San Beda makes history in NCAA Basketball

San Beda’s win against defending champion San Sebastian Stags couldn’t be sweeter. San Beda has made history by sweeping all 16 games in the elimination round of NCAA season 86. Yesterday’s match may be a preview of this year’s finals. San Beda is on the top spot with 16 wins while San Sebastian won 13 games and lost the remaining 3 games.

It was a rough game.  Players from both teams were battling aggressively for the rebound or to get the position in the paint. Everyone is hungry for the one and the defense from both teams were not lacking. Sudan Daniel, the foreign exchange student from San Beda was a key to their win with 23 points and 5 blocks while another San Beda player, Garvo Lanete, contributed 23 points as well.

JRU and Mapua would meet on Monday to decide who will challenge San Sebastian on Wednesday. The San Beda is already waiting for the school who would reach the finals. They enjoy a thrice to beat advantage against the challenger. Pretty tall order right?

But don’t count San Sebastian out just yet. They will bank on their championship experience to retain the title. Chances are quite slim but miracles sometimes happens in the game of basketball. San Beda's challenger would have need to double their effort to retain the title. Make that triple since they have to beat San Beda thrice. I have seen teams with unbeaten records during the elimination round and end up losing in the championship. Ateneo lost twice against FEU this year but ended up beating the later twice to take home the championship. Another example is UE. UE never lost a single game during the eliminations. They lost in the finals against La Salle. It all comes down to who wants the championship more.

Updated NCAA Team Standing -- September 29, 2010

Teams	W-L	Pct
SBC Red Lions	16-0	1.000
SCC-R Stags	13-3	0.813
JRU Heavy Bombers	12-4	0.750
MIT Cardinals	9-7	0.563
CSJL Knigths	7-9	0.438
AU Chiefs	6-10	0.375
CSB Blazers	5-11	0.313
EAC Generals	2-14	0.125
UPDSD Altas	2-14	0.125

Movie review: The Last Airbender

Linda Hamitlon guest stars in Chuck

Last season, Chuck finds out that her mother, Mary Elizabeth Bartowski, is a spy just like her father. Linda Hamilton, better known for her role as Sarah Connor in Terminator movies, plays the role of Chuck's mother. Dolph Lungdren also guests as Marko, a russian operative of a mysterious Volkoff industries.

Chuck is searching for her mother with the help of Morgan. Initially Chuck didn't inform Sarah and Casey about his search in fear that they won't approve of it. Buy more has been rebuilt and turned to a CIA  substation after it was burned to ground last season. Buy more is under new management under General Beckman. Does it mean that we won't see any more of Jeff, Lester and Big Mike? Chuck is forced to come out of retirement and lie to Ellie about being a spy.

By the end of the episode, Chuck has lost a vital information in his search of his mother. Sarah and Casey are both helping with his search. Chuck was about to tell Ellie that he would become a spy again but change his mind after finding out that Ellie is pregnant. Elizabeth Bartowski has killed Marko to protect Chuck.

The series gets better and better. There are new twist and more questions left unanswered. I heard that Summer Glau would be guesting this season as Greta. That is something to look forward to.

Click here for more information about Chuck versus the Anniversary

Chuck Season 4 episode 1:Chuck versus the Anniversary

At the end of season 3, it seems that all loose end has been tied up and Chuck is ready to retire. Ellie eventually found out that Chuck was a spy but made him promise to retire as soon as he bring down the crime organization "the ring". Buy more was blown to smithereens. But before the episode ended, Chuck received a message from his father revealing that her mother was a spy all along.

In the beginning of the season 4, Chuck has solicited the help of his best friend Morgan Grimes to find his mother. He kept it a secret from Sarah and Casey because he knows that they won't ask him to stop looking for her. After visiting several countries and looking at every clue that his dad left him, they reached a dead end.

Chuck then started to go interviews for jobs that Ellie has recommended. But all turned him down. As Morgan and Chuck was on their way home, they saw the new Buy more and decided to reapply. The government has decided to rebuild the Buy more and make a substation for the CIA. General Beckman is now posing as the new head of the buy more. Does that mean we won't see Big Mike? We might not see Jeff and Lester though since they are wanted for blowing up the buy more. (But we all know that they didn't).
Chuck found out later that the reason why he didn't get the Job that he was applying for is because of General Beckman. She wants chuck to resume being a Spy.



Chuck and Morgan ended up going to Russia pursuing a clue. Sarah and Casey also ended in the same location were Chuck are headed after being abducted Marko (Dolph Lundgren). Chuck then found a computer that has files about his mother but it was decrypted. Sarah was able to send a text message to Chuck which Morgan misunderstood as sexting. Morgan finally realize that Sarah was in trouble and that they were on the same location.Chuck was able to rescue Sarah and Casey but was trap in the building. Their only chance of escape is using the EMP to disable the electronic locks.

Chuck had a chance in getting vital information about his mother but choose to use the EMP before the file decryption was completed.They escaped using a public bus. Chuck's mother eventually killed Marko to protect chuck. By the way Linda Hamilton is playing the role of Chuck's mother Mary Elizabeth Bartowski.

Ways to build website traffic

When I was starting, a friend of mine thought me ways to increase my website traffic. Joining blogging communities like Entrecard, Blogcatalog and Mybloglog was a big help when I was starting. By visiting sites in their network help made my presence felt in the blogosphere.

Entrecard

First you have to register your site. Before registering you must have at least 5 posts to get your blog approved. Before blog hopping, make sure that you are logged on to your entrecard account. If you visit sites before logging on to your account you will not see the "drop" option. Instead you will just see the "Get one" option. Site owners with entrecard widgets would not know that you visited your site if you do not press the "drop" option. So make sure you log on first.

TV series season premiere that you should watch

The long wait is over for TV series fans. Normally after months of waiting, Season premiere are aired on September. There are so many questions left hanging. And the answers are about to be revealed. Here are some of the TV series on my list
Chuck

While I was watching the last episode of season 3, I really thought that it would be the end of Chuck. After the defeating the crime Organization Fulcrum in season 2 and the Ring in Season 3, I thought they have tied up all loose ends. It seems that Chuck was already leaving the Spy world to live a normal life but it turns out there are more answers that Chuck has to seek. All along I thought that it was mere coincidence that Chuck became a spy but it turns being a spy runs in their blood. Chuck found a file about his mother, Elizabeth Bartowski. The contents of the file still yet to be reveal.

V

V is a remake from a science fiction TV series in 80s having the same title. Anna, the leader of the Alien visitors breed soldiers that would as part of plan to hunt the down the rebel alien faction called the fifth column. FBI agent Erica Evans learned about the soldiers and got help from an unexpected ally Lisa. Lisa is the daughter of Anna but fell in love with Erica’s son Tyler. Ryan Nichols is a visitor posing as a human and has been a helping to Erica in stopping Anna’s plan. Ryan’s fiancée Valerie gave birth to hybrid half human and half alien baby. Anna then ordered Valerie’s death after their baby was born. Anna then turns Ryan’s allegiance. We will have to wait next season where Ryan’s loyalty lies. After learning that her army was destroyed, Anna has shown signs of human emotions specifically anger. Using their technology, they turned the planet’s sky red.

Smallville

The TV series about one the most famous superhero of all time Superman. Smallville tells the story of Clark Kent’s journey to become Superman. I really loved how they reinvented the Superman story. But I have to admit that there have been moments when I wanted to give up watching this series.

I think after 9 seasons it is about time for Clark to learn how to fly. By the end of the season nine, Zod has been teleported to another world along with the Candorians. Oliver Queen Aka green arrow was abducted by an unknown enemy. And after being stab by blue kryptonite (When exposed, this kryptonite removes Clark's Powers temporarily) Clark falls from the top of a building without his powers. There are two possible ways for him to survive. First he might be saved by Martian the manhunter or by Hawkman. Second, somehow his powers of flight manifest. Guess will have to see.

Legtimate ways to make money online: Adgitize

I have been a member of Adgitize for months but I just recently learn how to maximize my earning capabilities with this program. The great thing about Adgitize is that it doesn't only help your earn income online but it also help you build up traffic to your site.

For months I have been wondering why I have earn as much with this program. I have been visiting sites with the adgitize badge but I don't seem to be earning as much. I didn't know I have to log on to my Adgitize account first before click sites the adgitize is advertising. So here are some tips to help you earn more money with this program.

1. First log on to your account. You won't earn points if you don't log on before ckicking ads.
2. After logging on. Click on 100 ads in the adgitize network to get 100 points.
3. Write an Article a day. You will get 100 points per day if you write an article per day. Make sure you're RSS feed is correct. You won't earn points if you don't
4. Advertise with adgitize. You would earn 100 points per day if you advertise.
5. Build your traffic. Adgitize values sites with high traffic. And you earn more points if your daily page view is high.

I used to click only 100 ads and I got 100 points with it. You would only earn $.01 with 100 points. If you write an article you will get another 100 points. That is 200 points total. Getting more than 200 points a day would help you earn $.15.There are some other tips in earning with Adgitize but I haven't personally tried it. Once I have I'll let you know.

Dengue Cases in the Philippines increased by 99% this year

Last year’s emergence of AH1N1 or the swine Flu has eclipsed the severity of dengue in the Philippines. For the whole year 2009, Dengue claim 369 lives while 501 fatalities were recorded in the first 8 months of this year. Last year 34997 dengue cases were recorded from Jan1 to Aug 28. This year dengue cases has reached 69594 during the same period. Dengue cases have risen by 99% this year.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona, said that the dengue cases normally peaks during the month of August. DOH is hopeful that the number of dengue cases would decline this year. East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City normally receives 100 dengue consultations a day. Among the total number of dengue consultation 15 patients are admitted to the hospital. Since August 28, the number of dengue consolidation has dropped to 20 to 30 per day. Only 7 patients are admitted for dengue treatment. Even though the number of dengue cases has decline, more patients in Metro Manila are being admitted due to dengue are increasing. It is expected that Dengue cases would go down after the rainy season. But since it hasn’t rain that much in the past few weeks. And due to Climate change, the rainy season might not end as forcasted.

Symptoms of Dengue

1. Severe Abdominal pain

2. Persistent vomiting

3. Red spots or patches on the skin

4. Black stools,

5. Drowsiness

6. difficulty In breathing

7. Pale or cold skin

For dengue patients, one is encourage increasing intake of oral fluids like oresol, water and juices. DOH advices people to use mosquito nets. If vomiting and bleeding is persistent it is advisable to visit a doctor for consultations. Instead of Aspirin, patients are advice to take paracetamol. According to DOH, taking aspirin might induce bleeding.

My thoughts on Services offered by the Government employees

When you ask people about the services that government employees provide, 9 out of 10 people would say that they are not satisfied. Today I went with my wife to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office in Carriedo to renew her NBI clearance. We were surprised that the office was moved to Monumento. We went there early because based on our past experience it would faster to have your NBI clearance renewed if you get there early.  Disappointed and very much upset, we took the train from LRT Carriedo station and alighted in Monumento Station. It took us two minutes by foot to reach the Victory Mall where the new NBI office is located. It was around 07:15 AM when we reached the Mall. Since only parts of the mall were open, we had to take the stairs. We climbed five floors to reach our destination. There is a consolation; it only took 20 minutes to complete the process of renewing her NBI clearance.

In the afternoon, we went to the Bureau of Internal Revenue office in West Avenue. We were supposed to request for an update in the information of her Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) but we were told that since she originally got her TIN in her hometown in Pampanga, she has to go there and request to have her TIN transferred in their West Avenue office so that they could process our request. It’s a hassle just to go to Pampanga and make the request. Why are they making it hard for taxpayer’s to update their file? Shouldn’t they take care of those who are willing to pay the government’s unreasonable taxes? This is also the same scenario with PAGIBIG and SSS offices. They claim that they don’t have a centralized server, so if you go to a PAGIBIG or SSS office that you are not linked to, well they’ll just say “sorry we could not view your account. Please visit the nearest SSS or PAGBIG office where you reside”.

The only office that I have no complaints with the service is Philheath offices located along Quezon Avenue. They are very efficient and the employees are very courteous. 

Investment on Gold and Silver coins

Making money has been difficult in the last couple of years. Earning has been harder and the prices of basic products has increased. I have been researching about the types of investment one could avail. What caught my interest is the investment on Gold and silver coins. The great thing about gold bullion is that the value never diminishes. Most people would say that purchasing real estate properties is one of the safest investment that one could have. The problem with real estate is that you can't easily resell it. Compare to gold, it is way easier to resell. Another good investment is silver. The demand for Silver has increased since 1990 and over the year the supply for silver has been declining thus making it very valuable. The United States Gold Bureau s now buying silver to replenish their silver reserve.  The time to buy gold coins and silver coins is now. This is a great deal that would surely double even triple your investment from your hard earn money. 

Comforts technology has brought us.

Technology has gone a long way. It has made the life of human beings a lot more easier. Now that we are accustomed to the comforts that technology has given, can we survive without it? Just imagine if all sources of energy suddenly ran out.  Everything that runs on electricity or fossil fuels are rendered useless. What would you miss most?

I could survive without a TV or internet access for a long period of time. I guess I would have to read books to pass time. I think food would be a problem. We would have to grow our own food or hunt to eat. Canned goods would eventually ran out since electricity is needed to power the machines needed for its production.

Text messages and Email would become obsolete and we will once again rely on snail mail. For us to travel, we would have to use bicycle, horses, carriages or ships powered only by the wind. For us to cook, we have start to make our own fires. We would not be able to refrigerate food.

I got the idea about this topic while watching Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition a few hours ago. Joining the show would mean that they won't be able to use any sort of gadgets for thirty days. They would have to find their own food. They would have to build their home manually. And instead of taking a ride to go to their destination, they would have to walk. Health care would also big problem. Technology has made it possible to make cure for certain disease. If medical machines like MRI machine, Xray or Ct Scan, finding cure for disease would be difficult. If somehow I was able to go back in time during the Middle Ages, I think it would e really hard for me to survive. Since I am already accustomed to the comforts technology has brought, It would be harder to adjust.

Early morning Facebook prank

I used to be addicted with Facebook. Everyday I used to play mafia wars and vampire wars. I stop because it was taking up too much of my time. Before I usually spend at least two hours in Facebook. Recently I have lost interest and rarely access my Facebook account. I don't even post any shout outs. I normally access my account when I upload pictures and view the comments. I recently pictures of new born daughter.

Two days ago I received a text message from my colleague saying that my Facebook account was hacked and messed up my profile picture. Normally I wouldn't react but the profile picture that I am currently using is a picture of my daughter. I was really upset. It was around seven in the morning when I received the text message. My work shift has already started and I really couldn't leave my work just to access my Facebook account. I text my officemate asking her what did the picture look like and what were the comments. It took time before I received her response. I was about to go to out decompression room to check my account but another officemate has left post. So I decided to wait for her to come back. Three minutes has gone by and was become restless. I decided not to wait for my officemate and check my account. I was about to open the door when I received a text message from my friend. She said that it was only a joke. It is one of those text messages that you have to scroll down to see the whole message. She got me. I am glad that I receive the text message before I got to decompression room.

My other officemate who left her post earlier returned after 10 minutes. She also receive the same message from the person who texted me. She was really angry. It turns out; she immediately went to the decompression room when she received the text message. We were not the only victim of her prank. Several officemates also receive a SMS and was not that happy. One of officemates was sleeping when she receive the message. She had to wake up just to access her Facebook account. When she found out that it was only a prank, she called up the sender and really scolded her.

I never thought that I would be upset with such a prank. I don't think I would react that way if my profile picture was not my daughter's. My other officemate wouldn't be that upset if she receive the text message at later time or she wasn't awoken by the message. Lesson of the story. Check the whole message first before reacting.