Extraction Point

PLUMBLINE: Just Kidding

2010-09-15T08:31:00.001+08:00

Whenever I hear the word joke, I am always reminded of my very good friend Apit. His presence and his punch lines have become a part of our barkadahan. Without him and his jokes, our drinking sessions may lead to madness and mayhem as we have a penchant for ugly debates. If not, it may end up like a scene straight from an embarrassing melodrama. It is no wonder that when he is not around, it is not uncommon to hear “O hain si Apit? Gare baga seryoso kita.” His jokes have become legendary that there are times we would share his jokes as if he was the one cracking them. Pit, I have to give you a copy of this issue. For this you owe me a bucket.

One experience that Apit and I shared that I cannot and will never forget is during the typhoon Reming. Before the typhoon had its landfall in Catanduanes, I went to borrow some DVD’s from Apit, so I had something to do once the typhoon hit Albay. In the end my plan bombed as I ended up spending the night at his house. We watched six movies straight in a row with only a few blinks of our eyes in between them. As usual, we put our own twists on the movies, we copied the actors’ performances, and we ridiculed the acting and the costumes. We really had a blast.

The morning after our movie marathon, his mother who happens to be a respected professor in the university woke us up. She was panicking when she told us that Reming had landed in Catanduanes. Not for long, the wind became strong and it gradually increased as the minutes ticked by. Heavy rain poured. In no time, Legazpi was submerged in water. However, we remained as jolly as we were before Reming came, we did not let it stop us from cracking jokes. We even found ourselves laughing at the view from outside the windows. We seemed to be enjoying ourselves as the typhoon ravaged the city.

Friday, the day after the typhoon, we decided to get a glimpse of the destruction. I expected it since the typhoon was not ordinary. What I did not expect was the destruction was worst than I expected. I saw many houses that were totally wrecked, I walked on cakes of mud just to reach home, and I witnessed dead bodies hoisted from under piles of ruins. One barangay, Padang, was buried. The experience was chilling that I realized that the typhoon was no joke.

Days after the typhoon, aircrafts hovered above Albay. Trucks loaded with relief goods made the roads busy. Help from all over the world showered the city and the rest of the Bicol Region.

One thing that struck me most was that the smile I used to see on people’s faces was gone. They had forgotten to laugh. Nature stopped kidding and so did the people.

Like the jokes of my friend Apit, typhoon Reming lingers in my mind. It is so hard to forget, but it is too evil to be missed. If anyone sees it as a joke, it is a joke seriously meant.

Several months later, the smile on people’s faces has returned. People are smiling and laughing again. I guess that it is the love and the good values people shared to survive that have brought back the laughters.

Jokes will never fade. They will always bring back the smiles and the laughter. If we think of the typhoon now, we should smile not because it is funny, but because it has brought the Bicolanos together.

As the merry month of May looms ahead of us, we have yet another reason to smile and to laugh. The elections are here again. We have once again the time to laugh at the candidates as they dance onstage and as they lie in their political ads. At least, these politicians are giving us a reason to joke.

I just wish that Reming carried with her these politicians when she left.

Just kidding!

(This work has been first published in a school paper of which I was the editor in chief then.)

In Defense of "What This World Needs" by Casting Crowns

2010-03-30T11:37:00.003+08:00

As the song leads to some thought of Christian liberalism and of Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) disobedience, the mark of which the song really wanted to express is nonetheless is shelve out of context. I accept that this song bears several contrasting or should I say controversial verses that most Christians would really react. Many asks of its real purpose by the implications of the verses "just get out of the way" from the spoken part of the song and the "we're slowing it down" lines.

From Youtube's comments down to some youth Christian forum, the debates of whether the song still holds biblical truths or not has created confusion. In my own opinion, by taking the song into context and in analogy to reality, we can certainly get what it really meant. So, for it to be expounded we need to put in the lyrics and analyze it by verses or by lines whichever is mere applicable. But before that let me quote the Great Commission:

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

In this light we can create analogy.

What this world needs

Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind

Another two bit politician peddling lies

Another three ring circus society

What this world needs

Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you

Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth

Another prophet in an Armani suit

The increasing politicking in the frames of religion is what this verse is all about. Every year, we watch televangelists that are famous. We tend to listen to them and spend our time with it that having s second reading the Bible and investigate. We are very much keen of who's in now and who has the more advanced and effective evangelistic tactics than just simply going to the simpler way and more Jesus way of proclaiming the gospel. We go beyond just what the Bible suggest we do just to satisfy philosophical theories or psychological inclinations that we know are plain humanistic in nature. We tend to discredit the power of the Holy Spirit by employing our skills, our charisma, or our intelligence - yet we thought we are just obeying the great commission.

What this world needs

Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside

Have we become so blind that we can't see

God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt

What this world needs

Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance

Blending in so well that people can't see the difference

And it's the difference that sets the world free

In my observation, first in the local churches is that, young people are very much after the outward results of their actions rather than the inward implications of the actions of God. This is what the Christian adults have been teaching the young people in my local. They were conditioned to conceal their hearts to protect it from attacks without thinking that God himself protects the heart if we only know where to put God in our lives. We are missing the marks because we are so busy thinking about how we will be able to look or to act with freedom yet accordingly.

People aren't confused by the gospel, They're confused by us.

Jesus is the only way to God but we are not the only way to Jesus

This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, My denomination, or my translation of the bible

They just need Jesus

We can be passionate about what we believe

but we can't strap purselves to the gospels

Because we're slowing it down.

Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do

Is just get out of the way.

At present, we can hear so many sermons and interpretations of the Bible. Some claim that they are Churches of Christ yet does not recognize His deity. They claim they are the only way to salvation thereby discrediting Christ as the only savior. We tend to present our doctrinal views of the Bible rather than letting people know God in its simplest, more understandable way - the way God wanted to be known. THE BIBLE CLEARLY WANTS THE RELATIONSHIP TO GOD BE RESTORED! We are missing this. By removing ourselves from the picture and bringing only the goodness and sovereignty of God, "we get out of the way."

The Great Commission simply says of the standard and the best process of using the "authority" not given to us but only given to the One who sent us. There are no spins or tricks in Matthew 28:16-20. The command is a direct command and everything that a Christian should do is already there. No ornaments, because sometimes, the decorations are what makes it confusing.

Finally, the chorus:

What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love them in their time of need

A Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love

That's what this world needs

... this sums it all.

A Humble Attempt to Macro

2009-11-17T15:27:00.015+08:00

It does not mean that because I frequent Facebook, I have forgotten my blog. Maybe its just that I have been busy doing various stuffs and I can no longer put them into stories to post here in my place... But anyways, just yesterday, my girlfriend bought a Canon PowerShot camera. I tried a shot and then another, browsed through its setting and menu then found this supermacro option... The results of my experiments are the following:

Faster than a Second, Sleeker than Silk

2009-08-23T09:57:00.003+08:00

Last July 14, my friend John Boncalos, came to my pad to talk about an idea. Prior to that, we have been exchanging chats about establishing a company. It all ended with an optimistic decision for us to buy a domain, create a website, do business online. So we consolidated all our assets and resources. We tapped Leonel to join the team. We also talked with Lenard to be one of the contacts and the web designer. Both of them showed willingness. It fanned the fire within us.

So the problem now is, what name? When a client from the US contacted us, he asked Lenard what he would name our group. I never expected that John has been scouting a name for the group. Then came SleekFast.

To have my own website is a dream. But to have a website that would become my source of income is more than a dream. Now it came true.

So friends, I welcome you to visit our site and see what we can do for you.

Merry Monday

2009-06-16T00:15:00.004+08:00

while browsing over some profiles in Facebook, I accidentally clicked on one of my friend's friend profile and saw the following pictures that made me grin. I was totally whacked last weekend I can't find any source of inspiration until these pictures gave me smiles. Today is Monday and though I was expecting it to be some kind of maundy, the pictures had it changed into a merry day.

On My Father's Wings

2009-05-30T01:40:00.003+08:00

If you were with me now
I'd find myself in you
If you were with me now
Your the only one who knew
All the things we planned to do

I want to live my life
The way you said I would
With courage as my light
Fighting for what's right
Like you made me believe I could

And I will fly on my father's wings
To places I have never been
There is so much I've never seen
And I can feel his heartbeat still
And I will do great things
On my father's wings

This world I'll never see
My dreams that just won't be
This horse's stride
with one days ride
Will have covered more
distance than me

But I will fly on my father's wings
To places I have never been
There is so much I've never seen
And I can feel his heartbeat still
And I will do great things
On my father's wings

Someday with his spirit to guide me
And his memory beside me
I will be free to

Fly on my father's wings
To places I have never been
There is so much I've never seen
And I can feel his heartbeat still
And I will do great things
On my father's wings
On my father's wings

This song is from the animated movie entitled The Quest for Camelot. I haven't seen the movie yet but the song itself tells me of something. It is such so powerful that it inspired me to write this. Well, aside from the memory of my father flashing back, this song also my song to my Father God.

Salt Isn't Just for Dishes

2009-05-27T06:40:00.004+08:00

I now receive the benefit of being an avid follower of NASA projects - I won a t-shirt and a discount card at a local bookstore through my favorite radio station OK FM. Yesterday, after coming home from office I tuned in to 97.1 and heard of the promo. The DJ asked a question about the red thing that flew over Mayon Volcano last Sunday. Immediately I thought it was Atlantis. Though my second thought was that it was NoKor's nuke... hehehe... Alright, you might say I am again talking bad words here, but to those who can relate, STS-125 just finished its mission and Atlantis is now back here on Earth. STS-125's mission was to repair the aging Hubble Telescope. It launched some days after Expedition 19 of Kazakstan and the second shuttle to leave Earth this year after Discovery for STS-119. I am sorry though for the DJ cause I wrongfully answered him when he asked me is Challenger was the one that exploded in 1995. I think it was even during the time of Reagan. And I mumbled Discovery instead of saying Columbia when he asked what's the other shuttle that blasted after take off. My bad.

Artist Sketch of Aquarius, photo courtesy of NASA.

When I visited NASA's website again, I found out another thing about our planet. Many of us are aware of the present situation of Mother Earth with world wide movements on Global Warming. Studies are spearheaded on how to improve the condition of the planet and every government and even the UN is doing their part to lessen the impact of the global warming. Organizations are united in saying that the present global warming is caused by men and that a reversal of what we have done to the planet for over a millenium is the best remedy. But NASA scientists found out that aside from the Ozone layer, carbon emissions, and other warming factors, the salinity of the oceans and seas may contribute to the present environmental crisis. They theorized that salinity affects the density of the sea water thereby affecting its movement (curren) thus affecting the atmospheric condition. (SEE Meteorology)

In order for NASA to monitor the salinity of sea water which is said to have increased gradually overtime, they need to launch an unmanned satellite orbiter equipped with radio recievers and other high-end equipment. They coined the orbiter Aquarius, a SAC-D spacecraft.

For more info on this hit this.

How Do Blind People Take Pictures

2009-05-15T00:53:00.009+08:00

When I hear about blind musicians, I am simply astonished. A blind painter would really get me off my feet. But a blind photographer is simply surreal.

See some of the works of blind photographers below and you can find the complete compilation here.

Well at some point I was skeptical about people with impaired sight to be on the line which greatly needs the human sense. But there is nothing impossible to a loving and persevered person so I said to myself that I was just wrong with my thinking.

Kurt Weston - Peering Through the Darkness, courtesy of UCR/California Museum of Photography

Bruce Hall - Frenetics, courtesy of UCR/California Museum of Photography

Evgen Bavcar - The Flow of Time, courtesy of UCR/California Museum of Photography

These photographers are indeed talented in their field. Despite their physical limitations, they still managed to do what they wanted to do. Maybe, these things laid in front of them are challenges that they take to show the world that regardless of weaknesses if we persevere, believe, and love, nothing can never be done.

Dear Mama

2009-05-10T00:07:00.005+08:00

I am proud that you are my mama. I know it's hard for you to let me and my sisters go with our own ways but the love and grace of God is always with you. No matter what happen, I will always be your only son. You have made me into a man that God intends me to be. Thanks for everything you gave me. Now, I understand, that what makes a mom like you is a son (child) that is me. I love you so much.

And Happy Mothers' Day too to all the mom around the world and to my two sisters, Ate Wen and Ate Jo... You deserve all the love in the world.

Jake: A Friend from Miami

2009-05-09T01:17:00.010+08:00

I met a new friend from Miami, Fla. just few days ago. His name is Jake Barreth, 28 years old, and a Worship Pastor. I met him right here in Blogger.com when one night here at the office, I run through several blogs randomly. Then I found out that this guy is a worship leader at a church in Miami. Honestly, I was not really supposed to let you know about him but I was moved by one of his posts. It's about the music men, actually, street performers from around the world. The video was tweeted to him by friend. You can view the post here.

Jake is part of the pioneering church known as the Life Church in Miami. The church was conceived two years ago and last year they began holding services at a mall in Miami, in a theater specifically. I was touched by the fact that God is really moving not just in my life but as well as other lives around the world. And for our case with Jake, as he have said, we are half way around the globe apart yet been connected with a single purpose - to proclaim the Good News in our humblest ways we can.

I posted a comment on one of his posts and I get a reply - something that is too unusual for a blogger like me. He said that he would be so happy to recieve pictures that I have. He liked the pictures I posted here.

But as I was saying, I have decided to make this post because of the video. Yes, I was moved by it... I am so fond of music, whatever genre it is. But music today is no more than what the heart speaks or what really it should be about. Simply, it has been too commercialized already. However, the producers of the video that Jake posted have something in mind that really is worth admiring.

I imagined what if Pilipino producers would try to do it here in the Philippines. We also have street performers that are way talented as those in the video. How about a song that will put the Pilipino people again on the flame? How about a calling for political transformation? How about a gospel song of renewal and coming back to the Lord?

I regard the video that Jake posted to have made a great impact on me and I will carry on in my life - forever.

Thanks Jake for sharing the video.

Faith is a Matter of Choice and Conscience

2009-05-07T03:45:00.004+08:00

In my Xanga site, I have posted a statement of Dr. Jose P. Rizal regarding faith. But my supporting verses were something like in a different context. I found the other version of that article and it was actually a school project of my girlfriend's sister Ola.

"We are entirely in accord in admitting the existence of God. How can I doubt his when I am convinced of mine. Who so recognizes the effect recognizes the cause. To doubt God is to doubt one's own conscience, and in consequence, it would be to doubt everything; and then what is life for? Now then, my faith in God, if the result of a ratiocination may be called faith, is blind, blind in the sense of knowing nothing. I neither believe nor disbelieve the qualities which many attribute to him; before theologians' and philosophers' definitions and lucubrations of this ineffable and inscrutable being I find myself smiling. Faced with the conviction of seeing myself confronting the supreme Problem, which confused voices seek to explain to me, I cannot but reply: 'It could be; but the God that I foreknow is far more grand, far more good: Plus Supra!...I believe in (revelation); but not in revelation or revelations which each religion or religions claim to possess. Examining them impartially, comparing them and scrutinizing them, one cannot avoid discerning the human 'fingernail' and the stamp of the time in which they were written... No, let us not make God in our image, poor inhabitants that we are of a distant planet lost in infinite space. However, brilliant and sublime our intelligence may be, it is scarcely more than a small spark which shines and in an instant is extinguished, and it alone can give us no idea of that blaze, that conflagration, that ocean of light. I believe in revelation, but in that living revelation which surrounds us on every side, in that voice, mighty, eternal, unceasing, incorruptible, clear, distinct, universal as is the being from whom it proceeds, in that revelation which speaks to us and penetrates us from the moment we are born until we die. What books can better reveal to us the goodness of God, his love, his providence, his eternity, his glory, his wisdom? 'The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork'." – Jose Rizal

We are faced with very frightening issues these days and this had to regard several aspects of our lives as Pilipinos and Christians. The degradation of the morality of Pilipinos and values has been one of the reasons why our country is considerably one of the worst in the world. In the count, we are just past Pakistan with 1 point as the most corrupt country in the world. What have happened to our values? What came of the teachings of our forefathers? What has the church done with these surfacing problems these days?

Our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal has laid his faith. He was a Christian though branded to be heretic by the friars. We can say even that Dr. Jose P. Rizal was never a politician. In fact, he was a philosopher, a 19th century Pilipino apologetic Christian. He never condemned the King of Spain nor has accused the Spain because of the situations of the Pilipinos in the Philippines during his time. Rather he was a constant critic of the Friars ruling over the Philippines. He was against the corrupt practices of the Friars before. He was never so happy about the abusive acts the Friars did thwarting their conscience and reverting Biblical principles of faith just to make their plans succeed.

Yes. Jose P. Rizal is a reminder that just like in his days; we are also experiencing a dilemma. We have shattered our conscience and our faiths have been blinded by nothing less than personal greed and the destructive desire of power. We are entangled by the lies set for us by the society, by ourselves, and those powerful factions that we let in our lives.

We need faith to proceed. We still need God to succeed. Dr. Rizal has made it clear in his statement and he affirmed his belief. Though this is actually a personal exclamation from a personal point of view, it create rather a communal effect; that if all Pilipinos think the same way, weighing theology as something not to use to control people but to set them free.

Maybe today we can never point out the problem to be with the government or with the church, maybe the problem is lying inside of us, maybe we have corrupted faith and blur conscience, thus we are left with no choice but to pile up problems adding one after another.

But it’s good Dr. Jose Rizal still educates us even today and reminds us of the role of God and our faith in him in the success of country. Yes he is right when saying: “No, let us not make God in our image, poor inhabitants that we are of a distant planet lost in infinite space. However, brilliant and sublime our intelligence may be, it is scarcely more than a small spark which shines and in an instant is extinguished, and it alone can give us no idea of that blaze, that conflagration, that ocean of light.”
---
joseph glenn c. austero jr. 10/06/08

Captured 4.0

2009-04-27T14:24:00.004+08:00

...my holiday has been extended...LOL... I have well lots of things to share as there were so many many things that happened in my life, my family, and friends for the past two weeks alone. But before I will write about them later, so for the mean time allow me to share again some humble shots of Heil here.

Edge

Escape

Curtail

Track

Bound

... that's it... indulge yourself to these beautiful photos... My personal favorite is the first one... pick your choice...

I Was Tagged

2009-04-10T14:45:00.006+08:00

It's holy week and I intentionally opted to leave my blog some days of quietness... But before I indulge for the long weekend vacation, I would like first to share this... Yes, I have been tagged by Watz... So here it is...

001. Name → Joseph Glenn.
002. Nickname(s)→ Glenn, Jad, Seph, Koopsit, Joe, Totep, Tep.
004. Zodiac sign → Gemini.
005. Male or female → Male.
006. Elementary → Malinao Central ES, Tabaco South Central ES.
008. High School → St. Louise de Marillac Sch of Tabaco, Tabaco National HS.
009. College School → Aquinas University of Legazpi.
010. Hair color → Black.
011. Long or short → Long.
012. Loud or Quiet → Loud and Quiet.
013. Jumpers or Jeans → Jeans.
014. Phone or Camera → Camera.
015. Health freak → Not so much.
016. Drink or Smoke? →.
017. Do you have a crush on someone? → Crushed someone? Many times :))!!!!
018. Eat or Drink → Eat.
019. Piercings → 1, left earlobe.
020. Tattoos → None.

FIRSTS:
023. First piercing → Last year Oct... many times since childhood, I pierced my thumb with a sewing machine needle and my left foot with concrete nail! Awful.
024. First best friend → Can't remember.
025. First award → Pre-school 1st Honor.
026. First crush → Can't remember.
027. First pet → Sushmita, A Japanese peach dog.
028. First big vacation → Big???.
030. First big birthday → Another Big???.

CURRENTLY:
049. Eating → Mr. Chips.
050. Drinking → Propel.
052. I'm about to → Poo.
053. Listening to → Diana, by Paul Anka and other oldies songs (Monro, Sedaka, Sinatra, Charles, name it... want to try? Click here.
054. Plans for today → Finish my blogs and head home for the weekend vacataion.
055. Waiting for → uhm, payments, hehehe.

YOUR FUTURE:
058. Want kids? → Yes.
059. Want to get married? → Hopefully.
060. Careers in mind → Becoming a US Senator... Lawyer... Computer Mogul...

WHICH IS BETTER IN THE BOY/GIRL YOU LIKE?
068. Lips or eyes → Eyes and Lips.
070. Shorter or taller - Just fine, average.
072. Romantic or spontaneous → Spontaneous.
073. Nice stomach or nice arms → Stomach? for what? Am I allowed to choose legs?.
074. Sensitive or loud→ Sensitive.
075. Hook-up or relationship → Relationship.
076. Trouble maker or hesitant → Hesitant.

HAVE YOU EVER:
080. Lost glasses/contacts → No.
081. Ran away from home → No.
082. Held a gun/knife for self defense → Hahaha.
083. Killed somebody → The muts!!! If I had then I would not be answering this, right?.
084. Broke someone's heart →.
085. Been arrested → Not yet, planning to be.
087. Cried when someone died → Yes.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
089. Yourself → Yes.
090. Miracles → Yes.
091. Love at first sight → No.
092. Heaven → Yes.
093. Santa Claus → No.
094. Tooth Fairy → No.
095. Kiss on the first date → Never...

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now → Yes. Hon.
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life → Yes.
099. Do you believe in God → Yes.
100. Post as 100 truths and tag 20 people→ NO... (It said, answer truthfully...) :))

This is it... I'm ready to leave... Advance Happy Easter to y'all...

A Summer with Less of the Sun

2009-04-04T05:14:00.006+08:00

You read it right! According to observations on the Sun's activities conducted by NASA scientists, the sun had recorded the lowest sunspot for a century. Scientists even compared this latest attribute of the sun to the present situation of the stock market. The sunspot are observable movements in the sun's surface caused by the ejection of solar flares, magnetic field, and radiation. So what are the effects of this "very deep solar minimum" to Earth and humans? Well, there are a handful to say.

One effect of this sun quietness is the decrease of temperature and UV rays that can reach the Earth. Scientists also observed that there is a decrease of about .02% in the transmitted heat from the sun. Though sounds negative, the geniuses still are positive that this is a normal activity of the sun. In fact, that decrease in its temperature transmission cannot even make a change in the present global warming. Although the radiation and the magnetism brought about by the sun will affect the brightness and frequency of the auroras that can be seen at the polar regions.

This year, the sun recorded 78 days without sunspot. The date span was from Jan 1 to March 31, 2009. In that case 87% of the 90-day period, the sun did not show any activity. To say that last year was never close is an early prediction because there are still 9 more months to 2008's record of 266 "sunspotless" days.

What lies ahead on the suns future or even the Earth's future is still vague. There are assumptions that this will just be temporary and that the sun is just following a sequence just as what had happened in 1901 and 1913. But nobody can predict what will happen in the future; even modern equipment has no capacity to do so.

Well, for the moment let's enjoy summer. Lower radiation from the sun would mean more outdoor activities right? Oh just don't forget to still apply a sunscreen - 10.7 cm of decrease in radio wavelength is negligible and can still be harmful.

More info here.

Starbust Spider

2009-04-01T00:08:00.004+08:00

Photo of what known as the Starbust Spider, taken from NASA's MRO

At first glance you would think that this place is just somewhere in the north or south pole. Or better yet a place somewhere in Colorado or within the ranges of the Rocky Mountains. But this is not. This place can only be found in Mars. That's right. This is a seasonal cap of carbon dioxide ice from the surface of Mars. With constant studies on Mars and surface footages are being produced by the MRO or Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists are given more clips of ideas of what it is happening on Mars. The presence of ice in Mars don't necessarily give the scientist a chance to prove the existence of water on the red planet. Unfortunately, the ice do not undergo condensation so no presence of water is created rather it sublimates - a proces in which carbon ice directly becomes vapor. Oh, the name of this place is attributed to the spider leg through or web like trenches that are created by the gas escaping out from under the ice formation.

The Work and Passion

2009-03-30T15:38:00.007+08:00

Honestly, I have nothing to share except for this photo... But in no case will I ever left this page barren for another day... So here it is...

Work and Passion

This is my keyboard at my home station... my crib... my servant... Well I took the photo last January but I only took notice of it's aesthetic accents just this afternoon... so I decided to post it here... oh by the way, the blue light was from the speaker's LED power signal... I don't use flash here so the light that reflected on the keyboard came from the fluorescent.

Expedition 19 Launches for ISS

2009-03-27T23:40:00.000+08:00

Expedition 19 crews aboard this Russian Soyuz Rocket trusts upward during launch to begin mission in the International Space Station.

The scheduled flight of the Expedition 19 of Russia has successfully been done in Kazakhstan. The Russian Soyuz TMA - 14 rocket is commanded by Commander Gennady Padalka. With him is Flight Engineer Michael Barrat. These two cosmonauts will join Koichi Wakata in the ISS and will complete the mission after 6 months. Spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi is with the Russian crew again and is bound to be back here on Earth on April 7. Discovery STS-119 will be landing in Earth on Saturday bringing home Sandy Magnus in exhange for Wakata.

Meanwhile, a dispute have paved while an inteligence report reached the Washington about the rocket the North Korea is planning to launch. According to NoKor, the rocket that they are going to launch is not a nuclear bomb but a mission to space. Undeniably, the international commnunity have reacted negatively to this move. Secy. Clinton of the Department of State said that the flight or the launch of such will be provocative as it will be a violation to the UN Resolution banning NoKor for any activity like that. In 2007, the country launched a rocket bomb but has not reached its target as it exploded after flight alarming many countries. In 1996, NoKor had faked a space flight only to advance its nuclear tests.

While there is no limit as to what countries would like to explore the space, the international community is not at peace with North Korea's plan. It might be that while their mission is really space exploration, who knows if they are trying to test if they can launck a missile from space to Earth. This is really scary... The name of their missile itself sounds scary - Taepodong-2...

I can't wait for Saturday to come... I will never miss watching Discovery STS-119's reentry and landing...

Falling In Love with Kiba

2009-03-26T00:06:00.005+08:00

This past Saturday, I visited a college friend here in Legazpi. I came to his place around 10 PM and he was so busy watching an anime series in DVD. I was not surprised with him for being too obsessed with animes so I decided to stay for a while to watch with him.

I no longer watch animes in TV and I no longer know what are the recent fad on these things. All I know is that Naruto's very famous these days. I asked Bobet what he's watching and answered Kiba, without looking at me.

Kiba is currently aired by ABS-CBN every 4:30 in the afternoon and nearing conclusion. I never heard of it before so I never dared watching it or googling about it. Yeah, I'm kind of biased here and my doors are already closed. I can never have any favorite anime except Samurai X and B't X... But as I was watching with Bet that night, I get to notice something with Kiba. The story line was so pure and direct and not complicated. When I say it's not complicated I mean that it's not to deep something that one can easily fathom. I say that the story is more of political in nature. And I can sense a deeper and more serious theme discussed in Kiba. In fact I believe that Kiba has a concealed message that will be exposed automatically to those who really seek it.

Kiba's story revolves around 3 characters; Zed, Rouia, and Noa. Noa and Zed are bestfriends from the place called Calm. Apparently, they wanted to leave Calm and find a peaceful territory. An accident happened and both Zed and Noa were taken by a force through a portal to unknown territories. Later they knew that they were sent to Tempura and Neotopia - Zed being sent to Tempura and Noa to Neotopia. These two territories is a part of the chaotic world that is composed of other nations such as Task, Jimoto, Ulbacus, etc. Because the world is at war, one nation greatly aims for power through acquiring Key Spirits in order to gain supremacy over the other nations. Luckily for Tempura and Neotopia, Zed and Noa had been chosen by Amil Gaoul and Shachira respectively - two of the six Key Spirits. The Key Spirits are said to have the power to change the world for the better or destroy it.

The story runs from simple scenes of friendship, tackles basic human quests for power, greed, and selfishness that would lead to conspiracy and deception. Oh by the way, the nations that I said part of the world Zed has been sent, they have different characteristics and forms of government - a thing that I have even loved as I put it as if it is the world that I am living right now...

So, I'll stop this story telling here because I might spoil the series. Well, if you are interested you may tune in to ABS-CBN to watch it or browse some anime website over the net for video streaming. (You can also get a DVD copy from your favorite "Jack Sparrow" outlet and let me borrow it... LOL...)

Refurbished

2009-03-24T01:18:00.002+08:00

Last August 2008 was the last time I changed the appearance of my blog. At first it was wrapped with green background and some other similar colors. It looks similar to this. Then one day Nel commented that my blog looks like that of Sec Ing Etc. so I decided to change its colors and it's header photo. I made it brown and named it Extraction Point. Though this blog has gone through several changes, those were nothing so major... I never changed its template and had not added some tools... except for a Cbox and the blogroll... Just last Saturday I made a decision to change the layout and template of my blog... And it came to me that black template is good so I decided to use it... Now, I welcome you the new look of my blog...

I hope this does not make my blog boring to read or too dull to look at... I hope you still pay a visit after these changes...

BTW, Saturday morning, I had a chat with heil and he promised me that he's going to lend me some few other shots that he has. And a few hours later he sent it to me... I will post the pictures later this week... or maybe next week...

My head's so heavy today... My vision's swirling and I get a little dizzy... I don't know what I have eaten yesterday that I get this feeling... I hope I could get well later this day...

Sorry, I have no pictures to post... I get bact to it soon...

PS: How do you find the new look of my blog? Share some comments or leave a message at the CBox... Thanks...

2009-03-21T01:49:00.004+08:00

Captured 3.0

Finally... I give you the last batch of Heil's captured images... The first picture is so beautiful for me... I love the texture, i like the color combination. Everything in it is simply amazing. So indulge yourselves with these pictures and treat yourselves with relaxation.

School

Robust

Fishes

Challenge

I hope Heil got other photos to share... Maybe some other time I will ask him for another batch that I will feature here... For the mean time, I will try to have my own works posted in here...

Ignition

2009-03-19T17:22:00.001+08:00

Yeah... After some years of staying idle, I culled out my Multiply account and here I am trying to figure out how this works and what to do with this... I planned to re-open this account for one reason - blog cross-posting with Blogger. If these things worked and I find it easy to use Multiply then I think I will have to dwell on this one... Let's see... Wish me luck....

2009-03-18T11:56:00.009+08:00

Bat Aboard!!!

As of publication of this blog, Discovery STS-119 has successfully docked at the International Space Station. The seven crews are already in the ISS and are preparing for the space walk. 2 of the STS-119 crews will be doing a space walk to conduct the final installation of the solar panel wing and the other equipment the team brought. Meanwhile, another expedition from Kazakztan will be leaving Earth and will dock at ISS this month (Liftoff: March 26). The crew of the Expedition 9 will be joining Koichi Wakata at the ISS. Wakata will be left in the ISS when Discovery returned. Joining Discovery crews back to Earth is Sandra Magnus in replacement of Wakata.

A breaking news caught my attention... A bat hanging on the external fuel tank of Discovery STS-119!!! An image posted by NASA showed a bat clinging on the external tank of Discovery STS-119. It was confirmed that the image was actually a bat. According to NASA, it is possible that birds and other animal can get close to the ship as Kennedy Space Center is located near a wildlife area. The bat remained clinging on to the tank as the craft trusts upward. Woah... That's great...

***

I am envious of the astronauts... Really... I bet it's really fun being there in space... I want to do the space walk too...

*Photos are from NASA.

2009-03-17T02:54:00.005+08:00

Captured 2.0

I apologize for keeping you waiting for the next batch of Heil's shots. Well, my tactic worked. LOL... So before you lose your patience, I now uncover another five of the pictures Heil took and shared to me. Enjoy...

Verticle

This one is my personal favorite. I do not know why... I just love it and I found it very challenging... And I got a deep fascination over lines and I found it in this picture...

Lilies

Dock

Web

Heil confessed that the web with the spider was the most difficult to shoot. He had several shots of this scene just to capture the best one. The challenge here according to him was to keep the spider in the center and wait for it to settle... Also, because the web is light weight and the scene was outside, the wind keeps the web moving thus creating a blur on the finished products. Good thing he was able to shoot one good part here.

And finally for this batch...

Flown

2009-03-16T06:08:00.000+08:00

We Have Liftoff

Photo of the Discovery STS-119 during launch yesterday at Kennedy Space Center, Launch Pad 39A

After some days delay, Discovery STS-119 has finally left Earth yesterday. Discovery is going to the International Space Station to deliver 2 solar power panel wings and another equipment. Aboard the Discovery are seven astronauts led by Col. Lee Archambault.

*Photo from NASA.

2009-03-15T05:01:00.001+08:00

B't X Syndrome

4:30 in the afternoon, it was Monday, the class was ended early by my teacher and too fortunate on my part, I was not one of the sweepers for the day. I usually land to be a Monday sweeper back in my elementary years but when I was in grade 6 we were randomly selected and grouped. That day, I have the opportunity to sneak at a canteen outside near my school and watch my favorite cartoon series. Yes. Before Zenki, we have our favorite cartoon sequel.

And since during my elementary years, CATV was not as famous as it is now, we have no choice but to watch what is shown by the local network. Too fortunate that time, we were able to sneak at a canteen with a good reception of ABS-CBN. We are so happy when we watched B't X those time and from that day on, this cartoon has become my favorite.

That time, I am no longer residing in Malinao. My family moved back to a nearby town - Tabaco - since 2 of my sisters are studying there already. So most of my school day afternoons are spent traveling. 4:30 pm is my favorite time of the day that time because by the time the clock ticks 5pm, I must be at my Andma's (this is what we call our grandma, it's a long story and I will try to manage to post an article about this here) house as my parents tend to drop by before we head home.

Going back, B't X is my favorite character in the series. Of course, Teppei, being the master of B't X goes with that favoritism. I have a circle of friends in my neighborhood in Tabaco namely Chor and Jun. Chor being the biggest among us three and the most dominant chose to characterize himself as Tepei, while Jun as Fao. Because I was only left with Karen, Dr. Hokuto, and Ron to choose from, I had nothing left but to pattern my interests that time to the remaining unclaimed characters. Jun suggested that I pick Dr. Hokuto as he is a great scientist, intelligent, and neutral - characters that he said he saw in me. So I picked Dr. Hokuto as my character.

Dr. Hokuto's B't is Max. Max is a turtle and the most powerful B't over the planet and second only to Rafaelo. Hokuto is regarded as the Master Doc as he is capable of healing soldiers and knights that he came accross wounded. He is also able to repair any damaged B't that he finds. Without Hokuto, B't X and Teppei could not have survived an attacked posed by the army sent by Aramis. Hokuto is not actually an ally of Teppei until the rest of the guardians settled to a mission to destroy Rafaelo. Ironically, Hokuto is sick and weak and he cannot heal himself.

For ten years, I have been missing this TV series just as I am missing Samurai X. Few months ago, I purchased a DVD of the first season of B't X and I was so happy I get to see the guys again. I still find myself over the character of Hokuto and the DVD made me reminisce some parts of my childhood. I realized I have grown already and now facing my own Rafaelo.

I miss Chor, Jun, and the rest of my childhood friends back in Tabaco. I am missing my life 12 years ago.

I hope I can find the other DVD of the 2nd season of B't X... The death of Rafaelo... B't X Neo...

If anyone of you has this copy or any copies of the series, please let me know...

2009-03-14T13:36:00.001+08:00

In Grayscale

The Writer

Resonance

Newsbreak

These pictures were taken a day before the brutal murder of Rei Mon "Ambo" Guran. As his fellow, I dedicated these shots for him. I never had a clue why during that Sunday I took the pictures, I was imagining shooting at a person but is absent or is invisible as portrayed in the photos... And the next day, the person I was imagining has been filled up.

These photos are also representations of me. I am a writer, a reader, and a music lover... Interests that I share with the late Ambo.

2009-03-13T21:26:00.003+08:00

Live Pictorial

It was our acquaintance party in 2005 back in AUL when I took the pictures below. Yeah. The pictures are quite old already but they are mine and I want them to share to you. In the aspect of photography, one thing that I wanted to perfect are human shots. Candid as possible. The pictures I feature here are one of my first attempts and admittedly it was not perfect. But still let's give it a try.

My models here were well, "itago na lang natin sa mga pangalang" Jay and Ste... LOL... (Peace sainyong dalawa...) To why I took pictures of them? It was not actually my idea and I was there during the event not to take pictures of any non-sense scenes but to document the event. It was the idea of these two and the rest of the Architecture students whom are their classmates and my friends. It turn out that the fun that was supposedly in thise pictures became something more than just what expected.

You might notice that I lacked some lighting and composition here... Too far to be considered a professional shot. But hey, I am a novice and I just love what I do... I don't do it as profession so technically, none of my pictures should be considered as such (but in no case will I object if you would regard it with such an eminence, just don't try to compare it with those taken by pros, then we have a deal.)

Tommorow, I will share some of the photos I took back in college... I still have to crop them so I need to have some few touch of Photoshop on them... hehe...

2009-03-11T22:53:00.002+08:00

Captured

As I promised to Heil, I am now posting his shots here in my blog. I personally liked his angling and techniques in macro photography so I offered him a space here.

It was in December when we discussed about this photography thing. It actually started when we exchanged links in Friendster and we happen to have a common interest in photography. Heil is a comrade and a team mate. He is also an airsoft player and that's the main track we became known to each other.

Here are the few shots he let me peep over. There are actually thriteen or fourteen of them but for some element of surprise I defer to post them all here at once... (so you can get back and wait the next post... and also a reason for me to post again...- to get rid of those "blog pauses." LOL.)

Mist

Droplets

Cornered

Courtsy

Towers

So there you have it... The captions are mine and it is my own interpretation of the pictures... Check out tommorow the next pictures that I will be featuring here...

2009-03-10T01:47:00.000+08:00

The Second Pause

I really am not sure why this happened twice. When I started this blog in October 2006, I had posted only 3 articles and then I got whim of surprise I left the blog barren. Then, it was only last year when I again had the courage to fill up this personal undefiled second world. But the same happened last October 2008. I had the second pause. I don't know but maybe I just got too busy making history and forgot to write it down here... Or I just had a creepy hiatus and brought me to insoluble taciturn.

See. I am not into bragging up my life and my everyday whereabouts and thoughts to people especially if unsolicited. I just wanted this blog to become my proof of existence and a witness to my interests. So maybe the pause was just a reminder that I need to push the play button again...

My gears need a little grease already...

2008-10-31T19:43:00.003+08:00

A Toast for My Namesake

When I was still in grade school, I am often seated anywhere in the front row because of my surname. Whenever the teacher made a roll call for attendance or for whatever cause, I am always the first or if most of the time included in the first five to be called. However, my name is not as short as my other classmates' who in a very fortunate situation only bears one name and a short one. My twin classmates then have the name Jave and Jed. I still remember the one with the name Eric. Oh, yes we even had in the class a name Al. Every time my teachers would ask us to get sheet of paper and usually 1/4 of an intermediate pad, I am always deprived of space and often times just write the subject and the date under my name when my other classmates joyfully scribble those just opposite their names in the first line of their paper. Well, my name sounds American and it can be considered a name of the 90's because it consists of two names which are very common and famous for babies in that time frame. We hear one with John Joshua, a Chloe Marie, a Jude Lawrence, and many more.

My name, despite its foreign and modernistic sound for the ear of a Pilipino, was first used in 1939. It was given to a baby who was born October 31, 1939; before the occupation of the Japanese in our country. The baby is Joseph Glenn S. Austero Sr. - my father. I was named after him and so adding to my two names is a suffix "Jr."This article is not about me or about my name but about my namesake.

My father's age difference with mine is a mere 46 years and with that gap, I no longer experienced basketball sessions with him the time I was starting to embrace “teenhood” or asked advices on love and courtship. However, there are experiences that still linger in my memory that both my father and I shared as father and son.

When I was a kid I saw a picture when my father used to have me sit on his lap while he pedaled on his bicycle. This picture was made a real experience when he let me go with him one morning for a bike ride from Malinao to Tabaco after the typhoon Rosing hit our place. I may not have been exposed to sports by my father way back then but he still managed to instill in me how important I am to him even in simple ways - a reality which I realized when I am already making my own life.

He is never the father figure as other people may think of but for me he is still my great father I can be proud of. He made so many mistakes in his life but he made a way so I can see it and decide not to do the same. He loved my mother so much that when my mother came home from abroad after 9 years of staying overseas, he stayed with her despite all the things that he knows might have caused his morale to crash - he stayed with us in deep remorse just to save his family.

You know, he is not that strong in terms of decision making. He always makes it a point that every thing in the house is under his control yet with my mother's permission. His submissive character for the good cause is one of the heirs I got from him.

He seldom nags. He never spank any of my sisters even me. Even his four grandchildren have never been punished by him physically. He may have said a word but it’s not too deep that it will pierce your heart. When I was in grade four, I have received a news that my second eldest sister has given birth to my first nephew. When I told my father about the news after when he came home from work, he immediately said that we will visit my sister and the baby the next day and promised to buy me a pair of sandals. While we were both having our hairs done at a barber shop in Tabaco, he asked me what gift I would want to give to the baby. To my excitement, I exclaimed one whole dressed chicken. And he smiled. He bought that one big chicken and then paired it with formula milk. That instance have never happened again in my life afterward but I still heard from my sisters that whenever he receives his pension just some few years ago, he always have to hand in a box of milk for my nephews.

I am a witness to his dedication to God. When his health started to deteriorate, he made a pact with God through our pastor that he'd going to trade his illness so he can serve his Master in one of our Church's pioneering distant branch. In 2004, we rushed him to the Philippine General Hospital for a life battling operation of his collapsed lungs due to emphysema. He's such a strong man and managed to survive the operation at the age of 62. He stayed on with us for another 5 years and after that on February 5, 2007, he joined his Master in heaven.

During his wake I only cried once. I was sitting in front of him and thought of the good times that we had. In my mind I shared to him how lucky I am to be his namesake and his only son. I speak to him and again argued who's the actor who really played Ian Fleming's Her Majesty's Secret Service - a usual scenario which he and I always do when we are watching a James Bond movie. He anticipated watching Casino Royale but he never made it. Yes. I cried once. My girlfriend can attest to that. I cried once not because I was saddened of his death. I cried not because he has left. I cried not because of anger. NO. I cried because he will never come back again and that what is left of my namesake is a memory that will only reside in my mind.

He was a teacher. He is called everywhere as "sir." And when people call him with that, I felt like I am also regarded as someone of higher degree; a prince. My father's legacy to me as his son is not to be a successful engineer or lawyer. His legacy was the name he made of me and the life I am going to make of the name.

I may still be referred to as his son and namesake but I don't care. I am proud of it. He made so many things in life, good and bad. But for me his mistakes are his own responsibility and he taught me to shoulder my life so that I would not blame anybody for whatever decision I make. He taught me to regard mistake as a tool of learning to me and a warning to others. He had taught me so many things that this article can never contain.

Now, I am Joseph Glenn C. Austero Jr., his namesake and a proud son. Today is his birthday and I wanted to greet him Happy Birthday Papa, without you being born 69 years ago, I could not have existed and my name could not have been used. Thank you and I love you so much.

2008-10-17T00:06:00.008+08:00

Beautiful Freak

I was in my second year college when I met the most wonderful woman in my life. I just had some traumatic experiences in relationships that time that having another one seems to me nothing but a repetition of the pain that I have recently felt. Unbeknown to me, the woman that was introduced to me one night by friend was also enduring the same traumas like mine. That night we talked, laid all our cases, and then find the common denominator between the two of us. She had my respect and I also had her's. Later our friendship grew to some level and then I realized one day that I am falling in love with the woman that was only introduced to me as an acquaintance. No. I do not fell in love because of our common grounds, though those were part of it, but primarily, I fell in love with her because of our differences. She's a freak, a beautiful one.

Ma. Krissena S. Quiñones. She was known to her friends as Kring and she was introduced to me with this nickname. At first I was hesitant to approach this lady despite her pretty face and mesmerizing eyes. There is something in her that you can just feel the first time you saw and personally met this woman. She's brave. There is courage in her looks, yet the meekness of her being resides inside her heart. Yes. Part of her courage is her being so straightforward and aggressive. As we continue with our relationship, I came to accept that our differences became complements making us two unified, one being.

Love. This is what drives me to continue living and hoping that someday, somehow I am going to marry this wonderful woman. She taught me so much in life. She still help me learn so many things. I am proud that on December 19, we are about to celebrate our fourth year anniversary. That all happens because of this beautiful freak who kept on reminding me of the love and life that we must share moment by moment until the time set forth by the Almighty.

She's not the usual girl anybody can have. Other's might think she's indiffirent. Some may say she's not that good. Many may regard her are something not able to pass their standards. But she does not care. I do not care either. All I know is that, no matter what other tells her, she is the only one that God gave me, not simply as a friend, but a best friend, a lifetime partner, a gift.

We are not a perfect couple. Neither of us is perfect. However, we see our imperfections as something that will help us attain perfectness in God.

She is my treasure.

She is my Beautiful Freak...

Today, October 17, 2008 is her birthday.

Hon,

I have always wanted your happiness. And in my simple way letting you feel how special you are to me, allow me to present to you my gift. This might not seem so grand but let this be something that you'd treasure... Let it always be a reminder of my ardent love to you...

Be the woman you want to be... As I have said to you before, I am always here for you. I will be with you through thick and thin. Enjoy life and allow yourself to grow according to what your conscience dictates. I will patiently wait to see you grow more beautifully. Later, it will not just be me who'll be thanking you but also our future offspring. You deserve every bit of thanks and love that me and all other people gives you.

Don't forget the one that binds us together in love and faith - God. Let Him always dwell in your heart. Make Him your Lord and Savior. In that I am sure He will never make him down.

Thank you very much for all the love you gave me and still willing to give. Happy birthday and I pray for more blessings from God. I love you so much, Hon...

Yours in Christ,

Seph

Beautiful Freak - Eels

2008-10-10T04:48:00.008+08:00

What Are You?

"Of every one hundred men in battle, ten should not even be there. Eighty, are nothing but targets. Nine are the real fighters, we are lucky to have them since they make the battle. Ah, but the one -- one is the Warrior-- and he brings the others home." -- Commonly attributed to Heraclitus, 500 BC (likely apocryphal)

I am playing airsoft and I like it so much. It is because when I play I become a soldier, hit, but never dies. LOLS. Honestly, this is not just a game of chance, but a game of mind. Yes, similar to chess... But unlike chess, airsoft needs your body to move, your legs to leap, hands to pull the trigger, and of course a mouth willing to scream "hit" when hit.

For months that I have been playing this hobby, there are several questions that I have already encountered; both internal and external questions. One of which pertains to the option of skill or gun power. Arguably, both are needed. And in fact, I certainly believe that the power of the gun and the skill must go together. However, the argument here is not about depending on it. As a soldier, your dependence must not be given to your gun or any armament or else you are nothing but a LAME soldier, a coward. What if you no longer have any armament to help you in your mission? Will you still go or surrender?

Airsoft game and the real battle involves two main factor which the player/soldier must depend on - physiological and psychological power. How well you analyzed the game and the mission is very important than you having just better gun than your team mates.

I loved what Heraclitus have said pertaining to war. See, only 1 among the 100 soldiers is actually a warrior. He has all the wit and the guts to win the war. The warrior is actually the bravest... the best... and the one with the passion and driving force to break in to the enemy's foothold and bring the rest of the soldiers in. The 9 are the fighters. I would say they are those with best built, good armament, but a portion in them is reserved to themselves. You know, human survival instinct... hehehe... Of course, in the airsoft game, nobody wants to be one of the 80 - the targets... Unless of course you are a Newbie and you do not have any idea why you are being ordered by the point man to stay upfront. LOLs... And hey, never mind the 10 left.

So, if you are a real airsoft soldier, where do you belong?

Support Airsoft in Bicol. Be a part and witness the upcoming event on Oct. 26, 2008 will be held at the View Deck, Lignon Hill, Legazpi City. The mission is dubbed Operation Hamburger Hill.

2008-10-02T07:28:00.006+08:00

Some Face Slapper

Just finished my office works and stumbled upon a certain blog and find this article... It's a good one and after Typhoon Pablo passed by Legazpi without any damage or winds last night I am relieved at some point by this article... This has something to do with Hurricane Katrina which put New Orleans under sea water...

"Been sitting here with my ass in a wad, wanting to speak out about the bullshit going on in New Orleans. Here goes:

For the people of New Orleans...
First we would like to say, Sorry for your loss. With that said, Let's go through a few hurricane rules: (Unlike an earthquake, we know it's coming)

#1. A mandatory evacuation means just that...Get the hell out. Don't blame the Government after they tell you to go. If they hadn't said anything, I can see the argument. They said get out... If you didn't, it's your fault, not theirs. (We don't want to hear it, even if you don't have a car, you can get out.)

#2. If there is an emergency, stock up on water and non-perishables. If you didn't do this, it's not the Government's fault you're starving.

#2a. If you run out of food and water, find a store that has some. (Remember, shoes, TV's, DVD's and CD's are not edible. Leave them alone.)

#2b. If the local store has been looted of food or water, leave your neighbor's TV and stereo alone. (See #2a) They worked hard to get their stuff. Just because they were smart enough to leave during a mandatory evacuation, doesn't give you the right to
take their stuff...It's theirs, not yours.

#3. If someone comes in to help you, don't shoot at them and then complain no one is helping you. I'm not getting shot to help save some dumbass who didn't leave when told to do so.

#4. If you are in your house that is completely under water, your belongings are probably too far gone for anyone to want them. If someone does want them, let them have them and hopefully they'll die in the filth. Just leave! (It's New Orleans, find a voodoo warrior and put a curse on them.)

#5. My tax money should not pay to rebuild a 2 million dollar house, a sports stadium or a floating casino. Also, my tax money shouldn't go to rebuild a city that is under sea level. You wouldn't build your house on quicksand would you? You want to live below sea-level, do your country some good and join the Navy.

#6. Regardless of what the Poverty Pimps Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton want you to believe, The US Government didn't create the Hurricane as a way to eradicate the black people of New Orleans; (Neither did Russia as a way to destroy America). The US Government didn't cause global warming that caused the hurricane (We've been coming out of an ice age for over a million years).

#7. The government isn't responsible for giving you anything. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but you gotta work for what you want. McDonalds and Wal-Mart are always hiring, get a damn job and stop spooning off the people who are actually working for a living.

President Kennedy said it best..."Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

He always finds a way to say things that all of us are thinking but can't figure out how to. He is so right. I get so tired of people bitching and moaning about their situation but do nothing to get out of it. Take some responsibility and stop blaming everyone around you for your problems.

I have a relative that is 30 something. This particular person had some bad shit happen to him growing up. (who didn't?) To this day, he blames everything that happens to him on his past. "It's the way I grew up, I can't help but be this way." EXCUSE ME???? You are 30 something freaking years old have 3 children, who you never see, have abandoned your wife, totally fucked up your life and this is all to blame on your rotten childhood? If everyone in the country blamed their problems on some crappy thing that happened in their childhood, we would all be crack whores and drug dealers living in the slums.

I wish people would just take the responsibility that just maybe YOU caused your life to be the way it is. And if you don't like it, then change it.

Disclaimer: The posted article was not been edited by the author. The author is not responsible for any foul words other contents of the article. Article from here.

2008-08-29T04:58:00.003+08:00

Official Unveiling of My Call Sign

...you might know Ludlum, or Crichton, but I have been fused to the novel written by Ken Follet entitled The Needle... this novel is about to be come a classic to mind you...LoL... just two weeks ago I have decided that I call myself in our team as "needle" but it seems that the term would not just simply fit for an airsoft gamer call sign... and besides it sounds quite not too military... so because George Lucas is another idol to me, and I am a die hard Star Wars fan, just tonight I am now adopting the call sign "StormtroopR."... so friends and collegues on the game site, watch out...

...of course I won't be wearing the suit... I don't want to suffer from heat stroke with that...

...please visit Team SARS...

2008-08-25T21:31:00.005+08:00

Cups of Tea and a Plate of Sushi

...just when I tried to capture utensils and food, I find it so beautiful to look at that I wanted to share it to you... the picture below - the two cups - was captured last June this year... this was taken at Manhattan Resort in Sto. Domingo.

...this plate of sushi was shot in Manila... this was during the Banquet Night held by the Varsitarian staffs to end the Ink Blots Journalism Conference last October 2007...

...I love these two images because of their composition, color blending, and texture...

2008-08-19T05:03:00.007+08:00

North vs. South

I would like to congratulate the North Teams for the win during the 3rd Bicol Airsoft Jamboree at Illiang, Iriga City held last August 17, 2008... Your robots have finally swept off our human soldiers. LOL. You seem to have recruited millions of Aseros during that game huh... I just would like to remind all airsfoters that playing this game is not for you to hurt people but for enjoyment... Well, if you enjoy hurting people, then probably you might as well play wrestling for to have a fair game... Please always think that playing airsoft require discipline... Not because you have the best gun means you can become invincible... Remember; HONESTY, RESPECT, CAMARADERIE, HONOR...

If you are a real airsofter, you do not forget these tenets... If you call yourself an operative you do not depend on your guns power but on your skills...

August 17 is also the birthday of my friend and collegue Kuya Jude...Last August 12, Apit also celebrated his birthday... This coming Sunday, August 24, Nel and Jay, both fellow airsofters will be celebrating their birthdays too... Happy Birthday to you and to the rest of the celebrants this month...

Today, August 19, is our 3 years and 8 months anniversary of my Kring... Honey, I love you so much...

If there would be an anthem for some of the North Teams (... also South Teams hehehe) it would be this song:

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2008-08-14T03:21:00.006+08:00

My A.E.G.

Aside from a camera, I have another object or gadget that "shoots"... yes, it really does... but it makes shots not by pushing a button but pulling a trigger... I have to confess, yes, I am an airsofter, a.k.a. airsoft operative, a.k.a. airsoft player, whatever you call it.

I never intend to write about my another hobby but lately, I grabbed pictures from a friend and comrade and deemed that it is worth to posted here.... though not so because I am the subject in the picture and of course my A.E.G. MP5...

Disregarding me in the pictures, I found so many things in terms of texture and composition in the images... Aside from that it is in gray scale, other elements are observable... So, before I babble so much nonsensical comments here, I welcome you view these pics:

2008-08-12T04:50:00.008+08:00

Experimenting with Glares

Last October 2007, I made a trip to Manila for some journalism seminar. Going home to the place where I stayed, I was amazed of the yellow lights on the streets of Manila and the lights at the UST grounds. Then I decided to get some snapshots with my camera.

This dancing light was captured out of a lamppost along Roxas Blvd... I adjusted the shutter speed to the minimum to create this wonderful effect... The fiery glare created a movement that's abstract and circular...

Another shot of the same lamppost...

The next images were random shots from the edifices of the University of Sto. Tomas... The poor quality of the image maybe a result of the low pixel ratio of the camera used and the atmosphere during the time it was taken...But still, the amber, orange, yellow, and red mixtures in the photos are evident so I posted it anyway...

With these pictures I have proved to myself that having a good camera is never a requisite for you to experiment images. Though, I am still a fan of pro cams. Hope I can get one these year after I bought my dream M733 AEG rifle.

Good luck to me... LOL...

2008-06-27T12:07:00.003+08:00

Green Landscapes

...you see, i love to travel nowhere, without any itinerary and capture everything that my lens sees... i have captured two sceneries that i loved so much because of the perfect combination of greens... i have included in the shot some distinct colors that served as accents to the pictures...

...this one was taken from Soa, Malinao, Albay...notice the stair-like "palayan" resembles that of the magnificent Mountain Province's "Hagdan-Hagdan Palayan"... the beautiful mixture of green plus the infusion of the yellowish details made the picture simply awesome.

...in this picture, taken at Payahan, Malinao, Albay, the scenery was completed by the brown details... the "kubo" and the stems of the coconut trees make the greens look more crispy and delightful...the cloudy background which hid Mount Malinao is just perfect to conceal the blue effect of the mountain...

...next post, i will showcase some of my experiments with camera lenses... i have played with the colors yellow, orange, black...

...so long...

2008-06-17T16:29:00.006+08:00

Solitary

...i cannot possibly explain the effects this picture gave me...my first apprehension covered mainly the aesthetic properties of the image...but later i observed that it speaks of something divine...something eternal...immortality in purest sense...

...my camera could actually unlimit the view, i could possibly call this boundless...

...so much of that, this picture has a story...when my editor back then decided to include this in our paper, one writer protested that it is not wise to be putting pictures that are "copyrighted" and was grabbed from the internet...he speculated that my picture was stolen from the internet...so my editor insisted after asking me where i got the picture that the pictures is actually an original shot...

...there is another title i want to give to this picture...maybe....Death...

2008-06-13T15:54:00.007+08:00

Sacred Shores: Pio Duran

...let me share you some of the views i captured with my camera last May 2007... i also took pictures of the beach of Pio Duran... i was given the opurtunity to be with my friends classmates so i grabbed the chance so i can exchange experience with nature...

...check these shots and pick a choice...

...

...as a scenery "capturer," i find it amazing to play with natural colors... except otherwise i prefer having the scene shot in grayscale...i remembered Van Gogh's paintings because of these pictures...

2008-06-11T16:40:00.013+08:00

Sightings

...i love photography... i just don't have the right tools for it... and i am not professionally trained... i just love to capture things... see emotions in pictures... see life though not moving... refresh memories... hear laughters or weeping though silent...

... here are some of the pictures i took from the beaches of Rawis, Legazpi City and Baybay, Malinao...

Childhood Water

...i took this picture at Baybay, Malinao, Albay sometime in 2006... i was waiting for my mum that time to finish her tasks in the school where she used to teach... she asked me to fetch her that day but i came too early so decided to visit the shore... i visited this shore again last month...

Happy Departure

... this was taken at the same place... the curving beach extends through Balading, Bariw, and the rest of the coastal baranggays of Tabaco... i am still captivated by the movements of the subjects in the picture... it helped me remember an important occurence in my childhood...

Fishing on the Shore

...this one was taken at Rawis, Legazpi City...i've never seen a fishing style like this before so to my amazement i took a shot of the event...

...next post, i will be featuring some of my treasured photos that i took...though would look so experimental yet i claim to have deep portrayal of emotions, movements, and sounds...

...so long...

2008-05-27T17:45:00.004+08:00

SELF REALIZATIONS

I have landed on this topic upon some observations I had in my very humble yet crap surroundings...

I am fond on irony and logic so I want to share this to you...

...I am not God so I cannot change People whom I do not make
...The future of the world does not depend on me but on the sole will of the Almighty
...I am nothing if God is within me
...Pride is simply self
...Self then is triggered by emotions
...Pain is pride
...Tolerating is far different from compromise
...The Bible should not be used for others but for self-correction, else we boast
...There is no one righteous not even one so dare not to pretend
...Lecture me of Love and I tell you about Respect
...Lecture me of Respect and I will show you Love
...Hatred is tricky
...Forgiveness is not ours
...My friends are God's gift to me
...Even my enemies are Loved by God
...Death to "self" is real life
...God loves me even if I am an enemy to many
...So I have to love even my enemies as God loves me
...All the problem in the world is caused by "SELF"
...Mastering the emotion does not mean being numb
...Friends should be trusted as God trusted us
...Enemies should be trusted for they are creation of God
...If you think you are above else, you are just saying that you know nothing at all
...Be considerate, could you be not?
...Even if I exist, my existence is not dependent on my self
...Call me an oppressor and I will hug you tight
...Revenge is not mine
...A mistake can never be corrected with another mistake
...Happy living is never subjective
...Joy is eternal
...Evil is not a person
...A person may commit mistake, be it sin, but they are not simply devil
...God forgives, so should I
...I'll my skeletons in my closet as long as you show your's
...God has his own way in tackling our own lives
...He is all knowing
...He is all power
...He is all over

2008-05-08T11:14:00.003+08:00

My Big Apology

I knew before that blogging will not last just like other sites that I know. But I was made wrong. Now I have decided to start blogging again... I am starting again to be comfortable being called a blogger.

Primarily, I am not that person who really fond of writing my thoughts because I fear to be misquoted or misinterpreted. Out of my mind is a bunch of ideas concreted and rooted on biblical principles basically Christian in nature. I just do believe that the existence of this religion is not solely an answer to the underlying question of the existence of God. All things that I write again here is not simply a way of expression but primarily an oceanic avenue of idea outpouring. Rest assured that what we can have here are principally based on nothing but the Bible or primarily bound to its principles. Not because I'm religious but because I am solely incapacitated of true knowledge just like you.

I apologize then about the silent years of this blog and I am greatly shamed of the reluctance. Forward again I speak, that so through this I can have a better place to talk and share with you again... So long...

2008-05-08T10:52:00.003+08:00

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

I love this song by Leona Lewis...

2006-10-28T19:21:00.002+08:00

Love seeing Holyfield beaten by Rey Nieto

I am not an afficionado of any game in this planet. I love computer games but I do no longer have enough time to actually play such.

Good thing my friend Jude Law introduced me to a game entitled Fight Night Round 2. This friend really is a master of any computer game (I believe and the rest of our friends do).

I use PS2 console and though it is not yet as good as the PS3, beating Holyfield using that console gives me a good feeling.

Hey, how good Rey Nieto play the game. With few blows and jabs, Holyfield was brought to the ground.

Rey Nieto and Jude Law (short for Jude Lawrence Cerdino) are cousins. When I was beating Holyfield using the simulated Rey Nieto, the cousins are behind me giving a loud laughs as Holyfield bows to Rey Nieto.

What an awesome experience and a fulfilling one. During the time we three were plaiying the game,, we even matched Manny Pacquiao with Muhammad Ali and watched Pacquiao bleed and later be knocked out.

The computer game is really good. If you want to beat your most hated boxing icon, all you have to do is to acquire this game and play till your face bleed.

How I wish that the programmers would have the people always behind Pacquiao be simulated too so we can easily beat them even on the computer game. Those persons of course are obvious. Name FG, Chavit, and the rest of the political icons who play rude things with us Pilipinos.

2006-10-27T15:03:00.000+08:00

Dance not to the Music of Cha-Cha

Mrs. Arroyo is really a great day dreamer. I cannot blame her for being such. Her too much fascination to power makes her think unthinkable and unrealizable dreams.

The decision of the Supreme Court to junk the people’s initiative by Sigaw ng Bayan is an act of proving to the whole world that the democracy in the Philippines is not yet dead, though it’s already dying.

I cannot imagine where the heck Mrs. Arroyo get the guts to still say that only Cha-Cha can make the Philippines a first world country. The present situation of the Philippines is not seen on the reports that are made by the secretaries or by any government entity. The present and real situation is seen in the streets and felt in every home. Yes, I can join Mrs. Arroyo in dreaming that somehow, the Philippines will become one of the first world countries. However, I cannot stay day dreaming with her with problems such as lack of funds for education, tuition fee hikes, corruption and many others.

I laud the government, particularly those in Finance Department for making the Peso boost up and made a dollar equivalent to Php 49.95(or so) last night. I realized after hearing the about that rate news that the coin really has to sides. I am really fascinated by this trick; when the rate of peso rises, OFW’s got lower remittances, and when it slopes down us in the Philippines suffer. By looking at it, whether the peso goes up or devalue, the most affected are the masses. And we are the masses.

Those problems are just some that makes the Philippines a third world country. My question is, can Cha-Cha solve the problems of the Philippines?

Changing the constitution or even the government’s form will not make the Philippines a better place lo love in. It will take several men committed to make the Philippines and its government a good one: several good men that do not kill for personal political interest, several good men that never lie and never cheat, several good men that does not corrupt and does not tolerate even his family to corrupt, several good men that fears God and respect the people and the Constitution, above all several men that respects life. And that several does not include majority of what we have now and that several men does not include Mrs. Arroyo!!!

Folks, when the music sounds you have the right to choose whether to dance with it or not. But for me, I will …….. dance not to the music of Cha-cha.

2006-10-25T12:06:00.000+08:00

The Blood of a Fellow Journo

This text color for a blog article may be disturbing to some. The redness may connote death itself or worst REVENGE.

As I journalist, I recognize the big responsibility given to me. I also do not take for granted the rights that are in me and the rights of others. To fight for this right is my big obligation being a journalist and also being a human.

I stand on the reality that all people have its own living principles and every person has the right to express and share his own principle. What bothers me is the insignificant fact that people kill people because of differences of principle.

Cheaters are cheaters, and when a person declares that a cheater is cheater and the declaration is with basis, even the cheater kill the one who profess the cheater remains a cheater.

As you can see, there are several things that humans need to think about and to consider. Many times those considerations are powered by factors and motivations. Political power is one of the strongest and the most evil motivation that drives people insane. It can become even more powerful when such power is generated by money.

Here in the Philippines, people are killed because of money generated political power. The mere fact that the economy of the Philippines slopes down to the ground, its values on life is even more degrading and can be considered to be on the process of extinction.

The death of a fellow journalist, Ambo Guran is one of the proofs of the degradation of the life value here in the country. I believe that the death of this fellow was done by the military and ordered by politicians who are in great need of power and money. They are the politicians that hide raging evilness in their souls, politicians that are dressed like gods but rotten inside.

Ambo is already part of the 174 politically executed people here in the Philippines. Of the 174 (and counting) murdered are pastors, bishops, union leader, activists, students, journalists, radio commentators etc. In this country, being part of the Media is considered by the government as “destabilizers”. The information that Media men distribute are allegedly distracting to the credibility of the government. But that information is the truth.

The Government believes that the truth distracts the peace of the country. And they also believe that the truth must be hidden in order to erect the government even against the people. And as part of their hiding the truth, they must cover it with the blood of innocent people.

What is more controversial is that the Philippines upholds democracy; democracy in papers but not in real situations.

I know that this article will never be a good way to prevent this government from killing more people of this country. However, I believe as a journalist that this media is powerful enough to let people around the world that the government of the Philippines is no longer democratic.

The blood of my fellow journo is the reason why I write this. I just do not want that blood to flow and be wasted.

The blood of my fellow journo, Ambo is what keeps me writing and keeps on abhorring the government’s insanity.

As a Pilipino, I love the Philippines, but I can never love its government.

I urge you brothers and fellow journo around the world, look at the map of my poor country, look at it closely, and see the blue and green turns to red.