Orly Agawin’s Neighborhood

Just a re-blog of Media Militia's giveaway for today, Drips and Spray Paint brushes for Photoshop. 

 

Sometimes, we are not aware of the things that hinder us from learning. And those things are the walls that we have to overcome to know something valuable or important facts about people, occurrences, events, places and so many others. These are a few of those things that I have come across and observed from other people as well.

1. Inability to admit to say, “I don't know.”

This is quite common nowadays. There are times when it is difficult to confess that you actually don't know a certain subject to the people you're talking to.

Scenario:
Pepe: Pare, alam mo 'di ba ang pagbi-business? Anong maipapayo mo sa akin?
Juan: (Does not know) Ah, oo naman! Sus! Napakadali lang niyan. Sisiw!
Pepe: Ano ang dapat ko gawin?
Juan: Eh 'di, hanap ka ng uso ngayon at yun ang pasukin mo!

Well, the thing is, admitting that you don't know something does not mean you're stupid. What can those people do if you really don't know the subject? At the very least, they won't eat you alive anyway.

Is it really that difficult to let go that you prefer holding onto it? You never know what you'll learn the second time around, right?

2. "I should already know" Syndrome.

This syndrome occurs frequently at common environments. A workplace may be one of the sources.

Scenario:
Interviewer: Congratulations, Mr. Batumbakal! You made it on your final interview for the Vice President position.
Pepe Batumbakal: Yes. Thank you.
Interviewer: Let's get straight to the point.
Pepe Batumbakal: Okay.
Interviewer: Do you know your obligations and responsibilities?
Pepe Batumbakal: Yes.
Interviewer: Alright! What are those?
Pepe Batumbakal: (Mental block) Okay. Wait. Let me think. I should already know those.

The lesson is that it may be your 99999th time to be in a Vice President position or whatever position may that be, it doesn't necessarily mean that your job description/obligations/responsibilities are the same as that of the current.

3. "I have to be clear about everything all the time" Syndrome.

Now, this one is the part where we ask so many questions which may hinder us from moving forward. I remember a segment from the movie, Peaceful Warrior, where one of the rules of life is Paradox – Life is a mystery. Don't waste time trying to figure it out.

Scenario:
Pepe: Coach, gusto ko maging Core Team Member! Paano ba maging Core Team Member? Ano ba matututunan ko kapag Core Team na ako? Ano ba kailangan ko gawin? Bakit Real Estate? Bakit kailangan ko gawin mga ito? Ikaw din ba naranasan mo mga ito?
Coach: .....
Coach: Mag-module 1 ka muna!

People may overextend their efforts by always referring to “All my questions must be answered” before proceeding. I used to be one before I joined the Core Team however I realized that all I needed to do was to take the first step. Also, isn't it more interesting when you don't know what happens next, as long as you're moving forward to where you want to be?

Here's a great quote by Wayne Gretzky, a hockey player, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”

4. Forgetting the domain of emotions.

At times, emotions override our path to growth. We let the emotions succumb certain situations.

Scenario:
Annie: Honey, attend tayo nung Free Wealth Course sa Makati.
Juan: Huwag na, mag-date na lang tayo sa Trinoma. Ito lang free time natin ngayon na week tapos gusto mo pa umattend.
Annie: Ay, oo nga. Sige, 'wag na lang.

It then becomes in control of our judgment. It may be hard to control the urge to pursue a spontaneous impromptu decision especially when the person who requested is your loved one. As represented in the scenario above, the emotion of having reverse guilt became of greater importance than learning or Emotion > Learning.

5. Distrust.

Distrust is also another factor that hinders us from learning especially when approached by a stranger with something new.

People test your trustworthiness, based on three things:

Assessment of Sincerity - Are you sincere?

Assessment of Competency - Are you competent enough?

Assessment of Reliability and Credibility - Are you credible or reliable enough to be trusted?

Subconsciously or not, people assess you with these three, more or less.

6. Confusing knowing with having opinions or information.

Not only is this very common but it is also frequently used without our knowledge. Combining what you think and what is true. Sometimes, it really is hard to distinguish from one another.

Scenario:
Pepe: Pare, alam mo yung Create Abundance?
Juan: Oo naman. Scam daw yun!
Pepe: O, talaga? Paano mo nalaman?
Juan: Nabanggit sa akin ng katrabaho ko kasi daw libre pala yung Wealth Course nila. Kaya baka may kapalit.

There are times when the basis our opinions are from the strong opinions of others. There are also times when we are the cause of such confusion when we omit one or two details about something thus making our audience build up strong opinions filled with confusion. On some occasions, we do little to no research about something then formulate an opinion.

7. Making everything trivial. Never letting a subject become serious or cutting off a meaningful conversation.

Very typical when it comes to group of friends. A syndrome kicks in when a serious subject or something important is being discussed and suddenly gets interrupted by slashing in a joke or other subject.

Scenario:
(Pepe, Juan and Bruno are talking)
Pepe: Pare, mahal ko na si Annie.
Juan: Buti ka pa. Hindi ko alam kung mahal ako ni Lolit.
Pepe: Bakit naman?
Bruno: (Joking) 'wag ganyan ang kwentuhan natin baka pati ako mapamahal na din sa mga mahal niyo.
Bruno: (Laughs)

I have used this syndrome in my previous conversations and they didn't turn out very well. In my experience, the topic is either not aligned with my preference or it just doesn't appeal to me but really, it never hurts to let the subject being discussed, continue as it might bring you a new insight or information.

8. Living in permanent assessments or judgments.

A syndrome where you are unable to update your assessments of others. It is also another way of having opinions or becoming the opinion itself.

Another syndrome that is usually used in a group of friends or colleagues that you've been going with for a very long time.

Scenario:
Nene: Kita tayo bukas sa Mall ng 5pm, ha! O, alis muna ako. May gagawin pa ako eh.
(Walks out)
Juan: Malaman late na naman si Nene bukas. Bata pa lang tayo ganyan na yun eh!
Pepe: Oo nga. Pustahan pa tayo kung anong oras dadating yun eh.
Juan: Okay. Sige. Anong oras siya dadating sa Mall?
Pepe: 7pm!

Even my group of childhood friends have used this without noticing. Sometimes, your repetitive actions may lead to this kind of assumption that people are unable to update their assessment of you. As presented above, Nene is usually late for meetings so her friends assumed that she will again be late like it is a very normal incident.

9. Living in the belief that I cannot, given who I am.

In my observation, this syndrome are usually used by the older generation who thinks that their time has passed and never let themselves entertain new information being passed on by their peers, colleagues or by their own loved one.

Scenario:
Bruno: Inay, punta tayo ng Wealth Course sa Makati baka may makuha tayong impormasyon para yumaman!
Nanay: Naku, anak! Hindi na ako pwede yumaman. Masyado nang huli ang lahat para yumaman. Hindi ako nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Kung nakapagtapos ako, e 'di sana mayaman na ako. Kaya ikaw na lang anak.

This very syndrome, at times, is used by my mother. It's not an easy syndrome to deal with as they usually tell you, “I have gone past that point so I know how it is.” or in Tagalog, “Papunta ka pa lang, pabalik na ako. Kaya alam na alam ko yan.”

Do you have a barrier that is holding you back?

REFLECT.

Observe yourself and your environment if these barriers are present.

“It was a bumpy road however I carried on, followed my instincts and never say die to circumstances piling up. I just knew this was it. Well, subsequently, it was really it.”

Team

In January 2005, I decided to continue my studies overseas. I was due to graduate High School in March that year and continue studying in a university in Australia. Perhaps, that was my ticket to escape a boring routine of studying and partying until I graduate out of a university then have my own empire of businesses in the long run. It sounds like a grand plan however the first part was bothering me. It became repetitive as it stretched out every week for consecutive years.

After three years had passed since moving to Australia, I found a new home, new colleagues and acquaintances. I still keep doing the same routine as I had been doing for the past years in Philippines. Not much of a difference way back when now, is it? Not until I came back from one of my holidays in January 2009 that my sister recommended me to read a book called, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki, when all of a sudden I began to realize that never had I done something to improve my lifestyle and seek out progression to where I wanted to go.

I started seeking out answers to my questions. Questions that have been bothering me for a while about success and other similar concepts. As I got more curious, there I found the Create Abundance 2020 Community floating about. Joining an Online Community was not new to me however the subjects that were usually talked about are totally different to what I got used to. I became active to the website and had a lot of interactions with the people in it. A few weeks had passed after joining the community, I had the opportunity to physically check it out due to my grandmother's 80th birthday coming up that was to be celebrated in Philippines. Also, a handful of relatives were going to have a reunion at her birthday and so I decided to take a few weeks off to surprise my grandmother at her birthday. Another part of the plan was to participate in the community's events. It was certainly a very much enticing feeling to meet the people behind it and those who I had met over the Internet.

Another few weeks had passed after coming back from my short break, I decided to join the Team behind spreading abundance throughout the nation. Not so quick though, I still had a lot on my plate to carry. It wasn't a smooth ride as every journey has always been. It was a bumpy road however I carried on, followed my instincts and never say die to circumstances piling up. I just knew this was it. Well, subsequently, it was really IT. As a matter of fact, it was worth the wait to learn and reconcile with the people who were against my decision to join the Team. Instead of turning back on bridges I had just crossed, I decided to keep and never destroy it.

Now that I have joined the Team, I had gone through a lot of changes and everything has grown significantly. My big dreams grew by a mountain, my skills are currently being developed greatly and my newly acquired skills had been increasing by the day. My aspirations that seemed pies in the sky are now attainable. They are now simple, hard but not impossible. A long way to where I wanted to be but I'm cruising progressively on the right timing within anticipation. It doesn't stop there but instead it continues on quite nicely.

My deepest gratitude and more success to Create Abundance 2020.

My story, your story and our vision for a better future.

God bless us all

---

You can view other testimonials of people at http://iloveabundance.com

If you think there's a thing called, "Last Laugh" and causes one to be the only one happy then I suggest you make everyone laugh so we're all happy and rolling over the floor pinching our stomach to death plus made a deal, a success if we were having one in the process!

Going back to Philippines for a week has been a very exciting roller coaster ride. I met a lot of new faces, personalities, ideas, opportunities and have been shared goals with. A lot of doors opened up that I do not think would be possible during my previous trips back. So far, that trip was the most astounding!

Actually, I was attending another business workshop when I decided to go attend the Cashflow gatherings. I weighed things through --to complete the current workshop or stop and take a chance to attend the gatherings and meet the people in the community. I don't know what happened but somehow I made the latter choice and for the record, I did not regret it by a bit, even though I know what will the consequences be.

ROUND 1: Cashflow 101
Upon attending my first Cashflow game at MSE building, I was stunned by how many people really attend the games. I met my first playmates during that first game and that was also their first time playing. That game made me realize that I'm a hoarder of money (paychecks) and big pocket spender (on doodads) after a short time like that of a japanese bamboo fountain. Our attitude towards money was apparent. We thought that having a lot of cash on our hands means we're getting rich but seriously, we're not even close! Not only that, we had a problem. We were all playing our poker faces when the game is not even poker! There was like a grey cloud over our heads for an hour or so. And so my sister and I picked on each other to mess up the mood that needs to be aroused; to make the others laugh to make those poker faces to smiling faces even if we do not have a very good teeth structure. Although, we were stuck in the rat race for the whole session of that game. We learnt something valuable that only us knows --our own mentality towards the subject of money although it may different to each and everyone of us, the learnt concept would almost be similar and had a good laugh even for just a few hours of that day.

Thanks to Coach Cy and Cecil for lifting our confidence after explaining a few things during break time. After that game, I made a pact to myself that I would be on the fast track and finish the game the second time!

AND I DID! Well, technically, I did but there were other circumstances to be considered.

ROUND 2: Cashflow 101
Alright! My second time is here! In just a matter of minutes, I made it to the fast track! Ha! But there was a big but! Coach Ludwig asked me if I choose to proceed to the fast track or remain in the rat race with other conditions: ONLY small deals and some other that I do not remember. I remained in the rat race. Why? I realized that the game can be played on either Solo or Team play. I chose to play the Team play simply because I want all of us in the group to be on the fast track together -- the more the merrier, as others might say! It was funny though because every time I rolled the dice, my moves were on Opportunities, ALL except but one that went to the Market! (Law of Attraction works, it does!) But there was a problem again, some players were a little bit quite unmotivated and I think I was the only one very excited and enthusiastic so I tried slashing in jokes here and there and picked on my sister. To my surprise, it worked! We were all cracking and crunching our stomach from laughing and all of a sudden, there was a change! Slowly, we were making progress! Everyone was getting richer, happier and becoming motivated about the deals that were popping out! At the end of the game, we all got better at playing the game, full on our stomach (ate lunch), wiser on deals and had learnt something essential about life from Jerrick's very inspiring stories of his own experiences over the years.

WEALTH COURSE: Module 1
In Ortigas, I got lost but it was a fun ride thanks to the driver and after minutes of trying to find the place, thankfully we landed on the right spot! Coach Martin introduced me to a new set of people who would again, change my perception. Our moderator was Neil and the other one like me attending Module 1 was Mary Anne (I'm not very sure if it is her name, I apologize) who I kept asking if she had an older sister and if she does, what is she like. Wait, I wasn't serious, those were jokes to keep the undertaking lively and comic. I learnt many things from these two people. We all got different stories to tell. I even learnt the girl's age! Good God! She was only 17 years of age and here I thought I was young! After that intense module, again, we were happy and satisfied.

So, you see, laughter makes our world fluffy and friendly. It only takes guts to turn a serious conversation into a fun-loving and a meaningful one.

Ok so I've had plenty of references to artists I like over the years.  Of course they all have great influences over my own art, just like every artist.  But I thought I'd take a moment today to write about some specific influences that have gotten my creative juices flowing lately (past few months)  Its only fair to give these guys/gals recognition for their wonderful art!  :D 

One artist that I like for obvious reasons, is from Switzerland.  I found his site via Media Militia's periodical "get inspired" posts.  His name is Patrik but goes by the name of 2much as an artist.  You can find his work following the post in the links. 

2much

An online comic book I ended up reading in its entirety in about a week, is called Megatokyo and is by artist and writer Fred Gallagher.  It is a manga-style comic book and I say "manga-style" as it is written and drawn by someone other than an Asian writer and I know that for some that might make it an "impure" manga, but if you ask me, its ever bit as good as a Japanese, Korean or other manga you might find.  The art is very well drawn but although it has the Asian "look", Fred has gone to great lengths apparently in creating his own flair to his art and I admire him very much for it. 

Fredart

Creaturebox is a site by artists Dave Guertin and Greg Baldwin.  Well-established character designers and artists with Insomniac games.   (Insomniac Games is responsible for such huge titles as Ratchet and Clank and Resistance for the Sony Playstation systems.)

Creaturebox

Robin Mitchell is another great artist that has had an impact on my art lately.  His blog is usually kept pretty full of updates.  He is an illustrator and from what his site says, for most of his career, a concept artist.  There are plenty of sketches on his site to gain inspiration from. 

RMitchell

So those are some of the biggest influences on my art lately.  Check their sites out, I'm sure they'd love the hits!
 

• Megatokyo
• 2Much
• Creaturebox
• Robin Mitchell

Enjoy! 

Ok I'll admit I've been out of it for awhile when it comes to the toy scene and I've had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth about the whole deal.  Because of the over-saturation of artists and the many of the companies becoming so close to mainstream (IMO)... I just have been bored with it for the most part.

DSCN0351

DSCN0352

Ok so when I first read about something called Generative Art in Wired magazine many months ago I was mildly interested but only til the end of that article.  I never thought to try my hand at it or find out more about how it works. Well I've been following articles on a pretty cool blog:  Media Militia* lately and most recently one of the authors wrote about generative art.  With a little free time, I toyed with a couple of the different programs that are available for Windows (since that's what I'm stuck with right now, lol) and found that it was more fun than I had thought.  Of course, I might add that I do some (not complex) web programming using vb.net so I enjoy a bit of coding anyway.  (That's a warning to the non-programmer graphic designers, in case you hate numbers.. ) 

If you're interested in seeing some of the programs listed on Media Militia's site, follow the link afterward.  For this image I used a program called context free, and this is only a sample, using their tutorial with my own embellishments to the program (how I got the curvature in the tree).  Nothing complicated! 

RandomTree

Here is the simple program:

startshape trunk

rule trunk
{
     SQUARE{}
     trunk{  rotate .25 y .4 size .99 brightness .005}
}

rule trunk .01
{
    SQUARE{}
    branch { rotate 25  }
    trunk{ y .4 s .99 brightness .005 }
}

rule trunk .03
{
    SQUARE{}
    branch{ rotate -25 }
    trunk{ y .4 s .99 brightness .005 |hue 40 |sat .5  }
}

rule branch
{
    SQUARE{}
    trunk {y .4 s .99 brightness .005 }
}

Here is the article that got me started, at Media Militia and the programs I've tried:

• Processing
• Structure Synth
• and of course Context Free

Recently I've been diving into High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. Initially I used Bracketeer to combine three photos that had been taken with different exposure (-2, 0, +2 stops). But very quickly I became unsatisfied with the output from Bracketeer. After a little research, it turns out Bracketeer only fuse photos with different exposures. Whereas other HDR software also perform tone mapping. After listening to a TWiP podcast about HDR and read through the HDR tutorial by Trey Ratcliff, I decided to try Photomatix Pro last week to see what different result I would get.

As you can see, the result from Photomatix is so much more natural looking (though it can also produce extremely psychadelic version) than Bracketeer. And more importantly, I get to this very good photo very easily, whereas the options in Bracketeer are extremely technical and confusing.

Lower East Side Synagogue