Tuesday, June 12, 2007
E-GAMINGwhile hanging out with the guys in one of the gaming cafes somewhere in the city, a guy was viewing something that happened to catch my attention (and no, it is not what you think it is) he was watching a live tv coverage of the MSL (Most Special League) yeah i know, the name sounds kindda lame. but never the less, the league is actually one of many league's all over korea which features progaming tournaments in starcraft (yes, good 'ol SC) they get sponsorships from bigshot companies like samsung and they even get support from the korean government. unfortunately for me, i had no idea that there was such a league and that Korean's despite the many online games that they developed still had the utmost dedication and fanaticism to Starcraft (to the point that highschool students, mostly girls, would cut class just to watch their favorite, good-looking SC player play) makes me wonder sometimes if a time will come when people here in the Philippines will accept pro-gaming instead of condemn it. (it's the 21st century for crying out loud!)
and then it struck me, one of the jobs for the modern era would have to pro-gaming. yep, technology has given rise to what we now call e-sports. and although it hasn't reached the same level as actual sports, there is a slowly rising appreciation for e-gaming. and little do most of us know, it is a very lucrative market. if basketball players endorse shoes, e-gamers endorse keyboards, mouse (mice), earphones etc. and people actually pay just to use the same gear as their favorite pro-gamer. i later found out that one pro-gamer lim yo-hwan other wise known as Slayers_boxer whose name is synonimous with starcraft makes around $300,000 a year excluding the $90,000 he makes in endorsements. these people actually make good money out of playing computer games. but don't be fooled not everyone can make that kind of money easily, yet alone become a pro-gamer. people like them spend 10-hrs a day playing, (hey it's a profession) some of which never see the light of day for almost a week because they are stuck at home (or at their club house) playing. so you start to wonder, do they actually still have fun by playing? i really don't know.
QUOTE: "Pardonnez-moi, monsieur. Je ne l'ai pas fait exprès. " (Pardon me, sir. I did not do it on purpose) -
Marie Antoinette, after she accidentally stepped on her executioner's foot. These were her last words.
drummerboi at 5:37 AM
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
PERIWINKLEits been a while since i last posted something, since then a lot has happened. as a matter of fact, so much has happened that i don't want to talk about it. hehe :P
but never the less, i still want to let a few things out of my head.
while i was talking to our house helper, just the other day, our conversation came to a point when i started becoming nostalgic about a few things. and somehow, being nostalgic can make you regret a few things about past decisions. i dont mean to be all sentimental and all, because i hate it, but there is a time when we all wish that we had done something "back then" in one part of our lives. and so, i started talking about how i regret not showing my appreciation for things and for people around me. how i failed to see things even when their right infront of me (both literally and figuratively speaking) because i was looking for something or someone else.
and you know what... Manang, as i would call our house help, said something that i never quite expected, not to mention something i will never forget. "Kabalo ka, mao na ang ginatawag na periwinkle."(You know what, that's what i call "Periwinkle") she said. and i was like, "Duuuhhhh..."
so she explained:
"Manang's Periwinkle Effect"
ever noticed those flowers that grow outside the house. those little violet flowers that seem to grow just anywhere without you having to take care of them? they are so common that we tend to overlook them. never noticing them everytime we pass them by on our way to work or to anywhere we might be going. but the thing is, despite our unappreciation for them, when their always there to add "beauty" to our surroundings. and when the time comes for them to wither, only then do we realize that there is something missing. but alas it is too late. such is the case in life, we go on, chasing after something, or someone (how many times have i heard that before) that we fail to see the opportunity right in front of us until it is too late. alas, our life is full of periwinkles! (certain words where added to add a "dramatic effect" to the effect... ok, that sounded weird)
so after she said this, i was like.. "WHOAHHHHH!!!!, where did you here about that?" she simply said, "I made that up...."
would you believe that!!!????!!!! such insight, such enlightenment, such... whatever. the point is i was really amazed about how she came up with that. and how true it really is in my life, (and perhaps yours as well.)
Crazy stuff i read:
We've all heard about people having guts or balls.
But do you really know the difference between them?
In an effort to keep you informed, the definition of each is listed below.
"GUTS" is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, "are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?"
"BALLS" is coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass and having the balls to say, "You're next!"
drummerboi at 1:45 AM
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Principles of Mathematical Induction (PMI)i dont know about you guys but for me, PMI was one of my most hated topics in math. but i just can't help but but appreciate it now that its gone. this post isnt really about PMI, otherwise i would have just posted a link that can best describe and teach PMI. the 1st sem is over but i can't help but remember my teacher in math 17. he was a good guy. even though he was strict when it comes to his lessons (his name send chills across the corridors of the College of Science and Mathematics even as i write this) but anyway, im not here to write a tribute or something to the guy. im just here to recall something he taught us one day.
Sir Gaquing's PMI version on how the school is slowly killing us...Just imagine how a small piece of chalk made him come up with such a rationale.Prove: why the school is slowly killing us.
Proof:
Sir: student's you know what's the problem with this school. they charge us teachers for everything we, when we need to have our paperwork processed, we pay. when we need to do blah blah, we pay. and yet despite that the school issues us teacher's "cheap" school supplies for teaching just like this "cheap" piece of chalk, (cheap being the type of "non-dustless" chalk which easily breaks). now the problem is that we teachers are exposed to the dust of this chalk and eventually continuous exposure will lead to health problems like tuberculosis. and if that happens, eventually the students will also get sick. that is why the school is slowly killing us.
wow, now that's what i call a proof...
note: i did'nt quote him verbatim but what he said was something like that.
drummerboi at 2:37 AM
TRalalalalala....ahhhh, its been a while since i last wrote something. come to think of it, its been a while since i last stretched these fingers of mine. fortunately for me, i was working on some other *ahem* ASPECTS of my game err, i mean self. so sorry for the "stagnant" blog as i might call it. so anyway here i go again, back to blogging....
drummerboi at 2:30 AM
Monday, September 18, 2006
RUN baby RUN!here is "part 2" of my encounter with Murphy's Law.
mom said that is what most people do when they go to cebu from iligan, go to ozamiz to catch up with the boat. so i figured everything was going to be ok.. until i missed the earlier bus to ozamiz by a few minutes. i even saw it on the highway on my way to the terminal. (
JOH's tsk tsk counter: 1) but that didnt disourage me, the time was still 5:00 pm so i knew i would make it.
i was able to get on the bus after a "few" minutes (5:30 pm). and finally i was on my way to ozamiz. i was both fortunate and not when a lady and her 4 year-old (i think) kid sat beside me.
apparently, the girl knew the place where i was going so she said that the trip would take an hour and a half so at 5:30 pm i figured i would make it (the boat leaves at 8). so one the way i just listened to my mp3 player and tried to enjoy the scenery despite the gut feeling inside me telling me that i might not make it. oh, did i mention that the 4-year old (i think) kid was eating ice cream? well just like any kid that you see eating ice cream, the ice cream was all over his hand, melted and sticky. so just like any kid you need somewhere to wipe your hands...
Inner kid: nuts, my hands are wet and sticky, oh look, this kids pants are perfect!...
(
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 2)well aside from that, things weren't looking too good for me, i was running late, apparently, the bus had many "short-ride" passngers so we ended up stopping frequently. i had about 30 minutes left and the time was already 7:00 pm. (
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 3) and to top things up, it was raining (
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 4) so after a few more stops, finally i arrived at Mukas, where one rides a barge to get to Ozamiz. and just when i reached the terminal, i saw the earlier barge leave, right in front of me, if i were just stupid enough, i might have even jumped! so i missed the barge (
JOH's TSK TSK counter:
5) by a few meters.
so i had to take the next barge (duh!) the time was 7:30pm. mom told me that i might not make it so she suggested that i go to the captain of the barge and ask them to tell the captain of the boat that there was still a passenger (me) in the barge. so being the "thick-skinned" bastard that i was, i approached that guy who might look like a captain on the barge. i asked him what time would the barge leave and that im in a hurry to catch the boat.
Inner Captain, or something like that: oh great not another one of those late passengers.
the captain (or something like that) said that we were going to leave at around 7:45pm (
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 6) and unfortunately for me the barge was slow! (
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 7) so what else could i do but sit and wait, unless i was willing to swim all the way to the otherside (come to think of, it must have been better if i did that)
finally the barge leaves... or at least i think it is. (indeed the barge was so slow, i had to look at the water to know if we were actually moving or not)
it was a case of the strange phenomena known as "so close yet so far." i could actually see the boats including the one i was about to take (or at least the boat that i might take). and just when i was nearing the dock... the boat was undocking (
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 8) something in me was compelling me to jump and swim for it (kindda like the feeling one gets when looking down from a tall building, or is it just me, hmmm.. i must be psychotic) but anyway, as much as i wanted to, i didnt, it wasnt worth all the "hassle." so practically speaking, right in fron of me, the boat was leaving right in front of me while i stood helpless... (
JOH's TSK TSK counter: 9) oh well, life is isnt always fair. immediately i rode the same barge back and for some strange reason, the thing seem to have moved faster back compared to when i was headed for ozamiz! (must be a conspiracy of some sort) i reached home at around ten (i still had enough time to go to the city and drown all my sorrows away, nothing like a good game of DoTA usually does the trick). buyt hey, i enjoyed the little adventure and the following day i WAS able to ride the boat to cebu (thats right, my mom made me catch up) but if you ask me there's one thing i learned from this experience... don't join the Amazing Race, it might just end up being a heart breaker.
drummerboi at 4:17 AM
Monday, September 11, 2006
TSK... TSK...We all go through some crazy stuff once in our life, times when Murphy's Law starts to take effect, the time when you-know-what hits the fan, the time when nothing just wont seem to go right, the time when... i think you've had enough...
so anyway here was one of those days...
The Misadventures of .... whatever (Part I)as far as i can remembr, i didnt wake up on the wrong side of the bed (heh, i dont even sleep on a bed in the first place, i sleep on a couch) i was finally going to cebu, but since it was the institute palakasan (intrams) i had to represent our college in the quizshow competition (bummer, i would've preferred a burger eating contest). since the boat here in this poor little city leaves at 4 pm and the quiz show was moved to 1pm, if ever i missed the boat here, i would catch up with my mom and the boat at ozamiz, approximately an hour and a half away from iligan.
so yeah, it didnt seem much, just answer the questions and get out of there as soon as possible, plain and simple. but it wasnt what i thought, joh has just entered the zone where ordinary things dont happen... very often.
to make things less wordy and short, at the quiz show, the coordinators (from the other colleges) wanted to disqualify our team because we didnt "register" (sounded more like appear) on time. as expected, my teammates, the teachers, the entire college was disappointed... but me? ha! i was pretty happy, at least i didnt have to catch up and risk the chance of being left behind >:)
but just like anyone else, no one would go down without a fight so of course the teachers and the students complained, pleaded, petitioned, demanded (blah blah blah...) that the decision was unjust (to be honest, it really wasn't fair on our part, but i didnt care, what mattered most was to get to cebu right? >:) so after wasting an hour or so on wether or not were disqualified or not, we ended up being included in the contest anyway... which was good news for the college but definitely bad news for me! we finished at around 4:30 which meant that i had no other choice but to catch up with the boat at ozamiz...great... thus began a series of unfortunate events
drummerboi at 4:48 AM
Friday, August 18, 2006
Some Mental Notes
ok, here are some things i learned (the hard way to be exact) this week, and it wasnt pretty...
1.) Never audition for something that your totally not prepared for
im sure we all experienced that one time when we try out for something (even though we were totally unprepared) and then we end up making a fool (if that's the right word) of ourselves. well apparently, after experiencing these things over and over again, i still didnt learn my lesson (what is it with human nature and the tendency to repeat our mistakes over and over again... did i mention over and over again?) ok ok ok, i really didnt intend on joining the auditions for the bandstorm competion. the inner joh was telling me that lack of practice or no practice at all wont get you anywhere. but my curiousity got the best of me, i wanted to check things out and in the end, i ended up playing with melvin's group. they werent the guys i was planning to play with, but since lorden didnt show up i had no choice but to do the drums for their group. and to make a short story even shorter, we messed up. obviously none of us came prepared. well lesson learned, next time come prepared no matter what, be it in an audition or for a camping trip (or something like that).
2.)Sudoku is addictive
yep, it all started from an old scrap of newspaper that i found inside our history classroom. i was fortunate enough to pick a puzzle with a smaller degree of difficulty so i was able to answer it in no time and at the same time, appreciate its complexity. not only does it help prevent brain deterioration, but it also serves as a good past time. its pretty much common nowadays so im sure you wont be able to miss it, you can find it right beside your favorite crossword puzzle on your favorite newspaper (i think..). it requires analysis and it is quite easy and fun to learn.
3.) Half-Life is still addictive
whoever said that this old game was dead. no matter what new games come out of the market nowadays there are still some classics out there that can nver be forgotten. (im talking about the multiplayer and not single player game) once in a while, there's no other game that can really bring out one's violent behaviour as much as half-life can. the shoot-anything-that-moves plot of the game (with some added blood, guts and body parts whenever you blow up someone) can be easily understood by any triggerhappy gamer.
quote: "Walay uliay!"- students (mostly boys) who where watching a dvd of "Love Story in Harvard" non-stop from 1pm until who knows when. who would've thought that it was a long, long, long series.
drummerboi at 9:04 AM
Thursday, July 27, 2006
College Bluesthis was an interesting incident that happened to a friend of mine.
they had a test in chemistry (college) and my friend almost had a perfect score, except for one item (lucky brat!) whihch ironically, he got right.
the question was whether
Mercury,Hg, is a metal. my friend, having been through hell back in highschool under one of the scariest yet "brilliant" chemistry teachers knew the answer was yes. unfortunately for him, his teacher in college thought otherwise. so being the diligent student that he was, my friend approched the teacher and said that the answer was yes, Mercury is a metal. now this is where things get interesting, the teacher says that my classmate was wrong and that mercury is a non-metal. of course my friend defended his answer and this is where his teacher says one of the most stupid things i ever heard, (note:this was originally in cebuano) "why are you trying to argue with me your just a student and im an MS (Master's Degree) holder." (well, it was something like that) but anyways, my point is the genius of a teacher was relying on the fact that he already had a masters degree, and because of that, anything that he says (with respect to chemistry) should be accepted as true. it would have been no problem if his claim was true... but it aint! in the end, he's just putting himself and his so-called Master's degree to shame. all the more should he be embarrased with himself, i mean, it would have been better if he was making his "non-metallic" claim (hey, non-metallic claim, there's a certain ring to it) based on a reference such as a book or maybe a highly classified experiment which proved that mercury is non-metallic, that way if he was wrong, he could put the blame on someone else hehe but nooooo, he decided that mercury was metallic because he's an MS graduate.. all the more that he would be embarrased when he finds out that mercury is metallic. tsk tsk
so after telling you my friends story, it has come to my attention (once again) that our country is definitely in need of a transformation, not only in the educational system (down with stupid teachers!) but also with the culture and character of our people. lets not think that just because we're at the top or we're better off than others doesnt mean that we are no longer susceptible to making mistakes. :P
quote/s:
some big unknown dude: "
Ako ang nagpatay kang Rizal!" (i killed Rizal!)
Marvin: "
Ako ang mopatay sa gapatay kang Rizal!" (im going to kill Rizal's killer)
dude: "
Testingi!"(come and try)
-my friend doesnt actually know the guy. lucky for him, he didnt get clobbered :P
drummerboi at 3:44 AM