Quaere Verum

Since I'm in a ranting mood, don't you just find it annoying the way SkyCable inserts advertisements for premium cable service, promos, dog food, etc., on channels that's aren't supposed to have commercials? Isn't the reason why we're paying for cable service is to avoid the numerous commercials on broadcast television? Since the programs and channels are already being paid for with our monthly subscription fees, then what's the big idea with inserting all those unwelcome ads? Nowadays, we're bombarded by spam, adware, pop-ups, SMS text ads, and now cable ads. I just find it all intrusive. Don't you? Ah...maybe tomorrow I'll be in a better mood. Its a new month.

After eleven days of following up on my PLDT myDSL account's sluggish performance, I've finally had enough. I'm lodging a complaint with the DTI tomorrow morning. What got my goat was their insistence that the problem was due to a network problem in our area. Imagine my annoyance when it turns out that my sister's DSL account was performing within 90% of her supposed allocated bandwidth, and it has been performing that way for the past several weeks now. Me? I'm stuck at less than a third of the bandwidth that I should be getting, and that's almost for the past two weeks. Network problem? Network problem my a**. That was the standard reason they gave my sister when she was having similarly sluggish service not so long ago. At the time I was getting about 430 kbps, which is significantly faster than what she was getting (but still way, way below the promised 768 kbps). After getting an earful from her, her service finally stabilized. Good for her. The service I...

Breathing Lifehouse I'm finding my way back to sanity again Though I don't really know what I'm going to do when I get there Take a breath and hold on tight Spin around one more time And gracefully fall back to the arms of Grace I am hanging on every word you say And even if you don't want to speak tonight That's alright, alright with me 'Cause I want nothing more than to sit Outside heaven's door and listen to you breathing Is where I want to be I'm looking past the shadows Of my mind into the truth and I'm trying to identify The voices in my head God which one's you? Let me feel one more time What it feels like to feel And break these calluses off me One more time 'Cause I am hanging on every word you say And even if you don't want to speak tonight That's alright, alright with me 'Cause I want nothing more than to sit Outside your door and listen to you breathing Is where I want to be I don't want a thing from you Bet yo...

Are law degrees equivalent to masteral degrees for appointment to division chief (Salary Grade 24) positions in the civil service? Due to the absence of a definitive answer to this question on the internet, I have opted to post one, with the hope that this would help clear up the issue. You wouldn't believe the number of times I've encountered this question, and hardly anyone I asked, even our Human Resources Department (HRD), could give an objective answer, nor provide a valid legal basis. Well, after some research, and a letter to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) itself, I believe the issue is now fully settled. The key to answering this question lies in CSC Resolution No. 030962 dated September 12, 2003 otherwise known as the Revised Policies on Qualification Standards . The relevant provision is Par. 9 which states: Completion of the degrees of Bachelor of Laws and Doctor of Medicine from a CHED-recognized institution shall be considered appropriate education for appoint...

Got this from May . :-) Greed: High   Gluttony: High   Wrath: Medium   Sloth: Medium   Envy: Medium   Lust: Medium   Pride: Medium   The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz on 4degreez.com

I think I'm finally getting the hang of this color accent shooting mode on my camera. :-)

Athlon 64 in blue and white. Athlon XP in red and black.

Now I know they're screwing with me. Check out this bandwidth test result I got only a few minutes ago: According to this, I'm getting almost 24 Mbps. Who do they think they're kidding? Oh I give up. I'm blogging about something else next time.

When will PLDT myDSL stop sitting on its ass and give me the bandwidth I'm paying for? It's almost a week since I complained about this, not only have they failed to adjust my speed, as it turned out my downgrade request made several weeks ago hasn't even been posted yet, resulting in my account being trapped in limbo. And where does that leave me? Here, plodding along at a pathetic 177 kbps, less than half the bandwidth I should be getting. Its a wonder they still have subscribers with service this lousy. If you're looking for a broadband service provider, save yourself the aggravation. Subscribe somewhere else.

It's five minutes past midnight, and I'm still awake. Must be all that caffeine and nicotine that I find myself relying on to in order to keep my mind alert while reading what seems to pages and pages of text. Well, the bottomline is, I'm not the least bit sleepy. Maybe in an hour or so I can turn in. So I sit here in front of my PC, typing whatever comes to mind, while listening to whatever random song Winamp blasts out through the speakers. Right now its playing a song entitled Living in Oblivion , by Anything Box from my 90s folder. I remember when I first heard this song, I think I was in my sophomore year at MIT . The song really lodged itself in my brain since it was basically what I felt about myself at the time - literally being afraid of making the wrong choices, eventually ending up in, well, oblivion. Its quite funny if you think about it. Fast forward about 16 years, and I still have those fears. I guess its because of all the uncertainty about what the future...

Theaters in Manila have stopped exhibition of the controversial film The Da Vinci Code on the basis of a resolution filed by the City Council which makes it “a crime to exhibit films which offend a religion” . It also states that “The movie is undoubtedly offensive and contrary to established religious beliefs which cannot take precedence over the right of the persons involved in the film to freedom of expression.” Those theaters who insisted on continuing to show the movie were threatened with imprisonment of one year and a fine of P5,000. My question is, since when has a City Council resolution been a valid basis for criminal prosecution, and subsequent penalization through incarceration and the payment of a fine? Can a person indeed be imprisoned and fined on the basis of a mere resolution, which, compared to an ordinance, is only temporary in nature and should only tackle ministerial issues? Shouldn't the proper course of action for the City Council is simply to enact an ordi...

How Old is Your Inner Child? My inner child is sixteen years old! Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while adults might just accept that, I know something's gotta change. And it's gonna change, just as soon as I become an adult and get some power of my own. Take this quiz ! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

I just finished the last couple of missions in Call of Duty 2 during the weekend, and I'm still suffering a bit of shellshock. Yeah, I know, it's been quite a while since this game first came out, I guess I just haven't had the time to play computer games as much I would want to - and for good reason, but that's a topic for another post. I was wondering what to put down in this short pseudo-review, but I guess I can summarize my observations in a few paragraphs or so. There isn't much to say actually. If you must know right away, the game's simply great . :-) Despite the game's greatness however, it is still a World War II FPS, and nowadays this genre has become so common that it has basically worn out all of the novelty associated with it. I've played basically all of the World War II themed shooters out there, and frankly, I'm tired of shooting Jerries (and Japs , for that matter). It's lack of originality and freshness notwithstanding, it...

Nasan Ka? Pupil Kaninang umaga Nagising akong may Bakas ng ngiti sa mukha... Kasama kita sa aking panaginip Sasabihin ko dapat sayo.... Pero wala ka na... Wala ka na pala... Wala ka na..... Naninisi, namimilipit sa galit... Umiikot ang aking paningin Sa mga tanong na di kayang sagutin... Di na makikita, di na mahawakan Ang maganda mong mukha pagkat... Wala ka na... Wala ka na pala... Wala ka na... Nasan ka? Nasan ka? Nawala nang parang bula... Wala ka na... Wala ka na pala... Wala ka na.... Mahahanap din kita Mahahanap din kita Mahahanap din kita Mahahanap din kita Mahahanap din kita Mahahanap din kita

It has been almost two weeks since PLDT downgraded my PLDT myDSL account (see previous post here ). Unfortunately, from that time on, I've been receiving less than half the bandwidth I'm entitled to. The P999 monthly plan should give me 384 kbps of bandwidth. I'm only getting speeds in the 160-180 kbps range. It's actually the same thing before, when I was still paying two grand a month. They should have been giving me 768 kbps then, I was only getting about half that bandwidth, somewhere in the 430-450 kbps range. When will these people get their act together and just give me the bandwidth that I'm paying for? I called their customer service number and complained about the low bandwidth allocation two days ago, and up to now I'm still browsing and downloading at such low speeds. I'm getting tired of PLDT screwing me around. I only hope they fix this before I do something drastic. Like going back to dial-up. :-) Suffice it to say, that I'm not a hap...

Another quiz! :-) Hay, ala na namang maisip i-sulat. :-) What Type of Soul Do You Have ? You are naturally born with a gift, whether it be poetry, writing or song. You love beauty and creativity, and usually are highly intelligent. Others view you as mysterious and dreamy, yet also bold since you hold firm in your beliefs. Take this quiz ! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Yesterday I got to see the movie everyone has been talking about, Ron Howard's film adaptation of the Dan Brown bestseller, The Da Vinci Code . I watched it at Theater Mall in Greenhills, since it was the closest theater that was actually showing it. Apparently SM and Ever Gotesco, the two malls closest to where I live opted not to show it, no doubt because of the controversies hounding the film since day one. It's not even shown in Manila , the Philippine capital itself, due to an ordinance (actually, it was just a resolution) enacted by the city council. Even the Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita got into the picture, calling the film "blasphemous". Such a disappointment. Like I keep repeating over and over, the movie, and the book it was based on, is just a work of fiction . Somehow I can't really understand why it has gotten so many people riled up. I guess it's because of the immense popularity of the book and the hype that has been surrounding the mo...

It's been quite a while since I last posted a quiz result, so here's one. And I think it really hits home. :-) What Do You Need in Your Life? [dark pics] You need understanding. In your life there has been many people that could never seem too comprehend your personality. Now you have either become an out-cast because of their narrow minds or you have adjusted yourself to them, and never letting them see who you are deep inside. You now think that no one will ever understand you and you hate that fact. Though you are scared of what the effects might be if you would decide to let someone in so you keep a safe distance that you both curse and bless. Take this quiz ! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

These are the 25 greatest power ballads of all time according to VH1 : 25. Close My Eyes Forever - Lita Ford 24. When It's Love - Van Halen 23. It's Been Awhile - Staind 22. Still Loving You - Scorpions 21. Silent Lucidity - Queensryche 20. Love Song - Tesla 19. Only God Knows Why - Kid Rock 18. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) - Cinderella 17. These Dreams - Heart 16. How You Remind Me - Nickelback 15. I Remember You - Skid Row 14. Keep on Loving You - REO Speedwagon 13. Again - Lenny Kravitz 12. Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue 11. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica 10. Is This Love - Whitesnake 9. Sister Christian - Night Ranger 8. Love Bites - Def Leppard 7. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison 6. November Rain - Guns N' Roses 5. I'll Be There for You - Bon Jovi 4. With Arms Wide Open - Creed 3. Beth - Kiss 2. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith 1. Open Arms - Journey Now I know I'm getting old. I know virtually all of them. :-)

After I've upgraded my main PC several weeks ago (see previous post here ), I ended up with a surfeit of fully functional PC components just laying around the place. Rather than disposing of them, I thought it would be a good idea to build a backup system around these components. It helps to have a second PC in case you have problems with your other computer, that is, there would always be one available that you can use to download drivers, utilities, and look up knowledge bases with. A second PC would also maximize the use of my broadband connection, and it would give my son a computer he can use anytime without waiting for me to finish what I'm doing. Additionally, I thought it would be a good opportunity to build a system with a meager power draw that wouldn't suck up that much electricity when left on most of the time. My main rig is unsuited for this purpose since a lot of power hungry peripherals are installed in it. Here's the system I ended up with: Processor: ...

Pictures taken out of sheer boredom...:-)

That's not a camera, that's a camera...:-) Impressed by your 5, 6, 7, 8, or even 10 megapixel digital camera? Clearly you're easily impressed. Have a look at this 39 megapixel monster from Hasselblad : The Hasselblad H2D-39 . To put that resolution into perspective, a single, uncompressed, RAW image taken with this camera will occupy about 78 MB of storage space. Compressed, about 50 MB. With that sort of resolution, you can take a portrait of someone and zoom in all the way to his or her zits. No, make that the zits on his or her zits . :-) Not only is the resolution impressive, but the image quality also stands out, with the virtual elimination of color aberration and significant reduction in picture distortion. The size and weight of this digital is also nothing to sneeze at. Weighing in at 2,175 grams (that's more than two kilos, or almost five pounds), it's heft rivals, even exceeds that of full blown video cameras (especially those of lesser pedigree). It...

32 Flavors Ani DiFranco Squint your eyes and look closer I’m not between you and your ambition I am a poster girl with no poster I am thirty-two flavors and then some And I’m beyond your peripheral vision So you might want to turn your head Cause someday you’re going to get hungry And eat most of the words you just said Both my parents taught me about good will And I have done well by their names Just the kindness I’ve lavished on strangers Is more than I can explain Still there’s many who’ve turned out their porch lights Just so I would think they were not home And hid in the dark of their windows Til I’d passed and left them alone And God help you if you are an ugly girl Course too pretty is also your doom Cause everyone harbors a secret hatred For the prettiest girl in the room And God help you if you are a phoenix And you dare to rise up from the ash A thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy While you are just flying back I’m not trying to give my life meaning By demeaning you And...

If any of you are wondering why I didn't post anything on Saturday, here's a hint why I wasn't able to: Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness - Chinese proverb. Thanks to typhoon Caloy (known internationally as Chanchu ), power was out for almost the entire day. And we were lucky, some households only got power the day after. Thank the heavens it was only power. The latest toll put the deaths as a result of typhoon Caloy at 37, mostly in the Bicol region and in the Visayas area. Poor souls. May God have mercy on them. We would like to think that we're so technologically advanced, that we're immune from the elements. Nothing can be further from the truth. When nature speaks, all we can do is listen.

Happy birthday to May , who's celebrating her birthday today. Many happy returns!

To my Mom, my sisters, my son's mom, my friends, and fellow bloggers who are all moms... Happy Mother's Day!

No, really. If you have a new or fairly new computer, and you've noticed your electrical bills go through the roof, your PC could be to blame. While PCs today have reached a degree of technical sophistication and processing power unheard of only a few years ago, the price for performance seems to be electrical power, and lots of it. It used to be that when buying or building a new PC, the primary considerations were performance, and cost. Nowadays, you have to factor in power consumption as well. If you're the type who leaves his or her PC on all the time, which is isn't really unheard of in these times with the popularity of broadband internet access, the cost of electricity can really add up significantly over time. And the two biggest culprits are the brains of your PC, the Central Processing Unit (CPU), and (to a lesser degree) your video card (see earlier post here ). As far as contemporary CPUs are concerned, it seems that Intel processors are the worst offenders. To...

I am thankful... For the husband who snores all night, because he is at home asleep with me and not with someone else. For my teenage daughter who is complaining about doing dishes, because that means she is at home & not on the streets. For the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed. For the mess to clean after a party because it means that I have been surrounded by friends. For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat. For my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine. For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning because it means I have a home. For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means that we have freedom of speech. For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation. For the noise I have to bear from my neighbors because it means that I can hear. For the pile ...

After almost a month, PLDT finally informed me that they were downgrading my PLDT myDSL account without charging the P5,000.00 downgrading fee (see earlier post here ). All I can say is, it's about f***ing time. It's a good thing they agreed. If not, I was all set to have my service cut off and go somewhere else for my broadband needs. The clincher is, why should I pay double for supposedly up to 768 kbps of bandwidth, when what I'm getting is only 400 or so kbps? Moral of the story? Don't be afraid to speak out if some company is giving you a shoddy deal. As a consumer, you have rights. And if you're not happy with the service or product you're receiving, take your business somewhere else. You'll definitely be better off, rather than paying for something that simply isn't worth it. Besides, that may be the only thing you can do to get back at them. In business, a client lost, is a client lost.

Five (5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people. 1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. 2 - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain One night, at 1...

I must be getting old. Let me correct that. I am old. Is 33 old? It sure feels like it sometimes. The Father of the Katipunan Andres Bonifacio died at 33 (1863-1897). Alexander the Great died at age 33 (356 BC-323 BC) The Oklahoma Bomber, Timothy McVeigh , was 33 when he was executed in 2001 (1968-2001). Jose Rizal died when he was about 35 (1861-1896). Actors John Belushi and Chris Farley died at 33. Even Jesus Christ was somewhere in that age bracket when he was crucified (8-2 BC - 29-36 AD). Well, except for Timothy McVeigh who caused a lot of needless death and destruction, each and everyone of the names above managed to change the world or at least leave some legacy by the time they were in their thirties (arguably, McVeigh did that too, albeit in a negative way). And me? Am I dying? No, not really, except for the usual rate. Could it be that I have passed my prime without realizing it? Did life just pass me by without me being able to make a useful contribution to mankind?...

Light and Shade Fra Lippo Lippi He will paint the light and shade The colors of the trees He will climb the steepest hill Believing what he sees He will lay down on the ground Beneath the old oak tree He will sleep forever If you try to set him free Sail on the wings of the clouds Where to well nobody knows And cry, cry if you want them to see Die, everyday to be free Be proud, to wear the colors that you call your own Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see Be weak, if you want to love. He will paint the end as sea A mystery to me He will reach out for the sun Not dreaming what he sees He will fall down on his knees Angel touching ground Takes him to the other side Sweet love is coming down Sail on the wings of the clouds Where to well nobody knows And cry, cry if you want them to see Die, everyday to be free Be proud, to wear the colors that you call your own Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know Be strong, hold th...

Anniversary greetings to my parents who celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary yesterday. Also birthday greetings to Sonny Bravo. Great party man! :-)

It's been two months or so, and yet I still can't seem to locate a bottle of Del Monte Banana Ketchup. I've looked for it in a number of different grocery stores, no dice. And it used to be so easy to find. Could it be that they actually phased it out? Am I the only one who has noticed this?

I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax, pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root, and still be afraid of a spider.

Yesterday I received the following forwarded email from at least two people: My sister's co-worker has a sister in Texas, who with her husband was planning a weekend trip across the Mexican border for a shopping spree. At the last minute their baby sitter canceled, so they had to bring along their two year old son with them. They had been across the border for about an hour when the baby got free and ran around the corner. The mother went chasing, but the boy had disappeared. The mother found a police officer who told her to go to the gate and wait. Not really understanding the instructions, she did as she was instructed. About 45 minutes later, a man approached the border carrying the boy. The mother ran to him, grateful that he had been found. When the man realized it was the boy's mother, he dropped the boy and ran himself. The police were waiting for him and got him. The boy, dead, in the 45 minutes he was missing, was cut open, ALL of his insides removed and his body cavit...

I was somewhat perturbed when when I read former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) head Manuel Morato's column Uncensored , in yesterday's edition of the People's Journal . You see, I've always been an admirer of Manoling . I even voted for him for Senator (believe it or not). I don't always agree with him, but I admire the fact that he doesn't compromise on matters of morality and that he has always had a clear stand on issues. He doesn't flip-flop or adopt a view just because it's popular, unlike some other politicians. He has been that way from the beginning, and he's still that way, up to now. On the negative side, I find myself flat out disagreeing with some of his opinions, simply for the very reason that they often reek of sanctimony and self-righteousness, as if he and he alone should be making such decisions and interpretations for the rest of us. Of course, that ma...

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for...