Knowledge and ignorance

"Everyone has the right to knowledge in the same way everyone has the right to ignorance." -- Joel Duque

I hate Deep Blue H1 UMPC, Asus Eee PC 701, 900, 900A, 900HA

Hi. I want to buy a Deep Blue H1. But I don't really need it. My mother wants to have a laptop and she wants nothing to do with such small gadgets. But I had an idea. Why not give her this laptop she already bought me (Acer Aspire 2920Z), basically a 12-inch laptop with an Intel Dual Core processor weighing 2.04kg as a compromise to my UMPC craving and the apparent acute shortage of the supply then uberly popular and domineering Asus Eee PC 701 (then priced at PhP18,000.00-22,000.00, as I can remember), notably even around the Gilmore, a place teeming with computers and related accessories. I got it from CoolTOYZ for PhP29,995.00 sometime in July 2008 but she promised to paid me back P10k each month starting January 31, 2009. Haha. She always tells us that she's an honorable woman and she will pay all her debts to the last cent. The original advertisement from the resellers website was removed so here is an alternative.

For PhP9,995.00, everything is fine with the Blue UMPC except the 7" screen. I want at least a 9-incher. So I pondered how to get around with my dilemma. I considered getting the Asus Eee PC 900 which has a 9" screen and sells for Php15,500.00, especially since its price recently went down from about PhP22,500.00. But then if i add PhP6,300.00 to the Blue UMPC, I would be able to get a separate 16" Viewsonic LCD monitor. At PhP16,295.00, I believe this is a much better deal. But then there's another UMPC that came up, Asus Eee PC 900A which has a "coning soon" on BestBuy and it would be selling for US$329.99 or about PhP15,500, the same price as Eee 900. It has an Atom N270 processor and a 4Gb Solid State Drive (SSD) for storage, allowing for about twice the battery life of the Eee 900. So looking at it now, the Eee 900 is still way overpriced! There's still something better than Eee 900A with respect to its price point, the Asus Eee 900HA. It has a 9" screen, an Atom N270 processor, 160Gb Hard Drive (HDD) for storage, and a 1.3Mpixel camera. It will start selling at US$349 or PhP16,400.00.

My desire for this unessential tools made me weary and has taken a significant amount of my study time this past few weeks, especially when the Blue UMPC dropped its price from about Php16,000.00 to Php9,995.00 as i remember on September 18, 2008. I then googled "i hate technology". What I loved the best is this article, since it exemplified my feeling about consumerism and materialism, of needless inventions which are primarily for profiteering purposes, I saw anecdotes on how technology mostly but how technology diverted from its original meaning to now mean the gadgets themselves. Furthermore, what caught my attention was an article entitled "Metadesign" by Humberto Maturana. I understood the Introduction but failed to do so for the remaining parts. It claims that humans are closed systems and as far as I understand something to the effect of we have a part in everything that happens to us. There is nothing so big an entity that we cannot change or affect its course. We are beings of love. There are different trajectories of humans, and one of them is Homo sapiens amans. This is in contrast to the Homo luminous of the Hopi, Maya, and Inca. I also came across a PDF file, one of the authors is Maturana, the "Biology of Love".

As for UMPCs, if my mother really wants a new laptop, I'll let get the new one since my sister is headed for the US for work for almost an entire month, we can get a decent 15.4"/17" laptop at around PhP23,000.00-30,000.00. I'll be getting a digital recorder for taking notes on class US$39.99 or US$199.99 if the first one does not allow downloading to a computer, a 2-way radio for US$29.99 for fun and probably to save money as against cellphones, a digital camera for US$99.99 for histology class and sightseeing, an MP3 player for US$40, and a couple of 8Gb SHC Class 6 cards for the digital camera at US$9.99 each.

UMPC search

I really want to have a UMPC. I guess it is because of all the advertisements that are around and I allow myself to be exposed to. What I want is a gadget with at the following minimum requirements:
1. OS: linux
2. color: black
3. processor: via nano/intel atom
4. memory: 2gb ddr2 sodimm
5. storage: 80gb
6. display: 9", LED backlight, 1024x600 (WSVGA), (matte/anti-glare)
7. camera: 1.3Mpixel
8. battery life: 8h (6-cell, 6600mAh)
9. wireless: 802.11b/g/n
10. bluetooth: yes
11. weight: <1kg
12. price: below $100

Jog back

Today, I started jogging once more. I managed to make 7 laps and overtake 19 people before I succumbed to lower right quadrant abdominal pain. Lately, I have been feeling poor about myself and life in general. I decided to temporarily quit jogging beacuse of a bacterial infection on my left axilla/armpit. It was about 4 cm long by 2 cm wide by 1 cm high. I was worried that It could be aggravated by the moving forward and backward of my arm involved in jogging. The pus should come out so I tried poking and piercing it with a needle. It was situated in such a way that it was difficult for me to perform such maneuver by myself. I asked my parents to do the piercing since I cannot do it adequately by myself. They ultimately refused and told me that I should go to the hospital. I did not want to go because I do not like taking antibiotics and I did not have fever. Most of the elicited pain came from the prick I did when it came to contact with my the other fold of skin/my left arm. So now that the mass is smaller and not painful, I do not have any excuse not to exercise, except of course the rain which would cancel out the benefits of outdoor exercise if ever I become sick/febrile. Recently, I ate cucumbers which smelled like vinegar. Obviously, there was some form of bacteriall growth. I did not mind such and ate them all up. A few hours after, I felt some gastric pain which disturbed me when I wanted to sleep last night. It was awful and I resorted to do what helped me sleep whenever I needed to. Heck, if it worked before, then there is no reason why I should not at least try to do it when I am sick or insomiac of whatever cause.

Price of ignorance

"Ignorance is costly; knowledge is free. Choose." -- Joel Duque

Combination chemotherapy

"Combination chemotherapy is the standard because of the innate ineffectivity of its various components." -- Joel Duque

Death

"Death is bliss but suicide is selfish." -- Joel Duque

Convenient

"We invoke whatever claim whenever we deem it convenient. In fact, we invoke the opposite claim when it becomes necessary." -- Joel Duque

Surprise

Yes, I was surprised this afternoon. While my classmate Lance and I were discussing our group's homework in Research Methods, our attention was called by the lecturer Dr. Mario M. Panaligan in Medicine. In short, we were reprimanded. You should know that I have a very large ego inside me. It is definitely suppressed whenever I am not in our house. Yes, we were discussing things which were not related to his lecture. Our backs were even facing him since there was a table at the end of the Preventive Medicine Mega Lecture Room. So we quickly stood up and got ourselves the two nearest seats. Five minutes later, I realized that the fat and authoritative doctor started the lecture 15 minutes ahead of time. Darn it. Oh well, injustice happens anywhere, including in medical school. Or should I say more often in medical school.

On I side note, I was introduced by Reena to some section B girl. Now that I try to remember her name, I can't do so entirely. Gaze or something. I don't know. I am not good at remembering names, especially when it is an introduction to someone new. But there is something sure, I wanted it to be her, the one I have revealed my interest in conspiracy theories and maybe share at least some of the interests that I do have. But seems that she likes or loves Gelo since she asks about him interestingly when we chatted in Yahoo Messenger. Maybe we are not close enough to discuss some other topic. But maybe also that's what she is really interested in.

Cracker

Sky Flakes? No, I am not taking about the brand of crispy biscuit made by Monde M.Y. San Corporation. I am talking about myself. I actually decoded the password of our pathology samplex. I benefited a lot from the samplex of previous batches, most especially from our first long examination. This is just my way of passing the good fortune to my classmates and the next generations of the medical students of my Alma Mater. Let's study very well guys. Moreso, let's memorize everything we both need and desire to memorize, for we are destined to all pass the August 2012 Physician Licensure Examinations. I will top it no matter what.

Hot head

Today was one of the few times our class was dismissed at 5:00 P.M. Most of the times, we were out 30 minutes to 1 hour before time. Getting a jeep ride from UERM to EDSA became difficult and this was aggravated by a slight drizzle which eventually became full blown when I reached EDSA-Cubao, where I waited for an air-conditioned bus to Santolan.

What is worth mentioning is the driver of the jeep was generally hot headed. When I boarded his vehicle, I instantly noticed him because he was cursing the driver of another vehicle. I can't remember it exactly since it is not worthwhile to remember or the fact that it is enough to remember that those weren't any good. He seemed to attract bad or unfortunate things towards him. He was aggressive at driving, especially towards a motorcycle we encountered. Something like this is what I recall:
Motorcyclist: "Gago ka ha. Ginigitgit mo ako e may dyip sa kabila."
Jeep driver: "Nakasignal ako."
Motorcyclist: "Kahit na ba, hindi mo ba ako nakita? Papatayin mo ako ha."
Jeep driver: "Pasensya na."

The defense or reasoning of the jeep driver is intrinsically flawed. What if the motorcyclist died because of trauma. What I mean is, given that situation, that the motorcyclist is already in an awkward and dangerous position, the jeep driver should have given way to the motorcyclist. Rules may or may not favor one, but instinct, with the guidance of conscience, should always prevail.

ASUS Eee PC 901

Specificatons
Manufacturer ASUS
Model name Eee PC 901
Model id Linux, 20G
CPU type Intel Atom (Diamondville)
CPU speed 1600 Mhz
Graphics Intel GMA 950
OS Linux
Display Size
8.9" 1024 X 600
RAM 1024 MB
Flash 20000 MB
Keyboard YES
Mouse Pointer YES
Battery capacity 49 (W/hr)
Weight 1140g
Size (w/h/d mm) 226/175/39 mm

Physical Interfaces
Ethernet 10/100
VGA
MIC-in
Line-out
USB2.0 (x3)
SD card slot

Wireless Interfaces
802.11b/g
802.1n
BT2.0
No Wireless WAN (e.g. 3G cellular)
Additional Specs and Accessories (can vary)
Built-in camera.

ASUS Eee PC 900

Specificatons
Manufacturer ASUS
Model name Eee PC 4G
CPU type Celeron-M
CPU speed 633 Mhz
Graphics Intel GMA 900
OS Linux
Display Size
7" 800 X 480
RAM 512 MB
Flash 4000 MB
Keyboard YES
Mouse Pointer YES
Battery capacity 37 (W/hr)
Battery Life (tested) 3.4 - 4.1 hours
Weight 920g
Size (w/h/d mm) 225/165/35 mm

Physical Interfaces
Ethernet 10/100
USB2.0 (x3)
Line-out
MIC-in
VGA
SD card slot

Wireless Interfaces
802.11b/g
No Wireless PAN (Bluetooth)
No Wireless WAN (e.g. 3G cellular)
Additional Specs and Accessories (can vary)
Built-in camera.

ASUS eee pc 701

Specificatons
Manufacturer ASUS
Model name eee pc 701
Model id 701
CPU type Celeron-M
CPU speed 900 Mhz
Graphics Intel GMA 900
OS Linux
Display Size
7" 800 X 480
RAM 512 MB
Flash 4000 MB
Keyboard YES
Mouse Pointer YES
Battery capacity 37 (W/hr)
Battery Life (tested) 3.4 - 4.1 hours
Weight 920g
Size (w/h/d mm) 225/165/35 mm

Wireless Interfaces
802.11b/g
No Wireless PAN (Bluetooth)
No Wireless WAN (e.g. 3G cellular)
Additional Specs and Accessories (can vary)
Built-in camera.

Dell E

Specificatons
Manufacturer Dell
Model name E
CPU type Intel Atom (Diamondville)
CPU speed 1600 Mhz
Graphics Intel GMA 950
OS Linux
Display Size
8.9" 1024 X 600
RAM 512 MB
Flash 4000 MB
Keyboard YES
Mouse Pointer YES
Weight 1000g
Size (w/h/d mm) 232/175/30 mm

Physical Interfaces
VGA

Wireless Interfaces
802.11b/g
BT 2.0 (On some models)
BT 2.0 (On some models)
No Wireless WAN (e.g. 3G cellular)

Optional Specs and Accessories (can vary)
Built-in camera.

MSI Wind

Specificatons
Manufacturer MSI
Model name Wind
Model id U100
CPU type Intel Atom (Diamondville)
CPU speed 1600 Mhz
Graphics Intel GMA 950
OS Linux
Display Size
10" 1024 X 600
RAM 1024 MB
Hard Disk 80 GB
Keyboard YES
Mouse Pointer YES
Battery capacity 24 (W/hr)
Weight 1200g
Size (w/h/d mm) 260/180/31 mm

Physical Interfaces
Ethernet 10/100
VGA
MIC-in
Line-out
USB2.0 (x3)
SD card slot

Wireless Interfaces
802.11b/g
BT 2.0 (On some models)
BT2.0
No Wireless WAN (e.g. 3G cellular)
Additional Specs and Accessories (can vary)
Built-in camera.

Acer Aspire One

Specificatons
Manufacturer Acer
Model name Aspire One
CPU type Intel Atom (Diamondville)
CPU speed 1600 Mhz
Graphics Intel GMA 950
OS Linux Linpus Lite
Display Size
8.9" 1024 X 600
Display Type
LED b/l,
RAM 512 MB
Flash 8000 MB
Keyboard YES
Mouse Pointer YES
Battery capacity 26 (W/hr)
Weight 950g
Size (w/h/d mm) 248/170/29 mm

Physical Interfaces
Line-out
MIC-in
Multi-format card reader
VGA
USB2.0 (x3)
Ethernet 10/100

Wireless Interfaces
802.11b/g
No Wireless PAN (Bluetooth)
No Wireless WAN (e.g. 3G cellular)

Saturday solitude

My pet caterpillar died. I forgot to feed it for days. It was still alive when I resumed feeding it. Somehow, it was not able to tolerate the injury it sustained which is reversible.

My pet cat, Dagul, was watered by our neighbor. Evidence present is my wet cat after a recent sound of water splashing. I avenged this by using the water-filled tabo many times (the person was not there anymore). I can't remember how many tabo-fulls I launched in the air. I think that it is good enough. Also, she should think twice on picking on animals. In this case, noisy cats which were just fighting.

I am home alone. My father is in Cagayan; he went there to watch a court hearing about a land dispute. My mother is in Cavite; she works there. My sister, I don't know where exactly she is. But as far I know, she is somewhere with her friends, traveling or relaxing in a trip or mini vacation.

I wasted my time by not studying today. I was able to get all the golden chips in Poker Superstars III. I tried I promise to study at least six hours a day.

Discount

"Ma, bayad. Isang citizen, isang hindi."

Wow, Philippine citizens get a discount when they ride the jeep. Now, I hope that was true. They passenger omitted the word senior to leave citizen as the only word. It should have been senior citizen. If you analyze the situation by syllable, senior has 2 syllables while citizen has 3. It is only now that I realized that maybe, the old woman wanted to avail herself of the rightful discount without acknowledging her age. Hmph! What is wrong with being old anyway? For one, it is a sign that one has a certain skill to be able to reach such an age. Maybe she wasn't educated enough. If she was, then she'd think twice of omitting much to the point of risking clarity.

The poor

"Blessed are the poor for they shield the middle class from too much inflation." -- Joel Duque

Elegant Doctor

Today, I saw a lady in white. Heck, I see women in white all the time here in medical school. But there is something about her, the way she walked. No, she wasn't the overacting type. She was just excellent. I know that walking with poise isn't really recommended to men. But maybe, just maybe, if I do it correctly, then it would all turn out for the better. After all, I am a physician.

By the way, I assumed that she is a first year medical student, which makes her one batch lower than me, just one batch. I didn't get to see much of her face, just her pigtailed hair and upper back. I was not so fortunately interrupted by Albert, my classmate. We chatted a little about our microbiology and pharmacology examinations. I did not want to seem rude to him just because I was checking out that girl. She rode the first Stop and Shop to Cubao-bound jeep, which is the same as my route. Oh well. That's life. That happens. When you're more into things, the farther they seem from you. I should get more social.

Libreng ligawan

Alamin mo kung ano yung gusto niya. Kung sadyang libre ang bagay na ito at mayroon ka nito, mapalad ka; gamitin mo na ito. Kung hindi libre ang bagay na ito pero mayroon ka nito at pwedeng mo itong ipagparaya, ibigay mo na ito sa kanya. Kung hindi libre ang bagay na ito at wala ka nito, sadyang hindi ka mapalad sa naturang pagkakataon; wala kang magagamit na anupamang bagay.

Alibata

bakadagahalamanangapasatawaya

baka daga halamana nga pasa tawa ya

Drama tears

Tears were shed yesterday. No, nothing bad happened near me. Really! Would you believe that I shed tears today for a drama. It's episode 4 of Ruri no Shima. It was the dialogue between Ruri and her sensei. She cried because Ruri did not tell her that the boys from another school went away at night during their stay on the island for collaborative learning. She was worried because Ruri was missing since she went after the boys to bring them back. The teacher wanted Ruri to trust her more. You should definitely try watching it.

Risk

"We run the risk of eternal bondage by not risking anything at all." -- Joel Duque

Bodies

"Homosexuals are not alone. All of us are trapped in bodies which are not ours. We are a bodiless singularity, but most of us are unaware of this truth." -- Joel Duque

1, 99, and 100

"The difference between 0 and 99 is less than 100; the distance between 99 and 100 seems to be greater than the distance between 0 and 99, or so we thought." -- Joel Duque

Aspartame

We always thought that sugar is bad for health. It is packed in calories and is addicting. However, there came Aspartame. No sugar, no calories. That's true. However, it is worse than sugar for our health. It is implicated in brain damage, particularly in the development of multiple sclerosis.

Language

"Language is a form of encryption. We always have to decrypt it." -- Joel Duque

Half-hearted grants

This is what I felt when I received a text message from an anonymous person who said that I missed my interview for grants-in-aid which was scheduled last March 24, 2008. I had no idea that

Self-vulnerability

"Knowing oneself, specifically one's vulnerability, only feebly helps one from being sucked into the cyclical vortex of spatial and temporal subjugation. One should always go against any attempt of control for which one does not greatly know how it shall benefit the stakeholders, especially oneself. It must definitely be sanctioned by one's conscience. Simply said, knowing your weaknesses does not make you strong. Doing something about it with what you currently have does make you so." -- Joel Duque

Small lies lie

"The dimensions of lies are imaginary. As such, there is no such thing as a small lie. In fact, small lies are much more dangerous than big lies when the former are embedded in a bag of truths. People have the tendency to simplify things and take the entire bag as the whole truth. This may possibly be one, if not the major explanation, for the existence of double meanings, multiple interpretations, and subliminal marketing schemes. They seems to work time and time again--mostly on uncanny individuals." -- Joel Duque

Inslimuation

Wow. Tumaba na pala ang iyong triceps surae (Tama ba?)! Iyan ay isa sa mga hindi nanais-naisin ng isang binibi--na mapansin ang kanyang pagiging hindi physically fit dahil sa pag-aaral ng medisina. Hiyang ka siguro sa med. Hmph! Walang hiya ka, sobra-sobra siguro ang tulong pang-akademikong natatanggap mo mula sa iyong soro. Peace! Hehe. Pero mukhang totoo naman. 'Yon naman talaga ang silbi ng mga samahan, lalung-lalo na ng mga frat at soro, ang maggamitan. Kaya nga hindi ako sasali sa frat kung wala akong hidden o iba pang agenda. Hindi ka naman maganda to the point na pang pormang partner pero nahalina ako dati sa iyong mga utong. Boob fetish. Haha. Alam mo naman, mapaglaro ang imahinasyon. Tila nasobrahan ako sa advetisements na okay sa babae yung may malalaki dyoga. Iehersisyo mo iyan, prone kayo sa pagkakaroon ng varicose veins. Pangit daw 'yon. So, hindi na ako infatuated sa 'yo, officially.

All energy

"We are energy, first and foremost!" -- Joel Duque

Valentines Day

"People should realize that Valentines Day is just but another money-making day of businesses, by businesses, and for businesses; they think that they can buy people to their favor." -- Joel Duque

Second Renaissance

"I hope that it is true that we are in the second Dark Ages, for what follows is the second Renaissance. -- Joel Duque

Evil remorse

"If you deal with evil, then you 'll definitely regret it in the future, especially if you'll have a change of heart." -- Joel Duque

Knowledge power

"Knowledge is dangerous to the powers-that-be." -- Joel Duque

Ability to act

"Ability necessitates responsibility. Response entails action." -- Joel Duque

Tomorrow today

"If I do what I do today, then I will do what I'll do tomorrow." -- Joel Duque

Missed thanks

I was used to the fact that no classmate of mine says thanks whenever I upload files regarding our medical subjects, mostly composed of the official PowerPoint presentations of our instructors. But these past few days, there was this lady that thanked me twice and consecutively for this. I do miss the thoughtfulness. You are so kind and nice. I hope this will not change. You're welcome!

Spiritual beings

"We are powerful spirits; we should think responsibly." -- Joel Duque

Search term #1

Search term #1: When will the Philippines be truly great again?
Search URL: http://en-US.start2.mozilla.com/firefox?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official (Google)
Date googled: January 22, 2008

Top 8 hit:

"Moving to the Philippines ~ Living, Retire, Travel to the Philippines"

So we expats who live here help promote the Philippines. It is truly a fantastic place to visit for many reasons. You will find out more on the website and if you join our free mailing list, Living, Retiring Traveling, and Doing Business in the Philippines. And if you want it all with you and more, do get the package of valuable information books and newsletters at Philippine Dreams.
www.livinginthephilippines.com/ - 147k

From the website:

Why You Will Want to Live, Retire, Travel or Do Business in the Philippines?

The Philippines is the only English speaking country in Asia. It has a culture known for its hospitality, beautiful beaches and warm and friendly people. You can experience a high quality standard of living for a very low cost. And that means with loyal live-in maids and helpers, cheap taxis, fine rental homes in quality neighborhoods, with rents so low you will have a hard time believing it. And it has a wide range of entertainment from exciting night life to golf, international restaurants to stunning resorts beyond compare. It also has many intangibles to bring you joy for no money at all. Ask any of the Americans living in the Philippines and ask of the foreigner living here too!

There is no question that the United States have succeeded in the colonization and post-colonization (imperialism) of the Philippines. Evil schemes with respect to trade and geopolitical policies and practices have been set since the US-sponsored Philippine Independence of 1946. The US is the number one trade partner of the Philippines. A clear evidence is the standard of living in the Philippines is low. 'Enjoy a high standard of living at a very low cost.' We have long been puppets of the Americans, and we'll probably sustain if not reinforce such status. In general, most Americans or even foreigners who come from the so-called First World countries who go here are those who can't afford or keep with the pace of their respective countries."

Another quote for the day:
"Filipinos are indeed very hospitable. We are hospitable to the point of resorting to putting others over ourselves. Is this bad? Yes. Why? Because it is basic that we should first satisfy needs before those of other people. Filipino before foreigners." -- Joel Duque

On moons

The moon is very captivating on this part of the planet. It is full. It is in contrast with the dark sky and thin, hazy clouds which pass transiently between the moon and I.

So my quote for today is:
"Even if there is a single Luna, our satellites shall always be different. Nevertheless, I hope that we'll get to share and experience each other's moons. This can be only achieved when we are side by side, when we become one." -- Joel Duque

Either way

"The Philippines only have two ways towards emancipation. Either we have a genuine and successful proletariat revolution or a system wherein corruption is legalized. The latter seems more attainable for the current entities are already too powerful to be overcome. Legalization of an act allows the its regulation. If the money that politicians steal from the tax-paying Filipinos is controlled, then more money can be spent for things which are by far more essential than the crooked priorities of our oppressors. For morality's and euphemism's sake, we can soften the accounting term which we shall call the fund. After all, too much euphemisms have been used in the past by our officials. We can go for the second choice, but we must ensure that they don't get that it is directed against them." -- Joel Duque

Left girl

Damn. She filed an LOA. This is nothing, really. But then I haven't really interacted with her. Just the files I stored in her 2 GB flash disk--academic files. I was amazed that the storage space was large. Mine then was a blue 500-MB PQI disk with aluminum casing. She resembles the girl with whom i had a crush for the majority of my college life. To think that she even looks way better than the latter. Both of them had the same initials, RA. The same first three letters of the first name and same first three letters of the last name! Well, I guess beauty means nothing. Beauty does not change the world. It makes pessimists think lower of themselves more and optimists higher of themselves more. As my male classmate said, "One less beautiful classmate. I'll follow her and file an LOA." Nevertheless, I guess one less physically beautiful classmate won't hurt. I hope so. Left. Communist. Socialist. Country. Oriental. Economy. Prosperity. They say she left because she's already rich. Does not need to work hard and earn as a doctor. The reality that medicine is only for those who really life it unfolds. I think I am starting to really like medicine--it's entirety. Or else, I won't survive.

Notch lower

"So much means nothing just because they were brought a notch lower." -- Joel Duque