Leap Year, There, Everywhere

Wala lang, I just want to have a blog entry that is dated 29 February. Hahaha...

Anyway, to make this entry blog-worthy, okay, let me share with you the link of Wikipedia's definition of leap year. You might find it interesting to know that leap year doesn't occur in all years divisible by four, and there is also such a thing as leap week and even leap second.

Leap year

Are they still Here, There, Everywhere?

I miss my friends...

Wicked Here, There, Everywhere... Somehow

I got this from Marien, Guj and Jim.

My interpretation - I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. You just have to choose on which side you want to be. Ika nga ni Anakin Skywalker, "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy." Hahaha.

How evil are you?

HD-DVD Nowhere, Blu-Ray Everywhere

I got this from Cheson's blog.

Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses

19 February, 2008

Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.

"We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop," said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."

Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.

Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.

This decision will not impact on Toshiba's commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.

Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.

Holiday Confusions Everywhere

After declaring February 25 as a working holiday of observance, Malacañang Palace recalled its previous press release and made Monday next week a special non-working holiday. This is in line with the 22nd Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted former President Ferdinand Marcos and installed the country's first ever woman president Corazon Aquino.

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Malacañang has declared February 25, the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 People Power uprising that restored democracy in the country, as a non-working holiday.

President Arroyo, in signing Proclamation No. 1462, said the entire nation should be given the opportunity to observe the “milestone" in the country's history, which has a theme this year of “Kapayapaan at Pagkakaisa Tungo sa Kaunlaran."

“The historic event, which restored and ushered political, social, and economic reforms in the
country, serves as an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere as we contnnue to chart our collective
course as a nation and as a people," the president said.

President Arroyo also signed Proclamation No. 1463, which lists the regular holidays and special non-working days for year 2008.

The order is in compliance with Republic Act 9492, which rationalizes the celebration of national holidays. The law provides that holidays, except those that are religious, would have to be move to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by a law or presidential order.

Under Proclamation No. 1463, the regular holidays are: Maundy Thursday (March 20); Good Friday (March 21); Araw ng Kagitingan (April 7, which is the nearest Monday to April 9); Labor Day (May 1); Independence Day (June 9, the nearest Monday to June 12); National Heroes Day (August 25, last Monday of August); Bonifacio Day (December 1, nearest Monday to Nov. 30); Christmas Day (Dec. 25); and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).

President Arroyo said Labor Day would still be celebrated on May 1 because it has been a “long cherished tradition of workers...which trade unions fought very hard for to institutionalize in the country and an international event that workers want to celebrate on the exact date."

She also said the special non-working holidays are: Ninoy Aquino Day (August 18, the nearest Monday to Aug. 21); All Saints Day (Nov. 1); Dec. 26 and 29, as special non-working days; and Dec. 31, because it is the last day of the year.

President Arroyo said Dec. 26 and 29 were declared as “additional special non-working days" so that Filipinos would have a “more meaningful observance of Christmas and New Year to strengthen their ties with one another."

She said the observance of Eid Il Fitr, which is the end of Ramadan, would be declared upon the recommendation of the Office of Muslim Affairs based on the Islamic calendar or Hijra.
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Read the whole article discussing this declaration at gmanews.tv.

Punctuations Here, There, Everywhere

Another personality test, this time from May and Marien.

You Are a Comma

You are open minded and extremely optimistic. You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything. You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests. You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time. Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to. (But with so many competing interests, you friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.) You excel in: Inspiring people You get along best with: The Question Mark

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Everytime

Jim and then Cholle took this quiz, so I might as well go with the flow. Haha.

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Your time of day has a split personality -- sometimes it's sweat-streaked and loud, and you're on the dance floor, getting your third wind, and shouting lyrics like you'll never run out of energy. You are the time of night that carves itself into your memory forever, because you'll never forget how much you love these people and this moment and this song. It's not always about unforgettable parties, though. Sometimes your late night (err… early morning) burst of energy happens when you're home alone. Those are the times when you say, "I flat out refuse to go to sleep until I finish reading this book, or typing this page, or reorganizing my entire closet." In either case, you are the time of night when it feels sort of forbidden to be awake, but you love accomplishing something special long after everyone else went to bed. And hey -- you can always catch up on sleep tomorrow, right?

10% of the people who took this quiz got the same evaluation.

2am is my usual bed time haha.

Then, Bamboo was everywhere... Now, BamBOO is nowhere.

Look at the difference...

I almost strangled him two years ago. He was just hanging around with the VIPeeps backstage. Now, everything's changed. He is out of our reach already. Actually, there was no problem with him or even Ira last night, it was just the obnoxious bodyguard who kept on pushing us (or them) away. Still, I managed to capture a video clip with them waving to the camera and Dyan managed to sneak a shot of me with Bamboo trying to get out of the venue as fast as he (or his damn bodyguard) could.

Ala-Eli Buendia talaga. Haha.

Their itinerary last night: CAR --> DRESSING TENT --> STAGE --> CAR.

Tae.

Bands Here, There, Everywhere

(Copied from Cholle's blog entry)

MONDAY - LOVERAGE 2: OUTLOUD! (Adelfe Enu Crea Sorority and Pan Xenia Fraternity)
Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, 6Cyclemind, MYMP, UPdharmadown, Itchyworms, Kitchie Nadal, Imago, Chicosci, Stonefree, Moonstar88, Silent Sanctuary, Mayonnaise, Soapdish, Shamrock, Gloc 9, Cookie Chua, Queso, Treadstone, Blue Ketchup, Protein Shake, Ciudad, Fuse, Paraluman, Manibela, Chubibo, Tha-R, Zelle, and many more...

TUESDAY - RAKESTRA 2008: LOST IN OBLIVION (Beta Epsilon Fraternity)
Sandwich, Urbandub w/ Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, 6Cycle Mind, Sugarfree, Itchyworms, Moonstar88, Chicosci, Silent Sanctuary, Callalily, Hale, Imago, Mojofly, Rocksteddy, Mayonnaise, The Dawn, Slapshock, Radioactive Sago Project, Kiko Machine, Pedicab, Hilera, Pinup Girls, Ciudad, Chilitees, Taken by Cars, Cambio, Manibela, Zelle, Boy Elroy, Oi Wag D2, Bembol Rockers, The Dorques, Angulo, Too Late The Hero, Duster, Aizo, Bagetsafonik, The Ronnies, Concrete Sam, El Mercurio, Peryodiko and many more...

WEDNESDAY - ROCK-LOVE-AN: SANDAAN: KAMI N'APO ULIT (Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity)
Sugarfree, Spongecola, Typecast, Callalily, Silent Sanctuary, Urbandub, Barbie Almalbis, Imago, 6cyclemind, Itchyworms, Hale, Greyhoundz, Proteinshake, Pedicab, Kjwan, Soapdish, Stonefree, Mayonnaise, Fuse, Mojofly, RockSteddy, ChicoSci, Check, Melanie, Hilera, VinceNoir, Paraluman, Manibela, Ciudad, Blue Ketchup, and many more…

THURSDAY - SISFIRE 6 (Sigma Beta Sorority)
Kamikazee, Urbandub, Rivermaya, Sugarfree, Chicosci, Imago, Stonefree, Up dharma Down, Mojofly, Radioactive Sago Project, Silent Sanctuary, Juana, Giniling Festival, Moonstar 88, Chubibo, Session Road, Purplechickens, Pumping Pluto, and many more...

FRIDAY - (University Student Council)

SATURDAY - EUFAIRIA: 100 YEARS AT THE EDGE OF SANITY (Delta Pi Omicron Sorority)
Urbandub, The Dawn, Pupil, Slapshock, Kjwan, Queso, Greyhoundz, Chicosci, Kiko Machine, Stonefree, Acel, Sugarfree, Moonstar 88, Mojofly, Paramita, Hilera, Cambio, Chubibo, Giniling Festival, Datu's Tribe, The Wudz, The Jerks, Radioactive Sago Project, Aizo, Cathexis, Sunflower Day Camp, Threadstone, Fuse, Ursaminor, Nickty Nasty, Kampai, and many more...

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"Many more..." is very much in demand. Haha. I wonder how great a performer he is.

Swipe Here, There, Everywhere

I have been my sister’s CITIBANK Master Card supplement since 2005. So every time I use my card, I earn her points. Two weeks ago, my very own HSBC Mabuhay Miles Visa Card application got approved. I activated it right away and planned to use it to purchase Incubus concert tickets. Mabuhay Miles has a promo – for an accumulated initial spending of PhP5000.00, I will get a round trip ticket to anywhere in the Philippines (except Mindanao). And from now on, I will finally get the hard-earned points in exchange of my own expenditures. Haha.

Earlier this evening, I went out with my college friends, Carlo, Cholle, Fil, Ige, Neil&Daphne, Roma, Ron&Kelly, and Teejay. We met at CTBL Gateway; though, I opted to buy coffee from Starbucks because I have a hundred bucks worth of GC. Ige and I then went to the Ticketnet outlet just in front of the main entrance of Araneta Coliseum to purchase 7 concert tickets. I gave my new Visa card to the cashier and alas, the machine flashed “CARD ERROR”. I didn't know what to do because the total price I owe the lady is around PhP14000.00. Phone booths are nowhere in the vicinity and when I asked the guard about where phone booths are, I was directed to a far place. To make the long story short, I was lucky to make a call to my bank and the service agent assured me that my card is functioning well – she instructed me to go back to the ticketing outlet and ask the saleslady to swipe my card again, this time slowly and surely. Holding my breath while she was trying to make the transaction again, I was finally relieved when I saw two sheets of receipts coming out of the card reader – meaning, my card was accepted. What a way to make “binyag” of the first credit card under my name.

We then moved to Dencio’s to dine. We had 5 sizzling plates of sisig, 2 servings of krispy kangkong, a dozen and a half of baked tahong, 200g of blue marlin, a plate of asparagus in garlic, sizzling mushroom and krispy hipon. Wow! As always, I was tasked to collect each and everyone’s contribution to the bill. A bright idea popped out of my head – I could use my new credit card to pay our bill, then I just have to pay my credit card bills using the money I collected from my friends. In return, I get more mileage. Bwahaha. Imagine, I consumed PhP16351.00 in one day? How many miles have I converted with that spending? I just need to pay my bills before the month ends so it won’t incur any interest.

Anyway, the night ended there. We parted ways around 9pm and as we headed to Gateway’s parking lot, Ige and I realized that no one took pictures of our night out. But this morning, I visited Cholle’s multiply site and saw that she and Teejay had a couple of shots taken in front of CBTL. Haha. Sila lang ang may picture.

So there… I can’t wait for March 9 – Incubus will be coming to Manila for their Pacific Rim Concert Tour. But before that, the gang planned to attend Monday and/or Tuesday nights of UP Fair (Loverage 2 and Rockestra 2). See you guys there!