Out With The Old, In With The New

Makati Medical Center will probably be my home for one week in July when we finally get the installation rolling by then. Two weeks ago, I made a preliminary site visit to MMC's 2nd floor ICU / CCU. I took pictures of the initial layout. The picture on the left is what it looks like now on one ICU room. The monitor on the left is a very old Siemens patient monitor. It's been there almost ten years now and sadly, like most technologies, things like these must be replaced. The newer breed of monitors are much more capable, versatile, and intelligent when it comes to monitoring patient's vital signs, like ECG. We will be replacing them with these babies, Philips Mp20, not only do they look better, they function better. It's like getting finally your old Nokia 5110 replaced with a Nokia N70. It's just interesting that, the same bracket that holds the monitor on the wall is exactly the same one we will be installing.. like using the same old holster for your cellphone.


And like a client server network set-up, the bedside monitors are connected to one or two remote central monitors from which data can be viewed and retrieved. The picture on the left shows the current Siemens central station. They are the two similar monitors on the right. The right one is a separate small monitoring network by G.E. Medical. And the Siemens central stations will be replaced by Philips' version of the central monitor using relatively common and cheap computer hardware (and obscenely expensive monitoring software).


And just this morning, we made a more intensive site inspection of the place. MMC ICU's ceiling is made up of (I think) asbestos panels that are held in place by metal braces and gravity. So you can push one panel up to reveal the cheese filling inside. A hellfire and brimstone, post-apocalyptic cheese filling. The view from up there looks like a scene from a disaster documentary or the future world from the Terminator movies. Just kidding. It's a mess up there, but it's probably tamer than the holocaust in our houses we call bedrooms. LOL! The image on the right is an access hole where data and electric cables are punched through across walls on top of the ceiling. And from what I've observed, we'll be inserting our own pipes through that hole. O.O;; *sweatdrop*


Just to end this entry on a high note. After we returned a borrowed flashlight to the hospital's engineering department.. I caught sight of this beautiful thing offered in front of a religious image on the 9th floor and took a snapshot. If anyone wants a 4MP unedited shot of the picture on the right, give me a holler! This entry definitely will get an update by early August.

Cold Hard Palay

Before there was Hot Steamy Rice, there was the Chornicles, pardon me, Chronicles of a Reverend. The first post I made was on September 28, 2002. This makes me a blogger for almost four years now. And four years ago, Kingdom Hearts (the first one) was my total obsession. My first layout consisted of images of Kairi (for my banner) and Riku (background) manipulated in Photoshop. I lost my original format due to dead online photo hosts, but the general look (without images) is still saved in my original blog archives. Sifting through my hard drive, I managed to find the images on the left which formed part of my original blog (since I lost the original html as well) and screencapped them.


The second version of my blog was a breakthrough for me and also the most controversial. One, it was the first layout which had me using an html editor and Photoshop hand in hand in laying out the images. Controversial in the sense that it was a vision of the "Third Impact" with a nude Rei Ayanami overseeing the destruction. And ofcourse the infamous copycat incident. Online friends will be very much aware of that and I intend to keep it contained within that circle. ^^



After the Third Impact, I introduced the power of the GIF image format on my layouts. And the GIF has been one of my most abused tools since this layout for two reasons: low file size and transparency. Along with CSS, I was able to make this rather crude html photo-stationary desk layout. I used photos of Parn and Deedlit from my favorite anime, Record of Lodoss War, almost like how a lover would write letters to his beloved who is very far away. I am quite proud of this layout and I'd make a much finer version, hopefully in flash, so it'd be cleaner, in the future.


Using more of GIFs and CSS and liberal use of Internet Explorer's CSS filters, I made my fourth layout from my current obsession at that time, Metal Gear Solid II - Sons of Liberty. Using fine lines, semi-transparent windows, and a monochromatic blue overtone; I achieved another breakthrough for myself. This one I considered the best of my layouts so far, until a computer manufacturer called Apple gave me a Clothesline from Hell from the toprope. I realized at this time that Internet Explorer may have the most number of users when it comes to Internet browsers. However, there are a large fraction of people who use Mozilla (and Firefox), Safari, Netscape (my first browser which I discarded after IE 4.0), and Opera (which I'm currently using now). Keyword of the moment was "COMPATIBILITY". My layout was compatible with no other browsers than Internet Explorer. Which kind of sucked. Still, I stuck for a time with this layout until I switched to my fifth and last Chronicles layout.


My fifth layout can actually be compared to my first one. It has practically the same format. I made this as a cheap answer to the compatibility issues bugging me at the time. The main concern was that the div overflow=on statement only worked on a few browsers and it destroyed my layout in other browsers. I used the main character from Brain Powerd as layout posterboy. Mainly chosen due to the artist's use of clean lines. And then Apple's Safari gave me a 619 and a West Coast Pop. My layout still did not work in that browser. Coupled with visitor comment issues (I did not want to use shoutbox or haloscan at that time), it was a clean 1-2-3 pinfall for The Reverend's Chronicles on pitas.



I realized using free blogging services is actually for good to the health. lol. Takes a huge chunk of coding away from you (does not count the fact that Chevs created this Blogger layout for me, thanks hunny bunny! ^^). I switched to Friendster's blog service (Hot Steamy Rice was born) and then we realized the format and layouts are totally limited for free users. It kind of bites when ten thousand people use the same layout as you do. And we have to pack our bags yet again..

You can still visit my old blog complete with all the entries on http://deacon.pitas.com and my friendster blog on http://thechronicles.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/.

Singapore Chronicles - 05

Date : 23 May 06
Time : 12:25 H

The electronics mecca of Singapore, Sim Lim Square. Everything electronic they have it here: digital camera, next generation consoles, portable dvd players, digital music format players, plasma television, sex toys, mobile phones, and tons of accessories! Just kidding about the sex toys part though.

Although compared to prices in Virra Mall / Shopsville, the prices are only a bit cheaper if not equal. And nothing compares to the second hand bargain shit that we have here at our home country (only to have it broken without reason after three days, but that's a different matter altogether). What you get here is the diverse selection and the guarantee you're not going to get ripped off (much). Singapore Tourism lists in their guides shops that are notorious for ripping off customers (most from this list are shops from Lucky Plaza), and Sim Lim somehow comes out well and clean.

It's several floors tall full of digital showcase. The games, you can try out the latest for free. They were featuring XBox 360 games when I was there. You can even print for free a few digital photos you may have with you on shops that cater to digital photography. Optical media compares to what we have back home, but still, CDR King pwns Sim Lim. XD

When it comes to portable electronics, it's no big advantage to buy your stuff here since you can sometimes get better deals back home. And when dealing with custom-built pc's, don't, it's much more expensive in Singapore. Stick to Gilmore and Virra Mall. One thing to take avantage of is the GST refund for semi-large purchases before you fly back home via Changi Airport.

Sim Lim is situated in the corner of Bencoolen and Rochor Canal Road. You can get there by MRT using the Little India (across Rochor Canal) and Bugis (look for Bugis street market and just follow Albert market road into Bencoolen) stations.

Anthology

I've been blogging forever it seems. I had three notebooks (plus the school diary) which I turned into journals when I was a highschool Junior and Senior. Every drop and facet of my complicated emotions were recorded into those notebooks. A whole lot of sketches, a whole lot of condemnations against society and myself, and a whole lot of proclamations for my highschool beloved. And those notebooks are practically 'online' for my friends (and 'friends') borrowed them from me and digested the contents of the crap that I write. I also remember that I wrote lyrics for love songs and not so love songs in my journals that made them all the more 'popular'.

Anyone who remembers me from highschool will always remember me as that dude who liked to draw, who loved comic books and video games. A total dork if you will. A total turnaround when you look at me now. I still love video games.. but I lost the 'talent' to draw. I was someone who had low self-esteem and high amounts of angst. Now those were the things I wish I lost today, but still cling on me like the scent of garbage after you linger past a ripe heap. And my journals were the only things that kept me sane during the tough and trying times of early adulthood.

Alas, I've lost track of where they might be not long after 2nd year college. I might have left them with a friend before we parted and went separate ways prior to college. OR I might have thrown them away. There's still this longing of nostalgia that you want to see them again. It might be an unwelcome reminder of a painful past, but it still is a part of me. No matter how I wanted them rid off, the memories of the past keep haunting you 'til the present.

And I now dedicate the future of my blogging to the memory of my unpublished past. Jeff of www.dubaichronicles.com might know where they are. Alam mo ba kung nasaan Jepoy? Nakay Eric pa kaya yung mga lekat na yun? So that I may scan the motherf*ckers and post them here and I can tell them, welcome home guys, you were sorely missed.

Next time, I shall dedicate an entry to my early days of blogging - August 2003 I started I think an if they still exist, I shall post the links here.

People look different here, kupo..

A shot of a moogle hiding in a flower vase.

I finished the Pirates of the Carribean world in Kingdom Hearts weeks ago. It made me think about those comments Sora, Donald and Goofy made when they first entered Port Royale. They all commented how things look different and how things felt different and exciting. At first I did not get why they were saying such, until Will Turner (Orlando Bloom's character) showed up.

For those not familiar with Kingdom Hearts, it's a game made by Disney and Square-Enix compiling characters from both worlds and adding a fresh new cast of its own. An omni-present character in Kingdom Hearts and Square's Final Fantasy Games is the moogle (a sketch of which is shown left). Now imagine seeing one that moves, lives and breathes on its own in front of you.

Now I imagine how Sora must have felt seeing Will Turner and Capt. Jack Sparrow. Although I would be really freaked out if I still see anyone turn into zombie or ghoul in the presence of moonlight, fantasy or reality. O.o;;;

Smackdown Hotel

"Well since Rock's baby left him, He's found a new place to dwell, It's down at the end of Jabroni Drive, ..Smackdown Hotel.." - The Rock, I Quit Match Vs. Mankind

This is the first time I have seen one of these. I've never even seen those cockroach baits (dubbed as "roach motels", they can check in anytime they like, but they can never leave..) in person, but I've seen them in ads, movies, and more ads.

This particular contraption is an ant trap. It comes in a pack of four, and it was meant for them to be deployed all at the same time. And it is effective for three months time (atleast that's what the packaging says). It's a very interesting object, piques the curious mind for the uninitiated. From an ant's POV, it looks like they're attending a Beetles Concert in Ant-raneta Center (okay, I know, terrible joke ^.^). And from our POV, it looks like a harmless cardboard flower which fell on the ground from a cardboard flower arrangement. That is until a queue of industrious crtitters start molesting the innards of the flower..hmm..maybe not the right choice of words, no?

I will get back to these after three months and see how was the concert like and interview the (dying) ants who just attended the grandiose event.

You Make Me Feel Brand New

The above picture is a good sign that:

a) there hasn't been enough rain in the past few days

b) the traffic in Metro Manila has gone from bad to worse to apocalyptic

c) someone took a month long vacation leave

d) utility vans have feelings too

Feels Like Heaven..

The above item is best used..

a) before the expiry date

b) where the sun doesn't shine

c) during flag ceremony

d) for general lubricating needs

900 MHz Stupidity

A little background about something that happened earlier while I was on the way to a product demonstration..

GSM or Global System for Mobile Communications is the most widely used standard for wireless communications in the world.

900 Mhz is the near microwave frequency used by local mobile phone service providers. The other frequencies are 1.8 GHz and 1.9 GHz.

A mobile phone is a device which allows communication between a similar device or a wired telephone unit using a technology like GSM.

SMS or Short Message Service or Text Messaging is a service provided in GSM networks which allows mobile phone users to send short, 160 characters-long messages to a similar unit or to an Internet PC workstation with messaging software.

Stupidity, as a noun and in concise terms, is an act of senselessness.

Now, if a total stranger claiming to be well, a total stranger, sends you an SMS proclaiming that she has no money and asks you for a certain sum (in my case, 500 PHilippine Pesos) as travelling expenses to go home to her hometown in the province and to place a long-distance call to a farther place within the country...well...now that's a combination of all the terms I mentioned above.

Singapore Chronicles - 04

Date : 22 May 06
Time : 20:45 H

Sorin Group treated us students to a seafood resto dinner by the Singapore River beside the Merlion Park. Same yummy stuff I had last time while I was with Bayer in Clarke Quay - drunken prawns, tofu, and the famous chilli crab!

Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures of the food because: (this is not a quiz. ^^;;)

a) my hands were covered in grease
b) they may not appreciate me taking pictures of the cuisine and not them.^^;;
c) Tiger Beer! XD

After that particularly sumptuous dinner, we headed outside for some picture taking! I joined every group pic, practically everyone had a digital camera. Me, I concentrated on the breath-taking monument that is the merlion as it spouts river water from its mouth and back onto the river again.

Singapore trinket souvenirs details a concise history of the country on the accompanying 'bookmark'. It is truly indeed, the "Lion City".

Beef Vision

It's a common occurence in our subdivision to have livestock running around the place. You get to live in an almost farm-like setting.. there are goats, cows, chickens, cats, dogs and humans running all over the place. ^.^ Empty lots make good grazing fields for the first two animals and mating places for the last animal. XD

Just as I was heading for home, in the darkness, the sight of this huge lumbering animal chewing aimlessly on the grass is quite something to behold. I whipped up the camera for a little snapshot. I took care not to get too close or I might startle the animal and hurl itself down the ravine, er, creek.

Anyway.. the above shot was taken by:

a) a night vision camera
b) a standard camera shot edited in Photoshop

Can't Stop The Taste Of...

The above chocolate bar from Cadbury is :

a) Pure Heaven

b) Delish!

c) mmmmmm.....twirl *drool*

d) ..I WANT SOME MORE!

e) over-rated (just kidding ^.^V)

Interesting Donuts

Go Nuts Donuts!

Wiki defines the donut or doughnut :

"A deep-fried piece of dough or batter. The two most common types are the torus-shaped ring doughnut, and the filled doughnut, a flattened sphere injected with jam/jelly, cream, custard, or another sweet filling. A small piece of dough, originally made from the middle of a ring doughnut can be cooked as a doughnut hole. Doughnuts are usually fried, but in rare cases the dough is squeezed into a ball and rested between the rims of an electric heater."

The above mentioned doughnut shop (the one I visited is on Robinson's Ermita besides UP-PGH) has some rare varieties of doughnuts which are really, really good. ^^

The one I tried was the caramel filled doughnut and it was very, very good! For a specialty pastry shop, this one really brings in customers. And I see (tasted) why. And for the month of June, their specialty is the "DAD"-shaped doughnut. Well, actually letter "D" and letter "A" shaped doughnuts. ^^ And the iced tea is really something, I've never tasted one like it before.

Above photo is a romanticized (a.k.a. photo-manipulated) snapshot I took earlier this afternoon of the logo of the shop inside just near the entrance.

Singapore Chronicles - 03

Date : 22 May 06
Time : 18:30 H

There's a 7-11 convenience store directly beside Bayview Park Hotel and it's one of those places I haunted frequently after training hours. They have the usual stuff priced just above normal, quick bites, a nook for the latest local and international magazines, a nook for Singaporean souvenirs, a shelf for travel essentials, a shelf for toys, a fine selection of contraceptives (an ad on the counter shows one for a special vibrating ring with condom, with a real cute tagline - I forgot exactly what it was but I remember one word: 'experience'.. go figure XD.)

Missing from Philippine 7-11 stores is a shelf of Japanese snacks. We all know Japanese stuff are obscenely expensive and it shows right here... then again, anything imported into Singapore is obscenely expensive. ^^;; One common way of packaging snacks in Japan involves cute cartoon characters or anime charas and is a real succesful marketing ploy for the little ones. ^^

If you have observed, one common Japanese snack is missing from my snapshot. Yep, it's the POCKY! There's an entirely different shelf devoted for that and the varieties are insane XD, including a favorite of mine (just visually ofcourse, I'd eat any pocky given to me... so start sending them pockies..j/k XDXDXD), the 'man pocky' a.k.a. pocky dipped in dark chocolate. ^^;;

Singapore Chronicles - 02

Date : 22 May 06
Time : 12:45 H

Just 4 hours into the training (which I will not post about, with due respect to the nice people at Sorin/Stoeckert - one of them said the guys from Terumo might read it and gain insight into the rival company.. she was joking ofcourse.. but still), I went out and took a little sight seeing into these cluster of buildings collectively known as the Singapore Management University.

According to the SMU website, they are the newest university in Singapore and boy, the people who built this place are really world class. They have patterned the university after Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, primarily, and they have the facade to show it. I am quite impressed. As in.

Each college and unique facility are housed in separate structures occupying an open compound in the district of Bras Basah. Kind of like University of the Philippines. Only, these are very much brand new (as you can see from my snapshots). Only the turnstiles (actually glass gates) keep away uninvited guests from entering. There are gates for visitors though I haven't tried to approach one. ^.^V

Each building is made with liberal amounts of glass, steel, marble (what looks like marble anyway), and flora. Which makes for very beautiful structures. Enjoy the shots.

Oh, you can visit the university on the 'net at www.smu.edu.sg

Singapore Chronicles - 01

Date : 21 May 06
Time : 17:15 H

7 days ago, I was in Singapore again for a biomedical service training for Sorin and this time, I was armed with a digital camera. I was not about to let this chance pass to do my usual antics with a camera in Singapore. ^^

Armed with this enthusiasm, I whipped out the camera right after immigration. Just inside Changi Airport, past the immigration line (of terminal 2) stood two foreign exchange counters. One was an American Express Foreign Exchange. The other was a United Overseas Bank. As I was approaching to exchange the money I brought into Singapore, several people went for the American Express counter. Only 1 or 2 people went for the United Overseas counter.

I observed the following from the American Express crowd:

a) most of them are Filipinos (like myself)
b) generally not acquainted with each other

Given that the US Dollar is the most stable currency (besides the fact it was the one I was carrying), I checked the exchange rate on both banks first before I approached any. United Overseas was paying better SGD for your USD but only by a fraction.

I exchanged my money at the United Overseas Bank, and told the lady at the counter that I don't get why the people exchanging their money thronged on the AE counter. The lady, with a laugh and a smile, told me it's probably because it was nearer from the immigration exit. And add to the fact that those people really did not even bother approaching the UO counter.

With those data, I deduced the following from the above: convenience is a real big issue, people, like electrical current, will always take the path of least resistance, this is besides factors like consequence, non-apparent benefits and rules.

Before making this journal entry, I made a computation of the exchange rate of the Philippine Peso against the Singapore Dollar using the USD-SGD exchange rate from both banks. If they made a PHP-SGD exchange, those people actually got a few more dollars than what would they have gotten otherwise. Which is a good thing ofcourse.

To be continued..

Lube It Up, Turn That Sumb*tch Sideways

Just to clear the smoke that turned the sky raven black, here's a little quiz. ^.^ The item on the left is best used...







a) on gaskets of pneumatic systems that need a little maintenance.

b) on the joints of your pet Aibo.

c) on the O-rings of your Anesthesia Machine so funny sleep gas will not escape.

d) on your body when you are shoved inside a prison cell with tough-as-nails convicts.

The Heart of a Lone Wolf

The heart of a lone wolf.

There's something within me that just forces me to go through life alone. A lone wolf mentality that makes me drive away friends and acquaintances and people near me. Once they get too close, something starts within me and makes me want to disappear from them. Close friends I had before, I left without a trace. Friends that are looking for me and found me, I still try to keep at bay.

That is why I have no qualms leaving this place and move on somewhere else.

And yet, this man loves. This man yearns for companionship. And this feeling and my other inner drive just mix and push my mind off the deep end.

I'm a real selfish man. And a weak one too. I sometimes can't control these inner demons. I leave people who need me and want me near them. But I want to be near people who I want to be with.

I guess, I'm just a man who has been through much hurt and pain and it still matters to me somehow. Any chance hurt and pain appears, I try to stay away from it. Whether I'm the one who causes it or the one who receives it.

But in the end, I still try. I know it's not enough I try only in my mind to rectify my errors, but I still try. Bear with me.

Now, I'm starting to rejoin the wolf pack of society. Be a head of the pack even. My inner lone wolf tries to destroy that newly born drive. But yes, I try. Try and crush that dark spirit that has haunted me for so very, very long.

I have my own pride now. A wolf pack I call my own. And I will protect them to the death.

-Myself, as a wolf-

It may not mean anything to you guys. That was my heart which spoke a while ago. And my heart, and everything it loves, means everything to me.

Finally.. the Rev has come back... to Baguio! XD

The summer capital of the country; the home of strawberries, pine trees, iceberg lettuce, wagwagan , sundot kulangot (XD), and phallic ashtrays (XDXD).

I was summoned to Baguio for a service call , a product demo for an ECG machine , and to collect a check for a previously rendered service. Three of my sales colleagues are going to Baguio to do their own product demo and representation. And I went with them to save on expenses for my important task in Baguio..

What I really did in Baguio was do a little sight-seeing, shopped for fresh veggies, abused the hotel cable service (Jack TV mostly XD, sad I know), and went to Camp John Hay! Obviously this is not what my bosses had in mind, but, for the shit I put up at work - you know what they say, when the cat is away - the mouse will play. *cackle*



First up, let's finish business with the service call and product demo in this nice hospital by Baguio Central University. The entire thing took 5 hours - less 1 1/2 for lunch, less 1 for lollygagging, less 1/2 for travel time, less 1/2 for waiting -- grand total of 1 hour lol. My service call practically only consisted of finding out who broke the ICU's monitor's pulse oximeter sensor. And my product demo practically consisted of phonecalls to my team, asking who checked the unit before it was sent to Baguio. Presenting how a non-working ecg machine works is beyond my mutant powers. XD The only good thing I got here is that I found the HRD manager cute. XDXDXD

After the above travesty, Eric (our Philips product specialist for North Luzon) and I went to Mines View Park to catch up with the other two who went to Good Shepherd for obscenely expensive pasalubong. Along the way, I took a picture of the mountainside. You'll only get to see pinetrees up here in the north in this country. And no, I did not take a picture of that smelly horse in Mines View.

And it's onto Camp John Hay! Eric suggested we see where they tried rapelling months ago on a previous trip. And there it was, a small adventure spot at Camp John Hay where they do paintball war games, wall climbing and rapelling. For a 100 php fee, you get to try the zipline and rapel down a 20 foot wall. Sounds good? Well I thought it was kinda expensive; but after a dare from our district manager that if I went through it, I'd get a free treat at Strawberries and Ice Cream! A sundae treat at that place costs more than 100 php, it's a bargain XD. So I went and suited up the crotch harness and dead-worn gloves needed to complete the course. Eric took a pic of me on the zipline while I was hurling invectives at everything. XDXDXD

The morning after, my left thigh and abdominal muscles (what muscles?) were aching for that stunt I pulled. XD

Well, I guess the rest of my trip is no longer important. It would've been nice if I didn't ran out of batteries and didn't know where to buy the following morning when I went to SLU - Sacred Heart. ^^;; Ah well, there's a nice view of the city from afar from the bus trip towards lovely, traffic-congested, smog-gets-in-your-eyes Manila! (I managed to buy batteries right before boarding the bus at about 11am. XD)

The 3rd Generation Wake

One of the Philippines' top mobile communications provider, SMART, will formally launch its 3G service this May. Click here to see the article.

What's most interesting for me (who has no 3G phone and has no future plans of acquiring one as of yet) is that 2.5G services are being caught in the 3G wave, and it's a good thing. One good thing that came out of this is that SMART GPRS services will now be billed 10 php for every 30 minutes of surfing irregardless of downloaded file size, from a 25 cent/Kb before. And MMS just got cheaper from 5 php to 2 php per message sent!

Sweet deal! Now I'm just praying that the people at the Palace will not unearth that crazy SMS government tax zombie that plagued this country with its rotten stench years ago.

The Da Vinci Code Movie Brouhaha

The Philippine Alliance Against Pornography made a bold statement against the showing of the movie adaptation of the Da Vinci Code and wants to declare Mr. Dan Brown persona non grata in the country.

The movie is set to be shown this May 2006 and already the interest of every common people is piqued. What does the Da Vinci Code film have to offer that would insult or debase the Christian Community in our country?

Dan Brown's version of the 'Holy Grail' is the bone of contention between the author and several Catholic groups around the world. Already Lebanon has just recently banned the book and the film (despite it being around for a very long long time already). And Catholic groups in Korea are also pushing for the ban of the film. And locally, PAAP is appealing to PGMA to push through with their plea.

From what I see, I don't think there's any difference between the novel and the film script, so, why are the religious groups voicing out their protests only recently? Only after the book has sold millions, after Sony has filmed parts of the movie in places with religious relevance, only after the film is being readied for worldwide release.

More importantly, why is the seat of all Christianity, the Vatican, mum about the controversy? Several people's opinions are probably right on. By fueling the controversy and getting everyone interested, Dan Brown and Sony stands to only get more monetary profit from the whole brouhaha. It's because everyone would want to see why everyone's raising their torches and pitchforks against the demon, Dan Brown. And giving him more money and fame is something I bet the religious organizations would not want to happen.

Why not let the movie have its run and let the people decide for themselves? Every Christian knows Dan Brown's version of the Holy Grail is way out there with space monkeys. Are they so afraid that it's so crazy it might be true and they're doing their early best to blow the fire down? It's not as if Dan Brown is making a universal proclamation similar to the Earth being round.

Just my 2 cents. And all kinds of feedback is appreciated.

The Da Vinci Code Quiz!

The owner of the above car is:


A) A Dan Brown fan
B) A Tom Hanks fan
C) A Ron Howard fan
D) An extremely satisfied Dan Brown fan that is thankful that the movie script did not deviate much from the novel
E) An extremely sarcastic Dan Brown fan that is pissed that the movie script deviated much from the novel
F) Someone who is the victim of either A, B, C, D, or E.
G) You?

The History of the World - Part I

With the lack of Lenten season viewing material..(spoilers below)

No TV (our Yagi-Uda points directly to the ground) and no religion themed movie on our collection, 'cept for "Saved", which I believe doesn't count for Lenten viewing. Then again so does the movie in my title lol. But, it's the closest thing with all the horror, action, comedy, horror (did I say horror twice? ^^V), and anime titles on our shelves.

25 years ago, Mel Brooks filmed The History of the World Part I. It detailed the history of the world from the dawn of time, to the Exodus, the Roman empire, the Inquisition, and the French Revolution. With Mel Brooks at the helm and playing most of the key roles and Mel Brooks patented double meanings, don't expect anything serious from this movie XD. As it says in the tagline, it always has a little something to offend everyone - especially religious fanatics. XD

And on this note, instead of a film review (Internet got lots of those lol), I'll leave you with memorable quotes from the movie:


The Biblical times:

Moses: The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these fifteen... *drops one of the tablets* Ten! Ten commandments for all to obey!


The Roman Empire:

Empress Nympho: What happens if they get captured?
Attendant: If they're captured, they're hung!
Empress Nympho: Not necessarily!

Swiftus: You are NUTS! N.V.T.S.! NUTS!


The French Revolution:

DeFarge: We are so poor, we don't even have a language! Just a stupid accent!

Louie XVI: It's good to be the king! *winks*

The Future of Trinity Blood

First of all, what is Trinity Blood?

It's a novel by Yoshida Sunao about a future earth where the last remaining inhabitable place on earth is the European continent. The Western part of the continent is inhabited primarily by Terrans (or normal humans) led by the Vatican pope and its high council. The Eastern part is inhabited by the Methuselah (or 'vampires') led by an ancient empress.

The novels primarily tackle the exploits of Abel Nightroad, a vatican priest, against renegade Methuselah forces with the complete destruction of earth as its primary goal. Yes, the vampires are not actually all bad to begin with. The novels on a large scale basis, tackles the conflict and politics from the different nations of the Terrans and Methuselah plus the original events leading to "Armageddon" leaving the world in such a state that only the European continent was the one left standing.

An anime was released regarding the conflict between the nations much to our delight. ^^

But much to our chagrin, Yoshida Sunao died shortly after the anime was announced. It left the story (the complete story) in a state where the final conflict between Abel Nightroad and the primary forces bent on total annihilation of earth is for all intents and purposes, unresolved.

I have read the translation of Yoshida's final work, The Trinity Blood Canon, where everything is revealed - the vampirism, the Armageddon, plus (here's the kicker) an outline of the story detailing the events after where the anime left off. It's still pretty much a long story and can be basis for atleast one more season of Trinity Blood TV. And it also leaves room for an OVA or movie regarding the story of Armageddon and the origins of the Nightroads.

The entire Trinity Blood story is excellent. If you've watched the anime, it's only the surface of a much more deeper story. And for a jaded reader / viewer like me where 'suspension of disbelief' can only get you so far, I can only say that if a translation of the novels come out I'd be one of the first to buy the hardbounds. hehe.

Kaze no Kawari

Ah yes, they are a'changing. The winds favor the vessel I'm riding on. It's almost abrupt the way the wind blew against us and then switched in no time it took to look over one's shoulder when called upon.

Engineering office is in for a big change. Real huge like. We don't know if it's only vestigial as the writings left on a white board after somebody erases it or if it's as tangible as the keyboard I'm typing on.

Last Monday, I was in for a huge surprise in the form of a general meeting for the engineering division. First surprise is, I didn't know I was part of that gathering. Memo only announced the attendance of the engineering branch supervisors. The Manila-based supervisors were not mentioned in the memo. And second, the amount of promises targeted as part of a major restructuring, professional image-wise and ISO-wise, for this year for our department as disclosed in the meeting.

First on the list is my issued laptop. I heard rumors from the MIS I'd be getting a petite PowerBook or iBook to replace this huge desknote-y Acer muscle laptop I have. O.o Whoa, Big Boss must be really serious with the restructuring. Unfortunately, if the thing can't interface with Philips' monitors, I'd have to stick with the Acer. Beggars can't be choosers. XD

Next are new sets of tools and uniforms! Well, nothing to shout about. But atleast we'd look very "professional" in our peach barongs and shiny screwdrivers. XD

Here's the final kicker... each engineering section gets a service vehicle! Since yours truly is a supervisor for the cardiology section, yours truly gets a new pair of wheels! XD lol, as if I owned one before. Madre de Dios, I don't even know how to drive anything that has an engine. XD

And then I woke up. XDXDXD

Well, with the exception of vehicle, everything else is money in the bank. The budget has been allocated, the laptops actually do exist on the MIS vault..

Here's to me hoping for a salary increase on top of all these. XDXDXD

Pennywise a.k.a. "IT"

suoh12 must be evolving as he can 'tag' four people simultaneously in the time it takes to click "publish post" XD

anyway..

How many schools did I go to?
Lessee.. St. Peregrine Insitute in my hometown for pre-elementary to 3rd grade; St. James School of Paranaque for 4th grade to highschool; University of Sto. Tomas for half of my college education; and AMA-University for the completion of my bachelor's degree in ECE - FOUR-NYO!

Was I the class "taiko" or the teacher's pet?
Short answer - "No". Long Answer - I have the charisma of a garden rock so even if I wanted to, never would have been able to.

What was the biggest rule I broke in school?
Lol, disturbing a classroom. I got berated in front of my classmates for that stunt. That was it. Tame huh?

Three subjects I enjoyed.
Drafting / Fine Arts; Science; English

Three teachers that inspired me.
Dr. Johanna G. Hashim (UST) - Gave me the 'instinct' for the English language; Mr. Concepcion (SJS-P) - The love of art; Ms. Bernadette Magtulis (SJS-P) - Concentration.

How much is that doggie on the taxi...

You might be wondering how the cute lil' doggie got there. Lol! It's actually an ad for a brand of tissue called "JOY". Nice.. Wonder how'd they do a similar ad for "FRENZY"? XDXDXD

I can smell the coffee..

...and a whole lot of other things that countless men processed through their digestive system and deposited right there in that pretty pink structure right smack in the middle of.. practically every public place in Metro Manila. XP

I don't see the point catering to men peeing into walls and posts and glorying the motherfucking habit of these people. No, I haven't used one, and never will. I've been to Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong and I don't see any similar structure like what your eyes see here. And for that matter, I haven't seen any place in those cities that reek of stale piss.

Is it me or is this country really going down one of those "pisspipes"?

Tumbling Down XD

This is a story about Lucky.

Actually no, it's a story about dumb, clumsy, and stupid. Me. XD

It's been an ugly habit of mine to cram my daily morning rituals before going to work. Which gives me precious little time for actual travel.

One fateful Wednesday, some weeks ago, I did a triple flip somersault with 1 1/2 twist on the stairs leading from the Cubao MRT boarding floor to the turnstiles.

Which what should've happened if I was a 15 year old gymnast gunning for Olympic gold. XD

But it just so happened that I'm a 28-year old engineer gunning for a broken hip and bruised ribs. XDXDXD Well to uhm, elaborate.. I only have several minutes before the golden time of 8:15 AM and wearing relatively new shoes and lightheaded from the nice nap while riding the train

*cue music: Komm Susser Todd*

I wasn't one of the first people alighting the train and I "tried" to pass the people who were in front of me on the stairwell. There I was, weaving, shaking, baking, and then.. *slip*

Well, I guess you could say I looked like I rode a street luge on a downslope street. Only there wasn't any luge nor a downslope. Only the cold, hard, unforgiving concrete stairs. And human instinct accompanying me, I grabbed a poor lady for uhm, support to save me from my horrible Olympic performance. The poor lady grabbed onto the stair railing when she felt a flailing hand groping for her arm (or handbag).What I got was a wild shriek and no support from the lady and I swooshed past the lady into the loving arms of the stair landing. XD Oh boy, The lady must've thought I was a pickpocket or sumthin'.

When the stunt was mercifully over, I picked myself up (the entire fucking thing felt decades for it to be over) and hollered an apology to the poor lady. I then made a beeline to the turnstile and briskwalked my bruised body (and ego) to the office. The time: 8:25AM - An Olympic Record! XD

For a week after my groundbreaking performance; my legs and hips hurt like gehenna, hell, the abyss, and pandemonium combined.

Moral lesson of the story: Don't wear sunglasses going down a dark stairwell. XD

Spatially Impaired

Yesterday, I got a numb left kidney from an FX Taxi ride from Greenhills to SM Megamall. --;;

Coming from an early day off from Cardinal Santos, I took an FX Taxi in front of Unimart bound for SM Megamall. The FX Taxi was empty. Naturally, if you were me, where would you normally seat yourself? The front of course. Hey, first come - first serve. After a short while, the rear and middle seats were half-filled. Then, along came Mr. Spatially Impaired. --;;

He was taller than me but as burly as I am, therefore occupying a bigger amount of space than I would. With a guy my size, only a scrawny guy (or a sexy babe XD) would fit in the front with me MAXIMUM. You guessed right, he squeezed himself in the front. Jesus H. Christ. I was shmooshed towards the kambyo (gearshift) and my poor little left kidney was squeezed to the backseat.

Never mind that this frickin' idiot is spatially impaired, he's also dumber than a pile of rocks - He's actually asking me to move a bit more because he can't seat comfortably. --;; Pakshet ka talaga hijo. 'Di lang sablay paningin mo, ubod ka pa ng tanga.

But oh, it doesn't end there. I said to the pile of rocks that if I move anymore, my ass would already interfere with the driver's gearshifting. Guess what the pile of rocks said - "Sige, ok lang." Translated - "That's quite alright." --;;

Never mind the physical pain the pile of rocks put me through, the indignity of suffering through his rock-bottom dumbness is quite more painful.