Frozen throne

After a failed attempt of overthrowing enemies, we (Serg, Monet and I) were able to defeat them. Again. We were, like, freezing our butts on this throne for more than three hours just to overcome legions of hateful creatures. Mightily we have conquered them. What a sweet revenge it was.

Of course I'm talking about network games. What else could I be talking about? The stupid management? Inept government? Well, duh.

It's a good thing we only attempted playing the game twice. Otherwise, we'll be up to midnight. We won't give up until we have overthrown hordes of avengeful orcs, humans, night elves and undead creatures. We planned, organized, dissected and strategized our meager resources to beat them up. We integrated our powers to shift them off the map. To vanquish them. To uphold what is true and right. To uphold peace once again. To spread goodwill to mankind. For world peace! Clap! Clap! Clap! (Fake applause.) Oh heck, I'm just exaggerating. It's only a game.

Sarcasm in the brain

I belong to a 'kada (short for barkada) which is collectively called as Sarcastic People. This came to another name as S_Pipol, as homage to the text generation. I will narrate a longer story if someone nags me (or drags me) to draw our story out.

Dedicated to these odd, weird, complex yet good friends, I would like to share a fascinating discussion about sarcasm, taken from this link: http://snipurl.com/f31x.

There's a reason why some brain-damaged people can't comprehend sarcasm, and Israeli researchers think it's because a specific brain region has gone dark. The region, according to the researchers, handles the task of detecting hidden meaning, a crucial component of sarcasm. If that part of the brain is out of commission, the irony doesn't come through, the scientists report in the May issue of Neuropsychology.

Simone Shamay-Tsoory, a researcher at the University of Haifa, says that people with prefrontal brain damage suffer from difficulties in understanding other people's mental states, and they lack empathy. Therefore, they can't understand what the speaker really is talking about, and get only the literal meaning.

In experiments where 58 subjects were exposed to several "neutral" and sarcastic comments recorded by actors as part of a story, all the subjects understood the sarcasm except for those with damage tothe prefrontal area, which is above the eye sockets and behind the forehead. And among those, people with damage to a specific area known as the ventromedial area had the most trouble deciphering sarcasm.

The findings, Shamay-Tsoory said, could help rehabilitation centers do a better job of helping brain-damaged patients adjust to the world and understand other people.

Any objections?

Digression

Many events had passed me by last few days. Most of them involved movies. Briggs and I would often hit the mall to catch up on some new cinematic exploit. Last Saturday was Kingdom of Heaven. Monday was Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. Friday was La Visa Loca. This is what I call as "ubusan ng pera" galore.

(Shit. My mind just stopped churning out words again. I seem to digress with my writing lately. I hate this. But still, I have to post this.)

OK, my mind tells me right now that I should stop typing away and go the PLM to get my unreleased class card. It has not been retrieved, like, for two trimesters now. I should get it. But I would have to shell out five hundred pesos because, according to Serg, our class was undersized. To consider it as a full class, we should be twenty. I don't know what really happened but I would have to follow the process. Otherwise, I won't received my class card.

I'm off to school now.

Yun lang at babu.

Lunes

Summer classes had ended, thank goodness. Now I am back to bumming around. I've been listening a lot to pinoy rock lately. Salamat kay Briggs, last Monday, he handed me over some audio cds of Sponge Cola, Session Road and Bamboo. Buti na lang at orig yung naipahiram nya sa akin at di nahirapang basahin ng CD-ROM.

Sponge Cola's Palabas is a good album. It kinda reminds me E-heads' college type of music. One of my favorite SC song is Lunes. The lyrics are included in the album. Without further ado, let me share them to you:

Dahan-dahang lumalamig
Unti-unting dumidilim
Sa saliw ng 'yong pagtingin
Ang oras ay...

Bumibilis
Kumakaripas
Naghihintay na lang
Kasama ng ulan

At ayokong magising
Sa umagang nang-aakit mabuksan
Naninimtim, 'di alam
Walang patutunguhan

'Di mapigilan ang pag-ngiti
Paglaya mo'y minimithi
Nagyayaya nang makisayaw
Ang himig ay...

Nang-aaliw
Isang pagdiriwang
Sa ilalim ng bituin
Sa liwanag ng buwan

At ayokong magising
Sa umagang nang-aakit mabuksan
Naninimtim, 'di alam
Walang patutunguhan

Ayoko na
Hindi sinasadya
Hindi ko sinasadya

-----

(Will post some more. Serg is nagging me to play network games again. Hehehe.)

Babasahin mo kaya ito?

Hayaan mo ako
na makita ang daan
at malibot ang landas
sa sarili kong paraan.

Hindi ito dahilan
o hudyat
para ika'y iwan.

Hindi ito mangyayari.

Sa saglit na nawala ako
sa bawat pag-tiktak ng relo
segundo
minuto
oras
kung ilang araw man ang naging pagitan
na hindi tayo nag-usap
at nagkibuan
hindi ito ang tanda
na ako'y mawawala
o lilisan.

Hindi ito magaganap.

Anumang landas na aking binaybay
dinaanan ko ang mga ito
at patuloy pa rin napupuntahan
dahil ang landas na ito
ay pabalik sayo.

Magtiwala ka
di kita iiwan
babalik ako.

Patungo sayo.

Daan
/subnet-zero
052005

A row full of great smiles, great food and great people. Galing talaga ng Komiti. Wala na akong masabing iba. Hehehe. All images are courtesy of Kuya Arnold Ibay.

Ang sarap ng mga ngiti! Hehehe. Da best.

ACoES Komiti Reunion at the Baywalk last 13 May 2005. Serg, Monet, a guy in black shirt, Ate Pham (special mention po heheh), Queen, Art, Mark and Bray (left to right). Whew. Ang dami namin talaga nung reunion. Ang maganda pa dun eh treat ng alumni! Sarap talaga ng libre! Hehehe.

Loadful of smile. Hehehe. Oy Queen, ba't ganyan ang reaksyon mo?

Now Serg is in the picture. Hehehe.

Monet, me (whoda?), Art, Mark, Bray and Czel (from far left to right) . Minus Serg. This photo was taken when Serg was asked to introduce himself to the entire Komiti members. Well, all of us did. Hehehe.

A run in the mill

Should have posted something here last Monday. But I was too busy because last Monday I worked on my ComOrg final exam and checked out my student's case study. Yesterday was accomplished quite fine, if I should say. My classes had a review of the topics covered for the final exam. It did go well. Buti naman.

Though Monday was kinda disappointing. Only few students (bilang ko nga sa daliri eh) were able to present their case study. And it's not even thorough yet. I know, I know. I have this mentality of pushing my students too hard with difficult tasks. This is because I yearn for their growth. So that when they leave my class (after all of those hoolabaloos and wacky class scenarios), they will get something. Remember something. Kahit man lang kaunti. My friend used to kid me a lot, asking me constantly about my idealism. Kung idealistic pa nga ba ako bilang titser o nakikiayon na lang sa sistema.

(Wait. Hold on. Someone has PM-ed me. Parang nag-eexist yung word na yun ah. Hehehe. Gotta drop this down but I will post it now.)

Harold and someone else during Bray's birthday. Palaban ang big day ni Bray. Biruin mo, early in the morning, may school band na tumugtog ng Happy Birthday sa tapat ng bahay nila! Astig!!! 

Mark, Lot and a doppelganger (right to left). Taken during a barkada outing at Cavite near Bray's place. Check out Mark's tongue in action. Hehehe. 

Trip ko lang. 

Right now, this morning, last night

Just recently my last class in ComOrg requested for additional so that they can finish their machine problem. I never really said yes. But it must've been my jolly vibe that made them think that I did. Kapaaal! Hehehe. OK lang. Minsan lang naman 'to.

(At this point, my mind went blank. Like waiting for a slur of words to emenate. A rush of blood to the head. There it went. I happened again.)

I typed away while I waited for them to finish up. Come on thoughts just spring out, I told to myself. My mind is not cooperating at this moment.

I'll just shut up. Later.

*****

This morning Bray told me that Sir George (my college prof in Adamson) asked for my cell number. I asked her why. Apparently she did not know the reason. When I checked my not-so-fancy phone (read: jurassic), I received seven missed calls. Sir George was trying to reach me.

After few hours, I texted him and asked for a confirmation about the missed calls. But instead of a text reply, Sir George called up! Aba, mayaman. Hehehe. He asked me if I have finished my masteral degree and If I am available to move to Adamson to teach. Hearing this, I was, like, happy and shocked because I never expected my prof to invite me over. It felt good, knowing that the teacher you look up to is asking you to join their academic group. 'Di naman sa pagiging humble, but CoE Department holds a prestige for excellence. Haler. Cum laude kaya ako 'dun. Joke. Hehehe.

To make my babbling short, I declined. I told him, sayang kasi nasa contract ako. But this will be my last year. I just hope that my last two semesters will be a blast. And worthwhile. After this, I will move on with my academic journey. To a place not far from here. *wink*

(Side story: Sir George Daliva used to be my prof in two subjects: Intro to Internet 1 and 2. From these two subjects I learned about web programming. He is also our very supportive adviser in ACoES Komiti, my school org. I really enjoyed my college life in Adamson because of Komiti. Komiti members are smart, creative, fun and diverse. Wow. I've learned so many things from these guys. I am really thankful for that.)

*****

It was last night when my quest for a new bag started. I did go to SM Manila and scoured the entire establishment but I never found a worthy one. Napagod din ako sa kahahanap kahapon. While I was walking inside the mall (in other word, i am "malling"), Serg sent me a text and told me to come over to their spot and to play network games. Since I got burned from my crusade for a new bag, I accepted the invitation.

When I came to that place, there they were, Serg and Monet, playing Frozen Throne like hypnotized zombies. Joke lang, hehehe. They were like totally absorbed to their game. When they failed to over a difficult enemy, it's when I joined them. And played 'til past 11pm. Imagine, isa akong titser pero mukhang nalulumo sa paglalaro ng network game. Baaad.

From Pureza to Divisoria

Kay malas nga naman.

Briggs was over at Pureza to visit Claire. He texted and invited me to come over. With Claire's consent, of course. So I replied yes I'll come. After my last ComOrg class, I asked for directions and went to their place.

Claire. She was a very nice girl and all. Well read. Witty. Fun. Independent minded and talkative. Hehehe. I've learned many things about Nora Roberts, her fave author. She made engaging descriptions about the shelf filled with thick books by popular authors such as JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien and (who else) Nora Roberts. She and Briggs yakked about their academic life (they both study in UP) while I yakked about my work. Hehehe. It was a fun chat and all.

Briggs and I left her place at past 8pm. We separated ways and I hailed a jeepney bound to Divisoria. As usual, Divisoria is crowded. Steaming with stuffs and whatnots. Since the place was overcrowded, I pushed my way through to hail for another jeepney. But I felt weird while breezing though the crowd. I really felt something unusual. A fairly old woman passed my direction and immediately I knew that something went fishy. When I checked my bag, there it was. A huge (and I mean really huge) slash on my large black Jansport mailman bag. As if a large Siberian tiger dragged it's super sharp claws on my bag. I stopped for a moment so as not go berzerk about it. I stopped. I looked around. And walked again.

Later I found a jeepney, hailed it and hopped inside. Sa loob-loob ko, nasabi kong,"P***** ***, naisahan ako!" Sa tagal ko nang dumaraan ng Divisoria, ngayon lang nangyari ito. For 24 years, dyusmio. I know that it was the woman in white shirt. Nasira ang good mood ko. But I remained calm inside the jeep while hugging my torn bag.

Feeling ko parang nawalan ako ng puri. I was devastated because I love that bag so much. My bag used to be an issue to some because of it's size. One time, sabi ng isang stude ko, "Sir, ang laki-laki naman ng bag mo!" I just laugh about it. Naging extra pa nga ito sa ilang testimonials sa akin sa Friendster. Because I love this bag so much, I always bring it to any gimmicks. Imagine a large bag with nothing more to fill in except my eyeglasses, cap, towel, pens, tickler and others? Actually it could fill in five shirts and a pair of jeans. Ganun sya kalaki. Pero bwisit talaga. Siya'y niratrat at sinira. Napunit na. Ginasa ang aking bag. Ginahasa.

Para na yata akong obssessed sa bag ko na 'to. Maybe I became too attached to some important events in life. With my bag as a sole witness. Haaay, buhay nga naman.

In just few hours, I'll go to SM Manila to buy a new bag. Does this mean that I am going to replace my beloved bag? I don't think so. Gagawan ko ng paraan. Kukulitin ko si Mama na i-repair 'to.

O kaya, bibili na lang ako ng patches. Tatapalan ko na lang.

Cisco Conference 2005

Last Friday (and to think that this should've been posted last time), I attended the Cisco Networking Academy Conference at DLSU, Manila. It was kinda... what's the word should I say. Tamed. Yes, that will do. The event was tamed and relaxed. Not that as crazy as I expected, to think that it is a conference. We were like a hundred or so. All of us were from academe. Educators, if you may.

Luck was with me at that time and I won two prizes from several raffle draws. First was a coffee mug. After many delivered talks, then came the yipeee part because I won a 30% discount for the CCNA exam. Wow, nakalibre ako.

And the final portion was the distribution of certificate and the much-awaited black Cisco shirt. I think that the audience gave more awe and please with the shirt rather than the certificate. Hehehe.

Teka nga, teka. Parang ang serious ko yata magsalaysay nito. Bakit kaya?

I'm baaack

Welcome me. I have arrived. For some odd reasons, my own self is nagging me to own a blog. Again. Lorenz, ilang beses ka na bang nagbalak na gumawa ng blog? Ang totoo niyan eh, maka-limahong beses na. Pero ngayon lang talaga ako nag-attempt. I'm not sure about what I'm doing. But for gratification of my split personality disorder, this should help.

Will post some more.