The color of peace. 

The color of protection.

Blue is also the word used to paint that certain kind of feeling:

Loneliness...

...the kind that doesn't just go away when you sleep it off; it keeps your mind occupied about something poignant/meaningless/boring/divine all day for weeks. 

...it is that feeling that pervaded so well in your life you hardly remember when it struck you first, or if you're still in that state now.  A modern-day contagion.  Rarely do people know they carry it, and rarely do people cure it.

But you know what blue I like best?  I like blue best when paired with black.

Following the tradition that started in The Look, the feature theme is not from Crash and Burn (though I have borrowed a few lines of the song and placed it in my tag) but from a Roxette classic entitled You Don't Understand Me.  Both songs are very close to my heart, since listening to them and internalizing their messages served as comfort for my days of loneliness.  I feel that a part of me is still in the blue, though, but I know better now.  It is because of grace that I still find myself standing and continuing to hope and trust.  Father said I'm being obstinately slow in my relationship.  Well, what can I say?  Thank you. :)

You may download the MP3 of YDUM here.  Enjoy! :D

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."
(excerpt from 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10)

 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Proverbs 16:7, NKJV

One of the church fathers, Clement of Alexandria, used an interesting expression. He wrote of “the way of peace” or “the path that leads to peace.” Though the expression isn’t found in the Bible, there are literally hundreds of expressions in the Scriptures that tell us it is God’s intention for us to live in peace.

Would you personally life to make peace with someone? With a husband, an aged father, a co-worker who mistreated you? For years you have lived with the thought of revenge, but now you are not so sure that all the hostility, the loneliness, and the pain are worth it. Besides, you have a nagging feeling that tells you that not only was the other person wrong, but that you also are wrong.

What is the way that leads to peace? If peace is your goal, here are four steps, or guidelines, which you must pursue:

Guideline #1: The way that leads to peace is marked by the commitment of two parties who want peace. There are three things you cannot do: climb a fence that leans towards you, kiss a girl who pulls away from you, and make peace with someone who refuses to come to the table and talk. That’s why Paul wrote, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” ( Romans 12:18 )

Ramsey MacDonald was the prime minister of England when a discussion about peace took place with a fellow government official who thought that MacDonald was idealistic and unreal. MacDonald argued for peace while the official who was a specialist on foreign affairs was unimpressed. “The desire for peace does not necessarily ensure it,” said the antagonist. “Quite true,” countered MacDonald, quickly adding, “but either does the desire for food satisfy your hunger, but at least it gets you started toward a restaurant.”

Guideline #2: The way that leads to peace is marked by the willingness of two individuals to give up their anger and negotiate. Frankly, there are some who enjoy being angry. It gives them reason to justify their baseness and rottenness. Besides, they find it much easier to sling mud, or stones, or bullets, than to admit that they, too, might have been wrong. At some point, the way that leads to peace demands you forget about the issue of who was right and who was wrong. You must consider the benefits of peace to be more worthwhile than the perverse satisfaction of having some justification for your anger.

Guideline #3: The way that leads to peace is marked by the refusal to continue the battle. It’s difficult to have a war when nobody wants to fight. There’s an old story, well documented by a variety of sources, which illustrates the point. On Christmas Eve in the year 1914, German and British soldiers were in the trenches facing each other. Since this was the first Christmas Eve of the war, neither side was sure if they would fight on Christmas or desist for the day. Finally, British soldiers raised signs in German: “Merry Christmas”. Then carols were sung on both sides. Eventually soldiers met in a kind of no-man’s land and exchanged candies and cigarettes. Not until reinforcements were sent in, who had not witnessed that event, did fighting begin anew.

Guideline #4: The path to peace is marked by goodwill. The path may not be terribly well worn, but wise are those who travel it.

Resource reading: Isaiah 26: 1-5

Guidelines.Org 

"We slip, we fall"
How could you let me go?

"We fall, we hurt"
You’ve always been cold and wet as water

"We hurt, we bleed"
But you can drown me no more.

...your deepest, dirtiest intentions...

...the true heart of the matter. 

Communication isn't just an exchange of words but a war of Being, where Truth always emerge victorious.

...

...

...

... 

Chi Code is one of those movies that grossed more than any movie (or Dan Brown) critic could ever imagine despite its *ho-humm* and somewhat *pant pant* story-telling.  Compared to the book, it has several letdowns and (at least) something I was happy about.  Honestly.  I loved the novel, even made a review about it last 2004, and watching DVC--the most eagerly anticipated movie of 2006 and the subject of every religious conservative and some self-righteous politicians' debate--cost me not just a hundred-and-fifty bucks. ]]> http://electronicgraffiti.i.ph/blogs/electronicgraffiti/?p=35 http://electronicgraffiti.i.ph/blogs/electronicgraffiti/?p=35#comments Fri, 26 May 2006 23:02:55 +0000 electronicgraffiti http://electronicgraffiti.i.ph/blogs/electronicgraffiti/?p=35 I thought it was rare that I would be seeing two of my favorite models, Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima, together in one pic.  I was soooooo happy when I found (not one) but several images of them together.  Take the image below as an example, which I felt was somehow definitely bastardized because of the big, yellow letters--the blog-master's thoughts highlighted in an amusing yet scandalizing way.  So I scrapped the letters and took what is essential: their faces. ;)

They're always a pretty sight, ne? *sigh*

Alessandra Ambrosio's official site is here. If you have pop-up blockers enabled in your browser, please disable them temporarily and let the site play tricks with your eyes.  ;)  Oh yes, you're looking at a goddess, all right. :D

The search for those cartoon whatchamacallits is over. Somehow I was once obsessed with these toons that I get frustrated looking them up in Google. First of all, I don't even know what search key to type! :(

They're really uber cute and sexy. I planned on imitating how it was drawn, and then use Photoshop in coloring them.  Or maybe Corel.  Nevermind.  Anyway, it was a long story, meeting these dolls. Good thing Tin-Tin told me how to get them.

I'm talking about the Hed Kandi dolls--those lusciousl and cool girls you see on Hed Kandi albums covers. They're the bomb and are now one of my favorite things in the whole world! Google offers a wide variety of image selections in its gallery. You may check them out here.

I ahve posted some Hed Kandi dolls are posted below, in case you still don't know what I'm yapping about. ;)

wHaT's NeW

I have included in my "blog roll" Butch Dalisay's blog, Pinoy Penman. Butch has a column in The Philippine Star, which is where I got to know him and found that, well, he might be helpful for my writing improvement. :)

I have also update my best friend's Web site link, since she's now at home here in I.PH.  The Celestial Maiden has ascended, and with her departing come MisAnthropicRealist.  Welcome. :)

Of course, if there is some things we should greet with open arms, there is also some things we should bid goodbye to. I just heard from Tin-Tin that she'll quit blogging for good, part of it is because she said she's tired of blogging, and part of it is because blogging is prohibited in the workplace. Bummer.  :(  So I literally scratched her site off my roll, but I’m still keeping the link available to anyone any time…for old time’s sake.

Anyway, I'm still here, and hopefully...yeah, this domain won't get blocked, too.  (Rest in peace, LiveJournal).  It's not my thing to hang out in Internet cafes/shops just to update blogs, Friendsters, and MySpace accounts, y' know. *sigh*

The (Official) Philippine Star Web site

Why orange?, I asked myself.  Well, it wasn't intended.  It just happens that I got a good header and background combination.  I would have opted for yellow, since I think its becoming the IN color these days, and blue, but I already did the blue (with the green) and I think the blog would look too bright to make yellow as the background.  I was surprised myself when I realized that the orange scheme they have here is not the brilliant kind.  It suited well with the header, so I'm pleased with that. :)

I like orange, actually.  It's like a "borderline color".  It got some of its shade from a lighter kind of tan, gold, and yellow.  I'm an ignoramus when it comes to blending colors to produce a new one, and I swore I never memorized the color wheel, too, but that is the orange that I like and you are seeing here.

The tag line is taken from a Mr. Big song entitled "Goin' Where the Wind Blows".  I love that song the moment I heard of it the first time...which was yesterday. :D  My brothers and I were huge Mr. Big fans and listening to their music again brought back high school years with them in our humble abode, wasting the afternoon away in front of the radio.  *sigh*  Makes anyone feel younger, doesn't it?  ;)  The complete lyric of the song is posted below.

As for the watermark, well, I initially picked the dune fences.  I thought it looked perfect, but again, I don't feel its connection to the whole look.  It could have foreshadowed that of being bounded.  Limited by my own life principles, beliefs, and faith, which is actually a good great thing.  But by replacing it with candles, I decided, it would remind me of light. Either representing people as guides, enlightenment for our human aspects, or simply the "arrow" to the right way to go.  Not to mention that the colors were totally sync. Everything just looks...nice. :)

I love what I see now.  I'm sure you, too, will love hearing the Mr. Big song after downloading it here. ;) 

"Goin' Where the Wind Blows"

Someone said life is for the taking
Here I am with my hand out waiting for a ride
I've been living on my great expectations
What good is it when I'm stranded here
And world just passes by?

Where are the signs
To help me get out of this place?

If I should stumble on my moment in time,
How will I know?
If the story's written on my face,
Does it show?

Am I strong enough to walk on water?
Smart enough to come in out of the rain?
Or am I fool going where the wind blows?
(Where the wind blows)

Here I sit halfway to somewhere
Thinking 'bout what's in front of me
And what I left behind
On my own, supposed to be so easy
Is this what I've been after
Or have I lost my mind?

Maybe this is my chance
And it's coming to take me away, yeah

If I should stumble on my moment in time,
How will I know?
If the story's written on my face,
Does it show?

Am I strong enough to walk on water?
Smart enough to come in out of the rain?
Or am I fool going where the wind blows?
(Where the wind blows)

Here I am,
Walking naked through the world
Taking up space
Society's child
Make room for me,
Make room for me,
Make room for me...

(Solo Gitarre)

Am I strong enough to walk on water?
Smart enough to come in out of rain?
Or am I fool going where the wind blows?
(Where the wind blows)

Yeah
Yeah
Goin' where the wind blows
(Na nana na na na)
Yeah
(Na nana na na na)

All the richness of life is here today for you to touch. The limitless abundance of the universe is yours right now to experience.

Any shortcomings you come across are mostly a product of the perspective you choose. Expand your perspective and the shortcomings disappear.

Stop being afraid to fail and you'll start to consistently and spectacularly succeed. To climb the highest peak you must be willing to occasionally slide backwards.

Stop being your own worst enemy and start acting true to the deepest purpose within you. There is so much wisdom you already possess that you can use when you choose to listen to your own best advice.

Stop merely going through the motions and start living each moment with joy and meaning. Discover and fulfill the golden treasure that is your life.

-- Ralph Marston

I was right about watching a movie.  But I didn't know that the movie would be the drama/thriller Poseidon, knowing that boo can be so picky with movies since he's a bonafide (and self-confessed) yellow cat.  I already knew what to expect from him once we enter that dark room.

Bummer that we had to miss the movie trailers prior to the main film; that was one of my most-awaited moments in cinema watching.  We were quiet for about ten minutes until the movie showed how luxuriously picturesque the ocean liner Poseidon was.  Can't describe it fully in words, but the elevators looked like those 5-star-plus hotel elevators in the US we see on TV.  So there. :D

Anyway, two of the main characters literally bumped into each other at the lobby, and boo recognized Elena (played by Mia Maestro).  He was like:

"Hey, I've seen that girl before!"

At the poker scene, I realized that, by God, Jennifer Ramsey looks familiar, too! I was like:

"Hey, I've seen those breasts before!"

And those breasts ("Twins", as she unabashedly corrected her father) belonged to no other than Emmy Rossum, the girl who played Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.

And then boo began giggling when the ship's captain introduced the lovely Gloria (played by Stacey Ferguson of B.E.P.) and she began shaking her bootie.

To me, the movie is not a drag...unless you consider frightened, screaming people in fine clothes falling and hitting something hard--a balcony edge, or something--really dragging.  I enjoyed it immensely.  There were tear-jerking moments, and there were also annoying moments.  (Damn kid can't stay in one place at least for ten freakin' seconds!)  But it ended well. 

From start to finish, we never soften our grips on each others' hands. ;)