| Birthday greetings July 07 |
[Jul. 9th, 2009|11:33 pm] |
I was supposed to post this on Monday, but I was sick the past two days. Thankfully, it’s not the flu or anything, just the usual coughs and colds. The road to and from the office can get dirty, after all. Better late than never, I hope.
July 6
Today is Jennifer's birthday.
As with Kenneth, I first met her in 2006. I met her through her sister and her circle or friends. As with most first meetings, it was pretty awkward. I only knew her through Deviant Art and the message board(s) she and her sister frequented. I even remember my mistakes that day. I talked too much and probably came off as rude and over-familiar. Worse, I inadvertently opened a spare box of pizza. As such her friends help polish of pizza that was meant for her family. How embarrassing!
Thankfully, I was able to say sorry. The next few meetings were better. Thanks to her reminders, I was better behaved (and brought extra food). It was through these extra meetings that I got to know more about her. I became more comfortable in time.
It was during a December trip to I learned many things on the trip. The long hours on the buses and the stops beaches of Pangasinan and the Batad terraces were perfect places for debate, discussion, and getting to know a person more.
She wears her heart on her sleeve. She loves her family. She doesn’t really leave you guessing. She says – or shows- how she feels. She loves thought-provoking or heartwarming quotes and Bible passages. Most interesting of all, she and her siblings adored the Crocodile Hunter series, to the point that they'd imitate Irwin. (I thought I was the only one who liked the dude who did.)
Happy birthday once again, and thank you! You've affected my life in a positive way. Best wishes with regards to your current plans.
http://jophetism.multiply.com/photos/album/30/N._Luzon_Roadtrip_Part_2_From_Bolinao_to_Banaue#70
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| Another KOF post, in preparation for 98UM/2002UM |
[Jul. 3rd, 2009|09:42 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | fandom, gaming | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Napolitan Trance (KOF 2002 NESTS Theme) | ] |
Picked up KOF 2002 again, after a year or so of not playing it/playing 98 instead. I couldn't find my PS2 copy, so the arcade version will have to do. I just hope to be able to hang with the good players again (and the occasional Japanese or Korean arcade player at the Manila arcades.
It's much faster for one, and no bg characters to break throws. There's all those new-fangled (well, at the time) mechanics too, like a 2nd roll to bait C+D counters and of course the infamous Max Mode. At the highest levels, things can get quite autopilot when one has two or more stocks.
(Oh and getting this out of the way: lol Billy lol Team ABC lol cheap lol etc)
K9999 has good moves. But indeed, he's about as blatant a Tetsuo ripoff as you can get. I hope the replacement guy holds up just as well.
I guess in the long run, I really don't like it much as I do KOF '98. It does have Kula/K9999 though, so I guess it has that going for it. I'm hyped for KOF 2002 UM. It's weird that they had to go through three revisions (2002 console version, Neowave, and 2002 UM) to get things right, but hey. I've stuck with SF2 through the revisions and refines.
I love SNK so much (and maybe Capcom's the only company I love just as much if not more). I hope they can get their act together, news of delays, poor marketing and poor netcode do distress me. I hope you don't go through rough 2000-2002 times again.
P.S. I missed you, Netherlands stage.
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| Well, one of those nagging questions has been answered |
[Jul. 2nd, 2009|10:40 am] |
Yes, apparently there were KOF 2001 tournaments. Knowing this makes my life is a little more complete. The arcade version is no doubt one of the lesser KOFs (most of the awfulness comes from the aesthetics and presentation side of things). But I'll be damned if I don't enjoy those long-winded Angel and May combos.
I wish I were Chinese enough to do them consistently, myself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/bsbmode |
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| lol, "kiyamii" |
[Jun. 28th, 2009|02:42 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | fandom, gaming | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Bone Thugs n Harmony - Crossroads | ] |
I don't put that much stock in the tiers list of this game (other than it's mostly Sagat/Ryu/Rufus-everyone else-Claw and Dan), but I enjoy reading them. To an extent, I also like to know and debate the hows and whys of rankings.
What the current Japanese tiers for SFIV look like |
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| 6/25, reminiscing |
[Jun. 24th, 2009|09:37 pm] |
Kenneth was different. I suppose this adjective best describes him in a nutshell.
I first met him in 2006, He was one of Chloebs' friends too. He was quite unlike any other friend I knew. We clicked right away. It was common interests (mainly fighting games like Street Fighter, and all other things Capcom) that kept us connected. Outside common interests, he never ran out of things to discuss. He was talkative and animated. He was definitely the embodiment of this Filipino word: "makulit".
For the next few years, we saw each other at conventions, and video game casuals. His friends and my friends became inevitably intertwined.
He loved robots, Kamen Rider, and the like. He played a mean Alex in Third Strike, and he was one of those rare kinds of players who was comfortable and did well at fighting games while using a pad. He liked to think outside the box. His way of doing things (and even videogames) was at times unorthodox. His way with the ladies, moreso. He was one of the funniest people I knew when drunk. Most strikingly of all, he liked to laugh and live. He didn't mind what some people thought of him, and probably didn't care if there were people who laughed at him, and not with him.
I last saw Kenneth a few months ago. He accompanied Mhien and her band. I had a driver with me, and we fetched them from Alabang. They played a few songs for my club's event in LB. There was a never a dull moment. He and his friends helped kill the time with stories and fooling around in the car. Regrettably, I didn't hear from him in person after that (only via Facebook). Then the news hit me.
Thank you, Kenneth. I would have wanted to know you better. But you definitely touched my life in a number of ways. In the words of your favorite fighting game, Third Strike: see you next time, warrior. |
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| Update, 6/24 |
[Jun. 23rd, 2009|09:22 pm] |
Looks like it's official, a friend has passed away. Just when I was wondering what he was up to these days. I'm still in shock. I will write a memoir when I can think straight.
Edit- touched up, Multiply cross post was acting funny. In summary, he was a funny guy. Certainly different. At first you'd think he's weird, but there's rarely a dull moment when he's around.
Major Capcom and sentai/toku fan, much like folks on my friends list. I may have only known him for a short time, but it's never easy dealing with news like this. |
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| So that's the difference between us |
[Jun. 22nd, 2009|09:37 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | personal, random | ] |
| [ | music |
| | John Williams - Star Wars OST - The Imperial March | ] |
The funniest thing happened at the pantry the other day. The TV was on and a chick flick (or rom-com as it were) starring Hugh Grant and some other guys was playing.
The looks on people's faces were priceless. The women laughed really loudly at the scenes or were otherwise going "awwwww" at the characters. The men (those who paid attention anyway) stared blankly at the TV, just stopping short of making "uhhhhhhh" expressions.
It was great. It was funny, yet profound. I live for moments like these - seeing these little things in action. The whole chick flick deal is one of the great mysteries of the universe, and yet, it really needs no explanation. One just has to accept that the two groups of people will react in different ways.
I wonder what tomorrow will reveal. |
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| ? |
[Jun. 20th, 2009|10:56 am] |
Is something wrong with AIM? I'm sending and the people are available but I'm not getting any replies. Is 6.9 known to be buggy? :( |
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| 6/19 sf4444444444 |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|10:24 am] |
| [ | music |
| | Street Fighter IV OST - Zangief's theme | ] |
I'm still around. I've been consumed by a) work and b) Street Fighter IV. I hope to discuss both sooner or later. Work's demanding and there's areas that I need to check and double-check, but I hope to meet and even surpass the standards that have been set.
SFIV... well, I haven't been this hooked on a game since MvC2 (and maybe KOF '98). I haven't been this compelled to delve further. I'm challenged and compelled by the competitors I face. I definitely want to learn more and get better. I'm happy that there are so many interested parties, and youngins too (haters and flowchart Kens/Sagats be damned).
Sucks that there's no Cammy or Sakura (as I'm gutting it out with the arcade version), but Chun-Li/E. Honda/Rufus will have to do. I'll try and run the benchmark tests on my machines later.
In the meantime,
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| 6/11-6/12 new look for Multiply.com |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|01:55 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | random, work | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Rev Theory - Voices (WWE Randy Orton theme) | ] |
Well, it doesn't bother me. I can still access what I want, and hopefully LJ crossposting is still good. As long as those two things are available to me, they can tweak it all they want.
Anyway, this is a week overdue. I put it on a notepad file and forgot it until the new Multiply layout reminded me of it.
====
June 4
Another rainy day at the office. The roads to work have been flooding lately. Thankfully the strong rain has weakened to just a modest drizzle, now.
The area just in front of the office is a beautiful sight. The rain is pouring and the sky is an unbroken sheet of gray. In spite of the rain, the traffic on the road continues as usual. It's the Santa Rosa-to-Tagaytay highway, so the cars, vans, and even trucks range from moderately fast to Vin Diesel movie-fast.
It's beautiful and serene. It's like watching a screen saver. But it's not. It's much more random. It's somehow natural and alive. It's refreshing.
I love the little things. I count them as blessings. |
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| 06/04: time |
[Jun. 5th, 2009|10:06 am] |
I love this clock. Makes me want to write to my old math teachers and get them one.
For the math-phobic and the chronophobic, here's the complete opposite:
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| Remove the plank in your own eye, before the speck in your neighbor's eye |
[May. 31st, 2009|10:41 pm] |
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The funniest thing happened yesterday. I was on the van-for-hire on the way to the office, along with some other random commuters. We stopped at a toll gate, and a toll lady processed the fee from the driver. She wasn't exactly a looker, but she wasn't really bad either.
"Man, I'd like to say she's cute, but blah," said one guy behind me (and then he muttered a few things about beauty and standards to somebody).
Surpised, I turned around to look at the people in the back rows of the van.
The guy who made the statement had huge nostrils, a few missing teeth, and was wearing (for all intents and purposes)... wigger wear, for the lack of a better team.
Seriously, what in the world, man? |
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| Random thoughts, 05/28 |
[May. 28th, 2009|12:15 pm] |
New shift starts later. It's only a few hours earlier than my previous one, so it should still be comfortable. Board exam-wise... I do hope I get motivated enough to hit the advanced Chem books soon.
Work's been challenging as always. I'm thinking of way to be slightly more efficient. That's what I like about my current job I guess. My boss and coworkers tell my that I (and collectively, the team) have been doing good, but there's still plenty of room for improvement.
I hope I can squeeze in some Street Fighter time after hours, though. I'm rusty. News of an SFIV cab in Makati certainly put me in good spirits. (Now, I hope they can fix one side of the cab asap.)
***
Speaking of SF, to the fans reading... I never knew that Flowchart Kens existed offline and in arcades too. I guess they started from there and pre-SFIV before they made their way to Live and PSN, huh?
*** I feel a sense of accomplishment whenever I get through a day, and go, "Oh, so that's what the name of that song is!" It doesn't have to be a song or a genre I like, as long as I can get it off my case.
Like this week for this instance, I got to tick off this and this off my list.
*** Last week, I went into a pizza parlor and ate alone as if it were a fast food joint. Bad idea. No, it wasn't the food (it was good), it was the ambience and experience. It was the first time I went to such a place alone and not eating with my family/friends, I wasn't ordering "to go" either. The feeling was certainly different. I guess certain places and events are meant for group affairs, or even dates.
On that note, finally got a Palm Card. It's going to be handy for parties and gettogethers.
***
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| plug time |
[May. 28th, 2009|12:35 am] |
If you've a minute or two, please vote for my friend at this contest. She made it to the Top 50.
Thanks! |
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| It works. |
[May. 26th, 2009|08:28 am] |
Dropped 15 lb (around 7 kg) in the first few months of gym. Mom and dad (since they dropped by from their Manila trips... sadly, not at the same, but it's okay) said the results were noticeable. This is great. I feel great. It takes longer for me to tire now, and I feel happier overall.
I lost some, and I'm sure I can afford to lose some more. Maybe add one more weight here and there, and surely do more crunches/situps and squats. |
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| lol Michael Cole |
[May. 21st, 2009|02:30 pm] |
Did you guys know that Randy Orton is a viper?
(And must pay for his sins?) |
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| blah! blah! blah! |
[May. 19th, 2009|10:28 am] |
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Gossip: the national pastime Commute to work: overhear loud old women shamelessly discussing other people's lives with things that I totally don't need to know work: overhear other people's lives and gigs at the watercooler, and all manner of workforce-related paranoia. Also, from oftentimes I'll have to answer client SMS requests about the latest stuff from the rags. Commute home: see commute to work + the office-related stuff since I'm going home with colleagues. Man. Man. It really is the national pastime. May that's why this whole neighborhood knows what I do and (sort of) where I work and all these sordid details. It wasn't a problem until I got hit by it, noticed it, and now I can't get it out of my skull. (Kind of like that Jai-ho song, but that story's for another day.) Awful. Maybe I should bring my Ipod or radio to work more often. |
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| got back from gym |
[May. 15th, 2009|12:45 am] |
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Gym is great. It keeps me busy, it fuels me, it challenges me to do better. It helps me focus and, oddly enough, it also helps me keep my mind off some distractions.
Not surprisingly, Pacquiao's music works well here. If you're a fan, you'll be inspired and motivated. If you're not...well, it will get you enraged enough to do a power workout just the same.
Rocky music is top tier for the gym though. "Hearts on Fire" alone makes one feel like they can run around the earth three times.
I just wish more people knew the actual name of the damn Rocky theme, and stop with those stares when I say it. (It's "Gonna Fly Now" by Henry Mancini.) |
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| progression |
[May. 12th, 2009|06:45 pm] |
I guess my friend is right. A couple of days hiatus from Facebook and my microblog will help. (Might as well jot that down here, if there's any overlap reading this journal who goes to those spots too and wondering about my absence.) I just need a little time to bounce back. No-one ever said it would be easy.
It just goes to show, there's still a lot to learn and still a lot ahead of me. Turns out I really do need to build, heal, and maintain my connections. If I don't have healthy relations with my family, my peers, the folks at the club, and the workplace, how do I expect to move on to the next big thing?
In fact, there's a small to-do list in my head right now.
-Excel at this job
-Study for (and ace) the Chem board exam
-Decide what I want to do once I do pass the above
-Keep up the current gym work, or even take it up a notch (I've lost several pounds, and I can afford to lose some more)
-Save up more money
-A PSP is looking good right about now, though
-To get better at the games I play. Now looks like a good time, seeing as how the fighting game revival is in full swing
-To find good/better competition, or travel to places that do have this
This is just the short came-to-mind-immediately list. It's the desire to improve my standing (and conceivably help and enrich people along the way too). It's the desire to be better tomorrow, and even better than that the following day. These, coupled with inspirations and muses, are what make life worth living.
What drives you? What keeps you moving from one day to the next? What makes today worth living, and makes you look forward to tomorrow? |
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photon_shermie's journal
contemplative
