The Importance of An Outlet

In this technology-driven world today, an outlet seems to be the most sought for utility known to man. We go to coffee shops and we don't ask for an latte - we ask if there's a free outlet somewhere in the cafe. We get home and we make sure that somewhere in our room is an outlet near our resting couch (or bed) so that we may charge our devices while still getting the chance to use it. Right now, I'm seated beside four - yes, four - outlets, three of which are already being used and the other still waiting for it's user. Truth is, this power outlet seems to be getting ubiquitous everyday - and as with all ubiquitous things, we really only notice them when they're gone.

An outlet exists because we get something out of it - which is necessarily true for gadgets. However, an outlet in the not-physical sense is something we all need, one way or another. We all need one outlet, because getting stuck in your own thoughts without an outlet to take it out can be really sad - and besides, without an outlet I wouldn't be able to type these thoughts out in the first place.

What Games Taught Me About Platforms

Growing up in a time when the status quo of console gaming was just beginning to take shape, one can vividly remember the time when I saw a plumber on screen and was told that a certain "Mario" was me, and I was to control him in order to "win the princess." Much more amazing to me then was that when I pressed a button, that Mario guy would do something! It would jump! At that time, it felt like I was a god that had ultimate power - even though it was only a plumber with no other purpose in life but to get the princess by jumping over and above square bricks.

Fast forward to today's world, and I find myself living in a reality not so distant from my past - the industry of technology. In other words, software is the main thread that binds together most of what I do. The bits and bytes have become ubiquitous, and an internet connection is already something akin to air - you don't notice it when it's around, but when it's gone, you'd think the whole world was conspiring against you. That said, the software in the world basically take up two mantras - the one being the native code, and the other being the platform.

You'll notice this because as widespread a language may be, more often than not there will be platforms available that further the features of the native code. And yes, it's true that they get you places. However, like how Mario can just jump into a brick and break it, so will a platform act the same.

A platform is a platform is a platform - it does help you get to places, but if you build your skills (and ultimately, your career/business) around it, it will eventually fall apart - leaving you to fall to the depths of whatever is down there.

Perhaps this is why I had apprehensions in using platforms so much. However, it's come to my realization that I've been building on platforms for a while now, though I never really realized it as such. Point is, the more specialized, deep, and abstract a platform is, the weaker will it's staying power be.

Now, the decision to use one is a relative one - it's best to weigh the future and present returns before taking a big leap and clicking on "Sign up!".

A Cause For A Shoutout

The act of calling out a particular entity, be it a person, event, random being, is more often than not a pledge to give proper recognition and to raise awareness among one's peers. It is but the modern way of an introduction to the uniformed, at the same time a validation to those already aware of an entity's existence.

During these holiday breaks, the lull time has given me thought about passing on the recognition that many of my peers deserve - yet something still tells me not to do so just yet. This stems from a common perception of fear - fear that in your efforts of recollection and giving praise, you might do more damage by unintentionally leaving out a person who deserves more credit than those you did remember.

Another thing keeping me from giving recognition is the thought that goes like, "do people really need to be put in boxes of recognition?" Come to think of it, it's not that all people were required to go out of their way just to receive a form of validation from their peers. Because giving validation is something entirely relative, and not all people may not give you your proper recognition because they simply do not understand the weight of what you've been doing.

So to put this clearly, starting this day, let it be known that people, no matter how common, weird, or great they may seem, are judged based on a relative scale - something that's not a reliable criteria in the first place. Go ahead and make everyone a bit happier but giving them shoutouts - for being alive, and for being alive on their terms.

Happy Easter y'all :)

boolean unfair = null;

Life is freakin’ unfair. It always has been, always will be. Thing is, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It largely depends on which side you are on – you can always live a life where “unfair” actually means that you get some advantages over others. Just because something is “unfair” does it always mean that odds are against you – being in front of the pack is just as “unfair” as you being in last place.

You could think of it as something dependent on a choice of perspective, and you could be right. Things can go wrong sometimes, but more often than not, that “wrong” is but something that’s leading you to a greater “right.”

So keep your head up, dream even bigger, and learn how to fly. There’s more to life than looking at rights and wrongs – because in the end, all that matters is how you thought how things went.

Cheers!

Isolation to the Fifth

It's Day Five. Five freakin' days of isolation, of watching anything on TV, of waiting for the strike of the fourth hour for meds, of being stuck, and of trying to keep myself sane. It hasn't been easy, trust me. But neither will being mad about it make it any better. Go figure.

There's something about being away from society that allows someone to think things through, to have an idea of where things stand. Yes, that's the norm. What isn't normal, though, is how things come to you when you don't even ask for them. Things you normally wouldn't have the chance to come across if you hadn't been subjected to almost a week of not facing anyone outside your family circle. It's these little blessings that can somehow put a smile on anyone's face, much less mine. Sadly, there's a sad side that comes with it.

This thing that's happening, with me being in a place I know I really don't belong to anymore, may have just been pushed to some extent. It's not that I regret anything, but it's just that there's been a good eye-opener today that's leading towards more things that should not have been there in the first place. And I hope I'm f*ckin' wrong.

I'll be back in society sometime soon, there's no question there. But what I'll be going back to will be quite different from when I left. And the change won't only be coming from the people in the society, but from myself as well. Let's be optimistic and say that it isn't really a big deal. But I'd like to think it is. It freakin' is.

To be honest, there's something I've been looking forward to for a while now. From the writing of this post, it's one down, four to go. I sure hope as hell that you would be there too. All of you. 'Coz when it does, we'll all be celebrating something, though it'll be a different reason for everyone. Cheers.

Breaking a Break

It's been a long while since I've written any sort of write-up. Heck, it's also been a long time since I've wanted to, but decided to put it off because writing one's thoughts on-screen can make one vulnerable to emotion - something I admit I've been trying to avoid lately. But here you are. And this is another post. Best we get along with it.

Now that the Lakers are finally through chasing a three-peat, miserably failing to do so in the process, I'm initially left with rooting for the Bulls for the remainder of the playoffs. Bummer. Sad, if you may. But hey, we all go through different stages in our lives, some better than others. Even if it won't be clear at that instant. We'll see where it goes.

Lately though, there's been a lot of things going through my head. Some sad, others quite desperate, but most of the time they're of the future kind. You know, that thing a certain speaker told an audience: creative visualization? Yeah, it sort of sounded quite like that. Only thing, there is a certain level of balance that one has to achieve in order to get the most efficient output. Not claiming here that I do, but I think I may have an idea. And to have that thought in mind is the most likely first step.

I've been wanting to do a lot of things. Take care of this, start that, read these, conquer the world...you know, the usual stuff most of my kind think of. Thing is, I lack some sort of inspiration to be able to carry through these stuff. It's not like looking at a bunny rabbit is enough to make you smile - sometimes, you gotta grab that scene and make it yours. Literally and figuratively. But how do you start? Is there an e-book over on Demonoid  that allows you to do so? I think not, for if there were I would have long found it already. The Missing Manual, it'll likely be called. But who knows for sure, really.

In all honesty, these are all rants. That part's quite obvious. What it isn't is what you ain't reading, and those are found between each and every line you've just read. I'd give a trip to Paris and Rio to the one person who is able to find out what those thoughts between the lines are. Seriously.

To each his own, my friend. To each his own.

Clock work

Imagine a clock that just got smashed by a hammer - bad.

You see all those little pieces scattered all around?

Now imagine, if you had to put all those pieces back together to get the clock working again. Would you?