It was a virus - a virus that I could have easily removed if only I had better anti-virus software during those stressful times. The virus, now known to me as Win32 Parite B virus, entered the system after I installed an ISO –maker software. Okay, it’s (ALL) my fault. But I tried to get rid of it with all the remaining computer knowledge left in me…my comp. was on the verge of breaking down, and truthfully…so was I. The virus started to replicate in the contents of the temp folder in the Local Disk, and the only wise choice then (according to my goddamned antivirus) was to remove the infected file.  That’s just like murdering your own PC by pulling of its internal parts while it’s still alive and running. Symptoms: the blue screen during startup (where you select the user) is not appearing anymore, your System Restore is corrupted (it’s also enabled for the virus to come back and replicate), and you can’t open some programs anymore (no matter how hard you click your mouse) .

After I tried almost all the possible solutions, I told my brother that he should reformat the computer. Several days later, I just woke up to find that our computer is running fine again. My brother, being the computer engineer that he is, reformatted it and converted the OS to Windows 7. Truthfully, I found W7 much more amusing than our past OS (XP). It has several new applications and gadgets to offer, and (though with great difficulty at first) it’s easier to use than Vista. There’s my favorite Snipping Tool which allows you to capture a portion of your screen and save it as a picture file. The Calculator, in addition, can now serve as your standard, scientific, programmer, or statistics calcu. There’s also the Sticky Notes app., modified Window Media Center and Windows Media Player, and so much more.

I never even missed my XP with the new 7.

Well, that’s just some little techie talk. What’s up with me now? : I’ve been reading again the Night Shift of Stephen King [sometimes I’m wondering how he could tolerate having his name put up in front of such a demonic book]…

Adieu.

battle royale: an essay for eng 1

There is a common notion that the paths one must tread during his stay at the University of the Philippines (UP) are the windiest and the narrowest he or she will ever encounter in life. However, this perception of UP life is too much a hyperbole in my part, now that I can already call myself a true “Isko”. But still, such thoughts are inevitable to the public… especially if you’re one of those on the verge of reviewing for the UPCAT; knowing that was only just the antebellum of another book in the series of your life. In no doubt, the following suggestions are helpful, but not as effective as having the will and determination to survive. UP life, in simile or metaphor, is the survival of the fittest: If you’re not fast enough, you’re food.

            I wouldn’t call myself an expert with such matters (given that I was just a freshman beyond any extreme experience) nor would I call myself an ignoramus with no sense of awareness with my new environment.   Anyhow, here are my NINE suggestions (for the interested freshies and the incoming ones) to withstand the always-hectic UP life.

1.      Have your contacts ready. It is always better to have I-know-all-about-UP friends by your side – especially if you’re an easy-go lucky person like me. This is to assure that you won’t miss any important dates: first day of school, deadline of STFAP application, pre-enlistment period, and enrollment week. In addition, this will save you from asking too much questions when you’re in the battleground itself – trust me, you won’t like to be fooled into submitting a 3x3 ID picture to the UP Computer Center or going to the lagoon looking for TBA.

2.      Know when and where you’re going. Having a timetable of your schedule is better than waiting like a hungered scavenger for a postponed or transferred event. Classes in UP are usually held at different colleges, depending on the subject. Of course, the monotonous cycle of riding the IKOT and TOKI jeep, climbing the what-seem-to-be never-ending staircase of CAL and the ever-exhausting walk to the MB will soon register as memories in your cerebrum cortex.  Experience , as what our parents say, is the best professor you’ll ever have. (Hint: PE classes are often held at the UP gym on the first day of classes, not anywhere else.)

3.      Be a socialite. Having a bunch of friends or a close friend (or a more-than-close friend… just kidding) will definitely ease every burden that you carry in UP. Believe me, the terror profs and the highfaluting tests are just pinpricks (I didn’t state the size of the pin) if you have a good dose of laughter or inspiration from your friends. (Tip: It’s good to have newfound friends already on your first day so you can share first time views and experiences with each other, making everything else needed to be done just a breeze on both parts.)

4.      Don’t get paranoid. Grades are important to any student, and the sight of a 5.0 in a bluebook will definitely make any student in UP panic.  However (though you’re not aware of it), there is always a chance to get through that crease. Identify what part of the exam you really flunked then study your prof’s pattern in giving exams. Use your foresight and try to discover what he or she will give you in the next test.  You can also borrow samplex [sample exams] from the DLRC or attend organizations offering free tutorials and group studies to widen more your knowledge about the subject. Study hard, then study harder, and if that’s not enough, eat all your books and readings. Just kidding. Simply do your best and believe in your abilities. Remember, faithless is he who says farewell when the road darkens.

5.      Know all the quick curves and shortcuts. Whenever you’re in a tight spot, don’t panic. Learn how to solve the problem with your scholarly mind. If your brain is already on the brink of breaking down, use all my suggestions; usually, nos. 1 and 3 are of great help.  When the professor said that your student number or CRS is not on her class list (like what happened to me), know the roots of the problem then approach the authority who can aid you most likely. In my case, the OUR took care of all of it; though I don’t know why the Computer Center couldn’t do anything about my problem. Anyway, just a helpful tip: Never be afraid to inquire anyone about your problem, especially if you feel that it’s really a big one.  Likewise, asking questions is nothing to be ashamed of. That’s nothing compared to what will result if you still keep your head way up high.

6.      Don’t pressure yourself too much. Yes, maintaining good marks in one of the most prestige universities in the Philippines can really make you pressure yourself. However, don’t exaggerate with it. I have one suggestion to ease the stress though: Take a deep breath -think of it as gathering all your weariness and stress: all the failed exams, all the terror profs, all the beyond-annoying bullies, all the heartaches and all the problems in the family - then breathe it all out.  Just don’t do this in front of a person; you probably don’t want to breathe in another problem again.

7.      Be happy.  Make your life in UP at least less serious. Take your time and bond with your friends (only when you know you’ve got time to spare). Chat and share things with your friends. Smile often. Laugh a lot. Just don’t overdo it – you don’t want be called the next Zorro, I suppose.

9:26 am

“Naisip ko lang…di ba there’s no such word as “neutral”?” asked the man to his friend who, like me, were both staring into nothingness and listening to silence until it was broken by a/an (insert adjective here) question.

 “I don’t think so…kasi every two different things has a definite point between them,” contradicted the other.

“Hindi, kasi there’s nothing between good and bad. It’s either you’re good side > your bad side, or your bad side > the good side.  Hindi naman pwede laging everyone’s good side = to his bad side, di ba?”

“Uhmmm… pero di ba sa line, laging may isang middle point – midpoint, in short. So I think there is a “neutral” in every two different points,” he said calmly though there was already a hint of irritability in his voice.

“Wait lang. Ano ba ang definition ninyo ng “neutral” ? Baka magkaiba kayo ng tinutukoy na neutral,” interjected another.

… And they went on like this for the next more minutes…

Okay, I admit it. I uzi-ed on their conservation but I don’t think it’s my fault if I was gifted with such a strong sense of hearing. Also, they’re making themselves heard and those were just mundane things they’re talking about. No assassination plots mentioned. No future suicide bombings. Nothing special in short… just that “neutral” thing…

Anyway, I’m here again, reappearing after a two-month absence. I’m so busy with my schooling that I don’t even have time for my education… haha…Weird. Na-miss ko tuloy 4 –Aver… (27)…  <sigh>Also,  Michael Jackson’s dead. Cory Aquino’s dead. Albus Dumbledore’s dead… who’s next? Spongebob?… <another sigh>

Okay, so much for that… I just dropped by to update my blog and to lament, at least, on the former President’s death. If we’ll think about it, she’s the reason why we can write freely in our blogs and still live for another post.

Adieu.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

fun facts

While I was rummaging through my old books yesterday, I accidentally found this small paperback that, if my memory’s not failing already, I bought when Scholastic Book Club held a book fair in DBTC. It’s entitled “Sacks of Facts about People”, and if you can’t infer what it is basically all about, I wonder how you are reading this. Just kidding. Anyway, I just wanted to share to you some of the information contained in that small book which, I found very amusing, fascinating, captivating, entrancing…Whatever.:

·   The hydrochloric acid [(HCl (_aq.)] in our digestive system could dissolve nails.

·         The surface area of one lung is equal to that of a tennis court.

·         When your cheeks blush, your stomach lining does also.

·         There are small magnetic fields around the human heart and brain.

·         There is enough fat in the human body to make seven bars of soap.

·         80 % of our body heat escapes through our head.

·         A quarter of all our bones are in our feet.

·         We shed one complete layer of skin every four weeks.

·         The carbon in the human body could make 9000 pencils.

·         Only human beings smile.

·         We blink 25 times a minute.

·         Pope Adrian VI died after swallowing a fly.

·         Mozart wrote “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” at the age of five.

·         Julius Caesar wore a laurel wreath only to hide his baldness.

·         Pablo Picasso burnt some of his pictures to keep himself warm.

·         Napoleon’s wife could turn her ears inside out.

·         Attila the Hun was probably a dwarf.

·         Leonardo the Vinci invented an alarm clock that tickled the sleeper’s feet.

·         The word “set” can be used in 214 ways.

·         Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis is a lung complaint.

·         Fillings in teeth can pick up radio waves.

·         Tomato catsup was first sold as medicine.

·         The word “Abracadabra” was invented to cure hay fever.

·         In nearly every language, the word for mother starts with “m”.

·         The screwdriver was invented before the screw.

… and the list of more interesting facts that, probably, we aren’t aware of goes on… and I won’t be including all of them here…

Furthermore, I just want to cite my source [in APA style]… uhm… forget that I said APA … “Sacks of Facts about… People”.  Scholastic Pty Limited. 1993.

Adieu.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

random thoughts