Cyber Shot™ digital camera features but the K800i comes with 3G technology. Sony Ericsson have designed a silver edition of the K800i which is known as the Sony Ericsson K800i Silver which has been marketed along with the James Bond film Casino Royale.

The K800i comes with a beautifully crisp 262k TFT colour screen which works as the perfect viewing display. The K800i comes complete with a 3.2 megapixel digital camera with 16 x digital zoom & auto focus which the user can access by simply opening the lens cover. The user will be amased by the BestPic™ feature which takes four shots immediately prior to the camera key being pressed & four shots immediately after the key is pressed. The BestPic feature then allows the user to select the best photo out of all the shots taken. The user can be sure to capture the perfect photo as the phone comes with a camera stabiliser feature which will stabilise even the smallest of movements made by the user. The phones comes with a xenon flash light which will ensure that even the poorest lighting conditions are brought to life with light. The user can be reassured that no more red eyes will be captured with the anti red eye feature. The Sony Ericsson K800i comes with a very user friendly video recorder & player which provides the best quality footage. The user can enjoy the use of a video call feature & video streaming.

The built in 3G technology allows the user to be on a call or listening to their favourite music on the music player whilst they are surfing the Internet. The user can enjoy the perfect Internet experience with the Access NetFront™ browser as it allows the user to see all web sites in true size & great quality. The RSS feed allows the user to subscribe to automatic news, weather & sports updates so that they will always have the latest news instantly.

The K800i comes with Bluetooth™ wireless technology which allows the user to connect wirelessly to any Bluetooth™ device. The user can send photos very easily & quickly by using Bluetooth™.

The user can send photos to a blog site which is very easy to set up as the blog is instantly created the first time the user sends a photo. On receipt of the first photo the user will receive a text message with the Internet Web address & all the log in details. The log in details can be given to friends & family so that everyone can enjoy & view the users photos with ease.

The phone comes with the perfect printing solution which is the PictBridge feature. The user can connect the K800i directly to a PictBridge compatible printer with the use of a USB cable & enjoy a computer free printing solution.

The built in media player provides the user with pleasure & fun all at the same time. The sound quality is outstanding on the K800i & can be heard very clearly on the built in FM radio RDS. The user can enjoy the use of MusicDJ™, PlayNow™ & the Mega Bass™ music feature which really make the K800i rock.

The messaging services include text messaging (SMS), email, instant messaging & multimedia messaging (MMS). The text messaging services comes with a long SMS option which allows the user to send extra long text messages easily. The multimedia messaging service allows the user to send video, photos, images, text & sound all together in one very easy to create MMS & send it to any MMS compatible device. The email service allows the user to create & send emails very quickly & easily. The instant messaging service allows the user to chat to any contact that is online at the same time as themselves & the instant messaging acts like a text conversation.

The user can download games of their choice very easily & there are Java™ games already embedded on the K800i. The user can enjoy the perfect 3D gaming experience on the K800i which will provide much fun.

The phone comes with many useable & information storing features which include a phone book, file manager, calendar, alarm clock, business card exchange, calculator, code memo, stop watch, tasks, notes & timer which are all very useful feature to have on the K800i.

Review Source: http://www.yourmobilephonereviews.co.uk/sony_ericsson_k800i_reviews.htm

Samsung YP-K5 Review

2006-11-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

By: Grahm Skee

Samsung has recently been cranking out some decent players into the market, one of them being the Nano-competing Z5. The newer K5 is an exceptional twist on the MP3 player, providing a set of external speakers that allow you to unhook your ears from sometimes confining headphones. The K5 is flash based and currently comes in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB capacities with all of the standard MP3 player features: MP3/WMA audio playback, JPEG photo viewing, FM radio, and alarm clock.

Even though the K5 has a fairly standard set of MP3 player functions, what sets it apart from the rest is the innovative design and external speakers. The K5 is a niche player and is not for everyone, but for that niche, Samsung hit the nail on the head by creating something very unique.

Accessories
Not much is included with the K5, just a proprietary USB cable, earbuds, and the unit itself. What is interesting about the supplied USB cable is that the connection is different from the Z5; in fact, it is similar to the proprietary cable found on the iRiver clix/U10. I have actually used the iRiver cable to charge the K5 and to transfer media to it as well. Why Samsung went with a different cable is unknown, but I think it was a bad decision considering docking stations and other accessories cannot be cross-compatible. As far as third party accessories, Belkin has already announced two different cases for the K5 so you can expect to see some options with aftermarket accessories.

The earbuds are unique and are worth discussing. They fit inside of your ear canal, which provides outside sound isolation and much better bass. These earbuds sound good especially on the bass end of the frequency spectrum, but at the same time, all frequencies are shifted toward the lower end. Highs and mids sound flat and slightly muffled. The other issue with the supplied earbuds is comfort; having to wear them inside of the ear canal may not be comfortable for some people.

Software
The K5 includes a software CD that contains Samsung Media Studio. It will rip, convert, organize, play, et cetera - just like every other media player out there. The only real advantage Samsung Media Studio has over Windows Media Player is that it is much faster, especially when dealing with very large libraries of music. Other than that, Samsung Media Studio is a fairly simple and under-developed media player. It works great. Just don’t expect too much out of it.

Installing the software is optional, but you will need to be using Windows XP SP2 or above in order to use MTP drag and drop or Windows Media Player. There are also plenty of other pieces of software you can use to transfer media to your K5, such as Media Monkey, Winamp, and other MTP-based media players.

Design
The design of the K5 is clean and no nonsense. The player feels solid and well built. The matte black finish and raised lip on the front of the player will keep the K5 scratch free under normal to heavy use. The sliding mechanism may feel delicate but still follows the overall sturdiness of the player. The one thing I don’t like about the design is that the sliding mechanism does not lock. Just picking up the player or grabbing it will cause the two halves to move slightly apart. If you wanted to be picky, dedicated volume buttons would have made the player a little easier to use.

User Interface
The interface is easy to use and is intuitive. Menus are smooth and nicely animated. On the downside, the touch interface can be obnoxious. There are no touch sensitivity settings on the player and they can be on the sensitive side. I found myself many times just brushing over the controls and having them activated, and when pressing one button it is easy to accidentally push one of the neighboring buttons. The addition of tactile buttons on the face of the player may have taken something away from the overall design of the player, but would have been a extreme improvement of the overall usability of the K5.

Cowon A2 Review

2006-11-23T04:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a review of the new Cowon A2 by Martin Plappert for iAudiophile.net. I left out some of the other parts because this was a really thorough and extensive review. Okay, so i left out most of the review, but hey, I think this summary will save you lots of time...Here it goes:

Cowon, the company behind the popular iAudio series of mp3 players, have finally released their first Portable Media Player (PMP), the Cowon A2. Pictures and rumours of the A2 have been floating around the internet for roughly a year now, and the unit has been available in Korea for roughly three months. Just in time for the Christmas shopping season, Cowon have managed to release their PMP internationally.

The Good

• Great build quality

• Superb screen

• Excellent battery life

• Good controls

• Quality TV-Out

• FM radio with 25 presets and auto-scan

• FM radio recordings

• Built in decent quality microphone

• Line-in recordings

• TV-Out

• Doesn't crash (haven't had to ever use the reset button)

• Video support (supports great amount of codecs. PAL/NTSC compatible)

• Built in loudspeakers (with Auto-off when headphones plug in)

• Great sound quality with high power output

• Equalizer & BBE settings

• Customizable (Boot Screen and Wallpaper)

• Text Viewer

• The included charger works everywhere in the world.

• Good scan-speed

• “Recent Files” Feature

The “So So”

• Photo Viewing is fast, but has no thumbnail mode. Single thumbnails for files are available

• Can't ad folders to the playlist (this is currently being worked on in an alpha firmware I have installed)

• Can't shuffle entire Music collection due to the fact that you can't get a drop down menu on a folder. (this is currently being worked on in an alpha firmware I have installed)

• The Playlist can only hold 100 Entries

• When adding a bookmark to the playlist no timestamp is displayed

• In the “now playing screen” the titles don't scroll when e.g. the artist is too long

• Currently no album art

• Text viewer doesn't word wrap

The Bad

• Inability to apply BBE settings to ogg files; no graphic equalizer for ogg files

• Alarm feature slightly limited

• No PDF viewer

• Can't view photos while listening to music

• TV-Recordings for PAL are currently no good

• The OS is sometimes rather laggy

• No user removable or replaceable battery

• No m3u support

• Can't save Playlists

• No id3 databasing

• USB-OTG is slow

• No FLAC support

• No DRM-WMA10 Support

• No H.264 support

• No Gapless Playback of Music

>napasubo!!!<

2006-11-14T00:31:00.000-08:00

...we have this thing in the office where we vote for our favorite managers online...i received the email and clicked on the link which brought me to the site where the voting is done...i was just looking around and i saw that some managers had some serious voters!!! so i looked for my boss' name and thought maybe i could do a little voting...well...i did a LOT of voting...5oo votes to be exact...my votes boosted her all the way to second place...i was happy for myself...and was wondering why all these voters didn't vote as much as i did...the highest number of votes by a single person i saw was about 50...that's it...why? so i go about my business...doing the job i didn't like that much...

...here's the catch...the day after i casted my votes, an office mate comes over and says, "were you the one who voted for Bambi?...whoah...500 bucks..." and i was like, "yeah i was the one." while half of my brain was screaming, "THAT WAS WHY!!!! IDIOT!!! WHERE ARE YOU GONNA GET 500 BUCKS?!!!"...

...o boy...

...there's an answer to every question...

who would have thought?

2006-11-09T02:35:00.000-08:00

...i was surfing the net, trying to find ways of earning a little extra when i came across this site with some scans of old Philippine bank notes...who would have thought the our current bank notes are the second generation of notes printed for the purpose! our old notes looked pretty much like dollars...

...here's one scan of our old 1-peso bill...

...the others you can find in this site: old peso bills

....haay...makes me a bit nostalgic...

...there's always room for improvement...

upgrade your life!!!

2006-11-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

awe man...it's morning already...i wake up to the sound of my alarm phone...i could swear i put it on silent...but hey, it still is...it's vibrating alert must have had an impression on my subconscious...

i have a philps s600...it's a great deal..i can do basic phone functions with it like call and sms...it's very small...plus it takes a month(yes, a month!!!) before it needs recharging...what more could i ask for?

well...music for one...and video...and a 3 mega pixel camera...with a flash too...a large memory and an option for external expansion wouldn't hurt...i think i'm gonna get myself a d900 from samsung...

i really wished it was 3g capable...

maybe i should wait a little bit longer....

do something new with the old things you have!!!

brain drain

2006-11-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

...it's been only about 2 months since i started working for my present company...the promise with this company was great and all (that's why i left my previous job)... i remember the first day being a blast...they assigned me to a different position from what i was promised during recruitment...i had an instant clash with the acting manager (who was acting like a comlete a**)... good thing my real manager (who was in chicago at that time) was hot..ehrrmm...i mean nice and all... i was able to see her a few weeks from my starting date...she made a lot of things clear for me... she said they were sorry for the placement issues...she also asked for my help starting out the new project and wait for my transfer procedures, which could take at least a year... what else could i do? so i stuck with the group...

the total lack of challenge is really bugging me...this isn't what i signed for...plus working on shift?! hay naku! guess what? the total lack of things to do here is draining me mentally at an alarming pace...

but i guess (and hope) everything happens for a reason...maybe i should just wait...for now, i guess i'll do my best to do with so much excess time on my hands...

do something...anything...grab a book...bake a cake...learn to fly...

herbivorous living

2006-11-03T06:04:00.000-08:00

thank God it’s friday…my weekly trip to baguio is just around the corner…i’m quite excited to once again see my family and of course kristie…we have plans of going to this exclusive place who only serve organic food, mostly plants of course…i called in my reservation a day before, and i’m really anxious to know what the all the fuzz with this place is about…
so we took a cab to the place…man, it was far…but when we got there, i started to realize why a place who spends exactly zero on advertising is quite well known…
so we ate a nice 5 course meal…and i want you to see how they look…(well…the salad)…
this is the best salad i’ve had…and yeah, you’re supposed to eat the flowers too…

and from another angle…

this is the only place where i think the salad made more impact than the main course…
the chef tells us that this particular salad has 10 different kinds of lettuces…raisins…sesame seeds…turnips…onions…carrots…nuts…a heavenly dressing/dip…and o yeah, flowers…

have some salad, it’s good for you…

wasted time...

2004-11-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

life passes me by and i can't do anything about it...i could still remember when i was much younger you know...i wanted to grow up so badly...now that i managed to do some growing up, i noticed the world around me changes...people i love are dying...friends go away...stuff like that...i wish i could have done more...but like a broken crucible, life can never be perfectly returned to the way it was...

...so i guess i better eat the ice cream before it melts...