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. ^^;;