Sunday everyday!

Every sunrise or sunset is unique in itself. It may be possible for anyone to take pictures of the sun with the exact environment, background, and brightness as taken by another, but it is impossible to duplicate the emotion and experience behind that picture.

Day of the Sun

 So, guys, do you have any pictures of any beautiful sunrise or sunset with you? Why don’t you join me as I share mine to, well, as many people as possible. Or if you don’t have any sunrise or sunset with you, and if you have ebough freetime, shoot some! I alreay have enough contributions to last for a week or so, but this is going to be a long-term project. Who knows, we could probably have this printed soon. Di ba?

If you want to contribute, just send your image as attachment to paulhpineda@gmail.com. Follow this simple format:
E-mail subject: DOTS
E-mail body:
Write anything you want (try to be brief, though). This will appear just below the image.
Name you would want to appear (byline)
*Place where the picture was taken [e.g., Sunrise/Sunset at Tagaytay]
*Date when the picture was taken
E-mail, personal homepage or blog, or contact information [This information will be published by default unless you requested otherwise.]
Also, when you send your image, it is assumed that you are the legal/rightful owner of the image. And please remember: Attach the image to your e-mail (to preserve the quality); do not insert it within text.
*Mandatory.

 Dali na!

Let’s pray for Japan

Last Friday’s earthquake in Japan is probably one of the most devastating disasters in modern history. It seems like more than just the instant damage it has caused, people are even more fearful of the potential meltdown in many of their nuclear facilities. (Anyone who is a fan of 24 knows how much damage a nuclear catastrophe can bring to the people.)

This is like Hiroshima all over again.

 I have friends who left Japan for awhile and plans to go back there as soon as this problem is solved. I can only wish this happens really, really fast.

Three reactors have had at least partial meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, where wisps of white steam rose from the stricken units Friday morning. But Japanese and U.S. officials believe a greater danger exists in the pools used to store spent nuclear fuel: Fuel rods in one pool were believed to be at least partially exposed, if not dry, and others were in danger. Without water, the rods could heat up and spew radiation.

It could take days and “possibly weeks” to get the complex under control, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jazcko said. He defended the U.S. decision to recommend a 50-mile evacuation zone for its citizens, a much stronger measure than Japan has taken.

That is from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110317/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake. As of now, I can only offer my prayers to this country.

The Mayonnaise Jar

I got this story from a friend and I believe it is worth sharing this with all of you. When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.   He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.  The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor,   as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –  Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else –The small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, there is no room for  the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

‘Take care of the golf balls first — The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked’.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’

Have a great day with your golf balls!

This, Too, Shall Pass

It was only yesterday when I decided to look for the origin of the phrase above. Well, I don;t knowhow true this is, but hey, as long as we know the meaning, I guess the origin is notof significant importance

Happy last day of May!

One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, “Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it.” “If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty,” replied Benaiah, “I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?” “It has magic powers,” answered the king. “If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy.” Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility. Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day’s wares on a shabby carpet. “Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?” asked Benaiah. He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. “Well, my friend,” said Solomon, “have you found what I sent you after?” All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone’s surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, “Here it is, your majesty!” As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words “Gam zeh ya’avor” — “This too shall pass.” At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.

##

The Road Not Taken

Remember this…

Sometimes, the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.

Post-Grad Study in Europe: Re-post

NOTE: This is a post I made in 2008. I just want to re-post it now just to share with you that nothing happened. Hay naku. Hahaha.

—

You just have to read this first:

Master’s program in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) offered by Lund University, Sweden. No tuition fees.

The program is a collaboration with the E-GIS project of the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci program.

Backgrounder:

• 2 years, distance learning. You just need Internet connection, a fast PC processor, etc.
• Books and software will be sent to qualified applicants, again, for free.
•  All classes will either be done online or offline, on your own. Basically research-based learning.
• Thesis/dissertation has to be presented in Lund University, Sweden. The student, of course, will shoulder the travel and other expenses.
• For details, check their site: LUMA-GIS.

If you are not familiar with Geographic Information Systems, well, it’s not just about maps. If you’ve watched Enemy of the State (Will Smith, Gene Hackman), I think the movie fairly exhibited what GIS can do. Well, most spy movies have GIS-applications/software part in the story. Telecommunications are using this in their services (when you are trying to locate the nearest ATM, resto, gas station, or simply spying on the location of another number). (Or visit here if you want more info)

I have been planning since about two or three months ago on taking this opportunity. Unfortunately, because of a very busy life (yeah!), I forgot their deadline — October 15. The classes for this term will start on January. I cannot complete the requirements to meet that deadline because there are a lot of things/document/certification to secure. Sayang! The next round of application is next year, April. I hope I can make it next time.

By the way, in case any of you, my loyal readers (hundreds to thousands, I guess), are interested in taking this, well, please do. First two years will cost you nothing but time and effort. As for the defense of the thesis, well, if you can finish two years, and create a nice thesis, I am almost, almost positive you wouldn’t have a hard time looking for sponsors. My plan is to draft a really good paper, and present it to either the government for funding or one of the telcos around. I’m quite certain they’ll be happy to sponsor my defense travel expenses… or anyone’s studies for that matter. (Not that this is something to look forward to, but once you are in Sweden, you can easliy go to The Netherlands. *wink*)

I am still seriously, seriously considering taking ICT courses — locally or abroad.

PS: …and take up dance lessons here. Hehehe. Hahaha! Good times.

So, are you going to vote tomorrow?

The only election I participated in was when I was in college during the student council election. It was during Mariz Umali’s attempt to be the chairperson of the UP Student Council — I voted for Mong Palatino. Anyway, tomorrow is baranggay election. Ang bilis ng panahon! I have 2 classmates running for the captain and kagawad posts. They actually asked for my vote. Sadly, well, I don’t vote. So, there.

Anyway, I hope it will be a peaceful election come Monday next week.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Meralco power interruption for Makati (19-20 Oct 2010)

You see, this blog is not just about me. I am also aware that there are people around me. So, in case anyone among you would are from Makati, you might want to check this schedule of power interruption. My place won’t be affected, so, I am so much thankful for that (dami kasing trabahoo e).

According to their bulletin, they need to replace “badly leaning wood pole along Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) cor. South Drive in Bgy. San Lorenzo, Makati City.”

Here’s the sched:

TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19 - 20, 2010, MAKATI CITY

BETWEEN 11:00PM AND 11:30PM (TUE., 10/19/10) AND THEN BETWEEN 5:30AM AND 6:00AM (WED., 10/20/10) - PORTION OF CIRCUIT MALIBAY 416VJ - FORBES PARK 41VC

Greenbelt 1 & 2 Redevelopment Site, Park Square 1 and one feed of Dusit Hotel in Bgy. San Lorenzo.

BETWEEN 11:00PM (TUE., 10/19/10) AND 6:00AM (WED., 10/20/10) - PORTION OF CIRCUITS MALIBAY 416VJ - FORBES PARK 41VC; URDANETA 43VS AND 44VS

SM - Makati, Petron Gas Station and DPWH along Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) in Bgys. Dasmariñas Village and San Lorenzo.
Slimmers World along Antonio Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay Road) in Bgy. San Lorenzo.

There you go.

Juan (International name: Megi) will enter Philippine jurisdiction on Saturday

More than a year ago, Philippines has become a victim of a super typhoon. Many — individuals as well as private and government organizations — were caught by surprise and really suffered so much. A relative of mine who lives in the province of Rizal lost almost eveything, except the clothing they are wearing that day.

As a predicted super typhoon approches the Philippine area of responsibility, let us all hope for safe days ahead. Be prepared by accessing all available information.

This is me hoping for all our countrymen to be safe in the coming days. (Below is a most recent Inquirer report that I saw.)

‘Juan’ strengthens as it nears Luzon–Pagasa
By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:14:00 10/16/2010

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) has strengthened as it nears Luzon, the government-run weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 7 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Juan was spotted 1,040 kilometers east of Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 170 kph.

The typhoon, which is feared to become a “super typhoon,” is moving west northwest at the speed of 20 kph.

Pagasa has yet to declare public storm signal warnings over the areas that could be hit by the storm.

The agency said the typhoon was expected to make landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela region on Monday.

For more information, try to always visit PAG-ASA’s website or listen to the news.

Of Chances and Divorces

If you are wondering why there is a long queue of people in some parts of the mall, it’s maybe because of this: according to the news, there is no winner yet for the PHP250,000,000++ superlotto. (In case you got lost with the zeros, it’s 206 million pesos.)

Now, let me talk about chance and super lotto.

I computed the chance of a single ticket winning in the supperlotto and it’s 0.00000715112384201852%. If it is hard to imagine, well, look at this: If there are 100 people in your company, the chance that 1 of you will be absent today is around 0.0007151123842018520000000%. Hmmm… still hard to picture out, yeah? Here’s a better one. Given that chance (of winning in the superlotto), how many employees should there be so that there is only 1 person absent in any given day? Here it is: ~14,000,000 employees… 13,983,816 to be exact.

Math people, please correct me if I am wrong. (Oh there I am again! Assuming as if I have so many readers! Hehehe.)

But even if that probability is soooooo small, I think I’ll try to buy a ticket later. I’ll just buy 1 ticket, and if I don’t win, then, that would be the last. On the other hand, if I win, then, that would be my next post here.

I was just thinking: which headline is more LIKELY to happen–

EKS wins PHP206M Superlotto; SHARES half to friend-bloggers

or

Jessica Alba files for divorce; seen with nonshowbiz former lover EKS

Let’s see.