1 in 3 laptops die in first three years
Christopher Null: The Working Guy

So your new laptop computer died in inside of a year. "I'll never buy a computer from [insert manufacturer name here] again!" I've heard the protests time and time again.

Yeah, maybe you got a lemon, but no matter which brand you bought, you truly are not alone in this situation: An analysis of 30,000 new laptops from SquareTrade, which provides aftermarket warranty coverage for electronics products, has found that in the first three years of ownership, nearly a third of laptops (31 percent) will fail.

That's actually better than I would have expected based on my experience and observations on how people treat their equipment.

SquareTrade has more detailed information (the full PDF of the company's study is available here) on the research on its website. But here are some highlights about how, why, and which laptops fail:

> 20.4 percent of failures are due to hardware malfunctions. 10.6 percent are due to drops, spills, or other accidental damage.

> Netbooks have a roughly 20 percent higher failure rate due to hardware malfunctions than standard laptops. The more you pay for your laptop, the less likely it is to fail in general (maybe because you're more careful with it?).

> The most reliable companies? A shocker: Toshiba and Asus, both with below a 16 percent failure rate due to hardware malfunction.

> The least reliable brands? Acer, Gateway, and HP. HP's hardware malfunction rate, the worst in SquareTrade's analysis, is a whopping 25.6 percent.

None of the numbers are overly surprising. As SquareTrade notes, "the typical laptop endures more use and abuse than nearly any other consumer electronic device (with the possible exception of cell phones)," so failures are really inevitable.

Want to keep your notebook running for longer than a few years? Ensure your laptop is as drop-proofed as possible (use a padded bag or case, route cords so they won't be tripped on, lock children in another room), and protect it as best you can from heat and dust.

 

Source: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/154921

 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone fighting against you?

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death - televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

WINNING WILL MAKE YOU FAMOUS. LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.

 

This is the latest book I've read, which I was influenced to read by a book review I read on the internet. It's a wonderful book with a plot that keeps you gripping on to your seats. I swear I couldn't put the book (well, in my case, iPod Touch because I was reading an e-book) down. The story is a bit like Battle Royale in which the children are required to fight to the death as a means of quelling rebellion (I'm not sure about Battle Royale but I'm pretty sure the Battle Royale was also cooked up by the government).

It's a YA book and I really can't recommend it to younger children because of the violence in the book. But the story touches on more than the character's struggles to survive the death match she has been chosen (sort of since she volunteered but with good reason) to participate in. I recommend it to people who love to read and possibly to those who don't since the book is so filled with action that I doubt you'll ever be left bored while reading. I'm going to read the next installment in the series, Catching Fire, after I finish tackling all my academic requirements for this semester. Enjoy.

-Daal-

During the homily in mass today, despite our parish priest's usually boring sermon, I was reminded of this song. Father Jorge's sermon was all about how everyone seemed to vie for the top spot, whether it be in politics, business, or the community. His message brought this song to mind and I think that this song speaks of how we should look at life. Enjoy.

Finish Last
by Stellar Kart

People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same

[Chorus:]
I wanna finish last
Last in the world’s eyes
No matter what I do
I will be first in your eyes

I am running in this race and
I am pressing onwards towards the finish line
You have promised me a better life
Far beyond this world
Far beyond this place in time

[Repeat Chorus:] (x2)

People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same

[Repeat Chorus:] (x3)

I wanna finish last
In their eyes

-Daal-

Ten years ago, I met one of my best friends who I now consider to be one of my sisters (at heart). Even with more than 5,000 miles between us, we still keep in touch and still regard each other as best friends. :)

Want to win a SIGNED copy of Adventures in the Dream Trade by Niel Gaiman? Visit avalon.ph's blog for more details. Open to Phlippine residents only.

Tagged by: sanggre_gaia

1. Do you like this person?
I don't know him personally so I can't really say I like him. But in terms of acting, he's an okay actor. I really liked him in Hairspray

2. How do you call this person?
Zac

3. Which color do you associate with this person?
Red. Probably because of his character in the HSM series. But red does look good on him.

4. What do you like best about his/her look?
He seems like a charismatic person.

5. Looking at his/her character, what blood type do you think he/she has?
A? :P I really wouldn't know.

6. What do you want to tell that person?
He rocks! Especially in Hairspray. :D

7. What do you want to do with this person: hug, kiss or shake?
Shake his hand? It would prolly be nice to be able to hug him but I doubt he'd hug someone he doesn't know. :P

8. Pick five of your friends and pick one person for them:
faery_inpain : Johnny Depp
histrionic_g : Alan Rickman
neemi : Mizushima Hiro
sapphi_chan : Ikuta Toma
princessmeowchi : Robert Pattinson

I never found out who Anonymous was from my http://natsumyre.livejournal.com/27470.html post. I wonder who Anonymous is.

-Daal-

PS. Haha... Just some random musing.

I found this little “article” posted on the bulletin board at the entrance of St. Francis Church last April 11 (Black Saturday). It’s all about fasting, since Holy Week was ongoing but this article shows a different way to look at fasting. I wish I could have found it sooner so that this post will be more relevant but what the hey. I really like it and I would love to share it too everyone.

 

A Different Approach to Fasting…

Fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus’ healing touch.

Here are some suggestions you might want to consider.

1. Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family an extra dose of love each day.

2. Fast from judging others. Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.

3. Fast from discouragement. Hold on to Jesus’ promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.

4. Fast from complaining. When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.

5. Fast from resentment of bitterness. Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.

6. Fast from spending too much money. Try to reduce your spending by 10% and give those savings to the poor.

 

I know this post is pretty late considering that Holy Week just finished, but I think that this is still significant and applicable in our daily lives. I believe that if everyone, regardless of their religion, can learn to abide by these simple “fasts”, then the world would be a more peaceful and happy place to live in.

Anyway, that’s all for today. Until next time everyone. :)

-Daal-

My sister and their school’s chorale joined the Korus Klef competition, organized by the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. This song was their obligatory piece and was written by one of the tenors of the UPCC. I feel in love with the song because of it’s beautiful lyrics and upbeat tune. Here’s the lyrics of the song, Dito Sa Koro.

Dito Sa Koro
Music and Lyrics by Manny Aquino
Choral Arrangement by Ronald Dolor

Nagsimulang mag-aleluya
sa gilid ng simbahan
Sumapi dun sa high school choir
gamit namin ay lumang gitara
Mula nung bata pa, alam ko na,
hilig ko kumanta nang kumanta

Pagdating sa colegio
sumali sa malaking koro
Kahit puyat sa pag-aral
dunadaan ko na lang sa dasal
Di ko mapipigil, di ko matatanggihan
ang tawag ng masayang kantahan

Chorus:
Dito sa koro, dito ang barkada
Dito sa koro, and tunay na pagkakaibigan
Dito sa koro, dito ko natuklasan
ang pag-ibig sa musika

Dito sa koro, dito ang sayawan
Dito sa koro, dito ang kanchawan
Dito sa koro, dito ko natikman
ang tunay na kasiyahan
Ha ha ha!

Di niyo kami mapaghihiwalay
pag may racket kasal, party at lamau
Mura lang ang bayad po
Konting pantaxi, sandwich at pang-coke
Medyo mahirap nga pero okay lang
Tuloy kanta kahit nga pautang

(Chorus)

Payo ng magulang ko
Ang koro ay pambalanse sa buhay mo
Huwag mong kalimutan ag may musika
Ang mundo'y tuluyang masaya!

(Chorus)

As a side note, I totally believe that the Don Bosco Makati’s chorale, Boschorale should’ve won. Not only did they sing their songs well but their performance was also very entertaining. Anyways, I’m going to go now. Until next time everyone. :)

-Daal-

Stolen from Kelly’s Multiply and Kelly’s LJ:

Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological tests.

The funny thing is that it works.

1. Picture yourself near a stream in the mountains.

2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.

3. No one knows your secret place.

4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called the world.

5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

6. The water is crystal clear.

7. You can easily make out the face of the person you are holding under the water.

See. You're smiling already.

-Daal-

Stolen from Tateen’s Multiply:

We don't care if you're friends with other guys. But when you're sitting next to us, and some random guy walks into the room and you jump up and tackle him, without even introducing us, yeah, it pisses us off. It doesn't help if you sit there and talk to him for ten minutes without even acknowledging the fact that we're still there. We don't care if a guy calls OR TEXTS you, but at 2 in the morning we do get a little concerned. Nothing is that important at 2 a.m. that it can't wait till the morning.

Also, when we tell you you're pretty/ beautiful/ gorgeous/ cute/ stunning, we freaking mean it.Don't tell us we're wrong. We'll stop trying to convince you. The sexiest thing about a girl is confidence. Yeah, you can quote me.

Don't be mad when we hold the door open. Take Advantage of the mood I’m in. Let us pay for you! Don't "feel bad". We enjoy doing it. It's expected. Smile and say "thank you."

Kiss us when no one's watching. If you kiss us when you know somebody's looking, we'll be more impressed.

You don't have to get dressed up for us. If we're going out with you in the first place, you don't have to feel the need to wear the shortest skirt you have or put on every kind of makeup you own.

We like you for who you are and not what you are. Honestly, I think a girl looks more beautiful when she's just in her pj's. or my shirt and boxers, not all dolled up.

Don't take everything we say seriously. Sarcasm is a beautiful thing. See the beauty in it. Don't get angry easily. Stop using magazines/media as your bible. "Don't talk about how hott Chris Brown, Brad Pitt, or Jesse McCartney is in front of us". It's boring, and we don't care. You have friends for that.

Whatever happened to the word "handsome"/"beautiful"? I’d be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted me with "Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy" or whatever else you can think of. on the other hand I’m not saying I wouldn't like it ether.

Girls, I cannot stress this enough: if you aren't being treated right by a guy, don’t wait for him to change. ditch his sorry ASS, he's a disgrace to the male population and find someone who will treat you with utter respect.

Someone who will honor your morals.

Someone who will make you smile when you're at your lowest.

Someone who will care for you even when you make mistakes.

Someone who will love you, no matter how bad you make them feel.

Someone who will stop what they're doing just to look you in the eyes....and say "i love you" ..and actually mean it.

---0---0---0---0---0---0---

I got this from Tateen and though this is actually part of a “chain meme” (not a chain letter since this isn’t really a letter and would be more appropriate as a meme), I just took the part which I really liked. The rules for this were supposed to be that guys who agree would repost this with the title “Girls should realize that” and girls who like this would repost with the title “Written by a guy” but you don’t really have to do so. But you’re free to repost this if you want to.

Anyways, that’s all really. I’m going to go now. Until next time everyone. :}

-Daal-

Taken from Kat Chavez:

"Did you ever wonder why I don't use My power to make people do what I want?...

It's because I wanted a real relationship with you.

That's why I gave you a freewill.

I wanted you to have the freedom to choose Me.

If I had to force you to love Me, would your love mean as much?...

Sometimes you will make the wrong choices,

But I am willing to risk that..

Because when you finally choose My plans for you, I know it will be your decision..."

Isn't it beautiful? :D

I found Wordle through Eina's blog. Thought it was really cute so I decided to try it. Here is the Wordle that was generated for this blog. :}



Anyway, that's really all for today. I'd like to create a proper blog entry for what it is I really want to blog about.

Until next time! :}

-Daal-

"This, he realized, was love. It was that sense of rightness, yes. And it was the passion, too, and the lovely knowledge that he could happily wake up next to her for the rest of his life.

But is was more than all that. It was this feeling, this knowledge, this certainty that he would give his life for her. There was no question. No hesitation."

- On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

Taken from the eigth book in the Bridgerton Series by one of my favorite authors, On the Way to the Wedding centers on the love story of Gregory Brigerton and Lucinda Abernathy. Gregory and Lucinda's love story is, I think, one of the typical Filipino love stories I've watched on TV where the male lead falls in love with the bridge between him and his supposed love. Gregory at first falls for the stunning Hermione and befriends Lucy who is Hermione's closest friend. Through a series of events, Gregory realizes that he only fancied himself in love with the idea of Hermione and not really Hermione herself and falls for Lucy who is already arranged to be married. Ah... the bitter irony.

In terms of the process of finding love, I find that I relate best to Gregory's as compared to the other Bridgertons (or their respective spouses). Gregory's story is, I think (a matter of my opinion), what happens to most everyone. Not necessarily the falling-in-love-with-the-bridge scenario but in the sense that most people usually enter a relationship or want to enter a relationship not because of the person who will be receiving their affection but because of the relationship itself. It's like Gregory said, I had been waiting to fall in love that I wanted the love more than the woman. Of course, that's just my opinion. And I'm not generalizing anything. I know that there are people who do find true love on their try and I bid them congraluations for that is truly a difficult feat.

*laughs* I think I'm sounding somewhat cynical. Really, I'm a hopeless romantic. Don't let my ramblings fool any of you. I'm a big sucker for romance and that's why I love the Bridgerton series.

Hm... I think I might do another segment like this except focusing on another Bridgerton. *chuckles* That'll give me another seven blog entries. I'm liking my idea. :P

Anyway, that's all for tonight. I'm really quite sleepy so I'll go to sleep now. Good night everyone!

-Daal-

I'm terza rima, and I talk and smile. Where others lock their rhymes and thoughts away I let mine out, and chatter all the while. I'm rarely on my own - a wasted day Is any day that's spent without a friend, With nothing much to do or hear or say. I like to be with people, and depend On company for being entertained; Which seems a good solution, in the end. What Poetry Form Are You?

From Wikipedia:

Terza rima is a three-line stanza using chain rhyme in the pattern a-b-a, b-c-b, c-d-c, d-e-d. There is no limit to the number of lines, but poems or sections of poems written in terza rima end with either a single line or couplet repeating the rhyme of the middle line of the final tercet. The two possible endings for the example above are d-e-d, e or d-e-d, e-e. There is no set rhythm for terza rima, but in English, iambic pentameters are generally preferred.

This would be the first time I've heard of the Terza Rima. I've read Dante Alighieri's Inferno (and I want to read his Purgatorio and Paradiso once I get my hands on them) but I wasn't aware that his style of writing was called the terza rima. Of course, I read the translated version of Inferno so my translated version of Inferno might not have been written faithful to the original. Anyways, I am kind of intrigued by this style of writing. Apparently, Chaucer and Eliot are a few of those who have also employed this poetry style.

I might write one in this form but it looks like I'll have to study the pattern first. It looks sort of complicated. I'll see. I can't write poetry that well anyway when I'm not inspired and I'm not that inspired (at least to write poetry) right now. Though, I haven't been inspired as pertains to the arts lately.

Anyway, I'm going to go now. Until next time. :)

While browsing around the internet, I stumbled upon the People's Choice Awards voting site. Since I'm quite bored, I figured I could spend a few minutes voting. Doesn't take much time really, and there's no need to register or whatever. And for those who are bored like me or want to vote for their favorites, here I am spreading the love. :} Enjoy enjoy everyone!

-Daal-

Another anime which my brother downloaded, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is one of the animes that my brother has been mouthing to us about for the past few months. From my brother's descriptions, it seems to be a purely comedy anime but most (if not all) animes, from my experience, have both dark side and light sides to them. So I did my research on the anime today and from what I've read, it seems to be a pretty interesting anime. I'll probably watch it when I'm done catching up with my Bleach and Naruto.

Anyways, here's the plot summary from Anime News Network:

Plot Summary: Itoshiki Nozomu is the world's most negative person. To his way of thinking, there is no hope or meaning in this existence. Even the three kanji of his name become the two-kanji word zetsubou, "despair", when compressed. What an ironic twist of fate, then, that he becomes teacher to a class containing his precise opposite, the invincibly positive-minded Fuura Kafuka.

And here's the plot summary from Wikipedia:

Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei revolves around a very pessimistic high school teacher named Nozomu Itoshiki who, at the very beginning of the series, tries to hang himself on a sakura tree. Despite this effort of self-destruction, he is saved by an extremely optimistic girl known only as Kafuka Fuura (though in her effort to save his life, she almost kills him). She explains to him that it is simply unimaginable that he would hang himself on such a nice day, especially in front of such beautiful trees. She decides to nickname Nozomu "Pink Supervisor" (桃色係長 Momoiro Kakarichō?), and offers to pay him fifty yen to call him by that nickname. After having enough of the strange girl, Nozomu bolts to the school and starts his homeroom class, but the attempt to escape was in vain as he finds that the girl is one of his students. Not only that, but Kafuka is just the tip of the iceberg: each and every student in his class represents a new personality quirk or bizarre obsession, posing challenges that the suicidally-inclined teacher must overcome in spite of himself.

Well, that's all for today. I'm gonna go now. 'Til next time minna! :D

-Daal-

To help me be a regular blogger once again, I've deviced this "portion" of my blog which I now call For the Sake of Blogging. I dislike the fact that I don't blog as often just because I think I have nothing worthy to blog about or because I'm lazy. So with this, I hope to be able to blog regularly and find interesting things to blog about. I shouldn't whine about being uninteresting if I don't do anything about it.

Anyways, moving on...

My brother downloaded an anime series entitled Kino no Tabi. I haven't watched it yet and am currently reading about its plot to decide if it's a worthy watch. Still, I'm kind of interested in watching it now even though the anime doesn't seem to follow a real plot.

I got this from the Kino no Tabi Wikipedia page and this is one of the things that really struck me and is pushing me to watch the anime.

The phrase "the world is not beautiful, therefore it is" (世界は美しくなんかない。そしてそれ故に美しい。 Sekai wa utsukushiku nanka nai. Soshite sore yueni utsukushii.?) symbolizes how the dark aspects of life, such as oppression and tyranny, make the good and happy parts of life all the more precious and wonderful.

Anyway, I'm gonna continue reading about it but my best bet is that I'll prolly watch it when I do have the time.

Well, that's all for today's update. Until next time.

-Daal-

When gray meets light
It creates new colors
That stay lost inside
Till they find each other

Then the world that you've never seen before
Starts moving in slow motion

Am I living now out loud
'Cause I can't hide me from you
And I'm not afraid somehow
To let you see right through me
Wait, I must be dreaming wide awake

This world's so real
Like a kaleidoscope made clear
To touch, to feel
What if we made it disappear

With just a tangle, you might change
I'd rather breathe this moment

Am I living now out loud
'Cause I can't hide me from you
And I'm not afraid somehow
To let you see right through me
Wait, I must be dreaming wide awake

Am I living now out loud
'Cause I can't hide me from you
And I'm not afraid somehow
To let you see right through me
No
Am I living now out loud
'Cause I can't hide me from you
And I'm not afraid somehow
To let you see right through me
I must be dreaming wide awake
I must be dreaming
I must be dreaming wide awake

My sister got a lead role in their school's play again. This year, their school will be putting on Wicked and my sister will be playing Elphaba! That's just soooo awesome! I'm really proud of my sister and I can't wait for the play. The play will be help in the CSR Auditorium on November 27, 2008. I'm making sure that day is free! :P

Anyway, that's all. I'll be off now. 'Til next time minna. :}

-Daal-

I've finally watched the Hana Kimi Special! It was soooo cool! After months of waiting for it, I've finally seen it! Whoo! Yeah! Finally!

Actually, that's all. :P Here's some snapshots to lengthen this very short entry. :P









Ok. That's all. Am gonna go now. Later!

-Daal-

PS. For those who want to download, it's available at D-Addicts.