racoma.netI love to write. I write to live. I live to love.

I’ve never smoked in my life. I’ve never tried drugs. I don’t drink alcohol except on certain occasions, such as when I’m eating steak that just has to be washed down with red wine, or when pizza calls for a cold beer. If you talk about addictions, I can say I’m addicted to 7 Up, [...]

Every morning, I take a long piss. And I cherish the feeling of freedom each time. I thank God for it. This may sound silly, but consider the opposite scenario. Not very long ago, even the simple act of urinating had been very, very difficult for me. I’d developed kidney stones and I had to [...]

There’s a sense of loss and frustration that comes when a person starts writing for a living. In a way, it takes out the enjoyment even from that one thing that you love doing. They say that if you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. [...]

In my several offline dealings with people, I have often been given the patronizing tone. I’m too young, they say. I’m too inexperienced. I’m too easy to deceive and fool. Perhaps it’s due to my often unassuming appearance. Or the fact that I’m often quiet and laid back. This kind of condescending attitude tends to [...]

Seven this morning, my kids woke me up, asking for their usual morning breakfast cereal. I groggily obliged, only protesting a bit how early it was. You see, it’s a Saturday morning and one usually wants to sleep in during weekends! Don’t wake me up yet, please. But, alas, with two kids pulling here and [...]

Of all the notebook computers, netbooks and LCD screens I’ve ever had, only two had glossy screens. Most of the others have those dull, matte screens. Now most laptop and netbook marketing materials would want you to believe that glossy screens are the best. Well, to some extent they are good. They give crisper colors, [...]

Writers are a spoiled bunch. We have all sorts of habits–some strange, some mundane. Just like most creative individuals, a lot of writers need to be in the zone in order to be productive. That means we cannot be forced to just work. We need space. We need a great environment. Otherwise, the world will [...]

New media has changed the way we consume and spread information. Social media mavens might want you to believe that blogs, tweets and social networks are all it takes to spread news. And fast. That sort of takes traditional media out of the picture. It’s dying after all, right? Or is it? I learned of [...]

If you’re anyone like me, you’re probably dyslexic, obsessive-compulsive and have a mild case of attention deficit disorder (without the hyperactivity). And so I’ve often relied on handheld gadgets to help track down tasks, schedules, short notes and whatnot. But I often lose track of these anyway. Somehow, PDAs and big-ish smartphones are not really [...]

A lot of people have been calling me “J” if just for the initial that stands for my first name. A few folks know what exactly it stands for (it’s part of public record, you know), but a most do not, or don’t care. If you’re wondering what’s behind the name “J. Angelo,” then read [...]