Thoughts and Non Thoughts

Much attention has been given Peque Gallaga's supposed rant against the government's alleged failure to deal with the Yolanda super typhoon aftermath. Whether or not the 70-year-old director actually wrote this letter, which is a well-written manifesto, I would rather go back to his masterpiece from 31 years ago -- the film Oro, Plata, Mata. The film tells the story of two haciendero families in Negros, and how World War II turned their world upside down. The war was like a super typhoon that stripped society of its social hierarchy and structure and exposed underlying conflicts between social classes, good and evil, and family members. It exposed man's inhumanity to man and confronted him with his humanity. It forced people to choose between survival and their values, between dignity and their basest instincts. In the end, no one was left untouched. The war changed everyone's life forever. Some hiding secrets, some harboring regrets, and some emerging scarred but ...

In black croc. In brown cordovan strap.

  The Nomos brand has been gaining popularity in the horological world. Though a young company, its pedigree as a manufactury is impeccable, making its movements in-house in the watchmaking town of Glashutte. Combining this watchmaking tradition with sleek, simple, classic designs, Nomos Glashutte was one of the watch collector's best kept secrets, a small independent making significantly fewer watches than the big names. Recently, Nomos has introduced new designs, including slightly bigger versions of the original 35 mm Orion range. The 38 mm Orion White Datum has a dial size that keeps to current trends, though still clearly within the dress watch category. It also has a date window which is easy to read, consistent with the design concept of the brand. The white dial and silver plated hands add a touch of elegance and class. The 38 mm Orion White Datum is attuned to the times, while retaining the essence that quintessentially Nomos. A modern classic indeed.   ...

Did a quick A/B using the above system - Rega RP1 with Carbon cart, Cayin integrated amp with EL34 tubes. An iPod was also used as a source. Quick impressions - the Monitor Audios are more detailed and open, the Missions have more bass. Initially with the iPod source I preferred the Missions; but when we shifted to LP, I went for the Monitor Audios. It's just a matter of preference between these two. Both are quite good at their price point of around $250. If you close your eyes, you can be made to believe the music is coming from bigger speakers. They're both winners!

Tubes used: Sovtek 12ax7LPS on the JD9 Tesla e88cc on the LSA amp Settings on the Jolida Impedance 300 ohms Capacitance zero (all off) Gain dip switch #1 Hi output I will not describe how this system sounds because that would be pointless. Whatever audiophile words are used, they will be subject to the personal interpretation and experience of the reader. I will say instead that it brings childhood memories of the old record player filling an old house with happiness in bubbles of liquid notes floating in the air; that a song of lost love tugs at the memories in my heart; that a dance tune tickles my soles like those late night outs of youth; that it makes me appreciate the genius of a piano player's touch that can both be strong and gentle on the keyboard; that the vibrations of brass from saxophones recorded half a century ago make the hairs on my skin quiver; that the singer whispering late at night wets my neck with her mo...

Nice, iOS7 is nice. It's definitely faster, and I like the new appearance. One thing I missed is the double click on the home button which brings the wiggly app symbols with an "x" that you can click to force close them. I was worried when no wiggly apps appeared, just pages like all your history is on display. Finally figured it out -- just SWIPE UPWARDS the pages you want to close -- they will promptly disappear. I feel like my iPhone 5 is a new phone. And the camera is definitely more responsive. Did I say iOS7 is nice? 

Near midnight. (taken with iPhone 5)

Rega  turntables and arms have developed quite a good reputation. But they make some nice carts too, most of the time, matched with their turntables. I recently got a Rega Exact, the model that sits atop Rega's MM offerings, and mounted it on a Technics SL1200. The first word -- Dynamic. The gain from this cart is higher than many MM carts, and it matches well with old solid state or tube pre-amps and amps. Old records come to life. Herb Alpert's Whipped Cream and Other Delights sounded like it was just recorded yesterday. The music almost jumps out of the vinyl like the girl on the cover. I won't be surprised if you'd feel like dancing to it. It is not an analytical sound, nor would I call it neutral. Rather what it does is let the music through. So the second word -- Musical. You listen to the music and not to your system. Listening to Charlie Byrd's Byrdland, the warmth of the recording is there from the first n...

 (photo taken with an iPhone) Enjoyed the concert of Tony Bennett at the PICC in Manila. He is the picture of a happy man. He loves what he does and is doing what he loves. You can feel how much his music means to him,  and that he will continue performing for as long as he lives. And people will continue listening to his music and watching his concerts because of this.

(taken with an iPhone 4s) Had this set up for audition/demo. The Brio-R is an excellent integrated amp that comes with a phono stage for MM. Though its spec sheet says 50 watts per channel, it punches way above its weight. The RS1 speakers aren't left behind too. With just an iPod into the Brio-R and RS1 combination, the musicality is apparent -- smooth liquid mids, extended highs for a wide soundstage and the bookshelf speakers going deep. It's just as comfortable with Dianna Krall and Frank Sinatra as with Pink Floyd and Bon Jovi.  It's a transparent system, so it will reveal good and poor recordings; its phono stage clearly contrasted a bad pressing of Bruce Springsteen's The River with an excellent pressing of Tunnel of Love. But it's been sprinkled with a little warmth for that classic "British sound."  It's an excellent system, a shining example of synergy the Rega way.

When I bought the 550D with the 18-55 IS kit lens three years ago, I got a good deal since the 600D was just coming out. I was impressed at how much Canon DSLR's image quality has jumped since the 10D, but I always considered the 550D a "bridge" camera for casual  use while waiting for full frame to come down in prices.  I finally got my wish and bought the 6D a few months back. Full frame just felt right. My enthusiasm for photography was rekindled. Ironically, the 6D has also made me appreciate the 550D even more. It does not give away much to the best DSLRs in the market today. It focuses fast and fits nicely in the hand. With the kit lens, it makes for a very handy travel camera, which is not bulkier than a SL1 or EOS-M fitted with a similar lens. I don't do video and don't care for articulated LCD in DSLRs, so the latest enhancements on the 600d to 700d don't mean much to me. With the same 18 megapixel count and arguably simi...

This lens continues to pleasantly surprise. Raindrops EOS 550D, f8, 1/100s, ISO 1000, handheld

The Face Saigon by Night

Recently changed my wifi router from a TP-Link to a Linksys E1200. All my mobile devices linked to it immediately with no problem. All desktops on Windows and laptops on Windows and Mac OS had no problems -- except an old Macbook with Mac OS 10.5.8 (Leopard). Browsing was glacial, if not, frozen. Tried changing DNS settings to no avail. Whether Safari or Google Chrome, the web pages won’t load and the browser just hung. Finally found the solution. Under System Preferences > Network, click on the TCP/IP tab. Then set “Configure IPv6” to “Off”. Voila! Now the Mac is surfing!

These e88cc gold pin Tesla's are NOS tubes from the 70's. They replaced stock Electro Harmonix 6922's in my LSA Standard (modified caps) Integrated Amp. Still burning in, but compared to the EH, the Tesla's have a more laid-back, relaxed character. Bass is rounded yet agile. No harshness in the mids or top. In other words, neutral but on the warm side. Great match for the LSA amp, specially when playing classic rock or jazz music. System: VPI Scout with DV 20xL Jolida JD-9A phono stage with JJ 12ax7 Ah! Njoe Tjoeb with JJ e88cc (current production tubes) LSA amp LSA 2 towers VPI phono cable, Analysis Plus Oval 1 interconnects, Van den Hul The Revelation speaker cables

We are being bombarded by bad news. The “ghost month” has barely passed yet we are continually haunted by revelations of how ghost NGO’s are used to siphon pork barrel money into bathtubs. Then an ageing MNLF leader wants to show that he is still a force to reckon with, resulting in clashes with the military in Zamboanga and putting civilians in the crossfire. Some people are smelling conspiracy, that the latter is used to take attention away from the pork barrel controversy. This could be true. Or it may not. But the warnings about a conspiracy are just another way of saying “be vigilant.” It looks like people are really keen to see this pork barrel issue through, that they won’t take their eyes off the ball. It is not to say that the loss of lives and the suffering of the people in Zamboanga are not serious. Nor that this latest incident, shattering any illusion that a lasting formula for peace in Mindanao is at hand, is not a major setback. It is just that Filipinos may n...

My first Omega, a Constellation Chronometer from 14 years ago. It has developed quite a nice patina.

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2013/06/i-love-lists-such-as-this-list-about-what-gives-objects-life/ Levels of scale Strong centers Boundaries Alternating repetition Positive space Good shape Local symmetries Deep interlock and ambiguity Contrast Gradients Roughness Echoes The void Simplicity and inner calm Non-separateness

And be fair.

Gameplan. 170d.

“May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more."

Shall Pass.

From the 80's. Still works despite all the battle scars. The MD Rokkor 45 mm f/2 lens has excellent bokeh. One day I'll find a way to mount this on my Canon 6D. Minolta XG1 with 45mm MD Rokkor lens

There's no place like home. And there's nothing like food to make one feel at home. A few of the food that makes the Philippines more fun! Puto bumbong Bibingka D' Original

(Click for larger image) Canon 6D, 50 mm 1.8II at f/2.8 Monochrome Picture Style (crop) 

The Canon EOS 6D is a fantastic camera. Full frame in a well-built body -- and at a good price, specially when bundled with the 24-105 IS L lens. I was curious how my old 28-135 IS USM lens will fare with a 6D. Wood, light, and shadows (Canon EOS 6D with 28-135 IS USM lens, ISO 12,800, handheld at f5.6 and 1/8s.) The low light handling of the Canon 6D is quite impressive at ISO 12,800. Well, despite showing its age with the old generation IS, the tad slower focusing, and the well-known zoom "creep", it is still a good lens. Somehow it feels at home with a full frame body, perhaps because it was a lens made for film cameras?