office makeover

I visited my friend Mordsith recently and stayed with them for about 3 days. I couldn't be happier being with her and her family. :-) But this is not about that (as it will take a few days for me to write something about that.) This is about what happened at home while I was away.

My siblings and mom took the liberty of cleaning our office (we are on vacation until the 4th of January) and they rearranged everything. They asked me to go straight to the office as soon as I got home so I can see what they did. And I was impressed. It became more homey, more relaxing, and more space efficient. We don't have luxurious stuff at the office like brewing equipment but we have the basic necessities for the office. I love what they did and I am actually considering buying a small LED TV so we can watch news or telenovelas during breaktime. :-)

I'll post some pics some other time.

last minute shopping

My sister asked me to drive her to the mall early this morning as she does her last shopping for 2012. She's not there to shop peavey guitars or any personal stuff or accessories. She's in charge of the media noche for tonight. We'll be having a simple dinner lang naman. Pasta, some fruits, sandwiches, and of course, alcoholic drinks. For tonight, it'll be mojito from Tanduay. Hehehe. How about you? How's your media nocje preparation so far?

gift ideas?

Time is like a flowing river, no water passes beneath your feet twice, much like the river, moments never pass you by again, so cherish every moment that life gives you and have a wonderful New Year.

I was thinking of just printing the above and purchasing a twist tie to wrap it like a gift so I can give this to people who matter to me. But I guess I can also just post it here, text them, or e-mail them. It will probably give the same impact anyway.

Anyway, it's still a few days away from new year, so, we'll see. :-)

christmas gifts!

I'm sure by now you already have given your gifts to your family and friends. I still have some with me because I really planned to visit these people after Christmas and before New Year. I have some toys, some beauty regimen stuff, and some accessories for my family and friends. My problem is I still don't have a gift for Mocha, our lovely dog. :-)

My sister suggests that I buy her a bed (something similar to a cat bed) so she can sleep well at night. I'll check the pet store if they have something close to that and perhaps, buy one if I can afford it. 

Here's hoping you are not stressed up looking for gifts! :-)

happy holidays!!!

pahabol: sana naging masaya ang pasko nating lahat at maging mas lalong masaya ang darating na bagong taon.

marry christmas and a happy, happy new year everyone!!!

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on a not-so-serious note, let me just mention that i might be posting a series of "very, very serious posts." dala lang ng pangangailangan. :-D

don't worry, guys, i won't be asking you to do bs stuff like asking you to click printingamerica.com, or sharing a certain meme. :-)

more on gifts

My brother has a special request for his gift and I am not sure exactly how to find one. He wants something music-related. He plays a few instruments and I don't think buying a new and different instrument is what he wants. So, I was thinking of an accessory for the instruments that he already has. I am thinking of an affordable moog slim phatty from guitar centers in the area. It's pricey, but I think I'll try to save for one, after all, he says it's a special request. :-)

It's almost Christmas!

political drama is more exciting than a soap opera

i wonder why tv producers are not making political drama series when clearly, people are more glued to their tv sets when there ongoing debates being aired on tv. take the case of the rh debate which ended (of course there is still the bicam) yesterday. i for one have been in front of the tv the whole afternoon watching how senators debate each other. it's full of s%&+ and more bs. i sometimes imagine if people would willingly give up their taxes knowing more than half of those who "manage" the purse are either selfish and greedy bs or just plain [expletive].

hay naku. if only they can just outsource governance to the private sector.

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note: if you tried keying in System Mechanic slow computer fix in your Google search and got here for some reason, you probably need to check other sites.

4 days before 12/21

have you ever wondered what you will be doing right now if it is really almost the end of the world already? i mean, with four more days to go before the second big bang, what is actually left for us to do. right? imagine how many trillions of dollars were sacrificed just to fund sustainability projects... green efforts... etc. we could have spent those trillions for what we need now. we could perhaps prepared 7 billion Arai Helmets to prepare for the big bang, right? 

kidding aside, maybe, had we seriously considered the possibility that the world is about to end so soon, well, we probably would be looking at things very differently. "filipino time" would have a new definition. wala na sigurong nang-ii-indian. time would be so precious that i would be a crime to go to work a minute late.

may new year pa naman siguro...

genius has its limits

so, here i am again, thinking of buying some membership at some 'lifestyle center' and hoping i would be able to maximize using it. argh! a few years back, i bought a 6-month gym membership and i told myself i am not going to waste my money on this. failed.

after that, another instance of joining a gym club failed after 2 months. (di na natuto no?)

and justa while ago, my brother renewed the challenge they gave me about being fit. and i think there is the stupid part of me that i really cannot let go no matter what happens. that is... hoping i could do it this time. hay naku. so, believe it or not, i am tempted to try running and working out in a gym next year. (in fact, by me a Mat Tape and i might even consider wrestling for fitness!).

ewan ko ba.

the simbang gabi

i have always wanted to particpate in the simbang gabi and hopefully score a perfect attendance. but for some years now, the only thing i have made perfect is not attending the mass at all. it's not really seeing the worship chairs inside, or the bibingka after the mass that i miss... it's more of being part of a tradition. call me old school but sometimes, i really  feel like being part of a tradition, whether you strictly believe in the tradition or not, is what makes us... human. 

oh well. minsan lang naman yung ganung drama. :-)

a day in the life of mr. go-to guy

a former colleague of mine is asking my help to look for a diamond ring engagement which he plans to give to his girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancee, hopefully. a quick search on the net will tell you that diamond rings are not really that affordable -- i saw a site with prices ranging from 200K to 5M pesos (converted already from USD). i think locally, it will still be costly.

i am trying to convince him he should not spend much on the engagement ring... after all, they'll have a wedding ring eventually. i told him to look for a simple ring and just make his proposal something her girlfriend will never, ever forget... not even in a thousand years.

he agreed. but now, i have to help him how to make that proposal memorable. well, memorable, but simple. any thoughts? :-)

surprise me with a gift?

a few weeks back, i was at coffee bean & tea leaf. i saw this guy editing a video or an MTV and i can't help but notice how awesome his gadgets are. he's sporting a macbook pro, an ipad on the side, a really beautiful headset, and a device that he is using to mix audio files (and video i think). i really have no idea what it is. i did a quick search online and i think it is the best numark idj3 device. it looks like this:

so, guys, if you are planning to surprise me with a christmas gift, this is a good candidate. ;-)

smoking kills... and can make you poorer

so, last night, i and some friends went to one of our favorite inuman to celebrate mordsith's birthday. you'll notice a lot of people finding a way to get to smoke cigar despite the smoking ban in the area. they'll go outside the establishment and puff their smoke.

with the sin tax law coming into implementation, you would think that people might actually think twice before they buy cigarette. i'm not particularly against it -- i am an occasional smoker myself. the government has to do what it has to do. i think prices will increase by more than 50%. (imagine how much it would cost a Rocky Patel Decade cigar which costs 223 USD per box of 20. whoa!) 

oh well... people will find a way to pay for their vices -- either increase their economic productivity or something else. 

thank you for playing, humankind

the say 12/21/12 is going to be the end of the world. whether it is true or not, whether you believe it or not, is not really what this post is all about. for now, i realy don't care if i only have ~ 6 days to live. let's worry one day at a time. :-D

maligayang kaarawan sa pinaka-best ko na kaibigan, mordsith!

happy!

breakfast meals at jollibee are the best!

n-seven

tomorrow is my brother's birthday. it took me a while to decide what to give him. you see, there are special circumstances why i want to give him something special. one, he really doesn't want to buy things for himself. while he is a techie (and a software engineer at that), he doesn't really spend on gadgets. he has a Nokia 8 (which we got from a contest a couple of years back) and an android phone (which i got from my postpaid plan). he also has a PSP, which i and my sister bought for him a couple of years ago. (he does own a laser barcode scanner -- really -- but he just got it from his office. and i don't know why he even wanted one.)

two, he really is of big help to me. whenever i need anything (be it financial or anything at all), he will definitely offer a helping hand. always.

so, my gift to him? something like this. :-)

busy day

today is such a busy* day for me... for most of us at the office.  and no, this is not a rant post. i am actually happy.

i was supposed to meet a friend of mine today in manila but i had to cancel due to our workload. well, good thing is she sees this as a blessings in disguise for me. i mean, busy = work, right? oh well.

i really don't have much to say except that i prayed for more work... and it's here. and i'm happy. :-)

*so busy that if you buy a ph meter and measure us, you'd probably see how acidic our aura is. (huh?)

almost christmas

have you drafted your wishlists already? i made a list a few months ago but it needs updating. (and by the way, the first christmas gift i received this year is from TPS. thanks, TPS!)

an LED TV (along with all accessories like flat screen mounts, speakers) is definitely included in my wishlist, a tablet, perhaps, and definitely a new pair of running shoes! hehehe.

anyway, my wishlist is coming, and please feel free send me giftseven if they are not in my wishlist.

and I'm back!

Whew! It's been quite some time since I last made a post on this blog. Almost two months... It was like I was not home for weeks and I was not able to maintain my house... whatever is left of it to maintain. :-)

Anyway, the reality is actually not far from what happened in my blog. It's been a while since I last clean our condo unit and I'm beginning to get uncomfortable with always losing my things in the pile of 'garbage' in the room. So, tomorrow, before the long weekend kicks in, I will be cleaning the place all day. Hehehe. Will probably be throwing a way a lot of things. I'll be needing a lot of boxes and perhaps box cutters from MartorUSA.com (who cares where it would come from!). This should be fun.

Wanna help?

Halloween na!

In the spirit of the almost-here holiday, this post will be about -- Halloween! Ever wonder where "Halloween" came from? Got this online:

The word Halloween was first used in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows'-Even ('evening'), that is, the night before All Hallows' Day. In other countries, during the ancient times, this is also known as the festival of the dead, which starts as early as the 29th of October,and ends on the 3rd of November. Hallow's Eve could also mean the Eve of Halloween and Halloween is the Eve of All Saints' Day. Although the phrase All Hallows' is found in Old English (ealra hālgena mæssedæg, mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even is itself not seen until 1556.

It will probably be party-everywhere tomorrow. And I'm sure a lot of you will be attending not just one party a night starting, perhaps tomorrow. So, enjoy Halloween guys!

(And the long weekend!)

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In case you are going to design your own costume, and looking for custom t shirts no minimum order requirement, then you can visit no minimum tees.

the hubris of the defeated

You should not have won. I had the first move. My play was perfect...
The game is flawed! - John Nash, A Beautiful Mind (2001)

on survival

some words of wisdom from great philosophers of our time:

throw your sticks and stones, throw your bombs and your blows, but you're not gonna break my soul (perry, 2012)... what doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger (clarkson, 2011).

have a happy weekend, everyone!

STOP CYBER BULLYING!

Here is a portion of an article from Rappler.com:

“Ako na yata ang kauna-unahang senador ng Pilipinas na naging biktima ng cyber-bullying,” lamented Sotto. (I am probably the first Philippine senator to be a victim of cyber-bullying.)

Sotto added, “Ang iba pa’y may sinusulat na gusto daw ako kasuhan. Nais kong ipaalam sa kanila: walang krimen na plagiarism sa Pilipinas.” (Others write that they want to sue me. I want to inform them: there is no such crime as plagiarism in the Philippines.)

And I am with Batman on this:

Kill me now, please

They say there should always be attribution. If we do that, all those singing Magkaisa, Balatkayo and songs of VST & Co.,, when they don't say they are the composer, we can charge them with plagiarism if we follow what critics say. - Sen. Vicente Sotto III, http://www.rappler.com/nation/11405-sotto-blasts-critics,-backs-blogging-bill

Sotto's defense so far:

1. Originally: NO, I DID NOT COPY ANYTHING FROM ANYONE.

And of course we all know they REALLY COPIED the blog without any attribution and even denied that they did that. When they can't deny anymore that they copied the blog, he says:

1. His staff tried to click the link but it failed to download.
2. They cannot access the original so they think "copying" the blog which quoted the book they were trying to access is ok.
3. Plagiarism is not a crime here in the Philippines, so, there's nothing really wrong with what he did.

Kill me now, please. Wait -- I think it's a crime to kill me even if I beg for it. If it's not a law here in the Philippines, maybe it's OK to kill me. I'll sign a waiver. 

Or wake me up when 2013 election is over.

Think out of the box (with rounded corners)

We all know this is not just between Apple and Samsung. Google is a very, very important player in this war.  That being said, I'm sure you know where I stand. Hehehe. Let me share a portion from a ZDNET article:

You may have noticed that all smartphones and tablets tend to look like each other. There's a reason for that. They all do the same things, they're all meant to fit in a human hand, and the phones are meant to place the receiver at your ear and the transmitter at your mouth. None of Apple's design patents should have been granted in the first place. - Source

Ang masasabi ko lang: Always think out of the box! Is the box patented? Tear. It. Up. Put some cedar garland. Make it original! :-)

Moses has a tablet, this priest has an iPad

Fr. Efren Balistoy, chaplain of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and Fr. Antonio Gerente, chaplain of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, notably used iPad instead of the usual Bible during the mass offered for the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Wednesday, according to a report of Radyo Inquirer 990AM. But Balistoy, who owned the iPad, immediately defended the use of technology during the Mass, saying he only uses it in emergency cases. - Source

 Now, some people say this is very wrong because it somehow undermines the sanctity of the mass. What do I say? I think this is VERY UNACCEPTABLE!

The priest should have used a Nexus 7 or Samsung Galaxy Tab!

How to avoid plagiarism the Villacorta way

Alam ninyo...

"Plagiarism is rampant in the Senate, but some staff members of senators consider it an acceptable practice.

Passages from various authors are included in the speeches of senators and entire legislative bills are being copied and passed off as their own.

The chief of staff of Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto on Wednesday said it was a common practice among Senate staff members to scout for bills that a previous Congress had failed to enact into law and repackage them as their bosses’ pet measures.

For instance, the reproductive health (RH) bill that Sen. Miriam Santiago filed in 1997 has undergone so many incarnations before its current packaging as the committee report that she and Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the committee on women and family relations, now endorse.

Why reinvent the wheel?

“Copying is a common practice. Why do you need to think of a brand-new measure when a good one that was not enacted already exists?” said Hector Villacorta, Sotto’s chief of staff.

At a breakfast forum, Villacorta said former senators would sometimes approach incumbent ones and ask them to refile the measures that failed to reach approval during the former senators’ term.

“They request new senators to refile [the bills] because (these are) already in the archives. Why reinvent the wheel? Re-filing is an accepted practice. It is called copying,” he said.

Word for word

There are also instances when a senator’s staff goes through bills not enacted by a previous Congress and copy these word for word.

“It’s really copying …. Why exert effort when these bills are just lying around?” Villacorta said.

He explained that this was an acceptable practice because “a bill not acted upon dies with an old Congress. So when the new Congress takes over, the staff of the new senators will find out that can still be revived.”

Two senators are being assailed on social networking sites for their alleged failure to attribute information from sources on the Internet contained in their speeches.

Sotto was chastised for not acknowledging a US blogger whose work his researcher cited in a speech against the RH bill last week.

Cayetano was similarly ridiculed for allegedly not mentioning two institutions in separate speeches on maternal health and the environment.

Rationalization

Even Villacorta himself was whipped on the Web for saying that Philippine laws do not have provisions that penalize anyone who freely lifts information from the Internet.

Still, Villacorta said it was easier to rationalize the filing of unoriginal bills than delivering unoriginal speeches because even the Constitution was “plagiarized” from the US charter.

“We plagiarized the US Constitution. All the amendments became our Bill of Rights. But do they call us a plagiaristic country? No, because the law is based on precedent,” Sotto’s chief of staff said.

“Even our Insurance Code is a plagiarized document. The proposed freedom of information bill is plagiarized. What’s more, the Senate and House (of Representatives) versions of the RH bill are very similar. So who is plagiarizing who?” he added.

Villacorta reminded everyone that “the Bible reached us today because the monks copied from the Greeks. Everything really started from a little copying.”

All plagiarists

“Even our image was copied from God. We are all plagiarists,” he said.

Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda was in the Senate Wednesday and acknowledged that the copying of bills from a previous Congress was indeed considered acceptable among his peers during his term.

In the case of speeches, “when we lifted a passage or quotation, we gave the corresponding attribution to the source,” he said.

However, Maceda would not hold Sotto and Cayetano personally accountable for passages in their speeches that might have failed to attribute the right sources.

“I can believe the two senators if they say their speeches were prepared by their staff. It was an omission…. I think to me it’s not a big thing. It’s forgivable if it does not really affect the overall content of the speech…. Almost all senators depend on staff work,” he explained.

Magnanimous

Santiago was also magnanimous when asked about the issue.

“Maybe the speech writer just overlooked it…. This is politics so I guess we should give more leeway to the senators as long as later on they admit that they took it from some other source and they acknowledge that source,” she said.

“This is not academe where it is grave, in effect a mortal sin not to attribute something to its source or author,” Santiago added.

Still, Maceda said it would be good if the senators would “express an apology to authors asking it.”

Not on Villacorta’s watch in the case of Sotto. “Senator Sotto was not personally responsible for preparing the speech. He only read it on the floor. Besides, I already apologized to (US blogger) Sarah Pope,” he said.

Too awkward

Villacorta said Sotto’s researchers initially tried searching for the website of US author Natasha Campbell-McBride but could not open it.

The researchers resorted instead to Sarah Pope’s blog, believing her quotes of Campbell-McBride’s work was verbatim.

“We cannot draw up a speech that says ‘according to this blogger who quoted this author.’ It’s simply too awkward. Besides, what would the Senate President say,” Villacorta said.

“A whole gamut of ‘according to’ would also not make the speech credible. This is the Senate we are talking about,” he added."

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I have a feeling Villacorta will try to get away from this act of, well, plagiarism, by saying he enclosed the whole article with double quotation marks.

My resume

I had an interesting conversation with Mordsith re some TV series we both watched previously. Maybe we could use these "experiences" in our resume. For starters, my resume would include a section that would look like this:

E[k]stranghero
e-mail: ekstranghero@gmail.com
website: ekstranghero.com

Work and Experiences

• 8 seasons of counter-terrorist activities immersion
• 6 seasons of basic espionage
• 8 seasons of medical internship
• 2 seasons of law internship
• 1 season of news broadcasting (ongoing)

References

1. Special Agent Jack Bauer, Former Director - CTU Los Angeles
2. Michael Westen, CIA Operative, Miami, FL
3. Dr. Gregory House, Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital
4. Harvey Specter, Senior Partner, Pearson-Hardman
5. Will McAvoy, Anchor and Managing Editor, News Night (Atlantis Cable News)

Not bad, huh? :-)

Nexus 7 versus [New] iPad

If you are still not sure what tablet is for you, I suggest you watch this short video. :-) Don't be tempted with Nexus 7's very, very cheap price tag (Nexus 7 = 199 USD vs. iPad = 499 USD) or its ultra-fast processor (a 1.2 Ghz quad core versus iPad's 1.0 dual core).

Really, watch this video. Hehehe.

Unfair? Something else

“In my view, what happened was not fair,” Mr. Aquino said. “Their rules say that those with disbarment cases will not be considered. There are those facing cases, but were suddenly cleared. There are others who don’t have any case, but were suddenly disqualified. [X: Emphasis mine.] How can that be fair?”

- Aquino says JBC ‘unfair,’ will still pick Chief Justice from list, Inquirer

Is it just me or it's really very unfortunate that our president's logic is, at the very best, quite elementary? Because... I don't know, maybe... just maybe... THEY WERE DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION??? I'm just guessing here.

PS: In real life, some texts are typed really small so you won't bother reading them. :-D That rule in life also works in this blog. hehehe.

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Hay naku. All fire hose fittings are made accurately so that they will not fail in their function. Buti pa sila. E ang presidente natin?! 

Why I love Dropbox

If you are someone who uses a lot of devices for work or for personal stuff (say, a smart phone, a laptop, PC, tablet) and you want all your devices to be always in synced with all your working data, then, you should use Dropbox.

If you have a Dropbox account, you won't have to worry about copying files and saving them to other devices so you can have the same version in all these gadgets. Say, I am working on a file named "sample.doc", and this file is saved in a folder which is inside the Dropbox folder. The moment I press CTRL+S to save the sample.doc, Dropbox will automatically synchronize this file to all your devices where Dropbox is installed. Of course the precondition is that your devices are online.

You also get to have an online backup. :-) So, even if all 5 devices for example were stolen from you (wag naman sana...), all your files are still safely secured in the cloud. Meaning, get a new device, install Dropbox, login to your account, and your new device will have the same set of files as your previous devices.

Panalo di ba? :-) Click the image below if you want to install Dropbox. :-)

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Some people advertise promotional backpacks even if they have no idea what they are, I advertise what I really like... Like this one. :-)

Money can't buy happiness. (And then there was Nexus 7.)

I have been waiting for quite some time for Google's Nexus 7 to become available here in the Philippines. I don't want to buy tablet netbooks, so, I'd settle for this tablet for now. I am not a good writer/reviewer, so, I'll let the experts do this for you. This is a snippet from an Engadget review, one of the best sources of gadget reviews I know.

The Nexus 7 is an amazing package for something that costs a penny less than $200. It feels like something that could sell for much more. It has a great screen, solid performance and a clean, clear, uncluttered version of Google's latest operating system, Jelly Bean. 

...[W]hile we tend to prefer larger tablets that better differentiate themselves from phones, if you've been toying with the idea of getting a real Android slate but didn't want to spend big bucks for a big device, this is what you've been waiting for. This is the best Android tablet for less than $200 and the best budget 7-inch tablet on the market. For the moment. The race to the bottom in the tablet space is, after all, just getting started and, if the Nexus 7 is any indication of what's to come, we're in for a very good ride.

Oh, did I mention this gadget was developed by Google? :-P

Here she is. 

[kantahan blues] hawak-kamay

let's do a regular segment in this blog. kantahan blues thursdays!

[or fridays, saturdays, and sundays!]

minsan madarama mo kay bigat ng problema
minsan mahihirapan ka at masasabing "di ko makakaya"

tumingin ka lang sa langit
baka sakaling may masumpungan
o di kaya ako'y tawagin
malalaman mong kahit kailan

hawak-kamay
di kita iiwan sa paglakbay
dito sa mundong walang katiyakan

hawak-kamay
di kita bibitawan sa paglalakbay
sa mundo ng kawalan

minsan madarama mo
ang mundo'y gumuho sa ilalim ng iyong mga paa
at ang agos ng problema'y tinatangay ka
tumingin ka lang sa langit
baka sakaling may masumpungan
o di kaya ako'y tawagin
malalaman mong kahit kailan

wag mong sabihin nag-iisa ka
laging isipin meron kang kasama
narito ako oh, narito ako…

sa mundo ng kawalan
hawak-kamay, hawak-kamay
sa mundo ng kawalan…

actually, i thought of sponsoring a regular contest but i don't think i can afford good prizes, hehehe. but if the participants (to my would-be contest) are ok with, say, rayban rb3293, then, we can have a contest! :-)

Ethics in politics

Politics with no ethics is – at the very least – dirty.

Some politicians will go down to the annals of history in a way that their descendants wouldn't want to have an association with. When there are floods and other calamitous events, some public officials (either local or national) would provide canned/relief goods with packaging bearing their faces and names.

Click image to see a related story,

When there are no calamities, these politicians would distribute school bags and/or kubaton key chains, again, with their faces and names on it. These were procured by using public funds. That is pure politicking and on a very dirty level at that. I. Just. Hate. It. We should hate it.

I have never been so excited for the upcoming 2013 elections. And this time, I will participate. I will vote and campaign not for a politician... but for a public servant.

somewhere over the rainbow

i woke up this morning and the very first thing that i did was check outside if the water level is not alarming... well, it is not as alarming as a feared it to be, but i hope it would become better. :-) if there's anything at all that we are happy about from where we are, it stopped raining since yesterday. this would hopefully result to the floodwater eventually subsiding.

what else can we do while the situation is not that favorable to you?

get your MF ukelele, and sing with Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole.

Sanity check*

To maintain a healthy level of sanity ( :-) ), do these:

1. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask "DO YOU WANT SOME FRIES TO GO WITH THAT?**"
2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "FOR MARIJUANA."
3. Order a DIET WATER whenever you go out to eat... with a serious face.
4. Specify that your drive-through order is "TO GO."
5. FIVE DAYS IN ADVANCE, tell your friends you can't attend their party BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HEADACHE.
6. When the money comes out of the ATM, scream " I WON! I WON!"

And the final way to keep a healthy level of sanity:

Pick up a box of condoms at the pharmacy, go to the counter and ask "WHERE IS THE FITTING ROOM?"

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* With everything that is happening these past few days, I think we need a dose of lighter posts/jokes once in a while. :-)
** Or, you want me to tell you where to find pandora charms?

9/9

I went to Ministop just a while ago and I saw most of the cabinets/stalls empty of grocery items -- no tasty bread, no noodles, a few canned foods. I saw this already a couple of years back -- during the time of Ondoy. And that time, no simple stanchions can stop the people from panic-buying.

Some say this is almost an Ondoy, some say this is even worse. My mother says this is what we call siyam-siyam.

Siyam-siyam or (literally nine-nine) is a term used for the annual prolonged rains brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat weather system in the western parts of the Philippines during the months of May to September. The siyam-siyam is said to have arrived when everything in the environment looks gray and misty, and the rain pours intermittently several times a day.

I hope everyone is safe.

Haring Araw, show your might...

Jump

If you want something in your life you've never had,

you'll have to do something you've never done.

Have a great week ahead, everyone! Happy Monday! :-)

Abangan: My Rio 2016 project

I know things are happening in London at the moment, but you see, I am thinking four years ahead at the moment -- and I hope you won't mind me doing that... Hehehe. So, watch out for my project soon.

http://RIO2016.ph

Going back to move forward

I have just completed a very interesting workshop where the instructors can transform kids bean bags to royal thrones. Hehehe. Kidding aside, it's actually a video production workshop. Four instructors -- all of them critically acclaimed directors and cinematographers -- shared their experiences in their respective fields. It was a very, very productive workshop.

And this workshop actually made me decide to go back to some things I decided to leave a long time ago... but in a good way. (The going back -- not leaving them a long time ago -- is the good way.)

I made my FB account public, well, accessible to others once again. I left FB before due to productivity reasons but now, I am going back because I need it as a tool for my new hobby-slash-professional-project. Let's put it this way -- marami akong naipong bote sa bahay at ibebenta ko na sila at mas mabilis mabenta yun online kesa mag-rent pa ako ng kariton. Something like that.

I might be going back to Windows again, unless I can buy another laptop. I had the chance to use Adobe Premier Pro yesterday, and man! The software is so awesome! Thing is, it can only be installed in Windows or Mac OS -- I am using Linux. I am thinking of a compromise -- a dual boot laptop -- but I am not sure if that would be a good thing to do. I'll see what I can do later.

Anyway, I am so excited to work on some new personal projects in the future. The next in line is my RIO 2016 project. I will let you know when it's ready.

Happy weekend everyone!

And... whoala! The rain is gone

I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence but have you noticed how the rain would suddenly stop once the LGU or DepEd suspends the classes? Can you see a solution how we can dictate the natural course of events in this case? Hehehe. But seriously, it really is happening in the past few days. There would be a heavy rain... classes will be suspended... and as if it is a cue for the rain, it will suddenly or sometimes gradually stop raining. Hehehe.

Oh well, I'm just so glad the rain stopped already.

Have a great week ahead, everyone!

On happiness

Sharing a short story from somewhere:

When I was 5 years old, my mom always told that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I want to be when I grew up. I wrote down "happy." They told me I didn't understand the assignment... I told them they didn't understand life.

One of these days, I'm going to wake up and say:

"I don't want anything more." 

- Bill Parish in Meet Joe Black

Happy weekend everyone!

Tag-ulan

My mom just called and told me it's raining hard in the province. It's also raining here as of this writing. A friend of mine somewhere north of Manila also told me it's been raining there all day. Tag-ulan na yata talaga. :-) I only wish the heavy rains won't continue for so long. I still am afraid of the possible consequences prolonged heavy rains....

Stay safe everyone.

PS: If you are looking for possible gifts for nana or anyone in the family, a poncho or a simple umbrella would definitely be a good choice.

On being a student once again

Here's a shameless plug for the institution where I learned a lot of stuff since last year, the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (or PCCI). I and some of my colleagues at work attended two sessions last year and we were not disappointed. I'm taking Corporate Video Production for the next three days starting this Monday.


If you guys are wondering if they have classes on fleet management or similar stuff, the answer is no. Hehehe. The center offers classes on Photography, Digital Imaging & Painting, Illustration & Desktop Publishing, Web & Interaction Design, Digital Video Production, 3D Animation, and Mac Basics. I intend to attend another course by October.


Visit their site. They offer a wide variety of trainings and seminars. You might just find an interesting one for you.

Rain, rain, go away

I took my CPU with me here in Manila because I need to work on some editing gigs which my laptop cannot process. Halfway from our home to the waiting shed, the rain came. Holy effin S. I cannot afford to lose the data in my CPU -- and there's no immediate shelter from where I am. And luckily, a tricycle passed by and offered a ride. The driver took out some fly sheets of sort and used it to cover the passenger side so I won't get wet by the heavy rain.

It worked.

I am just so happy then. But now, I am worried because my mom and sis are alone in our house. I just feel bad that I am not with them at the moment. I really hope the rain would stop now.

On happiness

One of these days, I'm going to wake up and say:

"I don't want anything more."
(Bill Parish in Meet Joe Black)

Happy weekend everyone!

A piece of heaven

A while ago, I was looking for some stunning birthstone gifts for December birthdays -- I mean, it's almost August. And before you know it, it will be September already, then, December. Might as well start now. Unfortunately. I wasn't able to find any as of now.

But luckily, this search brought me to Mang Inasal! And you know what I found there? Heaven... or at least a piece of it

Puto & dinuguan at P49... If this is not heaven, I don't know what is.

You don't believe me? Try it for yourself. :-)

Manual typewriter or laptop?

I choose both.

I found this very entertaining application in Chrome Store. It's an application that imitates the sound of a manual typewriter and it syncs to your keyboard strokes. It's really entertaining. If you have an audiocard and it is activated, visit this site and you'll see what I mean. :-)

https://writer.bighugelabs.com/

This application is not like the famous Siri (who can even perhaps act as a medical answering service!), but the sound of a manual typewriter makes me smile. :-) Imagine, you are using a laptop and you are hearing the sound of a typewriter? Hehehe.

The Newsroom

Now that House is over, I think I need to find another fix. And I think I found it. :-)

The Newsroom is an American drama television series created and primarily written by Aaron Sorkin that premiered on HBO on June 24, 2012. The series chronicles the behind-the-scenes events [how the cable covers news, etc.] at the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN) channel. It features an ensemble cast including Jeff Daniels as anchor Will McAvoy, who, together with his staff set out to put on a news show "in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements.

- Source

 At 5 episodes as of Season 1, I am already sure I am going to wait for Season 2 (yes, HBO ordered another season) and probably buy original DVDs. I like this series so much that I even downloaded the movie they were discussing in one of the episodes!

Patiently waiting for episode 6... :-)

___

And oh, not that it's a big deal, Olivia Munn plays a commentator with a Ph.D. in economics. Oh my...

Q&A

I have been planning – for a couple of weeks already – to buy another phone because the phone that I have is giving me a hard time typing q and a, and activating the uppercase symbol and the spacebar. Now. I am not really bothered by the q problem... it's the a and the spacebar, man. So, there is this phone, the Lenovo P700. Try to google it guys and you might want to buy one, too. First, it comes with the latest version of Android OS, the Ice Cream Sandwich. Then, you have an awesome battery that, according to most reviews I've read so far, can last up to 3 days of moderate use. Then, up to August 15, you get to have a free powerpack that can probably give you an extra day (yes, day) of moderate use again. And the best of all, it comes with dual SIM functionality.

I almost gave in to the urge. :-)

It's about 11K... and I think this is actually cheap considering the specs. But 11K does not come cheap in itself. Hehehe. I asked myself – do I really need one? Do I have any alternative? (It's like buying a headamp 6 pro license when I only need a free version.) There has got to be a way – and I will get back to you on that.

Coffee break muna.

Good morning, yesterday

Good morning yesterday

You wake up and time has slipped away

And suddenly it's hard to find,

the memories you left behind

Remember, do you remember?

OK, I think I got the title wrong, but hey, you know I was referring to this song, right? I overhear a girl singing some Beatles song. And this is the one that I've been humming for a few minutes already.

Well, hello my yesterday. :-)

Tropical Depression Ferdie

Dela Rosa St.

Grabe si Ferdie. Tsk tsk tsk.

Honesty is the best policy

So, I woke up a little bit late today. I went to my favorite sizzling-an for my breakfast. I just love this restaurant because on top of the wide selection of food they have there, this is just across my place and the people there are very polite. And honest. Oh yeah, I know they are honest.

Here's an excerpt of an honest conversation I overheard from that restaurant just a while ago:

Customer: "Masarap ba ang soup ninyo?"
Waiter/Cook: "Naku, mainit na mainit po, Ma'am."

This is why I love eating there. Hehehe. Good morning, Philippines!

Mr. Go-To Guy strikes back!

As I have said in a previous post, I am the go-to guy of some of my friends. And just this morning, a friend texted me, asking if I can help her on something. She was asking if I know of anyone in Ortigas who might be willing to share a house with them. She resigned from her previous job in Makati and is now working in Ortigas.

She was able to find a house for lease but it was too big for her (but she really like the place daw). So, she's thinking now of sub-leasing out the other vacant room -- she's taking the master's bedroom.

Anyway, I'll probably post some more details about this later once I have talked to her on Friday. But for now, let me just announce that she's looking for bed spacers. The place is in Ortigas... somewhere there.

Details later. :-)

Eks, the go-to guy

I have this reputation that I can provide anything that my friends would ask me (I just made that up – the "having this reputation" part). Or at the very least, I can point them to the right direction. I am not trying to say I am "The Renaissance Man" of the new millennium or something. Hehehe. I am just saying, I can be your go-to guy.

Anyway, this friend of mine is getting married in December and she asked me if I can help her think of a good design for wedding ring. I wanted to tell her that it should be something that she and her fiancé should be talking about, but apparently, her fiancé also suggested the idea that I help them. Hehehe. Well, luckily, we were able to come up with an idea that they both love. They are now looking for jewelry-something would be able to make the actual ring.

As if they are actually rewarding me for that accomplishment, they now put me in charge of the wine and spirits department on the wedding day itself. Anyone here who can give me a wine making kit or liquor guide or something?

When it rains, it pours

I have been blessed lately with some gigs from stuff I really love doing. There is this video editing gig which actually allowed us to visit the beautiful island of Biri in Northern Samar. There is this web design and development project which allowed me to meet some people who eventually referred me to some people who eventually became clients of mine (in yet another field). There is this editing gig that I got where I was exposed to new knowledge in science... And there are a couple more gigs which I am really happy to take on.

No, they are not really paying that much, but the thing is, I don't feel like I am actually working at all because given the time, I am even willing to pay for anyone who would trust me to do these projects. They are fun!

I really hope and pray that the blessings from above won't stop from coming this way. :-)

***

My brother and I are thinking of making custom t-shirts where we can print our own designs and favorite quotes. It would be fun, we think. And who knows, maybe some of you might be interested to hire our services to make similar products in the futures?

A dark night indeed

According to news reports, the suspect is even wearing a gas mask, bulletproof vest, and some other accessories that we usually see in movies (supra shoes not included). He is the villain, of course. See below for a more detailed news.

DENVER, Colorado—A masked gunman killed 12 people and wounded 40 others when he opened fire on moviegoers at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in this city in the early hours of Friday, police said.

The violent and chaotic scene erupted about 12:30 a.m. local time (about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Manila time) as a man in a gas mask stood at the front of one of the Century 16 theaters at the Aurora mall and set off a smoke or tear gas bomb before opening fire at moviegoers.

Federal law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 24-year-old local resident James Holmes.

More...

Isolation

Almost 4 days of (almost total) isolation

When you have to cut bamboos and trees so you can have your own shelter... when you have to piece together your raincoats so you can have a decent roof... when you have to look for vines you can use to make ropes... when you have to hunt and make traps for your daily sustenance... when you have to hike hundreds of meters of breath-taking (literally!) tracks to get clean water... when you have to hope it won't rain so you can sleep tight on your make-shift tent but also wish it will rain a "bit" so you won't have to fight a gazillion of mosquitoes while you sleep...

You don't have teak outdoor furniture/s, it's not dangerous, but it's challenging. Ahh... This is a great exercise of getting out of your comfort zone once in a while.

Good thing my cellphone did not bail out on me. :-)

Big n Tasty!

So, have you tried this yet?

Well, you should.

WBO says Pacquiao won over Bradley

World boxing icon Manny Pacquiao won over Timothy Bradley in their fight for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown, said a five-man panel of the WBO.
Upon its review, the WBO panel re-scored the controversial Timothy Bradley split-decision win over Pacquiao and had it 118-110, 117-111, 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 for the Filipino ring icon.
The fight's official result, however, still stands, according to WBO president Francisco Valcarcel.
"We can't change the result but we did this review for two reasons," Valcarcel told ESPN.com.
"If they want to make a rematch, we will approve the rematch and if they don't we will order one. Also, we wanted to show (the Nevada State Athletic Commission) that they could bring in other officials from outside of Nevada who can also do a fine job judging fights. It's good to have different officials."

News from Inquirer -- http://sports.inquirer.net/49523/wbo-says-pacquiao-won-over-bradley-report

Just sharing, guys. :-)

Flyover

Is it just me or this picture is just great? :-)

Osmena-Buendia: taken from our 19th floor unit.

The one who got away

Today, I was able to witness a very well-rounded conversation that I never think is really possible at all. Well, not really, but I  never really imagined I'd be able to listen to this kind of conversation. This is between two guys -- one who's in his 30s and another who's in his late 60s, I think. They were sitting near the table I am occupying and both were wearing beaded bracelets.

My fascination is on how they were able to converse in such depth considering the different topics they're talking about. Here's how it went (the topics).

They started talking about the gay culture (and I think this is because there are two gay couples in another table). One was arguing it was a decision (being a gay, that is), the other a genetic probability. I was amazed at how they argued their case. At this point, I thought the younger man is a sociologist, and the older one, a biologist or geneticist. Somewhere in their conversation, the Ancient Greeks were mentioned.

Then, they shifted to domestic violence. It was so smooth (the shift in conversation) that I actually forgot how they arrived there! Amazing.

A few minutes after, the older guy noticed me tweaking something in the web layout I am working on. I know he noticed that, because he started another topic -- web design. I was, at first, thinking of butting in. They started with JavaScript and SQL, about basic HTML and CSS... I told myself, this is my turf. But when the younger guy started talking about HTML5 versus flash, IPv4 and IPv6, firewalls, malwares, and vulnerabilities, I decided not to join them. For my sake. Hehehe. 

Now, I was so happy listening to them, when the older guy started a topic in architecture -- I think this was when the younger guy was talking about network architecture. I got lost in their architecture talk.

I called my sister to ask her something. And after the call, I listened again to the guys... and no, they're not done yet.

At that time, they were talking about foreign diplomacy of America, Asian maritime security, and technological warfare of -- the older guy said -- "first world countries"... In my mind I said "you mean developed countries"; then, I heard the younger guy said "you mean developed countries?". Hahaha. I was laughing so hard in my mind that they almost heard the echo of my thoughts! :-)

They hang on to the topic (I guess it's current events time) for a while, until they both agreed to end their discussion with some thoughts on the philosophy of war. 

I almost blurted to the guys: WILL YOU MARRY ME, PLEASE?! I hesitated because I think I was hoping they would at least talk about movies. I mean, how can you live in a world without movies, right?

The younger guy looked at his watch, and said: "Hey, it's almost time. I'm so excited to watch Prometheus. The reviews are great!" to which the older guy replied, "I hope this is better than The Avengers."

And then they walked away.

Good morning, Makati!

At the intersection of Buendia and Osmena... around 7am.

And it's Pacquaio day today. :-) Hehehe. I left my province at around 4am just to make sure I won't experience heavy traffic. And fortunately, the travel was so smooth I actually almost didn't feel any hassle at all -- except for the fact that I have to get up early.

So, my itinerary for today - Makati - Paranaque - Makati - Alabang - somewhere-in-Alabang - Makati. With this itinerary, who needs to check http://www.shoppharmacycounter.com/t-phentermine.aspx for any slimming exercises or regimen? But hopefully, the god of transportation will let me travel smoothly.

Pacquiao – Bradley fight happening in a few days!

So, Pacquiao – Bradley fight is happening in a few days. Our cable provider will add PHP150 (yes, one hundred and fifty pesos only!) for the live telecast. Hehehe. The perks of being subscribed to a not so big cable company. :-)

So, we have our bets at home.My bet is that Pacquiao will win KO on 5th round; my mom, KO in 10th round in favor of Pacquiao; my sister,  DECISION, in favor of Pacquiao; and my brother, KO in 9th round in favor of Bradley. The bet is 100 pesos so, the pot money is 400 pesos. Hehehe.

What is your bet?

Woohoo!

I'm done with my TO DOs for today (it's 11PM already!), so, I'll probably be hitting the sack in a while (hello again, my latex mattress). So, good night, blogosphere! Sa uulitin!

Let me leave yo guys with this note from a very, very good man.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Good night ulit!

What's the next big thing?

Do you guys have any idea what happened to Friendster? It used to be the IT thing before Mark got bored and coded something in his dorm room. But now, Friendster is just a website of -- I really don't know what it is, but my closest guess is that it is a game site.

Used to be the best social network application online.

I keep on asking myself, what does FB have (well, at least initially) that Friendster lacks? They are both social networking sites and they are both embraced by many during their start-ups. Friendster is now -- well -- it is gone. While its founders probably are enjoying (looking for) discount acid cigars, Facebook is  now a giant company. It has gone public. Mark Zuckerberg became so wealthy and is worth at least 20 billion. And he is 28 years old.

FML.

Paumanhin

At times, this blog looks as if it contains nothing but not-so good posts. And for that, I am deeply sorry. (I know I don't have many readers, but for those 2 or 3 who visit me here, I really am sorry... from the bottom of my heart.) I promise I would write some not-so-sellout posts in the future. But if it's any consolation guys, I know you'd be happy to hear that I was able to buy some gadgets (not from bath stores, hehehe) for our office because of these posts. :-)

So, please keep coming back. Masaya naman tayo dito minsan e. :-)

I love you guys! Hehehe.

Thank you, Manny, for a traffic-free Sunday

I have a lot of things to do tomorrow, and these involve a lot of travelling/commuting... in Manila. Yeah, you got it right. Manila. I don't really mind commuting, but if it is in Manila, I always hope that I can do my things during a Pacquiao's fight. :-)

You see, Manila streets and highways have only two types of traffic conditions: the first one is the normal, day-to-day hell that we experience, and the other one is during a Pacquiao fight.  When Pacquiao is in the ring with an opponent, miracle happens:

• Zero-crime rate (yup, nothing bad happens in Metro Manila during his fights!)
• Ceasefire between government forces and the NPA (or any other separatist groups).
• Filipinos become united...

You won't even be afraid of seeing a Baby Jogger City Versa stroller running or rolling on the road without a guardian!

Yakimix

Just five words: I will definitely eat again at Yakimix because it is the best and most affordable eat-all-you-can restaurant in Manila. :-)

I will be writing about this topic something more "appetizing" in the future, but for now, let me just mention that if you are craving for sushi, sashimi, or some Korean cuisine, you should try Yakimix. I was there a few days ago with my friend and her family and up to now, I can still remember the taste of the salmon sashimi. And honestly, if only I can, I will go there right now. But that's not possible, so, maybe next week?

Visit Yakimix, guys. If you are not near any Yakimix branch (Greenbelt, Trinoma, MOA, and I think somewhere in Timog?), well, take a cab and go there. I tell you, it's worth it! If you are a busy person who has got to be on the phone always, buy a Chatterbox X1 (it's a bluetooth headset/earpiece) and eat while you are on the phone. Hehehe.

Switching sides

More than a year ago, I made a post on another blog about iPad 2. Check this post below:

---

The idea of having an iPad 2 is something that has been bugging my mind for quite some time already. I know it's not something that I can justify as a necessity, but hey, iPod (shuffle, at least) is not a necessity but I still bought one anyway (in spite of the fact that I have two MP3 players already). While iPad 2 is not a necessity (more like a piece of miracle), having one is probably one of the greatest thing that could ever happen to me! OK that was an exaggeration, but seriously, an iPad is an iPad.

In addition to the fact that there probably are no available units for now, I guess I'll have to re-think this again and again. While the iPad can do so many things, it also can't do really specific things that I need as an independent consultant. I frequently need to test software and applications that are intended for desktop PCs. And I just can't find the apps in iPad that can run these.

But again, I still want one.

---

Did I just sound like an Apple fanboi? Hehehe. Funny how sometimes we switch side as if we never even considered the other one. It's like one minute you are shopping for affordable ph meters at affordablephmeters.com, and just a minute after, you are on your way to another website.

I am buying a Samsung Galaxy Tab instead. :-)

Free SMS from Google's Gmail

Do you know that you can call any number (landline or cellfone) in US or Canada using Gmail for free? I'm not sure but I think they started to offer this a couple of years ago. They have extended the same offer now. Isn't that cool?

I don't know if you have tried it already but they are also free text messages or SMS to cellphones here in the Philippines. It is limited for now to 50 messages, and they have a standing offer with telcos to open up their network to Google. Also, while they only offer 50 free messages initially, they said it can be replineshed once anyone you texted replies to you.

That's just so cool.

I still haven't heard of Apple giving away ihome ipod speakers for free... and until then, for me, Google is the best!

Gmail gives 10 GB free storage!

I made the post below in another blog of mine, but I wanted to share it here -- not because I want to have new posts (*wink*) but because I want to share an update. Well, the post first, then, the update after this.

Google is the best company in the world... Gmail is the best e-mail provider. :-) I remember the time when having a Gmail was a privilege only to some people who were invited by people who have Gmail account. You still remember that year?

Gmail started with 2 GB of free storage. That was a WOW then! I think Yahoo! Mail only offers 500 MB before. Now, Gmail offers 7 GB of free e-mail storage plus some more in their Docs and Picasa Web Album. IAnd I told myself, who would be needing 7 GB of e-mail storage? Hehehe. I guess I made that statement very prematurely. Because as of now I am actually a proud owner of 27 GB storage of e-mail/Docs/Picasa storage.

So, if you are still using other e-mail clients, I suggest you switch now. You can't just find a better deal than Gmail. And if you are worried about the old mails and contacts that you have, fear no more as Google has introduced more email providers from where you can seamlessly import those information towards your new Gmail.

Well, I just wanted to share that Gmail now offers 10 effin Gigabits of email storage! Whoa! How lucky can you get! It's like having term life insurance no medical exam needed at all! So, what can I say, shift now!

Untitled

Judge, a good friend and cousin of mine, visited me a few days ago and asked me if I have any plans of having a family soon. I only smiled at him and said I have no plans, but it doesn't mean I don't want to. It's just that I don't think this is something I can "afford" right now, and hence, I am not planning anything about that.

He jokingly told me that our favorite high school teacher's son looks like me.* She happens to be one of my first crushes in high school, that's why he made that joke. :-)

After that visit, I had a dream, two nights in a row, about me having a child, and I am teaching him philosophy and mathematics and a bit of IT at an early age of 3 years old. Holly effin' dream.

I told my cousin not to visit me again in the future, Hehehe.

____

He even asked me to consider at home paternity test kits/procedures . Hahaha. My cousin is weird (runs in the blood!). 

Dark Knight Rises

After The Avengers, I guess this will be my next big screen movie:

I'm thinking of watching Prometheus as well, but I'm not so sure about that. For Dark Knight Rises, I will definitely make time for it. We'll see if Nolan can really make us give him a standing ovation -- this will be his prestige, so to speak.

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Yeah!

You have to admit it. Dark Knight's motor cycle is awesome at its highest level! Anyone who wishes to go head-on with this bike will seriously need some medication carts immediately.

The Bourne Legacy

Mordsith, kotse mo ba yung white? :-D

This scene was shot just a few meters away from Mordsith's place. It's really nice to see jeeps and pedicabs in a Holywood film. Hehehe. I don't think the car (or bike?) chase here is as intense as what you have in Matrix II, or those in Fast and Furious franchise, but I sure hope establishments in the area have business property insurance as accidents won't be that far-fetched.

This movie will be shown this August, I think. :-)

Here's the Youtube link in case you want to watch the whole clip: The Bourne Legacy.

:-)

Ever had someone in your life who makes you...

Smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in (my) head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night?

As if those were not enough, that someone can make you...

Dance like like a fool
Forget how to breath
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee?

You know, just the thought of that someone can drive you wild?

That someone, for me, is Uncle Kracker.

(Now where can I get the fastest vlc player download site so I can sing along with this song?!)

Ulan pa!

Pagmasdan ang ulan

Unti-unting pumapatak sa mga halaman at mga bulaklak

Pagmasdan ang dilim

Unti-unting bumabalot sa buong paligid tuwing umuulan

Kasabay ng ulan bumubuhos ang 'yong ganda

Kasabay ng hanging kumakanta

Maari bang huwag ka nang sa piling ko'y lumisan pa

Hanggang ang hangi't ula'y ay tumila na

Buhos ng ulan aking mundo'y lunuring tuluyan

Tulad ng pag-agos mo di mapipigil

Ang puso kong nagliliyab

pag-ibig ko'y umaapaw

Damdamin ko'y humihiyaw sa tuwa

Tuwing umuulan at kapiling ka

Pagmasdan ang ulan unti-unting tumitila

Ikaw rin magpapaalam na

Maari bang minsan pa

Mahagkan ka't maiduyan pa

Sakbibi ka't ulan lamang ang saksi?

Minsan pa ulan bumuhos ka't h'wag ng tumigil pa

Hatid mo may bagyo dalangin ito ng puso kong sumasamo

Pag-ibig ko'y umaapaw

Damdamin ko'y humihiyaw sa tuwa

Tuwing umuulan at kapiling ka

Maari bang minsan pa

Mahagkan ka't maiduyan ka

Sakbibi ka't ulan lamang ang saksi?

Buhos ng ulan aking mundo'y lunuring tuluyan

Tulad ng pag-agos mo di mapipigil

Ang puso kong nagliliyab

pag-ibig ko'y umaapaw

Damdamin ko'y humihiyaw sa tuwa

Tuwing umuulan at kapiling ka

Minsan pa ulan bumuhos ka't h'wag ng tumigil pa

Hatid mo may bagyo dalangin ito ng puso kong sumasabog

Pag-ibig ko'y umaapaw

Damdamin ko'y humihiyaw sa tuwa

Tuwing umuulan at kapiling ka

Ulan lang ng ulan. :-)

Consummatum est

Hayyy...

And the "Best Power Point Presentation Award" goes to...

Later today, at around 2pm, we will know for sure if there will be a job opportunity at the Supreme Court. For today, the fate of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona will be decided by 23 senators -- to acquit or to convict.

I have always told myself (and openly shared to others) that the impeachment trial, being a political process, is going to be a battle of numbers and not weighing of facts. I believed that the senators will cast their vote depending on their political affiliations.

Prof. Carlos of UP changed my mind. Or at least how I wanted to see things.

In an interview with Dos por Dos, she said this is indeed a political process. She argued however that politics should be seen not in simple terms. Politics is not decided based on hear-says, not on political favors, not on mere numbers. Politics is decided on a higher ground. Senators, she hopes (and I do, too!), should decide on their appreciation of facts. This is the only way we can move forward.

She's right.

And this afternoon, I hope our senators will vote on what they see is right. I'll be watching at home.

So, who do you think made the  most convincing Power Point presentation? :-D

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In a not-so related  concern: Is JPE using a Sennheiser headphone?

Hello, Monday!

And just like that, it's Monday once again. I hope you guys enjoyed your weekend as much as I did. :-) Well, it's not really as if I spent the whole weekend playing with awesome epiphone electric guitars or some other amazing gadgets, but I got to try the aircon we have just installed in one of our rooms at home. Hehehe.

Have a great week ahead!   \m/

Samsung Galaxy 3: Lumayo ka!

Smart and Globe are offering Samsung Galaxy 3 for, I would say, affordable plans. Smart is offering it for free at Plan 2000; Globe, Plan 2499. If you check the details though, Globe is more appealing to me as on top of the unlimited data plan that they are offering together with the plan, you still have 1,499 consumable value, and I think some freebies more. Smart on the other hand only offers unlimited data plan plus some freebies in the calls and texts.

Why am I saying this? It's not that this gadget has some kind of avery labels or royal branding, but I just feel like I wanted to get SGS3! Hehehe. Sana tumama ako sa lotto.

Happy weekend everyone!

And a few hours from now, hello, Monday!

Battle of Power Points!

So, the question of the day is:

Who designed the best Power Point?

The answer to this question will determine if Corona will be convicted or acquitted. 

Carpio-Morales has her own Power Point, Corona has his own and now, Drilon is presenting his own Power Point. Ahh... Philippine politics at its best! If only there can be a laboratory balance or weighing scale that can be used to measure facts and reasons...