Earsplitting Volume
Even though I have an iPod touch, I’m not one of those people you see in public places especially in public utility vehicles and malls with their earphones on and listening to music. I love my ears more than music and I don’t want to be deaf and use hearing aids.
The volume on my iPod is currently set on 25%. I usually don’t go beyond that point except for attacks of the LSS. The engine of the vehicles and other roadway noises simply drones the music that comes from my iPod, so instead of increasing the volume, I simply turn it off. Besides, there are other things that I can do during my jeepney rides. I usually study my lessons while waiting to reach for my destination. Sometimes, I read books to avoid boredom or if I’m with somebody that I know, I chat with him/her about various things: demanding and perfectionistic instructors, how I miss my high school life, insensitive blockmates, and toxic subjects.
Okay, back to the subject…
So when do I use my iPod? I use it whenever I’m in my favorite place in school: the library or anywhere there isn’t much noise. The library has been my cradle, it’s where I feel at peace. Hu? What am I talking about? Well, if you had very noisy blockmates with mouths larger than a car’s tire, you would know what I mean. There are times when I even go to the library just to listen to music. Lol. I’m really thankful that the library is just a few steps from my room.
And oh, lately, I’ve been listening to music during my Rizal class. Everyone in the class couldn’t hide their boredom. Some talks with their seat mates, some are busy pressing on their phone’s keypads, others would even dare to sleep. Good thing my professor sits on the back of the room while listening to the reporters. That’s why I dare myself to listen to music even though my class is going on. And I’m pleased to tell you that I wasn’t caught… ever. Actually, during my last three Rizal classes, I was not only listening to music but also reading a book that has nothing to do with the Philippine’s national hero.
While on the subject, I just want to mention that I really don’t know why we have to study Rizal’s very detailed life. I think, the authors of the book that we are using included all the information that they could get about Rizal. I don’t know why almost everything has to be precise. Some of the not so important events that happened to Rizal were also well documented. As a matter of fact, there are times when the book mentioned not only the date but also the time when this and that happened. Aren’t the basics enough?
Take the following excerpt as an example:
… the two tourists [Jose Rizal and his friend Maximo Viola] went to Brunn. According to Viola, “nothing of importance happened” in this city.
Why add that if “nothing of importance happened”? Duh. And now… I’m bombarded with unimportant dates, names, places, and events that I’m not even sure if I could and how I would apply them once I landed with a job. Haha. (I’m not saying that RA 1425 aka Rizal Law should be abolished. What I’m saying is that the basics are enough, we don’t need to know all the places Rizal visited during his lifetime. Besides, what sense of fulfillment would you have if you memorized them?)
Before I close this entry, I just want to talk a few things about Death Cab for Cutie’s latest album: Narrow Stairs. First, I want to say that it’s a nice album, but not as good as Plans. My favorites from the album are: Your New Twin Sized Bed (I can’t get it out of my system), Bixby Canyon Bridge, No Sunlight, I Will Possess Your Heart, and You Can Do Better Than Me. And oh, have you seen I Will Possess Your Heart’s music video? Well, Death Cab rocks!
Well… you look so defeated lying there in your new twin sized bed. XD
PS: Yesterday, iTunes mistakenly recognized my iPod touch as an iPhone. WTF.
May 18, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
Other than listening to my iPod in full volume (yes, as in 100%) while I’m on a PUV, I would just observe at other people who I am with and places passing by. May pagka-chismoso kasi ako, but I’m not being obvious about that. At parang best friend ko rin yung iPod ko - I use it every time I’m bored or whenever I wanted to make a short story, poem… Feeling artist ba. Haha.
And yep, half-deaf nako.
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A close blogging friend (God, how geeky to hear) introduced me to the wonderful music of Death Cab for Cutie recently. I have only listened to their “Plans” album, but I can definitely say that they’re very awesome. “Soul Meets Body” even became an LSS of mine at one point. Lol.
May 18, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
I’m guilty of using very loud music as white noise to drown out the noise I don’t want to hear.
It’s been a while since I listened to Death Cab for Cutie. I’m gonna check out the album when I have the time.
May 19, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Buti ka pa, you can resist loud music. I succumb kasi to putting my mp3 player to full volume when I really really like the song. But I’m trying to control myself. Alsthough I don’t like loud music in public places like jeeps, establishments.
IMO, sa totoo lang OA yung pagaaral natin kay Rizal. It’s not that I dislike him but he seemed to have overshadowed other important heroes. Kaya nabobore mga estudyante. We can learn too about Diego and Gabriela Silang, Pedro Calungsod, Bayot Brothers, the Roxas-Ayala clan, etc… Pero masyado tayong naging Rizal-centric and it’s boring.
May 19, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
I don’t have an Ipod pero I use my Nokia 3200 for my mp3s (which is mostly japanese pop/rock songs)
I like Rizal, but I agree with you.
May 19, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
Library is my favorite part of the school too~♥
It’s quiet there and relaxing~♥♥
May 19, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
My iPod’s frequency of use and volume varies depending on the situation. There are times when I use it in public and times that I don’t.
Death Cab! I love them! Although I don’t really ‘follow’ what’s going on with their singles and what not. Thanks for sharing that precious piece of info. Hahaha.
May 19, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
my ipod’s volume is always set to 100.. yung kaunaunahang ipod ko, the regular ipod,it needs serious reformatting na, so ipod nano na lang ang gamit ko ngayon..
May 20, 2008 @ 3:34 am
I do the exact same thing you do with my Ipod Video. I put the volume to approximately 25% as well and I don’t go any louder. If it gets too loud to hear it, I turn it off as well. What worries me is that listening to music after hearing all the noises we experience daily can still go over the amount of decibals our ears can take in a day. That’s what makes it so challenging and ughs, maybe I should just stop listening to music and blaring it in my room too. I hope all is well with you and I’m glad you talked about volume and ears. We’ll all be deaf by 30 of we keep up the horror we do to them!
May 20, 2008 @ 11:40 am
ako hindi ko kayang mag-earpiece ng more than 30mins sumasakit tenga ko kaya mas gusto ko ang loudspeaker. kung hihinaan mo volume sa earphone mo tapos nasa public or nasa jeep or bus ka hindi mo ma-eenjoy kasi mas naririnig mo ang ingay sa paligid mo.
May 20, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Lately, I’ve been listening to my iPod, set on its maximum volume, every time I go to bed. Hehe. I can easily fall asleep with that kind of hobby specially that I have insomnia. Hehe.
May 21, 2008 @ 7:42 am
deathcab really rocks!!! uber!
haha.
and re: the studying of the seemingly trivial life of rizal, well, i guess if we take a deeper look at his life, maybe, in one way or another we can pick something from him. =) rizal’s life appears to be boring in classes. maybe it’s because of the way the subject is treated. but way back in college, i realized how cool rizal was, and how inspiring his life was. i owe that o my uber cool history and PI profs. hehe.
i only use my mp3’s earpieces to combat the incessant babbling and noise of the people at the train. ampf
May 21, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
Haha. I always plug in my earphones everytime na on the way ako. Haha. Siguro ngayon, I’ll try not to do that habit anymore. LOL.
OMG. I’ll be taking Rizal next semester. Ayoko talaga siya pag-aralan kasi parang ang nonsense. It doesn’t even help in instilling nationalism.
May 21, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
Haha. Magtatake din ako ng Rizal next sem. Sana kayanin kong di maantok!
May 22, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
I am planning to get an iPod Touch soon, and like you, I only listen to my iPod when there isn’t too much noise. I usually listen to it before I fall asleep at night. It lulls me to my dreams.
May 22, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
It’s gotten pretty weird lately, ever since I replaced my iPod earphones to Senheisser ones, the volume is much louder now–maybe because of the quality? But after awhile my ears hurt and I have to take a break hehe.
May 24, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
It’s weird for me to see people in public places using their iPods especially when they are commuting because wouldn’t it be hard for them to be aware with their surroundings? Especially if they’ve already reached their destination, would they still be aware of that when they are listening to their iPod?
La lang.. I tried going to the mall na nakaiPod once and ang dami kong kilala na hindi ko napansin na nadaanan ko pala kasi I wasn’t aware. I only found out from them when I got back home sabi nila isnabera daw ako. D: Hassle din siya, dunno how people pull it off? OR MAYBE… pa-cool effect lang nila? Wala talaga silang pinakikinggan? This doesn’t go out to just iPod users everywhere pero dun din sa mga iba’t ibang random people I see on the streets, kahit mumurahing mp3 meron sila eh. Hehe.
May Rizal subject ako this term.. and according doon sa professor ng classmate ko, required daw ang Rizal subject in all colleges kasi daw it’s under the law. Lol. We’re obligated to learn about our national hero. Well, that was according to him.
May 24, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
me too! i own a Zune but I only use it at home. I prefer not to use it when I’m walking. I take it out sometimes sa mall, but while I’m waiting so i wont get bored.
thanks for your Death Cab for Cutie suggestion. i’ll try to download and listen to some of their songs later <3
June 7, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
I pre-ordered my copy of “Narrow Stairs” on iTunes, and when the album was officially released, I was so psyched. Their latest album reflects their career as musicians, you can clearly hear that songs such as “Cath…”, “Talking Bird”, “Grapevine Fires”, “Long Division”, and “Pity and Fear” caters to the taste of DCFC Fans of Old, like me, those who loved the band even before their breakout success with “Transatlanticism”. On the other hand songs such as “Bixby Canyon Bridge”, “No Sunlight”, “You Can Do Better Than Me”, “I Will Possess Your Heart”, “Your New Twin Sized Bed”, and “The Ice Is Getting Thinner”, appeals to those who are the post-”Transatlanticism” Fans.
Still the album is very good. And a must buy for an avid DCFC fan (those who have been following them ever since “You Can Play…” and “Something About Airplanes”. You can clearly hear that compared to “Plans” their songs are less polished and more dissonant, which is what made them great in the field of Indie Rock in the first place.
BTW…
For those who don’t know the song Bixby Canyon Bridge” is about Jack Kerouac. Might I suggest that you listen to “Couches in Alley” by Styrofoam feat. Ben Gibbard. In my opinion the latter one was a continuation of the other.
And also, “I Will Possess Your Heart” is what I call a “Stalker’s Song”, listen carefully you’ll get what I mean.
“Grapevine Fires” was about last year’s California Wild Fire….
Please listen to all DCFC albums (all 6 of them and all their E.P. and Singles) to fully appreciate the beauty that is DCFC.
In another note. I always keep the volume of my iPod at 60%, which I recall was the recommended volume level. I only use my iPod during painfully long journey’s (never use it in PUV) and when I’m at the hospital waiting room.