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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

El Debarge Someone Guitar Chords

Here's my attempt at guitar chords for El Debarge's Someone. This song was also covered by Freestyle. Hope you enjoy it!


"Someone"

Chorus:
AM7
Someone just like me
             Am7 D7
Runnin' into someone just like you
GM7
An accidental touch
              Gm7             C7
Turned into a gentle kiss or two
FM7
Love has finally come
F#m7        B       EM7
Somehow found my someone

Verse 1:
EM7                         G7
Close to you, that's how I feel
         F#m7                               D7
When the world's asleep and we're sharin' sweet
EM7                   G7
Solitude, almost gave up
         F#m7                   D7
Trying to find someone else in love

Refrain:
G#m7              C#m7
Long walks, soft talks
CM7                           A2            B2
Still can't believe it, what were the odds of

Chorus
AM7
Someone just like me
             Am7 D7
Runnin' into someone just like you
GM7
An accidental touch
              Gm7             C7
Turned into a gentle kiss or two
FM7
Love has finally come
F#m7        B       EM7
Somehow found my someone

Verse 2:
EM7                         G7
Was that me? Not long ago
       F#m7                               D7
No one here to care No one's dreams to share
EM7                         G7
You agree, nights can be rough
       F#m7                               D7
When you can't find someone else in love

Refrain:
G#m7              C#m7
Long walks, soft talks
CM7                           A2            B2
Hard to believe it, what were the odds of

Chorus
AM7
Someone just like me
             Am7 D7
Runnin' into someone just like you
GM7
An accidental touch
              Gm7             C7
Turned into a gentle kiss or two
FM7
Love has finally come
F#m7        B       EM7
Somehow found my someone

Bridge:
CM7      D       CM7
You and me, all alone
         D                  EbM7
That's my favorite time of night
        F         Gm7
Nothing for us to do
G#7 F7sus - F7
But finding ways to hold each other tight

Instrumental is Chorus shift from A to Eb

Imagine

(AM7 shifts to EbM7)

Chorus
EbM7
Someone just like me
             Ebm7 G#7
Runnin' into someone just like you
C#M7
An accidental touch
              C#m7             F#7
Turned into a gentle kiss or two
BM7
Love has finally come
Cm7        F       BbM7
Somehow found my someone

Chorus

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Baby Snails Crawling

I've never seen a bunch of tiny baby snails until today!



Sorry if the video is a bit shaky and I can't zoom in further. Hope you can see the snails moving towards the bamboo twig at the base of the plant pot.

Can You Name This Plant? (4th of hopefully many)

Here's another one:


Can You Name This Plant? (3rd of hopefully many)

Here's another one:


Can You Name This Plant? (2nd of hopefully many)

Here's another one:


Can You Name This Plant? (1st of hopefully many)

I've discovered that gardening can be fun. Unlike software programs which need to be edited to "grow", after the initial set up, (of planting and watering for the first few days), some plants are resilient enough to get by on their own. It also helps that it rains in the place I live in from time to time.

I don't really know the names of most of the stuff I get to plant. Some are from fruit seeds. Other's just grew in the yard. So maybe you can help me out. If you know the name of the plant in the picture, please tell me what it's called and post me a link to a something like a Wikipedia page about it.

Here's the first one:

 

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

How to Program Your Favorite Channels on a Sky Cable Remote Control


If you've recently subscribed to Sky Cable TV, then you might have received a remote control like the one shown in the picture above. If you've tried to add a channel you like to your favorites using the FAV button, it doesn't seem to work. When you press on the FAV button, it just shows a blank FAV CHANNEL LIST with no channels to choose from.

To add a particular channel to your FAV CHANNEL LIST window, follow these steps:
1. Click on the MENU button on your Sky Cable remote control. You should see a window similar to the one below. (Sorry for the image, it's an old TV)


2. Navigate to SETTINGS > CHANNEL SETTINGS
3. You should see a list of channels you can add to the FAV CHANNEL LIST as long as that channel is part of your subscription bundle.
4. Press the FAV button on the remote control. A dot should appear on the Favorite column if you've added that particular channel to the list.
5. Click on the EXIT button on your Sky Cable remote control.
6. You will be asked if you want to save the changes so choose YES and then click OK on the remote.
7. Just repeat the process for any other channel you might want to add. To remove a channel, just press FAV and make sure the dot on the Favorite column disappears.

Now, whenever you press the FAV button on your Sky Cable remote control, you should see a list you can choose from. Just use the up and down buttons to navigate to the channel you want, then press OK on the remote to switch to that channel.

Hope you find this guide helpful. ^_^

Friday, November 18, 2016

How To Beat Alteil Falkow Mission 5


Falkow's single player mission level 5 was really tough to beat. Props to the developers for putting up such a challenging mission. It took me several tries but I was finally able to find the right combination to beat Galdirea.

I start out with Carbuncle then Pucera. After that, make sure that the shield requirement of level 5 Refess will trigger. Then, plant Refugee Citizen to get rid of Galdirea's grims. Then, try to get Limier followed by Stronghold. Then use Turn to Dust and Chaos Absorption to try and thin out the opponent's deck. Simulacrum helps in trying to match the opponent's troops modified HP while getting rid of a card if the HP is less than or equal to zero. And if you still haven't zeroed out the cards in the deck, then speed it up with Magma Golem as another shield on the frontline.

For the SS lineup, Annette is really helpful in setting one unit of opponent's troops to max HP of zero. And you then add that HP to Pucera. The second one, you can add to Limier to prolong his presence on the field. The rest of the SS are worth 3 LP, hopefully enough to last Galdirea's assault on your LP. (Cause she gets to hit it for free every other turn or so).

Galdirea will also send one random grim from your deck out of the game. I tried using Mirelia to recover these but it just doesn't work. And the second SS of Galdirea prevents level 4 and above cards for a couple of turns so it's best to keep your units and cards at level three and below.

Hope this helps out other players who are struggling with that mission. Good luck!

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko Guitar Chords

This is an oldie that just gave me LSS recently. Hope you like my chord attempt. Enjoy!

Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko

Stanza Pattern
F#7
Parang kailan lang buhay ko'y walang gulo
Fm          
May minamahal at minamahal ako
F#7
Nang makilala ka buhay ko'y biglang nagbago
Fm               Bbsus - Bb
Ako'y nagtataka, puso ko'y litong-lito

Refrain Pattern
F#             Fm            Bbsus - Bb
Bakit nga kaya iisa ang puso natin?
F#             G#m7          C#sus - C#
Hindi naman natin maaaring hatiin

Chorus Pattern
F#
Sana dalawa ang puso ko
Fm                     Bbsus - Bb
Hindi na sana nalilito kung sino sa inyo
F#
O, sana dalawa ang puso ko
Fm Bbsus - Bb
Hindi na sana kailangan pang pumili sa inyo

Use Stanza Pattern
Para bang tukso na di ko kayang matalo
Isip ko'y lito, walang mapili sa inyo
Sabi nga nila di maaaring magpantay
Pag-ibig sa dal'wa kaya't tanong ko lagi ay

Repeat Refrain Pattern

Repeat Chorus Pattern

Monday, October 31, 2016

Globe Telecom Continues To Perform Badly Under Ernest L. Cu

Despite all Mr. Cu's alleged efforts to improve Globe's services, Globe continues as one of the worst Internet Service Providers in the Philippines. And I think their stock price reflects that.


They are actually at a worse position today compared to a year before despite the gains caused by Philippine elections during the middle of the year.

From a customer's standpoint, I've had to deal with their technical support service eight times in the past ten months of 2016. They sure are consistent - consistently under-performing.

We've lost our internet connection for five days, and until now it hasn't been restored. We've called their hotline, and even spoke to a supervisor named John Iraga who promised to provide us with feedback, but hasn't done so. They can't even provide a reasonable timeline on when their service will be restored.

I guess Globe's goal is to steal customer's money by hoping that their customers opt out of their service once they discover how bad it is.

And with Mr. Cu at the helm, Globe will probably find itself declaring a state of bankruptcy.

Postscript:

After roughly two weeks of dealing with Globe and still not being able to resolve the issue, we decided to shift to a different ISP. Good riddance Globe Telecom. Hope you don't end up acquiring our new ISP and turning their services to $hi+.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Akari LED Circular Lamp Causes TV Interference

While watching Game 3 of the Ginebra - Meralco Finals, I noticed that the TV had a lot of interference compared to the times I've been watching before. It turns out, my friend bought a new LED circular lamp to replace the old one.

The new LED purchased was the Akari ACL-V83ADL. Below are the specs:

  • 2-in-1 LED circular lamps
  • The light cycles from the middle to the outer and then both, when you switch it on and off repeatedly
  • One lamp is rated at 4 watts while the other is at 16 watts for a combined 20 watts when both lights are on
  • 6500K daylight rating
  • 1650 lumens rating
  • 220-240 VAC
  • 50/60 Hz
  • 1299.75 Php
Ace Hardware should reconsider allowing this product on their shelves. I absolutely DO NOT RECOMMEND the purchase of this product since it interferes with TV signal receptions. Who knows what other electronic devices are affected by this device when it is turned on. It might even be a health hazard.

The Philippines should really reconsider allowing LED products to proliferate in the local market. These new-types of lamps have not been tested long enough for people to study their long-term effects on other gadgets and human health.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Ako Na Lang Guitar Chords (Dave Lamar and Keiko Necessario Version)


Here's my attempt at the guitar chords for "Ako Na Lang", originally sang by Zia Quizon, but the version I'm using is that by Dave Lamar and Keiko Necessario. Hope you enjoy it!

Stanza
(Initiall starts at key of D but moves up to key of E)
DM7                  
Naghahanap ka ng maaaya
G                        Gm
Pagkat sadyang wala kang magawa
DM7           Adim             G      Gm
Nagsasayang ng bawat oras sa wala, hala
EM7                  
Na-search mo nang lahat sa internet
A                         Am
Na-ubos na ang load sa kaka-text
EM7           Bdim             A          Am
Naghihintay ka na ng may makukulit,ulit

Refrain
G#m                  A
What are you waiting for?
G#m                     G#m-G-F#m
Call may number, knock on my door
G#m          A
Nandito lang ako
G#m                  G#m-G-F#m
How I wish, you let me know

Chorus
EM7                                                   A - Am
Kung sino sino pang tinatawagan mo nandito lang naman ako
EM7                                                   A - Am
At kung saan saan ka pa naghahanap nandito lang naman ako
EM7                                                   A - Am
Kung sino sino pang tinatawagan mo nandito lang naman ako
EM7                                                   A - Am
At kung saan saan ka pa naghahanap nandito lang naman ako
G#m           A
Ako na lang sana
G#m             A (you can also try G#m-G-F#m instead of A)
Tayo na lang dal'wa
G#m              A
Sana nalaman mo pala
G#m             A - B
Ako na lang sana

Repeat Stanza Pattern (transition from D to E)
Ako na lang, kung pwede lang, I wish
Ako na lang, ako na lang, I guess
Ako na lang ang paborito mong ma-miss, Oh yes      
Hindi ko babasagin ang iyong trip
Whatever man ang gusto mong gimik
Sabay sa jamming at ka-duet mo sa gig, astig

Repeat Refrain

Repeat Chorus but use the following for the last line

Last line end with G#m - A - B - EM7

Monday, October 3, 2016

San Miguel Battles Ginebra in Do-Or-Die Game for Finals Berth

There will no longer be any matches this year between San Miguel and Ginebra. Tonight, one team will go home and enjoy resting until the next season, while the other looks forward to a match against the Meralco Bolts.

And let me just voice out my disgust at the way the officials handled that foul against Jason Castro in the fourth quarter. It was like throwing out Michael Jordan at a critical point in a match and handing the opposing team the victory. Credit Newsome for selling. But instead of treating it as an offensive foul, the referees slap Castro with a second flagrant for the game resulting in his ejection. I hope the referees call tonight's game in a fair manner.

So Meralco waits for tonight's winner.

This San Miguel team has already done what can be considered as the greatest comeback of any basketball team in all-time since no other team in history has achieved it. They have come back from a 0-3 deficit against Alaska this year in the Philippine Cup. And as a team, you can use that as a reminder of what your team is capable of. Amidst the body aches and pains, bruises and fatigue, you dig deep, and use that as motivation to claw your way to another championship.

I don't know if such an achievement reduces the hunger factor. But I know that teams only have a short time in the league to build a legacy and to chase championships. You will not always be a dominating center, or a sharp-shooter, or a fast sprinter. At some point, old age and injuries catch up with every great player. So play while you can, play every game as though it were your last. Give it your all because tomorrow, you might never play again.

Forget about the lost opportunity for a Grand Slam. Win because your fans are supporting you and sticking it out with you despite a Ginebra team supported by the masses. I've admired the way Coach Tim Cone and Alaska handled the pressure in the 90's whenever they heard the crowds chant "Ginebra!" I'd imagine it must be strange for him to be on the opposite side of the fence, being the crowd favorite this time. And as San Miguel, when you have the crowd against you, wanting you to lose, you have to strive harder and find a way to draw strength elsewhere. Some players may draw that strength from their love for their families. Some may draw it from the trust they have developed with their teammates. And some draw strength from their faith in God.

San Miguel did a tremendous job in Game 4 of this semi-finals series. I don't know if they can win with another blowout since Coach Tim Cone will surely try to make adjustments. But it doesn't matter if you win with thirty points or with just one point. A win is a win.

I don't know how tonight's game will end. But this semi-finals series has been an exciting one for me, and whoever wins tonight's game might just end up as the 2016 PBA Governor's Cup Champions.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Araw Gabi by Keiko Necesario


Keiko Necesario's rendition of Regine Velasquez' Araw Gabi made me want to try out the chords for this song. Hope you enjoy it!

Araw-Gabi

Intro
D GM7 F#m7-Bm7-Em7-A7sus-A7

Stanza Pattern 1:
D             GM7        F#m7-Bm7-Em7-A7sus-A7
Di biro ang sumulat ng awitin para sayo
DM7       GM7 -         F#7 Bm7-Am-D7    
Para akong isang sirang ulo, hilo at lito
GM7          F#m7     Bm7
Sa akin pang minanang piyano
Em7       Asus-A  DM7 D7
Tikladoy pilit nilaro
GM7          F#m7     Bm7
Baka sakaling merong tono
Em7       Asus-A
Bigla na lang umusbong

Stanza Pattern 2:
D             GM7        F#m7-Bm7-Em7-A7sus-A7
Tungkol saan naman kayang awiting para sayo
DM7       C#m7         F#7 Bm7-Am-D7
Di biro ang gawing sukat ang titik sa tono
GM7          F#m7     Bm7
Sampu man aking diksyonaryo
Em7       Asus-A  DM7 D7
Kung man tugmay di wasto
GM7          F#m7     Bm7
Bastat isipin di magbabago
Em7       Asus-A
Damdamin ko sayo

Chorus Pattern:
GM7
Araw-gabi
Gm6-Gm7        F#m7    Bm7     Em
Nasa isip ka, napapanagip ka
A7sus - A7      DM7
Kahit san magpunta
Am-D7  GM7
Araw-gabi
Gm6 - Gm6sus   F#m7 B7sus - B7     Em
Nalalasing sa tuwa Kapag kapiling ka
A7sus - A7         D-Dsus-D
Araw-gabi tayong dalawa

Use Stanza Pattern 2:
Biruin mong nasabi ko
Ang nais kong ipahatid
Dapat mo lamang mabatid
Laman nitong dibdib
Tila sampung daang awitin
Matapos kong likhain
Ito ang tunay na damdamin tanggapin at dinggin

Use Chorus Pattern
Araw-gabi tayong dalawa (2x)

End with DM7

Monday, September 19, 2016

Sugarfree Nasan Na Ang Umaga (Limbo) Chords

Here's my chord attempt at Sugarfree's Limbo. Hope you enjoy it!

Intro:
D
A - D - Bm - G
A - D - Bm - G

Stanza Pattern:
A            F#m
Nasan na ang umaga
A                            F#m
Matagal na akong naghihintay wala pa siya
D                  A     F#m  
Di kaya na traffic o nasiraan
Bm                G - F - E - Esus - E
Baka naman, nalimutan na niya

Stanza Pattern:
A            F#m
Nasan na ang kahapon
A                        F#m
Nung tayo'y mga bata pa walang paki-alam
D              A          F#m
Di ba sabi mo hindi mo ko iiwan
Bm                G - F - E
Nasan kana, nasan kanaaaa(ahhh ahhh)

Refrain:
Bm                D
Di maka pag-isip, hindi mapakali
A         Em
Kung wala ka
D
At parang kay tagal-tagal
A                      Bm
Mundo'y bumabagal kung wala ka
G         G - F - E
Kung wala ka

Instrumental:
F#m - E - D - E
F#m - E - D - E
F#m - E - D - E
F#m - E - G - F - E

Refrain:
Bm                D
Di maka pag-isip, hindi mapakali
A          Em
Kung wala ka
D
At parang kay tagal-tagal
A                      Bm
Mundo'y bumabagal kung wala ka
G         G - F - E
Kung wala ka

Chorus:
D            A
Kelan ba ako hindi magiisip
Bm           A
Kelan ba ako matatahimik
D                  A
Di na ba matatapos ang lahat ng ito
Bm           A
Kelan ba ako makakaidlip Whoa Whoa

Chorus:
D            A
Kelan ba ako hindi magiisip
Bm           A
Kelan ba ako matatahimik
D                  A
Di na ba matatapos ang lahat ng ito
Bm           A
Kelan ba ako makakaidlip Haaaaaaaaaaa

D            A
Haaaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa
Bm           A
Haaaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa

D - A - Bm - G

Friday, September 16, 2016

Ric Segreto / Nina Loving You Chords

This song was initially done by Ric Segreto. And Nina also made a revival. Here's my attempt at its chords. Hope you enjoy!
             
Stanza Pattern:
A                 C#m7          F#m7            Em7 - A7
It's been quite a while, you've really kept me wanting you
       DM7              C#m7              Bm7           E7sus - E7
You've got some style, so unique, you're beautiful, so warm, so deep
A               C#m7   F#m7              Em7 - A7
 Stay with me tonight,  let me know the kind o' love
     DM7            C#m7      
that will remain forever be,
  Bm7           E7sus - E7         A Asus A Em7 A
a dream that you had made reality

Refrain Pattern:
DM7     GM7    F#m7              Em7    A      DM7
Lovin'  you,   whoa  is such an easy  thing to do
     GM7       F#m7           Em7      A
No, you  never know, it's drivin' me crazy
  DM7               GM7        C#m7                      F#m7
Cause it grows and grows, but I won't let it stop, no I'm not givin' up
Bm7         E7sus - E7                 A Asus A Em7 A
Lovin' you, lovin' you, just a bit too much


Use Stanza Pattern:
It's been quite a while, I never felt so easily
Wonder how you broke my style, you're close to me I need you now
Stay with me tonight, it's got to be just too much love
I could remain and forever be, a dream that had become reality


Repeat Refrain Pattern:  (same as Refrain except the last line):
Bm7         G7          Bm7          E7sus - E7        A Asus A A2
Lovin' you, lovin' you, lovin' you, just a bit too much

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Blade-less Fans

I was buying parts from a hardware store at the U.P. Town Center when I noticed several blade-less fans on display. It was simply a circular frame, and out of that space, air was blowing through. It was amazing! There was a cut-out diagram, explaining how the fan was actually working using the same ideas used in a vacuum cleaner, but in reverse - instead of sucking in air, you are pushing out air - and you could actually think of the frame as a special type of air outlet instead of the typical vacuum tube (no electronic pun intended).

The price was also amazing. One of the cheapest models was priced at 29,900 pesos. That's outrageous, considering that you can buy electric fans at 500 pesos. I didn't check the kilowatt rating of the blade-less fan, but I don't think your electrical consumption would be that far off from an ordinary fan since both still use motors. So, for me, why buy a product that functions in the same way as another, but is 58 times more expensive. It just doesn't make economic sense. At that price, I could buy enough electric fans to last a lifetime.

And the product is simply an electric fan without blades. The level of coldness it can generate does not even compare with an air-conditioner. And you can get an air-con for less than 10,000 pesos or about one-third the price of the blade-less fan.

I will say this for the blade-less fan though. It is a conversation piece, and would probably be best for people who don't care about the price of a product.

Technologically disruptive products are usually imitated within a year or two. Think of the iPhone and how fast competitors came out. But in the case of the blade-less fan, I wonder if it can be considered as a disruptive product. It seems that this type of fan has been available since 2009. And now that it's 2016, you still don't see many competitors arising. I guess for now, the ordinary electric fan is still king of the fan market.

Friday, September 2, 2016

SKK Chronos Ace Plus Product Review

Purchased a new smartphone a few days ago since my old one was having problems with the battery. The SKK Chronos Ace Plus was the closest product with specs similar to my old phone but at two-third's of my old phone's price. Moore's law is at work - at least with mobile phones.

Here's the specs for the SKK Chronos Plus based on the CPU-Z app from Google Play

Display: 4.59-inch 720 x 1280 pixels 320 dpi
Chipset: Mediatek MT6580
CPU: 1.3GHz Quad-core
GPU: Mali-400 MP graphics
RAM: 1976 MB
Memory: 5.12 GB internal storage
Main camera: 13 MP (rear)
Front camera: 5 MP
Connectivity: 3G/HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
Freebies: Smartphone case
Ports: microUSB
Android Version: 6.0 Marshmallow

So far, I've installed most of the apps I've been using like Clash Royale, Chrome, Kaspersky, etc. and these are working fine. There has been a time when the phone restarted and seemed to be stuck at the SKK logo for a long time. (This was quite a scare since the phone is just 3-days out of the box) I just long-pressed the power button and the phone was able to shut down. I restarted it and it seems to be working fine. I guess this is something I have to watch out for.

If you're a gamer, the battery will probably be drained in one to two hours so you'll find yourself recharging every few hours. But if you aren't using the phone for anything graphics intensive, a fully charged battery should last you an entire day.

The fact that the phone comes with its own case is a bit neat since it is hard to find a case for most unknown brands at phone-accessory shops. The phone has a light sensor near the front camera and when you close the case (eliminating light), the display changes to a clock which shows through the case hole.

The phone also comes with its own charger and ear phones. The manual could have been done better. There isn't even a diagram for the different parts of the phone. But I guess it is assumed that most people nowadays know their phone basics.

Anyway, at 2699 pesos, I can't complain (not yet). I've ran into an SKK page where there are customers who are dissatisfied with SKK products, calling these the worst smartphones and tablets in the Philippine market. But I hope I don't end up being one of them. If the phone lasts as long as my old smartphone did (1 year and a half), then I would say that I've gotten my money's worth out of it. I guess I'll be updating this post based on how the phone performs. Till then.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Bulging Battery on Coby CMP500 Nitrox

Coby CMP500 Nitrox

My Coby CMP500 Nitrox has served me well for almost a year and six months. But lately, it would power off on its own despite the battery charge still being above 60%. So I decided to check the battery by opening up the case.

CMP500 with the battery removed

I'm not sure if you can notice it, but the battery is bulging.



Slight bulge in the left side of the battery



When I checked the shop at SM North Edsa Annex where I purchased the unit, they said that they did not have available batteries with them. Their repair center in Manila probably has one, but it would cost around 800 pesos or roughly 20% of the original price of the unit. But with newer models from other brands costing only about 3 times that amount, I did not think replacing the battery made any sense if the unit would conk out soon enough.

Thank you Coby for a year and a half worth of service. But with unavailability of immediate service and replacement parts, you'll probably find yourself losing potentially loyal customers to new competition.



Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Current State of Alteil in 2016

Alteil until now remains for me as one of the best card battle games available online. They have made significant improvements since they transitioned from a Flash based game to Html 5. I have now been able to play and finish games against both AI and human players compared to matches I've tried about two years ago when the transition began. It has been a slow process, but given the limited resources of the team behind the game, it is actually amazing that the game has been kept alive after all these years, considering I was already playing this game since 2008.

While there are still some random bugs, overall, the game is now playable. You might have to wait a long time since the images for the cards are cached in your browser. If you have a single deck for your card collection, the wait time might not be that long, but if you've amassed cards from the 1st set up to set 13, then you can imagine how long it will take to store all the card images on your device. But after the first time you do this, successive logins should be quick to load.

There are many ways to acquire cards even in this new version of Alteil. There are single player quests that can award a new player 1-star to 3-star cards upon the completion of a quest. Card rarities range from 1-star to 5-stars (rarest). There are also EX-cards that can be considered like 5-stars and are available for purchase during certain events or occasions. There is also the Free Daily Lotto that awards a player a single random card if the player has participated in a match with an AI or human that has at least ten turns. Winning against human players will also sometimes give the player a card for a prize, as well as materials for card crafting. I haven't really tried crafting yet, because the results seem to be random. But there are a few players who are trying to build a database / guide of materials that will result in certain cards on a consistent basis. I hope they succeed. And finally, you still get a card for every 10 levels you achieve in your rank. But it no longer gives you four choices like the old Alteil used to. (I think new players will still appreciate being given a choice from four cards from each primary sphere since when you are starting out, you initially chose a deck built around a certain sphere.) Point cards are still available. These are special cards which you can exchange for a card of your choice depending on the card rarity minimum. 1-star cards are worth 10 point cards while a 5-star card is worth 50 point cards, if I remember correctly.

Mirage Master is gone. This memory game used to be the most viable way of earning gran, one of Alteil's currencies. Now, you earn FM or fight money for every match against a human opponent. I used to use FM for purchasing avatar related items. I think that FM can also be used to purchase cards, but I haven't really tried it yet. As a point of comparison, I think that you will have to amass a lot of FM compared to gran to buy the same card. Only Premium players can sell cards now. To be a premium player means paying for membership. In the past, you could actually sell a card in exchange for gran. That means that if you had a fourth copy of a certain card, which you no longer need, you could at least recycle this copy in exchange for gran. Now, you can still try to sell these cards, but you sell them to fellow players, no longer to a recycling machine. So, it is possible that the card is stuck in the store since no one wants to buy it, especially if it is a common card. I hope that they bring back recycling so that fourth copies of cards, or cards that I don't plan on using since they are not part of the sphere I'm concentrated on could be exchanged for useful gran.

I greatly appreciate the number of ways you can win in this game. There are many different types of decks you can build. There are many different strategies for winning. That is why there are still players who have stayed loyal to this game all throughout the years. A player could be using a discarder (a strategy that diminishes the amount of cards that a player can draw from his card pile) on his first match, and an energy-drain deck on another (a strategy that prevents a user from putting cards into play since each card requires a certain amount of energy). Another player could use a deck that uses small fast units while another could rely on a single unit that wipes out most units on the field. Alteil is filled with variety, and even now, I'm surprised to see new strategies after playing this game for such a long time. (Yes, I'm talking about you Kraken users) Other card battle games, say like Clash Royale are pretty much one dimensional. And the player who can send out units the fastest will more likely win. But Alteil is like a chess match. You have to think about your moves from the first turn up to the last. Otherwise, you will lose to a well prepared player who built a deck out of common cards even though your deck is stuffed with rare cards. Card synergy, timing, and creativity are necessary for playing a masterful match.

There are currently about 5 to 15 players who are active daily. I wish more players played this game. A growing user base is necessary for a game to succeed. There are plans to roll out the game in Steam and also as a mobile app and I hope that it happens soon and it succeeds.

There are still a lot of things I could discuss about this game, but it is best for a person to try it out himself/herself. Perhaps then, you too will discover this gem of a game called Alteil. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Limited Connectivity and DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG

Laptop was unable to connect to the Internet but mobile phones and the PC were connected. Laptop internet connection indicated "Limited Connectivity". The browser would also indicate the following: DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG

Followed a lot of advice online but no go. Finally landed on the following page:

http://appuals.com/best-fix-steps-fix-dns_probe_finished_bad_config/

So far, it worked.

To summarize, first, run ipconfig /flushdns on a command prompt.

Second, set the wifi network adapter's IPv4 settings as follows:

Preferred DNS SERVER: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS SERVER 8.8.4.4

On hindsight, changing the power management options for the laptop's wifi connectivity to Maximum Performance may have helped, too. It seems that when the laptop is under battery power, it disables the Internet connection to preserve battery power when it only has a charge below 50% remaining. Make sure that the laptop is connected to the charger and is connected to the power outlet to avoid being hampered by this issue during troubleshooting.

Addendum:
Three days after posting this, my PC lost its internet connection while undergoing an update on AVG antivirus. I have a suspicion that the same thing happened to the laptop which is why it lost its internet connection. Aside from the commands above, the following have been useful in troubleshooting.

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Lea by Toto Guitar Chords

Here's a really cool song by Toto. Hope you like my chord attempt at the song. Enjoy!

Intro: 
AM7 - B - AM7 - B (x2)

Stanza Pattern:
 E                 EM7       AM7        Bsus - B
Here's to the few who fared my love
 E        EM7    AM7     DM7
Only for you I care my love
 C#m7         G#m7        AM7           Bsus - B
I've given it hope and I know it's only you
              F#m       Bsus - B
                            Encased in silence

Use Stanza Pattern:
Here's to the you who saved my love
Only to you I gave my love
I've given it thought and it's not all that appears
(4th line is just silence so still play like above Encased in silence part)

Refrain:
E - EM7 - E - EM7            C#m7        AM7
Lea, how long will you still want me to want you
        Bsus - B
In and around you
E - EM7 - E - EM7                  C#m7       AM7
Lea my concertina will you still want me to want you
        Bsus - B
(another silent line but play like the previous refrain pattern)

Use Stanza Pattern:
Here's to the you who dared my love
Only with you I shared my love
I've given it thought and it's not
All that appears            so I'm asking

Use Refrain Pattern:
Lea, how long will you still want me to want you
In and around you
Lea my concertina will you still want me to want you

Bridge:
DM7          AM7
Who cares what the cynics say
F#m       Bsus - B
I care if only you're on your way
E            C#m7 - AM7 - B         F#m   Bsus - B
My Lea, don't let the same be true

Fade out:
E                         C#m7         AM7
Lea, do you still want me to want you (repeat as many times as you want)

Monday, August 1, 2016

Online Food Delivery

If you don't have access to a landline, it can be difficult to call a food delivery service. It's a good thing that the following restaurants and fast food chains have an online ordering service. Once you register, using your login credentials should allow for easy re-ordering.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Letter Calling for Ernest L. Cu's Resignation as Globe CEO

Since Globe customer service can't or refuses to give Mr. Cu's contact information, I will publish this letter in the hopes that this message reaches him.

Mr. Ernest L. Cu,

Globe's customer service, as a whole, is poor. My family has been with with Bayantel for more than 10 years and we have not encountered the type of service your agents have exhibited today. I called up the Globe customer service hotline at 4121212 at around 4 pm and first encountered an agent named Bea Morales. I asked to speak to her supervisor regarding a recurring issue, but after waiting to speak to her supervisor, the call was dropped.

I called up again, this time, speaking to a John De Leon. I asked for his supervisor, Mark Reyes. I asked for Mr. Reyes' supervisor, Lucas Pantanilla, but after waiting for a long time, my call ended back in the Globe telephone queue where you are asked to input numbers to get to the right department.

During the third call, I spoke with a Menchi Delmore. Her supervisor was Mirasol Llamera. While Menchi's handling of the call was excellent, I am still disappointed at the way Globe has handled my concern. If I asked to speak to a Bayantel supervisor in the past, my request was accommodated.

Sometimes, someone more seasoned is needed to understand why a recurring issue remains unresolved.

Please improve your services. Otherwise, please resign from your post as CEO and give the job to someone else who can do better instead of allowing Globe's reputation to remain in the gutter.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Imagine You and Me Movie Review

Warning: Possible spoilers

I rarely watch local movies nowadays. I grew up watching local films so I think I have an idea of how most comedies, dramas, and action movies made in my country will turn out. So I was pleasantly surprised for the most part of the movie Imagine You and Me and was almost about to give it a perfect ten until about the end.

Accidents have been overused in love stories. In Meet Joe Black, Brad Pitt gets hit by a car. In The Lake House, Keanu Reeves also gets hit by a car. There's another movie that I can't quite recall at the moment, where the female character rides a bicycle and gets hit by a car. All of them died. So, whenever someone gets hit by a car, you expect a tragic ending. But instead, Maine Mendoza's character gets hit by a car and survives. Why place the event in the movie? It was unnecessary. The idea of Alden Richards' character torn between Maine and Jasmine Curtis-Smith is already tragic enough. The movie could actually have ended, in my opinion, when Maine sees Alden chasing after her as she heads for the airport. I know that Pinoys are used to happy endings, but this movie could have been a classic love film which ranks with all-time bests if it were ended properly.

The choice of location was perfect. You'ld even think it was made like Hana Kimi or some other Japanese love comedy. Most of the shots were beautiful, showcasing the different parts of Italy. I think that most times, Filipino films are negatively affected by the local environment they are shot in. But Italy was like a dream... the houses look perfect, the countryside was pristine, and even interiors were well thought of.

I am thankful that they did not flood this film with ads like the first Alden-Maine movie. (Tide makers - you know what I'm talking about.) There was one scene with a McDonalds happy meal, but it was subtle compared to what Tide did. And I know, that is one way for the producers to make money, but just add the endorser in the credits. Shouldn't the main source of money by the ticket sales?

Maine's acting was great. She stayed in character. Don't know if she was playing her real-life self, but she was more believable here than as a rich man's daughter. It was also nice to see Alden not falling over Maine like a love sick puppy in Kalyeserye. And Jasmine Curtis-Smith should be nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The two friends of Maine were also a good balance and sources of comic relief.

This movie, in my opinion, can compete with those love stories produced in other countries. The twist about Jasmine Curtis-Smith was very original for me. I hope more movies that are less predictable come out. If not for the ending, I would have given this film a perfect 10. But even with that disappointment, I would still give this movie a 9. I hope more local movies will be given as much time and attention so that the quality of local cinema can be elevated.



 

 

Saturday, July 2, 2016

ISP Sacrifices Phone Connection for Internet Connectivity

If you are a long-time Internet user whose landline is bundled with your internet plan, you might have experienced this situation already. You call your ISP and tell them that you have no Internet connection. You are of course using your landline to call them up. They send a tech over to try and resolve the situation. Your internet connection is restored but your phone's dial-tone goes dead. One problem is solved but another is created.

ISPs that offer a bundled landline and Internet service usually have two divisions. One specializes only in telephone repair while the other specializes in Internet related-problems. I, for one, think that this is a scenario that needs to be changed. They should only have one division that makes sure all types of problems faced by the customer is fixed.

Your landline needs two wires to work properly. Your internet connection only needs one. So, to the repairman who belongs to the Internet division, as long as he restores your internet connection, his job is already done. It does not matter if you lose your landline's connection. As far as he is concerned, it is now a problem that the telephone division needs to address.

But both divisions belong to the same company. So, you are actually creating more problems for your company. And in the process, the image of your company is being tarnished.

Fix all problems at once. Do not create more problems just to solve existing ones. Most often, if you go to the root of the original problem, you can avoid creating additional problems during the process of coming up with a solution.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Just To See Her Guitar Chords

Here's my attempt at guitar chords for Smokey Robinson's song, "Just To See Her". Hope you like it!

"Just To See Her"

Stanza Pattern
C#m F#m Bm E (D) (Repeat)
Just to see her,
C#m F#m Bm E (D)
just to touch her
C#m F#m Bm E (Esus - E)
Just to hold her in my arms again one more time

Repeat Stanza Pattern
If I could feel her warm embrace
see her smiling face
Can't find anyone to take her place I've got to see her again

(Transition chord to chorus) G

Chorus Pattern:
C Am Dm G (F)
I would do anything,
Em Am Dm G (F)
I would go anywhere
Em Am Dm G
There's nothing I wouldn't do just to see her again

(Transition chord back to stanza) E

Use Stanza Pattern:
I can't hide it,
I can't fight it
It's so hard to live without the love she gave to me

Use Stanza Pattern:
Doesn't she know it,
I tried hard not to show it
Can't I make her realize that she really needs me again

Use Chorus Pattern:
I would do anything,
I would go anywhere
There's nothing I wouldn't do just to see her again

Use Chorus Pattern:
She brightened up my everyday
made me feel so good in every way
If I could have her back to stay, I've got to see her again

Friday, June 17, 2016

Foolish Heart Guitar Chords

This song by Steve Perry was also popularized by Side A and Nina. Here's my attempt at its chords. Hope you like it!

"Foolish Heart"

Stanza Pattern:
E        F#7        E9    F#7
I need a love that grows
       E         F#7       E9    F#7
I don't want it unless I know

Refrain Pattern:
          B6       B11
With each passing hour
  G#m7       C#
Someone somehow
  G#m7    C#      F#7sus F7
Will be there, ready to share

Stanza Pattern:

E        F#7        E9    F#7
I need a love that's strong
       E         F#7       E9    F#7
I'm so tired of being alone

Refrain Pattern:
          B6       B11
But will my lonely heart
  G#m7       C#
play the part
  G#m7    C#       F#7sus    F7
Of the fool again Before I begin

Chorus Pattern:
E              F#7         B
Foolish heart, hear me calling
E              F#7         B
Stop before you start falling
E              F#7         B
Foolish heart, heed my warning
G#m7              C#
You've been wrong before
F#7sus            F#7
Don't be wrong any more

Stanza Pattern:
I'm feeling that feeling again
I'm playing a game I can't win

Refrain Pattern:
Love's knocking on the door
Of my heart once more
Think I'll let her in
Before I begin

Chorus Pattern:
Foolish heart, hear me calling
Stop before you start falling
Foolish heart, heed my warning
You've been wrong before
Don't be wrong any more

Use Stanza Pattern for Instrumental:

Chorus Pattern:
Foolish heart, hear me calling
Stop before you start falling
Foolish heart, heed my warning
You've been wrong before
Don't be wrong any more

Use Stanza Pattern to Fade Out:
Foolish heart...

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Selective Browsing and Games Stuck at the Loading Screen

Yesterday, I tried to access the NBA website in order to check on updates with regards to the 2016 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. But for some reason, the site would not load. I quickly checked on Google, and it loaded immediately. Tried Facebook, and it was fine, too. So I thought that it was just a problem with the NBA website.

But then, I tried to go to CNN, and it, too, would not load. I tried YouTube, an videos were playing fine, but when I tried another different site, it would not load. I then knew I was dealing with a Selective Browsing issue. And I knew it wasn't my hosts file causing the problem because I usually edit this only to prevent unwanted pop-ups from advertisement sites.

This issue was happening on both my PC and my mobile phone. On the phone, Viber would not work and some of the games like Clash of Clans and Boom Beach were stuck at the loading screen. FFRK was alright, but another game was not.

So instead of reformatting my PC and resetting my phone back to factory settings, I decided to call up my Internet Service Provider. I already experienced this issue before, and they were able to resolve it by a procedure called port resetting. That was done after an onsite was able to rule out any possible problems with their hardware (modem, filter) and the phone line. All the tech did was call up their support division which conducted the procedure. I asked him what was being done, and his explanation was that my ISP was issuing me another port. ^_^ I guess you can think of it as a water pipe from the service provider that has gone bad (slightly clogged, where you can still get some water, but not all of it), and all they are doing is issuing me another water pipe so that water (information) can flow fully.

I am curious on how the Selective Browsing issue actually happens. In the above analogy, I'd like to know what causes the clogging. There are some explanations that involve an analogy of the browser cache and how this needs to be cleared, and how an ISP needs to do the same thing, but it's still to vague for me. I've tried to search the Internet for more articles on this issue, but have not found one with a satisfactory explanation on the causes and resolutions of Selective Browsing. If you're reading this, and you can explain how it happens, or point me to a resource that has a good explanation, please feel free to post in the comments section below. Thank you.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Lady Wants To Know Guitar Chords

Here's my attempt at the guitar chords for an oldie from Michael Franks. Hope you enjoy it!

Intro Pattern:
DM7 AM7
DM7 AM7
CM7 G7
AM7

Stanza  Pattern:
DM7                 AM7
Daddy plays the ashtray.
DM7              AM7
Baby starts to cry.
CM7                     G7
The Lady wants to know
(G)             AM7
The reason why


Repeat Stanza Pattern:
Daddy's just like Coltrane.
Baby's just like Miles.
The Lady's just like heaven
When she smiles.

Refrain Pattern:
(AM7)                         Am7                            
And the Lady wants to know
                                   D7 (or D9)
She wants to know the reason
Am7                             D7 (or D9)
Got to know the reason why.
                              Gm7                    
This man has got to go
C9
This man is always leavin'
Gm7                        C9
How he hates to say goodbye.
                                Fm7
But what she doesn't know
            Bb9
Is there really is no reason
Fm7                              Bb9
There really is no reason why.


Instrumental: Repeat Intro Pattern

Repeat Stanza Pattern:
Daddy he hates airplanes.
Baby loves to fly.
And the Lady wants to know
The reason why.
Daddy's just like Coltrane.
Baby's just like Miles.
The Lady's just like heaven
When she smiles.


Repeat Refrain Pattern:

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Getting a Non-Professional Driver's License 2016

I've read a lot of good tips on how to get your Non-Professional Driver's License from the LTO. Just thought I'd give an update on the costs as of May 2016.

I spent 180 pesos on the medical exam at Cabreros Medical Clinic, located on the 2nd floor of the Chowking building to the left side of the LTO Compound in Quezon City. The will measure your height and weight, and give you tests for the eyes and for your feet.

Afterwards, proceed to Step 1 for the LTO Form. You will be given a number after you present your student's permit. Hopefully, it hasn't expired yet. Mine was about to reach a year, so I was pressured to go get my Non-Prof unless I wanted to renew my Student's License again. After getting a number, wait for it to be called at either Windows 9, 8 or 10.

After you are called, the next step would be your photo and signature capture at Window 6. Then payment for the exam at Window 7 which will cost you roughly 170 pesos. After paying, proceed to the Review Room and choose between an English or Tagalog Reviewer. Hopefully, you've tried the free online reviewers available.

After about 30 minutes to an hour of waiting, you will be asked to proceed to the examination room for the actual exam. Try to familiarize yourself with the traffic signs on the wall before the actual exam takes place. Those symbols are a huge help.

Again, wait for the results of the written exam, and if you pass, you will be called for the actual driving exam at their test area. If you fail, I think you can re-apply after a month.

At the test area, you will be given a brief orientation once all the test takers are present. Just a note here, I think processing test takers in batches are one of the reasons why this process takes almost an entire day. If I were to suggest changes in the LTO License Application process, it would be to computerize the written exam so that results are available as soon as the applicant is finished taking the test, and the applicant does not have to wait for his batchmates (the ones who took the test together with him). Same with the Driving Exam. Applicants can be instructed to just read signages on the wall before being called by the driving instructor for the exam. But I guess the vehicles have to be re-fueled and checked for maintenance after a batch is done.

If you don't have a car, you can rent one for 250 pesos. But if you have one, and you have a relative who already has a non-pro license, then it is better to bring it and operate a vehicle which you are already familiar on how to drive. Then, wait for your turn to drive through the test course. Try to be familiar with parking a car via backing. This was my main difficulty. Thank the Lord, I passed.

Even experienced drivers were having some difficulty with models they were not familiar driving. There was a Suzuki model that was really old. There was no signal stick, and the manual transmission was a bit of a challenge. Hopefully, you'll get a better and newer model than that one for the test.

After about 30 more minutes, if you passed, you will have to pay the license fee at Window 7 (the same one before), this time amounting to almost 420 pesos. Wait for another 15 to 30 minutes to get the Official Receipt from Window 13. The actual license will take 2 to 3 months according to the personnel at Window 13 of the LTO.

I started at around 9 in the morning and finished at about 3 in the afternoon. I hope you have a better experience and that you successfully get your Non-Pro License, too.

Medical Fee 180
Exam Fee 170
Car Rental 250
License Fee 420
_________________
Total Expense 1020 pesos

Update: 12/22/2016
After learning of the announcement that the Driver's License I.D. Cards were now available, I dropped by the LTO and presented my receipts. It took about thirty minutes of waiting, but afterwards, I got the actual card and no longer have to carry a paper license.



Tuesday, April 26, 2016

San Miguel Beermen in a 0-2 Hole

It is the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup Semi-final round and SMB finds itself in a 0-2 deficit in a best of 5 series. Rain or Shine could close the match up in the next game.

And I know, SMB was in a far worse-situation in the last finals, since they were in a 0-3 deficit in a best of 7 series.

We could point fingers at this moment. How the team is experimenting with Gary David at a crucial moment in time, and Mr. David deserves the respect as a long-time player, but we know that he isn't really a defensive player, and even though SMB is seen as a high-scoring team, their defense is a critical part of their success.

We could also blame Marcio Lassiter who seems to be in a different planet and whose stats were absent from last game. But he could easily counter that he didn't have his usual minutes to get heated up.

And even Tyler Wilkerson who used to produce 50 plus numbers is performing below his average. Is he learning to share the ball? Or would we rather he hog the ball and get the win.

But blaming and pointing fingers will not solve the 0-2 problem. SMB should go back to basics and look back at what brought them to their status as the team to beat in the PBA. They used to have a great deep bench in Lutz, Espinas, Aranya, and Tubid. But those guys don't seem to be getting any playing time as of this point. I would rather play a non-premier guard who will get things going by passing the ball to the open man than a superstar guard who misses open shots kicked out to him by a double-teamed post up player.

And SMB is known for having multiple point guards on the floor at any one time, allowing them to have better control and easy finishes during the fast-break. Maybe Coach Leo is tired of this set-up which is why he is experimenting with Arwind Santos at the three, but just learn from Golden State and why they have been successful this year. I think speed in basketball is better than strength.

Hopefully, SMB can survive this situation like they did last conference. Only God can make miracles happen, and I hope He is on their side.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Boyz II Men Doin' Just Fine Guitar Chords

Here's my attempt at one of the best songs of the best R&B group in my opinion. Hope you like it! Enjoy!

Doin' Just Fine - Boyz II Men

Intro
F - BbM7 (Repeat)

Stanza Pattern
F                BbM7
There was a time when I thought life was over and out
F
When you went away from me
BbM7                                C
My dying heart made it hard to breathe
F
Would sit in my room
BbM7
Because I didn't want to have to go out
F
And see you walking by
BbM7 C
One look and I'd break right down and cry

Refrain
Dm                                
Now you say that you've made a big mistake
Am
Never meant to take your love away
Gm
But you can save your tired apologies
C - Csus - C
'Cause it may seem hard to believe

But

[Chorus:]
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - Dm
Getting along very well Without you in my life (I don't need you in my life)
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - F
Time made me stronger You're no longer on my mind

Stanza Pattern
F
You were my earth
BbM7
My number one priority
F
I gave my love to only you
BbM7 C
Anything you'd ask of me I would do
F
But somewhere down the road
BbM7
You felt a change in the weather And told me that you had to
F                        BbM7
journey on A kiss in the wind and your love was gone (long gone)

Refrain Pattern
Dm
Now you say you never meant to play your games
Am
Girl, don't you know it's far too late
Gm
Because you let our love just fall apart
C
You no longer have my heart

[Chorus:]
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - Dm
Getting along very well Without you in my life (I don't need you in my life)
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - Dm
Time made me stronger You're no longer on my mind

Bridge
Dm
When you said goodbye
Am
I felt so all alone
Gm
There were times at night I couldn't sleep
C                                       Csus - C
My heart was much too weak to make it on my own
BbM7
Baby after all the misery
C F
And pain you put me through
BbM7
So unfair to me girl You're no longer my world
C
And I ain't missin' you at all

[Chorus:]
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - Dm
Getting along very well Without you in my life (I don't need you in my life)
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - F
Time made me stronger You're no longer on my mind

[Chorus: Outro]
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
See baby when you walked away You didn't think that it would end up this way
BbM7 - C - Dm
But I knew you'd be coming 'round someday Just as sure as my name is Wanya
BbM7 - C - Am - Dm        
I'm doin' just fine
BbM7 - C - F
Time made me stronger You're no longer on my mind

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Supergirl Is Exposed to Red Kryptonite

I must say that I really enjoyed Melissa Benoist playing both a mean girl and a mean Supergirl. The episode revolves around Red Kryptonite. Based on Superman lore, I'm not sure all the other colors of Kryptonite are synthesized from Green Kryptonite. I always thought that all colors of Kryptonite came from Krypton's explosion. Kind of like the different metals we have on earth. It will be interesting if Maxwell Lord (this show's version of Lex Luthor) synthesizes other Kryptonite variants and each show explores what happens to Kara when she is exposed to that particular one.

But in terms of acting, I give Benoit an A+ in this episode. Perhaps she was born to play mean roles. She can probably play Cruela De Ville or one of the Mean Girls in Mean Girls if that movie is ever re-made. Perhaps she is a meanie in real life =) Just kidding. If Supergirl is revived ten years from now, she can certainly play Cat Grant.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Ginebra Needs A Better Import

The game between Alaska and Ginebra was a nail-biter up until the last few minutes when Ginebra's import choked under the pressure. With the Commissioner's Cup parading imports like Shane Edwards, Arinze Onuaku, and Tyler Wilkerson, where the average height is about 6'8", I'm not sure why Coach Tim Cone opted to hire a 6'5" import like Jeffers. Perhaps he wants to develop an import that Ginebra can depend on like Shawn Chambers was dependable for Alaska. There was even a time when Alaska lost their import during the Commissioner's cup, and Coach Cone flew in Chambers to help them win both the Commissioner's cup and the Governor's cup that year, if memory serves correctly. But Jeffers hasn't proven that he can be depended on. Not yet.

Jefferson vs other imports is a big mismatch. Edwards shut him down in the last minute of play, preventing Ginebra from making any kind of comeback. If Coach Cone really wanted to go small, he should have hired a point guard because, in my opinion, that is what Ginebra really needs at this point. With three aging guards in Caguioa, Helterbrand, and Tenorio, it is a miracle Ginerba still has a Sol Mercado and a Scottie Thompson. But these two youngsters are not natural point guards. Ellis is a slasher. So Ginebra has no player who can be depended on for a three-point shot. Not that Coach Cone really believes in the three. But teams like Alaska, San Miguel, and Rain or Shine have been utilizing three-point players well and I think that is the reason why these teams have been successful. And even Barroca and Yap had the three at their disposal when Coach Cone was with the Star Hotshots.

And in a league dominated by Jun Mar Fajardo, I would have thought that all teams would have tried to get an import to match that bulk. Meralco probably has the best import to match and neutralize Fajardo. But with the Lebron James like import of Tyler Wilkerson, I have to say that San Miguel is probably favored to win this cup as long as their team doesn't suffer any injuries.

I guess the challenge of bringing a championship to a long-time rival is what is driving Coach Cone. So in the puzzle of matching Fajardo versus augmenting Ginebra's guard line up, perhaps Coach Cone made the right decision of getting a smaller import. I think a Mercado Thompson Aguilar Slaughter line up would be effective with an excellent guard as an import and with Ellis coming off as a sixth-man (or switch Ellis with Mercado). Thompson is part of this team's future. He should start developing a three in his arsenal. I believe Ginebra will get at least one Championship under Cone. But at this stage, it might still be a ways off. Perhaps they can trade for a better point guard next conference. Get Casio or Barroca, Cabagnot or even Ross if either of those guards are willing to go to Ginebra.

Monday, March 7, 2016

A Terrible Customer Experience With Mang Inasal Delivery

I was ordering the usual PM2 meal from Mang Inasal so I was surprised that the bill was significantly higher than usual. When I asked the agent at the other end of the line, I was surprised that she raised her voice back at me when I was simply questioning why the bill was higher than before.

It turns out that they were charging more for the extra rice I ordered. I was wondering why this was the case when Mang Inasal is known for giving unlimited rice to their customers. It turns out, they are now charging 22 pesos for each additional order of extra rice.

So I finally agreed to the order hoping to get the delivery done with. It turn out, I had to wait an extra 30 minutes above the allotted 45 minute delivery time. Other fast food restaurants would have given a gift certificate for a deduction on the next order. All Mang Inasal's management did was offer an apology. Strange, since Mang Inasal is supposedly under the Jollibee food chain. But to be fair, Jollibee doesn't exactly honor their 200 peso gift certificate promise for late deliveries. It is all BS.

The driver finally arrives with the order, and gives me the change. I often get the correct amount when they do this so at this particular day, I didn't count the change properly. It turns out, the amount I received was lower than what I should have gotten.

That's three strikes for Mang Inasal on a single delivery. It's really sad that this is happening when I have been a long-time supporter of their services.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Sentimental Lady Guitar Chords



Couldn't get the tune of Sentimental Lady out of my mind. Found this excellent acoustic cover by Larry L and decided to try out the following chord arrangement. Hope you like it.

Stanza
G# Bb
G# Bb Cm7

Refrain
Gm7 Bb
Gm7 Bb
Gm7 Bb
Gm7 G# Bb

Chorus
EbM7 Fm
EbM7 Fm
EbM7 Fm Bb EbM7 (Bbsus Bb)

Instrumental
Eb G# Bb Eb

Roberta Flack - Feel Like Making Love Guitar Chords

Heard this on the radio the other day, and decided to give it a try. Hope you like it! Just use the same Stanza and Chorus pattern over and over.

Stanza 1
Bm7                   E                  Amaj7 G F#
Strollin in the park, watching winter turn to spring.
Bm7                  E                 Amaj7 Amay7sus - Amaj7
Walking in the dark, seeing lovers do their thing.

CHORUS:
Dmaj7          C#m7                     Bm7   F#
That's the time I feel like making love to you.
Dmaj7          C#m7                G         F#
That's the time I feel like making dreams come true.
Bm7       Esus - E
Oooh, baby.

Stanza 2
When you talk to me, when you're moaning sweet and low.
When you're touching me and my feelings start to grow.

CHORUS:
That's the time I feel like making love to you.
That's the time I feel like making dreams come true.
Oooh, baby.

Stanza 3
In a resturant, holding hands by candlelight.
While I'm touching you, wanting you with all my might.

CHORUS:
That's the time I feel like making love to you.
That's the time I feel like making dreams come true.
Oooh, baby.

Stanza 4
Strollin in the park, watching winter turn to spring.
Walking in the dark, seeing lovers do their thing.

CHORUS:
That's the time I feel like making love to you.
That's the time I feel like making dreams come true.
Oooh, baby.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Smallville's Supergirl is a Villain on Supergirl

The death of Supergirl's Kryptonian aunt has left a void among the ranks of her enemies, especially since female villains are fewer compared to their male counterparts. It's a good thing that Laura Vandervoort is back to save the day. She injected some life into Smallville and is now back - and hopefully will become a regular - on Supergirl. Amazingly, after all these years, Vandervoort has been able to retain her amazing figure. Too bad she has to be dressed up in a Mystique (from the X-men movies) like costume. I guess they are simply basing the get-up on Braniac from the Legionnaires comics. I don't quite understand if she is Braniac, since she is called Indigo / Braniac 8 on the show. Does this mean that she is the eighth version of Braniac, just like Windows 8? =)

The show would be better off in my opinion if Indigo retained her human appearance - the hacker persona - and get rid of the stupid violet costume. Or, if they really want a costume for this super villain, make it as cool looking as the Kryptonian villains, or even Supergirl's sister.

Also, it was cool that the show gave us a peak at the Fortress of Solitude and a Legionnaire ring inside. Will the Legionnaires become Supergirl's sidekicks - just like Arrow has Team Arrow, and Flash has Team Flash? I guess we will just have to wait and see. But as far as DC superhero shows are concerned, Supergirl now ranks second to the Flash in terms of story telling. Can't wait for Cadmus and Powergirl to enter into the plot. And will Supergirl ever visit the City of Kandor - which is what her movie is known for...

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Port Resetting Saves The Day

Was having intermittent connection issues with BayanTel. Their lineman made some changes and replaced a filter. The connection was now fast and no longer disconnected after the phone rings. I thought everything was ok. Facebook was functioning and videos on YouTube were playing fast.

Suddenly, my apps that require an internet connection no longer functioned properly. Clash of Clans, Boom Beach, and Final Fantasy Record Keeper were stuck at the loading screen. Viber no longer worked. What in the world was happening? The issue was not isolated to a single phone. Other wi-fi dependent devices were affected.

I tried reinstalling the apps, but the results were still the same. I also found out that certain sites like cnn.com and wikipedia.org would not load, but major sites like yahoo, google and facebook loaded fine.

This reminded me of site blocking so I was beginning to think it was a network issue, rather than the hardware or line connections.

When the repairmen from BayanTel came back, they thought a modem replacement would work. But the repairman was worried about a double MAC issue, once he exchanged the new modem for the old. So he called up the ISP's network division to have the port reset. The only problem was, the new modem didn't seem to be working either. So he reconnected the old modem, and viola, Wikipedia loaded properly.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

George Duke's Sweet Baby Guitar Chords

Here's my attempt at guitar chords for George Duke's Sweet Baby. Hope you like it!

E                       EM7
When I think about your lovin',
AM7
the Sunday evenings
AM7            
The fun we use to share
E              EM7       AM7         B
Looking through the memories in my mind
E              EM7               AM7
Since I've laughed and cried and thought it over
AM7
Now I realize
E              EM7       AM7         B
that it's never over only set aside

E           C#m7  
Oh it's you sweet baby
F#m             B             
I will never be free from your
E        C#m7 
embrace, sweet baby
F#m             Am               G#m     Bsus - B
Only hopin' it's not too late to try again
E        C#m7  
It's you sweet baby
F#m             Am
Ever lost and captured by your
E        C#m7
smile, sweet baby
F#m               Am                       G#m              Bsus - B
I will always be right there by your side, right by your side

E          EM7
Lyin' here alone I'm dreamin',
AM7
my mind keeps wanderin'
AM7
My thoughts are only you
E                     EM7             AM7
Wanderin' through the memories in my mind
E                           EM7
How could love so real have turned so empty
AM7
I just keep wanderin' why
E                 EM7               AM7              B
Will I ever find the love we share together you and I

E           C#m7  
Oh it's you sweet baby
F#m             B             
I will never be free from your
E        C#m7 
embrace, sweet baby
F#m             Am               G#m     Bsus - B
Only hopin' it's not too late to try again
E        C#m7  
It's you sweet baby
F#m             Am
Ever lost and captured by your
E        C#m7
smile, sweet baby
F#m               Am                       G#m              Bsus - B
I will always be right there by your side, right by your side

Thursday, February 11, 2016

2016 List of Metro Manila Food Delivery Numbers

For everyone's convenience...

Amber 884-8888
Angel's Pizza 922-2222
Army Navy 333-3131
Bon Chon 633-1818
Chowking 9-8888
Gerry's Grill 332-1111
Goldilocks 888-1999
Greenwich 55-555
Ineng's Katipunan 435-6757
Jollibee 8-7000
Kenny Rogers 555-9000
KFC 887-8888
Mang Inasal 733-1111
McDo 8-6236
Mushroom Burger 882-8888
Papa John's Pizza 887-7272
Pizza Hut 911-1111
Shakey's Pizza 77-777
Wendy's 533-3333
Yoshinoya 212-1212

If you have a recommended fast food number, just add it below. Thanks ^_^

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

San Miguel Beermen Come Back from 0-3 to Win The Philippine Cup Finals 2016

The San Miguel Beermen have done it. They have become the first team in basketball history to come back from a 0 - 3 deficit to win a 7 game series.

Chris Ross deserves to win the Finals MVP. He hit 4 three-point shots in the game, producing his highest scoring output in the series. He, along with Alex Cabagnot, have also been crucial in allowing San Miguel to break free from Alaska's full court press.

San Miguel now has 22 PBA Titles, making them the PBA team with the most wins in history.

Although point production for Arwind Santos was not as high as some of the other games, his defense was superb in this game. Alex Cabagnot also scored at critical times in the game when Alaska was about to make a surge. Marcio Lassiter's steady hand at the free throw line made sure that Alaska could not take advantage of a hack-a-shaq strategy when the Aces tried to come back from a 20+ point deficit.

Ross said it right in his acceptance speech. All the members of the San Miguel Team are MVPs since they all made big contributions that kept the team alive - giving the team a fighting chance - when they were one game away from being eliminated.

Just when I think I've seen everything in basketball, it's nice to be surprised once in a while. Congratulations coach Leo Austria and to the San Miguel Beermen!!!

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