The Four-eyed Journal » memes

A look at My Desktop: Gundam Wing or Naruto

jhay — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 07:49:09 +0000

Moving on from the tragedy, paranoia, bickering and finger-pointing of the Glorietta 2 bombing, it’s time to move on a little bit with this blog. Today, I finally got the time to do this ‘My Desktop Free View‘ meme/tag from Jaypee which was started by iRonnie.

It all started with his realization that;

Most people spend a considerable amount of time in customizing or in finding a desktop wallpaper that suits their taste. Sadly, our computers often remains… personal. Why don’t we brag to the world our good-find wallpapers and let them have a peek to our personality via our desktops?

Desktop wallpapers has always captured my fancy. One habit I developed before I got to own my own desktop PC was to change the wallpaper of the PCs I rented back then, which was ages ago, regardless of which rental shop it was. Some of the owners who didn’t welcomed that little habit of mine eventually warned me to stop ‘personalizing’ their PCs.

In the back of my mind, “Okay, then why even bother to call them ‘personal’ computers if that’s the case?” Come to think of it, that habit became my signature.

98% of all the wallpapers I’ve used since then were anime-based. In particular the ones I used featured custom designs by fans of the Gundam Wing series (which is my all-time fave of the Gundam universe) that I’ve collected from the internet since my highschool days. Further proof that I’m so much of a Gundam Wing fan, the wallpapers I still use today were the very same wallpapers I collected some 6 years ago.

Need I say more? Just have a look at my desktop:

I try to keep my desktop as clean as possible. My room is already a big mess and so the clean desktop is some relief, plus it’s a must if I ever want to increase my productivity. My close friends would raise an eyebrow once they see this screencap. ‘Coz there’s not a single icon to a PC game can be found on my desktop!

Unbelievable? Fear not, the game icons are all inside the Quick Launch menu. I forced my self to placing all of it in there because gaming + academics + extra-curriculars + social work + blogging = very, very, very chaotic and unproductive lifestyle.

Already there are so many desktops to see and each has a unique story. I just hope the 5 persons I’m going to tag will enjoy this meme as well. They are:

Sonnie of Sonnie’s Porch
Arvin of Arvin Astig
Gelay of Derpinsel
Jong the Geeklamador
Rob of Rob and the blogosphere

My Desktop Free View Instructions:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.

You can do a screen capture by: [1] Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key). [2] Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V). [3] If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

People who joined My Desktop Free View:

Redlan – REDLAN’S WEB OF ARTS | CheChe – Life’s All That | The Giddy Tigers – The Giddy Tigers | Pikey – Simple Tofu | Jenny – Slice of Life

Memories of 2006

jhay — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:05:54 +0000

Again, I was tagged by Kars. Not sure what the name of this meme is, it’s something like recalling the best and worst of 2006. Well here’s what I can recall.

What did you do in 2006 that youâ€™ve never done before?

I attended the MOA Blogger Meetup! Yey!

What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

Lots, the most needed would be in related to my schoolwork is a digi-cam. Hope I manage to get a digi-cam this year to help me start up on my digital photography and to be prepared for my undergrad thesis.

What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 2006, the wonderful street dancing during our town fiesta and the tragedy of the Wowowee-ULTRA stampede.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Qualifying to have this .com.ph domain + hosting for free. To think that it was just six months since I started blogging regularly and having granted this uber cool package is a big milestone for me.

What was your biggest failure?

Missing the deadline for application into the official student publication of the DLSU-D. I’ve been meaning to join since 2005. Damn my procrastinations.

What was the best thing you bought?

A pair of Jag jeans that just fits and looks good on me. All my other pants before were either too long, too loose, too short or simply not just me. It’s my favorite pair actually.

Did you suffer illnes of injury?

Yes, I had UTI last July and was ill for like a week. I missed my midterm exams and worst, it was my birthday.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Agie, Jacob, Monico, Ranial aka Potpot and RJ; the most hardcore members of Sining Bayan to date. They really helped the group survive 2006.

What did you really, really get excited about?

Using this .com.ph domain that bears my name!

What songs will always remind you of 2006?

APO revivals, Sponge Cola’s “Bitiw” and Callalily’s album Destination XYZ.

Compared to this time last year, I amâ€¦

I really can’t recall how was it like during this time last year, but definitely I had more sleep back then.

What do you wish youâ€™d done more?

Bloghopping, linking to other people’s posts and actually attending my classes.

What do you wish youâ€™d done less of?

Staying up late into the night.

How many one-night stands?

I invoke my right to privacy. Hahahaha!

What was your fave TV program?

Naruto, Bubble Gang and Grey’s Anatomy.

What was the best book youâ€™ve read?

In 2006, my best read would be Memoirs of a Geisha.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Anton Ramos and Anne Dudely, their techno(?) music which we used in a theater production was just so beautiful and catchy. Next would be Callalily, they simply rock!

What was your fave film of the year?

The Revenge of the Sith, watching Yoda and Darth Sidious dueling with lightsabers is every Star Wars fan’s dream-come-true. Too bad Yoda lost.

What did you do on you bday, and how old were you?

Nothing much, I had UTI during that day, and I just turned 21.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

A Spartan-geek blogger. Simple jeans, my Chuck Taylor sneakers and my favorite “Common sense is not that common” t-shirt.

What kept you sane?

I partially lost my sanity way before 2006, hahaha but thanks to Kim and Bogs for helping me keep what was left of my sanity.

Which celebrity figure did you fancy the most?

Sean Connery. The first and original, “Bond…James Bond.”

What political issue stirred you the most?

The administration’s drive for Charter change. A-holes!

Who did you missâ€¦in Manila?

Khaito, a good friend of mine.

Who was the best new person you met?

Mheo Soriano, one cool Lasallian Volunteer.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:

Standing up to what you believe in, despite the consequences it will definitely prove you exist and would give much worth to your life and existence.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself?

“Kuya, astig ka!”

The most touching experience youâ€™ve had this year?

Watching and blogging about the ULTRA stampede live.

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2006 and change something, what would it be?

Despite the many regrets, I would change nothing in 2006. What’s done is done, besides it could have really really serious repercussions in the space-time continuum. hahaha

What are your plans for 2007?

Get a digi-cam, improve more on my blog and blogging and get better grades at the university.

How are you different now that the year has ended?

I’ve learned a lot from 2006, and I’m more determined to achieve my goals this year.

What are your wishes for the new year?

ISPs get better preparation so that connections would not suffer that much during natural calamities. All the blessings to Filipino bloggers and a better life for all Pinoys.

Ok, now for the tags: Jaypee, (I’m returning the favor), Melai, Arvin, and Rob.

5 things that you don’t or didn’t know about me

jhay — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 02:25:37 +0000

It’s been a long long time since the last time I was tagged to do a blog meme. Here’s the very first for 2007, thanks to Jaypee!

1. I’m not that good at Math

Don’t get fooled by my blog’s tagline, my eyeglasses or some of the tech-talk in my posts. Because I suck at Math, math subjects that is. That’s why I never took up engineering courses or a computer programming course because of the math subjects it has. I barely survived Algebra both in highschool and in college. Even though my math professors say I could be very good in math because of my above-average analytical skills (say what? ), I avoid purely mathematical subjects because numbers are quite dull and boring for me. I just can’t stand to spend hours solving a math problem only to end up getting a zero for an answer, even if it’s the correct answer. It’s all of my efforts went to nothing – literally. Combined with science though, like chemistry and physics, I could manage.

2. I have two left feet

Even though I’m into theater arts, I’m not a good dancer. I suck at it. It’s looks rediculous and downright strange whenever I try to dance to modern-beats. You could ask me to play weird or difficult characters in a play anytime, but dancing? Hell no!

3. Most of my books are not related to the subjects I’m taking up.

Everyone (mostly) knows that I’m a Human Biology major, but once you visit my room, you’d find more books about the social sciences than about biological or natural sciences. The only books about biology I have the ones required of me to have or buy by my professors. The rest of the books I buy are about fiction, history, philosophy, etc.

4. My glasses are ten years old

I started wearing eye glasses when I was in the 4th elementary grade and have been wearing them since. The grade of lenses have never changed except that I have changed frames three times already. Maybe it’s time for another eye check-up.

5. I was nearly arrested by the police

It was my freshman year in college, the first semestral break of my college life and I spent it on the streets of Manila marching alongside the urban poor, peasants and farmers from Cavite, Laguna and Quezon and other Left-leaning groups in a rally at Mendiola bridge. That day was the commemoration of the UN’s World Food Day. The farmers and peasants are decrying the ill effects of globalization and importation of cheaper Chinese vegetables into the country that beats them in competition. To make it worse, gov’t budget for agriculture is so little much of it is lost in corruption.

Cutting the story short, myself and a friend of mine got thirsty under the heat of the sun while the protest march settled at Mendiola and the program went on. The two of us saw this buko juice vendor at the corner of the intersection and we deiced to take a break. Carrying our protest placards screaming in full red the ouster of GMA and ending of the US Imperialism in the country, we bought some nice cold buko juice for refreshemt. While we were enjoying our drinks, little did we know that the police has started to disperse the crowd and arresting those who have astrayed too far from the ranks of the protesters. Seeing a couple of police officers armed with riot shileds and battons heading our way, my friend and I hurried back to our companions, the nuns and priests from the Urban Missionaries to escape arrest. They chased us and we were lucky enough to make back into the safety of our group before the police got their hands on us. It was a narrow escape. Still, the struggle goes on.

It has been and I thank Jaypee for this tag. Now I’m passing this tag on to major, karmi, racky, aisha and my fellow biologist and katukayo, julius. Enjoy!

My Top 5 Celebrities

jhay — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 14:27:25 +0000

This is not a tag really, just a list of the top 5 celebrities on my list. The reasons they are among my favorites and a few random things I know about them. Things like this support the proposition that my self and this blog of mine is not solely about science, technology and other geeky stuff. Fret not though, to think that this will be a gossip or celebrities news post, trust me you would find this celebrities Blog a much better read as compared to this blog of mine.

Anyways, and without further delay I give you the following top 10 Celebrities in my personal list and this is in no particular order.

Sean Connery – okay he is old but he’s among my most admired and idolized actors out there. I’m a fan of his films and his scottish accent. It sounds so regal and so authoritative. The first Sean Connery film that I saw was “First Knight”, which co-starred Richard Gere and that beautiful actress. (I forgot her name and I’m too lazy to ask Google for it as of this writing.) The second one, and this is among my all-time favorite films is “The Rock” which he co-starred with Nicholas Cage. The action film is just a brilliant piece of filmaking. Too bad Hollywood no longer makes this kind of action movies. These were followed by some of his James Bond films and now I understood how he rose to international stardom. I’d argue that Sean Connery was the classic James Bond actor. Finally, there’s “The Untouchables” which won him his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He deserves it and more.

Nicholas Cage – since I mentioned him earlier I’m going to move on to him now. Nicholas Cage captured my attention in his off the hook action film “Face Off” (no pun intended) with John Travolta. Damn! (pardon me, but I think you’ll agree with me later on) This movie is definitely among the best action films ever. The gun fights, the acting – Nicholas and John were a perfect match. Nicholas really impressed me when I saw the softer, angelic side of him in “City of Angels” (one of the few films that made me cry). The story, the script, and the ending of the movie just moved me to tears. Plus, it’s soundtrack “Iris” by the Goo goo dolls remains one of my eternal LSS (last song syndrome) songs.

John Travolta – Okay, you already know by now how I moved over to John Travolta. I first saw him in “Look Who’s Talking” a brilliant, comedic and heartwarming film. The most memorable scene for me was when John’s character removed a splinter from Kirstie Alley’s (okay, I Googled this time) finger and they sounded as if they were in the heat of lovemaking. Just brilliant! Of course, John was great in “Face Off”, I really laughed when Nicholas Cage made fun of John’s “ridiculous chin.” Good stuff. Of course who could forget him for “Grease”, “Pulp Fiction and “Saturday Night Fever”?

Natalie Portman – I remember her from “Mars Attack!” She was cute back then, but when I saw her in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace without her silly Queen Amidala make-up, man I was lovestruck. Then came Attack of the Clones, I was cursing and raving mad at that wildcat of some sort for scathing her beautiful skin. I wanted more. lol I got more, of her acting prowess of course, in “V for Vendetta” and “Cold Mountain.” She’s a good actress, a very beautiful woman what more could one ask for, but more.

Anne Hathaway – Natalie Portman was a big crush of mine. Anne, was a bigger one. When I saw her in “Princess Diaries” I almost forgot about Natalie Portman for she reminded me of my former girlfriend (there, I blew it). Her eyes, her smile and her voice, I was swept away. Critics are right, her acting is reminiscent of Julia Robert’s because she is that damn good of an actress. She’s the reason why I tried to search the local bookstores for a copy of the “Devil Wears Prada” that had her picture. Another reason why I went to see “Brokeback Mountain.” Ang Lee is a genius! And I cannot wait to see Anne’s next film.

There you go, 5 of my favorite Hollywood celebrities and I have 5 more, but that is another post for another time.
Do we share the same favorite celebrity? Or do we not. Let me know and if you feel like it, you can think of this as meme for you to continue. Just name 5 of your favorite celebrities and just write stuff about them without consulting Google too much. Then of course tag 5 other bloggers of your choosing.

Lights! Camera…Action!

20 questions, 20 answers

jhay — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:33:32 +0000

I first saw this meme in Kars’ blog, the Breathing Space. I wasn’t tagged by her but coincidentally, a good friend of mine e-mailed a copy to me requesting that I do the meme. It’s quite fun to answer the questions and I hope everyone else does enjoy it as well. Especially the bloggers I tagged.

3 smells I love:
1. Brewed Amadeo coffee with creamer
2. Well-cooked porkchops
3. My ex-gf’s cologne

3 smells I hate:
1. Unkept urinals
2. Body Odor
3. Formaldehyde (when dissecting something in Bio class)

3 jobs that I have had in my life:
1. Student-Assistant
2. Researcher/Legislative staff
3. Theater arts trainer/director/technical director

3 movies that I could watch over and over:
1. Patch Adams
2. City of Angels
3. Wrongfully Accused

3 fond memories:
1. My 17th Birthday bash – the night before the Oakwood mutiny broke out.
2. My 3rd year highschool recollection
3. Spending time with my highschool barkada after school until very late in the night.

3 jobs I dream (would love) to have:
1. Newspaper/Magazine columnist
2. Neuro surgeon or a Lawyer
3. Law/Economics/History/Biology professor

3 things I would like to do:
1. Re-paint my bedroom walls
2. Get a new computer for my younger sister (get myself a laptop)
3. Gain some weight

3 of my favorite food:
1. Chicken Adobo
2. Menudo
3. Shabu-shabu

3 places I would like to be in/at right now:
1. Volunteer’s workroom @ DLSU-D
2. My friend Chester’s place
3. Guelph, Ontario, Canada

3 things that make me cry:
1. Sad, sad movies/novels
2. Certain songs that remind me of some past events
3. Letters hidden in my special shoebox inside my closet

1. How often do you blog?
I visit my blog daily, I post updates every other day.

2. Online Alias:
jhay/jhaykage

3. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?
Yes, a lot of times. Mostly when I join mass rallies and protests. When the jeepney driver doesn’t give the due change to my fellow student passengers.

4. What do you do most often when you are bored?
Listen to music or read a book.

5. When bathing, which do you wash first?
My hair and face.

6. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Yes, my personal record was 75 hours straight

7. What color looks best on you?
Gray, black, blue and white

8. Whatâ€™s your favorite alcoholic drink?
Gin + Extra Joss (hekhekhek) Try it, no hangovers and you’d barely get drunk.

9. Do you believe in heaven and hell as real places that we go to after we die?
No. The real question is, ‘Is there really life after death?’ Besides, Jesus has already shown how heaven can be found on Earth, while GMA and the imperialists has turned the Philippines into hell ever since the former said ‘Hello, Garci’ while the latter stole our independence in 1898.

10. Do you find that you have more online friends than offline friends?
No, most of my offline friends go online for different reasons from mine.

11. What was your favorite subject in school?
History and Economics in Highschool, Biology, Philosophy and History in college.

12. Are you a perfectionist?
I’m not fully aware of it, most of my friends say I am.

13. Do you spend more than you can afford?
No. How could I spend on something I cannot afford to begin with?

14. Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved before?
Yes. It changes your life forever.

15. Do you consider yourself creative?
Yes, especially when under pressure.

16. Do you give yourself the credit you deserve?
Only when it’s called for.

17. Do you donate time or money to charities?
Yes, but mostly my non-monetary resources like my intellect, creativity, man power. I’ve been a volunteer for almost 6 years now.

18. Have you recently done something to yourself that youâ€™ve criticized others for doing?
Nothing that I could remember as of this writing.

19. Whatâ€™s on your mind right now?
Whether to prepare my lecture for the voter’s education seminar I’m going to facilitate or go out and see my friends.

20. Say one nice thing about the person who tagged you and the five people that you are going to tag:
I wasn’t tagged by a blogger, I recieved this meme from a good old friend of mine who e-mailed it to me, requesting that I answer it. Anyhow, thank you and namiss kita ah!

I’m tagging Bhogs, Senor Enique, Jaypee, Tess, and Billycoy