09.09.09

On September 9, 2009, digitally remastered versions of 16 Beatles albums were released onto the market. It's already October 3 and I still don't have a copy. I hope somebody with a good heart would send me a copy of these albums for Christmas. Thanks! :)

Trivia

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Monchi Goce!

1. A thimbleful of Monchi Goce would weigh over 100 million tons.
2. A lump of Monchi Goce the size of a matchbox can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court!
3. If you drop Monchi Goce from more than three metres above ground level, he will always land feet-first.
4. Monchi Goce was declared extinct in 1902.
5. While performing her duties as queen, Cleopatra sometimes dressed up as Monchi Goce.
6. It takes 8 minutes for light to travel from the Sun's surface to Monchi Goce.
7. Monchi Goce has a memory span of three seconds!
8. Never store Monchi Goce at room temperature.
9. Monchi Goceolatry is the mindless worship of Monchi Goce!
10. Monchi Goce will often glow under UV light!

Panas

I hate swarms of bugs.

I was still in elementary then, and my favorite shoes were a black pair with a shiny picture of Batman donning its sides. Only a few weeks earlier, my family went to Subic with our friends, and I was enthralled with the bats that were flying above us. I felt an immediate connection - they went out in front of me because Batman hugged my feet.

The service that takes me to school came early one day. Naturally, I finished up my rituals in a hurry, and found myself at the last stop before going out of the gate. I was about to wear my shoes. I put the right shoe on first, and tightened its laces slowly. Then, a single ant came out of the shoe, and crawled up my leg. Suddenly, without notice, a swarm of ants attacked my right leg, crawling up from the shoe. I immediately took the shoe off, and cried to my mother. I never remembered an instance when I wore those shoes again.

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Since the erratic rainy season started last 2008, black ants were almost everywhere in our house. From the gate to the dining room, they were there, minding their own business, taking shelter in our home. Prior to this, other small ants were also in our house - finding a living eating scraps in the microwave (surprisingly these critters survive the harsh treatment we use to warm out food). They don't really bother me, nor alter my daily routine that much. However, recently, things got worse.

They started appearing on my leg - one at a time - out of nowhere. Sometimes I would just be startled out of my idleness by an unsuspecting bite. When I sweep the floor, their small, curled up, dead compatriots would be the bulk of the dirt I see. They don't target our food, they target our house.

My parents really do not mind, and true to that I have learned to live with it this summer. Our house may crumble due to them, but its fine with me. As long as I don't wake up covered in a blanket of ants.

Screenshot

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope. Credits to the original artist for the wallpaper. Using Dust theme, Conky for the clock, and Rainlendar 2.5.

Through the Years

My first major purchase as a college student was an mp3 player. During that time, 2005, USB sticks were more of a status symbol rather than a necessity (well, for me). I spent all the money I got for Christmas to buy a AAA-battery powered Creative USB mp3 player, with a 256 MB capacity. In that era, a 128 MB was the generic capacity for USBs, and owning one with 512 MB capacity is an indication of royal blood. Back to my player, I was stupefied that it still works until today.


Three years later, in 2008, I won an 8GB iPod touch in a contest with two of my friends. This was amazing, since I never would have been able to buy one. However, I destroyed it after a couple of months - the screen was not responding to my Midas touch. Good thing it still had valid warranty, or else, I would have thrown it out already. So much for product quality.

It is surprising how manufacturers of old seem to hold more importance for the quality of the product, while still not comproming aesthetics. My parents used to tell me that shoes lasted years before breaking down. In my experience, my shoes looked like sandals at best after a year. But then again, maybe I'm just too heavy. This apparent strategy used by companies really makes them worry about their wallet getting too fat.

At the end of the day, I really just want to sit back and listen to music - either from my trusty USB or from my iPod. Oh and by the way, I have to agree with the song playing on my Creative right now - "Alpha Beta Omega" by Bamboo - "the rich get richer, the poor just multiplies".

Spiderman

I reached for an old copy of Mario Puzo's The Sicilian on the top shelf of my room earlier this afternoon, to quench my thirst for something to do. After dinner, I watched local basketball on television and witnessed Ritualo's wasted heroics. I then proceeded back to my room. As I was about to lie down to resume reading before I fall asleep, I noticed something on the ceiling.

The nail on the lower right should give you the proper estimate of its size.

A spider. That looks like its been blessed with Ultraman powers (something reflected the flash of my camera near its head). I probably disturbed it after I got the book, and now it looks like its come out for revenge. A few minutes after I took its picture, it disappeared from my sight (I think it fell on the floor and scampered for shelter from my foot). Is it poisonous or just a plain obese house spider? Should I start sewing my Spiderman costume?

Ubuntu

NBA fanatics may be familiar with the term ubuntu which was the battle cry for the 2008 champion Boston Celtics team. It emphasized the importance of team chemistry - "I am because we are", as they say- and was clearly the defining factor throughout the season and playoffs en route to a decisive win against Kobe and the Lakers.

Sadly, injuries yanked them out of contention in the semi-final round against Orlando this year. But they showed ubuntu till the end, never giving up, exiting gloriously.

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I have considered Windows to be a costly and high-maintenance operating system (OS). I base this from my experience with Windows XP - a fresh install usually gives a user the basics. However, the absence of a native antivirus is immediately brought to the attention of the user. In addition to this, a number of software to execute tasks (Photoshop, Microsoft Office) are absent, thus prompting the user to buy or to illegally download cracked versions of the applications needed. Furthermore, periodic maintenance tasks need to be done, such as disk defragmenting.

Companies usually introduce a product to the market by making its initial cost lower than that of the leading brand. In some cases, free alternatives for the gold standard in the market today are also available. Of course, this means that paying for less or none at all has its certain drawbacks as well.

Ubuntu is a Linux OS that gave me first hand experience in using a free system. It can be downloaded/requested here for free. I got mine two weeks after I ordered a DVD of its newest release - 9.04 or the Jaunty Jackalope. Sweet.

Ubuntu Jaunty has liberated me from having to secure a good anti-virus application. - as Linux, as of now, is virtually virus free. Sure there are free anti-virus modules available in the net, but they don't cover all bases (in fact, no antivirus application is perfect). Apart from this, it allowed me to explore free and open source alternatives to commonly used applications. Open Office can't beat the wonderful presentations and graphics bundled with Microsoft Word, but it does save you money.

Some of the software users are accustomed to using either still have compatibility issues or do not have a means of functioning in Ubuntu. Furthermore, the dependence of Ubuntu in the Terminal (similar to the Command Prompt) as a means of updating and customizing it turns off a lot of people.

I must admit, you really would not 'get' how Ubuntu works right from the bat. A couple of readings as well as browsing their forums is a must for every new person. Hardware incompatibilities exist, and these sentiments are shared by a number of users worldwide. Solutions usually are proposed and accepted, but not everything works for every user.

Personally, the non-existence of viruses and the thrill of learning something new from scratch (I really am not a computer fanatic) are the only reasons that mattered to me the most when I made the switch. I'm sticking with it until you have to pay a single centavo for its acquisition.

Which would never happen. Ever.


Images from:
http://dimemag.com/wp-content/Images/aron/Right_Shank_4_Print.jpg
http://adi.roiban.ro/wp-includes/images/ubuntu-splash-brown.png

16, 24

Today, the 25th of May, means absolutely nothing in my life. Perhaps its only relevance to me is that it may be a friend's birthday that I forgot to remember.

...

Sixteen years ago, on May 24 1993, my second sister was born - Robin. She was never called that way - Lob-lob and May-may were the names being said in the household. Her almost spherical arms and legs were the reasons for the first nickname, while the second monicker was due to when she was born. I vividly remember how she always called me 'Kaka' during the times when she could not even say her complete name out loud.

There are only two anecdotes that I remember about May-may. The first happened during a Christmas party - most probably with my dad's company. My parents brought in wrapped presents for an exchange gift program, and all of us registered to take part in the event. Although I cannot remember how exactly this worked, at the end of the day, I was frustrated since May-may, who could barely walk, got a better gift than I did. So much for beginner's luck.

Secondly, I was playing with my sisters Minsky and May-may one afternoon in our sala. I found an old mentos candy stuck in our rug, and me and Minsky let May-may eat it. We really were kids back then.

May-may died in 1996, barely a month away from my sixth birthday and a couple months from her third. To this day I really do not have a clue on what her disease was, or how her last moments were in the hospital. I only remember visiting her once, since I was already attending school then. I never knew that it would be the last time I would see her, and hear her call me 'Kaka'.

I never had the chance to say this to you personally, but I guess it is better late than never, right? I love you May-may.

Wolf Peaches

Tomato Soup.

That is the literal translation of 'sabo kamatis'. To the unfamiliar, it is a Capampangan dish similar to sinigang containing tomatoes, pechay, and of course, your choice of pork or beef. I have not been to another household that served me this dish, so I assume that it is from Pampanga.

The reason why I chose this dish to be the anchor of my blog is simple - I love to eat. Moreover, if given a situation that I can only eat one dish for the rest of my life, sabo kamatis would definitely be my top choice.