I had to wait a week before writing about the latest addition in my network — the ASUS Eee Box. If I may, I would say that the Eee Box is ASUS’ answer to Apple’s Mini PC; only smaller. The unit weighs 3lbs and is 1-inch thick (8.8×7x1) only. It comes with two mounts — one is for desktop mount and the other is a wall mount or like what ASUS advertises, the unit is mounted behind an LCD monitor to get the effect of “no box PC”. The box comes with wired keyboard and mouse. Of course if you chose the wireless route, you can do so because the machine already comes with wireless adapter (and antenna for range maximization). Knowing me, this featureis of course disabled. The machine is also very quiet and does not take up so much power consumption. The Box is also DVI ready so if your monitor has DVI, that would be great. For an average user, it won’t be a difficult computing because the Box is pre-installed with Windows XP Home Edition.
The Box!!!
Why did I have to purchase this gadget? For one, I wanted to test it and it’s cheap enough to experiment with. I plan to install other *NIX flavored OS in it instead of Windows. I also needed a PC that can serve MySQL database and it shouldn’t take space in my workspace and won’t consume so much power. Eee Box is the perfect specimen. The Box has been running since I bought it an a few restarts were executed because of Windows’ unfailing releases of bug fixes (don’t they get tired of this why not release a less buggy software instead).
I only recommend the Box to an average user. Average I mean a user who only does: web browsing, chat, email, music, photos, occasional videos, word processing. I don’t prefer this to a hardcore user who may wish to do audio-visual editing and multi-tasking applications although it’s hyper-threading. However, it’s enough for daily computing.
November 3rd, 2008
I’m not exactly a music critic, but I’ll mention a few things about Rico Blanco’s album Your Universe and especially the first single, Yugto. I’ll call this album good. Blanco’s poetic abilities is still evident in this solo album. Yugto has an operatic feel to it trying to follow Freddie Mercury and Queen. The intro surprisingly sounds Eastern European which I thought was cool. I can’t imagine the Vikings in the Philippines. Blanco did not try to sound different from Rivermaya and I think it’s a better move because he was after all Rivermaya. It’s good that he did not attempt to escape. I can’t wait to see him perform Yugto live because the song has a tendency to be an awesome live act.
August 15th, 2008
Good riddance to him (from Pinoy Idol). But I’m sure we’d be listening to him in the future because he’s got a beautiful voice. I’m hoping he’d go solo as a rock artist. It wouldn’t be wise for him to form a band. He needs an image change and make good music because I’m pretty sure there’s a hit in him. You’re the second idol finalist who has been booted that’s deserving an entry in my site. Idol is not a place for a rocker, but it’s a very good exposure, so it’s good you’re out. Rock on!
July 20th, 2008
Today I had a tiny luxury to watch Pinoy Dream Academy 2’s performance night. I’ve seen their contestants scholars a few days back because the network seems to be injecting every little bit of segments from the 24-hour affairs within the academy. That means I see their faces everytime I pass through the channel. I may sound bias and I believe I may be, but the Idols are better than the scholars.
The Idols have variations when it comes to talent and style; the scholars don’t. It’s boring when you see a singing contest and all contestants have the same style of music. That’s why I like the Pinoy Idol. However, I like Cristina “Cris” Pastor a lot. That’s the only thing I like about PDA2.
July 12th, 2008
Winnipeg, Manitoba — It’s been a while since my last entry and here I am full of expectations for this one. I don’t like Canadians. I have been solid about that for years now. I don’t like them politically, culturally and throw in also economically.
Canadians have been unsubtle about their (except for the Prime Minister I guess) dislike of the United States of America. Canada envelopes the northern part of the US and they are well protected by the US militarily from three directions. Instead of gratitude for this, the Canadians think that what the (US)Americans are doing to keep a civilize world is plain wrong. They are too idealistic for their own good.
Now let’s talk about idealism for Canada. Canada uses two languages — English (British, not [US]American) and French. That means that they are bounded to the British and the French who discovered their neck of the woods. Essentially, Canada has no independence so they should just shut their mouths about the United States and get their shit together first to get away from their monarchs. Trivially, Canada has no president. Instead they have a prime minister because they still recognize the monarchs thousands of miles away in the land called the United Kingdom. If you ask Canadians why they don’t exist as a Republic, they would tell you that they are sentimental about the presence of the monarchy. A stupid thing to say for a could-be-sovereign country.
Culturally, I dislike their attitudes. (US)Americans are liberal, but they at least have manners. Canadians lack courtesy, hospitality and other good manners. Canadians will confirm this. They think they are high up in the food chain to be looking down on people. Here’s a stereotype: if you meet a rude Caucasian in the States, most likely he’s from Canada. One more piece of observation: Canadians look alike. I would like to post pictures, but I won’t. When you visit Canada, pick one face and you’ll find many of them like that…pick the ones with ’stache.
If (US)Americans complain so much about taxes, go to Canada and you’ll wish you can bring your taxes from the States. Generally, they have two taxes: GST (federal) and PST (provincial). Total tax could reach 15% - 20% of your purchase. That’s too much. They even have AST (accommodation) and a GST is also taken from that AST. So if you stay in a hotel, they will charge you two taxes plus an accommodation tax plus another tax off that accommodation tax. What they mean to say is that “pay us double, foo!”
I think that about covers my dislike for Canada and its people. However, I LOVE the music they make. I will also attempt to photographically compare the four provinces I visited when I get back, so watch out for that my dear readers.
June 26th, 2008
A pure democratic state is defined to be a state of the people, for the people, and by the people. Obviously, this form of government is inexistent therefore I’m not talking government politics in this entry. I’m speaking of Pinoy Idol (Philippines’ installation of “… Idol” reality show). This kind of contest shouldn’t be allowed in a country where text messaging is a way of life, not a necessity. “… Idol” is a singing contest where the winner is decided by the masses. I am not saying that voting in an installation like the American Idol has a 1-1 vote/person ratio, but the sampling is closer to the actual number. In the Philippines, one out of five texter could (a hypothesis) vote at least 100 times for his contestant and that clearly manipulates the curve which then yields a non-democratic politics. What’s worst is that (again I’m hypothesizing) the multi-voting texter does not know about the talent. However, that doesn’t matter because as far as the show is concerned, they are just counting the number of text votes.
Why am I getting so hyped up about this? I have been hyped up about this, but I’m only writing about this now. Last night, the viewers eliminated deserving candidates and kept mediocre talents. The judges even agreed with my thoughts. I know that one of them will eventually win, but if the deserving candidates are not permitted to compete (because they were kicked out) then what’s the using of discovering new talents. The viewers who care about a talent are left frustrated because the majority of viewers who don’t know what a talent is voted out the talented ones. Eventually, the show will have talents that aren’t up to par. The show must start rigging the votes. It’s nothing new in the Philippines anyway.
I’m done criticizing the system, now it’s time to criticize some contestants…
Sue Ellen - you’re a trying hard fashionista. If it doesn’t suit you however trendy the dress is, don’t wear it. I’m begging you in the name of all Ilonggos.
JJ - You should have been sacked this week, but I guess you’re too pretty for that.
Jeni - Excellent performance this week, but I’m worried you’re only restricted to a genre. If ever you’re voted out, make a jazz album and make sure to write your original music.
Ram - You have to be original, but keep rocking! I hope you win the shit.
Topher - Nice voice, but work on the image.
Warren - Be original; love the voice.
Obviously, I don’t pay attention to the girls. I want the contestants to ROCK and the boys are the only ones capable of doing that in the current season. I can’t sing, but I yap a lot, don’t I? Get used to it!
June 9th, 2008
I have a TOGO playlist in my iPod Nano containing 8 songs. They are all love songs save one. Most of my collections contain songs of heartbreaks. I’m not saying I’m heartbroken. I think good songs are written during a downfall of an artist because there are so many emotions. An artist who didn’t experience a downfall isn’t an artist at all — in my opinion.
I’ve seen you cry, I’ve seen you smile.
I’ve watched you sleeping for a while.
I’d be the father of your child.
I’d spend a lifetime with you.
I know your fears and you know mine.
We’ve had our doubts but now we’re fine,
And I love you, I swear that’s true.
I cannot live without you.
- Goodbye My Lover, James Blunt
This is my favorite James Blunt song. I emphasize favorite because it’s only one. These lines are loaded. I hope I never get to personify this song. I don’t know the whole story of this song and I’m not sure if he wrote this out of experience. Playing it solo in a piano made the song more beautiful. It’s a beautiful sad song I guess.
I’ll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You’ve been the only thing that’s right
In all I’ve done
And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we’ll make it anywhere
Away from here
- Run, Snow Patrol
One of the few Snow Patrol songs I love. The melody is just beautiful. The lines above tell about an escape from everything (I think) — from criticizing eyes. Sounds familiar to me. Just listen to the song if you have a chance and you’ll understand. I had to pick a line so I picked the first verses.
As I say goodbye to the way of life
I thought I had designed for me
- Try, Nelly Furtado
I guess it’s the music that made me like this song. The lines above simply tell us that there is a design for life, but it’s nearly impossible to go by that design. It’s feasible, but nearly impossible.
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
- All Good Things (Come To An End), Nelly Furtado
Very true. Need I elaborate? That’s a life cycle. That’s why I always thought that life shouldn’t be taken seriously because it’s a game within the circle. Why struggle when in the end all is lost? Life is a game in which the outcome is already decided before it starts.
May 27th, 2008
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