Homestretch to D-Day!

[Okay fine, I'm not sure why it's D-Day, but that's what I'm calling it. :-) ]

Less than a week to go before our day.. Phew! Just a few more details to check. I hope everything works out fine. Can't sleep soundly for the past few days... Wedding jitters I guess... O well...

KnightFight! New online RPG!

Wow! A brand new online RPG! :-)

The format is like MonstersGame (i.e. Vampire and Werewolves). KnightFight is to Monstersgame as KingsOfChaos is to Hellwars. That is, game interface between the two is different, but the gameplay is just the same as the old one.

Today is their first day, and I just signed up. Check it out here.

Countdown continues...

Wow! Twelve days to go before the big day! :-)

Too bad we still have so many things to do. Some souvenirs still not done, some payments still pending, song list is not finalized... Ooh wow.. Talk about stress... Can anybody volunteer to create the souvenirs for us? :-)

One good thing, though, is that we have now chosen a hotel to stay in. The package we availed with Ibarra includes one overnight stay at either Lotus Garden Hotel and City Garden Suites. We had an occular inspection at Lotus Garden Hotel, which was nearer to Ibarra's Garden. We were a bit disappointed with the rooms that were shown to us. Rooms are somewhat cramped, dark (fewer lights). After that, we canvased for other hotels then, totally ignoring City Garden Suites; I guess we were thinking that since they are sister companies, it would be more or less the same with Lotus.

Good thing for us, our friends decided to throw a party for Che there. The room we stayed in was great. The room is.. well, I don't know. Cleaner? Lighter?

Hopefully tonight, there are rooms available for occular inspection.

So far so good. I hope everything goes smoothly...

Ibarra's Garden's choco fountain from somewhere

Ibarra's Garden is a decent enough place with great ambiance and provides very delicious food -- no question about that. We had our food tasting before and, with a few exceptions, the food was excellent.

Their packages are very, very competitive which is the main reason we chose it in the first place.

The bad, somewhat frustrating part, about them is when it comes to CHANGES in the packages. You don't actually want all of the things included in the package.

Here's an example: they are offering the chocolate fountain for the event at the cost of php5,000. We -- since we are trying to minimize our expenses as much as we can for the wedding -- asked if they could lower the price. Surprisingly, they did - they now offered it at php2,000. We were so happy at the bargain we made!

Here's the downside: when we visited again, the head was not there so the "second-in-command" / assistant / whatever you want to call her attended to us. During our conversation, she revealed that they were actually offering two chocolate fountains -- the belgian chocolate fountain at php5,000 and the local chocolate fountain at php2,000! Damn! So much for the bargain!

Personally, it is okay if it was the local chocolate fountain -- it's just disappointing because I didn't know that it was not the Belgian chocolate we were availing, since that is what they have been advertising since their last wedding expo back in the Megatrade Hall earlier this year (I think it was back in June).

Oh well, lesson learned...

Jollibee's stand on the scandal....

Here's the official statement of the Jollibee management regarding the "Jollibee scandal" video:

====================================

Dear Parents,

We regret to inform you that a video depicting our well-loved Jollibee mascots in a distasteful situation is now circulating online. The material is obviously no more than someone’s idea of a senseless amusement. Yet we cannot ignore the equally obvious risk of its effect on our children.

Jollibee created the mascot for kids, their wholesome fun and carefree innocence. We’ve worked hard and unceasingly for the mascot to earn your kids’ trust and love. It would be so sad to have all this swept away by one mindless prank.

We will not let this pass, neither will we let it happen again. Be assured we are taking all necessary steps to bring the culprits into account. One thing we know we can count on is your support in countering this threat.

Please help us spread the word that this corrupting material should not be passed on any further. This simple act of control will go a long way in protecting our children.

We apologize for any offense this incident may have caused, and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.


Sincerely,

JOHN VICTOR TENCE
VP Corporate Human Resources
Jollibee Foods Corporation

====================================

My Goblin Raiders

Just a quick blog.. Can't help myself :-)

Ever played Magic: The Gathering? Here's one of the earliest cards released back in the '90s. I don't like the card itself and I certainly don't like goblins, but, hey, it has my name on it, so blog away!

:-)

Highly Recommended: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Finally had the chance to do this entry on The 48 Laws of Power! :-)

I have always been a fan of books like Sun Tzu's Art of War and the like, so I buy them whenever my budget allows it.

After reading the concise version from cover to cover, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on the full version. If you think the concise version of the book was loaded, wait 'til you get inside the "big one" >:-)

The book introduces "laws" which increase ones power -- in politics, business, entertainment industry, whatever tickles your fancy. The book cites the unspoken and (before now) unwritten laws which have been used by people for over the thousand years and ARE still being used TODAY. What, you don't believe me? Well then, you can check out the hip hop community here.

THE LAWS DISSECTED

Greene has designed a format that makes it easier to follow and understand each of the 48
laws. The presentation of each of law is organized in a catchy, easy to follow template. The main sections are:

* Transgression of the Law
* Observance of the Law
* Keys to Power
* Image & Authority
* Reversal

Transgression of the Law - accounts of famous figures in history are cited as examples that violate the law which eventually leads to their downfall.

Observance of the Law - same as above, except these ones abide by the law and, hence greatly benefited from it.

Keys to Power - an in-depth explanation of the law and its underlying concepts; the "core" of each law is fully explained in great detail.

Image and Authority - an object that represents the very essence of the law; here's an example "Image" taken from the first law: Never outshine the master.

Image:
The Stars in the
Sky. There can be only
one sun at a time. Never
obscure the sunlight, or
rival the sun's brilliance;
rather,fade into the sky and
find ways to heighten
the master star's
intensity.

It is immediately followed by Authority - a final word or advise regarding the law.

Reversal - describes the circumstances in which doing the direct opposite of the law is either useful or necessary.

Aside from the major sections above, there are side notes citing anecdotes, fables, and such in which the law is applicable. This book made me appreciate more the lessons behind the fables. I don't see them as just mere children's stories anymore.


THE CONCISE VERSION

I recommend buying the concise version only if you want to introduce the book to a friend. This is pretty much how I got hooked into this book.

Although the Key Concepts are largely unchanged, the concise version is severely lacking in examples, i.e. Transgressions and Observance of the Law.

However, what I consider the biggest drawback is the lack of the Reversal section. One has to know the ins and outs of an idea in order to master it -- you must know when it is appropriate to apply the law and when to do the opposite.


AMORALITY OF THE LAWS

Just a precaution: have an open mind. The contents are brutally ruthless! If you follow this book to the letter, you WILL be stepping on some people. Such is the price of power. Win some or lose some. It's up to you to assess whether what was lost and gained was worth the trade.

Anyway, people who are very particular about the acceptable norms and moral standards will have a hard time digesting this book. If you have had a difficult time reading the likes of The Da Vince Code and The Gospel of Judas, then you would experience the same difficulty with this one due to the ethical implications.

Personally, I consider this book as amoral, not bound by morality. I think of it as a tool, say, a knife, which can be used either for good or evil. It is the INTENTION of the hand holding the knife that should be judged as good or evil, not the knife itself.


NOT JUST FOR FOLLOWERS

Whether you follow the laws or not, it's up to you. However, I believe that regardless of how you view it, you should at least be aware of them. There are people out there who WILL use this knowledge regardless of whoever is standing in their way. How do you know if you are being used? Would you like to be used? To serve as a stepping stone for another person's climb to the top?

These laws have been used one way or another for a long time all over the world, long before these are written down on this book. We should be thankful that we are now made aware of these laws and are now compiled in a single near-900 page volume.

Personally, I suggest that you do not dwell on the ethical implications of the book. Treat it as it is -- a book of knowledge that you can use to your advantage and meet your own ends or to protect yourself from those who would take advantage of you. (Knowledg is Power, or so they say.)

However, you use it is up to you. Whether you use it or not is up to you. Just remember, ignorance of the law excuses no one!

Here is the official blog of Robert Greene:
http://www.powerseductionandwar.com/

My MMOGs - Vampire, Humans, and Demons

I go to text-based MMOG (Massive Multiplayer Online Games) whenever I'm bored, stressed, or burned out at work. Below are the three online games that I play, including my "recruitment links", in case you want to play as well, or simply help me out ;-)

Monster Game: http://world4.monstersgame.co.uk/?ac=vid&vid=47002393
You play either as a werewolf or as a vampire. Several things you can do:

• Hunt down victims for loot and gold
• Hunt down another player of the opposing race and fight him/her for gold and experience
• Train to improve your attributes
• Buy stuff to improve your weapons, armor and other items
• Improve your home/hideout
• Work in the graveyard for gold

I like role-playing so this one particularly stands out for me. :-) They don't make RPGs like they used to, so I'd just settle to being a vampire and conducting manhunts every day!


Kings of Chaos: http://world4.monstersgame.co.uk/?ac=vid&vid=47002393
A typical turnbased strategy game. Play as one of four races, each having its own strengths:

• Humans (more gold per unit)
• Elves (higher covert level)
• Dwarves (higher defense)
• Orcs (higher attack)

As the commander of your troops, like in any strategy online game, you can choose to:

• Train attack units, defense units, spies, and sentries (counter-spy)
• Buy and sell arms: weapons, armor, spy tools and sentry tools
• Conduct spy missions
• Recruit mercenaries
• Improve siege technology, fortification, covert level, and unit production

It's basically a numbers game; more units means more turn-based gold which in turn means more things you can do. Remember the following numbers:

• You get an attack turn every 25 minutes;
• You gain 25 gold per unit per turn (except Humans who get more gold per unit);
• You gain gold-generating units every 24 hours and by recruiting friends online, like the link I included above;

This is very slow compared to other online turn-based strategy games such as the next one. Hence, there really is a need to plan ahead because of the limited resources that you have.


Hellwars: http://www.hellwars.com/recruit.php?uniqid=kq1157412519
Follows the same format as Kings of Chaos, except for some notable changes:

• Names of Races: Angels(Humans), Demons(Orcs), Undead(Elves), and Draconians(Dwarves)
• Game speed: One turn every 15 minutes
• Magic: ("sabotage mission" + new spells)
• Covert Level: spy level + chance of "seeing" gold of other opponents

I like this better than Kings of Chaos because you get more turns, and you get soldiers every turn, gameplay is generally much faster. Gold is easy to come by so you can pretty much do anything you want in a short amount of time.

Note: this blog is not intended to list down all the features and the fun factor these games have. Maybe when I have more time, I'll update this blog later. If you want to know more, just play the game and judge for yourself.

Many other MMOGs out there, such as Battletech and Frenetic Hellwars (Hellwars, one turn every 5 minutes), but for me -- at least for now -- I'd settle for the three listed above.

:-)

Our Wedding: The Countdown!

Please check out our official wedding announcer site:

http://www.hellwars.com/recruit.php?uniqid=kq1157412519

Yep, getting married and it's coming very, very, very soon!!!! :-) Countdown begins and it's less than one month from now! Yipee!

BTW, on the right, you will see our official chocolate! :-D

This is one reason why I haven't blogged here for a while; busy with all the wedding preps plus the different taska regarding the house blessing last week.

Too bad, I don't think I can watch Pacquiao-Morales III, to be aired on RPN 9 (I think) the same day, at 8AM (delayed telecast, as usual). I hope somebody can record the fight then send it to filecargo, youtube or something :-D

O well, time to get busy again :-)

Welcome to my blog site!

Welcome to my new blog site!

Actually, my "renewed" blog site. :-) It's been here for a while, but I've just been really busy. It's been here for about two years, but I only managed to review this now. Hehehe :-)

Enjoy!