A very very...very long word?

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is a certain lung disease...

Floccinaucinihilipilification is the act of describing something worthless...

Antidisestablishmentarianism is some sort of political position...

...and Titin is just a big practical joke by the scientific community.

Although I could put its chemical name here, it would be moronic move for my part. For starters, having 189,819 characters, its not exactly a readable post. I tried "copy-pasting" it to MS word and the name occupied 79 pages. That length is comparable to an engineering thesis documentation I copied from a friend.

I can only imagine what happened at the lab that day.

It was a triumphant day for a group of scientist from University of Hoocares who, after years of intensive research, has finally identified the largest known protein yet. Wearing his worn down lab gown and dusty glasses, Dr. X, the research head, said that "...the identification of the protein Titin can help scientific and medical research of muscle dystrophy." The protein, popularly called Titin, is somehow related to muscles. However whats more interesting is its chemical name. When asked about the protein's chemical name, Dr. X simply replied, "The original name is suppose to be Methionylthreony but in my personal opinion, the simplicity of the name does not represent the gravity of the discovery. Then I said to myself, it would be really really cool to have a very very long chemical name. So, with the help of my 3 year old daughter, we sat in front of a computer until supper and totally reinvented the name. It was an awesome experience"

Indeed, they added just a few characters. And the finish product, a freaking 189,819 letter chemical name.

Now, I know they would not name something that long without a good reason and I bet its a pretty good one too. But just imagine how long before they were able to type that.

Oh and what about proof reading. Surely it was a more evil bitch.

By the way, Titin's chemical name can be found here.

The Day I Got My Driver's License

Today, I finally got my Philippine driver's license. It took me exactly 9 hrs and 7 minutes of waiting in queues, daydreaming on Neverland and actualyl sleeping on squeaky benches. Heres what happened:

5:00 AM: Arrived at LTO Office. The morning was dark, the gates closed, the building quiet and deserted.

5:26 AM: The second applicant arrived. Now the place is a little less creepy.

5:34 AM: Our Help arrived. She asked me to follow her and fill out two identical forms. This used to simultaneously queue me to both medical check-up and drug testing.

The Help helped us at the actual processing. What I did was paying the Help a little extra to speed up the processing of my papers. It is tantamount to an express processing of papers; you pay a little more to get want you want faster (oh, and one less step). Lets just say its an unofficial and unspecified type of LTO service.

Before continuing, it is necessary to tell you that technically the first step in getting a Philippine Driver's License is being given the application form. However, in actuality, in order to get one, the applicant needs a completed medical check-up as well as a drug test. I'd like to point out I have neither. Moving on...

6:04 AM: Exactly 8 applicants on queue to get their application form. The sun is up at last.

6:17 AM: 20 applicants.

Now I'm indicating the number of applicants because for the written part of the exam, they will only take 30 for each batch, and on a normal day, the first batch usually get their license before lunch.

6:34 AM: Medical check-up. For Php 100.00, the doctor took my height and weight and asked me to read a series of letters approx. 1 cm big about 5 feet away. Reading the letters; totally nailed it!

7:XX AM: (I didn't got the exact time :P) The queue for receiving the application form started to move and I still haven't finish drug testing. So me being the first applicant was all for naught.

8:14 AM: Finally finished my drug test. For Php 300.00, I filled up a form, peed on a cup, digitally took my fingerprints and sign. Being sleepy and all, I kinda missed on the cup a few times. Not a big splash, more of a sprinkle on my fingers. The thing is, the sink is outside the rest room so all people who did their drug test there most probably have turn the door knob using their urine enriched hands.

8:21 AM: Finally got my application form.

Now, the next step is another queue. This time a guard will give you a number. This will be for the written exam. Lucky for me, because of the Help, I was automatically give a number...14.

Now I don't know if I'm just unlucky but LTO's network was offline. Therefore, all processing was stopped we had to wait, indefinitely, until the internet connection is fixed. Damn PLDT!

9:22 AM: Finally online! The pain continues...

9:22 - 10:XX AM: A series of step. On Window 1 (I forgot what is this for) I gave my application form, on Window 3(Photosig), they took my picture and digital signature, and on Window 11(Cashier), paid Php 167.63. I don't know what was that for but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the written test.

10:2X AM: LTO Lecture. Now there wasn't any lecture. The person simply gave us reviewers and specifically told us to review traffic signs. But if you look around, road signs literally glued on the wall.

10:4X AM: Started the test. The exam is a multiple choice, 40 item test. The first 30 are about road knowledge while the last 10 are about traffic signs. Everything is in Tagalog. The questions are easy. Even if I didn't study I would have passed the test. Each item has 3 choices and an average person get eliminate at least on wrong choice. For instance, if you were asked "How should you look at your side mirrors", the choice "Whenever I want" is clearly wrong. However when I took mine, the questionnaire, although newly printed has some weird, light, pencil checks on one of the choice for each number. What do you think was that for? *wink*.

10:5X AM: Finished the test.

Now there is supposed to be another step here, the practical driving test but because of the Help, I skipped it. Hooray for the Help. Now just to be fair, I know how to drive an automatic car, but their test vehicles are manual.

11:06 AM: Waiting in front of Window 11 (Cashier) to pay for my license.

11:41 AM: Still no name call. Worrying that I might have to wait through their lunch break.

11:59 AM: Lunch break. Crap! Crap!! Crap!!!

12:47 PM: They resumed their work. Now I was amazed that they didn't milked their 1hr lunch break.

Around 1:XX, my application is now on Window 11 (Cashier). Since the payment the Help received includes the actual license fee, they didn't even call my name. They processed my papers first and finally...

2:07 PM: My name was called on Window 12 (Releasing). And I got my shiny license.

TV Hiatuses

Its been weeks now since the last time I had a satisfying TV night. Technically, it is more appropriate to call it a Series Night since I'm not watching it on a television but thats not important. So, my Series Night would include dinner in front of new episodes of at least 2 shows. In some days (Monday US time, yehey) the series that I watched can reach up to 12. As far as my memory goes, the following shows, at some point aired on a Monday:

• Heroes
• Prison Break
• 24
  
• One Tree Hill
• How I Met Your Mother
  
• Stargate Atlantis
• Greek
• How I Met your Mother
• Gossip Girl
• Chuck
• Kyle XY
• Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles

Those are the glory days. Of course shows like Kyle XY, Stargate Atlantis and Prison Break have met their abrupt, in-a-way and planned ending respectively but most of these shows are still breathing. I remember getting excited to wake up on a Philippine Tuesday mid morning aka US primetime, set up my "stuff", go to school and come back to a 12x40++ mins of pure bliss.

But, like all things oil-consuming, it will need refueling, or in this case a hiatus. It does seem reasonable for good shows to take a breather, recharge and come back with a totally different kick. But it would be nice for good shows to be replaced by a show of equal or at most a level below the aforementioned. Ah, if only the perfect world exists...

Now, all I can do is wait. Having the patience to sit through hours of reruns and bad television until the infamous hiatus is over and that momentous occasion where all shows would eventually sprout, gradually filling my empty void and satisfying the dire need for a (TV) high...and yes I'm currently watching Weed.

PS: Weed is not that bad. Although the opening song is terrible and annoying.

Earth 2100

"What is precious? This earth of ours, this garden we must tend, these people we love."

-Lucy

I recently watched a documentary entitled Earth 2100 broadcasted on ABC. The show tackles the many possible challenges the world will face if people do nothing to counter climate change.

It follows the life of Lucy, a fictional character who lived through the worst outcome what the world will become. She lived through what experts in different fields of science and engineering say about a possible doomsday future for the world.


The documentary approaches the issue of climate change in a different way. By addressing the "What will" rather than the "What is", it inspires more people especially reactive people (those that wait for something terrible to happen before acting) just like me. It combines the elements of story telling, vivid images and graphics, with informative interviews from scientists and world expert.

I have seen several documentary, read a couple of articles and even sit through hours of talk about the earth and its future. Some entertaining, some just seems like repetitions, while other just focuses on educating. This tv special is one of a kind. Aside from Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, this documentary, Earth 2100, not only informs and entertains, but above all inspires.


PS: During the last few minutes of Al Gore's An Incovenient Truth, I got bored and ultimately stopped watching. I had to re-watch the entire thing. With Earth 2100, there are no dull moments.

Philippine National Anthem by Martin Nievera

Last May 4, 2009, Manny Pacquiao murdered Ricky Hatton in just 2 Rounds. I'm a little bit disappointed because of how brief the bout was. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Manny won. But do you know the next worst thing after a Pacman-defeat? Yup, an early win. At least the Pacman could have played with the Hitman a little bit, just to give the audience their money's worth. Maybe softer jabs, intentional misses, and probably a little nibble to the ear.

Anyways, congrats Manny! Now give me back my money!

But enough about that. This is about how the National Anthem was sung by Martin Nievera.

Martin Nievera singing Bayang Magiliw. Ay Lupang Hinirang pala.
(Not my video. Giving credit where credit is due.)

WTF!

The arrangement was awful. It was reminiscent to a nursery rhyme being played in a piano by a one-fingered toddler. It could have been a very intimate rendition of a supposed march song. It’s simplistic nature coupled by the crystal clear pronunciation and strong melodic voice of the singer can easily entice patriotism and the desire to buy Filipino souvenirs. They tried…

But they tried too hard. There is such a thing as too much. As mellow tempo changed into a out-of-tune rock ballad, so does the flaming fire of burning embers within each and every Filipino turned into a disgraceful coffee (at work) / commercial (at home) / bathroom (at Vegas) break. The arrangement was horrendous; musical instruments were all over the place. Is it just me or was the beat doesn’t follow itself? I bet when they recorded the musical accompaniment, the conductor or say musical producer had to answer the call of nature multiple times…and he reaped what he sowed.

I do not have much to say to Martin Nievera. I can’t say that he a commendable job, nor can I consider it good enough. First, anyone who knew that Martin makes (artistic?) faces while singing will not be bothered by it. However, when the world is watching, toning down would be better. Then again maybe it is merely an unconscious reaction to musical noise. Second, what was the slur all about (line: Buhay ay langit sa piling mo)? When I heard it, I felt a balloon was blown within my lungs and permanently lodge there full inflated. The slur came as a surprise and like most surprises, all brands of pork rinds and a lack of certain strenuous exercises (if you know what I mean), leads to heart attack. And lastly, cherry on top, which happens to be as big as the cake…the final note. It reminds me of Jen Bautista’s last note slip. It was completely unnecessary and totally awkward. A song is supposed to ascend the audience emotional state gradually. But that note, with no regard for gravity or the law of acceleration, just bolted itself in leaving the viewers just sitting in their asses completely humiliated.

The national anthem was once again butchered. Good thing Manny served steak.

Using Eclipse with Subversion

I finally decided to set-up my previously-configured-solely-for-thesis laptop to include any software application projects that I may undertake. The first thing I did was to configure my favorite Java IDE, Eclipse, to work with a familiar version control system, Subversion. These are the steps I took.

1. Download Eclipse IDE: www.eclipse.org/downloads. In my case, I downloaded Eclipse Ganymede. The downloaded application is in zip file. All I did was to extract the contents on my desired location.

2. I also decided to set-up a local repository for my future projects. I chose Subversion (for more info, visit www.subversion.tigris.org). I downloaded and installed Subversion 1.4.5 into my laptop.

3. Once Subversion was installed, I created a new repository location.


4. I made sure that I have Subclipse plug-in. This is a plug-in for Eclipse that will enable it to use Subversion. It can be installed in two ways, first is by automatically downloading the plug-in using Eclipse’s Software Update (Help->Software Update) and searching through the database. Another method is to manually download the necessary Executable Jar Files and putting it on the plugins folder under eclipse. Luckily, after searching through my old files, I was able to retrieve the .jar files I needed. After doing any of the two methods, Eclipse needs to be restarted.

4b. For SpringSource Tool Suit (STS), Open STS Dashboard > Go to Extensions > Look for Subeclipse, check the checkbox and click install (If you don't see it, it implies it is already installed)


5. On Eclipse, I opened the SVN Repository Exploring Perspective(Window->Open Perspective->Other)


6. Two tabbed windows appeared(SVN Repository and SVN Annotate). On SVN Repository, right click->New->Repository Location-> typed file:///e:/svn/eclipse_backup on the text box->click Finish.


7. If done correctly, the SVN Repository will have a new entry as seen below.


 9. Right click on the new repo location and select "Checkout". This will give you a local copy that you can then commit to the repo.

Big change

Just a few days ago, I found out that the processing of our permanent residency papers was completed. This means that in a few short months, the family will start a new life.

The biggest change I ever had to go through was the transition between high school and college. So just imagine what I'm feeling right now. The secondary-tertiary educational transition does not even come close to the change brought about by immigration. Just the idea of starting anew scares me to death. But I guess sometimes the line between what is comfortable and being in a rot seems to blur and once in a while change simply redraws the line. Adapting to a new ecosystem requires massive amount of work but, as human beings, we are born lazy. Once the sleep-eat-burp-poop baby cycle just becomes the sleep-eat-burp-stare-at-watch-until-5-pm-poop working man cycle.

What I'm trying to say is that change is inevitable. Law of averages dictates that the years of me living in my tiny, familiar bubble will be followed by a big change. Yup, and that change pop my bubble and kicked me in the ass so hard I was instantly transported to a country with 4 seasons. It may suck but at least it makes life a little more exciting/unpredictable.

PS: I recently serviced my Acer TM 6292. I spilled water on the keyboard and all of its keys stopped working. The replacement keyboard for the model cost Php 1040.00, about 4 times the cost an external USB keyboard.