Book Log

I finally finished Crime and Punishment. The poignant ending put a smile on my face. Perhaps life is not all misery. The novel was really heavy and often times crushing, yet it illuminated the great depths of the human mind.

In contrast, my succeeding read was a quick and easy one - Regression by Kathy Bell. It had good reviews, and the Kindle edition was on sale, so I grabbed it. It's good enough for me to purchase the second book in the series.

You can read my reviews over at my Amazon.com and Shelfari pages. They have more or less the same content, but I normally favor using the Shelfari interface then just cut-and-paste my reviews to Amazon. (But yeah, they are both owned by Amazon, just not linked.)

Unfortunately, I haven't made much progress with my iPhone skills. I will need to work on that.

Life goes on.

- Ryles

Quick Treat: Mr. Donut Bento Box

Mr. Donut has reopened near the eki. As I came out of the station tonight, I thought of getting myself a couple of donuts for breakfast, but I ended-up with five! I discovered they were giving out a free present for every 600yen purchase, so I decided to go for it.

I didn't know how it worked, so I just went and got my donuts. As I was paying, the counter person asked me something I didn't understand (well, I thought he asked me if I wanted to get the present... so I just kept saying "Hai.") Ah, apparently he wanted me to choose. (The key-phrase/word being "blah blah purezento dochira blah blah".) Ok, I didn't expect that. I went to the booth, and chose the most useful - a bento box.

Ok, it isn't the most entertaining one. Well, at least I got a present. Although I think I should have chosen the plastic plate with the Pon de Lion mold. Oh well, it's a cheap stress reliever - buying and getting a present, I mean. At least I get donuts to eat too. Mr. Donut here is really delicious, unlike the Mr. Donut in Manila. It costs a whole lot more too, although not by local standards.

Yum, yum! Just finished one with Angel Cream filling. I don't think I'll really get to use the bento box though. It smells strongly of plastic. I used to have one that smelled the same and it practically infects everything and anything you put inside. It's a cheap present, what did you expect? Hahaha... I still have my delicious donuts though, and I'm happy eating them. ^w^

Snapshots, Bits, and Pieces

Mina Tepes (Wikipedia Image)

I'm thinking how I can, and should, blog. I want to post more of my thoughts, and more snapshots of my efforts and hobbies. However, I am too compulsive lately to sit down and type things down. I will be experimenting with this and succeeding posts. Will see what works. ^_^









Finished these anime lately, and here's what I think of them:

• Dance in the Vampire Bund - Grade:A+
• Sexy, lovely, exciting, and romatic. One of my favorites.
• Sekimatsu Occult Academy - Grade:A
• Sengoku Basara 2 - Grade:B-
• As expected. Nothing new here people. Just passing by.
• High School of the Dead - Grade:A
• Not bad at all; and not just because of the rich fan service.

Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Wikipedia Image)

Things to do:

• Start (and finish) SAM's Teach Yourself iPhone Application Development
• (Re)Learn Mandarin
• Listening to audio lately. Just have to keep it up.

• Finish Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• More than 50% through the book. Unexpectedly engaging and thought-provoking. Very mature work. A lot of introspection. I'm really liking it a lot.

Reflections:

• Until when will this life of peace and bounty last? Is it possible for humanity to forget the horrors of war? I am not speaking of just regional wars, but truly great wars much like the World Wars. And similarly, when I say "forget," I do not mean mere memory, but the experience and feeling of the horrors of war. Can humans who were born and raised during a time of relative peace truly conceive of a world at war? I mean, beyond mere idea, or fantastical day dream; to truly imagine oneself scared witless for one's life - that at any time, a stray bullet, a wrong decision by a leader, can end it all; to see all around you death and inhuman suffering. When one looks at a historical timeline, one will notice that great wars come and go. From this standpoint, it seems it is merely a matter of time before global suffering will once again cover the world. So sad, but so undeniable. Should I worry? Should I prepare? Or should I just live as if it will not come to pass - to cross the bridge when we get there, as they say?

And yet I while away time:

• TowerMadness
• So addicting. Got the Spooky and Marshland packs for free via FB. Bought the flamethrower and flash bait too!

- Ryles