A Semi-Charmed Life: Mike's Journey

Look for FULFILLMENT, not Happiness

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000+08:00

Living in a life from you are influenced to do from what you wanted is hard, but disrespecting you while living on it is worst. We often times think life as something that we just need to choose, but in my opinion we only live with it when you wanted it. Making a difference in this world is something that always amazes me. Unfortunately people tend to copy things and don't develop more, thus standards are made and at some point this is effective but when used in a wrong manner will definitely collapse at the end.

With regards to a job, it means that the job earns you a paycheck which allows you to pay the mortgage or rent, put food on the table, buy clothes, etc. The job is the means to get money; the end is what you want or need to buy with the money.

If you're lucky, you work at a job you love and money is a plus something like you can say "Wow i still don't believe i am earning to do this ! ". However, for a lot of people, the job is just a source of money. Sometimes, that should be enough, especially when the alternative is no job and no money coming in.

I can say i am the latter, i honestly said that phrase before but as time goes by you will find somethings around you that will change all of that. That is the time you will find a new interest that eventually after working for some time you will like it and in the long run loving it. Then again you may say that phrase unknowingly.

A lot of people waste a lot of time trying to find a career/purpose that will truly make them happy. But the problem with this is that happiness is such a vague concept. You can be happy eating ice cream, or happy for buying some game consoles. Those things might give you temporary enjoyment, but they really don’t get down to the core of it. You can be “happy” without being fulfilled and sadly we are just fine with this. Right now, realizing things i had been to was far from over and i am still seeking that fulfillment every time i wanted to do something.

You can do things that you won’t necessarily feel happy about doing before you do it. But when you’re done, you feel fulfilled. Or it can be the opposite. You can be totally excited about it, but not really comfortable that you’re doing it. If you want to wake up excited and passionate about your life, you have to choose fulfillment over comfort.

I left 4 companies in the past trying to look for something i think will change my perspective, moved to another country that helped me a lot about my perception to different walks of life. Met really cool friends that will always be there for you and traveled to countries i have never imagine i will one day see. I couldn't thank them more from all the great things they taught me about understanding the other side of life. From all these i guess life changes you as a whole from all those experiences but the thought of what you want/need still remains and somehow you are trying to look for these things out there still in your head waiting to be implemented. Weighing them in the way that a new thing comes up and clouds your judgement again from the previous. We need to choose and stand from what we needed to fulfill or at least you have interest with and at that moment we can finally continue the way we always see our life.

At the end of the day you can ask yourself not about what makes you happy but,

" What makes you fulfilled about living your life ? "

Mystery

2011-10-28T17:18:00.000+08:00

The purpose of relationship (and perhaps all of life) is to practice the loving. No partner is going to be 100% perfect anyway, so learn to appreciate people for what they have to offer, not what they don’t. And love them for that. That’s what real loving is.

Nobody’s asking to lower your standards here; you should still spend time only with worthwhile company. But do question the standards to see whether they’re serving you or you’re serving them.

When you open your heart to love, you may find fulfillment in ways you never imagined possible — like the day you tried sushi or beer in spite of your trepidation, found it surprisingly alright, and expanded your personal envelope of pleasure.

Taking that into consideration, given a choice between happy-go-lucky and picky-but-lonely, happy sounds like more fun. - Ali Binazir.

Gibraltar - Life within

2011-09-26T01:26:00.000+08:00

Ok as promised i am already here in Gibraltar, as you all might not know that the place is a British Territory and is part of Europe (don't worry i also thought the same thing).English is the main language but i noticed that they prefer speaking in Spanish. A border separates Gibraltar from Spain, that most of the everyday living people have problems crossing back and forth. I'm fortunate to actually see this beautiful country, and yet the place has a rich history of its own being the last point of Europe and Africa is a ferry away, not to mention every people in the place are friendly enough to help you around , if you like alcohol and cigarettes this is your place in Europe since they are cheap enough for you to spend everyday. I am living here now for 5 months and running, but i do feel like i did lived for 1 yr already.

Yes the place is small (i did walked around and i think i saw 98% of it in 2 days), and when you came or always been to a city you will get bored easily here, found out the meaning after 2mos. On the bright side women are really nice think British + Spanish. Friday is always a crazy night here, it is just like the entire place is a bar. I have never drink so many different alcohol/beer in my entire life before moving here. I had met (still meeting a lot) really nice people form different nationalities that really makes it worthwhile to get to know different walks of life that they may share . Pretty much Asian people here do have a nice work. Filipinos here well mostly are accountants/auditors. Some of us are also divers, which they have been here for 10yrs i suppose, seamen / yacht personnel also walk here every now and then. That i can say i am the only I.T. working Filipino here in Gib. Another thing i like about Gib are their restaurants, from English Breakfast to Mediterranean cuisine. I have tried a couple of Asian dish here also. Spending is up to you actually i tend to go to Morissons every week to buy some food and supplies , sometimes i just eat out which will definitely be expensive when you try to convert. Pub crawling is normal in which i always do when i feel lonely which probably 80% of the time or eating a lot. Working out keeps me busy on weekdays after work. Hanging out with friends is always a good choice.
Anyway i really got some cool friends here that i get to hang out that honestly they are the ones that keep me sane and staying here.

I think life is awesome when awesome people surrounds you. Friendship must be present wherever you are trying to live to a new country. Always been lonely most of the time at the flat, watching and reading stuff. That is why Gibraltar can be difficult if you're not European or a person that cannot cross to Spain (that is me).

Life goes on when you think you can still hang on it, if not start a new one or probably get back to the old one and make it better.

You to Android Application Development

2011-08-24T05:25:00.002+08:00

Just wanted to share a couple of links that somehow might get you the idea of what they have accomplished

iOS
http://nfarina.com/post/8239634061/ios-to-android

Windows
http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/from-windows-to-android-with-glassboard.html

I'll try to update this post soon.

A Programmer's ...Day

2011-07-25T00:31:00.003+08:00

I will try to summarize in a way, living your life as a Programmer.

1. i wake up:

(a) do hygienic stuff

2. (b) Eat,drink,vitamins(you'll need it)

3. a

4. Primp up, check your bag(if you are going to somewhere else like gym..(i do) or not)

5. Walk,bus,taxi,train whatever for you to be in the office before 10 am(9am to some)

6. 10-20mins checking articles,emails,tweets,blog post etc.

7. Start of work:

8. Lunch at 1 pm or almost 2 pm

9. get back to work (in real life you sometimes switch to websites,listen to music while bored or stress in a minute or so)

10. meeting if there are any(also applies before number 6)

11. continue coding (if you smoke then do it before this number)

12. 6pm... save all codes, absorbed all the stress left for tomorrow or the next week.

13. if you are like me, sometimes i can be in the office up until 2 hrs more since i do not want something hanging that i cannot solve or a bug pops out heheeh, even though there is no over time pay whatsoever.

14. Leave the office with your headache or smile in your face.

15. do number 5(but going home or somewhere else if there are things left in your life other than programming and geeky stuff)

16. change clothes

17. a

18. b

19. Computer again still checking what was left (emails , blog post,social networks,videos)
more time? watch a video or so... grab a snack or simply others still CODE (for me it depends)

20. read something technical(or not) or just get on the bed and sleep thinking about what happened today and will happen tomorrow...

21. REPEAT or if you have another version of this?

.... So do you want to be a programmer now?

*on the brighter side: you get an above average salary (think of the possibilities you can do with it.)

Have you found it?

2011-07-24T22:55:00.000+08:00

I have this way of needing to find “purpose” in what I do with my days that sucks the enjoyment out of everything. Why do I do that? Why do WE do that? Why does everything needs a purpose? Oh, I want so badly to just do what I love without an agenda. Without thinking of how I could be better utilizing my time or how I could make money at it or how I could use it to “minister” to people.

Although my work is something i like and still needs a lot of technical know-how, moving in to one path after another, taking risks, coding for me is just a means to an end. Having a purpose in Life (not just work) is something all of us should strive looking, picking up the pieces in your experiences every single day. But somehow that “purpose” is still missing and i wanted to find it so that i can just tell myself everyday i am living the dream i wanted without prejudice and experiencing the sweetness of doing nothing.

Living the Dream... or almost close to it ?

2011-07-21T03:33:00.000+08:00

too bad ...

Have you ever told yourself that you are "Living the Dream" ? or at least close to it?

Does the goals you are trying to achieve make up that dream?

Setting up our goals are quite difficult specially when you know you are enjoying things in an unplanned way. Honestly speaking how i wish i could say this expression when i am in my early 30's. But right now i am still putting up the pieces, climbing up the ladder, learning different and crucial things in life, but i guess those are the processes we need to experience and out of the blue you just thought that hey... i guess i am Living the dream and you can now wear this awesome shirt :

If you do, then just continue and nourish every moment of it share it with others and fulfill the rest of the things you think you still wanted to experience. After all Life is too short for us to think of the things that doesn't give us fulfillment and satisfaction.

- just my two cents!

Everything happens for a Reason.

2011-07-19T05:00:00.000+08:00

FYI: i am not lost, i just need to find something.

As promised i was supposed to blog things that happend throughout this journey , i guess i am too lazy to discuss it for now, it is almost 3 mos that i am living here and just felt different and learnt a lot of things and still trying to cope myself to the community. Nevertheless, it is hard for a non EU person to live here entirely knowing that another country which is much bigger and interesting is right across the border and you couldn't cross it. I guess that is the difference between them from us. All we need to do is make all these arrangements every time we need/want it. Honestly i am quite happy and a little bored to what is happening around me.

Happy because i met these very good and interesting people and still learning a lot from them from time to time and they are happy to have you, knowing a country's culture,tradition and history by your own eyes through living the experience is just a privilege for the few.

Bored, mainly because you need to have a new set of local friends for you to get along with the place and hang out normally, just like you were back home, secondly i am quite stuck here hahaha, third the place is really a tourist spot, that if you'r not an EU citizen you need to hold on to your life living here and find your spot in this country.

All in all it's all GOD's plan that i am here living and working for the better good... we'll take it from here....until then... Life's a Journey!

10 things you need to get into Android Application Development

2011-04-03T23:33:00.002+08:00

I got introduced and learned Android in mid September of 2008 and it was a series of release candidates and up to 1.0 SDK, the documentations were not that great either but i managed to stick with it.

I was a Software Engineer doing Java Enterprise / Fixed Mobile Convergence back then so i knew Java that i wanted to knew this better and decided to pursue what i am living/working and loving for -
Android Application Development.

Yourself.
Download & Install Eclipse IDE, Java SDK/Runtime and Android SDK(all its components)/Android Developer Tool Plug-in. (get an sqlite browswer in eclipse)
Study & Learn Java.
Study & Learn Android (http://developer.android.com)
Study & Learn UML.
Study & Learn Java Design Patterns.
Study & Learn UI Design Patterns
Be up to date with the latest news and informations about Android.
Read, read, read Android/Java documentations/tutorials/articles/sample codes.
Create simple - kick ass apps!

** At least these are my initial facts and still my go to plans of doing things ... Android all the way!

Expect Nothing

2011-03-11T00:00:00.000+08:00

As of today , my hasty decision making had done it again. From all my previous work and employers i found out somethings that some of them don't have and vis-a-vis. In which i still need to find that one that will get that difference among them. In the start i thought of learning great Android stuff from an international colleagues and work together with an Android Lead, but all of them did not happen.
Sorry if i am writing strangely jumping from one story to another (it's just the way my mind is working).

Right now i am thinking of checking this part of Android technology and diving into m-commerce (Mobile Commerce) but seems like my idea doesn't fit for an individual or a group. It needs VC's to help me and the big names among others. I honestly say that im a bit uncomfortable doing multimedia/graphics stuff. That is why i am into Enterprise and non-multimedia enabled apps, at least that is where i came from but of course i wanted to do something out of my comfort zone.

I think i might look first at my Plan A to see if i can share this idea with them find a company that will help me initiate this idea or build something innovative. Next week would be my last week (again ...4th time) and hopefully there will be no more (unless something really bad occur in the future). Wish me luck in getting that close to stable job i am looking for. I would like to say this that i learned a lot (almost all are there but missing something) from this trip (Excitor).

PS: On the brighter side, i can get back to reading an Android/Java Book and review the dev site for me to be updated hehehe. I will also help my friends to get into Android App dev. To get those email clients processed soon!

Career Life Plan?

2011-02-25T00:07:00.002+08:00

It has been a challenging year it was last year, and i already made some list of goals that every time i will leave my room i can see it facing myself. Unfortunately most of them(80%) are inconsistently happening. Many things did happened and still thinking that even the worst thing might come soon. But there is this space inside my head that really is looking for that missing portion of which i already seen into some of my employers before. Of course i cannot have them all , but i suppose the one true important thing might be the one that i can really manage and cope with every minute. Today i am working (4th Job) and still undecided what will happen soon, but i do have some simple and great ideas IMHO, that might change me somehow. But i am still young and stupid to have this maybe? and i can be hasty which i do it most of the time, that i sometimes forgot the real things in front of me. Even my family are quite confused to the things i am doing to myself. That i know deep into their minds they hate me for what i am doing and might do in the future.

I guess this is ME , looking and still searching the things i really wanted to do and pursue (although i did filter something) i still need to find those supporting details to make me a real person. Right now all i can say is i am deeply ashamed to what i might do and still getting the nerves of not finishing at the right time. Sometimes i wanted to change plans but time is running out ( i think ) and we all know that shifting things might not always be an option but instead we rather simplify things that we are dealing with and in the future find out that we're really fitted to this kind of situations.

Just to clarify everything, i wanted to really find it this time around and kickstart the ideas and stuff that is hidden within my head. I am very much grateful to all of the people that helped me made to who i am right now and to those people that really inspired me to continue doing things the geeky way. I am not claiming myself to be master of something but i am trying to do it one at a time, even when i really need to do it from the start.

Learning really for me does not depend on how you know things it is how you interpret and implement the things you have studied in a much effective way. So be it i am blogging different things at different angles that i am hoping you guys can understand and relate to. I do not want to convene everything that can be very obvious but i wanted you to think of things that the mystery of life has to offer. - Life and Career Plan.

PS: I really wish/hope i would get/fix things this TIME!

Knowing When to Leave Your Programming Job

2011-02-08T00:34:00.001+08:00

In this article we'll talk about the tell-tale signs that your current position is not for you. Then we'll give you a systematic approach for exploring new options.

The Code you are working on is Legacy and Bad

Sometimes there is nothing more undesirable than working on someone else's code. This is especially true if the code is written poorly. For example, if you find yourself in a situation where every time you make a change to the code something else breaks then the alarm bells should be going off in your head. Of course you might have the instinct to rewrite the code, but for various business and resource reasons, this may not be an option. In my opinion, this unfortunate situation of facing legacy code is more geared for a consultant. A consultant usually gets paid for every hour he or she works and very often a consultant is called in to solve the "legacy code" problem. But, given the choice between other interesting jobs, falling into the "fix the other programmer's code" trap should be avoided when possible.

You are stuck Supporting an Existing System

If I am in a job and I find I am not learning anything new, for me this is a signal to get out. There are too many .NET job opportunities for learning new technologies and pursuing exciting new projects. Unless you are well suited for a production support job, you should not stay in a job that has made you into support engineer.

The Project Expectations are Irrational

Many of us have been on a project whose expectations far exceeded reality. Afterwards we often asked ourselves why. The project consists of long hours with no overtime pay, no vacation, no weekends, and skipped meals. I'm not suggesting a programmer shouldn't work hard at their job, but there is a balance between what is reasonable for an employee and what is not. Keep in mind these rules may differ for a consultant (who is paid hourly) or a company owner who has everything to gain from sacrificing their lives (although some wives or husbands may argue this point). However, these rules do not apply to you as a regular salaried employee, so don't fall into the trap. If the job has taken over your existence, interview and find a job that doesn't destroy your life balance.

Your Boss is a Jerk

No matter how great the .NET coding opportunity seems, having a boss who is unreasonable makes it not worth continuing. There are plenty of similar programming opportunities out there, so start interviewing and tolerate the bastard for a little while longer.

You don't want to go to Work

Regardless of the reason, if every day is a struggle to go to work, maybe the current .NET project is not for you. Get your resume going, it's time to try something new.

The Company has Started Laying Off

Signs of a failing company are a good reason for you to get out. It's better to be in a position in which you are actively pursuing a new opportunity while still maintaining a job. If you get laid off or let go, a potential new company may have doubts about your skills, even if they are not well founded.

You are not Seeing any Rewards for your Work

If you have worked hard and accomplished a lot, but there are no bonuses or raises coming from management, this is a signal to bail out. Most companies try to keep their programmers happy. So one of the following are true if you are not being rewarded for good work: 1) The company is unhealthy 2) your boss doesn't like you 3) your boss's hands are tied by his or her superiors. Regardless of the reasons, if you feel you are not being treated fairly, start looking.

The Company Starts Removing Benefits

Companies have the ability to take away or give anything to its employees at anytime it wishes except for those benefits dictated by law (minimum wage, disability, etc.). If a company is taking away benefits across the board or reducing benefits, this is a sign of an unhealthy company and you should start looking immediately.

Talented Programmers in the Company Start Leaving in Droves

If you notice your colleagues around you leaving, they have either seen the signs or they have found better opportunities for their skill set. Get out quick because you are on a sinking ship.

A Company Approaches you with a Better Offer

Let's put company loyalty at your current position aside for a second, because as we stated in our last article, a company will not think twice about sending you packing. The important thing to do if a company approaches you is to weigh all the pros in cons and compare them to the pros and cons of your current situation. This brings us into the next section of the article, what are the details to consider when switching jobs?

Weighing the Pros and Cons

You can never really know what's going to happen in a new position( unless you are a fortune teller), so you have to go by the coarser clues you have in front of you when exploring a new opportunity. Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing the new position.

Questions to ask yourself when Weighing the Position

The Job Description

This is by far the most important part of your decision. If the job interests you more than your current job, you are on your way. Try to think of it this way. In the limited time we are all on this planet, it's best to pick a job you are going to spend 50% of your life doing with something you enjoy. Especially if the option is open to you.

The Commute

Time, not money is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a position. If your commute adds two to three hours to your work day, it may not be worth any additional pay you are receiving from the job. If you are flexible with your living arrangements, then this might not be a consideration.

Compensation

If you hate your current position, then the compensation only needs to be comparable to your current salary to make the switch. Of course it doesn't hurt if you can negotiate better compensation to make the decision to switch easier. A healthy or well funded company can afford to entice you with better compensation.

Potential Compensation

Some companies will tell you up front what the bonuses are as well as what kind of stock or stock options you can expect. I consider the base compensation more important in the decision making process, because potential compensation (unless it is in writing), is just fantasy. Your belief in the company and what the stock market believes can be two different animals.

After the Interview

Here is a list of questions to ask yourself after you interviewed for the new job. Do you like the people you interviewed with? Did you click? Were they friendly? How about your future boss, could you gauge anything from his behavior? Did he seem like he listened to your questions and concerns?

Benefits

Is the health care at the new company better or equivalent to your existing health care? For some, this may be a deal breaker. Other benefits such as vacation and 401k may be less important, but should also be considered in your decision.

Quality of Life

You want to try to gauge if you are jumping from a stressful job, to a more stressful job. This may not be an easy thing to do, but you should research it by asking around or checking sites such as the glassdoor.com. Sites like the glassdoor sometimes have anonymous comments from software engineers working in the company you are pursuing. This way you can get an honest assessment of what it is really like to work for the new company. Don't ask HR to give you an honest opinion of the company, they will sugar coat everything. Try to ask honest questions and concerns to your future colleagues without making them feel like you are digging up dirt. Ask something like, "Where did you work before? Is this a more fulfilling position? Do you find that the workload seems reasonable? You may be pleasantly surprised when they give you an honest answer.

Making the Decision

Place all the points listed above for your current job and your potential job in a pros and cons column. If the pros of the new job far exceed the pros of the existing job, then your decision is made. It's time to take a new .NET position. If both pros and cons are about equal, then start looking for another opportunity until the pros outweigh the cons of your current position. As a programmer you can even create a line of C# to help you with your decision making process:

if ((prosNew > prosCurrent) && (consCurrent > consNew)) LeaveJob(DateTime.Now);

Of course you would need to come up with an algorithm to weigh the different points, but you get the picture.

Conclusion

Leaving an existing job is never easy, but is such a relief if the job has weighed you down for a long time. Do what is best for yourself. Explore existing opportunities if you are unhappy in your current position. Don't be afraid to test the waters, no one will fault you for it.

-Mike Gold

(sorry for re blogging, just like what you have posted in the blog)

Android in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

2011-01-29T01:03:00.000+08:00

Just to give everything a wrap, i was surprised that these students prepared so much details from invitations;

and the Android looking (literally) Programme and people behind the program :

Just check out how creative and really gave their efforts to feel the green robot with them.

Just like the normal android talk i do 2 part of it and 2nd part was not ok since we do made a problem out of our outdated files from my Windows and trying to copy some files from Mac(updated).

All in all the students seem interested and really paying attention. The stage was set up nicely with android flavors and a big Android Figure check out our flag (Philippines)

I hope i have shared something about Android/App Development to these students with proper understanding to what is waiting for them after college. That developing for Android is simply the next big thing in the mobile scene.

I also showed and discuss a video clip from cnet top 5 Reasons why Android is better than iPhone

thanks CNET!

also discussed with them about Statistics by androidtapp

right now i am still awake and just like to blog everything that happened yesterday! ( i filed a VL for this hehehe) Thanks PLM for having me share what i know about Android.

10 Reasons Against Huge Legacy Systems

2011-01-24T17:16:00.000+08:00

Despite our best intentions, many of us don't always get to work on well organized and loosely coupled systems. In some cases, we may need to make our way around a code base that is old and has been written by another team whose quality criteria are not clear. Here you can find 10 reasons why I hate working on huge badly-developed legacy systems:

1 - The system is always growing. If a feature must be extended, developers tend to create new methods or classes just to avoid touching the existing code, which could impact on other (unknown) functionalities.

2 - It is almost impossible to create a new functionality using pure test-driven development. To successfully create code using such technique you must understand exactly what the code must do. If you only create tests for your new implementations (e.g., you create the test of a new method and then create the new method), you will succeed to some extent. But a good practice in TDD is to create tests that check the states of the system, and this is very difficult to achieve when you work on a system that is bad modularized and tightly coupled.

3 - Third-party components might not be supported anymore. When you try to upgrade the system (e.g., from java 1.4 to version 1.5 or a new Look-and-Feel is available) you will probably find out that some third-party components will start to behave strangely (e.g., bad layout, missing funcionality, etc). This gets even worse when you don't have the source code and the vendor is not supporting the component anymore.

4 - Unpredictability: when you make a change in the system, you have no clues if that change will affect other parts of the code. This is likely to happen with systems that use, for example, instrospection. To better illustrate this, imagine that you need to rename a method that is invoked through reflection by another part of the system. The time that you will spend to track down the bug caused by this change can take hours or even days.

5 - Long list of frameworks, techniques and approaches used in the development. You have to understand all of them to be able to work with the code. This reminds me of "Jack of all trades is a master of none". While keeping track of trends and technologies is something doable and recommended by experts, keeping track of their details requires time and dedication that we don't normally have.

6 - Too much time to understand the system as a whole. After several months working on the system, you are still a child when it comes to code knowledge. Since the productivity of the developers is a direct result of how much code they understand, they will probably be frustated to a certain extent.

7 - It is always difficult to use CASE tools focused on quality and/or productivity. How can you build class or sequence diagrams for your application if the code is an unpredictable mess? Even if you have good intentions and try to refactor the application, chances are that the spaghetti code will prevent you from reaching an acceptable state.

8 - The build time can be too long. There are systems that take more than 30 minutes to compile, run automated tests, deploy and startup. This is really bad to the productivity and leads to context switching, which is an evil in software development. The developer gets distracted because it is almost impossible to keep looking at the build process waiting for it to end.

9 - It is almost impossible to replace one technology concept by another. To better illustrate this, imagine that your monster application doesn't have a well-defined persistency layer (which is common in huge complex legacy systems) and you want to replace your object-oriented database by a relational database. How many places do you have to change to make things happen? How will you make sure that the change was successful without a test harness (automation)?

10 - The last item is a result of the nine reasons above: The bad productivity forces the developers to work more and they will get stressed and tired. Their motivation will suffer and they will probably start to look for another job unless the company has incredible ideas and benefits to overcome these problems.

I know that there are hundreds of exceptions in the real world regarding the ideas above, but my intention is to have a list with the worst cases. What do you think?

New Year ... Happy?

2010-12-28T01:12:00.002+08:00

(Sorry for the awkward image, they are just cool to check hehehe)

It has been a blessed year (as always) for me , that i get to have 2 jobs this year (sucks to be me) and still managed to finished this time with one holding. Now another year will come and i know it will be much bigger and better. That this year, i was able to help people and share with what i have received. It was a great experience giving them something. Things happen very quickly and unexpectedly. We had new family members, new jobs, new goals and new anticipations next year.

I was able to save and spend more than ever (LOL).

I'm back doing Android apparently. I guess im back giving small talks about it!

I'm healthy and did not have any serious illness!

I am irregularly lifting weights again!

I am into running(let's just say i am idle for now) and did finished some nifty distances specially a marathon !

I'm more mature (yeah meaning im getting older).

This year i was able to get what i wanted (well some of it hehehe) and i get to squeeze in some more that was not in the list.

AGAIN, i wasn't able to meet my list of requirements to a better ME, in which as always will be moved on this YEAR 2011.

Hoping that this time around one of them would be fulfilled...hopefully!

Android Evangelist?

2010-12-14T23:25:00.002+08:00

As i finished again another , technical talk regarding Android for college students, i feel that the platform is still new and we still need to teach our young generations these days, im not bypassing iOs but Android is my interest and yes we are dealing with the same audience here. So after i made my template for students, i felt that i still need to make it not so technical in their perspective and make it more enjoyable and still get that interest from them. That will be improved in the coming days since i learned a lot from these students at SDCA. I'll be continuing my knowledge sharing ,next would be students from PLM and another possible another one from Mindanao.

Android is fairly getting into every Filipino and i am just one person that barely knew the platform at first and now living with it and trying to share what i learned and experienced to these young people. I hope they will learn and see what i am trying to tell them everytime i show my slides and my not so good explanations... hehehe!

See you soon ! more pics at my picasa Android Talk at SDCA

Just rolled at the bottom (Wheel of Fate)

2010-11-23T22:29:00.000+08:00

Early this morning, just had a sudden turn of my wheel... at the bottom, and just felt blank / silent to it.

This day will be remembered. (*ell**t*e). Must move on and for us to always remember that GOD has a better plan for us.

now need to do my slides tonight and more Android bug fixing tomorrow...

Spend Money to Earn Money

2010-11-08T18:48:00.000+08:00

In the past months, i've been saving some money to buy things that i know i will need. Well in fact i also noticed some things that are just wants and not needs (gimmicks and petty stuff) that lessen my saving in the bank, but buying an Android device just ate a big chunk out of my account. Now i just borrowed a lot from my sister and auntie just to get a dream laptop which is of course a MacBook (Pro) running at i5, but i know this is a big step ahead since i'm a novice at using apple products. Just that i wanted to learn Mac Os X and develop Android apps from there and i guess being trendy is a plus hehehe. Also i need this for my Android Talks in which i just received another invite from a University in Manila. So i decided to really invest at these highly expensive things in life ... Just like the motto i know "You need to Spend Money to Earn Money"

Friday Madness

2010-11-06T00:09:00.001+08:00

Time to have some good times /relaxations. Better if it ends on a payday. With your loved one (romantic ) is a perfect day in which I don't have for now

Location : Covelandia Rd, Kawit,
Posted via Blogaway - @mikedroid

NEXUS One

2010-11-04T18:08:00.001+08:00

2nd android device updated to 2.2.1 doing great. Hope to get it updated soon from the upcoming android sdk

formspring.me

2010-10-28T23:54:00.001+08:00

Ask, and you shall know! http://formspring.me/mikedroid

On Leave

2010-10-28T23:39:00.000+08:00

Well it has been my 3rd day of leave out of 5 days, and i can only say i'm not enjoying much since i am doing a lot of getting in touch with friends every night and training for our 32km run this Nov. I cannot booked any flights to my destination since i filed a leave quickly, that i did not plan in doing it before or within Christmas. Anyway i can still make it up in the remaining leaves and weekend this All Saints/Souls day meeting more family/relatives of course. I am also bothered whether to buy an Android Phone instead since i did not spend my money on a good vacation hehehe or just keep it for this expensive MacBookPro soon. That wraps up for now, still thinking why i filed this VL? Stressed? maybe. just wanted to Rest- yes!

Purpose of Life? - Destiny

2010-10-11T00:12:00.000+08:00

Since the first day we set foot on earth, we never had any idea why and what will be our purpose in life. Well until now can we answer that question? Do you know what will happen 5 or 10 yrs from now? Did you really work hard to get on the path you are going to? Well i guess we can continue these questions and still we are just going to continue to think what our answers will be. Right now i guess i am thinking differently nowadays and i hope you too do the same way since living in and just having fun or simply making yourself miserable everyday is just plain stupid for me.

We are here to seek our destiny, our purpose and i think this is our lifetime challenge up until we never really have these questions entering our thoughts in which in that right time at the right place you had fulfilled your true destiny or should i say purpose in LIFE!

Damn Posers!

2010-09-21T22:35:00.000+08:00

a poser is someone who attempts to appear to others as something they are not.

the easiest way to find and make new friends is through the internet. but do not forget that internet is an escape from a reality into fantasy world. we can be anyone we want to be in chat rooms, IM'ing, blogs, or social networking sites. we can be a queen, a singer, a moviestar, a model and all. we can be twenty instead of fifty. we can even send/post pictures that aren't ours. or we can be a girl pretending to be a guy and vice versa. so we must be careful, there are many posers in the cyberspace and it is their playground.

Just wanted to put something like this tonight since i just got tired of meeting these people nowadays, early this morning i just wanted to hear (supposedly a HER, to make everything short!) voice but insist not to and told me to meet in broad daylight while at work and make alibis and getting in those text messages, so what the is wrong not to talk and voice out if that is you anyway?

I guess we must be careful and smart enough to observe and analyze every move they are trying to show us or else we will end up with a fake stuff (since we don't really know what or who you are hehehe)

What's bugging me?

2010-09-19T00:38:00.001+08:00

Like every software developers out there this is something we truly need to master . Bug-fixing is a matter of solving a software error in the programmers code to produce a desired and well maintained output, well that is i guess my definition. But since i have seen codes written by others and suddenly you are the one who will continue to maintain and yes fix those bugs that you didn't create or feel like you wouldn't do that in your own code, is really something for you to hate. But since you are a Software developer (yes we didn't know we are going to add /Software Bug Fixer). We are now the ones who will suffer the wrath of others and for you to take all the responsibilities they left behind.

I guess my concern on these issues would be for the newer developers or turnover developers to just do you written job description (did i saw maintain software = bug fixing) and read the codes more.. more...more!

Coding Horribly

2010-09-10T20:31:00.000+08:00

I really don't know if i'm starting a rant here? but who cares this is my blog LOL.

I've seen codes using their framework accordingly, used them with the conventions and the usual way, but also i'm looking at a code right now that is not somewhat friendly to the next developer to use it. Well i mean there is a framework that is just right for everything in the project but instead they reinvent the wheel, make simple things more complicated than usual. Maybe because they came from a different platform style of programming? They are just to geek to work with the usual code? They would probably want other developers asking them?

Just to see what they are trying to say:

http://stevenharman.net/blog/archive/2009/11/18/reading-code-is-key-to-writing-good-code.aspx

http://yanpritzker.com/2009/09/29/five-rules-for-writing-good-code/

Well i really don't know the answer and hope i do know it well in my case, i need to get used to this complicated code that wasn't supposed to look like (except ofcourse for the thread heavy stuff and other advanced java).

Well right now me and my colleague are still trying to learn their style of programming (i don't know if i should call it a pattern) and from it hoping we can fully understand every inch of their unusual way to program regular stuff.

It is just so disappointing that we'll be maintaining and adding more features of this from now on. I know right now they have a list of full bugs that we need to hack on hahaha, but i guess if they only started it in a better way , or simply build it in a way that other developers would get to have a good start out of it would be beneficial. I just hope everything will be normal , when i say that meaning i could do my job stressfully with the solution and not with how i do that in the code im trying to incorporate it with!

Android UI Design Tips

2010-08-27T09:25:00.001+08:00

As i always new and did some upload at Slideshare they still always have great presentations to check out and share to others ...

Android UI Design Tips

View more presentations from Android Developers.

Back to work ...

2010-08-22T19:38:00.000+08:00

After everything i have been doing and still is, Android actually helps me get a job easily, well of course i need to learn them every time a new feature(s) was added in the SDK. I've learned a lot in the past 2 companies i had worked for, that doing an Android App in the enterprise scene is really difficult that you need someone to collaborate with. In the past Google was and is my friend!

But i am so blessed that i got my 4th job (yikes) and will be doing what i am still interested to do Android App Development. Right now all i can say is that i am rusty in both my java and Android knowledge that i needed time for me to review them. To be honest i am still having a hard time for me to step on the gas and start working on my own pace, that eventually will jump start me to my current work. I don't know if i'm just too lazy nowadays or just still couldn't get over with my long vacation.

I'm doing what i wanted to do and now in a team (we are 2 hehehe) , in a good location , time and salary and also in an interesting work/environment to get me keep doing them everyday.

Anyway i am thinking a lot of things lately that will definitely change my lifestyle... ill blog it soon.

Student Driver ... No more

2010-07-10T11:28:00.000+08:00

Since the start i have seen people driving , i told myself why not learn them ? My sisters do have a car available for me to use but the thing is my time to do the practice. I do not want to ask with my dad since he is very much the last guy i would ask or not. So when i had the right money i enrolled to A-1 Driving school and did my lessons for 7 hrs.

The first day was a night driving , the second and third were the maneuvers /parking/techniques. I also did attended lectures and orientations just to complete the whole lessons. I can say they have a good learning program but i guess in my 7 hrs that is not too much not enough since i had watched and studied some driving videos hehehe. Anyway right now i was a student driver trying to practice once a week permitted of course by my mom. As a month goes by i decided to apply for a non-professional license, it was a 3 days absent for that in work. But i made it and had to pay thousand for the fees.

Right now i am driving as many times as before and my parking skills are improving and the engine shutdown is almost gone with me hehehe. I guess driving is not as comfortable yet for me , and my right leg is still strained because of the number of days i am driving unlike before. I guess cars are really toys for the big boys, that i wanted to have my own, since i can say the one i am driving is somewhat a family car (me and my dad are the only ones using ) but i do not have the full control of the car , and i wanted to do things for my own ... and that turns out to have my own car (hope to save money for this ). Anyway earning a skill nowadays is not free (but i can give you if you ask me and i have the time heheh) , but having them after is as rewarding as you would think of.

Now i guess i am driving ... from a passenger - student driver - nonpro......well i guess experience will mold me more and being a defensive driver and friendly at all times on the road.

Drive safely!

Painfully Happy - Marathon Experience

2010-07-05T11:27:00.001+08:00

Well that is not my time(world record until now), and certainly not me . But i just can't bear in mind how fast his legs can endure the long run of a marathon!

Yesterday i was in the Quirino Grandstand checking in my bag and did my warm ups accordingly we came in on time for us to prepare everything Thank GOD! Me and my crazy friend who did pushed me to join a marathon , that when he first asked me i was hesitant since i was only running for 5 months back then and a marathon training for a month? Yes it is Possible but not comfortable to do when you are running a marathon.

So we waited and already in sweat before the gun start of the 34th Milo Marathon (the most prestigious national marathon in the Philippines). As the gun was pulled in, runners shouted and i focused on my target pace of 7:07 min/km using my GF305. I ran comfortably slowly until 19km, I tried to stop and drink at every water station i will pass with, As i saw my pace was under 7min/km i told myself maybe i can handle this for some time, turns out i was wrong. After the 25-29km mark, i just hit my wall. As i can remember leg trainings are vital part of every runner, in which i only train them slightly in the gym with a 15min bike and before i was doing weights on them but i stopped. Im now thinking to do more of them and do some ground floor exercise to make it flexible soon.

From reaching 32km mark i was doing run/walk and runners now are passing me, as the marshalls put me in my 2nd necklace marker i was happy enough to run another loop in the marathon map. Everything was first breaking in my 32km mark from our training, and doing a lot of fly-overs in the Roxas Blvd, was hell and i felt a pricking sensation in my heart that bothers me to run slowly. After i found out i was feeling ok with my breathing and i don't feel any discomfort for me to take a piss, But my legs are really in pain and they wanted to stop. As i am running/jogging/walking in the Macapagal road turning in 34kms and getting that 3rd necklace yahoo! i was happy enough that i can make it in the 6 hrs cut-off and i did calculated everything since i am always walking than running/jogging.

Upon entering roxas , i felt cramps all over my feet - calves. So i decided to take more walks up until the fly-overs. I did not take water stations since i thought i know i can still save it when i come back . After passing into the 42k turning point , slowly walking and jogging, i felt the need to drink and started to jog to those water stations i've passed , unfortunately they ran out of water bottles, and so the second station! It was a red- alert for me since i was thirsty , i ran in every 500meters just to make it work for the time. So i had my drink of a gatorade but in the ccp area already. I found out i just need to do less than 4kms . So i did more walk, but i decided to do more berserk in these last kms and told myself if you are going to be painful and you wouldn't cooperate , my heart will!

As i ran i guess under 7 or 6 since i got the urge from trying out that Gel (im afraid to drink it up until the 3rd loop, thinking my stomach will get upset) I guess it did gave me some energy specially with my legs to run that fast again in the last 2.5kms. That i managed to passed many runners walking already.

As i saw my friends shouting you can get that medal and finisher's shirt and told me stop for they are going to take a picture and so i did hehehe. I was thinking hey time is running better run again!

After passing in the starting area (they are removing it already) and making a left turn, i saw cars already in the parking area and us just making our way to the finish line. we are only 3 guys hitting the finish line in the time of 5:53 and i was wrong timing my GF after passing in the Starting line, it should have been after the gun start that i started timing myself (10min delay). Good thing i did berserks in those last kms or else i couldn't make it.

Well i think i did a full marathon after passing that mark, putting my medal, handing off my certificate, finisher shirt and milo packs. My friend who finished already was there shouting Congrats!

Training a marathon is not difficult, it is more than difficult, you need to take at least 4months to gather those legs to endure longer runs (this is the most important lesson i've learned).

running a marathon is a different story, you need to show and see if your training pays off!

After training in for 1 month, running in the morning on the road with all those dirt and dust, risky runs every night where only lights were the vehicles, getting up early to train ...etc..

I did finished slow in a marathon but hey, from all those trainings and dedications i' had put on it ?

i felt i broke a world record and came on top!

Marathon Day

2010-07-03T09:28:00.002+08:00

In about 18 hrs i'll be running my first ever marathon, wearing a Nike compression shorts(first to do the tight thing), the Milo Singlet, my Brooks Beast(please do not get wet, you are more heavier), my Brooks Sun visor and my Oakley Livestrong Radar Path.
After i started running for 6 months and told myself that i would run a marathon within this year, i guess i was wrong , i did challenged myself much earlier because of my friend and that is to join this prestigious marathon in the Philippines, that i did half-marathons already (including the trainings). Later on i will take on the grandest distance that i will cover - 42.195km.

Marathon Training is very difficult and we did it in a span of just 1 month running in as long as 32kms (one of our training days).

My only concern would be the cut-off of 6 hrs after the gun start. In which i know is going to be a time pressured race among all the races i have joined from the past 6 months. My target pace would be 7:07 min/km that i set my Garmin Forerunner 305 to 7:00 min/km just to gave myself some more time. But if i can run 6min/km that would be good doing it in a steady pace, of course having a threshold might push myself doing the target pace. I guess i can finish the marathon 5 hrs using my target pace.

I'm excited and challenged but the hardest part right now is to sleep in about 6 or 7pm to get a good 6 or 7 hrs of sleep.

- Run slow
- Get your target pace
- water station every 5km
- banana station when you are hungry
- maintain focus
- give a little berserk!

as i promised i'll do a double cartwheel upon finishing the race! hehehe

Good luck everyone and check out the map below

So i guess i'll post my experience after... Running now...

Goal Setting... Time for me to do it!

2010-07-02T11:56:00.001+08:00

Making life better in some way seems to be ingrained in our nature. One asks how can I be happier, healthier, wiser, or freer. You can use goals for a better job, better living conditions, improved health, and much more.

Goal setting is an excellent tool for creating a successful better life.

I wanted to share these goals (draft i guess?) just to see it in the future if i have or haven't done it according to plan, it is me who will do the grueling tasks and sacrifices for me to bear something fruitful beyond what i can imagine.

Get a good Bank
Spend wisely on material things and leisurely stuff.
Run less races.
Work enthusiastically
Anticipate everything but not overdo it
Exercise if you are not Tired!
Get a good Multivitamins
Invest into something (ok i guess this part is still subjective)
Get into a good working relationship NOW hahaha!
Learn Swimming
Always learn and implement new things in Mobile specifically on Android
Be thankful always.

As these things i listed may be raw and still needs sometime for me to work on and i guess add more ill update things soon , but for now I thank God that i have a job this coming August and will do everything i can handle and also those things that really challenge me , just to be a better and more interesting my life would be not by just merely roaming around in your comfort zones.

Running ... while Raining... hard!

2010-06-21T13:35:00.002+08:00

It was a Saturday afternoon that we came as early as we can in the race grounds for us to get a good place to park, visited shops around BHS, and just ate a Double Brothers Burger hrs before the assembly time. As i look in the sky it was getting dark that afraid it might rain. Rock and Run is going to have a concert then that wirings might be a problems and will not have it anyway. And so the assembly time was met, runners are lining up cheering while the people at the stage doing music(i forgot the term for them), runners are hyped up ,jumping and shouting that let's get this race on!

As the rain slowly stops, me and my friend joined the runners and while still the rain showers are getting into our singlets , im afraid that my Garmin Forerunner will malfunction , that i'm not aware of it having water resistance at all. As the rain suddenly became stronger and stronger the race organizers decided to move the fences and counted that the race will start... and so it begins...

The first 3 kilometers for me was a fun thing to do that im doing quite fast and running seems very cool , while on the 5th kilometers the rain is really hitting you hard on your head and the wind will slap you with water that was really painful on the skin, so sometimes i had to close my eyes while running just to protect them. As i am heavily breathing... because of the hard rain pouring , i couldn't inhale properly from those water drifting all over my face. And suddenly, side stitch killed my running pace that i really had to stop and think of how to overcome it. I think i stopped for almost a kilometer of walking. And then when i saw people passing me and my stitch was slowly disappearing , i told myself to run my pace again but couldn't run perfectly with my goal pace due to the rain and i need to weigh things with my side stitch that i' just felt.

After i noticed that my garmin alerted me at 8km i had to think fast if i would change my pace, but decided to hang on it well just below the target goal pace. Running in the rain that time was a first for me and when in my training and it was raining, i need to go and look for a shed and wait for the rain to stop and continue after it slows down somehow. So i did finished the race while raining hard and my GF305 is still working telling me i just had a new PR ( 52:29 for 10km, i need to check the results for later). After this race i might have a different view from this point on that it is a measure of dedication and determination to finish what you have started no matter what the condition will be. As i saw this simple post saying “You know, it’s not always sunny on race day” (thanks for the image)

Marathon is coming...

2010-06-16T21:10:00.004+08:00

It has been a rewarding month since we started training for the Milo Marathon coming this July 4, i know this was a crazy decision to join a marathon with just 5 months of running. But i told myself this is a big challenge that i need to complete within a month of training. And so it started this June , 3 times a week (1 tempo,1 interval and one lsd) . Last week we finished a 32km lsd and was satisfied for the results running up almost in Tagaytay. But our training has less than 2 weeks to finish .

I don't know what might happen within the run but everything is settled. I honestly say i wanted to be in the finish line at about 5hrs or less and so i could only say =
"what 42.195? "

From the grounds of my Android work to the roads i am conquering every week i know i have a lot of things to do and accomplish but for now , i can only live and do my best for today, that i will be there in the future accepting every challenge and to see what has been the results from the past of every hard work i made!

Cause and Effect

2010-06-10T13:01:00.003+08:00

After dropping the bomb , i just told myself to move on and be prepared for the next big thing (hopefully this time it will be better) . There are a lot of things i didn't do in the way i started the year 2010, but i somehow learned most of them.

My lifestyle became my foundation and motivation of doing difficult. Now i am going to do things i have never imagined in my entire life until this year.

What would be the causes of these actions are going to be good or bad that these effects will definitely change more out of me and making me a better and more prepared for the coming challenges in the coming years!

PS: i'm jobless and training for the Milo Marathon in the moment!

Half Marathon Experience

2010-06-04T09:37:00.003+08:00

Before venturing to this distance i had 3,10k races(of course got 5, 5k races also) in which one of those i got injured from a stress fracture(severe over-pronation = foot with the wrong shoe type). And so i wanted to have this feeling of earning a medal from a race so i challenge myself to a 21k that RunRio Trilogy is giving. I joined them before for a 5k race but as i watched people finishing the 21km line i felt curious and wanted to try it myself, and so it begun!

After last Sunday's run together with master Jhunn's desire to go with the distance i managed to finish my first ever Half marathon (Nature Valley RunRio Leg 2) with a time of 2:32:26 not bad for a beginner who just started running last February. To the point in which i had recovered from a Basketball ankle(both) injury in that i tried running as a therapy and now i am loving running since then. And after i found myself walking maybe because i really did not have a great rest the day before the race due to some agenda i needed to do. But hey did some fast pace running in about 2km's and passed some runners hehehe . And so i did have the medal i am aiming for plus the finisher shirt and hey we have a free pint of hagen daz!

Now the task for a Full Marathon is the next question.. ("Milo Marathon naman? - master Jhunn")

How to feel better?

2010-05-21T09:11:00.004+08:00

After 4 months of getting back to work, i see myself thinking again. Right now all i want is to improve myself out, have a team for me to join and to collaborate under a leader,travel time is comfortable enough,pacing with new technologies for me to learn and others (can't say).

Honestly , i have this lifestyle that im doing everyday in which i cannot balance them right now. I feel restless every morning and cannot see things after work. You know how to figure it out.

I hope i will do this thing accurately and to such extent i can nail it the next time!

I have no problems against them it is just me and my active brain!

What's Happening?

2010-05-11T20:30:00.002+08:00

Yes i got back into running... did 15.12k last Sunday, got cumulative absent from work and now got an email that i need to revisit and code the so called hate project that i did and still doing. Well i guess i am having my limitation from my experience?

hopefully i can resolve this....by Re?

dunno yet!

Back to Running?

2010-04-30T13:17:00.002+08:00

after 2 weeks of no running since i had this left foot pain, that i think was a Stress Fracture in which i haven't actually consulted to a doctor ( i don't know where to go)
but i bought Brooks Beast from SecondWind running store in ortigas and i just did 5k early this morning and it did not gave me any pain so far! Although i run slower than before i think i just need to run more again!

the question is am i ready for that Half-Marathon>? Well i AM and i will do everything for my training to get done for less than a month !

Run Injury - Foot type problem?

2010-04-18T23:35:00.003+08:00

Early this morning i finished my 3rd 10k at NatGeo Run located at Mall of Asia in Pasay. THe route is not that difficult when compared to the buendia flyover in Taguig races. Well i thought i had everything under controlled , but i guess i am still tired from last night that i got 3 hours of sleep(i think i've been doing lack of sleep every race/run) So while running entering 3km my left foot started to feel heavy and that i cannot step on it with my stride, so i am aching all througout the rest of the remaining kms , my first idea for having that kind of injury is maybe i've been using the shoe type Neutral with what i found out that i need Stability SHoes. Maybe this triggered my pronation problem , that causes this foot injur.

But then again i will consider having a sleep of at least 6 hrs.

Starting next week, i will train for my first Half-Marathon(yes i did registered )
in May 30.

Now i need my left foot to be working again after tomorrow .

If you are running/jogging or even walking - Check out Foot Types

Purist

2010-04-14T21:53:00.001+08:00

Your main motivation is running for running’s sake – you like how it feels and how it makes you feel afterward. You might race, you might not. Running is part of your routine; it makes you feel complete. How far and how fast you run is based more on how you feel that day, your perceived needs, how nice of a day it is, and your surroundings. You hope to run a decent amount pretty much every day for the rest of your life. “Purists are most adept at ‘mindfulness,’ or just running without judgement,” says Udewitz. “They are more likely to base their rhythm and pace on their strong attunement to internal states. They are also able to be flexible and notice elements external to themselves.

GET MOTIVATED You probably don’t have a problem with this, but if you do, picture yourself at your favourite part of your course for that day, running comfortably, feeling great. Also, remember how much better you’ll feel for the rest of the day once you’ve run.

LEARN FROM OTHERS From exercisers: discover other satisfying forms of activity. You’ll appreciate having a backup when running isn’t possible, and you’ll be more rounded as an athlete and a person.

ENJOY YOUR RUNNING MORE Allow yourself to take rest days. Listening to your head (“I want to run”) and ignoring your body (“I could use a break”) will detract from the pleasure of the experience. Regularly do yoga or other meditative exercises that reinforce the mindfulness you enjoy in running and strengthen your mind and body so you can enjoy a lifetime of running.

AVOID TROUBLE Don’t fall so in love with running that you become too tired for the rest of your life. You need your running to be a special part of your day, not a compulsion.

COPE WITH INJURY Tell yourself there will again be a time when you’ll be on your favourite route and able to enjoy the simple act of running.
READ Running and Being, by George Sheehan; The Runner and the Path, by Dean Ottati; Lore of Running by Timothy Noakes

BUST OUT OF A RUT You might run your easy days too hard, because once you get going, you want to feel in the zone. If you care about performance, however, you need to greatly vary the intensity of your runs instead of letting everything meld together into not-fast-enough-for-a-work out/not-slow-enough-for-recovery-days.

RUN FOREVER Don’t allow running to become an obsession. Accept your body’s need for a break and use other activities to help you stay fit and appreciate your running even more. Be willing to heed your body’s warnings and back off when necessary so that you don’t develop a chronic, debilitating injury.

Mizuno Infinity Run 2010 by michang05 at Garmin Connect - Details

2010-04-11T14:20:00.000+08:00

Mizuno Infinity Run 2010 by michang05 at Garmin Connect - Details

well there were more things that happened today, met the fastest man in the Philippines, talked to 3 runners... and other happenings that being a lone wolf in the race is somewhat weird, anyway i got a good Roast Beef Burger at Brothers Burger in BHS, went to MOA to register in my 3rd 10km run (NatGeo Earth Run) and a Frap Java Chip at Starbucks.

so i guess im improving!

well time to work this week - Android Mode!

My Lifestyle 2010

2010-04-01T10:00:00.002+08:00

Since the start of the month, it has been going in a direction with new borders for me, as in my everyday routine keeps myself more busy than usual.

Now with me back in doing Android work, it keeps me more busy.

So if you ask me what would be my typical day for today ,tomorrow or the next week we'll you'll see them here:

MWF

- wake up at 9:30am
- breakfast till 10am
- gym workout,10:30-11:30(but turns out till 12 sometimes)
- eat lunch
- fix myself for work
- walk 600m from Megamall edsa - Prestige Tower usually around 2pm im in!

TTh

- wake up at 6am (4 or 5hrs sleep)
- run in the cemetery for 30-45mins
- breakfast
- rest for an hour or so
- lunch
- fix myself for work
- walk 600m from Megamall edsa - Prestige Tower usually around 2pm im in!

SAT

- usually my free time for myself but turns out on somethings like
playing other sports, watching my favorite Tv series etc.

SUN
if there is no race i had registered then else i'm doing running onsite:
- i will wake up 4am
- warm up till 4:30
- start to do 1-1:30 hrs of running on the road usually (11-16km)
- breakfast at home
- rest if im really tired(usually i used the remaining time for some other things)
- get back in bed

- ROUTINE STARTS AGAIN!

I guess my lifestyle is a bit heavy for others, yet i am very thankful that my body can withstand it.. also thanks for my choco drink(Enervon HP) .

hopefull i would set up a lighter routine in the future!

10km done...

2010-03-24T10:22:00.002+08:00

last sunday was a first for me, doing 10km run alone, i know i still lack of sleep every race but somehow i pull it off, and it was great running at flyover in makati.

well they don't have the finisher's kit and im wondering why? with that reg fee of 700!

anyway im happy that i've done quite good i think.

more 10kms to come hopfully will have a sub 1 hour!

Races so far...

2010-03-18T10:04:00.004+08:00

As you know i am still new to the King of Sports , started January 30, 2010 and until now. I found out that every step i make on the road i was always improving, well if i sleep 8hrs before the race hehehe.

Well this coming Sunday i'm going to run alone without Team A.N.G, they are on a different race. As i'm trying to wake up from a 4-5hrs sleep every Tuesdays and Thursdays to get me prepared for a race. This race is going to be different i'm doing my first 10km run at the Globe-Ayala Run from Home... hopefully what i did in the past weekend and the TTh days will pay off. Well most of the races listed are unconditioned due to work and other stuff that we had a lack of sleep every time and some no sleep at all.

5k
Run Assumption Run
- 29:14 , my first run got a 17/91

PSC Run for your Heart
- had a side snitch, no race results i think.

Century Tuna Super Bods Run
- 34:44 , had a side snitch got a 485/3497

UNILAB Wellness Run
- 29:12, almost had a side snitch again got a 128/2254

10km
Globe Run from Home
Mizuno Infinity Run

others races i need to check out at takbo.ph... hopefully could run a half-marathon by the end of the year or full hehehe

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency

2010-03-17T14:51:00.000+08:00

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency

WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.

Vacation Package Inclusions:
- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel
- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines
- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila
- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat
- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash

Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com

Being a Lone Wolf Runner

2010-03-14T07:43:00.003+08:00

Being a Lone Wolf Runner is quite good i had a roughly 3 hrs sleep put 100php in my shorts pocket and after a few warm ups im off and these are the things that happened - i got to give a stupid driver my dirty finger for almost hitting me when i got my arm reflectorized swinging at the side so that vehicles can identify me, got a bottle of Pocari Sweat at 7-eleven kinda like it better than Gatorade, when i am in the Imus Plaza i got energized by the music and the people dancing there, upon entering medicion an angry dog was also running towards me and almost bit me maybe because i exhaled loudly hehehe, i got my way out of it heheh got some tactics (sit and as if your picking a rock),did stopped twice for a water break (after i entered imus and in Mabolo) and a cup of taho in my one loop at the Eternity memorial (this is my TTh run route),while walking towards my house i ate Lomi and Pritong Lumpia i got 20php left in my shorts pocket hehehe.. well i guess that is my early Sunday!

Driving Lessons and my new TOMS Cordones

2010-03-14T00:18:00.003+08:00

Well, technically it was yesterday late afternoon that i started to do actual driving on the road for about ... roughly 2 hrs, i did listened carefully to his instructions about the initialization stuff ... and there i am driving on the road, while trying to stay on a distance with the king of the roads... it is a good thing i watched this YouTube video by a Fil-Am i think How to Drive a Manual Car and also uploaded it in my G1 so that i could review somehow, well it helped a lot. Now the first 2 hrs of my 7hrs training was really good! hehehe

After that i went to ATC, to catch a glimpse of the SOLE party of TOMS Shoes, i wanted to by Cordones when it first came, so i asked them about it and the saleslady kindly bring what i did choose over their brochure, among those cordones are newer than what i wanted before. So i did bought the Charcoal Cordones

the only thing i don't remember having is that blue lace. In which the on in my box is a cream color! hmmm... anyway i might wear this without the lace!

there goes my budget ...well i am happy what can i say?... time for work!

Running - King of all Sports

2010-03-07T21:37:00.002+08:00

Ok, so as you know, I had a major ankle injuries in both of my foot and that stopped me from playing Volleyball and Basketball. In which it took me 4mos to recover. How did i do that? Well i tried running them out, that i had this idea that it would help me recover my injuries by walking/jogging/running (my own version of therapy).

So after a month, my feet could walk and had this crazy idea to give it a try to do running. So i knew this friend of mine, which i knew he was always running in the mornings. So i had this crazy idea to run on the road at night around 7pm from Bacoor to Laspinas (more or less a 5km distance) well i had to push myself that day because i was being left behind by him shouting that i needed to stop for a minute or so, after almost going back to our place my left hamstring started to get stiffed that i cannot run anymore and couldn't barely walk, maybe because i wasn't ready yet for that distance and my leg muscles weren't trained at all, so from that night on i was amazed to what we did running on the road even i then again had an injury again now within my legs, and it beyond all of that it felt great and seems like i accomplished something i haven't imagined doing. That day on i told myself i will do Running and try to see myself doing something i think i couldn't do or accomplish that i needed the discipline for me to reach those goals.

That moment on my journey to do Running was born!

PS: Ill post my running stories in the coming days.

What's UP?

2010-03-03T16:51:00.001+08:00

well i have no time to blog, anyway

Back in Android.
Getting great in Running (new sports i am loving)
Paying my bills

run
run run

Start a new life next week

2010-01-26T15:21:00.003+08:00

As i am doing a lot of job hunting lately, if i am going back to J2EE or to Android in which there is a lot of j2ee jobs than android, fortunately i have many consideration coming from employerd and the Android work seems great in the future so i am now convinced to rely on my full work on it unlike before that i left myself hanging. That i tried on applying to work for them. Luckily i got shortlisted and got a call.

Got an interview and they liked me and today i just got hired officially via phone , next week i will be back on the road to travel 1 and a half hrs to Ortigas for work doing Android! i will surely put myself onto everything(career and life choices) now since things are getting old for me eheheh.

Stability and career goal here i come!

Seriousness,enjoyment and interest.

Thanks to YOU !

Miserable yet Strong

2010-01-19T23:04:00.002+08:00

Just on my 2nd month of being jobless, and i guess my java craft/android is getting burn everyday, although starting saturday i was able to read/review java... and i am still doing it. Now it's a matter of time for someone to contact me for an interview or not! Besides i still wanted to work on the development side... shifting to a new job position is interesting but ill stick on working with technology codes.

On the bright side, just got home from a long jog/run from my place to another city near my home i just wish i knew how far we ran, anyway my legs are in pain and feeling great of doing that tonight. Just getting myself warmed up for me joining the competition or should i say just the experience of running with many people winning some cash prize+nike shoes+timex watch ... hmm not bad eheheh

anyways ill post some later!

back to watching movies/tv series (ill do java tomorrow then)

Welcome 2010. say what?

2010-01-18T11:37:00.002+08:00

Anyway, it's been a while since i last posted something here, i am still broke , jobless and feels miserable but eventually something good will happen soon , i know there will be a light at the end of every tunnel (except if that tunnel has no entry/exit).

To be honest, 2010 is a great number to write in a piece of paper or just look at it!
So let the good energies come to us and just don't mind the negative things that are still happening to you. As i will not post mine here (not now).

PS: Damn i saw that Genesis Coupe 2010 , sexy bitch!

Black Christmas

2009-12-13T23:04:00.002+08:00

It's just 12 days to go and it is the day everyone has been waiting for every year, well i guess not this time in my case.

Last Nov 30 i was supposed to have my working salary for 15 days of duty, but since it was a holiday im expecting it earlier or maybe after Nov 30, but then again salaries had been delayed and until Dec 3 i'm still not getting it. I decided to QUIT , yes again, without any job waiting for me. They are generous but not organized. and they are so abusive to their employees, or is it just me that they had abused liked this? I dunno the bad news are i don't know if i'll get any money coming from them(nov 30,last pay or 13th month) its just they don't have any response to my questions, well they made emails but ofcourse i object most of their messages, in which i cannot fully exercised my rights from them. Well anyway ... im still communicating with them if i have to wait for something or not. So be it, i am rude , but when i see that General Manager guy ill let him talk to my FIST!

now im broke! and not inline with my career now, but i guess this is what you called quarter life crisis!

I did applied for new jobs ( thinking not to wait for Android Jobs) and getting back to Java in general (EE stuff). Good luck for me in the coming weeks .

Merry Christmas to all!

Idling Java... making way for Objective-C ?

2009-11-30T13:23:00.002+08:00

These past few weeks, i had talked to 2 of my boss about my current employment status, and i just found out that the Android Projects were abandoned or somehow like that. Now my CTO is very passionate about Mobile Development that he doesn't want me to go, cause for what i did with the last project for them, he was somewhat impressed by it. My GM, was also willing to do stuff my CTO wants the Mobile Development for them is to progress soon, but currently Android App dev. is still new to many as what they had discovered and that iPhone is still emerging! Anyways they wanted me to do iPhone Apps. in which it didn't came to my mind, ever since! Now i told them i'll try studying Objective-c cause it is a whole new ballgame for me! I did a quite a study of objective -c last week and i knew i learned something. Right now what i am thinking is to let these things happen?

IDLE now :

- Java
- Android App

in which they are the ones i am aiming for to help my career.

Honestly i am almost done with them, but my CTO is very kind to ask me and see his opinions about Mobile Development in General. so i think i'll stay with them, but since again i don't have my salary , i'm having delays 4 in a row i think that my bills are also getting delayed for me to pay! I miss office-environment, team collaboration and any other related stuff within a company that i CAN SEE AND TALK TO LIVE!

now i think i must think of this very carefully before making any move that i made last May 2008!

TRAP...

2009-11-23T08:54:00.002+08:00

When you truly love someone, you won't have any doubts. You'll admire them, respect them and always want what's best for them.

i guess these days im having a friendly relationship with someone, that i felt im also having 2 more people that soon will be battling over her. Well im just a normal person that can be rejected . But i hope everything will go well. May the best man wins... i guess i needed more time and commitment for her and express things i wanted to do.

in some of the things i am not going to do here is TRAP,

The incorrect ways of declaring your love for someone you like can be summarized as – TRAP

T = Time
R = Reason
A = Attitude
P = Place

Do not let the above “trap” you when you tell someone you like him/her. Good luck!

PERSONAL EVALUATION by BrainBench.com

2009-11-19T06:52:00.002+08:00

seems like this is me...

Here are your Brainbench Personality Assessment Results.
Please review these results carefully and refer to the
interpretation notes at the bottom.

PERSONALITY EVALUATION:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trait |<--|---|---|---- Range ----|---|---|--->| Trait
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introverted |..................X.....................| Extraverted
Candid |..........................X.............| Considerate
Impulsive |..X.....................................| Cautious
Excitable |......X.................................| Relaxed
Practical |..X.....................................| Imaginative
Concrete |..X.....................................| Abstract
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|<--|---|---|---- Range ----|---|---|--->|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Social Boldness: Introverted VS Extraverted
------------------------------------------------------------
You are slightly introverted. Do you ever say to people,
"I'm really an introvert" and then they look at you funny?
That's because you can be both Extraverted and introverted,
but in social situations people see you as an Extravert.
Your enthusiastic and self-confident personality, plus your
ease at talking to strangers gives the appearance that you
are outgoing, even though you may attribute it to just
being a friendly person. You find yourself at the center of
attention, even though you may not actively seek that
position. You are such a warm person that people like to
follow you. Which is good, since you have no problem
accepting your role as a leader when it is given to you.
With your ability to flow easily from shy to outgoing, you
may tend to easily flow from exciting adventures to
relaxing times at home. This makes you a fun person to be
around, because you do not always have to be on the go, yet
you know there is more to life than reading and watching TV.

Your Agreeableness: Candid VS Considerate
------------------------------------------------------------
You are moderately considerate. You are an agreeable
person. This means that you are well liked and people
really enjoy your company. And why wouldn't they? People
can sense that you are taking a genuine interest in them
and this makes them feel special and as a result, they have
high regards for you. With your altruistic personality, you
get a lot of practice at making people feel special. In
fact, you feel great joy when you help others. Another nice
feature you possess is your ability to cooperate. Not
everyone can do this, so it is very important in a meeting
or social situation to have someone like you present in
order to maintain a harmonious situation. This comes from
your tendency to want equality and fairness. In dealing
with others, you prefer not to manipulate people instead
you tend to be open and sincere. This makes you a popular
and well-respected individual.

Your Self-Control: Impulsive VS Cautious
------------------------------------------------------------
You are very impulsive. You are an independent thinker. You
do not need a book of rules to tell you how to behave - you
know inside what is right and what is wrong and you act
accordingly. You are able to live life spontaneously,
because you are able to make decisions without endless
deliberation. In fact, when you and another person are
making a decision, you are able to reach a solution fairly
quickly while the other person has to cautiously plan every
step. Eventually, they will agree with you, which is
frustrating when your first impulse is usually the correct
one in the decision-making process. You tend to be a little
more casual, and you do not feel out of sorts when your
home or office is not perfectly neat. In general, your life
is pleasurable - you know how to have fun and will never be
accused of being staid or stuffy.

Your Anxiety Level: Excitable VS Relaxed
------------------------------------------------------------
You are quite excitable. You do not like stressful
situations. You tend to react emotionally to stress, which
can lead to bad moods, or even anxiety, anger, or
depression. You like to be treated fairly, and may become
upset if you sense that someone is trying to cheat you. You
may find urges and cravings irresistible to the point that
you are giving into them even if you know you will regret
it or feel guilty later. Sometimes you may feel
uncomfortable in social situations, even thinking that
others are judging you. This self-consciousness may show
through as shyness, because you do not want people to think
poorly of you. You tend to worry and are apprehensive in
unfamiliar circumstances.

Your Openness to Change: Practical VS Imaginative
------------------------------------------------------------
You are very practical. You want just the facts - keep it
plain and simple. You are practical, pragmatic and well
grounded. You have no time for carelessness and
impracticality. You prefer to keep your emotions to
yourself, rather than exposing your feelings to the world.
Life moves along much better for you when you can maintain
a schedule and have routine in your life. Unexpected
surprises and chaos are a major inconvenience to you. You
tend to be conservative and are somewhat resistant to
change. Others respect your ability to act properly in your
everyday life.

The way you Think/Reason: Concrete VS Abstract
------------------------------------------------------------
You are very concrete in your thinking. You tend to prefer
the plain, straightforward, and obvious to the complex,
ambiguous, and subtle. You might even regard the arts and
sciences with suspicion, regarding these endeavors as
abstruse or of no practical use. You believe that
intellect should not be equated with intelligence, as
intellect is an intellectual style, not an intellectual
ability.

check yours today at

Why would you love TOMS Shoes?

2009-11-16T08:06:00.011+08:00

As i first read about this on a magazine, i thought Blake Mycoskie had stolen my idea of helping while still having some profit over a business, but i don't think this is not a business concept at all, this is a charity concept for me. Plus the Shoe drop thing is really a great and memorable experience that you are helping a child to fit a TOMS Shoe.

From that point on i loved the goal and ever since i like these kind of products that other people who are in need get something out of your purchase like pangea bottles and end povertees. and of course TOMS Shoes

The design of the shoes are unique yet comfortable and fashionable, plus you get the chance to help others how cool is that.

And when i'm on facebook looking for TOMS Shoe here in the Philippines i've noticed the site and instantly i am glad that they were here. although i haven't been in the launching party , i did went there the next day to get a pair!

Now i am telling these stuff about my family and friends about TOMS Shoes. I have been a Nike and Diesel shoe fan and now TOMS !

Thanks to

Nothing But Water and Swim designer store that they brought TOMS Shoes in the Philippines.. now i don't have a problem buying online. I wonder if there would be a Shoe drop soone i'd love be a volunteer for a Shoe drop if ever that happens here.

more TOMS Shoes ,i guess eheheh

I love TOMS Shoes

2009-11-09T12:03:00.001+08:00

After reading it in a magazine and knowing that this guy Blake has the guts to invest and help about it plus when i saw the designs it was just phenomenal. Now it is in the Philippines waiting for the Shoe drop soon...

I Love My

TOMS Shoes.

Help spread the word about TOMS Shoes

had my first pair heheh

~ 10 Commandments for Dogs ~

2009-10-15T09:37:00.000+08:00

From a Dog's Point of View

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Regular separation from you will

be painful and can even cause depression.

Think before you buy me.

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me don't be impatient, short-tempered or

irritable.

3. Place your trust in me and I will always trust you back, respect is earned not given as some sort of

inalienable right.

4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. I am not capable of under-

standing why I am being locked up. I only know I have been rejected. You have your work,

entertainment and friends. I only have you.

5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your tone. "You only

have to look at my tail" to know that.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget, if that treatment is unjust or bad, it may spoil

the special bond between us.

7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hands

but I choose NOT to bite YOU.

8. Before you tell me off me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something

might be wrong with me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food or I've been out in the sun too long,

maybe my heart is getting old and weak, or maybe I'm just dog-tired.

9. Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old and will also want care, love, and affection.

10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch" or "Let it happen in my

absence".

"Everything is easier for ME if you are there. Remember that I love you.

SMART Android Developer Competition ... We are IN!

2009-10-09T22:08:00.003+08:00

Well i cannot say more, we did a great job specially my partner !
This is a start for our Android Adventures... i still got plenty of stuff to get into with coding Android.... anyway i just wanted to ask for your vote for our app
Please vote for us at this site

- " Viida " we are BitShift!

How to help Filipinos know about Android / Android App Dev.

2009-09-12T00:44:00.004+08:00

Well in my honest opinion these are my suggestions in no particular order.

- Start at the Colleges/Universities.(well i guess this should be 1st)
- Advertise Android locally
- Gamble in putting up Android into your business.
- Read articles about Android over the Internet.
- Buy a book / e-book and read it.
- Attend Android Dev Conferences
- Ask questions from Android Enthusiasts/developers
- Join Mobile developers group particularly Android
- try to invest on developers in which they are the ones who will make the profits soon.
- try to reach out for your current countrymen's capability for purchasing handsets.
- If you know Android /Android App Dev. try out the examples/read articles for more advanced stuff.
- Practice what you have learned.
- Try to get out of your comfort zone.
- Google should now include the Philippines in the Android Market for publishing paid apps. And get some Google Conference showcasing Android

These are solely my opinion , suggestions are for people in a company,company itself,individual or group of developers ,telcos and of course end-consumers.

SMART Android Developer Conference

2009-09-12T00:37:00.002+08:00

SMART actually made a very good start to pump up some of the people to learn Android. They had everything planned accordingly. Speakers are known for their craft. Ofcourse marketing for their part was there as what HTC also did. But all in all equality among others were served right!

Students/professionals might have a short understanding of knowledge when it comes to the Android Introduction since the time alloted were limited. We hope to see an event for Android Development in particular, i hope everyone went home with some Android knowledge for them to share with others.

Don Henricos food were fantastic, my tummy just didn't help me to what i was expecting haha(kinabag ako haha) .

Met new big bosses that are squeezing in Android to their business or should i say somehow getting there to put in Android. Well in fact participants were not that given a chance more to ask about the Android Platform , that was i am waiting for SMART to initiate or something like after party since it is Friday hehe 'peace'

Hope to hear another Android "Dev" event soon .

Renewing things...

2009-09-12T00:28:00.002+08:00

Just got home from an Android Developer event by SMART , you guys rock big time eheh.
Although people was still in crave to know more about Android App. Dev. the conference was a very good start to have- Great FOOD!

Just got an offline pm from my GM telling that the contract for me to become a regular employee would be ready by now or Sunday, hope i got to check them first!

So i guess i'll be sticking with them since i wanted to finish what i have started for them, lots of opportunities lately. Too bad students nowadays doesn't have the idea of what their future awaits unless they really are looking for that specific thing in life/career after college. I am trying to help you guys learn a technology that in my honest opinion will stick just like Java did! I am also in exchange learning by teaching these stuff!

Back to droiding...

Am i going Bum?

2009-09-06T10:00:00.002+08:00

Just had my contract expired for being a probationary for the company, and since my internet connection got lost for about 4 days i had no contact with them and from that point on we just do SMS and told one another to get online at this time, but still no reply on their part in which when they did SMS me i replied quickly, from that point on i am anticipating that they might not want me to continue ? but still having thoughts why would they text me the message about a new contract?

I did emailed them the Android Project i made for the past 2 mos in which 2 more modules for the phase 1 are still needed , their webservice for it was still under construction i gave them a straight email about these matters and up to now they are not communicating back, we'll tomorrow is another day / week to work if i ever do have one! more or less i'll lay back and relax more afterwards if this is really something i will entertain other employers now.

My German Shepherd in progress...

2009-09-06T09:56:00.002+08:00

In the past months it has been rewarding from work and in my social life as i decided to have this great dog in my side. After my dog Leoric passed and lived by my side for almost 12 yrs, i did not regret or had any negative time with him, thou i still missed my first and loyal dog i am still aiming to have my 2nd one which i already have- Nigel. Going through rough times when our labrador pup Stacey died, my mom didn't want any dogs in the house because of that case. But i thought that this might cheer her and make bad things from the past vanish with a new dog. Although every dog we had is incomparable to one another we still care for every one of them evenly. As i also pet Sabrina an American Bulldog who is also a very lovable dog that is now going with her old age.

This time around my team lead had a Great Dane in which he asked me if i wanted a pup, ofcourse i told myself it has been years that i haven't personally pet a dog since Leoric. So i just quickly said YES, when do i get it? As my TL laughed and told me we still need to wait when she's in heat for the stud. That it will be my problem to sell the remaining pups when they are that many eheh. So i waited for months and asked people who wanted Great Dane Pups and mostly agreed. But when i found out that my TL tweeted pmed me that his Great Dane that might give birth died! So i was a bit disappointed to what had happened. But i told myself i saved some money , i am ready i might as well buy and look for a puppy!

That time it was among Great Dane, Labradors/Retrievers,German Shepherds,Rotweillers and Dobberman! (didn't know if i did spell the last two dog breeds right) . That i asked for some people advice and then it was down to two which is German Shepherds and Labradors/Retrievers.

In my case i wanted a fierce and strong looking dog with a tough attitude/devilish look hahah = German Shepherd! so i browse the dog ads over the net and found these pups , they are pricey enough you wouldn't buy gsd's but i had found a reasonable price in which i grabbed it.

I wouldn't talk much about the breeder and my problems with them since i know they are still doing alot of things from the litters they had. I got my pup at 2.5mos old and picked him up outside KFC's while me and them we're talking about it. Talking about my pup's history / life would be a different post ehhehe.

Right now all i can say is i need to save money for my Nigel and maintain cleanliness and ofcourse i do house training . Hope i am doing well these days.. without further adieu here is Nigel.(the pic is outdated he is now 3mos old)

Alcohol and Staying up Late!

2009-08-04T02:11:00.002+08:00

Hi, just got back from a bar after the volleyball game in which i had a chest workout in the gym, now you see, i ain't normal these days, i really don't have the idea why? well maybe i feel alone working everyday in the house doing Java and Android codes, in return i got to have money to get myself and my friends a good treat every now and then!

Detox! is what i want from those sessions i had, removing the "Stay up late" routine and just plain:

Work

Gym

Volleyball

Basketball

Food Trip

Travel

Shopping

Girls

just those > but then again some of them is linked to the title of this blog!

well i guess Yin Yang is now needed :

Management of the following

Time - balance the staying up late if NEEDED

Money - try to SAVE and Spend Wisely , whatever others will say it is your MONEY!

Career - be productive and interested ALWAYS!

LOVE- hmm someone please help me heheheh

Good Morning now, work later.....

Working 10 hours a day?

2009-07-17T10:36:00.002+08:00

I must say, i had opportunities going on, and im currently employed doing Android, i have part-time offers for them, in which i sometimes wanted to do, but the fact is i am afraid of sacrificing some things right now because they are the ones who make me feel normal!

Money is everything in the real world and we must earn money for us to do whatever we want, much difficult if you have a family to support to.

So i guess if i have the right mindset and accepts things for me to sacrifice, then ill do some.

right now i just did said YES to him, and i started it somehow and i hope i can finish it before the deadline.

Android webservice and xml parsing

2009-07-17T10:20:00.002+08:00

Ok i just finally used a webservice, SOAP,REST and Http Post in Android

Using their service, i had to stuy HttpClient 3.1 for me to test them in stand alone app

and parse them first using kXML yes its in SE first, using kSOAP for the SOAP connection, now it has been changed to a REST and then to Http Post by them, so i studied the HTTP Client4.o in the Android Library for me to get a sleek connection in which it was a different method names and how to use it. Ofcourse i had to use kXML 2 for xml parsing, and from the test and i've known alot of XML parser available for Android like :

SAX

android.sax

DOM

XML Pull

kXML 2

from them i made a parser for each testing their performance, and i found out IMHO, that using android.sax is better for coding and performance, provided the other parsers are still available.

StAX and JAXB are not implemented because of their heavyweigh API , thus not efficient for mobile apps.

so i guess i'll be refactoring my codes today, to make it more manageable in the future!

Ready for the next big thing?

2009-07-02T18:55:00.002+08:00

As i had another hasy decision, i felt that my mind has been cleared from doubts and lack of self confidence . Now i understand my point to them and they are willing to accept me for who i am right now, it will be my big duty to be with them and the opportunity to have this position is going to be a very big help. I will not waste anymore time about not doing what i want!

On this day i will be different and ready enough to make the sacrifices i need.

Time changes, people sometimes do not, but we must make a stand to where we want to go from here!

Being Jobless in the Philippines...

2009-07-01T14:16:00.002+08:00

IMHO:

I see and knew a lot of people doing nothing, just doing fun things and not earning money for themselves or even for their family, but i told you this living in the Philippines is a little different because friends make them jobless and somehow their parents helped them more than they wanted to earn by their own. So if you are really decided to help yourself up and be someone else then pick that paper write things about what you did and what your skills are right now and make an impressive resume and apply for a job that maybe not in the field you are expecting because of your degree you had achieved in college.

It is not going to happen anymore , sadly it is a fact that every Filipinos are underemployed and they make fortunes about it, but also most of them are not facing the real fact of living in the edge of disappointment. But that doesn't stop us from doing something that will really matter. People tend to say they earn just for their family , nonsense you are working because you wanted to achieve something! So right now let us continue to see ourselves about what we "need" and "not what we want" for this purpose in life we become successful for everything we are willing to sacrifice for.

Pull the trigger 2nd time around?

2009-07-01T14:06:00.002+08:00

From the start of my new job as an "Android Developer" and working from home the whole 1 month. I told myself am i enjoying this one at home? no collaboration whatsoever? and the documents are not really present with the entire employment. Actually the revised contract they are saying is somewhat missing , although i always remind them about it. I did get a paycheck the first 15 days and now still not having it. I'm merely studying Android and not doing some apps on it, just by the book im following and the tutorials im reading. They are still new to mobile that maybe the projects are not fully established and im just doing RnD , earning that much. I cannot handle the fact about it, and thus shifting hours evening till morning for work?

I still cannot process the fact this time around it isn't working well, in which i am somehow expecting this would happen between me and them. Now if i did pull the trigger anytime now, ill be jobless again and continue to make myself worthy to be called an Android Developer , and now that Android had launched here in the Philippines, i think some companies will take the opportunity or gamble about it!

Wish me luck this time!

It's Official

2009-06-15T14:53:00.003+08:00

As today i just received my first paycheck for my new company and i was thinking horribly not to work for them because of some experiences and weird stuff im having with them from the first few weeks. As i did working from home for the past 2 weeks and still now, in which i can still work from the office but afraid that i may only see no developers inside that eheh because they prefer working at home. Well working from home is something new to me that i need to adapt somehow.

Right now i can say still not having the heavy task yet, well i need to get ready for this projects because im the pioneer for this technology and i need to put myself onto it. So let us work!

Weird lately!

2009-06-01T02:14:00.002+08:00

As i almost won a ticket in Google I/O 2009 for posting a comment in androidandme , but i told them i cannot have that due to financial difficulty hahahah , well anyway at least i was almost there ehheh. Going back, 1 week had passed since my new employer hired me and i am studying things at the Android Documentation site in which it is cool, and today ( later after i woke up) i think im still going to do since i still don't have a real task yet!

Well the title is something to do with them, i mean my employer i felt that they are cool for having those things they told me but i think i felt really weird on things that are happening;

no formal signatories on other papers like the hr, it. dept etc. My salary , where do i get it those stuff are just weird when i had the chance to bring something for that conversation i think that was the only time they think of that thing to do. Well still im working from home because they are still fixing the office since the devs there are always at home and i wonder if i was the only person to go there>? hope not!

feeling tired now let us see later if this thing is for real or do i need to see more of their actions before letting go!

The Game Plan

2009-05-24T02:08:00.002+08:00

Ok so this would be my last post for this month i think, for i'll be following/doing what im going to list below (technical and non-technical) but ofcourse if i have the 'extra time' ill still write here.

This is not in particular order.

Study more about Java
Study more about Android Development
Study new API's available over the net (www.apifinder.com)
Sleep 7-8 hrs a day.
Do not skip meals
Exercise, this is my anti-stress activity ahhah
Save MONEY
Take vitamins
Go to my Dentist regularly.
Give something for yourself.
Do not forget to pray.
and the rest is up to me!

Ready or not?

2009-05-24T01:54:00.003+08:00

As i left my first employer i felt tired and wanted to have some really good days of non-work related or other geeky stuff. I had nowhere to go after that, but seems like im still blessed thanks to the Lord and now i have a new job starting on Monday as what? see the southern part of this blog eheh. Well going back, my idea was to rest and find a way to re-study things for my new work that i plan to do.

Needless to say i made myself unproductive in the last weeks of no working for an employer: staying till dawn, eating irregulary and the list goes on... but right now im still awake and im thinking to sleep early or have 7-8 hrs of sleep but still it is difficult. For i have so many distractions / attention getters and my active lifestyle. But now it is almost over with my restless and bum days hahah, i failed my initial idea for i haven't done what i need to follow.

"It is never too late to make the plan of your life be happening right Now."

More stuff to sacrifice

2009-05-24T01:46:00.002+08:00

Back in my elementary days i had made some decisions that really helped me changed things that really matters, but most of it are just plain sacrifice for the better me.

Now that im almost doing alot of stuff and im still on the idea of doing it or having them is i guess not going to be working right now, we tend to see things the way we wanted to see it but in reality most of it are things or ideas of self-pleasure and not thinking outside the box.

Making sacrifices helps me to see the real intention i' am aiming for in my life.

The Software Engineer

2009-05-21T12:59:00.004+08:00

A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as chips work. - Wikipedia.org

that i think does not include mingling with your superiors , colleagues and the company you are working with. But in reality you must also get into with these challenges everyday.

Most software engineers work as employees or contractors. Software engineers work with businesses, government agencies (civilian or military), and non-profit organizations. Some software engineers work for themselves as freelancers. Some organizations have specialists to perform each of the tasks in the software development process. Other organizations required software engineers to do many or all of them. In large projects, people may specialize in only one role. In small projects, people may fill several or all roles at the same time. Specializations include: in industry (analysts, architects, developers, testers, technical support, managers) and in academia (educators, researchers). - Wikipedia.org

Typical Work Week

Software Engineers Analysis

Well at least we get to work (high paying salary) with what you want hehehe, and eventually if you want we can move to management or best of all have your own company!

New World Order starts tonight!

2009-05-19T22:15:00.002+08:00

Ok, not that you are thinking the other way, this time it's about me doing the changes that i needed to have, right now i got some weeks of rest that i did in which i spent til 3-4am in the morning doing:

drinking with old-time friends
celebrating bdays
watching House season 5
watching Chuck season 2(im still watching)
fixing some things in the house
thinking how to get motivated again.

Now im still not reviewing ANDROID for my new work , yes i have a new work im so blessed for having what i wanted to do (reason why i quit i guess?). Im going to start doing a new work this coming Monday in which i need to adapt to the location, people and the old geeky behind myself ehehe. It is only a matter of time for me to get my thoughts and get really motivated in this new work for this is going to simply change my life , getting i think new sacrifices , i hope these sacrifices will pay off in the future!

I am now going to start this evening til maybe morning to read a book on Android that i have , im too late for doing this now that im struggling for it! but hey at least im trying to do this!

YES I'AM LAZY as HELL! help me............. or should i say help myself?

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Developers by John Powell

2009-05-12T12:39:00.001+08:00

If you want to achieve your highest aspirations and overcome your greatest challenges, identify and apply the principle or natural law that governs the results you seek. How we apply a principle will vary greatly and will be determined by our unique strengths, talents, and creativity, but, ultimately, success in any endeavor is always derived from acting in harmony with principles to which the success is tied.

This advice comes from Steven Covey in his best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If you haven't read this book yet, you must. It's about effecting change from the inside out for success in both your personal and professional life by aligning your values with principles through practicing seven habits.

Before reading this book, I felt like a passenger on a career freight-train. like something put in motion that I was powerless to control. What I was practicing in my career, my habits, was misaligned with my values, and my values were misaligned with unmovable principles. Although I was powerless over the career train, I came to realize I had the power to choose which train I was on. So here I am at a company that allows me to follow my passion: developing software.

The 7 Habits book is broadly focused, and it made me think about habits specific to my profession. What do those software developers that I consider effective (if not brilliant) have in common? What values drive their decisions and what habits do they practice that make them successful? Here are the seven habits that I think effective developers practice:

[Passionate]

The most brilliant people I've worked with are passionate about what they do. They aren't driven by money and fame and, I say this with tongue in cheek, if they didn't have families to feed, would develop software without compensation. If I had two candidates for a development position, I'd rather hire a less-experienced person with passion than a more experienced person without. If you aren't passionate about software development, find what you are passionate about and follow that path.

[Able to Learn, Unlearn and Re-learn]

I believe that learning is an extension of passion, and effective developers operate in a continuum of improvement and innovation. They learn from their and others' mistakes and don't apply old solutions to new problems just because they worked before. Effective developers follow technology, but are careful to not let new approaches become solutions looking for a problem.

[Balance Principle and Practice]

Principle and practice are the Yin and Yang of software development. Effective developers don't design impractical solutions for the sake of principle and don't implement solutions without overarching values. They are willing to compromise based on time, cost, scope and quality constraints, but can also obtain compromise from others based on sound principles.

[Keep It Simple Software (KISS)]

Effective developers implement the simplest possible thing that will work while not painting themselves into a corner. They don't implement anything more than is needed right now, remaining mindful about what might be needed in the future. Effective developers know that the less moving parts there are, the less likely it will break and favor elegance and simplicity over convoluted cleverness.

[If You Don't Know the Answer, Know Someone Who Does]

Software developers aren't renown for their social prowess, but some of the most effective developers I know are excellent at networking. If you give a random 100 question test to a group of people, no one individual will score 100%, but collectively, with few exceptions, the group can answer all the questions correctly. There is so much technology, so many areas of speciality, you can only be an expert on one, maybe two subject areas. Effective developers know the limit of their knowledge, aren't afraid to admit when they don't know something and have many friends and colleagues in their network they can reach out to for help.

[Focus on Value]

Effective developers understand the forces driving the project, its stakeholders and their goals. Using this knowledge to guide their decision making, they focus on delivering tangible value to their customers over anything else. Effective developers prioritize work based on its value--the so called "bang for the buck," and avoid projects and features they don't believe in.

[Puts the Needs of the Many Before the Needs of the One]

I've seen small teams accomplish extraordinary things; it's amazing what "two guys and a laptop" can accomplish. Call it teamwork or synergy or whatever you like, when a group of people put common goals before their own, they converge like light into a laser beam. Contrast this with the arrogant, rogue and cowboy developers who go against team standards or design intents because "that's how I do it" or "that's how you should do it." The message they are really sending is "I am smarter than the team."

Conclusion

These seven habits give me something to work towards and keep me focused. I only had room for seven habits in this article, and I'm sure you can think of many more or define effective in your own way. The important thing is to take a value-driven approach to your software development career and do intentional things that move you towards your definition of success.

New Beginnings

2009-05-07T15:54:00.002+08:00

Just almost near with making myself different or should i say a better me. When something is over, it can never start again. When it's broken, you can never put back the pieces. Life is not the way you want it to be. When you know it that someone or something is hurting you so much, so go!

We know it hurts a lot but we must learn to let go and live with it. Don't push yourself too hard, because we all know that in every ending. there's always something that we call "New Beginnings".

Encore in the JavaRanch

2009-05-04T23:49:00.003+08:00

Ok, im surprised last Saturday while having my small vacation, and when i opened my email, i saw a JavaRanch private message telling that i won the Book Promotion in Android.

Well i dont know if im going to be happy well ofcourse, i got to have a Book of Reto Meier's "Professional Android Application Development" in which i know is the best so far, but then again i did bought this in Amazon a month ago or so, but hey i won the promotion doing just 2 startup threads and answered 3 questions on the forum great eheh!

Hope Reto will send me the Advanced one eheh Kidding! Thanks again JavaRanch and the authors out there !

Crazy for Android Shirts

2009-04-29T22:25:00.003+08:00

Just wanted to share some shirts i got to print here locally (got the images from the net , ill try to produce my own) well not me i met a printing shop but they are Filipinos , i can't buy them online because of the expensive price they have eheh, here are some ill post more if i have the chance to take a pic hahaha

My Android Books.... so far

2009-04-25T17:47:00.005+08:00

Ok it was when i g first ordered a book at Amazon and find Reto Meier's "Professional Android Development, i got to read this but not on a regular basis since im still doing alot of things but i get to squeeze it late at night and when riding on a shuttle to go to work sometimes

"Hello Android" by Ed Burnette is also the an option for me to buy but when i accidentally found the JavaRanch Android Thread i posted topic and answered some questions regarding Android , that i have no idea that there is an Book Promotion going ... and i had selected to be one of the winners lucky me! So im still not reading Hello Android but as soon as i need something on Graphics i heard this book is something for me to look at.

As my reading goes first come first serve so i will finish the first book i had and then moved to the next one... need to learn to grow on this great Tech!

thanks Ed Burnette and Reto Meier for such a great book in this great mobile platform

Roughly Weeks Running...

2009-04-25T17:40:00.003+08:00

As i am blogging this, i just did finished the first week in which the notice month of my resignation. It was still pure work and yes i was happy of the results that happened in our project because it is doing quite good coming form the client side comment, i've also made plans to some projects to turnover for the coming days hope they will understand every detail im going to say to them. As my colleagues are teasing me everyday because of the situation, i felt sorry for myself leaving them behind, but i know they understand me somehow , as im still thinking Java EE to complete my tasks remaining for the following last 2 weeks(roughly).

I quit my job for Android Development

2009-04-09T16:00:00.005+08:00

It has been the 2nd day since the start of the notice period (1 month) , i already made a decision that maybe crazy to many and suicidal as i can see and my friends would say , Yes i did quit my day job which i am doing Java EE and some Proof of Concepts in Java ME and BlackBerry platform, from there i had been interested to Android Development, that i had to put my career and i guess my life on it.

Many said that it is still young and looking its way to the industry but i don't think that is something for us to set aside and especially i live here in the Philippines that it is still not an option for revenue, but in my head i can really see this is as

"similar to Java technology that had been started in the past years in which it came big time and changed the way the technology moves and from that moment on the world is still loving it just like Android will be making soon enough! "

I'll be willing to help my friends and other Filipinos learn this technology and maybe they'll get interested , from there i might make a team of developers and we'll try to develop great apps together representing one country!

Soon i will be jobless, but ill read about Java more and ofcourse study and work on Android. If there would be a company that has the same interest that i have then i will apply there which is a much better option, so the last option would be try freelancing.

Android Development is as far as im concern a great thing to invest with and unlike the platforms nowadays in mobile industry it is not just mobile it is also entering to desktop, netbooks and maybe more!

My Belief

2009-03-30T17:49:00.003+08:00

Belief is being certain of possibilities. We must never let doubts in our heads rob us of faith in our hearts. For when we doubt we stifle our ability to reach our potential.

Your beliefs shape your actions. Your actions cause results and circumstances of your life and those results, when stretched over a lifetime, shape your destiny.

" Whatever you ask for in a prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours - Mk 11:24 "

Thanks for the opportunity ,knowledge and great experiences i had!

Suicidal for Freedom.

2009-03-30T10:04:00.004+08:00

It is almost a year (April 7) that im working for the company and i must say, ups and downs are always there, unfortunately the downs were the ones who stood up! As i will give the "JavaDocs" i always look at the people , experiences i had inside the company...

From the past year i had been working to various existing projects,RnD's and 1 new project. At a freshman level, i was expecting to be trained formally but the company is just giving mentorings and i think it was reasonable enough, although i think they expect to much from us, i dunno if i am right or not but i feel the intensity they are pushing to us. I am still not good in Java , im still learning it, plus ofcourse the needed ones im working! Being a freshman in the company is difficult for me cause you don't know if what you're doing is sufficient to you knowledge or not . I remember saying this " Even my salary is not high enough if the thing that i am working is intersting to me then that would not be a problem". The SMART money team were the only team i had ever been to code a fresh project and yes it was fun and challenging.

I had my peak now, and i wanted to learn , learn a specific technology in Java, i had chosen Android for it and some other reasons for me leaving this great startup company i had been invloved for a year. So i give you my reasons for committing suicide ( not literally ):

- I had difficulties in coping with project Turnovers, one day you are working and then in the middle of the project you will be pulled out to be in another one

- the technologies were different everytime , that i sometimes wanted to learn them fully but they needed me for another project involving new or existing technologies;

- I think that salary for me will be stagnant for the coming 2nd year (due to the announcement our boss told us) , i haven't got any increase in my 1st year.

- J2ee is the first thing i wanted to learn but then came Android so i wanted to pursue this instead!

my reasons maybe not agreeable to some but i know somehow my mindset is already closed for this company due to these reasons. You may not understand me , as me myself is still unaware that im doing this crazy decision with nowhere to go. Ofcourse im going to miss many cool things other companies would not have like:

1. Environment ( it is basically you are working in a computer shop with pressure ehehe)

2. The people are all natural they can be your friend or enemy eheh

3. I will miss the teasing moments hahaha.

4. The pizza's and monthly food eheh

5. Dota / Basketball /other funny stuff like the crazy musics , some hooligan moments ehehe

and lastly,

6. The SMART Money team +CSL Team+My SnAp Partner+Legendary Sir Migz + the .NET crazy duo and some Java Seniors

Thanks for first believing in me to work for this company i never imagined i would learn much and gamble for one technology. I wanted to say these to people who are also in my shoes or the same :

" You are what you wanted to be, never let other things / people tell you what you need to do or become because doing so will only give you the impression you cannot control your ownself " -me

“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right”

- Henry Ford

Web Service Exposed!

2009-03-23T21:17:00.002+08:00

No not really the real Web Service that we knew, it is something we coined after a you know a friendly "resume" for job application. It is called like that for us not to get conversely caught on things pertaining to looking a job. The company that we might apply will consume or the endpoint of the web service eheheh. Anyway i never imagine that i will be exposed to the managers as well and i had unknowingly was joined by 2 more and 1 that is not really going to leave the company. Now it is up to the people (Higher Gods) to give the verdict , and i knew they will talk to me soon enough.

For me it is just normal that someone might leave the company for their own reasons, i don't have a job waiting for me when i leave that is for sure it is just i wanted to learn something i had encountered in which they did helped me had it in many ways that i wanted to really learn them more , and not being dragged by deadlines and some unhelpful PM , TM and the whole she-bang!

I am just a developer seeking for knowledge that might be interesting for the next decade , i do wanted to help the company that is why i am helping them be on top in some way, they sometimes need to be connected to the developers more.

Until then we'll see more of this issue !

Back to reality!

Developer's so called O.T.

2009-03-22T17:21:00.002+08:00

Just had my official O.T. (over-time) last Friday til 2 am Saturday and yes it is not fun doing that.

After all the development and bug fixing everything is going to be different, because the specs always changes. Your PM will then tell you things about deadlines and deliverables of it. As a developer we knew our limitations, these also applies to our own lifestyles.

not FUN, because of you coding and analyzing stuff till dawn and for me having to travel back to province of Cavite coming from Makati, you need to battle yourself out on the road with fish vendors putting their stuff on the mini bus, your eyes are getting weird , your head is burning, and in the end you tend to sleep in the sofa because of that.

Got wasted Saturday because you are still not over with your body clock , and the sofa is not suited for sleeping flashing with bright lights (dont like that)
and now Sunday you are half normal , still not doing the things you need to do or you're really doing on weekends.

Bottom line, let's try to finish them on time and hopefully the PM will help us developers cope with it on a regular office hour basis, not because of something they wanted to achieve for themselves or for what i really don't know, be connected with us and we really are going to repay your respect for us.

PS:we did finish everything the PM wanted, but then again it is Sunday and still dazzled on things you cannot do because your body is still abnormal!

School Name vs. Student's Interest

2009-03-22T17:14:00.003+08:00

Just got to meet and mingle with students coming from a 2 yr courses and telling me their experiences on it and their school comparing to these top notch universities. I told them that it is not always a basis for you not to land a job because of your school, you must posses the skills required and the experiences of doing it. From there you will then realize that everything is just a norms for people being bias from the society!

Ofcourse sometimes your instructor / professor also is a factor for you being interested on that topic, they must not show dissapointment on teaching it because they don't like that course they are teaching or forced because of their director , so what will be the impression of the students is to also not like it because my prof didn't like it, and they will have difficulties on following everything because of your prof.

All of these are just observation, these maybe some of the reasons why we should help other students coming from these area of school and instructor. I wanted to share some of my knowledge for them, and think that not everyone and everything is based on standards

Warning signs of Stroke

2009-02-27T13:55:00.003+08:00

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally . He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read
and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

posted this so that others can have some understanding, i had experienced
some of these and it is scary enough, hopefully i can remove this in my body!

I am at 90% of changing my career life

2009-02-24T11:42:00.003+08:00

I've seen so many people in the enterprise world for doing a job to what they applied for, yes they are earning as expected, but how about the joy and interest of it? the progress for you as an individual? I cannot ask someone about how was you day as a @#$% and they ended up saying stressfull because of my tasks and my manager. That is very common for the corporate world. I just wanted to point out that i am still a nobody / rookie / novice in many things. But in general i can say that i learned alot and still am, many of which i wanted to know more, but due to the fact that i am in a position of an "employee" ,new programmer, i can't complain yet,because it is going to be the company's plan for their success. Most of my work done are from Turnovers,small outsource modules and POC just one entirely new project in which i was(i was pulled out) because they need someone to fill in to an existing project in w/c they put the person to a new one) happy. Anyway i feel the same way as the new fresh grads like me are also doing these surprising tasks.

I am almost a year working as a Software Engineer (Jr.) but i can say that i know little things from many technologies i had handled because they are not giving me(i dunno about the others) the time to really get to know something in particular ,i heard they need us to be Multitasking ! they maybe right but i think they are short of developers or got too many projects and the worst of all turnovers are a big problem pass it on - pass it on, you get to code and make designs in a project you haven't started or don't have an idea out of it? nuff said you get the idea!

From this i want to understand the entire thing (start from scratch with a team just like me before in one of the projects - you know who you guys are) and in the end i can do almost anything with it without any big problems. I don't know if i am saying this w/o offending others that i felt frustrated and didn't think of this before i get into the war. But i think maybe i am a person in which i wanted to do a specific kind of work,start from scratch,or work with a certain kind of person or company? Wait the cool things in w/c i am working are : I like the environment,the free-form acts inside the office, the uniqueness of the workplace and the people behind it but the rules of getting to understand ever SE to what they wanted to do , and listening to them , and eventually will happen (i don't know if i am correct with this) is something different. Only 1 TM in our office sure knows what is our needs and wants. Maybe if that person didn't come nothing will change and the worst part many of which(SE) will be gone by now.

So i can say that that something is running in my mind from last month(got shifted from 3 quick projects) that i wanted to see myself outside the box, look for answers to the questions that im asking about myself. Soon i'll get to know the real me and pursuing the career i maybe missing or just missed!

Ditched Windows?

2009-02-22T15:41:00.004+08:00

Last Thursday , i had encountered a cool, virus crashing every exe within windows os, all the development stuff was not working anymore, i got some deadlines to meet and work within the following days, i told myself this is very annoying and i need to think fast, i decided to install and switched to Ubuntu Os
(w/c i was thinking long time ago) where my officemates were already using it. I Backed up everythin in my maxtor storage and Installed Ubuntu.

I asked for help to my colleagues, to do this and that , right now i did installed some of the development tools in Ubuntu and getting comfy with it, the only thing i need is to "install windwos xp" because i think there are some things that are really windows dependent. im still thinking how to solve the problem of GRUB because they told me that i did first installed ubuntu and then i wanted Windows? it is going to be a problem my colleagues told me.

Still need to learn alot with my new OS , its capabilites and downside.

I can say that i am now officially in Open - Source community doing open source work hell yeah!

The favorable Android Dev Phone 1

2009-02-22T15:31:00.003+08:00

After all the struggles i did, i am now officially convinced that i might wait for Google to put the Philippines in their official list for us to buy their ADP1 and buy and sell free and paid apps in the market. Frustrating it is now the end of Q1 of 2009 is almost going to end.

Fortunately i have seen some sellers in Ebay about them selling their ADP1 ( why are they doing that?) so last 30 mins ago i did placed a bid $290 (highest now) plus the Philippine shipping cost is $100++ too heavy for someone like me , to be honest i am just going to borrow some money for this device, really wanted it!

so we'll see if i would win or get a device from somewhere / someone!

PS: And to how am i going to pay the money back hahahah

What to do Next?

2009-02-11T13:33:00.002+08:00

"Successful, contented people do not waste their time doing things they don't like or leave them hopeless. Continued to exposure to a bad job and nasty boss can ravage the mind and body with stress related ailments and so it's absolutely imperative that you get out under your own power before you die with your tie on." - the one

Just thinking about these words in terms of my current status in my life. Maybe someone out there already had this feeling and how did they cope with it? are they doing good now? did they made the wrong decision?

It is only the person with good intent and interest to himself/herself knows what to do next!

Android pause for coding or what ?

2009-02-10T16:56:00.003+08:00

Just purchased Professional Android Application Development book at Amazon. Waiting for my friend now to get back here in the Philippines.
Still thought i could buy the Android Developers Phone 1 but my credit card limit is low, and besides how am i going to pay it in the long run?

From October in which i started to know more about and doing apps, to presenting it at Google DevFest Manila, to pausing it for an Enterprise Project , then i was pulled out and then got back to a new Android project, after a week of UI designing and reviewing of Android, got pulled out again for an enhancement product working on SAP.

Whew! i am still looking at updates and news currently i found out Android SDK 1.1_r1 so i updated my eclipse and local sdk. I guess i will code Android for spare time for now!

Why sell your Android Dev Phone?

2009-01-28T17:52:00.003+08:00

I was browsing Ebay and saw Dev phone selling with the current bid of 300USD and asked him the reasons why he wants to sell it?

He replied these:

* It is Linux, therefore Linux kernel. It is not GNU/Linux - the common "Linux" OS. Therefore the whole userland glibc/coreutils/bash/etc. is not there and there are some lookalikes instead. Their shell is more stupid than command.com. There is even no `cp'. It is there just to prove it works but not that is would be practically usable.

* It has QWERTY but it is too small for fast typing (such as on Nokia Communicator 9000i). It even does not have arrow keys - there is a trackball instead of it.

* The keyboard is there for typing letters, not for controlling the phone. The phone is generally controller by the touch-display. It is all more like iPhone than like Nokia Communicator.

* So far there is no SIP client for it (but I believe it will change in some time).

* Their userland should be POSIX conformant but there are no X-Windows/GTK/Qt, therefore a port of anything graphical requires implementing a new user interface for it.

* As it is not GNU it all loses the attractivity of the common "Linux" OS and then it makes more sense to check for example the recently opensourced Symbian.

* Applications from Android Market are commonly NOT opensource. Therefore the common free software approach to fix/adjust the applications in use is applicable only for the Google applications, not the Market ones.

* It is not a fully Free OS, it requires proprietary hardware drivers:
http://source.android.com/documentation/building-for-dream

* I found out in the recent years I do not use GSM almost at all (up to USD5 per month).

* My old proprietary phone I use mostly as a GPRS bluetooth modem. I could not get working ADP1 as a modem/router (even by an USB cable). It may be my fault, though.

* Even the Jabber client cannot be used there (only for @gmail).

Hmm...

My Sacrifices...do i need more?

2009-01-26T19:00:00.002+08:00

Well i just wanted to share the real things i have been doing in my life in the past and somehow still creeping on it , i am into sports as you know volleyball and basketball, but i really love to play more of volleyball cause it is more challenging and you get to meet fantastic girls hahaha, well i did not really play alot in college due to the fact that i wanted to finish my course without failing or low grades from it, i went to 2 universities and i played volleyball in both, but i make sure to put my studies first, i also joined the UE mountaineering group in which i really learned different things from different people in the community from other places here in the Phils.

I also did the Magic the gathering game cards, wherein you get to play from those pesky money spender just to buy a pack of cards(just like me before) yes i still got those but i keep one deck and i sold most of it already,yes working out in the gym is a big factor since i was a thin guy back then, from then on they get to call me the wall because as they say i was huge back then ok, my biceps before is 15.5-16 inches, chest is at 39-40 and my waistline is 28 , i know i still need exercise to maintain a little of that physique but as i am working, i think regulare workout is impossible!

Now i get to sacrifice many of those cool things as far as im concern maybe because something in my head told me to get out of my comfort zone and try other things since Volleyball and Working out filled almost 50% of my younger years , but then again you cannot change what you want or what your interests are, right now i am enjoying my work since i am doing Java, learning more on J2EE and ofcourse Google Android, i did play volleyball last vacation and got invited in a league, i got a colleague who is also into mountain climbing, also someone playing Magic the gathering, and yes i do miss many of those things that i really think i did not sacrifice just set them aside and let other things come in to my life.

Volleyball Plyometrics Program

2009-01-15T17:57:00.001+08:00

Volleyball Plyometrics Program

Volleyball plyometrics can help to increase your vertical jump and explosive power around the court. However, they should be performed alongside or following a sport-specific resistance training program.

While plyometrics is a very effective form of power training (and volleyball-specific), there are some important considerations to consider before adopting this form of conditioning into your routine.

Remember firstly that explosive power is a function of both strength and speed of muscular contraction. Volleyball plyometrics exercises will help condition your neuromuscular system to apply a greater level of force in a shorter period of time. However, if you lack basic strength, their effectiveness will be limited.

Plyometric training also places a high level of stress on joints, connective tissue and the neuromuscular system. Without a well-developed strength base, stress related injuries are much more likely to occur.

Other important guidelines relate to the amount of ground contacts in a single session, the number of sessions per week and the surface on which volleyball plyometrics are performed. For a detailed explanation of these parameters please read this plyometrics article.

Volleyball Plyometrics Drills

This sample program consists of two volleyball plyometrics sessions per week. This is perfectly adequate to convert strength in sport-specific power and reduces the risk of over-training that can occur with more sessions each week.

Plyometrics are usually performed during the mid to late pre-season phase of training. The closed season and early pre-season can be used to develop functional and maximal strength, which is then converted to explosive power.

Because these volleyball plyometrics exercises require maximal effort and a high quality of movement, don’t perform any other training immediately before – such as endurance runs, resistance training or speed training. Of course it goes without saying that a thorough warm-up should be completed first.

Again, for more guidelines on incorporating plyometrics into your weekly training schedule click here.

This routine uses a medicine ball for upper body plyometric exercises. Medicine balls are the perfect piece of equipment for developing highly specific volleyball drills. They are generally available in 1kg, 2,kg, 4kg and 5kg (2lb, 4lb, 6lb, 10lb) weights and as heavy as 10kg (20lb). Remember, for these drills to create power they must be performed explosively. If the weight is too heavy and the movement is slow then the desired training effect won’t occur so stick to less than 5kg.

Drill #1 – Depth jumps
1) Stand on box with toes close to edge and facing the hoop.
2) Step off (don’t jump off) box and land on both feet. Immediately jump up and reach with both hands towards the sky.
3) Ground contact time should be minimal (don’t sink into the ground) and landings should be soft.

Drill #2 – Over The Back Toss
1) Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Have a partner or trainer stand approximately 10-15 yards behind you.
2) Grasp ball and lower body into a semi-squat position. Explode up extending background- the entire body and throwing medicine ball up and over the head.
3) The aim is to throw the ball behind you as far as you can and generating most of the power in the legs.
4) Catch ball on the bounce from your partner and repeat according to prescribed repetitions.

Drill # 3 – Lateral High Hops
1) Stand to left side of box and place right foot on top of box.
2) Push off the box using the right leg only and explode vertically as high as possible. Drive the arms forward and up for maximum height.
3) Land with opposite foot onto box. Repeat with the other foot.
4) Repeat according to prescribed number of repetitions.

Drill #4 – Squat Throws From Chest
1) Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Knees should be slightly bent.
2) Hold medicine ball at chest level and squat down to a parallel position.
3) Quickly explode up and jump as high as you can. As you start your jump you should throw the medicine ball as high as possible.
4) Let the ball bounce away from you rather than trying to catch it.

Drill #5 – Single Arm Throws
1) Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart.
2) Place hand under medicine ball and lower body into a semi-squat position.
3) Explode up extending the entire body and throwing the medicine ball up into the air.
4) The aim is to throw the ball as high as you can and generating most of the power in the legs.
5) Catch ball on the bounce and repeat according to prescribed repetitions.

Drill #6 – Hurdle Jumps
1) Stand 1-2 feet away from hurdle. Feet should be slightly wider than hip-width apart in a semi-squat position.
2) Driving the arms up and jump over hurdle.
3) Upon landing, quickly jump over next hurdle.

Drill #7 – Wall Throws
1) Stand with one foot in front (staggered stance) or with feet together and knees slightly bent.
2. Pull medicine ball back behind head and forcefully throw ball forward as far as possible into the wall.
3. Catch ball on the bounce from the wall and repeat according to prescribed repetitions.

Drill #8 – Lateral Barrier Jumps
1) Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart with right side of body facing the barrier.
2) Hop to the right using both feet over the barrier.
3) jump back to the start point.
4) Repeat according to the prescribed number of repetitions.

Sample Volleyball Plyometrics Session

DAY 1

Depth jumps - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Over The Back Toss - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Lateral High Hops - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Squat Throws From Chest - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

DAY 2

Single Arm Throws - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Hurdle Jumps - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Wall Throws - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Lateral Barrier Jumps - 3 sets x 8-10 reps

C/O http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/plyometrics.html