The Geek Brewery

Hey guys!

Woke up this morning with throbbing headache. Then, attended my first class of the day, Math17 10 to 11:15am.

After the class, rode the Toki back to the dorm (I usually walk all the way back to Kalai) — then slept.

Then woke up by 1:30pm for lunch, prepared for my CS11, prepared for Buhay Coke Bloggers’ party and had my bath. By 2:30pm, I went to the EnggLib2 slash Department of Computer Science building for my class — still with a throbbing headache.

Now, I am in the class. Still with the throbbing headache. Ang sakit ng ulo ko. Our extraterrestrial (self-proclaimed) instructor is giving us lots of machine problems. We’re using Scheme, a dialect of Scheme. The headache doesn’t seem to affect the programming part of my brain much. In fact, to press date, I’ve done all of the exercises given as of the moment.

End.

This is how I write when my head aches. Woot! Huhuhuhuhu. May Buhay Coke Blogger’s Party pa!

Smart Bro is a wireless internet service provided by Smart Telecommunications, one major player in the Philippine mobile services arena.

Smart Bro connections differ in two types: the fixed antenna and modem usually installed above the house and the USB 3.5G modem, the more handy and truly mobile option.

I happened to use the second type, the USB 3.5G modem, which is actually capable of using 2G (the old-school voice and text), GPRS, EDGE, 3G and 3.5G (HSDPA) signals. I borrowed the 3.5G modem from a high school classmate. I tested the connection at Kalayaan Residence Hall of University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City Philippines.

Specifically, I used Smart Bro’s service in my room which is located on the basement and at the newly renovated lobby. First off, I’ll discuss my internet experience on my room.

Smart Bro @ the basement of Kalayaan Residence Hall

The connection was virtually dead even if it was connected to Smart’s servers. A high school batchmate earlier reported that she can’t connect to the Internet. The inner geek in me went out and suspected the DNS server to be the culprit. I switched to OpenDNS and tadaaa, it worked. (more…)

Living my 16 years in Southern Philippines where typhoons rarely (once in a lifetime) pass, moving to the upper half of the country was sort of different. Yesterday was my first encounter with a typhoon, typhoon Fengshen also known as Frank in the Philippines.

Sunday 1am, I was quite amazed by the strong winds. The dorm’s basement (Kalayaan Residence Hall in UP Diliman [Quezon City]) was filled with raging cold air. It was cold, really cold.

Then about 2am, it started to drizzle. Raging cold air plus light rain — I did not have an idea that it was a storm.

Then by 4am, the raging cold air and rain sustains its energy. Then, the lights went off. Still no idea that it was a typhoon. By that time, my body surrendered and fell into deep sleep.

Past 9am, I was awakened by a female resident assistant’s advisory stating that signal number 3 typhoon hit the dorm. We were advised to postpone our off-campus appointments, stock food supply and etc. It was still very dark, virtually no light on the corridors.

It was the “end of the world”.

Hours later, the electricity was restored.

Then the rain stopped.

Then, bye bye typhoon.

Then, a peaceful night with no typhoon.

Then, an announcement that classes on all levels are suspended.

Then, slept for the night.

Woke up with no typhoon.

Did not attend the classes.

The end.

Yey, today is the University of the Philippines’ birthday. UP is now officially a hundred years old!

The day was filled with lots of activities. From a flag-raising activity to Oblation Run. Unfortunately, I was not lucky enough to grab one of the 200 tickets in store for the College of Engineering for the night event at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The only activity I have witnessed today was the Oblation Run. (more…)

University of the Philippines — the country’s only National University.

June 10, 2008 marks my first day as a college student in the country’s premiere national university. A new chapter in my life; reborn in a new and more realistic environment.

For my first year in U.P., I am lucky to be granted a dorm slot in Kalayaan Residence Hall. This time, I’m more confident than the people of my age — after having stayed on a dorm, a home away from home, for the last four years. I can now laugh to people who brought literally a lot of stuff at the back of my mind. I can laugh at their excitement as seen on their uber-early wake-up time, as early as 4am. That day, I woke up at several minutes past 6. That time, the bathrooms were not congested already. I managed not to eat breakfast at the mess hall, as everybody did it, for a fact that I am not used to eating the “first meal” of the day.

The first activity the University had for us was the Freshmen Orientation Program. All freshmen entered the UP Theater — after assembling in an orderly manner outside while listening to the rallyists. Inside, we were grouped by Colleges. I was very amazed by our college’s freshmen population, which is a third of all freshmen. UP System President _________, UP Diliman Chancelor Cao and other UP Diliman and System officials were also present throughout the program. As centennial freshmen, we were given a more wonderful orientation with better presentations as compared to the previous batches (just an assumption). It was fun, especially seeing activists rallying up stage during the program. Another special thing is that a batchmate of ours participated the staged rally. Saya nun, first day palang sa UP aktibista na! (more…)