Floppy Disk CDs!

A funny concept...

For those who miss old-school computing, here's some cool CDs designed to look like 3.5" Floppy Disks.

It's good to pay tribute to those times when you used to carry a case full of these 1.44 MB storage devices, all stuffed with homework and downloaded pictures.

Link: http://www.designboom.com/shop/floppydisk.html

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Escalator Hair Ad

This for me is a very cool ad that effectively takes advantage of the environment. Genius design...
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Last Movie I Watched: Cloverfield

That was one heck of a rollercoaster ride.

Despite negative criticism from my peers, the movie actually was enjoyable for me. It gave me a thrill I haven't experienced in a long time! The acting was great too, despite the cast being made of unheard-of's. And the effects and film editing... All fantastic. Everything in the movie seemed very genuine! J.J. Abrams (also director of my fave TV series, Lost) did not disappoint me.

I absolutely recommend the film, even when people say it's a waste of time...
Just bring a barf-bag with you... I'm in fact still dizzy from the whole experience.

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Moving, Living Art

Wonderful things are created when engineering and art collide.

Theo Jansen, a Dutch engineer and kinetic sculptor, has created works of art that are able to walk on legs using only the wind.
He calls them strandbeests, or "beach creatures", because he lets them walk freely on the beaches of Netherlands. The "creatures" are made of light electrical tubing, and resemble giant bug-like skeletons. The legs of these things are driven by flaps and wings that harness the wind. Jansen has even given them a form of basic intelligence; the creatures have 2-liter bottles that store wind energy for use during less windy days, and some models are able to avoid going into the water through the use of pressurized tubes and a simple binary step counter. These moving art-forms do not have computers in them, nor are they powered by electricity in any way.

See them for yourself:



Here is a video of Theo Jansen giving a live demonstration of his inventions:




His art looks so alive that he likes to call them "animals." He regularly upgrades these creatures through a "genetic algorithm" that simulates evolution.

I must admit, the things look creepy... But he's certainly a genius at his craft.

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XU Cheer Team: Open Qualifier for National Cheerleading Championship Finals

Xavier University's very own Crusader Cheerforce League came 4th place in the Elimination round for the 2008 National Cheerleading Championships, making the team one of 10 open qualifiers for the grand finals. This is a great achievement, being their debut in a prestigious national competition. They're also the only entry to come from Mindanao.

Here's the video of their performance:

And here's the list of the 10 college division qualifiers, and their respective scores:

1) University of Perpetual Help - 282
2) Central Colleges of the Philippines - 267
3) Palawan State University - 253.5
4) Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan)- 246.5
5) Ateneo De Manila University - 238.5
6) Mapua Institute of Technology - 238.5
7) Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig - 228
8) Lyceum Institute of Technology - Laguna - 213
9) Colegio De San Juan De Letran - 209
10) Mariano Marcos State University - 201

Those who did not make the cut were:

Rizal Technological University - 199.5
Technological University of the Philippines - 198.5
Adamson University - 193.5
San Sebastian College - 175
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila - 139.5
San Beda College Alabang - 124
Lyceum of the Philippines University - 121
University of Makati (exhibition)- 247

The performances will be aired on Studio 23, 6:30pm, college division pre-finals on March 9 and finals on March 30.
Congratulations, and good luck! Go XU! Go Mindanao!
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Amazing 3D Street Art!

The artworks you see in the images below are all chalk drawings on the street, made to look like they're 3D from a certain angle. It's so amazing! Artworks by Julian Beever:
Here's how one of the drawings would look like from a different angle:

... And here's what it'd look like from the correct angle:

Amazing, isn't it?

Check out the artist's other artworks here. Click here for full post…

How I Conquered a Virus

Today, I've outwitted one of the most formidable computer viruses that I've ever encountered.
I turned on my PC this morning when all of a sudden, my NOD32 Antivirus software detected a potentially dangerous malware called Adware.SecToolbar just a few minutes after the desktop loaded. It actually appeared twice, but the prompts noted that the file had been moved to quarantine, so I went on with my business as usual, confident with Mr. NOD32. However, I noticed that my PC was running unusually slow (unusual even for Windows Vista). Alas, I opened a My Computer window and out came a suspicious pop-up window which said something like:

NOTICE: If your computer has errors in the registry database or file system, it could cause unpredictable or erratic behavior, freezes and crashes. Fixing these errors can increase your computer's performance and prevent data loss.
Would you like to install SysProtect for free? (Recommended)

I knew right then and there that my PC had caught a bug, the nasty adware/spyware sort. I clicked on 'Cancel' on the pop-up. Regardless, my browser automatically opened a site for an apparently bogus PC-fixer software. To those who can't tell between legitimate and illegitimate software: you can always look up the name of the suspicious software on Google. Nevertheless it's always inadvisable to follow a strange pop-up's advice.
Later on, I noticed that whenever I opened My Computer, the window closes after a few seconds, and when I opened My Documents the Windows Explorer crashes and refreshes.
I resorted to scan my PC with NOD32, but it found no threats. I then tried System Restore and reset the system to an older time. But it did not disable the virus, and the pop-up thing started again.
I searched the net for some tips by typing in keywords related to the symptoms of the virus infection and found a forum dedicated to removing spyware called Spyware Warrior. There, I learned about an application that could log all running process on your computer and output it as a text file, for diagnostic purposes. It's called HijackThis, and it allows one to detect and stop running processes on your PC. However, it doesn't distinguish between good and bad processes, and so there's the risk that my PC could go into a worse situation if I mistakenly disabled the good ones.
I checked my startup files through MZ StartUp Manager, and saw a lot of entries with weird names. I disabled them immediately. I also checked the log output of HijackThis and saw some dll files with similarly weird names, so I disabled them also.
I then thought of seeking the help of AntiVir (a.k.a Avira), one of the more reputably effective anti-malware programs available. I downloaded the free version called AntiVir Personal Edition Classic from its developers' website, and installed it, despite my knowledge of a theory that one should not have more than 2 anti-viruses in one PC. To be safe though, I disabled my NOD32 while I started scanning with my new Avira.
However after installation the AntiVir On-Access Guard started to prompt about infections ceaselessly, and although I chose "Delete" in every prompt, another prompt would follow. The prompts got so many, I had no other choice but to disable the Guard. However, I was able to find out my foe's identity. It was labeled a Trojan variant called "Vundo", and it seemed to run on a system file called nnnno.dll. I checked the net and found out that the Vundo virus creates several bogus dll's in C:/Windows/system32. I tried to delete them, but they all produced an Access Denied error.
I stopped some more suspicious processes via ProcessExplorer, and disabled some more entries from the HijackThis log. I searched the net for Vundo-removal tips, and found a program specialized in removing this sort of virus called VundoFix. I downloaded and ran the application, and it searched for the fake dlls and other rootkits, and seemed like it crashed my system. But my PC just rebooted and afterwards, the pop-ups were all gone! My PC was back to normal and rid of the dreaded Vundo, save for some left-over system files (but were easily detected and deleted by Avira).
Whew, what a workout! It took me all afternoon to get rid of the damn thing.

So after all that, it seems necessary that I impart some of my updated knowledge about destroying malware and viruses in PCs:

1. Some of the symptoms of virus infections include reduced PC performance, unwanted pop-ups, unusual behavior, and frequent crashes. If you notice any of these symptoms, search on the net for possible solutions using keyword related to the symptom, e.g. "my documents folder closes unexpectedly"
2. Try first some of the local applications like System Restore and Disk Cleanup. If they won't work, download useful tools such as HijackThis, ProcessExplorer, and MZ StartUp Manager to detect suspicious or unwanted processes and stop them before they wreak more havoc.
3. Although having two antiviruses running at the same time on your PC can cause instability and crashes, it's ok if one of them is disabled while the other one scans. Each antivirus software has its strengths and weaknesses, so it might be useful to test more than one software on a possible virus infection. In my case, it seems that NOD32 was powerless compared to Avira, but the latter was also limited by file permission restrictions created by the virus. However, once the virus was disabled by the specialized VundoFix, Avira was efficient in cleaning up the leftovers.
4. Always backup your files in case of a virus infection such as this.
5. Do NOT download software before researching its reputation in other websites.
6. Do NOT mess with system registry files if you don't know what you're doing, else your PC could crash. If unsure, you can post your HijackThis log file on a forum dedicated to removing malware, such as SpywareWarriors, and let the experts help you.
7. Be very careful when surfing sites you don't know. Although I'm not sure exactly where I got the Vundo, I kind of suspected it to come from a site that provided keygens and cracks. Talk about bad karma.

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Ramiele Malubay: Another Pinoy on American Idol!

The Filipino flavor is eminent in this year's American Idol. We have another Pinoy American Idol-hopeful, this time sans the funny Philippinisms and the notorious Simon-praising song. This is definitely the real deal, as she proved last night on the Top 24 Performances episode of AI that she genuinely deserves a spot in the top 10.
She's Ramiele Malubay, a cute 20-year old from Florida who's as Filipino as her name suggests. And unlike the other Pinoy who auditioned this year (see related older post) she's someone who can make us proud, with her powerfully soulful voice and cute personality. She's got the looks and talent to go far in this competition.
So to all Filipinos and Americans in the US: Vote for Ramiele! Mabuhay Malubay! (got that one from the comment thread of the Youtube vid of Ramiele's performance, hehehe)

She was great last night with the song "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." So I do hope she stays long on the show. I'm excited to see more of this great Pinoy talent!

------------------------------------

Now, I just want to say here who my other favorites on American Idol Season 7 are.
I'd be happy if I could see more of Jason Castro on the show, because his performance the other day was really cool, and sounded professional and unique. He's got the dreadlock thing going on, which I believe could unconsciously help him get some votes (because by theory people vote the more memorable contestants). He's my fave from among the guy contestants. David Archuleta's not my favorite, but I'm sure he'll go far as well, as he's a hit with the girl teens. I bet he'll even get into the top 5, assuming he'll maintain a not-bad performance throughout the rest of the show. From among the girls, aside from Ramiele I have high hopes for Syesha Mercado and Alexandrea Lushington. Although I can't say anything final at this point because I've yet to see their other performances. I like Brooke White also, because she was great in Hollywood week with her piano and sunny attitude. However, I was kind of disappointed with her performance last night.

The contestants I want OUT of the competition now are Danny Noriega and Amy Davis, who are now the VotefortheWorst.com picks, for their really bad performances. Knowing America though, they'll probably let Danny the Gay Guy stay on. Americans love campy entertainment.

Americans... Spare us from another Sanjaya phenomenon. Please vote for the authentically talented ones this time.

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How Grandma Sees the Remote

Comic by Roz Chast Click here for full post…

Barack Obama Baked you a Pie

Annoying site!

But probably effective...LOL

I... can't... stop... clicking..........





Link: barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com
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The Wait is Over...

LOST is back! The latest season (4) is set to contain 16 episodes, but only 8 were filmed while the rest await the resolution of the dreaded Writers Guild of America Strike.

I just saw Episode 1 last night, and it was awesome!

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Last Movie I Saw: Juno

It's a simple plot that stirs complicated emotions. A very great performance by main star Ellen Paige (garnering a well-deserved Academy Award Best Actress nomination), a creative and humorous script, and a compelling story of life and love, all in this unusual feel-good film.

And Jenifer Garner's in it! Hehehe.

This is a definite must-see for everyone... :-)

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Your Favorite Websites on a Map

Call me a geek, but I must admit that I find this really cool.

It's called Web Trend Map 2008 and it's actually some of the most famous websites on the Internet laid-out like a train map.

I think this would be useful for avid web surfers (like me), though I'm not sure how...




The online clickable version can be found here:
http://www.formforce.com/webtrendmap3/trendmap2008.html

...but I think this is cooler:
http://www.formforce.com/webtrendmap2008A3.pdf

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Portable Photoshop CS3 Extended

You can now run Photoshop CS3 Extended directly off your portable USB drive!

With this thinstalled version of Photoshop CS3 you can do the ff on the go:

• Correct/manipulate images
• Create cool designs and digital art
  
• Crop/resize photos
  
• Design static webpages
  
• Create animated graphics
• Do design projects anywhere (for graphic designers)

It's a Photoshop user's dream come true!
Unlike other portable PS CS3 apps on the net, this particular one starts up very fast, and it's able to do almost all of things the regular version can do. It's also smaller than other versions; only 54MB, and almost the same size when extracted.


Click here to download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/3644055-2be

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Dreamweaver 8 Portable

Create static and dynamic webpages on the go with Dreamweaver 8 Portable!

This is a 'thinstalled' version of the popular Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 application.










Download here:
http://www.divshare.com/download/3643792-3c2 Click here for full post…

The Ugliest Olympic Emblem Ever

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are due to be held in London from July to August of that year, and yet several preparations have already been made. One of these is the designing of the Olympic logo, the symbol that is to be used to brand the entire gaming season, to unite all countries under it.
However, the organizers somehow managed to hire a total screwball to produce the 'sacred emblem.

The 2012 Olympic logo, unveiled on June 4 2007, has received mixed reactions from the people of London and around the world. However, organizers insist that it is the best they can come up with, saying that it "is an iconic brand that sums up what London 2012 is all about - an inclusive, welcoming and diverse Games that involves the whole country."

The new design was priced at 400000 Pounds (32 million Philippine pesos). A total rip-off, I might add, considering how many Africans would have been fed and given medical attention if not for this pathetic piece of junk.

The organizers added that the logo was aimed at reaching young people. Ironically, in a poll conducted by BBC, 80% of votes gave the ugly jagged emblem the lowest possible rating.

People have branded it with worthy names such as the "Toileting Monkey" and the "Art Project of a 5-Year Old". Others say they see Lisa Simpson or a man with big hair performing fellatio, while some claimed they see an inverted Swastika. (FYI, for those of you who don't get what the logo stands for at all, it's actually a malformed '2012')

Here are a few user-submitted alternative (better) designs for the logo:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6722205.stm

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My Top 15 Favorite Movies

As of January 2008.

15.) The Simpsons Movie (2007)
14.) 13 Going on 30 (2004)
13.) Finding Nemo (2003)
12.) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
11.) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
10.) Crash (2004)
9.) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
8.) Rent (2005)
7.) Schindler's List (1993)
6.) School of Rock (2003)
5.) Moulin Rouge! (2001)
4.) The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
3.) Hairspray (2007)
2.) Chicago (2002)
1.) The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Click here for full post…

Hilarious Pinoy Overnight Sensation: Reynaldo Lapuz

I'm dumbfounded... And I need a cure for Last Song Syndrome.

Should this reinforce my sense of nationalism, or should this be another reason why I sometimes wish I wasn't born Filipino?

Either way, I find this extremely hilarious...
After all those Pinoys around the world getting famous and giving pride to our beloved country, comes some weirdy-deirdy guy dressed in weirdy-deirdy clothes who weirdy-deirdly idolizes Simon Cowell with a weirdy-deird song.

I'm talking about Reynaldo Lapuz, a FILIPINO from Reno, Nevada, and his crazy song (surprisingly now sort of a hit in the US) called "We're Brothers Forever." He got famous overnight after his hilarious audition last Jan 16, 2008 on the latest American Idol season. See the video here:




And I actually agree with Simon Cowell's prediction: This is most likely gonna be a hit record. Hahaha

Here are the lyrics to his comical song, which by the way seem very distinctly Pinoy:

I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing this song's
the music that you love. <--- Note how sings the high note like April Boy here...
We're brothers
To the end of time,
Together or not
You're always in my heart
Your hurt, your feelings in you will reign no more
(Repeat 100x)

If you need affirmation that he really IS Filipino, just listen to the way he talks in broken English, his use of popular Philippinisms like "free of [ts]arge" and "give [ts]ance to everyone". And his name! Nothing beats that one.

You can check the forums, blogs, answer boards, wherever; he's 100% PINOY.
Reprezent.

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Your Favorite Books Available Online!

I stumbled upon this very cool site called www.intexblogger.com which features the most popular books in downloadable PDF format, perfect for reading on the PC or on your mobile phone/Palm/Pocket PC. It's updated regularly (it has a "EBook Feature of the Day"), and has most of the famous and interesting books known to every avid bookworm. And they're all free!

General fiction and non-fiction, fantasy novels, and even self-help books, she's got what every bibliophile has ever dreamed of buying...

I was thrilled to find that the site had a copy of Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Penultimate Peril" and "The End", two of the books I most wanted to buy. After I downloaded the amazingly light RAR files, I was a bit worried to find that they were password-protected. However, I just posted a message requesting for the passwords on the site and the reply came a short while after. The passwords for the EBooks all have something in common, so one request was enough to know the passwords for all the files.

As for the issue of legality, I'm not really sure. The site claims that the files in the site are "governed by the 'fair use' rule under the copyright laws." Eitherway I find this very noble; This site kind of brings back reading to everyone, and makes it more affordable and easy... Think about it! It's been a long time since I last read a novel, and now this site has brought back my love for books.

I plan on donating an amount to the good soul who came up with this brilliant idea! I also found out that the site owner is a Filipino/Filipina (not sure), after I found out that the site contains a section labelled "Pinoy's World." Just one question though... Where does the site owner get all these PDF books??? Click here for full post…

Dollars over the Net

I have a new resolution.

This year, I'm going to commit myself to earn money... in DOLLARS. $_$
So by the end of the year, I'd get the hang of what it is to have income (albeit probably a meager one, but hey, great things start small).

So far, I've started working as a freelance graphic designer through this site:

(You might wanna check it out. There might be projects there that suit your expertise.)

And now I'm setting up this blog for an additional purpose: Ads.
So I hope that can contribute to the income as well.

I also plan to explore other means of earning money online. So far I've learned one can earn income through taking online surveys, reading emails, playing games, referrals, online shopping, browsing using certain search engines, hosting an online forum, and many more.

The internet opens up thousands of opportunities, that I find it hard imagine how THIS resolution cannot be realized.
This definitely beats my usual "gain weight" resolution (Which, by the way, is yet to realize). Click here for full post…