A Math Quiz

What is the equation of the curve, h(x) oscillating between f(x) and g(x)? In other words, h(x) = f(x) for even integral values of x and h(x) = g(x) for odd integral values of x? The values of h(x) for non-integral x are on the oscillatory curve shown. 


Actually, curves such as this, are important in analog communication theory. The amplitude modulation (AM) wave is actually special case of this curve.

Effective Employee Monitoring

I often read tech blogs and surf the web for innovative ideas and fresh concepts to blog about. I found that this practice is indeed very helpful, as I have discovered many new solutions to daily problems through bloghopping. Just recently, I stumbled upon a very innovative website that offers a cost-effective way to manage employee performance through utmost transparency. 


My Team Monitor allows managers and leaders to effectively and efficiently monitor their staff. This is done by tracking how and when employees work. Employee monitor software is installed in employee workstations to aid employee management. 


One way the software does this is by taking regular screenshots of employee activities on their computers. Aside from screenshots, the employee monitoring software also tracks mouse clicks, keystrokes and an employee’s total worked hours. These are sent to their supporting leaders and managers who can view these screenshots and other reports to review employee performance, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This allows trends of inactivity, non-utilization and idle time to be observed. 


Thus, those who are worthy could be more appropriately rewarded, while those who are challenged could be coached and mentored to perform more efficiently and effectively. 


My Team Monitor is really a simple, yet innovative way to work remotely with confidence and transparency. I know that business leaders, executives and managers will realize that this software will be a valuable tool for business.

Why the Fuss?

Lately, there has been some clamor on the inaccuracy of the storytelling of Amaya. Apparently, some groups are complaining that there is an incorrect depiction of the binukot tradition in the first-of-its-kind Philippine TV series. Personally, I don't get the reason why there is this fuss about Amaya's historical accuracy. Sources for the background of the story of Amaya have been cited by the writer, Suzette Doctolero, numerous times. History professors are consulted with even the most minute of details. Also, the show is a fictional story with a historical background; the reason why it's called historical fiction. The story was developed by putting together clues from our not-too-documented past, since Philippine ancient history was usually in the oral tradition (not that our ancestors were illiterate).

However, even foreign historical series are so full of artistic liberties to make the story appealing and exciting to its viewers. For example, we know of King Henry VIII as the polygamous monarch of England, but much of what is mentioned in the TV series, The Tudors is far from real. For example, King Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn when he was in his 40s, but in the series, the infamous king married her at a younger age. Physically fit Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who was chosen to portray King Henry VIII, is also far from the fat, bearded king.

According to some ancient Korean sources like the Samguk Sagi, the birth of Jumong, founding monarch of the Kingdom of Goguryeo, was legendary. He hatched from an egg which resulted from the union of Hae Mosu and Yuh Wah, the daughter of the river god. However, in the Korean historical drama, Jumong, Lady Yuh Wah, and the warrior Hae Mosu were mere mortals. Jumong’s son and heir in the series, Yuri, is also now thought to be a usurper of the throne because it puzzled historians why Jumong died only five months after his son’s arrival in Goguryeo.

Because of the scarcity of details about the life of the first female doctor to the king, the writer of Jewel in the Palace depicted Jang Geum as a deposed palace chef who struggled to study medicine despite the dominance of men in that field. In the annals of the Joseon Dynasty, there is never any mention of her serving as a palace cook. In another Korean historical series, Deokman rose to power after struggling for what is rightfully hers. While the story is perfect for a colorful TV drama, nothing in the Samguk Sagi is mentioned of her struggles before becoming Queen Seon Deok of Silla.

Academy Award Winning film Ben-Hur talks about the story of two friends, who eventually become rivals because of beliefs in their own governments and religions. While the story is set during the time of Jesus, the events and even some of the characters in the story are purely fictitious. Another Academy Award winning film also draws inspiration from history, yet weaves a beautiful fictional story of love, courage and sacrifice: Titanic. The shipwreck did happen, and some of the characters in the movie were historical figures, yet the leads Rose and Jack were entirely a product of a creative mind.

Amaya intends to tell a beautiful story of the struggles of a woman in a time dominated by men while masterfully revealing the colorful Pre-Hispanic history of our nation. If we stick to that premise, we wouldn’t need to bother ourselves with petty issues taken out of context of the story and production.

150 Years of Dr José Rizal

June 19, 2011, marks the 150th Birth Anniversary of Philippine national hero, Dr. José Protacio Rizal.

A man way ahead of his time, Rizal--or as his friends would fondly call him, Pepe--was gifted with talent for art and literature. But apart from merely creating literary works that other writers of his generation did, he used his talent to promote an idea, that of nationalism, of love for one's own country. He chose to use his gift not for personal gain, but for the good of his fellow men. It was very easy for him to merely choose himself over his countrymen; he was born of a wealthy family and he was educated, having graduated from some of the finest schools in the country. He could have used his talents for international recognition, but wherever he went, he longed for the sake of the country.

I admire him for who he is. And that is why José Rizal is my hero.

Rainy Weekend?

The weather for the past few days has been unpredictable. According to the news, a storm will be hitting the metro, but only yesterday was there confirmation that this storm will not hardly hit the country.

My quote for the day is this.

The weak customer chooses the understandable rack.

As to what that statement means, I also don't know.

But of course, I'll still be on the lookout for changes in the weather. We might not get a rainy weekend after all.

Back to Blogging

It's official. I am going back to blogging.

Through blogging, I am able to express my opinions and views, some of which my viewers may not necessarily agree with.

To begin my post for the day I am posting some Niagara Falls pictures. The pictures were taken from the American side of the falls.



The Horseshoe Falls



A top view shot of the American Falls



The infamous Top of the Falls Restaurant



Equally prominent Hard Rock Niagara



A panorama of the Horseshoe Falls




There's our ride!



The Visitor Center



Inside the Visitor Center



One of the stops in the Niagara Falls tour



The Cave of the Winds, an entrance into the American Falls

It's Hard to Keep Up!

I just found out today that I lost my PageRank on this blog. I think the lack of posts from me recently has contributed to losing my PR. But as I have become extremely busy during the past few months, I cannot be blame anyone but myself for this.

I'm Back!

The last post on my blog was dated June 30, but believe it or not, I have only been able to finish it today, more than one month later.

The last few months were really difficult for me. I have been struggling with my schedule, but my attendance in Time Management training was probably worth it.

I'm back.

Answers

A week ago, I posted a picture of some 100+ famous personalities. This painting is entitled Discussing the Divine Comedy with Dante, and the artist behind it is actually in the painting.

Want to know the answers? Visit the following sites if you want to.

• http://whattothink.wordpress.com/more-rants/the-first-supper/
• http://www.patricksemaan.com/projektcyan/?p=592
• http://i.gae.ro/painting/
  

Are you Well-Informed?

There are over 100 famous personalities here in thus picture. Consider yourself well-informed if you can name at least 25.

Mang Meliton and His Unselfish Act of Kindness

In the University of the Philippines, different forms of financial help is available to students. One such form of financial help is through student loans. A guarantor is required for a loan borrowed from the University. At the end of the semester, if the student is unable to pay up, the guarantor has to pay for the loan. Any UP employee could serve as a guarantor, but it is usually college teachers and professors who students are able to convince.

Recently, a poignant story is finding its way through blogs. It's a story of a graduating student who was guaranteed by a janitor named Mang Meliton. Here's how the story goes: she needed to enroll her last three subjects to be eligible for graduation, but her parents didn't have the money to support her last semester. Hoping for help from her college professors, she opted for a student loan. But her professors either refused or were not yet eligible. After two weeks of searching for a guarantor, she only had 24 hours left to pay for her matriculation. She felt devastated. Alone, she cried her heart out in the lobby of the College of Arts and Sciences building named Palma Hall (AS, for students of the University). Mop in hand, Mang Meliton approached her and asked why she was crying. The student told him her problem. He simply replied, "Puwede ako pumirma, empleyado ako ng UP." He took the forms and signed them. Mang Meliton was her savior. At the end of the semester, she fulfilled her end of the deal and paid for the loan.

The story does not end there, however. Mang Meliton recently retired only to find that he was only paid for 171 days out of those 45 years of serving the University faithfully. And the reason for that, was because there were students who were unable to pay up for their loans, hence, because he served as a guarantor, he paid for their debts.

For more of this, please visit:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/144542/The-unlikely-heroism-of-Mang-Meliton

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=432091&publicationSubCategoryId=64

I am writing about this today in my blog as an appeal to fellow alumni and help one of the most noble retirees of our beloved University.

I Finally Have PageRank!

I just checked my site's rank meter and poof, I now have a rank 2 page! The same goes for my new blog, Ex Deo Scientia. Thanks to Google and all of my friends who never stop visiting this page despite my busy schedule!

Presidentiables 2010

By January 2009, it will only be 17 months away from the Presidential elections of 2010. While there are many vying for the top spot in the government, not all of them are deserving of the title. After all, the President is responsible to steer our economy towards progress.

Who deserves to be President? Will we find a Barack Obama in the likes of our 2010 presidentiables? Will another there be another Joseph Estrada in their league? Or a Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?

From God, Knowledge

I have posted my first post on my new blog. I hope you guys will visit me there.

Also, I know I have not been very faithful in posting new entries in this blog. From now on, this blog will contain posts about my interests while my other blog will contain posts about my life experiences.

For my frequent visitors, I have copied my entire blogroll here to my new blog. I hope you'd take the time to add my second blog to your blogroll, visit my second blog, leave comments, and write in my shoutbox there.

Why Suddenly a Music Blog?

Well, I have been so left behind in posting so I decided to upload some of the recent music I have acquired to get people visiting my site. In three days, I will be marking my ninth month, and I am happy and contented even if I still do not have a page rank!

Please follow my blog and I'll follow yours too. I have been so busy recently that I have failed to visit many of your blogs (I just visit the people who put their comments and post in my shoutbox). But I promise to make time everyday to do visit all those blogs linked up to me.

Personal Messages

I don't remember when was the last time I have posted something personal on this blog. So here are personal messages that go out to friends of note.

To Frances and Tedz and Migs: My condolences to you and your family for losing your Mom. I know it has been a month now, but the pain of losing someone you love most dearly is undoubtedly still there. The good thing is, she's now with our Lord and she's there where all of us want to go to after our time on Earth is through. Soon we shall all meet up, and you will be reunited in love.

To Imbestigador: Congratulations on the newly-reworked blog! Belated happy birthday dear pal!

To Chen: It's been a while! Sebastian's a real cutie!

To Honney Marie: Don't work too hard because life is too short not to enjoy its subtleties and trivialities.

Me as a Sim!

I was searching my Photobucket account for some pictures I have uploaded many years ago and came across some pictures of me as a Sim!

Busy!

Work! That four-letter word has kept me from updating the content on my blog--my posts and my link list--and from visiting other fellow bloggers. But fortunately for me, I have now updated my blogroll. I'll be doing my visits again beginning tomorrow.

Thanks guys for hanging on and understanding.

Busy and Frustrated

I know my blogger friends have been visiting this site for days and, after finding no updates, fail to visit again. I'm sorry. I have been so busy lately that I have not found the time to update my blog. But being busy is just one of the reasons why I have not been posting lately. The top: Google has apparently rank-spanked me. For almost 6 months--my blog is turning 6 months this Thursday--I have yet to receive a rank from Google.

But enough of the frustrations already. I decided to post again this week. I have a lot of topics to blog about for my avid readers, from entertainment to travel to food.

By the way, I thank you so much, ZhoeWynz for nominating my blog for the Creative Blogger award!

1234 Visits in Two Days!

I captured a screenshot of the 1234th visit to my blog. For me this is a major accomplishment since I just put up the counter yesterday.

Hope you guys continue to support this blog. I welcome suggestions on topics that you would like to read about here.