#127: Two ways to celebrate today

It's called Halloween in the U.S. but in the Philippines it's more commonly called "All Saints Day", at least that's what I always remembered. In The U.S. it's all about customes, candies and chocolates. In the Philippines it's more of remembering our dead, visiting their tombs, lighting candles and saying a little prayer. In the U.S. it's wild parties, in the Philippines it's more of a solemn day.

My kids where all out today with friends and I was left alone in the house. There were occasional knocks at my door from trick or treaters. That's no problem, I did bought some packs of chocolates to give away just to avoid toilet paper being thrown in our house.

Being alone gave me a chance to think about my love ones who are no longer in my midst specially my father and my daughter Aemes. I still wonder how it would have been different with them alive.

I learned to like Halloween but I also miss All Saints Day.

#126: Believe it or not

Heard on the radio this morning the song Believe it or not from the TV series Greatest American Hero back in the 80's

This show chronicles this average man who got a red suite from a group of aliens which gives him supernatural power. Things get complicated when he inadvertently lost the instruction manual in using the suit.

This show is definitely a timeless favorite. Here's reminding you what the show's all about



And what about George Constanza paying tribute to this show by using the theme song as his answering machine greeting!



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#125: Ubuntu on the move again, Clooney's quote

There's a new version of my favorite distro, Ubuntu Linux. Version 9.10 code name Karmic koala offers great new features for the Desktop and Server environment.

Notable enhancement in the server edition is a built-in cloud computing feature that enable you to create your own private cloud.

There's also the Ubunty Remix specifically designed for netbooks users. This distro is awesome as an alternative OS. Best of all it's free and you can also have thousands of free applications software.

Can't wait to upgrade my computers.

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Oh before i forget here's a quote from George Clooney (I read this on a magazine while doing a VOIP phone system install for a client) about Facebook: "I would rather have a prostate exam on live television by a guy with very cold hands than have a facebook page."

#124: Jealous Guy

This song is a John Lennon original. Didn't like it that much until Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music did a cover. Specially how he whistle (at 3:38) towards the end.






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#123: Who's going to be our team?

Today's the opening of the 2009-2010 NBA Season. I caught the game between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. There were some new guys on both teams. Shaq for the Cavaliers and Wallace for the Celtics.

As I was watching the game, Deirdre sat beside me and asked "So NBA is back, who's gonna be our team this time?". Aren't we going for the Orlando Magic just like last year?", I asked back. "Mmm probably not, they don't have the original players like last year anymore", She answered. "So who are we going for then?", I asked curiously. "I don't know, who do you think?", she asked again. So I started to name some teams.

Dad: Hey what about the Boston Celitcs? I love to see them play when we go to Boston
Deirdre: I don't know anyone from that team.
Dad: Well Kevin Garnet is back
Dierdre: Don't know him
Dad: Ok, what about the Spurs, they have Tim Duncan and Tony Parker
Deirdre: Is he still married to Eva Longoria?
Dad: I think so, he's French
Deirdre: Maybe
Dad: Then let's go for the Lakers
Deirdre: yuk! I don't like Kobe
Dad: Yeah me too.
Deirdre: Shaq is still playing?(referring to the current game) Isn't he like 100 years old?
Dad: I think he's 37
Deirdre: He should stop playing
Dad: I agree. We can always go back to the Magic
Deirdre: But the team is not the same anymore.
Dad: Hey what about the Hornets! Nah I don't like Cris Paul
Deirdre: I don't know dad, I think let's just wait for the playoffs then we decide
Dad: You're right
Deirdre: Let's go (referring to Taekwando practice), am driving
Dad: here you go (tossing my car key to her)

So for now, the choice of our NBA team is up in the air.

#122: McDonald's is leaving

Stumbled upon this news about McDonald's leaving Iceland.

Iceland's three McDonald's restaurants -- all in the capital Reykjavik -- will close next weekend, as the franchise owner gives in to falling profits caused by the collapse in the Icelandic krona.

I should say this is a good news for them. For one thing a big mac meal (burger, fries and drink) has around 1,200 calories. For an average person that's more than twice your required daily calorie intake.

To burn this calorie according to this site, you need to walk 9.5 miles.

My family had stopped going to McDonald's or any other fast food restaurant long time ago because of these facts.  But not everyone in the U.S. agrees. No wonder 65% of American's are obese.

You want to start losing those extra fat? You can start by simple avoiding fast foods.

#121: Bell

She came into our lives just as we arrived from the U.S. in 2000. She's generally quiet but chirps when she's hungry and whistles when we call her name.She gets excited when we come home and she likes to get out of her cage and play.

She used to have a partner, but when we were moving in 2002, her mate flew away and never to be seen again. We though that she's going to be very sad. We were thinking of letting her go. We tried several times. Once I took her out of her cage and put her on my shoulder and strolled outside the house. But instead of flying for her freedom, she just just stayed on my shoulder like a leach.

She flew out twice before. The first time, we left the door open and she dashed out. We were so sad that day but at the same time relieved. Maybe this time she wanted to be free. But yet she just stayed atop a tree just in front of the house. She stayed there for three days and each day we would be calling her and she would answer back. On the third day, she just came down from the tree and flew back to my shoulder. She was dirty, she lost some weight and was so hungry. She did it again a couple of months after and again came back to our midst.

That's when we realized that she would stick with us forever. Her name is Bell. She's a cockatiel and she's part of our family.

 

#120: Words of Wisdom

Christopher Cross has probably the most soothing voice. I love to listen to his song when I want to relax, just close my eyes and go into oblivion. When you talk about Cross, you think about Sailing, Think of Laura, Arthur's theme or Swept away.Or his best ever song Words of Wisdom.

I can hear your voice and I have no choice cause the pain is too deep inside
And the hurt of a love that is lost has no cure but the love of another heart
Your friends try and say it will all get better, they say that they know how you feel
But your heart isn't sure 'cause it knows what it heard, all the things that it read in the letter

All the words of wisdom never seem to ease the pain, All the words of wisdom sound the same

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#119: Microsoft vs Apple vs Verizon

It's an all out technology war. With the release of Windows 7, so are these new commercial from Apple taking a shot at the "broken promises" of Microsoft.

Just in time for today’s Windows 7 launch comes a new Apple “Get a Mac” ad called “Broken Promises” swinging at the new operating system.
“Windows 7 is out, and it’s not going to have any of the problems my last operating system had. Trust me!”

Replace Windows 7 with Vista, XP, Me, 98, 95 and even Windows 2, and you’ve got another pot-stirring ad spot. Watch “Broken Promises” on Apple’s site.

 Here's another video and another video

But then Verizon is giving Apple a taste of it's own medicine blasting the iPhone and AT&T

first there's this ads "There's a map for that" obviously mocking Apples "There's an app for that" catch phrase.

then recently the iDon't ads highlighting every thing that the iPhone can't do. At the same time launches the site drioddoes.com

Gloves are off, it's survival of the fittest

#117: Microsoft vs Linux

Big news in the tech world, Windows 7 just hit the PC market. Microsoft is hoping to redeem itself after the infamous debacle of Windows Vista.

Executives from Microsoft have fanned out to celebrate the launch of the company's core product upon which the rest of Redmond's empire has been built. The software giant is counting on favorable reviews and new features to help Windows rebuilt its image in the face of a disappointing response to Windows Vista.  

As always home users who will buy a new computer will be the first to experience the new OS. As for businesses it will be hard to predict when or if they will ever switch to Windows 7.

But of course Linux is again challenging Windows 7 with IBM and Canonical for Ubuntu Linux  announcing the launch of Linux and cloud-based desktop software in the U.S.

IBM and Canonical in their press release have stated that the cost of migrating to Windows 7  will be as much as $2,000 for most PC users, with hardware accounting for much of the expense. Linux (and specifically Ubuntu) together with the IBM software is according to the two partners, cheaper to deploy.

"If a company is a 'Windows shop,' at some point it will need to evaluate the significant costs of migrating its base to Microsoft's next desktop and bolstering its defenses against virus and other attacks," said Bob Picciano, general manager, IBM Lotus in a statement. "American businesses have asked for a compelling alternative and today we are delivering IBM Client for Smart Work in the U.S."

 Our office had stick to windows XP and even run Ubuntu Linux on some of our desktop. I don't foresee the use of windows 7 in the near future. Our major applications such as our Medical Software, Email and knowledge-based system are all using web-based technology, This means that all we need is a web browser such as Firefox to run our applications.

With the release of windows 7 and eventually the sun-setting of windows XP, there's no choice but to switch to Linux.