Misc Bday Pics

* 13 (jeez, how lucky can I get), 13 bday greetings posted by UP BLC around the SLIS/Kiosk area. O_o;;
* Drinking is BAD UP BLC card.
* Uber-sweet BLC Cheesecake. (Di namin matiis, sinample-an namin sa faculty lounge bago umuwi. :D)
* Peanut SLIS cake. :D
* UPLISSA Choco Cake.
* UPLISSA Pic with Post-it greetings (So alam nyo na kung sino may sala kung bakit may Post-it spam kayong natatanggap sa email nyo).
* Gelo's vandalism on my LIS163 whiteboard.
* Monkey wine from Bianca (made from real monkeys).
* Beowulf book from Dean Vy (ironically enough, I was reading again about making a cheap beowulf computer cluster, http://www.beowulf.org and http://clustercompute.com, just for the heck of it. No real use for a beowulf cluster, though).
* And the Good Night Gorilla book from Ma'am Grace. Hehehehehehehehe.

Thanks for the nice day, everyone. :D

Misc July Pics

What does a yoyo-poi-spintop-skilltoy professional give himself for his birthday?
A yoyo. (No brainer, actually.)

In this album:
1. My newest yoyo, Yoyofactory Red DXL large bearing DV888
2. Spontaneously at Sara's with Jen, Marj, Asia, Del, Chad, Bunski and the cat who sat on my lap last July 29. This is after eating at Grill Queen Maginhawa with Nix and Karen (who went home together) and the same Grill Queen where Marj and Asia found Mr. 10/10. Kung alam ko lang, inaya ko sina Stoi and Bianca. Mas masaya siguro yun... Or pati si Marian...
3. Interviewed today, July 30, by Rachel for an article on Librarianship and Information Science slated to appear in the Manila Bulletin. Was interviewed after Dean Vyva together with Iya, Eli, Kelvs, Chad (bago, hindi yung luma), Bianca and Noel.

:D

Yes, that is the same Cat who sat on my lap the last time six months ago when I was at Sara's with BLC and Harriet, Joan, et al.

Germany - July 24-25

Photos of the trip, preparation for graphics content of future presentation at Goethe Institut - Manila and graphics support for longer blog post.

Includes:
July 24 - Breakfast at Savoy Hotel, Visit to the German National Library (Deutsche NationalBibliothek, Frankfurt), Guided tour and discussion with User Services and Archiving department head Dr. Volker Hense, Visit to Frankfurt Public City Library, Guided tour and discussion with Mr. Jorn Hasenclever, Visit to the Goethe House, the catastrophe that is my corns from all the walking, Boeing 777-300 shots from the window seat on the trip home from Frankfurt to Dubai to Manila on July 25. My tour buddy was Mr. Jilven Amar of The National Library, our program guide for Frankfurt was Mr. Victor Herbeiu.

Germany - July 23

Photos of the trip, preparation for graphics content of future presentation at Goethe Institut - Manila and graphics support for longer blog post.

Includes:
July 23 - Breakfast at King's Hotel, My hair in the cold Munich mornings, how much cigarettes cost, Trip to Wurzburg, Wurzburg City Library, Discussion with Mr. Konig, Tour of the library with Mr. Ulrich, the Professions Totem in the center of the city, Trip to Frankfurt, ICE train, Accommodations at the Savoy Hotel, Tour of Frankfurt, the Major House, the Lady of Justice, Breakdancers in the plaza, Dinner at Steinernes Haus, Night shots, Bear souvenir from Ms. Elizabeth. My tour buddy was Mr. Jilven Amar of The National Library, our program guide for Munich and Wurzburg was Ms. Elisabeth Maria Stolberg. Our program guide for Frankfurt was Mr. Victor Herbeiu.

Germany - July 22

Photos of the trip, preparation for graphics content of future presentation at Goethe Institut - Manila and graphics support for longer blog post.

Includes:
July 22 - Breakfast at King's Hotel, Visit to Munich City Library, Discussion with Ms. Barbara Eder and Frau Koch, YA and Children's services, Ancient books at the Library of the University of Munich with Dr. Sven Kuttner, (yup, that is the 800AD Charlemagne's Bible), Beer and bicycles at the Winter Palace. My tour buddy was Mr. Jilven Amar of The National Library, our program guide was Ms. Elisabeth Maria Stolberg.

Germany - July 21

Photos of the trip, preparation for graphics content of future presentation at Goethe Institut - Manila and graphics support for longer blog post.

Includes:
July 21 - How much a Coke costs in Euros, Yoyoing in the hotel room to induce sleep, King's Hotel sights, Transport (Tram / Train) system, Visit to Community and School Library of Oberhaching, Ice Cream in the center of Munich, Discussion with the Library Head Ma'am Petra Walbrunn, Visit to Bavarian State Library, Discussion with Section Head Ma'am Dipl. Bibl. Ute Palmer-Horn on the Public Library System on Bavaria, Tour of the Bavarian State Library with Dr. Bielemeier, Visit to the Goethe-Institut, Discussion with Information and Library Section Head Mr. Jens Boyer and South East Asia Region Head Ms. Martina Bartel, The Chinese Beer Garden in Munich. My tour buddy was Mr. Jilven Amar of The National Library, our program guide was Ms. Elisabeth Maria Stolberg.

Germany - July 20

Photos of the trip, preparation for graphics content of future presentation at Goethe Institut - Manila and graphics support for longer blog post.

Includes:
July 20 - NAIA, Emirates Boing 777-300, On-board ICE personal media console (Information, Communication and Entertainment), Dubai International Airport, Shisha and brass goods, Arrival in Munich, Accommodations at the King's Hotel, Tour around the City, Apple drink at the plaza, Food at a BierGarden, Going "Bio" - organic beverages. My tour buddy was Mr. Jilven Amar of The National library, our program guide was Ms. Elisabeth Maria Stolberg.

LIS115 peeps: http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/07/26/what-happens-when-artificial-intelligence-gets-too-advanced-for-its-own-good/

World eBook Fair

http://worldebookfair.org
Download over 2M free ebooks at the World eBook Fair.

Just arrived at the King's Hotel. Visited a great library, the Munich Municipal Library. Also...got to see an illuminated manuscript, one of Charlemagne's Bibles at the University of Munich! Naiiyak ako. Ambilis pa ng swisscom.com net dito (kaso mahal, buti meron kasama 30min package sa room sa hotel). Mahal ang yosi, 17 isang box pero 4.50 euro. :( Will be going to Wurzburg and Frankfurt tomorrow. :D Pagod na naman sa train ride. May paltos na nga ako sa kakalakad. Pero over ang meals, pang-6-footer! Ayun, Tumataba uli. See you guys soon. :D

Visited the Bavarian State Library and the Community and School Library at Oberhaching. Am at the Goethe Institut at the moment. Will eat in a while. Tiring day.

Survived an 8hr plane ride to Dubai, a 4hr stopover, a mix up in boarding gates and another 6hr plane ride to Munich. Got to visit the summer palace nearby and ate bratwurst. Also rode the tram and train a couple of times to get around the city. All in all a good day. Enjoying myself so far. Tomorrow we go visit the libraries. :D

Gorilla Goes German

This is the third in a series of posts chronicling my quest to go out of the country for the first time. My first post regarding this is here: http://gorilla.multiply.com/journal/item/322. It was about my passport. My second post is here: http://gorilla.multiply.com/journal/item/329/German_Cut_Vis-a-vis. It was about the VISA. This is about packing.

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Gorilla Goes German: aka Doing Deutsche

I was finishing my packing for my trip to Germany when my cellphone beeped. I knew it was a text message so I just let it be for a while.


I was reading through our flight sked and itinerary:

July 20, 2009, 00:20-04:40. Manila to Dubai on Emirates EK 0335.
Then a 4-hour wait.
July 20, 2009, 08:35-13:00. Dubai to Munich on Emirates EK 0049.

Monday, July 20
13:00 - Accommodations: King's Hotel Center, Munchen
Afternoon - Proposed visit to Royal Palace of Nymphenburg

Tuesday, July 21
10:00 - Community and School Library of Oberhaching
14:00 - Bavarian State Library
16:15 - Goethe-Institut e.V.

Wednesday, July 22
10:00 - Munich City Library
14:00 - Library of the University of Munich

Thursday, July 23
08:20-10:28 - ICE 882 train to Wurzburg Central Station
11:00 - Wurzburg City Library
Afternoon - Train to Frankfurt Central Station
Accommodations: Savoy Hotel Frankfurt

Friday, July 24
10:00 - German National Library
14:30 - Frankfurt Public City Library
Afternoon - Goethe House, birthplace of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

July 24, 2009, 22:20-06:40. Frankfurt to Dubai on Emirates EK 0048.
Then a 3-hour wait.
July 25, 2009, 09:45-22:35. Dubai to Manila on Emirates EK 0334.

I'm hoping it would be a nice study tour.

I ran over what I had packed:
* Gadgets.
* Several shirts.
* Extra pants.
* One extra pair of underwear. Together with the one I'll be wearing and given sides A,B,C and D, I'd have enough for 8 days. That's 3 days more than the tour.
* One extra sock (not a pair). Together with the pair I'll be wearing, and (R) Regular side and (I/O) Inside-Out side permutations, I'd have enough for 6 days with no repeating sides and feet.

Given Sock A, B and C:
            Left      Right
day 1 - A(R)   +  B(R)
day 2 - B(I/O) +  C(R)
day 3 - C(I/O) +  A(R)
day 4 - A(I/O) +  B(I/O)
day 5 - B(R)   +  C(I/O)
day 6 - C(R)   +  A(I/O)

If shit hits the fan I could go 12 days utilizing the A,B,C and D technique.


My phone beeps again. It was a text from Derrick of the Embassy.

Derrick: Just wishing you bon voyage today.
Me: Thanks. But, Bon Voyage? Aren't you German?
Derrick: Dili man, dong.
Me: Teka, teka, teka. Bisaya ka ba o German? O_o;;
Derrick: "BERMAN" ini.
Me: "Berman?"
(I asked, knowing full well I would regret the reply.)
Derrick: Bisayang German. :D

Awkward SMS Silence.

Me: How did you get my number?
Derrick: It was in your papers. Also I confirmed it with Ma'am Lorie of the Language Center.
Me: ...
Derrick: Daan kayo Royal Palace of Nymphenburg?
Me: Yup. Aakyat ako sa tower, magsusuot ng kapa, ilalabas ang drumstick ko at sisigaw ng "LAVATE LAS MANOS!" ng paulit-ulit.
(I decided to just have some fun with this.)
Derrick: hahah. Nice Family Guy, HP and Swine Flu reference
Me: Thanks.

More awkward SMS Silence.

Derrick: So, balita ko may kasama ka... Si Jake.
Me: So?
Derrick: Selos me.
Me: Nyek! I really wonder why. What is it that you percieve we have?
Derrick: But... but... but... Didn't you write down "With love, Cody Havoline" on the pic that you gave me???
Me: I write that down on all my autographed photos!
(I texted angrilly.)

No beeping for a while.


Derrick: Oh, sorry. I may have misinterpreted that.
Me: It's okay. it happens to me all the time.
Derrick: Have a nice time there, okay?
Me: Okay.
Derrick: Try the strudel and the beer!
Me: Will do.
Derrick: K.
Me: k.
Derrick: ktnxbai.
Me: k.
Derrick: Babalik ka, ha?
Me: Pag may mayaman na kamukha ni Mandy Moore, Gina Carano, Reese Witherspoon, Kelly Hu o Kirsten Dunst na na-inlove saken e di na talaga ako babalik.
Derrick: K. :(

After a minute or so... I couldn't resist...

Me: teka, teka, teka... Bai ba yun as in "bai" o "bye?"
Derrick: make hula. :D

I didn't answer back.
I just wasted 17 pesos of my load. >:(

Anyway, as I was looking around my room, if shit does hit the fan... I'd bequeath stuff. Just in case I get caught in a German Underground Techno Rave stampede or mauled by a rabid German Shepherd in heat (yung tao, a. hindi aso).

My mp3s and vids HD, to Nix and Cate, they'll know what to do with it.
My boyband cd collection, to Jam.
My pc, to JM. He'll know what to do with it.
My T-back collection, to Jen. Para naman magkaroon ng diwata na naka-thong! Mwehehehe.
My T-front collection, divided equally between Marj, Wee, Gelo, Stoi, Pancho and Gus. Bwahahahaha!
My Marlboro Black packs, to Stoi, Migs, Bianca and Liezl.
My Archos, to Gelo.
My cams, to Iya.

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Yun lang...
Part fact, part fiction.
I really lack sleep. *groan*
Babawi na lang ako sa plane.
My mind is mush when I lack sleep.

Furry Aficionada: Condo Cats ep. 28: A Painful Welcome

http://furryaficionada.blogspot.com/2009/07/condo-cats-ep-28-painful-welcome.html
You know what I always say about me sneaking in names of my friends in my stories? Well, seems it has happened to me too. I've been IMMORTALIZED! (Ewan ko nga lang kung matutuwa ako.)

My old Questor friends Roland and Bambi Amago have made me a character in their webcomic "Condo Cats". Well... it's obviously me... Just click on the link.

Driving Without Wipers

Friday. Color-coding (UVVRP) day for me. This means I have to reach UP at 7am and can only leave at 7pm.

5:30am. Rain. Storm. Was on our way to Mendiola when San Beda, the school where mom teaches, called off their classes. Turned back. Mom had to walk a couple of blocks so I would save some time and do a 7am photo-finish at Diliman.

6:35am. Took Bicutan-SLEX-C5 en route to UP DIliman. Was already in the Pasig area when Dean Vy texted "No Clases". Yipee! Turned back and headed for home. Then... Disaster!

The minute I reached Makati-area / Fort C5, my wipers conked out! DAMMIT!

With limited visibility I pulled into the nearest (and last) South-bound gas station. I had to make a choice:

1. Wait for the rains to stop (UVRRP window or not) before driving off, or
2. Look for a repair shop and have the wipers repaired, or
3. Wait until 7pm and head home, or
4. Grit my teeth and bear it.

Painful decision. No. 2 seemed the most logical, but I doubted if I could find a repair shop. All I see are vulcanizing and radiator shops along C5. No. 1 was also safe, but then I could end up waiting for days, or, god forbid, option No. 3 which was the most dangerous. No wipers + Rain + Night-time = DANGER x2! I opted for No. 4. for my sanity. I'll just have the wipers repaired by our mechanic neighbor when I reach home.

I pulled out every trick in the book I knew.

1. First, I "sacrificed" one of my cigarettes. I mashed it up and wiped it on the windshield. Tobacco absorbs moisture. Hehehe, they don't teach that in driver's ed, learned that from a jeepney driver who lost his wipers on a stormy night way back in college.
2. Then, I drove off, sloooooowly. Rain smears on the windshield the faster you go. So driving slow made for higher visibility.  
3. I positioned myself higher on the driver's seat and occasionally looked through windshield areas not normally touched by the wipers. These areas smear less, the rain just beads on and trickles down from them making it easier to look through.
4. I utilized the CMT / CAT / ROTC "faraway look". Yeah, you guys without military training SUCK! (lmao) (joke) The voice of our commanding officer in my face shouting "FARAWAY LOOK! Look beyond me! GADDEMIT CADET!" echoed in my brain.
   Gee, those things actually have uses, hehehe. I fought the urge to look AT the windshield and looked THROUGH it (cue Yoda / Miyagi-san Karate Kid dialogue phrasing, "Look THROUGH, not AT!")
5. Geometry. Damn. This hurts the eyes. I just assumed the vehicle before me was the lead vehicle and aligned the car with it. DAMN, that's hard with low visibility.Road paint is a life-saver. Whew!
   
6. Muscle memory and road familiarity. I just tried to remember which pothole was where... How long and high were the gutters... Arrrrgh!
7. One factor in my decision was the fact that once I got off C5 I'd be driving UNDER the Skyway on my way to Bicutan. Built-in umbrella / canopy. No rain under that small world. Hehehe. 
8. I chose to exit at Bicutan since the roads were narrower, less chance of bumping into anything. Plus that's the road I usually take.
9. Cobra Energy Drink is my best friend. Heightened senses, enuf' said. :D
   
10. I was thinking, and actually tried, driving with my phone on camera mode held against the windshield. It actually works, things are smaller yet a whole lot clearer compared to looking through the whole windshield. It does get annoying and confusing seeing a small and a big version of things in front of you while driving. (This was my last resort, I only tried this when I was inside BF Homes already...)

Sample view, approx size as well.

Stopping and having the wipers repaired is still the safest choice, but I'm stubborn. (I wouldn't recommend doing any of the above thing I did under normal circumstances, it's here just in case you have to...) Just all in the wish that I could just reach home.

And here I am. Home... Disadvantages? My eyes hurt from the strain and I have a giganormous headache. But I'm home. :D

"Walang sinasantong bagyo sa gustong makauwi ng bahay." :D

updating LIS 115 and 163 online attendance records.

Wow, 15%

These guys never give up.
I got this from my yoyo forum inbox.
(doh)

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Dear Friend
For more details reply me in my via email address   
( gambachipo@yahoo.co.uk )
   
My name is Miss Chipo Gamba The daughter  of Mr and
Mrs  Banda Gamba of Zimbabwe
During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe
from the support of our President. Robert Mugabe to
claim all the white -owned farms to his party members
and his followers, he ordered all the white farmers to
surrender all their farms to his party members and his
followers. My father is one of the best farmers in our
country and because he did not support Mugabes ideas,
Mugabes supporters invaded my fathers farm and burnt
everything in the farm, killed my father and made away
a lot of items in my fathers farm.
Before his death, my father had deposited with one of
the prime bank in  Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire the sum of
US$5.5( Five million five hundred thousand  United
state Dollars ) After the burial of my father, I
decided to move to the Republic of Cote D,Ivoire  for
my safety, to verified the existence of the money  and
to look for honest and trustworthy person who will
assist me to retrieve the money from the bank in cote
d ivoire ;
He  deposited the money in the  bank with my name as
next of kin to the money for investment purpose.
I offer you 15%
For more details reply me in my via email address (   
gambachipo@yahoo.co.uk
 
Thanks and God bless
Yours
Chipo Gamba

Black

Marlboro Black - Reinventing Menthol

I bought this during the week. Why? Because it's black. And It comes with a free lighter. But boy, was I in for a surprise. Those who tried it too said it's at par with West Ice on the throat irritant category. Some quotable descriptions of a drag of this include:

"Para kang nag-yosi ng Cool Air at Judge ng sabay."

"Parang ino-Omega Pain Killer ang lalamunan ko!"

"Parang Linie-listerine ang baga ko!"

Hehehehe.

Weight Watch

Edited and updated repost:

Why do I keep tabs on my weight? Dunno. Maybe it's to remind me where I came from and remind me of where I'm going. I really can't afford to gain much weight. The family has a history of high blood pressure and heart ailments. Besides, I can't breathe and move if I gain a lot of weight.

Based on height / weight charts, at 5'6" - 5'6 1/2" my ideal weight would be 160 lbs. Heck, I haven't been 160lbs since college!

In late 2003 and early 2004 I was about 210lbs. Couldn't move without panting. By late 2004 I hit 171lbs because of overly-religious gym time while I was with Questor. That's 39lbs shed off! But that 171lbs is a "chilly" and "hungry" weight for me. Yup, I felt cold because of the fat loss. I think 176 to 180lbs is my mobile / normal operating weight for good ole big-boned gorilla me.

Update. I didn't check my weight the whole 2008 and early 2009. I'm assuming I hit 195lbs at some point. I thought I would be in that range right now.

Iya said I was a bit thinner when we met a few days ago. Curious, I weighed myself Iater that day at the San Beda clinic after fetching my mom. It's the same weighing scale I've been using since I was in Prep and Grade 1 (talk about old weighing scales). About 2 days later (yesterday) I found myself talking to Bianca about my weight. I told her that to my surprise, I weighed only 172lbs. I was expecting a value between 185 to 195lbs. No wonder I've been feeling cold lately.

Today I dug up my old weight watch static blog post over at gokitomo.com. I'm thinking of continuing it here. :D

Hmmm. Based on the table it seems the later years (2004) of Questor (anime mag) were good to me. The stint at the OFW and real estate publications (2005-2007) was a downward spiral (again). And... UP stint part 2 (late 2007 to present) is turning out to be good... Weight-wise.

Now what do I do?

The Gorilla's Weight Table

2009
July	172
2008
no entry
2007
October	176
June	186
February	183
January	186
2006
November	180
October	186
September	190
June	190, 188
March	182
February	182
January	184
2005
December	180
October	176.5
September	173.5
August	175, 176
June	180, 176
May	175
April	176
March	173.5
February	174
January	173
2004
December	171, 172
November	174, 176
October	176, 177, 174
September	180, 178
August	184, 182, 178
July	190, 188, 185
June	198, 194
May	205
January	210

Misc Pics This Week

UPcat, the stern, masungit white cat, the king of Main Lib cats, is nowhere to be found. The guards said he probably moved on to a quieter place after all the ruckus the renovations made. I miss that cat. But now there's tacPU, the docile and friendly black cat who's hanging around the Main Lib doors. I hope she stays. And in minor news, some UPLISSA and UPBLC pics. (lmao)

LIS 115 10-11:30 class assignment now up. Answer asap. http://sites.google.com/site/upslis115/Home/2009-07-09-questions-

LIS 163 peeps, exercise no. 1 now up on the site. http://sites.google.com/site/upslis163/Home/2009-07-08-pip-exercise-

McDo, Ice Age, Shakey's, Videoke

With Marj, Jen, Marian, Gigi, Cy, Lau, and Jong
Trinoma, SM, Jong's place
July 4-5, 2009

UP BLC GA planning

July 4, 2009
Kabaka Library
plus some guest cats.

UPLISSA Open Tambayan 09

July 3, 2009
5pm-7pm

Crude Oz Album launch

Crude Oz will be having an album launch on July 24 at Club Dredd, Libis. Check them and their carrier single "Straightjacket" at http://www.myspace.com/crudeoz.

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Go guys! Good luck!

UP BLC Apps Orientation

Kabaka Library
July 2, 2009
Unity in diversity

Kapihan sa SLIS 09

July 1, 2009
4-7pm
SLIS rooms 3 and 4

First SLIS college assembly for the year.

LIS 115 and 163 peeps, please check updates on course site re: assignments, reports, groupings, etc