Best Defense: Offense

I remember when my cousins and I used to play Starcraft Broodwar. I used to create a lot of turrets around my base so that the enemies attacking will die. As turret defense and some ground defense are being attacked, I replaced them so my defensive capability will increase. With resources at base running low I decided to expand my area of control. So I created offensive troops. But sadly all my offensive troops are beaten. The end games with me losing to five computer opponents. So I asked my cousin why I lost. He said that I have too many defensive units around my base and I should remember that “the best defense is an offence”.

Yesterday I watched Pacquiao and Clotey fight (or to say I watched the advertisements flooding the fighting event). After the fight Pacquiao wins. I had a bit of disappointment after the fight because I never seen “action” during the game. You know, exchanging blows with each other or something like that.  Never seen Clotey hits too much on Pacquiao. Clotey being the best Defensive fighter in boxing world, there’s no wonder in that. I admired Clotey because he’s never been knocked down by Pacman in twelve rounds. But winning in boxing is decided on who scores more if both remains standing after the fight not on how many blows you had block.

If Clotey wants to win another fight he should remember “the best defense is an offense”. This does not only applies to Clotey but to all fighters as well.

The "Kulangot" Bond is Ended

There is a challenge (challenge? Or whatever they call it) about the hands. The hand will be positioned in such a way that the middle finger is bended and will not move or rose during the challenge. The index finger is bonded using glue, the thumb with rugby, the pinkie with might bond (high strength glue) and the ring finger with kulangot (sticky mucus from the nose).
It is impossible for normal persons to raise the ring finger in such a way that it will not affect the middle finger or the pinkie. 

 Well “kulangot” fails.

conGRADUATION!

At last after 16 years of studying I finally reached the spot where most of us dream of reaching. It’s the time of the year where my fellow students take the final step in preparing for the real world. Graduation it is! We can almost see the line where we take a big leap from students to professionals and finally reach the spot of our goal. While most people think that graduating is the end of the road, in reality it is not. It’s just the start of that long journey where you will take without a guide behind you.

Thanks God for the prosperous day that you had given me. For guiding me through the pain and sorrows of studying. For telling me not to let go of those dying times. For giving me strength to stay up and to face another day with a smile in my face. For those barricades that you put in front of me to make me stronger.

Congratulations to all the graduating students this year! May we all be prosperous and face the real world with a chin up attitude.

Samsung J700 Problem

I bought a mobile phone in Greenhills last year (October I think). After browsing through all second hand phones at stall, my eyes stuck to one mobile phone. It’s a Samsung J700. After asking for the price which is 2,800 pesos (bargain at the look of the phone and a free 1 GB mini SD card), checking if the phone has defect or working and asking about the history of the phone, I bought it. Several months later the problem occurred. The phone displays that it has a full signal but you cannot send messages or call anyone. I went back to Greenhills to check if my phone can be fixed. Some said that it’s just phone software’s error. He reprogrammed it (I don’t know if he really did format it) and the problem still occurred, so the tech asked me if I want the phone to be looked to see the problem inside for a fee of 500 pesos (wtf?). I said no and tell him that I’ll come back tomorrow.

Anyone who has knowledge about fixing phone. Is it a flex problem or other than that? Cost?

Review: BPI Express Cash Card

Last week (February 25 to be exact) I went to BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) to get a card. I discovered that they offer prepaid credit card via MasterCard’s site (BDO doesn’t offer one thou, while in Security Bank I’m not sure). So to save some coins I went earlier than my usual class hour. Luckily I arrive 30 minutes before the banking hours. After some chit chats, submitting the requirements and paying off 150 pesos (card fee) I got my receipt. They said that it will just take 3-5 days (I heard a week too) before I could fetch my card. They give me a contact number for me to inquire if the card arrived. I went straight to school with a happy face and a hopeful feeling.

Monday (3^rd day after, 2^nd working day)

I have a good feeling that my card will arrive tomorrow. Well not an exciting day because I went with my girlfriend in Makati for her job interview. I still have the feeling that the next day will be the card day.

Tuesday (4^th day, 3^rd working day)

After my girlfriend left Manila, I went home and got a quick bath. Because I have a final examination at school I decided to pass by the bank to ask about the card. Still it hasn’t arrived yet.

Wednesday…

Still nothing

Thursday

Another Final examination day at school. After the exam I passed by the bank and asked again. Still the card hasn’t arrived. When I arrived home they call me and told me that there was a delay in the delivering of cards. They also said that the card will be available by Monday.

Friday

Hoping for a call… failed. No call from bank means no card for me.

Saturday

A very long day to be exact. I can’t wait for my card.

Sunday

Yeah today. Hopefully the card will be available tomorrow. I don’t want to wait another week.

Monday

I called and still no trace of card.

 *update

Friday (March 12, 2010)

yesterday I called them again to ask if the card arrived. They said that tommorow it will come. So today (friday) with full of hope i called them (again) to ask if the card arrived. They said that they have the transmittal and just waiting for to to be delivered late in the afternoon (well i called past three o’clock in the afternoon, isnt that late already?) or Monday morning (i remember that guy there said that they dont have deliveries in morning). So what the hell is a BPI Express Cash? It is an express RANT that will express our head to a boiling point.

Conclusion: If your applying for a card at BPI, make sure that you apply about two weeks prior to the usage of the card. Express Cash doesn’t mean Express delivery of card. Maybe they should work on it. *two weeks not really it should be one month

MS Word 2007 Error Help

I used Microsoft Word when writing some articles. It becomes handy because it has a feature with detects if you have so many errors in spelling and if your poor in grammars. It is a good tool for beginners and intermediate alike.

But one day I encountered a problem with MS Word 2007. It doesn’t check if my spellings are wrong and same with the grammars. After checking some sites and even Microsoft’s own help site, I found out that still it haven’t change a bit. So this is my own solution if you encounter such a problem if you’re using Microsoft Word 2007 in Windows Vista platform.

1.       First open up your Control Panel and click Classic view then look for Regional and Language options.

2.       Click Keyboards and Languages tab then click Change Keyboards… button.

3.       In the Default input language choose English (United States) – US (or the language that you want to use)  in the drop down option and in the Installed Services select the services that you want to include in the list. You may want to add some other services such as your own language.

Maybe this will help if your Microsoft Word 2007 doesn’t check the words that you type or even the grammar.

Nuclear Power Plant?? F.U!

To Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

In our town??? Why dont you choose your own town.. Btw its your idea.

STRUP IT FRIGGIN NOOBS!!!

Why dont you try safer alternatives? noobs

P.S. I dont want to swim in a nuke contaminated water.

Review: Smartbro Surf TV

With the prices of computers; from desktop computers to laptop, some found a way to bring the connectivity to the world wide web from the comfort of your home and your own tv.  This is Smartbro Surf TV. From smartbro’s website http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/

“Smart Bro SurfTV let’s you surf, chat and email even without a PC. Just plug the SurfTV to your TV and you can now access the world wide web. Ngayon, basta may TV, internet’s easy with Smart Bro SurfTV!
Speed : Up to 2 Mbps
No. of Hours use : Pay per use for connection P10 for every 30 minutes.  Now also has the option for surf-per-minute charging (online registration required)
Connection : RCA connection to your TV to SurfTV
Requirements : None
Total Initial Payment :  P4,500 for the SurfTV kit which includes the SurfTV, a prepaid plug-it, a mouse and a keyboard.
For more inquiries, please call *1888 from your Smart cellphone or 02-672-7277 from your landlines. To avail, visit any Smart Wireless Center, Smart accredited dealer or Agent. “

This is convenient way of surfing the world wide web, without the hassle of going to computer stops and waiting in line from a lot of computer users. This is also cheaper compared to desktop computers if your primary purpose is surfing the web, checking social networking sites and chatting. It is also convenient for some business establishments checking on their accounts via web service.

It may be cheap and convenient but this kind of convenience comes up with a punch. Lets take it one by one.
-    First the speed: if your browsing the net and after fast reactions whether from downloading or uploading. Well it is not really 2mbps speed considering the location, strength of signal and the peak time.
-    10 for 30 minutes is 20/hr and electric bill. Well the average rate at computer shops is 15/hr with a promo of 50/4hrs.
-    May i remind you that this does not contain any storage device. Well storage is quite handy. From surfing the web to making documents.
-    Of course no Microsoft Word, Autocad, Dota lol!, and other applications that require a desktop or laptop.
-    What kind of TV are required btw? Once i used our TV for watching movies, connected it to my PC via the GPU and guess what. Maximum resolution is 800×600 and 31 hertz. I can’t barely see a icon’s image.
-    How about flash software required to play youtube videos or java needed for some sites to load?

Maybe convenient and inconvenient but for those who cant afford its a good alternatives for the freedom to connect with the web. I think it will attract students. Let’s see if it will hit Filipino’s taste to technology.

Are we ready?

With the Haitti and Chile earthquake causing a lot of damages not just into properties but also lives I begin to wonder, Is the Philippines ready for a massive earthquake.

During one of my class session in foundation engineering, we discussed about the earthquake that happened to Dagupan. My proffessor said it was like a warzone after the quake happened. Almost everything crumpled to ground. What was reaaly the cause? With a silty sand type soil the ground turned into a semi liquid behaviour, called “liquifaction”. Without a good foundation support some building had the first floor turned into basement. With only a building surviving the chaos (thanks to the pile supports) a general construction was called for future.

Most building in Manila are built without a plan. They are just merely a “rule of thumb” built by some carpenters with their construction knowledge. Ever heard of the thypoon that struck the metro? Most billboard are leveled becasue of poor construction method and the lack of knowledge about wind forces. Some old building are still occupied by some . Even with a visual inspection these buildings are not safe for residency. With the columns cracks and the slabs, no wonder a tiny shake will rupture this building causing a lot of casualties. They did some repairs, plastering cements to the cracks, but this wont help, as the building part acts a single unit.

Even if the building is properly calculated and planned, some are built below their respective design. Yay! Thanks to cheating in exchange for money. But who will risk their licenses anyway? Creepy.

This is a call to the industry. Build better buildings, a building that will be able to survive forces of nature. Even if it cost much higher than expected, lives of people using it are much expensive. We are being left behind by our neighboring countries. Like Taiwan, and others.  Inspect your house or the place where you live in and ask. Am i ready?