The Call Center Life

This is why I never considered landing on a call center job. I am also making sure that I'll never end up to such field when I graduate from my course which is especially in demand to call centers: Computer Engineering. I just don't have the patience to deal with inexperienced computer users and the endurance to cross the sea of fry oil, metaphorically speaking. :)

A Bit of an Overstatement

Quoted from Inquirer.net article: 

"Because of the e-jeepney we were able to reduce smoke-belching problems... and that was able to give an answer to our problems of air pollution," Makati mayor Jejomar Binay told Agence France-Presse on board one of the mini-buses recently.

With only 15 servicing Makati, compared with 60,000 licensed traditional jeepneys across all of Metro Manila, Binay may have been overstating the environmental benefits in his enthusiasm for the project.

While the promise of a cleaner environment is enticing, it's important to know the problems associated with electric-powered jeepneys:

• True that it does not need diesel anymore (therefore no air pollution), but with dry spells affecting the country every summer, owners cannot sufficiently recharge their vehicles (for about 6 to 8 hours) when there are rotating blackouts nationwide.
• A traditional jeepney can accomodate more than 20 passengers while the e-jeepney only a dozen people. Doing simple math, that means a total replacement by around 100k e-jeepneys.
• The article fails to enlighten us the cost to build one e-jeepney. I'm betting it is pricey. 
• Another problem stated in the article: smooth roads needed.
• Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines president Zeny Maranan questions the durability of the e-jeep.

To be short: implementation of the e-jeepney system requires smooth roads, massive roads, and newer sources of power. This requires massive state funding, something unlikely (though still possible) to happen.

Click here to know more about the jeepney.

Pain is Bliss

What has become of joy
Of past anticipation and efforts
I am now but an unknown identity
Once gone will hardly made legacy

These efforts I made
Was it not for a dream?
And these dreams
Aren't they desires from heart?
I was a fool, blinded by unreason
Moving forward, but astray and lost

I continued henceforth
Unaware of the bane inside me
Slowly it was ticking, slowly it emerged
T'was too late when I realize
I already succumbed to it

The loss of meaning brought by failure
And the burden I lacked strength to carry
All these, it pained me
And within me I kept it
Alone, by my own

But such pain seeps through the vein
Choking me, killing me
I needed remedy, I needed to open myself
There it trickled, pain against pain
I was not the same anymore
I changed, for whatever benefit, I changed

It is a world of false impression
I fail to see beyond the soul's perception
Bliss is deemed the grand reward
Addiction in reality will be my undoing

Rizal Without the Overcoat

Summer classes was optional for my course here at my current school, University of San Carlos. Wanting to ease the "pain" that could inflict on me had I stayed true to my program curriculum, I decided to take 3 subjects worth a total of 9 units. The first two, Differential Equations and Physics, are boring as hell (Believe me; I used to like these subjects. But the way they're being taught, I'd rather focus somewhere else). The third was History - Rizal Course. Yes, I know, it seemed like I was in for a tough ride. What happened during the first week of class didn't help either: my teacher didn't even show up, leaving us students wondering if our class had been dissolved.

In addition, hardly anyone has a liking to history since it talks about people who are, well... dead. However mighty their legacy are, in time we will forget them as newer generations cannot feel the importance of historical figures in their own present times. But thanks to this teacher we had in the class (whose superb proficiency in English has definitely wowed me despite a week-long absence) and the book, Rizal Without the Overcoat by Ambeth Ocampo, my interest for the subject went way up. I was eager to learn, something that's hard to come by.

Instead of portraying Rizal as the usual wise and respected hero, the book pulls Rizal's level down to the common people. Don't get me wrong, the purpose is not to destroy Rizal's reputation, but to know who he truly is. We take away his overcoat and see the real Rizal. Who knows, he might just be the real Superman as shown in the book cover. :)

I also tried looking for available articles archived in the Philippine Daily Inquirer website, as Mr. Ocampo is now a columnist there. Sadly, the archive search seems nonfunctional at the moment. On the other hand, here are some of the author's recent articles: http://opinion.inquirer.net/columnist/?colid=868.

First Post

Wohoo!