Boston Public

The Departed

Now that the Oscars have given its nod to The Departed, I may plan to watch it, as long as its available on the local video store. Haven’t seen the actual Oscars show but I would have wanted to see Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg hand the trophy to Martin Scorsese. Coolness.

Bjork and Diddy

I’m not sure where this gif came from but I think it’s just brilliant. Diddy, the artist formerly known as P. Diddy, called up the exotic Björk.

There’s actually a second part but I guess I’m just gonna have to post it some other time.

Pizza, anyone?

Philippine Blog Awards

Yeah, it’s back. Hmm… I actually thought it got dissolved last year ’cause I haven’t heard anything about this since 2005.

Anyways, you can submit your favorite Pinoy blogs right here.

Fast Food Anthology II

Waiting In Vain

I am currently at my “other home”, staring at the ceiling, observing the synchronicity of the spin of the two electric fans in my line of sight. And here I thought about the memories and possibilities of the convergence of the present and the past, which happens to dictate a great deal about the clear and inevitable future.

I then realized the gift of the situation and succumbed to the fact that, in the myriad of things, these roads will diverge in a single thread. And although we’ll meet strangers, comfort will seep through our souls such that we literally no longer have to deal with the things which used to be.

Fast Food

I used to think that I could actually get by with fast food for an extended period of time. After a few weeks of reading through burgers, fries, softdrinks, and the like, I am close to calling it quits with fast food restaurants. It’s like my brain could no longer digest the thought of eating more of the stuff.

My fast food anthology officially ends here, I guess.

The Confidence Test

Result from Tickle:

Ver, your confidence level is high

As a result, you may tend view yourself as a wonderful, lucky, or energized person. However you probably also have your days when you don’t feel so hot. After all, you’re only human. Because of your usual high level of self-acceptance and belief in yourself, you’re generally open and accepting of others. People who come in contact with you likely appreciate this generous nature and may seek out your company.

Your intelligence seems to be the trait that you most value in yourself of the five main traits that affect confidence. You also seem to appreciate this characteristic in others.

If you say so…

Suburban Chronicles

Heat

Is it hot in here or is it just, um… hot in here?

I am sensing the first signs of summer the last few days because I find myself sweating a lot. Or it may be just a reaction to a paradigm shift I’ve had upon moving here.

Travelling

I’ve recently freed myself from the burden of commuting some 4 to 6 hours a day. Now I could spend my time and energy in work and play rather than travelling.

And I could even opt to just stare in a black hole and do nothing while the rest of my fellow provincianos are battling the rush hour traffic. Huhaw. Imagine that.

ISP

I’m still on the lookout for a suitable ISP that I could use at home ‘coz it’s really really hard for me to do my stuff knowing that I’m disconnected from the so-called information supercalifragilistic highway. I’ve considered PLDT and Globelines and ZPDee. None feasible.

Maybe wireless internet will save the day. Just maybe.

Choose and Lose

Downloads

Some software I’ve installed in the last few days.
Download at yer own risk.

1. Adobe Reader 8 – the new version looks nice and glossy but I’m having a hard time making the toolbars show up everytime I open a pdf file.
2. OpenOffice.org 2.1 – I don’t intend to replace MS Office, not yet. I just downloaded this to view a presentation from Sun.
3. PimpFish – nice Flash grabber that “just works”.

Yahoo! Chat

Now there’s IM right inside the Yahoo! Mail page.

Wasn’t able to try it out yet because, for some reason, the CSS for all Yahoo! sites in the office is blocked. I’m expecting something similar with the Google Talk and GMail integration.

Election

I never saw it coming but the elections are fast approaching. I’m not proud to say that I was not able to register, yet again, to cast my vote. Ok, ok, voting is a duty and all, but I would honestly rather be doing other stuff than exerting some effort to read the news about the country and its politicians and how everyone’s talking about politics rather than the real issues of the nation.

I think it would just pollute my mind. Then again, I could be wrong.

My Space

Moving

I’m finally moving tomorrow to the new room we’re going to rent and I’ll be starting to sleep there most probably on Sunday night.

Hmm.. does this mean I’m not gonna be late anymore for work? Hope so.

Thesis

My thesis writing is behind schedule. I’m supposed to have finished at least the Introduction by the end of this week and yet I haven’t even written the abstract, hehe.

I’m still building the information in my mind and I feel inadequate to start writing an introduction. It felt good, though, after I’ve finished writing the title page.

Photography

Maybe I should revive my point-and-shoot hobby since the places I wish to shoot at are now within reach.

My digicam now looks like it has existed way before digital photopgraphy was conceptualized.

Command and Conquer

Thesis Topic

It’s been weeks after I have conceptualized binary XML as the problem domain for my thesis. I have changed it to XQuery then to Python, and after some deliberation with my adviser, we came back to binary XML.

Here’s the (initial) title of my thesis: Optimized Integration of the Fast Infoset Encoding Format with the JAXB API.

Aguinaldo Highway

The more I pass by Aguinaldo Hi-way, the more I realize I am living in a third world country.

The mere mention of Emilio Aguinaldo reminds me of traffic and burnout.

I feel sorry for the General.

Hacking

Eric Raymond’s “tutorial” on How to Become a Hacker has taught me much more than what it promises. Here’s an excerpt:

Q: I’m having problems with my Windows software. Will you help me?
A: Yes. Go to a DOS prompt and type “format c:”. Any problems you are experiencing will cease within a few minutes.

Rule of Four

Four Jobs I’ve Had In My Life

1. computer programmer
2. test development engineer
3. photocopy machine operator –> those were the days!
4. freelance writer

For Movies I Could Watch Over and Over

1. Scream
2. Forrest Gump
3. Fight Club
4. The Matrix

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch

1. The Simpsons
2. Family Guy
3. South Park
4. MTV Fresh–> haha, can’t think of anything else kasi…

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation

1. Taal, Batangas
2. Sto. Tomas, Batangas
3. Bagiuo City
4. Makati City –> yes, I am on vacation

Four of My Favorite Foods

1. chopsuey
2. cinnamon roll
3. yakisoba
4. fish fillet

Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now

1. The Java Man (in Powerbooks)
2. at the office
3. in COS
4. Paris -> hehe, dream on

Four Things I Always Carry with Me

1. mobile phone
2. mp3 player
3. wallet
4. keys

Four Albums I Could Listen to Everyday

1. Blue – Third Eye Blind
2. Meteora – Linkin Park
3. Redemption Songs – Jars of Clay
4. Mirror Ball – Sarah McLachlan

Four Dead People Who Are Also My Heroes

1. Aristotle
2. Rizal
3. da Vinci
4. Neo

Four Things I’d Grab from a Fire

1. my PC
2. my books
3. my papers
4. my CDs

Four Musicians I’d Like to See

1. Norah Jones
2. Sandwich
3. Savage Garden –> the reunion
4. Jewel

Four Favorite Video / Computer Games

1. NES – Super Mario 2
2. NES – Battle City
3. PC – Yuri’s Revenge
4. PC – Sim City

Four Websites I Visit Daily

1. GMail
2. Google Reader
3. Wikipedia
4. MS Forums dot ph