Folded over the edges of my life are the lives of other people that matter to me. Family. Friends. Inspirations.

It is a failing of mine that I tend to let keeping in contact slide.

Web tools like e-mail, blogger, friendster, and myspace seem to be a great utility to keep in touch. We're kept updated on the latest events of note in people's lives, are reminded of their birthdays, and get to chat online once in a while.

Technologies like Skype are making keeping in touch easier, cheaper, and clearer... I had a chat with old friends in the U.S. not too long ago, and it was like they were talking to me from the next room.

Fantastic.

Good Economy, Bad Economy

Despite the newspapers and press releases harping an economic upswing, it's quite apparent to many that the buying power of the peso has dropped considerably. The constant increase of gas prices and basic commodities in the face of relatively slow or static increases in payscales have forced nearly everyone tighten their belts here in the Philippines.

Nothing new here?

Consider this: a common sentiment amongst working filipinos is that they're too busy trying to make ends meet to care about politics.

Is this part of the agenda? Is the state of the Philippine economy a tool for divisiveness? The poor and the new poor will be pushed outside the system, and may or may not join rebellious groups or religious groups who provide some financial support. The thinning white collar class is forced to work longer hours, take on extra work, or take their chances outside the country.

Or perhaps the government is simply incapable of turning things around and all these effects are a natural by-product of that failing.

Either way you look at it that philosophy that "there's no time or energy left to think about what the government has done, is supposed to be doing, is planning to do" is an opinion and a choice we are free to make.

But one day we may lift our noses from the grindstone and find that the socio-political landscape has changed and we are no longer as free as we once were.

A Season for Reason

I've been looking for a place to publish my observations, concerns, and rants concerning the Philippines, various social trends, new technologies, interesting developments in my areas of professional interest, and other events and personalities with some impact on my life. I used to post this on my older blog, but felt that this content needed a different space.

It may be part of my need to segregate what I view as my hobbies and stress-release topics from things with slightly more weight. Or it could just be part of the obsessive-compulsive nature that dogs my behavior at odd times.

In any case, welcome to my new blog!