Found a lot of plastic bags. Folded and stored them in a jar for future use. ;-)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Budgets Cebu City LGU Style
The past few weeks has been nothing but series of meetings and presentations. The year is ending and it's budget season once more. The normal way of doing it is plan everything out for next year be it Capital Outlay, Maintenance Expenses and Personal Expenses of course and then include everything you need in next years budget in an Annual Investment Plan.
Since I joined the organization this has not happened yet. Their way of doing it is "skin and bones" budget and then just ask for additional budget in a Supplemental Budget (SB). But before a SB can happen, the City Treasurer has to certify if there is enough surplus to fund the SB of which the Budget Officer will also concurring. If there isn't enough then the other option is go into borrowings.
This year we are already on SB 5 (meaning we are already on our fifth supplemental budget for the year), the biggest ever in the history of the Cebu City. Question still left unanswered is, "Is there enough sources of funds?". Only the treasurer can answer that with the City Accountant will concur by generating financial statements.
But what is more intriguing about this SB is that the largest items in this budget are all ICT related and of which I had not been consulted, ever! This has caught the attention of a lot of the people from the different departments and offices of City Hall. Why? Because all of the budgeted items do not have a breakdown and no clear explanation of how it will be used. City councilors suddenly are questioning the motives of items and that why my department was never consulted in the first place. Then the woman behind it all emerged. It was one of the department managers. She was the culprit behind all of this. Was it Illegal, Unnecessary, Excessive, Extravagant, Unconscionable (IUEEU)?
Final decision? Budgets were cut, some items deleted and control of the technical description of the budgets given back to the department's control.
Lastly, I would like to thank all of the people behind me and who made this possible. She could have gotten away with it. By the grace of god she didn't
Since I joined the organization this has not happened yet. Their way of doing it is "skin and bones" budget and then just ask for additional budget in a Supplemental Budget (SB). But before a SB can happen, the City Treasurer has to certify if there is enough surplus to fund the SB of which the Budget Officer will also concurring. If there isn't enough then the other option is go into borrowings.
This year we are already on SB 5 (meaning we are already on our fifth supplemental budget for the year), the biggest ever in the history of the Cebu City. Question still left unanswered is, "Is there enough sources of funds?". Only the treasurer can answer that with the City Accountant will concur by generating financial statements.
But what is more intriguing about this SB is that the largest items in this budget are all ICT related and of which I had not been consulted, ever! This has caught the attention of a lot of the people from the different departments and offices of City Hall. Why? Because all of the budgeted items do not have a breakdown and no clear explanation of how it will be used. City councilors suddenly are questioning the motives of items and that why my department was never consulted in the first place. Then the woman behind it all emerged. It was one of the department managers. She was the culprit behind all of this. Was it Illegal, Unnecessary, Excessive, Extravagant, Unconscionable (IUEEU)?
Final decision? Budgets were cut, some items deleted and control of the technical description of the budgets given back to the department's control.
Lastly, I would like to thank all of the people behind me and who made this possible. She could have gotten away with it. By the grace of god she didn't
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8
Friday, November 19, 2010
Career or Lovelife...
Been very busy lately. I'll be leaving for Bacolod in the afternoon to see the woman who inspired me to who I am today. (My Mariposa) Just can't wait to see her. ;-) Super excited!
Career can take a toll on relationships and what's making this relationship a bit different from the ordinary is that we are far apart (10 hours apart by Bus, 30 minutes apart by plane) and I'm on a day job and she's on a graveyard shift(Call Center). For some, that's not too far especially if you live in countries like China, Canada or the US but here we have ever changing bus and plane schedules so going to and from place can be a little bit challenging.
The country also is riddled with year round typhoons so that can affect schedules quite much. Airports and seaport are closed when there's a typhoon or a weather disturbance. (Typhoons here are getting nasty year on year by the way) Roads through shorter mountain routes can sometimes be closed during foggy or rainy days so that can also greatly affect travel time.
The only tool that keeping us in touch with each other is technology. We have Skype for chat and sometimes video conferencing (It's free!). We keep ourselves update on Facebook and just recently I'm on Twitter. (I'm still trying to convince her to get into Twitter) and there is the classic e-mails. But nothing can still beat the times when you're there hugging each other.... ;-) hope the plane ride this evening will be smooth (I hate air pockets!)
Career can take a toll on relationships and what's making this relationship a bit different from the ordinary is that we are far apart (10 hours apart by Bus, 30 minutes apart by plane) and I'm on a day job and she's on a graveyard shift(Call Center). For some, that's not too far especially if you live in countries like China, Canada or the US but here we have ever changing bus and plane schedules so going to and from place can be a little bit challenging.
The country also is riddled with year round typhoons so that can affect schedules quite much. Airports and seaport are closed when there's a typhoon or a weather disturbance. (Typhoons here are getting nasty year on year by the way) Roads through shorter mountain routes can sometimes be closed during foggy or rainy days so that can also greatly affect travel time.
The only tool that keeping us in touch with each other is technology. We have Skype for chat and sometimes video conferencing (It's free!). We keep ourselves update on Facebook and just recently I'm on Twitter. (I'm still trying to convince her to get into Twitter) and there is the classic e-mails. But nothing can still beat the times when you're there hugging each other.... ;-) hope the plane ride this evening will be smooth (I hate air pockets!)
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Mandate, mandate, mandate...
What so important about it? Well everything... We're one of the very few Local Government Units (LGU) who have a permanent department for IT with permanent plantillas. Meaning we get to keep our position even when a new set of government official takes there place in our city.
Sustainability is challenging enough at the National Government level and more challening on a local government unit. You see, most of the people working for the LGU have some ties with who sitting on the city council, mayor or vice mayor.
When I started working for Government 5 years ago, the first thing I did was to map out peoples relation to certain people and I had the shock of my life. I have brothers, sisters, husband and wives, cousins, sons and daugthers and worst of all people who had relations with certain officials (you know what I mean). :-)
So how did I do it? Slowly I mapped out a road map on how to deal with these people relationships and be able to pierce through them. Last month, I got the chance to let go five of them. In total as of today, I have gotten rid of 15 or more people already and I not afraid to let go of more for the sake of a flatter and leaner organization. Life is tough when you are working in an environment like this indeed... :-)
Aside from this internal force, you have to keep watch of external forces. Other department heads who manipulate and deceive officials on getting into projects that are ICT related but was never channeled or coordinated with the department. Well guess what, I slap the other department with a copy of the department's mandate and with that, we were able to tame them. I'm expecting more of this exercise but all I can do to protect the interest of the people is this piece of paper in my hands, the department's ordinance. That should be enough to remind them also that the citizen of Cebu City will be up in their armpits when they violate this...:-)
Sustainability is challenging enough at the National Government level and more challening on a local government unit. You see, most of the people working for the LGU have some ties with who sitting on the city council, mayor or vice mayor.
When I started working for Government 5 years ago, the first thing I did was to map out peoples relation to certain people and I had the shock of my life. I have brothers, sisters, husband and wives, cousins, sons and daugthers and worst of all people who had relations with certain officials (you know what I mean). :-)
So how did I do it? Slowly I mapped out a road map on how to deal with these people relationships and be able to pierce through them. Last month, I got the chance to let go five of them. In total as of today, I have gotten rid of 15 or more people already and I not afraid to let go of more for the sake of a flatter and leaner organization. Life is tough when you are working in an environment like this indeed... :-)
Aside from this internal force, you have to keep watch of external forces. Other department heads who manipulate and deceive officials on getting into projects that are ICT related but was never channeled or coordinated with the department. Well guess what, I slap the other department with a copy of the department's mandate and with that, we were able to tame them. I'm expecting more of this exercise but all I can do to protect the interest of the people is this piece of paper in my hands, the department's ordinance. That should be enough to remind them also that the citizen of Cebu City will be up in their armpits when they violate this...:-)
The Malaysian Experience... MAMPU
Yesterdays presentation at Futuregov speaks for how a country was able to put ICT things into the proper perspective. The presentation of the Malaysian Administrative Mordenisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) done by Deputy Director Norhalina Adbul showed us that it only takes political will and administrative powers to make coordination of ICT initiatives possible.
Looking at how they we able to surpass agency differences and difficulty in coordination erased all doubts on why Malaysia is way ahead us. How I wish government agencies would come into the same terms. This clearly justify enough why there is a need for the Department of Information and Communciations Technology (DICT). As most readers do not know, this has been pending at the levels of Congress for quite some time now.
How I wish they promote the ratification soon inorder for us to fix the mess that we are into right now. I strongly believe that Congress should push for the creation of this department.
The presentation showed a glimpse on how Malaysia put their ICT initiative from the different government agencies by allowing the creation of data gateway facilities and interconnectivity. This I believe is very possible in the country despite the natural borders that physically separate the island regions.
Looking at how they we able to surpass agency differences and difficulty in coordination erased all doubts on why Malaysia is way ahead us. How I wish government agencies would come into the same terms. This clearly justify enough why there is a need for the Department of Information and Communciations Technology (DICT). As most readers do not know, this has been pending at the levels of Congress for quite some time now.
How I wish they promote the ratification soon inorder for us to fix the mess that we are into right now. I strongly believe that Congress should push for the creation of this department.
The presentation showed a glimpse on how Malaysia put their ICT initiative from the different government agencies by allowing the creation of data gateway facilities and interconnectivity. This I believe is very possible in the country despite the natural borders that physically separate the island regions.
Friday, November 12, 2010
On ICT Initiatives on Government
They say "You can bring the horse to the water but you can never force it to drink". I say,"Bring the horse to the water anyway. Sooner or later it will get thirsty and it will drink"... ;-) If they don't like your initiatives, just take the lead and make it really good. Sooner or later they will see your effort and see it is good and then eventually will join the ban... ;-)
The Cebu City GIS Experience
I consider sharing experiences as a way of telling people that they are not alone or they are lucky that they don't have to go through painful mistakes on project implementation and that they can avoid those mistakes and do it right.
Had to wake up early in the morning to travel more than 50Km from Davao City to a fellow LGU called Digos City who has just started their GIS initiatives. For me it was an opportunity to help initiatives like this. And today's meeting I consider it fruitful.
They were at the verge of drastically cutting budgets simple because they had been misinformed about what this thing call GIS is all about.
By the way, for the information of my readers here (if there are any ;-)), GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. It's about putting spatial information on maps. To make is even simpler, you have map (in digital format of course), your data or information, you have a location and then you tie them together so that you can analyzed it. Since we are already ahead on this with regards to project implementation, I have a lot to share to them.
One simple GIS project I presented to them was Dengue Cases. We plotted incidences of Dengue in a community on a map and then let the computer process the information and come out with result on which areas had the most number of cases. Knowing who has the highest incidence would greatly help us target that specific area for operations and eliminate the guessing game and rationalize service delivery.
As expected, some were happy and some were emotional. In the end, at least I was able to present something decent and very layman for them to evaluate further and reconsider. That was enough to make me happy. In the end, I was able to say my piece.
I was presenting together with Davao City people who also has a long experience in GIS projects. Some project where similar, others unique. Bottom line was, that GIS as explained was a computerized system which serves as a tool to eliminate the guessing game and promote further transparency in governance and improve efficiency in delivery of services.
Had to wake up early in the morning to travel more than 50Km from Davao City to a fellow LGU called Digos City who has just started their GIS initiatives. For me it was an opportunity to help initiatives like this. And today's meeting I consider it fruitful.
They were at the verge of drastically cutting budgets simple because they had been misinformed about what this thing call GIS is all about.
By the way, for the information of my readers here (if there are any ;-)), GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. It's about putting spatial information on maps. To make is even simpler, you have map (in digital format of course), your data or information, you have a location and then you tie them together so that you can analyzed it. Since we are already ahead on this with regards to project implementation, I have a lot to share to them.
One simple GIS project I presented to them was Dengue Cases. We plotted incidences of Dengue in a community on a map and then let the computer process the information and come out with result on which areas had the most number of cases. Knowing who has the highest incidence would greatly help us target that specific area for operations and eliminate the guessing game and rationalize service delivery.
As expected, some were happy and some were emotional. In the end, at least I was able to present something decent and very layman for them to evaluate further and reconsider. That was enough to make me happy. In the end, I was able to say my piece.
I was presenting together with Davao City people who also has a long experience in GIS projects. Some project where similar, others unique. Bottom line was, that GIS as explained was a computerized system which serves as a tool to eliminate the guessing game and promote further transparency in governance and improve efficiency in delivery of services.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Politics and e-Governance...
I guess everyone know the lyrics by Billy Joel the song "Honesty". One line goes something like, "Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. ". I guess I'm just too naive about so many things in this world and that I have to start realizing that Billy Joel is right and that you can never trust anyone but yourself not even the people closest to you (no, not even your dog...LOL).
Funny, I've been in the government for 5 years and I still have yet to learn that trolls and witches exist and that they are real, flesh and blood. That everyone has its own agenda and that I have to trust only my instinct and gut feeling. Trust no one. I should put that in my head.
Even your connections and relationships you shouldn't rely on. If you do, you committed the biggest mistake. You will realize that suddenly you're all alone. Never rely on promises, and words like "I will do something about it" or "Don't worry, we will find a way!". Keyword "we" is actually equivalent to "you" or "good luck".
In a few minutes, I will be in a budget hearing that will come into terms of whether it will make things happen or it will break me (alone with no one but myself). I can't do anything for now but watch on the sideline as the Titans battle it out with the trolls and witches.
Wish me luck... ;-)
Funny, I've been in the government for 5 years and I still have yet to learn that trolls and witches exist and that they are real, flesh and blood. That everyone has its own agenda and that I have to trust only my instinct and gut feeling. Trust no one. I should put that in my head.
Even your connections and relationships you shouldn't rely on. If you do, you committed the biggest mistake. You will realize that suddenly you're all alone. Never rely on promises, and words like "I will do something about it" or "Don't worry, we will find a way!". Keyword "we" is actually equivalent to "you" or "good luck".
In a few minutes, I will be in a budget hearing that will come into terms of whether it will make things happen or it will break me (alone with no one but myself). I can't do anything for now but watch on the sideline as the Titans battle it out with the trolls and witches.
Wish me luck... ;-)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Excited!
I have two important places and events to go to this week and next week. Will be in Davao to present about our experiences on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Projects and then off to Manila for Futuregov.
It's going to be a busy day for me today. ;-)
It's going to be a busy day for me today. ;-)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
My Twitter Account
You can also follow my active Twitter account by clicking this link -> IT Guy
Please click on to follow.... ;-)
Please click on to follow.... ;-)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
ICT4D...
Another round table discussion of that is happening to this country's ICT initiatives. The meeting lasted for 4 hours. I don't know if the insight I gave would be included in the paper these guys are supposed to present in the national council. I've said my piece and it's all up to them to get it through the lines of congress and through the legislators in the upper house to decide on what direction to take.
ICT initiatives on a national level is a long fought battle and still being fought worst on the grounds of a Local Government Unit (LGU) who by the way gather and interact with the people and get information from the grassroots of society. Issues like standardization of data, metadata still has a long way to go. National Government Agencies pushing systems left and right with no intention of regulating and integrating these is making life in the LGU worst.
I just hope they run out of bullets first to fire at LGUs who tries to evade the consequences of bad ICT initiatives and implementation which will then go to the archives of horror stories of which the victims are the LGUs.
ICT initiatives on a national level is a long fought battle and still being fought worst on the grounds of a Local Government Unit (LGU) who by the way gather and interact with the people and get information from the grassroots of society. Issues like standardization of data, metadata still has a long way to go. National Government Agencies pushing systems left and right with no intention of regulating and integrating these is making life in the LGU worst.
I just hope they run out of bullets first to fire at LGUs who tries to evade the consequences of bad ICT initiatives and implementation which will then go to the archives of horror stories of which the victims are the LGUs.
How worst I've become...
How worst can one guy become? Let me count the ways...
He does not go to his father's tomb on his death anniversary...
He does not post because he too tied up to so many many things but people think he's not doing anything...
He does not greet his Family good tidings...
He does not do what he is supposed to do...
He does not give enough to others... time, care, attention, love, help...
He hates his guts...
He hates the world around him and he hates the people and environment around him...
He does not grab or take credit for his works...
He does not enrich himself with material things and does not think grand things for himself and others...
He does not have time for himself...
Don't read this post if you think this is not good for you....
He does not go to his father's tomb on his death anniversary...
He does not post because he too tied up to so many many things but people think he's not doing anything...
He does not greet his Family good tidings...
He does not do what he is supposed to do...
He does not give enough to others... time, care, attention, love, help...
He hates his guts...
He hates the world around him and he hates the people and environment around him...
He does not grab or take credit for his works...
He does not enrich himself with material things and does not think grand things for himself and others...
He does not have time for himself...
Don't read this post if you think this is not good for you....
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
ABC Fun Monday
Running late again for Fun Monday. I'm preparing for my out of town trip will be gone starting today until Saturday. I gonna miss you Mariposa and of course all of you guys and gals out there. I'm bringing my laptop and hope I can get online while I'm away. ;-)
This weeks Fun Monday host wanted us to post about the ABC's of something. For my ABC's, I was thinking of something else but my adviser (a.k.a. Mariposa) told me to post something related to what I do.
Here it goes. The ABC's of I.T.
ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange (read as "askee"). It is the universal standard representing numerical codes computers use such as all upper and lower-case letters, numbers, punctuation and control codes. Without this standard, each computer would have used a different way of representing letters and numbers, causing major chaos for computer programmers and computer systems
Byte is a sequence of 8 bits (1's & 0's) which represents a character of an alphanumeric data processed as a single unit of information. Yeah is sounds the same as "bite" but its a totally different thing. LOL
COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) is the programming language we're using at the office for our IBM iSeries (a.k.a. AS/400) servers which is running our Business Permit Licensing Software and Real Property Tax Systems.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is the medium for transferring data over regular phone lines and can be used to connect to the Internet. However, unlike cable modems, a DSL circuit is much faster than a regular phone connection, even though the wires it uses are copper like a typical phone line
Ethernet is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for LANS (local area networks).
Fibre Channel is a technology for transmitting data between computer devices at data rates of up to 4 Gbps (and 10 Gbps in the near future). It is especially suited for connecting computer servers to shared storage devices and for interconnecting storage controllers and drives.
Google is now my most widely used internet search engine. Mariposa and I have this common line if ever we need to find something on the net. "Google is a friend" :-)
HTTP (Hypertext Terminal Protocol) is a communication protocol commonly used in Intranet and World Wide Web. HTTP are identified using URLs (see below!)
Internet is short for International Network and is the medium why we can interconnect and interchange information around the world.
Java is an example of a programming language.
Kilobyte is a unit of information or computer storage equal to either 1,000 bytes or 1,024 bytes (210), depending on context. It can be abbreviated a number of ways: kB, K and Kbyte.
Language is not just limited to humans...computers has language too!
Memory is where you store information.
Nanotech is making our existing processors pack in more transistors over the same area of silicon material. How? Imagine arranging molecules to form transistors at that level.
OS or Operating System is the most important program that runs on a computer and manages its resources, and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. It processes system data and user input, and responds by allocating and managing tasks and internal system resources as a service to users and programs of the system. The OS performs basic tasks such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing system requests, controlling input and output devices, facilitating computer networking and managing files.
Protocol is an agreed set of rules for the communication of information between two or more devices, HTTP is an example of a protocol.
QWERTY is a standard (Latin alphabet-based) keyboard. Why? checkout your keyboard starting from Q in the upper-left part of the keyboard spelling out Q-W-E-R-T-Y. You could call it QWERTYUIOP keyboard, but QWERTY is a lot easier to say. If you're wondering why the keyboard is arranged this way it's because it was to reduce the jamming of type bars in typewriters as they moved to strike the paper.
RAM or Random Access Memory, random because it allows a computer to access any part of the memory directly.
Software is a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system. It also covers application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software, and middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.
Terabyte is a unit storage. The value of a terabyte is based upon a decimal radix (base 10) and is defined as one trillion (short scale) bytes, or 1000 gigabytes.
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. That is we locate each other's blog!
VB means Visual Basic and is also a programming language!
WWW means World Wide Web but depending on your connection, it can also mean world wide wait...LOL
X86 is the generic name for Intel processors released after the original 8086 processor. These include the 286, 386, 486, and 586 processors. As you can see, the "x" in x86 stands for a range of possible numbers. Technically, x86 is short for 80x86 since the full names of the processors are actually 80286, 80386, 80486, and 80586. The "80" is typically truncated to avoid redundancy.
Yahoo is where I made my first internet e-mail account. This was my most widely used search engine before google came. ;-)
Zip is a lossless data compression and archival file format.
Now, check our lovely HOST for more fun ABC...mine was quite boring I know! LOL
This weeks Fun Monday host wanted us to post about the ABC's of something. For my ABC's, I was thinking of something else but my adviser (a.k.a. Mariposa) told me to post something related to what I do.
Here it goes. The ABC's of I.T.
ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange (read as "askee"). It is the universal standard representing numerical codes computers use such as all upper and lower-case letters, numbers, punctuation and control codes. Without this standard, each computer would have used a different way of representing letters and numbers, causing major chaos for computer programmers and computer systems
Byte is a sequence of 8 bits (1's & 0's) which represents a character of an alphanumeric data processed as a single unit of information. Yeah is sounds the same as "bite" but its a totally different thing. LOL
COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) is the programming language we're using at the office for our IBM iSeries (a.k.a. AS/400) servers which is running our Business Permit Licensing Software and Real Property Tax Systems.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is the medium for transferring data over regular phone lines and can be used to connect to the Internet. However, unlike cable modems, a DSL circuit is much faster than a regular phone connection, even though the wires it uses are copper like a typical phone line
Ethernet is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for LANS (local area networks).
Fibre Channel is a technology for transmitting data between computer devices at data rates of up to 4 Gbps (and 10 Gbps in the near future). It is especially suited for connecting computer servers to shared storage devices and for interconnecting storage controllers and drives.
Google is now my most widely used internet search engine. Mariposa and I have this common line if ever we need to find something on the net. "Google is a friend" :-)
HTTP (Hypertext Terminal Protocol) is a communication protocol commonly used in Intranet and World Wide Web. HTTP are identified using URLs (see below!)
Internet is short for International Network and is the medium why we can interconnect and interchange information around the world.
Java is an example of a programming language.
Kilobyte is a unit of information or computer storage equal to either 1,000 bytes or 1,024 bytes (210), depending on context. It can be abbreviated a number of ways: kB, K and Kbyte.
Language is not just limited to humans...computers has language too!
Memory is where you store information.
Nanotech is making our existing processors pack in more transistors over the same area of silicon material. How? Imagine arranging molecules to form transistors at that level.
OS or Operating System is the most important program that runs on a computer and manages its resources, and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. It processes system data and user input, and responds by allocating and managing tasks and internal system resources as a service to users and programs of the system. The OS performs basic tasks such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing system requests, controlling input and output devices, facilitating computer networking and managing files.
Protocol is an agreed set of rules for the communication of information between two or more devices, HTTP is an example of a protocol.
QWERTY is a standard (Latin alphabet-based) keyboard. Why? checkout your keyboard starting from Q in the upper-left part of the keyboard spelling out Q-W-E-R-T-Y. You could call it QWERTYUIOP keyboard, but QWERTY is a lot easier to say. If you're wondering why the keyboard is arranged this way it's because it was to reduce the jamming of type bars in typewriters as they moved to strike the paper.
RAM or Random Access Memory, random because it allows a computer to access any part of the memory directly.
Software is a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system. It also covers application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software, and middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.
Terabyte is a unit storage. The value of a terabyte is based upon a decimal radix (base 10) and is defined as one trillion (short scale) bytes, or 1000 gigabytes.
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. That is we locate each other's blog!
VB means Visual Basic and is also a programming language!
WWW means World Wide Web but depending on your connection, it can also mean world wide wait...LOL
X86 is the generic name for Intel processors released after the original 8086 processor. These include the 286, 386, 486, and 586 processors. As you can see, the "x" in x86 stands for a range of possible numbers. Technically, x86 is short for 80x86 since the full names of the processors are actually 80286, 80386, 80486, and 80586. The "80" is typically truncated to avoid redundancy.
Yahoo is where I made my first internet e-mail account. This was my most widely used search engine before google came. ;-)
Zip is a lossless data compression and archival file format.
Now, check our lovely HOST for more fun ABC...mine was quite boring I know! LOL
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
St. Paddy's Day Monday Fever...
My Fun Monday is a bit late...been very busy at the office lately. Anyway, Nikki our wonderful host for this week asks any or both of the following -
1.) I don't know about you, but my family is great at creating strange words that only we know the meaning. Some were created when the kids were first learning to talk, others came about when our tongues were twisted and the word came out funny. Either way, the words stuck and we still use them in our daily conversations. What created words does your family use?! Please share the story behind the word if you remember. If you don't have a made up word then tell us about the unspoken way you communicate with someone. Do you and your significant other have a look that means "This party is boring, lets split" or do you have a look that your kids know means their butt is in serious trouble? Please share!! And a picture of the look would be very entertaining!
AND/OR
2.) In honor of St. Paddy's Day, please share your worst green beer story!
This is hard. My family is a boring one. Baby talk or speaking in odd tongues is never encourage because my parent believe that it confuses the child. :-) Mariposa and I never agrees on this part. Anyway, one very weird gesture though that we Filipinos do when we get to meet someone like a friend or acquaintance in the lobby or outside is the weird eyebrow movement.
Yes, it's a way of communicating here. LOL. Without uttering a word, one or two quick up and down movement of both eyebrows is understood as "hello" or a "good day" greeting. I don't know if there are other people in the world using this quick way or saying "hi!" to a person. It's so common that coupled with a smile and the eyebrow movement, is already enough gesture to tell that friend "Hi! I'm good today! Nice seeing you! or Hi! Nice seeing you again!". Funny but I'm a recipient of this every time I go in or out of the elevator at the office and people make this gestures. To return the favor, I do the same and then it sometimes starts a long conversation :-) Yeah. This is a tough one indeed. Thanks for the challenge.
For more of Fun Monday visit Nikki for FUN Monday!
1.) I don't know about you, but my family is great at creating strange words that only we know the meaning. Some were created when the kids were first learning to talk, others came about when our tongues were twisted and the word came out funny. Either way, the words stuck and we still use them in our daily conversations. What created words does your family use?! Please share the story behind the word if you remember. If you don't have a made up word then tell us about the unspoken way you communicate with someone. Do you and your significant other have a look that means "This party is boring, lets split" or do you have a look that your kids know means their butt is in serious trouble? Please share!! And a picture of the look would be very entertaining!
AND/OR
2.) In honor of St. Paddy's Day, please share your worst green beer story!
This is hard. My family is a boring one. Baby talk or speaking in odd tongues is never encourage because my parent believe that it confuses the child. :-) Mariposa and I never agrees on this part. Anyway, one very weird gesture though that we Filipinos do when we get to meet someone like a friend or acquaintance in the lobby or outside is the weird eyebrow movement.
Yes, it's a way of communicating here. LOL. Without uttering a word, one or two quick up and down movement of both eyebrows is understood as "hello" or a "good day" greeting. I don't know if there are other people in the world using this quick way or saying "hi!" to a person. It's so common that coupled with a smile and the eyebrow movement, is already enough gesture to tell that friend "Hi! I'm good today! Nice seeing you! or Hi! Nice seeing you again!". Funny but I'm a recipient of this every time I go in or out of the elevator at the office and people make this gestures. To return the favor, I do the same and then it sometimes starts a long conversation :-) Yeah. This is a tough one indeed. Thanks for the challenge.
For more of Fun Monday visit Nikki for FUN Monday!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Feast One Hundred & Eighty Three
Missed yesterdays HNT but don't worry, I still have more pictures to show. :-) Anyway, here are my answers. :-)
Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?
Definitely a 4! Gosh! My staff at the office needs a interpreter for my handwriting...LOL It's really that bad! :-)
Soup
Do you prefer baths or showers?
Warm shower...
Salad
What was the last bad movie you watched?
Hmmm... I enjoy watching movies a lot but I think the worst movie ever is "Pulp Fiction" - John Travolta
Main Course
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.
PC Games! Simcity 4 Rush Hour to be specific... It sometimes makes me loose sleep...
Dessert
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?
The Violin...
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Nikki Will Host Fun Monday!
Fun Monday next week will be hosted by Nikki. Please visit her site for next week's theme!
To all who participated, thank you so much!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Fun Monday: Give Me 5!
Monday is here!
And today...
I need YOU (yes, the wonderful YOU!) to pick 5 memorable lines from 5 different movies (if you could tell us which character said it and to whom, would be a bonus)...and tell us to WHOM (who in the people in your life) you could have said those lines.
Here are my 5s!
(1) Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back
I'd say this to: To all my staff, especially every time I assign them with projects.
(2) Smile, it enhances your face value. - Truvy
Steel Magnolias
I'd say this to: To the grouchy old department heads and to Mariposa's friend whom she continually defends despite all the BS that she's doing to her!
(3) Sharpness is a state of mind.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
I'd say this to: To all my students...
(4) You had me at hello. - Dorothy
Jerry Maguire
I'd say t his to: Mariposa...
(5) Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. - Mufasa
The Lion King
I'd say this to: To myself...
There are still a lot, but these are what I can think of right now. To find more interesting lines and how these lines apply to some people...visit the following Fun Monday participants.
And today...
I need YOU (yes, the wonderful YOU!) to pick 5 memorable lines from 5 different movies (if you could tell us which character said it and to whom, would be a bonus)...and tell us to WHOM (who in the people in your life) you could have said those lines.
Here are my 5s!
(1) Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back
I'd say this to: To all my staff, especially every time I assign them with projects.
(2) Smile, it enhances your face value. - Truvy
Steel Magnolias
I'd say this to: To the grouchy old department heads and to Mariposa's friend whom she continually defends despite all the BS that she's doing to her!
(3) Sharpness is a state of mind.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
I'd say this to: To all my students...
(4) You had me at hello. - Dorothy
Jerry Maguire
I'd say t his to: Mariposa...
(5) Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. - Mufasa
The Lion King
I'd say this to: To myself...
There are still a lot, but these are what I can think of right now. To find more interesting lines and how these lines apply to some people...visit the following Fun Monday participants.
1. Melanie
7. SwampAngel65
9. Heather
10. SayreSmiles
11. TheFoodSnob
12. Lady K
14. Tracey
15. MJD
16. Min
17. Peter
18. Hootin' Anni
19. Karina
20. Sauntering Soul
21. ArkansasSongbird
22. Ann
23. Faye
24. Nikki
25. Retrohipster
26. Jettie
27. Nekked Lizard
28. Swampy
29. Mamalang
30. JennV
31. Lisa Marie
32. Amanda
33. Sandy
34. Gattina
35. Julie
36. Lil Mouse
37. Jo Beaufoix
38. Pam
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