racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

I’ve recently rekindled my passion for all things automotive, and among these is one of my own sites, www.pinoyautoblog.com.

The site has actually been online for some time now, but it’s only now that I’m able to fill it in with actual practical tips and news. Just recently, I’ve been able to review a Toyota Vios and test-drive a Nissan Grand Livina and a Ford Everest.

I’m fortunate enough to be able to do a full review of the Vios. However, as it probably is with most auto dealers locally, it’s perhaps not as easy to get media units for review, like other gadget manufacturers (such as mobile phone and laptops). But we do welcome review requests. In fact, we’d be glad to oblige!

What you pore over at 12 may be the most important reading that you do, according to a piece at citypaper.com. In hindsight, I think I was a lousy reader back when I was 12. Sure I had a very imaginative mind. I was such an introvert, that I mostly retreated to my computer games and other stuff that normal kids my age did. But most books I read that time were those assigned in school, and I could say that pretty much anything assigned in class is something that a twelve year old kid would definitely find uninteresting.

But when I read something that I find interesting, it really does captivate me, and my whole world would then revolve around that piece of literature, at least for a moment. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime. I suppose it depends on the material, in that it has to appeal to me before I get hooked. I’m not one who would just haphazardly get enticed into reading something because I’m intrigued, or because of what other people say, or because of reviews.

I do recall buying Hard Boys books every few weeks or so, with my meager allowance. When I ran out of cases, I sifted through my sister’s Sweet Valley collection quite quickly. Girly stuff, yes, but fast forward a decade or so after, one would get an appreciation of the female perspective on a lot of things (much like how I still read fashion magazines when I get the chance).

I never got to encounter Narnia, the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings until later in life, though. Poor me.

In the recent weeks I’ve found myself to have rekindled an interest in reading juvenile and young adult literature. I paid my folks’ place a visit and picked up copies of books I had once read in high school like Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Lowry’s The Giver, Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, among others. As my own copies of some titles have been lost into oblivion through the past 15 years or so, some of these I borrowed from siblings who, at one time or another, perhaps enjoyed leafing through the frayed and yellowed pages, too.

I also picked up stories that are new to me, like Lowry’s Gathering Blue, Messenger, Sachar’s Holes, L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, among others. Basically Newberry award stuff, mostly. The stuff they make you read in grade school (through which the author and publisher probably earn millions in the process, considering the number of kids who read their stuff every year).

It started when I chanced upon a late showing of Bridge to Terabithia on cable, after which i bought a DVD and a copy of Katherine Paterson’s book. Breezing through the story in one sitting, I found it an easy read. The book was meant for fifth grade kids, after all. To the eyes, at least, it was an easy read. But to a scarred soul, the story hits a nerve and finishing the 150 or so pages, you somehow feel wounded for life. If you haven’t read it, pick up a copy. Or at least watch the movie on DVD. You’ll know what I mean.

To a twenty-something father of three (and counting), I find myself reading through children’s literature with a different perspective, and with a different depth of understanding. Somehow ten, twelve, fifteen years or so after you first read something, the words re-read stir up in you memories of younger days. Better days, perhaps? Or maybe simply that—fond memories of days before when the world was younger, and so were you.

Again, in hindsight, I feel as if there was part of my childhood that I just seemed to breeze through with nary a recollection. I could remember a lot of things—up to the most minute detail—from when I was 13, which was the time I first met a great, treasured friend, who would later on became my wife. But prior to that, it’s a bit hazy. Bits and pieces come up here and there, but things are not so clear.

And so that’s perhaps the reason I have grown fond of reading literature aimed at children. I need to feel young again. Then maybe—just maybe—these feelings evoked by double-spaced black and white ink on paperbacks would conjure up thoughts and memories buried deep in my subconscious. And maybe I can get to relive those moments again—those innocent moments, undisturbed by the worries of the world that one such as I encounter on a daily basis. Things like money, death, people, society and, at times, work.

I’ve started the habit of reading a few chapters to my kids at bedtime. Charlotte’s Web and even Terabithia seem to be their liking (they loved the movie!), as these seem light and fluffy enough for them. I also picked up a copy of Gaiman’s Coraline at the bookstore last week, which I also started reading to the kids aloud. Maybe someday, someday, my two girls will elatedly recall those frightening moments as we leaf through the pages of suspenseful hanging over the edge, conjuring up memories of other mother and poor ghosts in their own subconscious. Buttons, perhaps?

Probably buttons.

I’ve been running Pinoy Auto Blog for a few months now, but it’s not such an active site yet. I’d like the site to get serious traction soon. If anyone’s interested in contributing to the site, please get in touch with me!

Myasuseee.com is growing fast, and I’ve recently launched a new blog about netbooks: koobten.com. I already have a writer focusing on my personal blog network project, but he’s quite loaded. So I need another writer who can write about all things netbook.

Obviously, myasuseee.com focuses on the Asus EeePC brand. Koobten, on the other hand, covers the entire netbook industry, and this includes news, reviews, and other features on the various brands and models out there, like the HP Mini Note, Acer Aspire one, MSI Wind, etc.

If you own your own netbook, that would be an advantage. If you’re passionate about your choice of model or brand, then even better!

Since these are just startups, I can’t promise that the pay will be lucrative, but I will offer traffic and growth bonuses, and if you grow with the site, then I can say it will be at least a good start with the problogging industry. We may also be sent review netbook or notebook units once in a while. Sure, there may sometimes be long waiting lists for review units, but it’s worth it getting to road-test borrowed equipment every now and then.

Please get in touch with me through my contact form or the other usual means.

According to a recent Blog Herald feature by Easton Ellsworth popular blogs publish frequently. And to do this, most employ teams to write for them, even, in order to achieve a regular posting schedule.

I’m afraid I haven’t been blogging much. And because of this most probably my traffic and readership have suffered.

So now I resolve to publish more frequently here on racoma.com.ph, no matter how busy I am, and even if I sometimes don’t have an idea what to write about.

Earlier I promised myself to keep away from posting on trivial matters, and to only write about the big things. I guess I would have to renege on that promise. I had been too much of a perfectionist that oftentimes I go halfway through a blog draft, but end up not publishing because I don’t think it’s good enough. Well, it’s a blog after all, and mistakes are meant to be made.

Another thing – I know I started this blog to be a personal tech blog of sorts, but since I’ve launched several tech blogs of my own (including techspottr.com I can now expand to other topics that are close to my heart.