Dreaming...

Cooking for One’s Self

2009-10-14T13:35:00.001+08:00

The kitchen is its own recipe book. Or more particularly, the contents of the fridge and the food cupboard are a recipe of its own. That's what I learned during the many times I was left alone to fend for myself and act as housekeeper, something that frequently happened ever since I was a kid. There's never a need for me to look up any recipe whenever I need to cook for myself, or to

Brain just died: King of Fighters Sky Stage

2009-09-11T17:38:00.001+08:00

Brain too numb to write anything coherent after seeing the official website for King of Fighters: Sky Stage, so I’ll just do the usual lazy post-your-YM-convo for now. Mai: excuse me Mai: what is this? Ryan: What is? D: Mai: oh...sorry Mai: this is...confusing Ryan: Wai D: Ryan: What is it D: Mai: King of Fighters Sky Stage Ryan: Sky Stage? D:

Poorly suppressed power levels.

2009-09-01T20:22:00.000+08:00

The T and I got around to comparing our workstations earlier despite our somehow busy workdays. Behold the signs of barely (if ever) suppressed power levels: The pic on the left is T's, the one on the right taken with a crappy camera is mine. ...goddamn, he has a Decadriver. In the office. ONORE DI--pffft, whatever.

Yay, pink again.

2009-08-05T02:47:00.001+08:00

All that orange was getting to me, so I decided to revert to the usual pink. I’ve had a lot of turtles in some of the past layouts, so I guess its time for some FROG. (Frogs are nice. Looking at them makes me feel like all’s right in the world.) Not much in the way of updates this time, so the following will have to do: Currently Watching: Kamen Rider Decade Bakemonogatari

Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon Raiho Limited Edition mini review

2009-07-20T11:45:00.037+08:00

(also, Gundam 00 Multibox Nandemo Haro) Something awesome happened during my usual weekly date with the Nyan yesterday. We were facing the front display of the Data Blitz shop in MoA, and our conversation went like this: Him: Hey, look! Me: (stares at the display box of an arcade stick and Wii Fit) Er what? Him: Look! Me: (peers at the WoW toy) What am I supposed to look at? Him: (takes

A snippet of stolen time yields a lot of amusement.

2009-06-19T15:13:00.001+08:00

This blog post is actually a test done on one of the business-related applications that we’ve been testing for eventual roll-out. ‘Related’ somehow similar to the concept of the Friendster six-degrees of separation, haha. I love my work so much. In the most mundane sense, at least. And now, back to work.

The weather last week was like Mum. Also, Manila Ocean Park.

2009-06-08T13:16:00.003+08:00

If I were to anthropomorphize last week's weather, she'd look and act a lot like my mum. I even have almost the same kind of misgivings towards the weather as my mum (thank you for NOT letting me go to the company outing). That's all I can say about last week's weather. Mother-flavored weather or no, Sunday still saw me being treated to a sunny day with the fishes in Manila Ocean Park, courtesy

A spot of photography: Squirtle

2009-05-27T23:46:00.002+08:00

Squirt's been with me for quite some time now and I'm just happy that he's still the grumpy, hungry turtle that I bought from Megamall Bio Research after Ryan accidentally dropped him and I cried...gah, it's a long story. Even though he made me bawl my eyes out once, he's (the vet finally confirmed that Squirtle is indeed a 'he') still my beloved baby turtle. And he's grown a lot <3 Thanks to

Manga Review: Saint Young Men (aka Jesus is a weeaboo)

2009-05-26T23:58:00.002+08:00

...or, what if God (and Buddha) was one of us. If you're still familiar with one-hit wonder Joan Osbourne's If God Was One of Us, then you may have played around with that thought. Did you imagine the earthbound Jesus as the holier version of King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold? Did His footsteps turn the hot asphalt He walked on into holy ground? Was He even remotely

Guessing game of rage.

2009-05-18T14:41:00.004+08:00

People of today's day and age undoubtedly enjoy technological progress that is unprecedented in previous generations. Unfortunately, similar progression in human behavior doesn't necessarily follow. Back then, reaching out to people and introducing one's self is a highly encouraged act, even if it was done in roundabout, peculiar ways when between adolescents and young adults of opposite sex.

A short break from the usual stuff.

2009-05-18T10:50:00.000+08:00

1. I haven't been doing much outside of work, as always. It's sad, thinking that what transpired last week can be confined to mere bullet points and statistics. A list full of pre-emptive grieving, tears, boredom, paranoia, amusement and nigh miraculous recovery, but a restrictive list nonetheless. I decided that it was high time to nurse a bottle. He said that Gilbey's Gin Pineapple has been

Jesus Christ, it's about time.

2009-05-15T16:35:00.000+08:00

In the meantime, while the cuckoo in my head plots my downfall...

2009-05-02T01:41:00.000+08:00

...I am going to the beach. After almost a year since my last beach trip, with the same crowd I'm going with in a few hours, give or take a few people. I'm glad I'm still able to go to the beach. Simple joys warrant appropriate thanks.

Anime First Impressions: Ristorante Paradiso

2009-04-28T10:53:00.004+08:00

Before I proceed, let it be known that I never liked harem anime of any sort, be it the conventional harem or a reverse one. There are two exceptions though: Kyou Kara Maoh and this one, Ristorante Paradiso. (...I'd like to explain why my exceptions are a bit...well, strange, but that's besides the point.) Here's the gist: A young woman named Nicoletta searches for her estranged mother, and

I ♥ Japan.

2009-04-22T15:51:00.003+08:00

I knew that Japan wouldn't fail me. They do have Happy Turdlets. Me: I wonder what the creator's explanation about the Happy Turdlets getting flushed? I mean, they look like they're recurring characters. Me: after getting flushed in one of the 4komas, do they just get fished out of the septic tank to make another appearance? Me: or do they get reincarnated by getting pooped into life again? Me

Dragonball: Evolution movie impressions

2009-04-11T23:29:00.000+08:00

Pun-Colle: Sex and Violence (The Exploited cover)

2009-04-01T09:39:00.018+08:00

Hardcore punks, this is my 4/01 tribute to you.

This nation reeks of a sad inferiority complex.

2009-03-31T23:10:00.006+08:00

This nation reeks of a sad inferiority complex, and it's happily displaying it for all the world to see. The most recent example, being that of the brouhaha over the (misunderstood?) troll post of Chip Tsao, shows how embarrassingly obvious this inferiority complex - under the guise of demand for respect and dignity - really is, and how this nation has no problems flaunting it. That this nation

Thursday evening, between sleep and wakefulness.

2009-03-27T11:17:00.002+08:00

Almost midnight. Several hours into the game, and you're already doing your second lengthy dungeon run in that single session. You're lying down in front of the TV, head propped up on two plump pillows, with feet resting on the slightly warm PS2. You can feel the console's almost imperceptible trembling as its laser read the contents of the game disc from time to time. At this point your fingers

Haruki Murakami candy bar.

2009-03-19T22:46:00.001+08:00

"It's like a Haruki Murakami candy bar," he said as he chewed my last packet of granola bar with utter relish while we waited in line at the ATM queue. "I don't like it. I have my reasons for not liking it, but I understand why you love it so much." He masticated my favorite treat with a tentative relish; he hadn't eaten anything substantial for a good several hours, and yet I asked him to

Fly high, Gamera.

2009-03-16T20:38:00.002+08:00

...and let's spew out turtly fireballs in the sky. (thanks to Nyan for drawing this awesome Gamera and Mai doodle. X3)

Work Time Fun. Or, my mind-numbing work playlist.

2009-03-14T23:43:00.001+08:00

For some reason I can't load imeem's main page at work, but I can open links to specific music or playlists in imeem. Huh. I'll just post my playlist here to make things easier for me in terms of applying general audio anaesthesia during work, and to give those interested a glimpse of what kind of music I listen to. Someone said that the mix of songs in all of my playlists makes her nauseous

McFarlane Toys: The Matrix Sentinel Deluxe Boxed Edition review

2009-03-14T12:43:00.016+08:00

DISCLAIMER: This post and the content that follows are written by Ryan and not the original owner of this blog.Let me say this to start.I love toys. I've always loved them since my parents gave me my first G1 Transformers when I was but a young lad who always mined gold in his nostrils. Now with me actually being a productive member of society, I've taken up the toy habit again. And I'm going to

Using Outlook with personal email for the first time, etc.

2009-03-12T00:48:00.000+08:00

1. Dumb and dumber. Ryan: Oh! That means you managed to get it to work? X3 Me: yeah X3 Ryan: Awesome X3 Me: seems like Outlook was programmed to pull email out of Gmail every 30 mins by default Me: I set it to 5 Ryan: Whoa D: Ryan: Ah, you don't use the 'send/retrieve mail' function? Me: er Me: I’m expecting Outlook to do it for me automatically Me: I don’t want to keep pressing them Send/Receive

Cold Turkey.

2009-03-10T14:05:00.003+08:00

Slashers are impressive these days. One managed to cut through my bag even while I was hugging it close to me on my lap and took my DS and eyeglasses. While the nature of their skills is less than admirable, their deftness is actually enviable. Here's a short list of the things I lost that mattered to me : DS Lite Monster Bag (a cute pouch I bought off David that I use as DS softcase) Frog

I may have lost you...

2009-03-08T00:19:00.002+08:00

...but I'll see you and be with you again, even if you're going to come back into my life as a different person. I'll miss you very, very much. Goodbye.

Saturday Morning Watchmen

2009-03-06T10:08:00.002+08:00

Him: I don't know if this is real or a master troll D: Me: thats a troll Me: ...I hope. Lol Bubastis is even there. Him: Yeah. So I'm not too sure D: Me: nah I don't believe it. Unless...unless the reasoning behind the existence of the cartoon is that it's one of Ozymandia's marketing ploys. You know, like the figures his toy department comes up with. Me: ... Me: that's scary. Him: That's

Installing XP via USB, wurk, oekaki.

2009-03-05T23:37:00.001+08:00

1. Finally got rid of Vistaids. It took sometime, but thanks to some good articles (this one did the most help), my Mini-Note is now running without any excess baggage. Speedy booting times! Minimal to no lag! D: I'm thinking of writing my own guide on how to install Windows XP on netbooks (or any laptops, for that matter) that do not have any optical drives, since I found out that installing

Ken Ishii vs FLR - SPACE INVADERS 2003

2009-03-01T22:17:00.002+08:00

I think I died a little inside.

Post of Elation No. 040

2009-02-27T15:01:00.005+08:00

I've never felt so alive in the workplace before, despite me being pressured with several deadlines in a row and getting deprived of Chrono Trigger. *sets her pencil case full of Staedlers, mechanical pencils, Pilot and gel pens, several erasers, correction ink, sharpener and cotton, in the office drawer* Looks like I'm going to need these later.

Too much self-inflicted orange.

2009-02-24T22:52:00.001+08:00

Now, I never liked oranges. Not "not like" as in "hate", but I've always thought that each and every permutation of orange pretty much falls under the category labeled "meh". Every time I had to get Tang, I steer clear from buying its famous (and original) orange variant. In every red pack of Skittles I always set aside the orange flavored candies or made sure to give away the orange ones

Froggy frog frog, froggy frog froggy afternoon.

2009-02-24T11:18:00.003+08:00

It's sad to find out about the existence of something awesome through their demise. I just recently learned that our big mango tree houses some tree frogs. I found out because for quite some time I've come across dead or dying tree frogs lying belly up on the cement, underneath the tree. If I do manage to find living tree frogs on the ground I moist them a bit with stagnant water that I keep

My first hipster garbage: Adobe Creative Suite 3 Trexi

2009-02-23T10:41:00.002+08:00

I'm usually wary about vendors peddling their software in the guise of seminars, but I'm going to have to make an personal exception to Adobe Acrobat. In my current work I mostly deal with the company's IT documentation (straightening out the grammar, making them more concise and dummy-proof), and it's been hell updating outdated documents uploaded as image files. It's no wonder that I happily

Gato's song.

2009-02-22T18:17:00.006+08:00

Oh, no, I have lost ♪And it seems you've won ♪Here are your 15 points ♪Now wasn't that fun? ♪It's okay to beat me up because I've no heart, and all I'm made of are metal joints. But I will sing my song about how it is alright to beat me up for the sake of a shortlived prize - and I will do so with all of my (non)heart, with utter relish.Enjoy your 15 points.

Noby Noby Boy makes me want to buy a PS3 for a 5-dollar game.

2009-02-17T12:02:00.000+08:00

I'm sorry for pushing you into selling your PS3. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. ...can you buy one again?

Play-Asia shipment review (Part One): Dissidia soda, Castlevania "7 Alucard Figure, Gundam 00 wafers, Space Invaders headset (black), Lion Ramune Candy

2009-02-14T02:20:00.005+08:00

Receiving a parcel notice from the local post is a moment for having mixed emotions. There is elation, of course, coming from the knowledge that YES MY LONG-AWAITED PACKAGE FROM PLAY-ASIA IS THERE AND IS WAITING TO BE PICKED UP IN THE POST. I apologize for my use of caps, but attempting to express my joy otherwise is an exercise in futility.On the other hand, picking up the package means that I'm

Demons, and OH YEAH

2009-02-10T22:26:00.020+08:00

1. Another day, another convo: Me: I have to work on the creative rut my lazytard self has created, for one. X3 Him: Ah, yeah. Mai-Mai does need to wurk on that. X3 Me: hmph. XD Me: any suggestions? XD Him: Well I dunno D: Him: I don't think there's really any tried and true cure for getting out of any rut. Me: I'm one of those people who can write only when experiencing emotional instability, I

To my beloved dog, Orange:

2009-01-20T14:35:00.000+08:00

Keanu Reeves as Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop Hollywood adaptation

2009-01-19T22:57:00.003+08:00

I'll put this here before I comment any further: No, I'm not dissing on Keanu himself, and I think that he's a decent actor. Keanu was great as The Matrix' Neo; he was good enough as Klaatu in the rather bland remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. Should they give Spike Spiegel's role to a guy who can only do one facial expression? Particularly, the :| face? I'm all for giving Keanu a chance

So awesome, I couldn't think of a good title.

2009-01-17T13:05:00.000+08:00

Dear America, What the fuck do you have against the letter 'u'? Sincerely, English speaking countries of the world. Dear World, What? -US Dear US, In proper English we use the letter 'u' in words such as 'armour, colour'. When are you going to stop being cunts and embrace English as your language? - Australia Dear Australia, Why do you insist on putting u's where they aren't necessary? -

In which I write about Cold, and mourning the loss of a day.

2009-01-12T21:40:00.000+08:00

I always believe that cold is never synonymous to sadness, nor loneliness. Rain will always be a gift of joy, a nourishment of the soul, be it benevolent or violent. This off the top of my head: Science teaches us that intense cold will lead to stasis, but if it meant that yesterday would never end, then I would have let it eternally preserve the moment when you held me in subzero. Everything

Why reading Cosmo is a bad idea, Part 1

2009-01-03T00:19:00.004+08:00

Me: jesus. The things written in the Cosmo datebookHim: Myah? What's written innit? D:Me: there's a page dedicated on how to "get nooky-naughty"Me: basically its tells the owner of the datebook to get screwed in the following places:The Wild OutdoorsOn a Hilltop at SunsetThe BeachThe Sauna Behind the WaterfallThe LibraryHim: Okay. D:Me: not sure if want :[Him: Obviously the writers never made

New Year's Eve was serious business, back then.

2009-01-01T02:05:00.002+08:00

A few hours ago I fought off sleep in the middle of Mall of Asia's Seaside Boulevard, hoping to get my retinas burned with dazzling colors of fireworks against the night sky. Yes, watching the fireworks in the midnight sky was fun (the highest point being the presence of the Hare Krishnas, but that's another story), but it was a highly commercialized, watered-down, good-for-all-ages kind of fun.

Not-so-secret-project sketchpad #1

2008-12-29T15:36:00.004+08:00

"Behold, unintelligent earthlings! I am Commander KIJUJU of the Space Invaders Forces, and I come bearing gifts of doom! You may be surprised, even flabbergasted by my three-dimensional form instead of the usual sublime 2D plane that we Invaders come from. After much research and trawling of your information superfeed, we have decided upon this form, as according to your datastream it is the most

Dying inside, and hello, 2009.

2008-12-26T17:05:00.001+08:00

1. I once read in a book somewhere that people cannot claim to know other people as they are, at any present moment.It is because that body cells are always dying, replaced regularly by new cells. At any given time, a person is instantaneously shedding their former identity and is being born into a new one even while they talk to you about the most trivial of things. Thus, the person you knew at

Christmas '09 Wish List ♥

2008-12-26T14:34:00.003+08:00

Managed to read my former officemate's Christmas wishlist on his Multiply page, which reminded me that I haven't come up with my own because I was busy having Christmas...well, on Christmas day. I wouldn't get into the "spirit" or "real meaning" of the holiday, because I wouldn't want to go all Ayn Rand and debate the fact that Christmas was, in fact, a pagan holiday stolen from the Romans. And I

First impressions: Ragnarok Online DS

2008-12-18T10:10:00.014+08:00

Originally written for Gamer Blag. (Author's Note: Considering that I played the game's Japanese release and I didn't want to force myself to "read" moonspeak by squinting at the text for long periods of time in the hopes of understanding it, I may have missed some options that would have improved my gaming experience.)Finally managed to get my hands on Ragnarok Online DS, the miniature version

Battle of the saddest: Japan versus US, FIGHT-O!

2008-12-17T20:33:00.005+08:00

Japan:America:Words are not needed.

Gadget review: Space Invaders 30th Anniversary Headset (Pink) and Raglan Shirt (Pink)

2008-12-17T14:09:00.012+08:00

(Author's Note: This review, also written for Gamerblag , is actually way overdue; I've received the items the other week but was too caught up with work and other stuff until recently. Also, many, many thanks to Zuri-chan for letting us place this Play-Asia purchase on his credit card. You so rock, dude.)It's already apparent by now that I'm a big Space Invaders fan, but despite the glut of

2008-12-12T14:43:00.000+08:00

New fiction here: re: Beyond Black Doors It's been a long while since I last wrote fiction, and it's really hard to pick up the pen again after a year of not writing anything that isn't work (or game) related. The title of my new thread - Beyond Black Doors - may be very familiar to those who've followed my old works. This time, however, the story takes place in contemporary settings, and

Status messages.

2008-12-10T20:35:00.001+08:00

His YM stat message while at work: Running on nothing but guts and fumes.Me: I hate to say it, but Me: your stat message sounded cool, until I read it the second time. Then it made more sense. Him: What does it mean to you nao? XD Me: that digested innards and fart serves as your fuel? Him: Er...You were thinking too much into it. Me: I'm sorry D: but you get gas so easily, so... Him: It

Good riddance. Not a well-deserved good riddance, but still good riddance.

2008-12-08T15:49:00.003+08:00

Taken from Associated Press : Toy giant Mattel Inc., after a four-year legal dispute with MGA Entertainment Inc., touted its win in the case Wednesday after a federal judge banned MGA from making and selling its pouty-lipped and hugely popular Bratz dolls...The ruling, issued in federal court in Riverside, followed a jury's finding that Bratz designer Carter Bryant developed the concept for the

Space Invaders Get Even: This time they mean business

2008-12-03T20:44:00.003+08:00

(originally written for Gamerblag) Most of us know about the attempted invasion thirty years ago, and how the Core Cannon - humanity's greatest hope back then - successfully fended off the threat of UFOs and pixellated aliens. Victory against the Space Invaders means peace for humanity right? Wrong. Three decades have passed, and humans being humans, started to fight amongst themselves over

I should have done this on the 100th post.

2008-11-27T09:13:00.010+08:00

Since a number of people reacted quite humorously over at YM to my new banner, I figured that I've had enough entertainment (okay, I'll say it: LULZ), though it's already getting old, and I'm tired of delivering the same punchline. And it's only been up for a few days. Just a few words: Turtle anatomy. You can lick a turtle on its belly all you want, but all you'll get are slivers of algae and

Castlevania: Arcade, and some comment MST3King.

2008-11-26T15:40:00.004+08:00

[15:19] gespenstschatten: just reading the comments on gametrailers [15:20] gespenstschatten: "Well it looks like once again Konami doesn't get what the Castlevania fans want. We just want 2D not 3D, 2 D castlevania games just like SOTN. This game looks like crap, first off it looks like they wanted to make a Wii game for the arcade but couldn't figure out how to make the controller work

Simple joys.

2008-11-24T00:03:00.002+08:00

Simple joys can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. Even your car's tires may hold a nice surprise for you, despite the fact that it ran over a dog yesterday.

Priceless.

2008-11-23T21:40:00.002+08:00

One of the things that I like about every holiday season is the abundance of bazaars held in World Trade Center (and now, Mall of Asia's SMX). I'm usually claustrophobic - I hate crowded, noisy places, even anime cons - but when it comes to places like Divisoria and the aforementioned holiday bazaars, there's no such thing as too crowded for me. Not when the place is filled to the brim with free

Something to chew on before I go to sleep.

2008-11-23T01:17:00.006+08:00

They BELIEVE in themselves because they can DO things THEMSELVES. It is difficult to look at yourself and say you don't exist.- AnonymousBeing able to do so anyway is a great feat in itself.

New banner yay.

2008-11-23T00:37:00.001+08:00

When I asked him to draw a new turtly banner for my blog, I didn't ask for anything NSFW. I should have known better than to ask something "edgy" from him. In any case, it still falls under the general theme of why people shouldn't lick turtles - rather, why people wouldn't want to lick turtles. Because the above happens. I know, I'm rambling incoherently. I should be blogging about the nice

You know its a bad day when...

2008-11-19T21:41:00.005+08:00

You walk out of your office, weary and tired after a day of utter boredom, to find that your building's lobby is fully decked out in holiday regalia and your friendly security guard is smiling and greeting you a good evening; the night outside bearing the promise of another wonderful Christmas season, heralded by the speakers blaring out little Michael's rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Resurrection

2008-11-16T12:26:00.007+08:00

More or less a decade has passed since the release of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. However, Michiru Yamane's haunting score still populates my Winamp playlist even now - a feat not matched by the decent but utterly trite Eyes on Me, One-Winged Angel, or most other video game music (with the exception of arranged King of Fighters tracks). That's why I was only a hair breadth's away from

Irritating little things.

2008-11-15T23:15:00.002+08:00

Finding out that I couldn't install programs on my new office laptop, not even Adobe Flash on my Firefox/Chrome (but IE's fine). Having to lug said laptop to and from work until they finally get me my own pedestal/mobile cabinet. Have to follow it up on Monday. Having to shell out some cash to get myself a laptop bag that doesn't scream HAY GUISE I GOTS A LAPTOP HERE. Finding out that my once

Three simple steps to do in order to enjoy Castlevania: Judgment

2008-11-11T15:01:00.019+08:00

If you care even just a smidgen about the Wii's upcoming Castlevania: Judgment, then you've probably already heard the hatewagon making a racket from the far corners of the intarwebs, its frenzied passengers probably driven to jump in by the horrible sight of a ripped Simon Belmont in shorts, courtesy of Death Note artist Obata. Let's forget, at least for the moment, about the fact that the game

Why I don't write more personal posts, passive-aggressiveness, etc.

2008-11-09T23:14:00.015+08:00

Someone asked me, in passing, why I don't write more personal posts. Why write only about animu and gaems?I actually do, in fact there are some of them just lurking about in my past entries. It is true, though, that I don't use this particular blog as a repository of private thoughts that much. Unlike most other bloggers, I don't consider a public blog as a good medium for a personal diary, not

Yay more toys.

2008-11-09T19:21:00.002+08:00

My display cabinet now feels a little lonely (it needs tumbleweeds to complete the mood, though) after my mum hijacked most of my anime/vidya trading figures in my collection to put in her Christmas village. Ha, I now couldn't help but taste the irony every time my mom comments about my penchant for trading figures. Good thing, Ma, that you found affordable alternatives to the horrendously

;-;

2008-10-28T23:12:00.005+08:00

My invadurrs, in my Kit Kats. Why am I not in Japan while Taito is going full force with the Space Invaders 30th Anniversary? *sob*

An idle thought

2008-10-23T14:14:00.002+08:00

When I finally get my kids (please, two girls, hopefully twins), I'll consider it a grave crime to deprive them of the joy of playing in this sandbox. THIS turtle sandbox. If only we had a legal system as crazy as the US I would have sued my parents for not letting me exercise the right to play in this little patch of turtle happy.(But they did dump a small hill of dirt into our backyard when I

A post from a neighbor.

2008-10-23T13:21:00.000+08:00

It's funny how quick people can be to judge you when empathy would easily be the better route. The idea that happiness is not the ultimate goal in life is not only ridiculous, it's bullshit. It's a basic human right to look for joy in our lives. There are exceptions to everything, and this is no different.. but still. Obligation does not rule our lives. Sure we have a moral compass that

Anime first impressions: Kuroshitsuji

2008-10-20T22:11:00.013+08:00

I've put myself on a hiatus from anime since last January for a couple of reasons: sheer fatigue and lack of any interesting series to watch. Sure, Gundam 00 was already good enough and Miss Sumeragi still elicits a fangirl scream out of me, but I've already overdosed myself on mecha and shonen. I had to take a break.Then I bumped into this certain anime figure from a hobbyist blog that I

Boing! Docomodake DS review: The shovelware that isn't.

2008-10-17T23:00:00.000+08:00

Boing! Docomodake DS has telltale signs of shovelware: it's a franchise tie-in (in this case, it features a mascot for a Japanese mobile phone company NTT Docomo), and it's mostly ignored by gamers, even by the R4 crowd - and that's certainly saying something. Boing! Docomodake DS only has one review to its name as of this writing, not counting this particular post. Gamefaqs doesn't even have any

Yay, new machine.

2008-10-10T20:12:00.001+08:00

1. I finally got the ultraportable laptop that I've been drooling over for some time now, the HP Mini-note (HP 2133). I've been saving up for this sweet piece of gadget for some time now, but I got an unexpected boost out of my parent's short-lived misery: the death of their hand-me-down PC that they got from my brother. Now, while the usual solution to their dilemma is a simple sentence: "May,

Space Invaders Peace Campaign.

2008-10-07T21:49:00.006+08:00

Support the Space Invaders in their campaign to attain world piece er...peace!I've just recently discovered the cute pixel-ly aliens' effort to help achieve world peace for the benefit of the pesky human race - a nefarious plan most probably conceived by galactic brains that operate along similar lines such as "the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach". Of course, a peaceful world

Yay, a new tartol post!

2008-10-07T08:18:00.000+08:00

It's been a long while since I blogged about my red-eared slider, Squirtle (or Tartol, as he is most fondly called in this household). He's doing fine, and his shell has grown to about four inches long in length. He gave me a momentary scare, though, when he suddenly stopped eating just recently. I checked him for signs of disease, but could find none: he had good, clear eyes, hard shell, and

Überraschung, usw.

2008-10-06T19:25:00.001+08:00

1. After a few weeks of all out writing and the subsequent episodes of insanity, I managed to finish the first/second/third/fourth/and god knows how many draft of my latest pet project. I finally got some time off to perform my role as a normal human being, and went out with a few pals. Jet, the merchant and purveyor of all things awesome, got me a box of Kinder Surprise eggs from his latest

On the leaked official Dragonball movie trailers...

2008-10-03T18:24:00.001+08:00

See the leaked trailers here. Him: Oh, Mai-Mai! Him: Did you see the trailer for Dragon Ball? Me: noap Me: not yet. Good? Him: http://www.thedragonballmovies.com/dragonball-movie/dragonball-movie-trailer/ Him: It's pretty interesting Me: in a good or bad way? D: Him: Good way XD Me: I'm mixed up Me: it looks like a good action flick, but its not...Dragonball D: Him: Dragonball is like...myah.

Umai, umai, Ma-shu-ma-ro (funwari funwari fuwaa fuwaa)

2008-10-03T13:52:00.001+08:00

Float along, my cute little marshmallow. Click the link above, and you'll be treated to another dose of Japanese-flavored wtf moments that ranks way up high in the cuteness aesthetics, both audio and visual. You guide this bit of marshmallow up to marshmallow heaven, and in its way are pancake frogs, pompadour heads, protozoa and other bits and pieces of oddments rendered in pleasing Japanese

A bouquet of facepalms for QualiBet and BFAD. updated

2008-10-02T18:37:00.011+08:00

We all know about the melamine scare by now; in fact, we're getting force-fed about that bit of news even if we don't make an effort to watch news programs on TV, read newspapers or idly listen to radio. It's everywhere; even if you hide yourself in the closet you can half-expect the melamine brouhaha to greet you with a nice surprise buttsecks trick the moment you leave the safety of your

I was supposed to blog about clouds...

2008-09-28T17:25:00.010+08:00

...but since I'm too twitchy and my attention span today is of the same level as a fly's, I'll just post some pics taken during the GH trip earlier today, only because its more interesting for me now that I'm on land and no longer being buffeted by rain clouds that never fail to make Christians out of atheists 28,000 feet up in the air. Yep, you saw it right. Super Smash Bros. Brawl running on

Not again, L.

2008-09-21T09:09:00.001+08:00

:[Someone introduced me to that emote, and I'm going to use it on you, L.Again.You may have forgotten what I told you, a couple of years ago, but since you matter a lot to me I'll just go ahead and c/p them here (with some revisions).They’re not worth losing your sanity or ideals. I know you love her, she may have love/d you, but not enough. You can go and off yourself, but nothing would change.

Sometimes: The Zombie Apocalypse Edition

2008-09-19T01:32:00.001+08:00

Needlessly stupid, inane, idiotic and other permutations of those words.But that pretty much sums up most instances of romantic love.

Twilight ravishings and midnight mishaps.

2008-09-17T03:00:00.016+08:00

1. It's been a while since I last used that post title. It's too bad that the original post I used it on already went into Information Highway limbo when my first blog, an early adopter account on Free Open Diary, was deleted due to my failure to log in for several months in a row. I would love to indulge myself in another bout of nostalgia - feh, I feel so old already - but I can't right now. I

Memories, both cherished and raped.

2008-09-10T01:42:00.004+08:00

1. I miss the house I grew up in.My family once lived in the idyllic military base in Sangley Point, when my father still served the Philippine Navy. We occupied one of the houses in residential area, impersonally referred to in military parlance as "quarters." The term made the place sound as if it was bare, with spartan furnishings and pristine white walls cracked with age and smelling of a

More Ragnarok Online DS screens

2008-09-05T17:27:00.003+08:00

If you read this blog, you probably are familiar with Ragnarok Online. And if you managed to come across my post concerning the first scans of Ragnarok Online DS, you may also be saving up to buy the handheld just in time for the game's Japanese release.Famitsu's online site just released a fresh new batch of Ragnarok Online DS screenshots , and suffice it to say that the game looks good, so far.

Idle hands are the devil's playthings.

2008-09-03T14:26:00.004+08:00

Or: It's hard being productive nowadays.Him: And dissidia! XDMe: I'm not sure about Dissidia, it looks like a flashy PS1 fighting game with improved graphics like...like Eretzvaju/Evil Zone and the obscure others whose titles I forgotMe: slapped only with FF characters XDHim: Well, it looks more like Psychic Force 2020Him: But it looks cool :

Hitback! Hitback! Ragnarok Online beta.

2008-08-30T21:15:00.004+08:00

Out of sheer boredom (and the need to take a break from my intense writing sessions), I decided to check out one of my older blogs. I couldn't help but smile at one of the entries that I wrote six years ago: it was about my first impressions on Ragnarok Online, when it was still in beta phase.Some things that should be noted before reading the below excerpt: Ragnarok Online may be the first

I wish.

2008-08-29T11:17:00.004+08:00

To be honest, I don't have anything to write about. Nothing witty, artistic, or emo; nothing opinionated (stupid or otherwise) in mind. My brain is taking a blissful vacation, engorging itself in delicious lethargy and I'm fine with it for now. I wish I brought along my digital camera to take pictures of the clouds during my flight en route to my parent's province, and post it here. But I wasn't

Reading between the lines.

2008-08-18T20:35:00.002+08:00

I'm good at discerning hidden, or subtly hinted, messages. Well, at least in text. Though I'm cursing that particular skill after seeing this image:Do not want.

When life gives you lemons...

2008-08-14T17:20:00.004+08:00

...you make onion rings and udon, of course.In my case, I decided to make delicious onion rings and udon when I got a stress-inducing lemon. While it's not yet scientifically determined how a tangy, sour, acidic lemon can produce yummy fish and shrimp broth, anyone can do it anyway out of sheer will.Here's how I did it, with Ryan's help:First off we made onion rings. We got a single mutant white

Rhythm Tengoku Gold / Rhythm Heaven songs

2008-08-10T08:14:00.012+08:00

Thanks to Google and forum-fu, I managed to find audio files ripped off of Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Rhythm Heaven in the US). Yay for fun muzak during work! Below are my most favorite tunes from the game.If you want to get the zip file of all the tunes ripped from Rhythm Tengoku Gold, just drop me a line here or in my YM (the new one, I already abandoned the Zinfy nick) and tell me where to email

Sometimes, boredom can lead to something...nice.

2008-08-03T16:17:00.005+08:00

I spied the word "Cuil" from someone's YM status message. Turns out Cuil is some upstart search engine that rivals Google, so I tried to test my old pen name on it for the lulz.Then I found this post in a message board that I'm not familiar with. My old pen name is there, as well as those of my past online acquaintances and a few people I'm close with. It's mostly a non-derogatory post, so I'll

Console-sharing, and Rhythm Heaven

2008-08-02T08:42:00.011+08:00

1. If anyone tried to borrow any of my electronics years ago, I would have said no and given that person a nice, sound bitchslap. That's how protective I am of my gadgets, especially my cellphone and my gaming consoles, handheld or otherwise.Back in college, I was baffled to see classmates lending their boyfriends their cellphones. I guess they were rich enough to buy a second handset, but it was

Ragnarok Online DS scans from Famitsu

2008-07-31T07:32:00.014+08:00

It was already announced quite some time ago (almost a year, in fact, but was drowned in obscurity), and just when I thought the whole thing was just a hoax out came a handful of screenshots for the fabled DS version of everyone's favorite bitch, Ragnarok Online: Scans taken from Famitsu, provided by gamekyo.comAs you can see, Ragnarok Online for the DS isn't that different compared to its PC

2008-07-28T10:53:00.002+08:00

Saw this sign posted by the firearms depository in a military bank. I smell a Darwin award, somewhere.

Self-inflicted pain: online games.

2008-07-23T23:24:00.009+08:00

There are times when you hurt yourself intentionally, and you love it. Yeah, some of us have those dayss. There's the time when you bang your head on the wall, idly, wondering why it feels so odd but you still keep doing it, all the same. Then there are times when you stay in a relationship that brings you nothing but pain, thinking that behind the cloud of angst and sorrow belies a sliver of

The Dark Knight movie impressions, and WHAR IS SQUIRTLE

2008-07-19T11:49:00.014+08:00

1. The Dark Knight movie impressionsTo set the record straight: I never liked superhero flicks. No, really. Not because I badly want to "go against the grain" or however you want to call it, I just don't. My days with superheroes ended when my brother's stash of comicbooks - comicbooks that I surreptitiously sneak out of his room whenever he's out - suddenly disappeared along with my childhood

2008-07-05T08:44:00.002+08:00

It's annoying...When someone clearly has a beef with you but can't say it upfront, has to either pussyfoot about it or just play hide and seek instead of directly confronting you about it.Not my problem.

2008-07-03T16:27:00.003+08:00

Plugging! : Fanfic Contest (no, not mine XD)Awesome Deviant Artist Addy is holding a fanart/fanfic contest of the Ben 10 persuasion. Particularly, of the Gwevin persuasion. If you know what the series is...or better yet, what Gwevin is, it's likely that you're qualified to join the contest. Go check out the details here.I'm also going to take this as a good reason to add a "Public Service

2008-07-02T20:57:00.006+08:00

Happy Birthday.Whether or not this anecdote really happened during the Sichuan tragedy, I BAWWWWED.;-;More strips can be found here: China 5.12 Earthquake StripsGo go go go.

2008-06-29T11:57:00.003+08:00

Castlevania: Judgment for the WiiLook at the above picture. Look at it very, very carefully. Yes, you're seeing both Simon Belmont and Alucard in a screenshot taken from a new Castlevania game for the Wii. And yes, you're seeing them in a FIGHTING game titled Castlevania: Judgment.The confirmed characters so far are Simon Belmont and Alucard (pictured above), Richter Belmont, Maria Renard, and

2008-06-28T20:27:00.006+08:00

Tartol Diary: New DigsSeeing as how Squirtle is too cramped in his previous container I decided to give him new digs, and I shopped around earlier for the materials. This is what I came up with: a roomier container for Squirtle with a platform for him to bask on and just chill. Left: his new house with the screening as cover; Right: Squirtle hiding underneath the basking platform created using a