Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Temporary Sign-Off

I may not be able to post for a considerable number of days (or weeks). My attention will be (hopefully) devoted to a very important project and its documentation.

I will surely miss the chance to comment on matters like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 6th State of the Nation Address last Monday and the damage tropical typhoon Glenda (formerly known as Gloria) smashed into the Philippine Islands.

Okay, just to satiate my itch... GMA's SONA was plagued with mere "Promises and Praises" and did not present the actual state of our country. Her slideshow presentation completely overshadowed the true sentiments and clamour of a great number of Filipinos. I, for one, do not support the proposed change in our current government system and the abolition of our Senate which, in my humblest opinion, funtioned impartially - avoiding, as much as possible, partisan decision-making in the last few decades.

Okay, that's enough... By the way, classes resume tomorrow - business as usual.

As for me, I am now signing-off...

...but just for awhile!

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Monday, July 24, 2006

My First

Fine? CLOUD 9!
Wild? I was mild...
Loud? It was WOW!
Hot? Damn! I was not...
Hyper? It was SUPER!

Just read between the lines... Think what you wanna think.

Do I really have to tell these things? If only this journal were private... Tsk tsk.

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Monday, July 17, 2006

Text

I received this SMS last New Year's Eve from a close girl-friend (not girlfriend!). While I was browsing my old messages last night, I realized that it is worth sharing - it's inspiring. And it goes like this...


Most of us miss out on life's big prizes...
The Pulitzer
The Nobel

Oscars
Tonys
Grammys

...but we are all eligible for life's small pleasures...
A pat on the back.
A good word from a pal.
A hug.

A full moon.
A glorious sunset.

An empty parking space.
A great meal.
A good joke.

A hot soup.
A cold drink.
An ice cream.

A "Thank you."

So don't fret about missing life's grand rewards. Enjoy it's tiny delights!

There are plenty for all of us... Grab 'em!
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Friday, July 14, 2006

CyberJoke

I got this one from W3 Schools' website.

CUSTOMER: "I want to download the Internet. Do I need a bigger hard disk?"

Download the Internet here.
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Thursday, July 13, 2006

Random 4

The upper part of my face (from the nose up) aches as if the pain is from hell. I don't know if it's just my usual MIND-graine due to long period of staring at my computer monitor, running endless programs for my project and soldering audio amplifier/pre-emphasis filter circuits, or sinusitis because of the changing climate these past days. Tropical storm FLORITA brought BRRRRRing chills to everyone.

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I haven't come home since Tuesday morning. I miss our house especially my mother's cooking prowess.

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Vanuatu islanders are this year's happiest people according to a survey; though, for me, Pinoys are still the ones deserving to be called such.

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Florita has exited the Philippine area of responsibility. Classes resume tomorrow - oh, as if i were affected by the suspension of classes yesterday and today.

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Judgment day is less than a month from now. Help us, Lord.

Fingers crossed...

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Got no dough... How I wish I got paid, the sooner the better, for my job as Mike Abundo's assistant in EEE 34, EEE 101 and ECE 121.

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I am craving for my el favoritos: chocolate, frap, ice cream and Italian food. I know, I need lots of moolah to satiate my taste buds.
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Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Zidane - Now a Game

Want to relive the infamous headbutt of the 2006 FIFA World CupTM finale over and over again?

I got this one from May's blog.

Just click on:
ZINEDINE ZIDANE
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Mojitos®

Wow!

Last July 8, my girl cousin Romalyn and his boyfriend Frederick (a.k.a. Tutoy), who also happens to be a close barkada friend, celebrated their 7th (YES, SEVENTH!!!) anniversary as partners. Most of us in our extended family look up to them for being able to withstand seven years of alternate periods of harmony and bickering - somehow a normal cycle for a typical boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. I, myself, managed to sustain only a three-month connection with a girl (-> I think the longest I ever had, as far as I can recall).

Anyway, the one thing I want to share is my first experience of drinking shots of Mojitos® Tequila. We had iodized salt and calamansi (lemon was not an option because of its scarcity and expensive prize, of course) to complement the drink; we also made a pitcher of lemon iced tea as a substitute to the real citrus. We experimented with the different parts of our body as to where to put the salt we all had to lick - I figured out just a few moments after the first shot that the back of the hand (OWN HAND!) is the most appropriate and the most convenient spot to lick the salt.

Just halfway through our first bottle (the girls just watched us, 5 guys, while we were emptying the container), my girl cousin's brother Almond - technically, my cousin, too - could not take any more and was groggily sleeping on the sofa seconds after having his last shot. Then, another one, Israel, retired and went home due to his and his sister Almira's curfew. After consuming the entire bottle, a third acquaintance, Mark, bid farewell so the two of us who remained (I and my cousin's BF) decided not to open the second Mojitos®. We spent the last hours of the evening singing with the girls using WOW! Magic Sing®. The women (Kriselle, Liezl, Marbeth, Marianne, Rica and Roma) noticed the difference between the last two man standing - me showing no tinge of alcohol inside me and Tutoy appearing to be obviously tipsy and sleepy. They once again admired me for having that so called "MALAKING BAHAY-ALAK" or high-alcohol-tolerance-level (I guess, it's in the genes). I seldom or practically never vomited or fell asleep in the middle of a session - whether the liquid is beer, gin, rum, wine or any alcoholic beverage, it doesn't matter. Of course, I make it a point to limit my alcohol intake. I only drink occasionally (relying on the fact that occasions do not occur on a daily basis - haha) and I know my limitations and when to say NO. I also take note of the liquor's proof/alcohol-by-volume readings. Mojitos is 36% alcohol by volume.

I think I have to try those supplements that protect the liver and other internal organs from damage due to alcohol. What do you think?


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France and Switzerland not empty-handed after the World Cup

France's Amelie Mauresmo consoled her countrymen from their national team's football finals defeat from the Italians by capturing his first Wimbledon Championship. The top seed defeated Belgium's third seed Justine Henin-Hardenne, the same woman she defeated in the Australian Open 2006 finals, via a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Switzerland, after losing to Ukraine in the Round of 16 through a penalty shootout 3-0, now has more bragging rights after Roger Federer's fourth straight All England Club trophy and second Grand Slam this year after his Australian Open triumph in January. The men's top ranked player trashed #2 Rafael Nadal of Spain, conqueror of the French Open 2006 over Federer, with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 victory.

Over-all, both the Wimby and the World Cup were dominated by Europeans making the United States and the rest of the planet the real empty-handed.

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2-2 or 3-1?

Game 4 of the best-of-seven championship series of the PBA Gran Matador Philippine Cup between Purefoods Chunky Giants and Red Bull Barakos is scheduled tonight at the Araneta Coliseum. Play starts at 7:10 pm (Manila time) with the Giants enjoying a 2-1 lead. Purefoods won Games 1 and 2, 101-97 and 93-82; Red Bull triumphed in Game 3, 89-79.
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Monday, July 10, 2006

Vive Le Italia!

Italy's Azzurri wins 4th FIFA World CupTM title over France's Les Bleus!

BATTLE OF THE BLUES

1:1 (a.e.t.)
(1:1, 1:1)
5-3 PSO

9 July 2006 CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
After a 1-1 deadlock at extra time, Italy outscored France in penalty shootout, 5-3, to claim the most precious prize in football - The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Trophy. Outgoing French team captain Zinedine Zidane made the first goal from a penalty (7') to give his team the lead but Marco Materazzi set an equalizer (19') to even the match. In the end, Italy prevailed in the penalty shootout by putting all five attempts behind the net while France managed to convert only three (David Trezeguet's shot hit the top bar and dropped six inches outside the goal line). Zidane, ejected few minutes before the end of the game after headbutting Materazzi on the chest, failed to find a good way to end his glorious career. Nevertheless, the mediamen voted for him to receive the Adidas™ Golden Ball Award given to the best player of the 2006 Games. Italy's Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo collected the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, respectively.

Italy's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, won the Lev Yashin Award for being the best shotstopper of the tournament. He outclassed Germany's Oliver Khan, winner of the award in 2002.

8 July 2006 THIRD PLACE MATCH
The Germans redeemed themselves from a dismal semifinal defeat by the Italians with an overwhelming 3-1 victory over the Portuguese to earn the bronze medal at Stuttgart. The host nation, powered by 21-year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger's two second-half goals (56' and 78') and his free kick converted to an own goal (60') by Portugal's Petit, settled for the consolation third place award. Unable to repeat their third place finish in England 1966, the Portuguese still managed to score a goal with a header (88') from Nuño Gomes.

German midfielder Miroslav Klose was awarded with the Adidas™ Golden Shoe for being the tournament's top marksman with five goals in seven matches. Argentine Hernan Crespo and Brazil's Ronaldo bagged the Silver and Bronze Shoe, respectively.
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Thursday, July 06, 2006

Fries or Pizzas?

FRANCE vs ITALY
in FIFA World CupTM GERMANY2006 Championship Match

After an Italian upset over the hosts yesterday (Berlin time), the French claimed the second and final championship berth to arrange a duel for the coveted La Copa de Vida on Sunday, July 9. Les Bleus' senior midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, scored the lone goal on the 33rd minute of the semifinal showdown between France and Portugal to guide the France1998 Champs to another finals appearance. His team tries to salvage its second title after a dismal 28th-place finish at the Korea-Japan2002. The Azzurri, on the other hand, aims to add a fourth trophy to their collection (Italy1934, France1938 and Spain1982). Germany and Portugal battle it out on Saturday, July 8, for the consolation third place.

Battle for Third Place
8 July 2006 Germany vs Portugal @ Stuttgart
Battle for the Championship
9 July 2006 France vs Italy @ Berlin

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PS:
The final match seems to be a deja vu for me, comparing it to the 14th-15th century dispute between Avignon, France and Rome, Italy as to where the seat of the papacy must be located.

...or...
Paris vs Rome
Louvre vs Florence
Voltaire vs Da Vinci
Louis XIV vs Julius Ceasar
Napoleon vs Mussolini

...and so on.
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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Random 3

Hello!

SYKES®, a global leader in providing outsourced customer managements solutions and services, sent me a recruitment invite last week. I have yet to respond to its invitation and I do not know whether to take another call centre job or not considering my current work load (thesis and ECE121/EEE101 S.A.) this year. I cannot even think of a way how the company found me aside from the fact that I worked for ePLDT® Ventus for two weeks. Honestly, I do not consider myself being in customer-service-line-of-duty for a long period of time.

Watcha think?

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Help!

I need a circuit schematic of a pre-emphasis filter with a zero-crossing at 500 Hz, 3dB-point at 2.12 kHz and a 17dB-gain at 15 kHz. The gain at 19 kHz must also be less than that at 15 kHz.

Immediate reply requested. Thank you. :)

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EDIT:
Help received already, thanks POCH!
Additional inputs still welcome.

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Ole! Ole! Ole!

FOOTBALL: FIFA World CupTM (Germany)
4 July 2006
Host Germany suffered a sorry loss in the hands of fellow three-time champs Italy, 2-0 at extra time (119' and 121+' during their semifinal game in Dortmund Tuesday night (Berlin time). Italy marched into the championship showdown with either France or Portugal, continuing the 12-year cycle of entering the Finals - 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006.

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Yihee!!!

Are soulmates made in heaven? Read about it.
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Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Random 2

Thesis Update

Last Saturday, it was running smoothly (using the HERest tool); last night, it wasn't at all (using the HVite tool). July 1 - it was manageable and debug-gable; July 4 - it wasn't either of the two.

According to our Gantt Chart (thesis schedule), this week is our last week to train and test our sample files. Next week, we must proceed to another task - defining the frame boundaries. The week after, we must be processing the unsupervised segmentation of the speech data at phoneme-level. Two weeks from now, we must be performing error analysis and system improvements. Come August 9, I and my partner will be facing the first judgment day. Wish us luck...

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Sports Tidbits as of 4 July 2006

BOXING: Mano-a-Mano (Philippines vs Mexico)
2 July 2006
The Philippines scored a 5-0 sweep over Mexico in the battle of the great pound-for-pound fighters from the two boxing powerhouse countries. The highlight of the event was no less than the conquest of Pinoy icon Manny Pacquiao via 12-round unanimous decision over his new Mexican prey Oscar Larios in their WBC International Superfeatherweight Championship match Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The scorecards stood at 117-110, 118-108, 120-106 - all in favor of PacMan.

Gerry Peñalosa, former WBC Superflyweight Champion of the World, defeated Tomas Rojas, 97-93, 98-92, 98-93.
Jimrex Jaca, Philippine Superfeatherweight Champion, was forced to retire in the 7th round after a controversial accidental headbutt by Hector Marquez. He was leading in all judges' sheets, identical 60-53.
Cesar Amonsot won over Silverio Ortiz via a unanimous decision.
Late replacement Michael Domingo overpowered Alejandro Felix Montiel stopping the Latino at 1:04 of the seventh round. This fight was not televised.
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FOOTBALL: FIFA World CupTM (Germany)
Quarterfinals
1 July 2006
Portugal defeated England (0-0, a.e.t 3-1 PSO*)
France defeated Brazil (1-0)

* a.e.t PSO - after extra time, penalty shoot-out

England, missing outgoing captain David Beckham due to knee and ankle injuries and losing Wayne Rooney during the 62nd minute due to red-card incident with Ricardo Carvalho, once again failed to advance into the Final Four after losing to Portugal in penalty shootout.

Brazil, for third time in four FIFA World Cup meetings, came short against France, the same team that blanked them, 3-0, during the final match of France 1998. The French squad may now be considered as Brazil's bête noire.

Semifinals
4 July 2006 Germany vs Italy @ Dortmund
5 July 2006 Portugal vs France @ Munich
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TENNIS: Wimbledon Championships (England)
Gentlemen's Singles Quarterfinals: click here
Ladies' Singles Quarterfinals: click here
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BASKETBALL: PBA Championships (Philippines)
A rematch between Fiesta Conference 2005-2006 Champs Red Bull Barakos and Runners-up Purefoods Chunky Giants is scheduled to blow at the Araneta Coliseum as Game 1 of their best-of-seven series kicks-off Wednesday night in the ongoing PBA Gran Matador Philippine Cup.

The Giants and the Barakos are Game 7 winners over respective rivals Alaska Aces (90-89) and San Miguel Beermen (86-84).

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Finally...

Spoiler Warning!!!



Last Sunday, I finally got the chance to watch the sought-after movie of the year (don't ask where), Superman Returns. The story isn't as spectacular as the special effects though my admiration for Bryan Singer's works stays on a high level. I just can't imagine how The Man of Steel managed to impregnate Lois Lane (go figure!) or how stupid it seems to see a nearly-impeccable creature being rushed to the hospital or how this 6'2" guy can be able to have that curly thing in his hair unscathed by wind and water.

Overall, I think Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth deserved their roles as Lex Luthor and Lois Lane. And okay, I admit, Brandon Routh is the most worthy (thus making me the second most worthy - haha) to inherit the boots, cape, blue tights and the S-insignia the late Christopher Reeve left behind. The Man of Steel is also a man of few words - Routh gave justice to the role practically without saying anything more than one complete sentence per scene. Spacey and Bosworth did all the talking. Routh spoke for only about 10% of the movie; but, we can perceive a pinch of humour and a lot of humility everytime he opens his mouth.

I am not an avid Superman fan; in fact, I like Spidey more than I do Superman. This movie, however, proved to me how super(b) Superman can be.

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Nothing follows... Till next time! :)
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Saturday, July 01, 2006

Random 1

Thesis Update

My project finally runs the way I intended it to. It halts once in a while because of transcription errors but they are all manageable and debug-gable. I and my thesis partner are now on track with our Gantt Chart schedule.

We can wait no more for the PhP 30,000 fund we are expecting for our project. Haha.

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Sports Tidbits as of 1 July 2006

FOOTBALL: FIFA World CupTM (Germany)
30 June 2006
Host Germany again qualifies for the semifinals (round of 4) of this year's world football championships eliminating former winner Argentina in a penalty shoot-out, 4-2, after being tied at 1-1 at extra time. They will face Italy, 3-0 victor over Ukraine. Only defending champion and record-holder Brazil, with 5 World Cup titles, stands in the way for an all-European semifinals and finals, a possible first in 24 years.
* * *
BASKETBALL: PBA Playoffs (Philippines)
Sister-teams San Miguel Beermen and Purefoods Chunky Giants forced separate Game 7 affairs with their respective opponent tomorrow night as they both dejected the hopes of Red Bull Barakos and Alaska Aces for the two finals berths. The Beermen whipped the Barakos, 116-101 in the first game while the Giants escaped elimination with a 99-96 come-from-behind win over the Aces in the second game of the on-going PBA Gran Matador Philippine Cup last night.

Danny Seigle of the Beermen became the only 53rd local player who accumulated more than 5000-points as he earned 21 points in his 18th consecutive 20+ point game. The Giants, on the other hand, have something in mind for tomorrow's sudden death match - duplicating the feat of another sister-team Barangay Ginebra Kings. The Gin Kings is the only team that survived a 1-3 best-of-seven deficit and eventually won the series during the 1991 Reinforced Conference against the now-defunct Shell Turbochargers.
* * *
Time will surely stop tomorrow morning as the whole archipelago will likewise focus its attention on the highly-anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios battle at the Araneta Coliseum. May the best fighter win.
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I wanna...

1. ...eat, eat, eat.
2. ...watch SUPERMAN RETURNS.
3. ...play, play, play.
4. ...to be in a cool and cozy place.
5. ...sleep, sleep, sleep.

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Movie Review: SUPERMAN RETURNS

Visit MSN Movies.

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Aruba

...the MUSIC BAR, not the CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

Last night, I, Glenn, Marien, May and Liz (you missed the experience Ghe, and we missed you) all went to ARUBA in Tomas Morato, Quezon City (near Ratsky Morato). I can't recall the last time I dropped by at that kind of night spot, or if I have ever visited a similar place in the first place. The closest thing I can remember is our post-graduation ball escapade at SITCOM Comedy Bar in Las Piñas City and my frequent sosy-coño dinner with my BERKS and/or FORCE partymates at BARko in East Avenue, Quezon City. At 21, I admit that I am a late-bloomer when it comes to adult/daring/mature night life. Thanks to my college friends, I get to experience such events I missed for 20 years.

Maybe the reason why I seldom do bar-hopping is because I am not the type of person who virtually allots certain portion of his allowance or savings for luxuries like watching movies at a first-class theatre, eating meals at a fine-dining restaurants or hanging out at expensive discos/bars. Not to mention the fact that I hate the idea of inhaling other people's smoke whenever I stay inside a confined smoking area like discos and bars.

Anyway, yesterday was a terrific night because the scheduled band, Juan Miguel with The Authority, was composed of total performers. Versatile is an understatement for their exceptional musical talents, especially that of the vocalist (who resemble a close friend Leon Marco Ebarle a.k.a. BIBO, haha). Most of them can sing well and some can play at least two instruments. They performed songs from the 70's (Eagles, Sting), 80's (The Buggles, Madness, Spandau Ballet, Tears for Fears) and 90's (Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, U2). However, when a customer requested for The Calling's Wherever You Will Go, no one from the band knew it. For heaven's sake, where were they when that song hit Manila by storm in 2002? Maybe, their CD collection ends in 1999.

Our night ended with their rendition of U2's With or Without You. In few weeks time, Glenn will be leaving for Toronto and May will be fying to a Cleveland-suburb; the event last night served as a mini-despedida for them. Bon voyage to both of you!

Okay, SABADO NIGHT tonight!!! Joke... Haha ;)
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Superman Returns