Joke Of The Day

I just came from my routine days off and scanned my mailbox of several new messages. I came across this e-mail and made me laugh my hearts out. Here's the content of the said e-mail. Enjoy!

It was Friday morning, and that meant it was time for an activity that the teacher called "add to the picture". The teacher would call students to the chalkboard one at a time. The first student would draw an object on the chalkboard, and each following student would add something to the picture to make it a new picture.

The teacher called on James to start things off.

James returned to his seat.

The teacher called on Ernie next.

Ernie returned to his seat.

Now it was Suzy's turn.

Suzy returned to her seat.

Next, the teacher called Jerry to the board.

Jerry returned to his seat.

Kim was called to the board.

Kim returned to her seat.

About this time, Pepito began waving his arm hysterically. Pepito was well known for being dirty-minded, so the teacher was reluctant to call on him for anything. But as the teacher looked at the picture on the chalkboard, she thought that there was no way that Pepito could possibly do anything to make this picture dirty. So she called on Pepito, and he ran to the chalkboard.

Pepito had done it again.

And The Winner Is...

And still the WBC International Super Featherweight Champion, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao!

This is what ring announcer Bruce Buffer said when he relayed the decision amongst judges of the fight between Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Babyfaced Asssassin Marco Antonio Barrera in their 12-round battle for the WBC International Super Featherweight Championship.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao unanimously won the fight with scores of 118-109, 118-109 & 115-113 to retain his belt and cement his place as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in history. Meanwhile, Marco Antonio Barrera later said in the post match interview "I moved all the time with my jabs, but he threw so many combinations" and said "I am finished" which signals his retirement from boxing.

This is another accolade that Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao has added in his illustrious career. His possible next fight would be a rematch against current WBC Super Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez who coincidentally won the title from Marco Antiono Barrera.

Go Pacman! Go Pinoy!

LBJ NY

Are you seeing what I'm seeing in this picture? Is this a dream or a nightmare? Do I have to slap my face several of times to tell me this is reality.

I'm a frequent visitor of CNN's Sports section, wherein I can read articles not ONLY latest news about basketball either NBA, US NCAA or High School but any sport of my interest. However, last Friday, October 5th, I saw this picture of LBJ wearing a NY cap and my initial reaction was OMG, was he traded to the NBA's New York Knicks? Wow, Isiah Thomas pulled one of the biggest surprises & lopsided trades in the history of NBA since as we all know LBJ was heralded as the heir apparent to his Airness, Michael Jordan or safe to say the next big thing the NBA and the sport of basketball will witness in the years to come.

I thoroughly searched Google for any article of a blockbuster trade, checked latest news from NBA, but to no avail. I went back to CNN's Sports section, found out this article regarding LBJ attending a MLB AL Playoff series between the Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees last October 4, 2007 held at Jacobs Field, Cleveland, OH.

Although the Indians routed the Yankees 12-3 in their AL playoff opener Thursday night, the buzz around town wasn't about Cleveland's offensive power surge or pitcher C.C. Sabathia's gutty performance. Instead, fans jammed sports talk radio lines and Internet message boards, crying foul over their frustration with the NBA superstar's traitorous appearance in the stands wearing a Yankees cap. There was even a signof "LeBron James. King of Nothing. Fan of Yankees. Get Out of Town" from a local gas station.

Furthermore, there were also fans who took this incident as nothing happened, just like Willie Watson of Cleveland said "so what if he wears a Yankees hat? He wins games for Cleveland" and "So he likes the Yankees. Boo hoo. Big deal. What's next? We don't like him because he listens to hip-hop instead of the Cleveland Orchestra?". Even baseball stars from both teams such as C.C Sabathia said "I don't think it's that big a deal" and Derek Jeter said "He's a Yankee fan. Why would that rub us the wrong way?".

I personally think what LBJ did is showing the public his personal choice on who he supports or a fan of, even if he's the face of an organization or the heralded savior of the luckless city of Cleveland, OH. We have to understand that before he became a Cleveland Cavalier he was already a big fan of the New York Yankees or why he wears #23 in his jersey as a tribute to his boyhood idol, Michael Jordan.

It maybe a coincidence that the city of Cleveland had several previous heartaches from different sports like the Curse of Rocky Calvito in baseball or the infamous Michael Jordan buzzer beaters during the '89 & '93 NBA Playoffs and a 2001-2002 NBA regular season game against the Washington Wizards.

Well, that's all for now. Let's wait and see in their home opener against the Dallas Mavericks this coming October 31, 2007.

Oops... Not Again!

Here's another insult to the injury err hurt caused from the previous racial slur in one of the scenes of Desperate Housewives Season 4 which caused the ire of the Filipino community.

This time, it may be the turn of the Emmy-award winning American satirical television program “The Daily Show" to spark controversy for apparently making a bad joke on former President Corazon Aquino.

In the said video, it raised the concern if America is ready for a woman president, pertaining to the presidency campaign of Hillary Clinton. It also depicted previous women presidents including former Philippines President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino with a "slut" in her picture. Here's the clip!

I personally find The Daily Show amusing yet offensive in some of the scenes it has televised (check my previous post regarding Funniest Tech Support videos), however, this clip is quite offensive since the researchers or writers didn't thoroughly researched if Cory Aquino had a history of affairs within her marriage to the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Sr.

This only shows that they are inconsiderate in the results of their actions. We all know that we can't please everyone but we can prevent any derogatory remark if we carefully think of our actions.

Filipino Racism

Last night while watching a local news, I was shocked from what I've seen in one of the scenes of the season premiere of Desperate Housewives Season 4, wherein Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer) questioned the educational system of the Philippines. Here is the excerpt of the conversation between Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer) & the doctor.

MD: Well, everything seems normal. But, you say you’ve been having irregular periods?
Susan: Yeah, you know, one month off, two months on. That happens, right?
MD: Have you ever experienced night sweats? …. (few other lines here)
MD: How about hot flashes?
Susan: OK, whoa. I’m gonna stop you right there. I’m way too young for that, please refer to your chart.
MD: Susan, I know for a lot of women the word menopause has negative connotations. They hear aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire…
Susan: Before you go any further, can I check those diplomas? I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines…

I got offended upon hearing the last line of the conversation, it made me question the writer's intelligence & how insensitive without considering it as a direct racial remark against a race that has served their country well. I must admit, in any country there are flaws in its educational system but to generalize a race and label them as incapable, is completely uncalled for.

Teri Hatcher could have omitted the last line of the conversation since an actor has the right not to disclose explicitly what is written on the script and it's unethical/unprofessional in her part to coincide with the writer's script.

This is another blow to a great nation that is striving hard to regain it's image from the rest of the world since the June 2006 Nursing Board Exam scandal.

To all Filipinos, let's continue working hard in achieving our dreams either locally or internationally and show to the rest of the world who we truly are. Go Pinoy!

Will To Win: Pacquiao vs. Barrera 2

It's approximately a couple of days from October 06, 2007 and the whole world will watch as two warriors fight it out in a rematch as The Philippines' very own Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao takes on Mexico's Babyfaced Asssassin Marco Antonio Barrera in a 12-round battle for the WBC International Super Featherweight Championship!

The titular rematch is one of the most requested by boxing fans for several years since Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao stunned Babyfaced Asssassin Marco Antonio Barrera in an 11th round TKO last November 15, 2003 held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, USA. Many considered the fight defined his career since he went on to fight against the very best boxers in the featherweight and super-featherweight division class.

After his spectacular win over Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao has since fought several of the best Mexican fighters, earning a draw against Juan Manuel Marquez last May 08, 2004 held at Las Vegas, Nevada, USA for the WBA & IBF Featherweight titles; a 6th round TKO against Hector Velasquez last September 10, 2005 held at Los Angeles, USA for the WBA & IBF Featherweight titles and their epic trilogy against Erik Morales which he initially lost a unanimous decision in their first fight last March 19, 2005 and won a 3rd round TKO; 10 round TKO in the succeeding two fights to cement his place as one of the best pound for pound boxers in the history.

Meanwhile, Marco Antonio Barrera has had his share of ups & downs since his shocking defeat at the hands of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, he won the rubber match of their epic trilogy against Erik Morales via a majority decision with scores of 115-113, 115-114, and 114-114. His previous match was against fellow Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, wherein he lost his WBC Super Featherweight title last March 17, 2007 held at Las Vegas, USA.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Name: Emmanuel Dapigran Pacquiao
Nickname: Pacman
Age: 28
Nationality: Filipino
Stance: Southpaw
Total Fights: 49
Wins: 44
KO: 35
Losses: 3
Draws: 2
No Contests: 0


Name: Marco Antonio Barrera
Nickname: Baby-Faced Assassin
Age: 33
Nationality: Mexican
Stance: Orthodox
Total Fights: 69
Wins: 63
KO: 42
Losses: 5
Draws: 0
No Contests: 1


This title-fight rematch has the makings of "Fight Of The Year" since many boxing aficionados are eagerly anticipating a classic fight between the two boxers. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao wants to prove the initial encounter was no fluke and tries to make his case as one of the greatest pound for pound boxers in history. Meanwhile, Marco Antonio "Baby-Faced Assassin" Barrera wants redemption from his shocking loss and wants to prove his doubters that he can slug it out with the best of them even at the latter part of his stellar career.

Petals Around The Rose

Anybody heard or even played this game? Petals Around The Rose is a lateral thinking mind game traditionally played with five dice. It is played by a computer program or with physical dice that are rolled by a Potentate Of The Rose - a person who knows the secret of the game.
For each roll of all dice, there is a single numerical solution. The players then attempt to arrive at this solution. If they do not, the Potentate of the Rose will tell it to them, and it is their task to figure out the solution for the next roll.

There are ONLY 3 rules, they are:

1. The name of the game is "Petals Around The Rose", and the name is significant.
2. The answer is always zero or an even number.
3. Anyone who knows the game may give the answer to any roll, but they must not disclose the reasoning.

Now, I tried playing the game through an e-mail that was forwarded by one of my colleagues and initially I can't seem to comprehend how & why they came up with the answers.

Figure 1

As shown in Figure 1, there are 5 dice that are rolled which has values of 4, 1, 6, 3, 6 respectively and the answer to this roll is 2.

Here's a series of rolls and answers to give you an example how mind boggling this game is!

Figure 2

Figure 2 answer is 8.

Figure 3

Figure 3 answer is 14.

Figure 4

Figure 4 answer is 0.

Figure 5

Figure 5 answer is 4.

Figure 6

Figure 6 answer is 4.

Now, you might be wondering why Figure 5 & 6 have the same answer and the ONLY difference is the first dice of every set. After doing extensive, thorough trial & error attempts of the given figures, I finally found the solution! Whew, it took me the whole shift (though it's understandable since I'm multi-tasking) while deciphering this game!

As what the third rule of this game says "anyone who knows the game may give the answer to any roll, but they must not disclose the reasoning", so as what the old saying goes, it's for you to find out and for me to know. Good luck and enjoy playing the game!

How To Handle Irritating Seatmates On An Airplane 101

Most of us have traveled far and beyond, either locally or internationally, which the latter I'm pursuing one of these days. Many of us have traveled short distance flights, maybe an hour or a couple of hours, but what about those long flights - transcontinental flights, wherein you have to prepare yourself for the long ride err flight. I may not be in the position to give a feedback of my own personal experience since I'm only able to experience short distance flights but I have heard different feedback from several people regarding their experiences of these kind of flights.

There are some wonderful stories of couples whose romances began with a bit of seatmate small talk. It's a treat when a long flight seems to fly by while you have been having a pleasant conversation with an intriguing seatmate, however, it can be excruciating when you want peace and quiet and your seatmate is intent on telling you his or her life story.

How To Handle A Talkative Seatmate

Have you encountered a too-talkative seatmate? Whose eager to talk all throughout the flight, whose insensitive enough not to know when to stop or why there's a need to stop. Well, here are some tips that I have gathered from well-mannered travelers.

If your seatmate asks you this phrase "what do you do?" then you can safely answer these replies.

• I'm a mortician - If your seatmate is a big fan of WWE, then the person has an idea what you are talking about.
  
• I'm a proctologist - I don't know if your seatmate is educated, but if the person is, then probably the conversation stops from the moment you utter this word.
• I'm a terrorist - this may not be the safest response after the 911 attack but this would be a temporary pause to your seatmate's yakking and you may need to prepare yourself of a lengthy explanation to the aircraft's officials.

How Do You Handle A Stinky Seatmate

Have you encountered a stinky seatmate that you want to puke at the onset you sat on your pre-designated seat? Most airlines actually have a clause in their "Conditions of Carriage" policies that gives them the right to deny boarding a super-stinky passenger.

I tried researching through Google and found out several lists of similar Airlines Conditions of Carriage.

The airline may refuse to transport you, or may remove you from your flight at any point, for one or several reasons, including but not limited to the following:

1. Compliance with government requisition of space.
2. Action necessary or advisable due to weather, or other conditions beyond American's control.
3. Refusal to permit a search of person or property for explosives or for deadly, controlled, or dangerous weapons, articles or substances.
4. Refusal to produce positive identification upon request.
5. Your physical or mental condition is such that in American's sole opinion, you are rendered or likely to be rendered incapable of comprehending or complying with safety instructions without the assistance of an attendant.
6. Your conduct is disorderly, abusive or violent, or you
   
   • Appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs,
   • Attempt to interfere with any member of the flight crew,
   • Have a communicable disease that has been determined by a federal public health authority to be transmissible to other persons in the normal course of flight,
   • Refuse to obey instructions from any flight crew member,
   • Have an offensive odor not caused by a disability or illness,
   • Are clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers,
   • are barefoot, or
   • Engage in any action, voluntary or involuntary, that might jeopardize the safety of the aircraft or any of its occupants.

You may check several US Airlines Conditions of Carriage.

• American Airlines
• Continental Airlines
  
• Delta Airlines
• SouthWest Airlines
  
• United Airlines

After hearing several feedback from passengers who encountered unpleasant experiences during their respective flights, I have come up with my own idea on how to prevent, control or stop annoying seatmates. This is ONLY effective if you have a portable during the flight.

• Quietly and calmly open your portable case.
  
• Remove your portable.
• Start up.
• Make sure the guy who is annoying you, can see the screen.
• Close your eyes, tilt your head up to the sky and move your lips like you are praying.
• Then hit this link.
  

Funniest Tech Support Video

I got bored over the weekend, so to please my sanity and compensate my boredom I tried researching any funny videos in the internet and fortunately I found this - the funniest tech support video. This video was actually aired in a late night talk show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, it was about his writer Andy Blitz who encountered issues on his computer.

Andy Blitz initially contacted his computer's technical support asking assistance regarding multiple pop-up windows that have surfaced on the computer. He got connected to a technical support representative named Sharon, who was currently located in India during the time of his call.

Please watch the next scenes on what transpired during Andy Blitz journey of locating Sharon to resolve his issues on the computer. Enjoy!

Here's another clip that I found out after doing an extensive research through Google & YouTube, this is an animated version of a technical support similar to what Andy Blitz experienced, however, it has some vulgarity in its content.

Funniest Indian Tech Support Video

Disclaimer

If you find these videos discriminating, please feel free to e-mail me at @ borgy1981@hotmail.com. Thanks for reading!

NOTPRON

Anybody heard of this game? Well, for those who are unfamiliar of this game, this is actually considered as one of the hardest riddle to decipher that is available in the internet. It was created by David Münnich from Saarbrücken, Germany.

I tried playing this game and reached until level 24 and wasn't able to finish the whole game due to time constraints - this is indeed a time demanding riddle which requires complete mental concentration and physical endurance since you will probably be stuck in your chair sitting the whole time trying to decipher every level of the game.

This game actually tests your common sense and at the same time requires your to think out of the box since you can't rely from Google, Wikipedia or any forum in the internet that has a walk through of every level they have deciphered. The first ten levels are quite easy since it ONLY requires your common sense - either your not paying enough attention; not concentrating or stupid not to know how to decipher it. The next levels from 11-24 (where I stopped due to time constraints) are quite tricky and it requires your attention of every detail (images, messages) that is presented to you.

Here are several images of the first 10 levels:

As what I have said earlier, this requires your common sense, you already know what to do since it has a message "ENTER THE DOOR!". What are you waiting for?

Congratulations, I thought you were the latter when I said earlier that the first 10 levels ONLY requires your common sense. Now, this level is quite interesting since the hand is pointing upward, it's either telling you look on the address field or browser title.


Well, well, well you made it! Now the image on this level is quite vague, it's a collection of several bricks with different sizes or similar to the Stonehenge of Wiltshire, England. However, if you will wait for a while, there's a prompt "STOP BEING SO NEGATIVED" which is the key in moving to the next level.


Wow! I'm impressed with your initiative! If you have noticed above in the browser title (not seen in this image though), it actually say "LOOK IN THE DARK", so which means it has something to do with the light, look underneath the lamp and you can see there's a morse code and you have to decipher it. Now, it's ONLY the first part, you still have to apply (enter) it to a password prompt. Remember, the message - it has something to do with the light, there's actually a clock and if you will press it, it will prompt you to enter a username and password.

Thinking out of the box can really get you to the next level in this game. There's a CD of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy beside the remote control on the table. Beneath the picture lies a sentence, “EYES LIKE AN ANGEL SMILES LIKE A DEVIL WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THIS SONG AGAIN?". Well, if you know how to search through Google, you would know what the answer is and the key to move on to the next level.

Well, I won't be going through the next 6-10 level since I intended this blog to introduce the NOTPRON Riddle instead of a complete walk through of the game. I'm currently playing at level 24 and I have heard that there are 127 levels (1-82; 0; -1 to -44).

If you are interested to play the game, you can visit this website. This are all for now, I will keep you posted on what level I have deciphered in this game. Ciao!

Bantayan Island

I just woke up from a short nap, it's currently 12AM MNL time as of this writing and I can't stop thinking of the upcoming week to come. Our team will be having our much awaited out-of-town or what we call within the company, general assembly (GA) in Bantayan Island. I first visited this beautiful place last March 2005 with my previous team, I was at awe when I initially step foot in this serene, yet exotic place wherein you can unwind, relax and most of all forget the stress of city life while you enjoy your stay.

This is Marlin Beach Resort where we stayed for a day & night (quite too short for comfort to enjoy what this place can offer you), it has concrete air-conditioned rooms, excellent water supply, restaurant and water facilities that can take you to places within the island. I had an excellent time the following day since I got a glimpse how the island would look like early in the morning, here are some of the pictures I took.

I was already enjoying my stay - taking pictures, swimming in the beach, walking along the clear white sands, when one of my teammates suggested we go island hopping. I was curious upon hearing the name "Virgin Island" would be our destination. If I'm not mistaken the word "Virgin" can be described as "pure, uninhibited" place; they said it has a better view, clearer white sands and excellent dive/snorkeling spots. I was initially skeptic and the same time excited since this will be my very first time snorkeling in deep waters. When we arrived at the island, excitement ran through my veins upon seeing the beauty of the place; what they say is indeed explicitly true.

As you can see in the pictures above while we were in Virgin Island (Silion Island), it offers its guests twice the pleasure Bantayan Island can give you! I and my teammates surely enjoyed our stay in this place, oops did I say I enjoyed? I already have been coming back to this place 4x since March 2005 and counting, need I say more?