HYPERAXE

“Matanda na tayo, pera at negosyo na pinag-uusapan natin. (We’re getting old, we’re now talking about money and business)”.

These were my words to Edge, a long time friend of mine and also an ex-colleague whom I got the chance to chat with yesterday.

Funny how things have really changed how we converse now compared to a few years ago when we were still starting out with our career. Instead of talking about where to hook up with girls, or the next bar to visit, or what’s the latest gadget we can buy with our bonus, we are now talking about business and finance, and how we can best secure our family’s future. I guess we’re just acting our age right now, or maybe we’re just past the part of our lives wherein we live for today and so care-free about the future. Most of the things we discussed are our current investments, and financial plans for our family. This is really something very different for both of us, but at least we both agree that it’s just about time we start making the most of what we are earning instead of just putting it all in the bank for a savings account with a very low interest rate of 1% per annum.

Looking at myself, and Aphilo, we are now becoming more money wise and getting more matured with our financials. Aside from our savings account, we have now tried investing on the stock market, and venturing into other bank investment services such as mutual funds and trust funds.  We’ve also tried allocating some significant amount of money for securing the kids in terms of their education and future. We just want to make sure that whatever happens, they would still be able to finish their studies and have a decent life. Besides, they are the reason why we are working and our own wants are just secondary for that hard earned money from sweat and blood.

Instead of browsing the Internet for gadget reviews and other usual fun stuffs, I am now spending some time on monitoring the stock market, forex, and bank investment rates to be aware of how my money is earning as well as make appropriate financial decisions. This may not be cool for most people I know, and they may even think that these things are only for the rich, but then again, I’m not rich. I just want to make the most of what I have while it lasts. As far as I know, I just want to prepare for my future and the time I would retire from work. I have no intentions of living a luxurious life. As a matter of fact, I had always wanted a simple life. I had never really dreamed of having a big majestic house, expensive cars, or the latest high tech appliances .. just a simple, secured, and decent way of living for me and my family. That’s all I ever wanted.

I should have started thinking like this a few years ago, but I’m sure it’s never too late.I’m still young and there’s still a lot of opportunities out there for me.

My in-laws just arrived from a 1 month vacation in the US and guess what they got me? A Sony PSP. Hehehehe!

I’m not really a gamer and I didn’t ask for it but they just thought of buying me one since it’s really so cheap in the US. So they didn’t actually gave it to me, I need to pay them around $300 for the PSP Core package, 4GB Memory Stick Duo, and Fight Night Round 3 PSP UMD. I think it’s a sweet deal considering how all of it would cost if I buy it here.

As soon as I got my hands on my new PSP, well I asked Viper to install some games for me, so I can have something to play around during my free time and also so I can share it with Angel once I find some games suitable for kids (wish I can find one soon). Aphilo’s also asking for some Word Games or Educational Games she can play on it as well. Guess I need to look around for some more games for Aphilo and Angel to also play with the PSP. Well, got to actively search torrent sites and maybe also look for available PSP games at the local stores.

[tags]Sony PSP, PSP UMD Games, Fight Night Round 3, Gaming Consoles[/tags]

I’ve been jamming around with my guitar and decided to record one of my practice sessions. Actually, this is no serious guitar lick or something, and I’m sure it’s not impressive to many as well. This is just an instantaneous guitar solo done in the A Major scale. Actually, this is how I do some of my guitar exercises; create a riff or rhythm section and then jam around with it. The purpose of this exercise is for me to hit different fret position of the A Major scale and to implement some skip notes as well.

Here’s the file for those who just wanted to listen how a Yamaha electric guitar, GuitarPort, and RiffTracker would sound:

A Major Jam MP3 - 64kbps

I’m not sure how to call the song so I decided to just call it “A Major Jam” since it’s a jam session done in the A Major scale. Maybe one day, if I get to complete this as a song or something, then that’s the time I can give it a proper name.

For those who downloaded the file, hope you enjoy it. Ciao! 

One of Aphilo’s hobby is photography, so as a gift for her in one of the previous occasions, I decided to give her an SLR camera, a Canon EOS 400D code named Digital Rebel XTi to be specific. It’s one cool camera, but a lot more expensive compared to the usual point and shoot digital cameras out in the market. Nevertheless, a special someone deserves a special gift anyway so I still decided to buy her the camera. Besides, I had never given her a gift for quite some time and it’s just about time to make up for all those times.

Some of its features are:

• 10 megapixel CMOS sensor
• Separate low pass filter with ultra-sonic vibration to remove dust
• Anti-static coatings on sensor surface, software based dust mapping / removal
• Nine area Auto Focus sensor (same as EOS 30D)
• Picture Styles, larger range of image parameter adjustment (same as EOS 30D)
• Faster image processing
• Removal of control panel LCD display, now uses main LCD monitor
• Proximity sensor below viewfinder eyepiece to disable main LCD during composition
• Camera settings made on main LCD (such as metering, white balance, ISO, AF area etc.)
• Setting adjustment saved with half-press of shutter release
• Continuous shooting buffer up to 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images
• Large 2.5″ LCD monitor with 160° viewing angle
• Image magnification available in record review
• Histogram available as brightness (Luminance) or RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
• Up to 9999 images per folder on storage card

So we went to a nearby Canon store and looked around even though we already know what specific camera we want to buy. We were lucky that Canon had an ongoing promo for a free photo printer that goes with the EOS 400D, so it’s quite a bargain considering the price of the photo printer. So after a few demo and feature explanations from the sales people, we finally bought it including some additional accessories.

As soon as Aphilo got her hands on the camera, she took a lot of pictures and explored the camera features happily. I felt so happy for her knowing that I was able to give her something she can use with something she loves to do. Seeing her smile and very happy with my gift, well, that’s priceless.

[tags] Canon EOS 400D, Canon SLR Camera, Photography, Digital Camera[/tags]

In one of my previous post, I was thinking of buying a new laptop, but Aphilo made me realize something that I should have thought a long time ago, and that is to pay attention to my other love.. “MUSIC”.

A couple of months ago while Aphilo and I had dinner at some restaurant, we passed by a Yamaha Music Store and I can’t help but stop and watch in awe at all those  guitars and other musical instruments hanging by the display window. Aphilo then approached me and told me,  “Don’t you think you have more than enough gadgets and techno stuffs at the moment? Instead of buying a new laptop or another gadget, why not buy a guitar?”. Her words struck me and made me realize that aside from those geeky stuffs, I am also in love with music. Moreover, she’s right, I really don’t need a new laptop since my old laptop is still serving me well.

So to make the long story short I bought all those stuffs in the picture:

• Yamaha Electric Guitar Package
• Guitar Multi-Effects Processor (the blue device above the guitar amp)
• Line6 GuitarPort w/ RiffTracker PC Interface (the red device above the guitar amp)

It felt so good to finally have an electric guitar again. My last electric guitar got broken  around 12 years ago, and I never bothered buying a new electric guitar back then, since those were they days that I started not being that active anymore on band gigs. If there was a gig during those times, I rather borrow a guitar than buy one. I just bought some cheap acoustic guitar for my personal jamming sessions and that was it.

For those who are not aware of what the GuitarPort is,it’s actually a Guitar to PC USB interface. It allows you to connect your guitar to your PC and with the included software you can record songs or just jam with some riffs. What’s so cool about it are the included guitar effects and amp models that makes your guitar sound really good. I really enjoyed using it and GuitarPort Online also offered a 30-days free trial account that would allow you to have full access to its offerings of guitar riffs and tutorials download.

I was really so happy with my new guitar and gadgets gear. I spent a lot of hours trying to soften up those rusty fingers, and it took me around 2 days to bring back the finger speed and dexterity I had during my band days. Right now, I’m trying to record some  original compositions and guitar solos, and I’m glad I still haven’t lost that musical skills I had way back then.

[tags]Line6, GuitarPort, Electric Guitar, Music, Yamaha, Guitar[/tags]