New toy
AJ Jorge March 31st, 2006
Finally.
After oh so many years of wishful thinking, I bought my first usb mp3 player.
Ayan pwede na kong makinig ng TWiT at Diggnation sa byahe.
Archive for March, 2006
Congrats to my kid sister’s graduation
AJ Jorge March 27th, 2006
IE graduate from UST.
Finally after 5 long years of studying, you finally made it.
Congrats Audz and welcome to the real world.
Lethal Weapon Marathon
AJ Jorge March 25th, 2006
They started as Seargent Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Seargent Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and ended up as Captain Riggs and Captain Murtaugh. It was a blast watching the movie series again – this time consecutively and the Director’s Cut version. The classic scenes were relived once again during my marathon session. Unsurprisingly, the first movie gave me goosebumps while watching it. The first installment was released last ’87 and I remember watching it in our trusty old betamax player. I can’t distinctly recall the plot of the story but I know the general twists and turns of the story. The Do you really wanna jump? scene is one of the highlights for me. But do you know the scene directly after that scene? Murtaugh confronted Riggs and condemned on how he handled the situation. Murtaugh gave his gun to Riggs and told him if he wanted to end his life, do it now. Now that scene was intense. You could almost sense that Riggs would never hesitate to pull the trigger and end his life just like that.
Roger Murtaugh: Okay, clown, no bullshit! You wanna kill yourself?
Martin Riggs: Oh, for Chriss-…
Roger Murtaugh: Shut up! Yes or no – you wanna die?
Martin Riggs: Oh, I got the job done! What the hell do you want?
Roger Murtaugh: JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Martin Riggs: Well, what do you wanna hear, man? Do you wanna hear that sometimes I think about eatin’ a bullet? Huh? Well, I do! I even got a special bullet for the occasion with a hollow point, look! Make sure it blows the back of my goddamned head out and do the job right! Every single day I wake up and I think of a reason not to do it! Every single day! You know why I don’t do it? This is gonna make you laugh! You know why I don’t do it? The job! Doin’ the job! Now that’s the reason!
Part 2 introduced Joe Pesci as Leo Getz, the annoying whistler blower of a big time money laundering South African diplomats. The duo were assigned to protect Leo at all costs which of course was translated to baby sitting the poor guy. This is the movie where Murtaugh was stuck in the toilet while taking a poo when he found out that there is a bomb beneath him. The “on three” dialogues was also first used here.
Martin Riggs: On 3, what do ya say?
Roger Murtaugh: Okay.
Martin Riggs: One… two…
Roger Murtaugh: Wait, wait, wait!
Martin Riggs: What?
Roger Murtaugh: Do we do it on three? Or one, two, three, then do it?
Martin Riggs: It’s your ass, Cochise!
Roger Murtaugh: My ass, yeah. On three.
Martin Riggs: We go on three?
Roger Murtaugh: Yeah.
Part 3 introduced Rene Russo as Lorna Cole, the love interest of Riggs. There were two memorable scenes here. One was when Riggs and Lorna are bragging about their scars acquired from the line of duty. They showed one after the other the wounds in their bodies and ended up having an intimate scene. The other scene for me was the way the big boss goon died. The big boss was driving a bulldozer towards a fallen Riggs and Riggs can’t get a clear shot of him. Murtaugh threw him a gun with a ‘cop killer’ bullet. Riggs shot through the bulldozer and killed the big boss on the process. It was probably a lame scene but somehow it was etched in my mind.
Part 4 introduced Chris Rock as Sgt. Butters and Jet Li as Wah Sing Ku. Jet Li is part of the Chinese triad and is trying to set free his four fathers. Easily, the most memorable scene here is when Leo and Butters were into a conversation regarding telephone companies trying to extort the consumers.
Lee Butters: Somebody took my phone number and called Afghanistan. Afghanistan. I’ve never talked to anyone in Afghanistan, I don’t know nobody in Afghanistan, and even if did know anyone, I wouldn’t talk to that Afghan ass for three hours. I won’t talk to my daddy for three hours.
The other is the hand to hand fight scene between Riggs, Murtaugh and Wah Sing Ku. Probably one of the best fight sequences in the whole series. The two policemen even contemplated on just walking away than facing a pissed off Jet Li. Jet Li’s performance is awesome. He said in one interview that it was the first time he played a bad guy in a movie and was very glad to have been part of the Lethal Weapon series.
All in all, after watching the whole series again, I would say that the best among the four is a toss up between one and four. It has been said time and again that nothing beats the original, but in this case, part 4 comes in so close. The franchise lived up to it’s expectation of action movie filled with comedy and witty one-liners. Danny Glover and Mel Gibson’s on screen chemistry is one of the best in the entire Hollywood films.
Contact Lens Booboo
AJ Jorge March 22nd, 2006
On the way down to lunch a few hour ago, I kept on scratching my right eye. It was really irritated with the lens I put there this morning. After a while, my right eyes became watery from the irritation I have caused (because of too much scratching I think). Then all of a sudden, the contact lens popped out.
I was holding the contact lens with my left hand on the way to the cafeteria where we will be eating. No sense of putting it back since I don’t have a solution with me. I just held it with me.
Then it just shrunk. I know this would happen as this is not the first time I encountered it. I’ll try to post pictures tomorrow with what’s left with the shrunken lens. :p
USB Portable MP3 Player
AJ Jorge March 22nd, 2006
I?ve been itching to buy my portable mp3 player since last year. I?ve browsed TipidPC?s site for possible options and found 2-3 good offers. 256mb is good enough for me. I?m not after the capacity anymore as I don?t load up my playlist with lots of songs anyway. I just want to listen to my weekly podcasts during my travel to and from work.
I?m currently subscribed to TWiT and Diggnation?s weekly tech podcast. Both show are an offshoot of the now defunct TV show Call for Help popularized by Leo Laporte and Patrick Norton. This is my way to be updated with the current tech happenings around the world. And this is my reason why I wanted to have an mp3 player more than having to listen to mp3 songs.
So there, hopefully I will be able to buy one before April ends. I just need an extra money to fund my gadgets. 
Kuwentong Barbero
AJ Jorge March 21st, 2006
I have this silly fear of barbers. Not that I actually fear the barbers themselves, but the actual ritual of having my hair cut. You see, I have my hair cut in an average of every four months time. By that time, the hair on my sides is already halfway covering my ears and my back hair is already touching the collars of my shirts.
I in fact love my hair when it is long. Although admittedly I have to somehow ?maintain? it, it?s worth the effort. I take pride on my long hair. The only thing that makes me want to cut my hair is the heat my head absorbs especially during the summer days. That?s why I had my hair cut last week.
And my fear dawned on me when the barber started cutting my mane. My anxiety grew as I see my cut hairs falling down on the floor. I mean, they are barbers not hair stlyists. I have that sense of apprehension as the barber keeps on cutting my hair and that I can?t do something to undo any unwanted hair cut. I lost about 2-3 inches length of my hair after the ordeal.
I can?t say I am completely happy with my hair ? especially my big critique criticizing my new cut (that would be Pen). Well, I have to manage with my current hair for the next 4 months before I go back to this same ritual.
Oh I forgot to add, adding to my uneasiness with my last hair cut is the new barber which took care of my hair. I have been faithfully having my hair cut with the same group of barbers since 3rd year high school. That’s around 12 years of going to the same barbershop. The only time I had my hair cut other than my suking barbero is when Pen treated me to David’s Salon in Katipunan some years back.
Calvin and Hobbes
AJ Jorge March 16th, 2006
Calvin and Hobbes Strips never fails to crack me up.
I ‘discovered’ Calvin and Hobbes when Pen bought her copy of “Something’s Under the Bed is Drooling” in UP. I instantly became a fan. This is the time when the uso local strip is Pugad Baboy. I was never a fan of Pugay Baboy but I enjoy reading it in the newspaper. Calvin and Hobbes on the other hand was different. There is really something magical with the characters of the strip.
We’ve bought a couple of C&H compilations since then. We are still trying to complete the whole lot as long as we have money to spare. Bill Watterson retired after writing for 10 years. There is a complete box set of his works which is a must buy for any serious C&H fan. We saw one at Bibliarch in Glorietta which of course we can’t afford that time (and until now).
I’ll have to contend with digital copies. I’ve completed every strip from ’85 to ’95. And all book compilations in cbr format. And every day I get my daily dose of Calvin strips via rss feeds.
Puerto Galera
AJ Jorge March 13th, 2006
Back from Puerto Galera. ?
Pen and I went there last weekend. It was an adventure in our part because we haven’t been there before. There was still relatively few people beach-ing and it wasn’t the peak season rates yet. It was just an overnight stay that was spent picking up rocks and snorkelling near the shore and walking along the beach.
I’ll try to sort out the pictures and post some that are worth posting. 
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On a totally different note, we would like to extend a birthday greet to Celeste. Hehe. We were looking for an intertet cafe at the beach so we could send you an email. Basta binati ka namin nung asa beach kami, sana narinig mo.
Kingdom Hearts II
AJ Jorge March 10th, 2006
Wow! KHII will be finally released on Mar28! I know Pen is eagerly waiting for this game. I need to finish my NFS:MW game before turning over the ps2 unit to Pen when the game goes out.
I haven’t been playing for a month now. You probably read my rant regarding my tight schedule these days. I can’t even afford to play ps2 anymore or watch dvds for that matter. Now, I have approximately 3 weeks to finish MW before we buy a copy of Kindom Hearts.
I enjoy watching Pen playing RPG games. I’m never an RPG player but I did for a time enjoy playing KH1. It’s unlike FF series where the fights are turn-based, KH is a real time hack and slash game but is also an RPG. I’m excited with this game and now we have to find time to play it together (well technically, Pen plays while I watch).
A second sequel, Kingdom Hearts II for the PlayStation 2, was officially released in Japan on 22 December 2005 and will be released in USA on 28 March 2006. Taking place a year after Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II features Sora, Donald and Goofy, as well as a new cast of characters, including King Mickey himself and familiar faces. The Heartless are still running loose and a mysterious group, Organization XIII, is plotting against Sora. There are new levels exclusive to the sequel, such as Pirates of the Caribbean’s Port Royal and The Lion King’s Pride Land, as well as new places to visit in old levels; those include the Underworld in the Hercules world and the palace garden in Agrabah. The sequel uses a refined camera system, and includes a Drive ability that gives Sora the ability to merge with one of his party members for a short time.
Pseudo Online Buying
AJ Jorge March 7th, 2006
I’ve bought 2 (or was it 3) hard disks, a couple of memory sticks, 2 monitors, 1 playstation1 and 1 playstation2 (both PS care of Pen) all from TipidPC.com. Our first Sony Digicam was also an online buy this time from PinoyPC.net. The recent camera purchase (Canon A520) was from Bidshot.com.
Aside from the Canon Powershot A520, all other items are already second hand/slightly used variations. Each buy is not a buy from the site itself but from seller/members that are registered there. The transactions themselves went fine and I haven’t experienced yet (knock on wood) any mis-deals. I’ve been lucky enough to have my transactions with honest-to-goodness people.
There are a lot of good buys in sites that offer this kind of service. You just have to have a knack of knowing a good find versus a scam offers. It also helps if you lurk for sometime in the sites and know the people selling their stuffs. A good reputation given by buyers to sellers is a very good indication that the seller is indeed an honest man.
My requirements before shaking on a deal or transaction:
- Lots of compliments/high ratings to the seller.
- If there are no or few compliments, seller must be referred by someone I knew
- Know where the seller lives (if it’s possible)
- Warranty. Whether personal or shop warrant, it will do. As long as the seller will be willing to replace his defective product for a given time, it’s ok with me.
- Meet in a public place. Just in case, something goes wrong with the deal, you can easily cry for help with the people around you.
