A Look Back at my Vocaloid Gangnam Style Disaster

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Unsurprisingly, the Gangnam Style vocaloid covers were among the most viewed videos in my channel. Some may consider it success but I won't when I found out it has more dislikes than likes!

Watch Oliver, Tonio, Leon, Miriam, Prima, Sweet Ann, and Big Al sing Gangnam Style. 
Also see the improved version of Oliver's rendition.

What caused this abysmal magnitude of hate?

The failure boils down to these two points:

1. It was rushed out of production

At that time, Gangnam Style was gaining its popularity. Then it hit me: What if I create a Vocaloid cover of Gangnam Style? Yeah! That would be an awesome idea!

I searched youtube if anyone has created a Vocaloid cover of the song. Someone did using Spicy Andy (which to my understanding, is a nmodified Sweet Ann) and thankfully he made the VSQ available for download.

My philosophy was to upload the Gangnam video quick before anyone does. Then began the sweatshop of making Engloids say "Oppa Gangnam Style!"

Parameters were ignored, pitches were not adjusted to the singer vocaloid, audio effects were used carelessly; that's how it went during the production.

By the time the videos were uploaded, another user made SeeU sing AND dance Gangnam Style. My expression: Oh Crap.

2.  Lack of experience in Vocaloid

I was just starting out on Vocaloid sequencing when I came up with the Gangnam Vocaloid cover. Techniques like Legato, Portamento, and Singer Properties did not exist back then.

Coupled with the short time limit, it was a perfect recipe for disaster.

The Problems:
1. Incorrect pitches for the Vocaloid
Worst offenders was Oliver singing it too high.

2. Haphazard use of effects
The chorus effect was added without good reason.

3. It was spammed!
In a short amount of time (two days), 8 (crappy) videos were uploaded to my channel.


Of course I learned from my mistakes. The Bohemian Rhapsody project aimed to avoid these issues. It was made slowly but surely. It was not spammed. It employed recent techniques in Vocaloid.

And lastly, the biggest difference is that it was a success.

Related Posts:
Gangnam Style VSQ Download

Vocaloid Bohemian Rhapsody MP3

To contact us Click HERE
Download links for mp3 below:
The Japaloids version (Miku, VY2, Len, Gakupo, and Kiyoteru)
The Engloids version (Oliver, Prima, Tonio, Sweet Ann, Big Al)

Wait, where's the VSQ?
I won't be releasing the VSQ for this song because first, it is messy. The VSQ(x) contains 13 tracks! For the Engloids, I have to split and convert some of the tracks to VSQ for the Vocaloid2 voices. For the Japaloids, the note sequence is messy and depending on the vocaloid, it pops and it's choppy. Plus, most of the work is done on the audio editors.

Tell me more how you did this song:
1. First step is to disassemble the MIDI file. I removed the instrument tracks and left the vocal and choir tracks.
2. Vocaloid only accepts a series of single notes per track. So I have to split the choir's voices into monophonic tracks.
3. Import them into the vocaloid editor and add the lyrics and adjust the parameters.
4. Render them as individual tracks. Put them back together in the audio editor. Add the music and synchronize them. Make sure everyone's voice is equally loud.
5. Animate the pictures using keyframes.

Comparing Performance Between IDE Enhanced Mode Configuration

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Benchmarked using PC Wizard 2012. My HDD is a Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM connected through SATA. Each configuration were tested three times.


SETTING: SATA only
Seq. Write: 53.86 CPU 0%
Seq Read: 61.27 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 182.39 CPU 34%
Buff Read: 202.09 CPU 34%
Rand Read: 39 CPU 35%

SETTING2: SATA only
Seq. Write: 58.15 CPU 0%
Seq Read: 68.64 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 192.74 CPU 1%
Buff Read: 227.26 CPU 1%
Rand Read: 53 CPU 3%

SETTING3: SATA only
Seq. Write: 58.09 CPU 0%
Seq Read: 69.93 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 193.1 CPU 1%
Buff Read: 226.34 CPU 34%
Rand Read: 57 CPU 36%

SETTING: PATA only
Seq. Write: 31.74 CPU 0%
Seq Read: 67.6 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 150.68 CPU 2%
Buff Read: 217.33 CPU 1%
Rand Read: 31 CPU 3%

SETTING2: PATA only
Seq. Write: 53.42 CPU 1%
Seq Read: 71.76 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 195.08 CPU 2%
Buff Read: 232.08 CPU 1%
Rand Read: 52 CPU 3%

SETTING3: PATA only
Seq. Write: 48.47 CPU 0%
Seq Read: 69.07 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 180.74 CPU 1%
Buff Read: 218.57 CPU 1%
Rand Read: 57 CPU 3%

SETTING: SATA+PATA
Seq. Write: 61.74 CPU 0%
Seq Read: 71.98 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 191.17 CPU 1%
Buff Read: 224.9 CPU 1%
Rand Read: 54 CPU 3%

SETTING2: SATA+PATA
Seq. Write: 52.67 CPU 1%
Seq Read: 70.01 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 175.34 CPU 2%
Buff Read: 232.67 CPU 1%
Rand Read: 59 CPU 35%

SETTING3: SATA+PATA
Seq. Write: 59.48 CPU 1%
Seq Read: 68.85 CPU 0%
Buff Write: 193.84 CPU 34%
Buff Read: 215.9 CPU 67%
Rand Read: 55 CPU 100%

The Averages:

My UPD GE Subject Experience: World Music Literature (MuL 13) with Mr. Valenciano

To contact us Click HERE
Na-enjoy ko ang MuL 9 so much so naisip ko na maganda kung kukunin ko yung sequel: MuL 13. However, it seems I've expected too much.


In-depth

First Impression

Medyo may edad na si sir at dahil diyan, marami siyang maku-kuwento sa inyo lalo na ang mga adventures niya around the world including India. Most of the time ang pag-uusapan niyo ay culture, arts, behavior and psychology, at kahit ano na medyo malayo sa topic na 'music'. Nasabi ko ba na ang pag-uusapan niyo ay India?

Time Management

Oh boy. Kung akala mo late ka na kapag dumating ka fifteen minutes after (supposedly) mag-start yung class, mali ka. Kasi si sir, darating 30-45 MINUTES after (supposedly) mag-start yung class. Madalas din mabitin ang discussion dahil dito. Doble malas kapag kailangan paganahin yung projector at yung laptop ni sir at kayo ang first class of the day.
Nung malapit na mag-end yung semester, dumating siya one day nang 10 MINUTES after (supposedly) mag-start yung class. Ayun, nakita niyang one-fourth pa lang nang klase niya ang present.

Student Attendance

Yes. Nagche-check siya ng attendance pero may advantage ka pa rin (see above).

Recitation

Nag-tatanong si sir. Nag-eexpect siya ng answer sa INYO. Eto quote: "Sabi nila malalaman kung matalino yung klase kung madalas sila mag-recite." OUCH.

Quizzes and Exam

Occasionally, merong quizzes si sir. No biggie. Five items lang yun. Nag-announce pa nga siya ng quiz tapos kinalimutan na. Ngek. Final exam is real easy kung nakikinig ka sa discussion and binasa (at inintindi) yung readings.

Fun Factor

Malaking letdown yung walang music performance from the class unlike in MuL 9. Though, meron siyang iparirinig na music and ipapanood kayo ng (short) videos sometimes.

Summary:

Pros:

* Super NOT demanding yung requirements (can be a bad thing to some people)
* well... malamig yung room.. and tahimik.
* Easy quizzes and exam
* No homeworks

Cons:

* Walang music performance
* Gosh, ang tagal naman i-setup yung projector!
* Slow pace of discussion
* Too much sidetracks

Rating:

5/10 - Though pwede pa itong mag-improve through time, na-disappoint lang talaga ako sa class. That's all.


Related Posts:
My UPD GE Subject Experience: Philippine Music Literature (MuL9) with Ms. Silvestre
My UPD GE Subject Experience: Araling Pilipino (AP 12) with Mr. Petras
And more reviews on UP Diliman GE Subjects Here!

My UPD GE Subject Experience: Araling Pilipino (AP 12) with Mr. Petras

To contact us Click HERE
Bali-balita ko na maganda raw na GE subject ito, especially kung si Sir Jayson yung magtuturo. So I decided to take this subject.


In-depth

First Impression

Very bright ang personality ni sir. Magaling din ang sense of humor. Sa first day, pina-introduce namin yung mga sarili namin pero hindi yung boring na magsasalita sa harap. Ginawa niya ay pinagsulat kami ng tanong sa 1/4 paper. Tatawag siya ng estudyante (starting sa likod) tapos bubunot ng tanong na ginawa ng buong klase. Kailangan yun sagutin ng estudyante. Awesome kasi kailangan wacky yung tanong mo at dapat wacky din yung sagot mo.
Yung question na pinasa ko ay: "Bakit hindi binubuksan ang aircon ng room na ito? Kailangan bang itaas ang tuition dahil dito?" LOL.

Time Management

Though, nale-late si sir ng ilang minutes. Natatapos niya naman on-time yung discussion. Meron pa siyang schedule kung saan naka-detail ang gagawin sa araw na iyon. Na-revise nang onti yung schedule dahil sa class suspensions.

Student Attendance

Magpapasa kayo ng index card sa first day of class then yung ang gagamitin niya pang-check ng attendance.

Recitation

Maraming chance para sumagot sa mga tanong ni sir. Isa sa madalas gawin sa klase ay ang group activities tulad na pagsasadula ng epiko, quiz bee, at iba pa. Super fun mag-memorize ng map ng Philippines sa klase na ito. Kami yung grupong nanalo eh!

Quizzes and Exams

Merong quizzes mostly about sa readings and discussion. Kung nakikinig ka naman at nagbabasa, kaya mong sagutan iyan.
Walang written final exam. Instead, i-aassign kayo sa isa sa tatlong main island groups of the Philippines at kailangan i-present niyo iyon in a entertaining way. Merong nag-fashion show, variety show, at DORA THE EXPLORER show! Oh and kailangan merong pagkain, merong decoration ang room, at merong palaro na relevant sa island group na iyon. Yes, ang hirap mag-prepare.
Isa rin pala sa final requirements ay paggawa ng DOCUMENTARY tungkol sa isang social issue.

Fun Factor

Merong film showings. Sasabihin naman ni sir kung gagawan niyo iyon ng reaction paper. Kakainis kasi gumawa ako ng reaction paper kahit hindi pala kailangan. May ipapasa rin na reaction paper bilang final requirement
Sinabi rin pala sa first day of class na WALANG FIELD TRIP this semester. Of course, marami ang nag-enroll sa subject na ito dahil sa FIELD TRIP so na-disappoint sila.

Summary:

Pros:

* Fun magturo si sir
* Puwedeng i-relate ang discussion to daily Filipino lives
* Fun mag-participate sa mga group activities

Cons:

* Reaction paper, quiz, memorize ng mapa, pagsasadula ng epiko, final presentation, documentary... napaka-demanding na course na ito!

Rating:

9/10 - Kahit wala nang field trip, worth it pa rin kunin ito! Laugh trip ang discussion at masayang maki-socialize para sa mga group activities.


Related Posts:
My UPD GE Subject Experience: World Music Literature (MuL 13) with Mr. Valenciano 
And more UP Diliman GE Subject reviews here!

Vocaloid Bohemian Rhapsody MP3

To contact us Click HERE
Download links for mp3 below:
The Japaloids version (Miku, VY2, Len, Gakupo, and Kiyoteru)
The Engloids version (Oliver, Prima, Tonio, Sweet Ann, Big Al)

Wait, where's the VSQ?
I won't be releasing the VSQ for this song because first, it is messy. The VSQ(x) contains 13 tracks! For the Engloids, I have to split and convert some of the tracks to VSQ for the Vocaloid2 voices. For the Japaloids, the note sequence is messy and depending on the vocaloid, it pops and it's choppy. Plus, most of the work is done on the audio editors.

Tell me more how you did this song:
1. First step is to disassemble the MIDI file. I removed the instrument tracks and left the vocal and choir tracks.
2. Vocaloid only accepts a series of single notes per track. So I have to split the choir's voices into monophonic tracks.
3. Import them into the vocaloid editor and add the lyrics and adjust the parameters.
4. Render them as individual tracks. Put them back together in the audio editor. Add the music and synchronize them. Make sure everyone's voice is equally loud.
5. Animate the pictures using keyframes.

Gangnam Style VSQ Download

To contact us Click HERE
First of all, I did not create this VSQ. Credits goes to Lejolollero. Check out his Gangnam Style video here.

The original is a VSQx from Lejolollero. I modified it some pitch bends to make it smoother and more accurate.

Download my modified VSQx here.

I also converted the VSQx to VSQ so I could use it on my Vocaloid2 Editor. In addition to the changes made in the original VSQx, I replaced the *_0 phonemes for the Vocaloid2 VSQ.

Downlosd my modified VSQ here.

Filipino Language and Computer UI

To contact us Click HERE
I find it interesting that Google offers a Filipino version of their browser, Chrome.



While localized software products are common nowadays they are usually widely used languages like Spanish, German, French, and Chinese. As a Filipino, I'm surprised to see one software written in my native language.

However, I fail to see the reason why Google would translate Chrome (and other Google services) to this language. Most Filipinos are not comfortable with it and are used to the English interface to navigate the menus. If they are targeting people who can't speak English so they can use Google's services, I still don't get the point because these people are usually the least privileged in the society and they have barely access to a computer, let alone Internet access.

That aside, Google has provided you with an option to change the language so it's no big deal if you're not comfortable with the default language.

Quick Anime Review 1: Death Note, Akazukin Chacha, Angel Beats

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Listed in order I watched:

Angel Beats

What can I say? This anime almost made me cry. It's that dramatic! The plot is excellent though feels rushed. Not all characters got developed and I think only one got a dedicated episode. The graphics is superb; it's clean and bloomy.

Akazukin Chacha

Why am I watching an 18 year old anime? Nostalgia, that's why. The graphics is what you would expect on a 90s anime. The design was colorful and the plot was linear and simple; obvious target audience were kids. The show relies on Japanese puns for its comedy making it tricky to dub. I've watched the Filipino dub of it and I must say they made a good job. Also, this is also the longest anime I've watched setting a record of 74 episodes (plus 3 OVA).

Death Note

I watched this alongside Akazukin Chacha and if Akazukin Chacha was day, Death Note would be the night. The graphics are dark and serious and looks slightly like something from a horror film. The plot is one of the most intricate I've seen. I mean... just wow. We need Detective Conan.

60% OFF Aiseesoft Mac DVD Ripper Platinum Coupon Code

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60% OFF Aiseesoft Mac iPhone 4 Transfer Platinum Coupon Code

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Aiseesoft Mac iPhone 4 Transfer Platinum discount coupons:

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Aiseesoft Mac iPhone 4 Transfer Platinum Review:

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Quick Anime Review 2: Haganai, Papakiki, Oreimo

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A friend of mine recommended that I watch Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!, and Ore No Imouto Ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai (titles nowadays..). Keep in mind that I'm not an otaku or hardcore anime fan but I'll write here my opinions as I watched them.

Also I noticed recently that these animes has a shorter title made probably by the fans.

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (Haganai)

The first thing that caught my eye was the glittery and glossy graphics and the best character designs I've seen in a while. Obvious CG effects on the bus and scenery. The soundtrack was OK but nothing dimemorable. The core of the plot was about finding the protagonist's best friend. I've already seen lots of anime with this plot (Nogizaka, Ninomiya-kun) and it's kinda getting old. However, they made a few changes so it did stand out a little from the crowd. Did I also mentioned that the characters were so KAWAII!

Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai! (Papakiki)

The graphics and character design took a step back compared to Haganai but offered a unique story. The plot feature the struggles of a college uncle while taking care of three nieces. It still has a fraction of the childhood friend story but it's not really an important part. The characters are alright and there's this one character who looks like someone from HOTD. I also love the soundtrack of this anime.

Ore No Imouto Ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai (Oreimo)

Of the three anime I've watched, I enjoyed Ore No Imouto's plot the most. Though not completely unique (otaku plot was also used in Nogizaka) and is similar to Haruhi Suzumiya, the characters were distinct and interesting, the conflict was natural, and funny dialogs. I like conversatino between Kirino and Kuroneko and speaking of the black cat, she has that Rozen Maiden aura and also reminds me of Kobato from Haganai; even her background music is Rozen Maiden inspired. The eyecatchers for each episode alludes to other anime. For graphics, this is the last placer on the trio.



Ranking:

Graphics:
1. Haganai
2. Papakiki
3. Oreimo

Story:
1. Oreimo
2. Papakiki
3. Haganai

Originality of Plot:
1. Papakiki
2. Oreimo; tied with
2. Haganai

Originality of Characters:
1. Haganai
2. Oreimo
3. Papakiki

Soundtrack:
1. Papakiki
2. Oreimo
3. Haganai

Goodbye Casio LK-50, Hello Casio CTK-660L

To contact us Click HERE
My LK-50 keyboard started failing a year ago. Initially, the problem was the last 5 keys of the keyboard won't respond anymore. Last week, the problem got worse; the right half keys of the keyboard won't work.

I began searching for a replacement keyboard. Buying brand new is too expensive so this will be my first purchase of a second hand item. I browsed Sulit and AyosDito for the replacement.

The specifications I'm looking for were:
* has touch response (or velocity sensitivity)
* has MIDI port
* has assignable jack for pedal and audio out
* at least 61 keys
* don't exceed 5000 pesos

I found two keyboards at Sulit: a Yamaha PSR-172 and a PSR-220. I got excited because it will be my first time to own a Yamaha. The PSR-172 costs 500 peso more than the PSR-220 but the former looked cleaner and newer. After extensive research, I found out that the PSR-172 has no touch response so I went for the PSR-220. I contacted the seller but he told me that he had already sold the keyboard YESTERDAY. Oh well, back to the search.

I looked this time on AyosDito. I found a Casio keyboard that only costs 4000 pesos. I searched for the features of that model but I was surprised when even the Casio website has no page for this model. The product description said that the keyboard was an import from Japan. It has touch response and more pictures showed that it has MIDI port and assignable jack.

Meeting up with the seller (a middle-aged lady), she told me the product is in good condition and only slightly used (by a kid). She reminded me that this adaptor must be plugged on a 110V source so I need a transformer. The writings on the instrument is in Japanese but the screen is in English.

I brought the product home to test it and it sounded EXACTLY like my old LK-50 except this model has reverb feature so it sounded a tad better. The buttons and interface were extremely similar so I got familiarized with the controls quickly.

Overall, the CTK-660L is a direct upgrade over LK-50: it has the features of my old keyboard plus a few more. The only drawback maybe the Japanese writings all over it but it is quickly outweighed when I heard the DORAEMON theme playing from the sound bank. I was satisfied.

EDIT:
I noticed that the CTK-660L's stereo speakers were not as good as LK-50 and the keys of the CTK-660L feels 'shallow'  than LK-50's.

Trolling with Microsoft Sam on TF2

To contact us Click HERE
I found a 3.5mm cable lying around so I decided to experiment. I plugged one end in the earphone jack of my Windows XP laptop and the other end in mic jack the Windows 7 desktop. As expected, the sound played on my laptop were received as mic input. Then I got this bright idea of using XP Text-to-speech Sam to use as voice communication in TF2.

"Hello everyone on skial server. My name is Microsoft Sam"

People burst out LOLs and giggles.

MotleyHar: Hey Microsoft Sam, say my name.

"Mot-li-har"

MotleyHar: I love you.

Playing while typing was a challenge. So I played mostly Engineer so I can at least contribute while mic spamming.

"Spy around the base"
"Incoming Heavy Medic"

Since I'm typing on the other computer, I'm often caught with my pants down.

"Oh shit"
"Fuck you"

My laptop is running low on batteries so I think it's time to say goodbye.

"I'm leaving now guys. My batteries are running low."

Everyone bid farewell to Microsoft Sam.

"Don't forget to buy Microsoft Windows 8 on october 2012"

And everyone laughed their bottoms off.

 ----
THERAPIST: he sounds like that guy in the wheelchair, who was it again?
Microsoft Sam: you mean Stephen King
[some guy in the text chat]: It's Stephen Hawking.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL

Shinryaku! Ika Musume Anime Review

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My sister once told me about an anime about a girl that has tentacles, can spit ink, and light up like a squid. I thought how out-of-this-world animes these days had become.


For some crazy reason, I decided to watch the first episode of Ika Musume and since then, I got hooked into it.


The graphics are average but the character design is cute especially for the titular character. There are times when the animation is not smooth but it does not detract me so much.


"Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~!..." The soundtrack is addicting. The OPs are lively electronic music which are common for a young audiences' show. Somehow, I find the first season's OP better than the second season's but that's just my opinion.



Contrast to the OP, the ED of this anime is calm and acoustic. All EDs of this Anime including the OVA are my favorites.


The show's episodic structure is different. Each episode is divided into three short stories. I heard each chapter of the manga has only 8 pages. This three-story-in-one kinda reminds me of Doraemon.



The plot is okay, considering it's for younger demographics. It's not as deep as Rozen Maiden or as complex as Death Note but it sure gave me a good laugh. It is mostly comedy but once in a while, some drama will occur.

Ilang trivia sa Filipino Modern Culture

To contact us Click HERE
na natutunan ko sa Araling Panlipunan 12 (at pati na rin Music Literature 13) ng UP Diliman:

Bakit nga ba walang relo ang mga mall? Bakit (madalas sa mga lumang mall) walang bintana?
Para daw hindi mo mapansin na lumipas ang oras. Para hindi mo maisip na "Uy, hapon na pala. Uuwi na ako."

Bakit magkaharap ang upuan ng jeep at LRT?
Dahil ang mga Pilipino ay communal at mahilig makipag-usap, natural lang na magkaharap ang mga magkaupo para madali silang makipag-usap.

Eh bakit tulog yung mga nakaupo sa LRT o yung ilang tao sa jeep?
Kapag tulog ka sa jeep, hindi mo na obligasyon na mag-abot ng pamasahe ng iba. Kapag tulog ka sa LRT, meron kang excuse para hindi magpa-upo ng ibang tao. At saka, dahil ang nakikita mo lang kapag nakaupo ka sa LRT ay ang mga puwit at pang-ibaba ng mga taong nakatayo, mas mabuting matulog ka na lang.

"Filipino is not the language of the learned." Totoo ba iyan?
Tignan mo ang science o math subject mo. Filipino ba ang wikang panturo? Tignan mo yung mga professionals. Filipino pa rin ba ang ginagamit nila sa trabaho?

Mali ba ang "Filipino Time"? Ano ang sinasabi nito para sa ating mga Filipino?
Una, walang tama o mali pagdating sa kultura. Kung sa palagay mo mali ang tradition ng mga Eskimo, para sa kanila normal lang iyon.
Ang Filipino Time ay galing pa sa mga ninuno natin. Dahil wala pang orasan, sa kapaligiran sila tumitingin upang malaman ang oras. Gigising na kapag sumikat ang araw, tanghalian at siesta kapag tirik ang araw, at tulog na kapag gabi.
Isa rin sa ugat ng Filipino Time ang pagiging mapagmalasakit sa kapwa. Tignan ang halimbawang scenario:

[magsisimula ang meeting ng 10 AM. 10:07 AM na ngunit wala pa rin si Juan]
Pedro: Saan na si Juan? Sisimulan na ba natin ang pulong?
Sebastian: Teka, hintayin muna natin si Juan. Malapit na yun.

Goodbye Casio LK-50, Hello Casio CTK-660L

My LK-50 keyboard started failing a year ago. Initially, the problem was the last 5 keys of the keyboard won't respond anymore. Last week, the problem got worse; the right half keys of the keyboard won't work.

I began searching for a replacement keyboard. Buying brand new is too expensive so this will be my first purchase of a second hand item. I browsed Sulit and AyosDito for the replacement.

The specifications I'm looking for were:
* has touch response (or velocity sensitivity)
* has MIDI port
* has assignable jack for pedal and audio out
* at least 61 keys
* don't exceed 5000 pesos

I found two keyboards at Sulit: a Yamaha PSR-172 and a PSR-220. I got excited because it will be my first time to own a Yamaha. The PSR-172 costs 500 peso more than the PSR-220 but the former looked cleaner and newer. After extensive research, I found out that the PSR-172 has no touch response so I went for the PSR-220. I contacted the seller but he told me that he had already sold the keyboard YESTERDAY. Oh well, back to the search.

I looked this time on AyosDito. I found a Casio keyboard that only costs 4000 pesos. I searched for the features of that model but I was surprised when even the Casio website has no page for this model. The product description said that the keyboard was an import from Japan. It has touch response and more pictures showed that it has MIDI port and assignable jack.

Meeting up with the seller (a middle-aged lady), she told me the product is in good condition and only slightly used (by a kid). She reminded me that this adaptor must be plugged on a 110V source so I need a transformer. The writings on the instrument is in Japanese but the screen is in English.

I brought the product home to test it and it sounded EXACTLY like my old LK-50 except this model has reverb feature so it sounded a tad better. The buttons and interface were extremely similar so I got familiarized with the controls quickly.

Overall, the CTK-660L is a direct upgrade over LK-50: it has the features of my old keyboard plus a few more. The only drawback maybe the Japanese writings all over it but it is quickly outweighed when I heard the DORAEMON theme playing from the sound bank. I was satisfied.

EDIT:
I noticed that the CTK-660L's stereo speakers were not as good as LK-50 and the keys of the CTK-660L feels 'shallow'  than LK-50's.

Trolling with Microsoft Sam on TF2

I found a 3.5mm cable lying around so I decided to experiment. I plugged one end in the earphone jack of my Windows XP laptop and the other end in mic jack the Windows 7 desktop. As expected, the sound played on my laptop were received as mic input. Then I got this bright idea of using XP Text-to-speech Sam to use as voice communication in TF2.

"Hello everyone on skial server. My name is Microsoft Sam"

People burst out LOLs and giggles.

MotleyHar: Hey Microsoft Sam, say my name.

"Mot-li-har"

MotleyHar: I love you.

Playing while typing was a challenge. So I played mostly Engineer so I can at least contribute while mic spamming.

"Spy around the base"
"Incoming Heavy Medic"

Since I'm typing on the other computer, I'm often caught with my pants down.

"Oh shit"
"Fuck you"

My laptop is running low on batteries so I think it's time to say goodbye.

"I'm leaving now guys. My batteries are running low."

Everyone bid farewell to Microsoft Sam.

"Don't forget to buy Microsoft Windows 8 on october 2012"

And everyone laughed their bottoms off.

 ----
THERAPIST: he sounds like that guy in the wheelchair, who was it again?
Microsoft Sam: you mean Stephen King
[some guy in the text chat]: It's Stephen Hawking.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL

Shinryaku! Ika Musume Anime Review

My sister once told me about an anime about a girl that has tentacles, can spit ink, and light up like a squid. I thought how out-of-this-world animes these days had become.


For some crazy reason, I decided to watch the first episode of Ika Musume and since then, I got hooked into it.


The graphics are average but the character design is cute especially for the titular character. There are times when the animation is not smooth but it does not detract me so much.


"Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~!..." The soundtrack is addicting. The OPs are lively electronic music which are common for a young audiences' show. Somehow, I find the first season's OP better than the second season's but that's just my opinion.



Contrast to the OP, the ED of this anime is calm and acoustic. All EDs of this Anime including the OVA are my favorites.


The show's episodic structure is different. Each episode is divided into three short stories. I heard each chapter of the manga has only 8 pages. This three-story-in-one kinda reminds me of Doraemon.



The plot is okay, considering it's for younger demographics. It's not as deep as Rozen Maiden or as complex as Death Note but it sure gave me a good laugh. It is mostly comedy but once in a while, some drama will occur.

Ilang trivia sa Filipino Modern Culture

na natutunan ko sa Araling Panlipunan 12 (at pati na rin Music Literature 13) ng UP Diliman:

Bakit nga ba walang relo ang mga mall? Bakit (madalas sa mga lumang mall) walang bintana?
Para daw hindi mo mapansin na lumipas ang oras. Para hindi mo maisip na "Uy, hapon na pala. Uuwi na ako."

Bakit magkaharap ang upuan ng jeep at LRT?
Dahil ang mga Pilipino ay communal at mahilig makipag-usap, natural lang na magkaharap ang mga magkaupo para madali silang makipag-usap.

Eh bakit tulog yung mga nakaupo sa LRT o yung ilang tao sa jeep?
Kapag tulog ka sa jeep, hindi mo na obligasyon na mag-abot ng pamasahe ng iba. Kapag tulog ka sa LRT, meron kang excuse para hindi magpa-upo ng ibang tao. At saka, dahil ang nakikita mo lang kapag nakaupo ka sa LRT ay ang mga puwit at pang-ibaba ng mga taong nakatayo, mas mabuting matulog ka na lang.

"Filipino is not the language of the learned." Totoo ba iyan?
Tignan mo ang science o math subject mo. Filipino ba ang wikang panturo? Tignan mo yung mga professionals. Filipino pa rin ba ang ginagamit nila sa trabaho?

Mali ba ang "Filipino Time"? Ano ang sinasabi nito para sa ating mga Filipino?
Una, walang tama o mali pagdating sa kultura. Kung sa palagay mo mali ang tradition ng mga Eskimo, para sa kanila normal lang iyon.
Ang Filipino Time ay galing pa sa mga ninuno natin. Dahil wala pang orasan, sa kapaligiran sila tumitingin upang malaman ang oras. Gigising na kapag sumikat ang araw, tanghalian at siesta kapag tirik ang araw, at tulog na kapag gabi.
Isa rin sa ugat ng Filipino Time ang pagiging mapagmalasakit sa kapwa. Tignan ang halimbawang scenario:

[magsisimula ang meeting ng 10 AM. 10:07 AM na ngunit wala pa rin si Juan]
Pedro: Saan na si Juan? Sisimulan na ba natin ang pulong?
Sebastian: Teka, hintayin muna natin si Juan. Malapit na yun.

Goodbye Casio LK-50, Hello Casio CTK-660L

My LK-50 keyboard started failing a year ago. Initially, the problem was the last 5 keys of the keyboard won't respond anymore. Last week, the problem got worse; the right half keys of the keyboard won't work.

I began searching for a replacement keyboard. Buying brand new is too expensive so this will be my first purchase of a second hand item. I browsed Sulit and AyosDito for the replacement.

The specifications I'm looking for were:
* has touch response (or velocity sensitivity)
* has MIDI port
* has assignable jack for pedal and audio out
* at least 61 keys
* don't exceed 5000 pesos

I found two keyboards at Sulit: a Yamaha PSR-172 and a PSR-220. I got excited because it will be my first time to own a Yamaha. The PSR-172 costs 500 peso more than the PSR-220 but the former looked cleaner and newer. After extensive research, I found out that the PSR-172 has no touch response so I went for the PSR-220. I contacted the seller but he told me that he had already sold the keyboard YESTERDAY. Oh well, back to the search.

I looked this time on AyosDito. I found a Casio keyboard that only costs 4000 pesos. I searched for the features of that model but I was surprised when even the Casio website has no page for this model. The product description said that the keyboard was an import from Japan. It has touch response and more pictures showed that it has MIDI port and assignable jack.

Meeting up with the seller (a middle-aged lady), she told me the product is in good condition and only slightly used (by a kid). She reminded me that this adaptor must be plugged on a 110V source so I need a transformer. The writings on the instrument is in Japanese but the screen is in English.

I brought the product home to test it and it sounded EXACTLY like my old LK-50 except this model has reverb feature so it sounded a tad better. The buttons and interface were extremely similar so I got familiarized with the controls quickly.

Overall, the CTK-660L is a direct upgrade over LK-50: it has the features of my old keyboard plus a few more. The only drawback maybe the Japanese writings all over it but it is quickly outweighed when I heard the DORAEMON theme playing from the sound bank. I was satisfied.

EDIT:
I noticed that the CTK-660L's stereo speakers were not as good as LK-50 and the keys of the CTK-660L feels 'shallow'  than LK-50's.

Shinryaku! Ika Musume Anime Review

My sister once told me about an anime about a girl that has tentacles, can spit ink, and light up like a squid. I thought how out-of-this-world animes these days had become.


For some crazy reason, I decided to watch the first episode of Ika Musume and since then, I got hooked into it.


The graphics are average but the character design is cute especially for the titular character. There are times when the animation is not smooth but it does not detract me so much.


"Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~!..." The soundtrack is addicting. The OPs are lively electronic music which are common for a young audiences' show. Somehow, I find the first season's OP better than the second season's but that's just my opinion.



Contrast to the OP, the ED of this anime is calm and acoustic. All EDs of this Anime including the OVA are my favorites.


The show's episodic structure is different. Each episode is divided into three short stories. I heard each chapter of the manga has only 8 pages. This three-story-in-one kinda reminds me of Doraemon.



The plot is okay, considering it's for younger demographics. It's not as deep as Rozen Maiden or as complex as Death Note but it sure gave me a good laugh. It is mostly comedy but once in a while, some drama will occur.

Ilang trivia sa Filipino Modern Culture

na natutunan ko sa Araling Panlipunan 12 (at pati na rin Music Literature 13) ng UP Diliman:

Bakit nga ba walang relo ang mga mall? Bakit (madalas sa mga lumang mall) walang bintana?
Para daw hindi mo mapansin na lumipas ang oras. Para hindi mo maisip na "Uy, hapon na pala. Uuwi na ako."

Bakit magkaharap ang upuan ng jeep at LRT?
Dahil ang mga Pilipino ay communal at mahilig makipag-usap, natural lang na magkaharap ang mga magkaupo para madali silang makipag-usap.

Eh bakit tulog yung mga nakaupo sa LRT o yung ilang tao sa jeep?
Kapag tulog ka sa jeep, hindi mo na obligasyon na mag-abot ng pamasahe ng iba. Kapag tulog ka sa LRT, meron kang excuse para hindi magpa-upo ng ibang tao. At saka, dahil ang nakikita mo lang kapag nakaupo ka sa LRT ay ang mga puwit at pang-ibaba ng mga taong nakatayo, mas mabuting matulog ka na lang.

"Filipino is not the language of the learned." Totoo ba iyan?
Tignan mo ang science o math subject mo. Filipino ba ang wikang panturo? Tignan mo yung mga professionals. Filipino pa rin ba ang ginagamit nila sa trabaho?

Mali ba ang "Filipino Time"? Ano ang sinasabi nito para sa ating mga Filipino?
Una, walang tama o mali pagdating sa kultura. Kung sa palagay mo mali ang tradition ng mga Eskimo, para sa kanila normal lang iyon.
Ang Filipino Time ay galing pa sa mga ninuno natin. Dahil wala pang orasan, sa kapaligiran sila tumitingin upang malaman ang oras. Gigising na kapag sumikat ang araw, tanghalian at siesta kapag tirik ang araw, at tulog na kapag gabi.
Isa rin sa ugat ng Filipino Time ang pagiging mapagmalasakit sa kapwa. Tignan ang halimbawang scenario:

[magsisimula ang meeting ng 10 AM. 10:07 AM na ngunit wala pa rin si Juan]
Pedro: Saan na si Juan? Sisimulan na ba natin ang pulong?
Sebastian: Teka, hintayin muna natin si Juan. Malapit na yun.

Goodbye Casio LK-50, Hello Casio CTK-660L

My LK-50 keyboard started failing a year ago. Initially, the problem was the last 5 keys of the keyboard won't respond anymore. Last week, the problem got worse; the right half keys of the keyboard won't work.

I began searching for a replacement keyboard. Buying brand new is too expensive so this will be my first purchase of a second hand item. I browsed Sulit and AyosDito for the replacement.

The specifications I'm looking for were:
* has touch response (or velocity sensitivity)
* has MIDI port
* has assignable jack for pedal and audio out
* at least 61 keys
* don't exceed 5000 pesos

I found two keyboards at Sulit: a Yamaha PSR-172 and a PSR-220. I got excited because it will be my first time to own a Yamaha. The PSR-172 costs 500 peso more than the PSR-220 but the former looked cleaner and newer. After extensive research, I found out that the PSR-172 has no touch response so I went for the PSR-220. I contacted the seller but he told me that he had already sold the keyboard YESTERDAY. Oh well, back to the search.

I looked this time on AyosDito. I found a Casio keyboard that only costs 4000 pesos. I searched for the features of that model but I was surprised when even the Casio website has no page for this model. The product description said that the keyboard was an import from Japan. It has touch response and more pictures showed that it has MIDI port and assignable jack.

Meeting up with the seller (a middle-aged lady), she told me the product is in good condition and only slightly used (by a kid). She reminded me that this adaptor must be plugged on a 110V source so I need a transformer. The writings on the instrument is in Japanese but the screen is in English.

I brought the product home to test it and it sounded EXACTLY like my old LK-50 except this model has reverb feature so it sounded a tad better. The buttons and interface were extremely similar so I got familiarized with the controls quickly.

Overall, the CTK-660L is a direct upgrade over LK-50: it has the features of my old keyboard plus a few more. The only drawback maybe the Japanese writings all over it but it is quickly outweighed when I heard the DORAEMON theme playing from the sound bank. I was satisfied.

EDIT:
I noticed that the CTK-660L's stereo speakers were not as good as LK-50 and the keys of the CTK-660L feels 'shallow'  than LK-50's.

Trolling with Microsoft Sam on TF2

I found a 3.5mm cable lying around so I decided to experiment. I plugged one end in the earphone jack of my Windows XP laptop and the other end in mic jack the Windows 7 desktop. As expected, the sound played on my laptop were received as mic input. Then I got this bright idea of using XP Text-to-speech Sam to use as voice communication in TF2.

"Hello everyone on skial server. My name is Microsoft Sam"

People burst out LOLs and giggles.

MotleyHar: Hey Microsoft Sam, say my name.

"Mot-li-har"

MotleyHar: I love you.

Playing while typing was a challenge. So I played mostly Engineer so I can at least contribute while mic spamming.

"Spy around the base"
"Incoming Heavy Medic"

Since I'm typing on the other computer, I'm often caught with my pants down.

"Oh shit"
"Fuck you"

My laptop is running low on batteries so I think it's time to say goodbye.

"I'm leaving now guys. My batteries are running low."

Everyone bid farewell to Microsoft Sam.

"Don't forget to buy Microsoft Windows 8 on october 2012"

And everyone laughed their bottoms off.

 ----
THERAPIST: he sounds like that guy in the wheelchair, who was it again?
Microsoft Sam: you mean Stephen King
[some guy in the text chat]: It's Stephen Hawking.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL

Shinryaku! Ika Musume Anime Review

My sister once told me about an anime about a girl that has tentacles, can spit ink, and light up like a squid. I thought how out-of-this-world animes these days had become.


For some crazy reason, I decided to watch the first episode of Ika Musume and since then, I got hooked into it.


The graphics are average but the character design is cute especially for the titular character. There are times when the animation is not smooth but it does not detract me so much.


"Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~!..." The soundtrack is addicting. The OPs are lively electronic music which are common for a young audiences' show. Somehow, I find the first season's OP better than the second season's but that's just my opinion.



Contrast to the OP, the ED of this anime is calm and acoustic. All EDs of this Anime including the OVA are my favorites.


The show's episodic structure is different. Each episode is divided into three short stories. I heard each chapter of the manga has only 8 pages. This three-story-in-one kinda reminds me of Doraemon.



The plot is okay, considering it's for younger demographics. It's not as deep as Rozen Maiden or as complex as Death Note but it sure gave me a good laugh. It is mostly comedy but once in a while, some drama will occur.

Ilang trivia sa Filipino Modern Culture

na natutunan ko sa Araling Panlipunan 12 (at pati na rin Music Literature 13) ng UP Diliman:

Bakit nga ba walang relo ang mga mall? Bakit (madalas sa mga lumang mall) walang bintana?
Para daw hindi mo mapansin na lumipas ang oras. Para hindi mo maisip na "Uy, hapon na pala. Uuwi na ako."

Bakit magkaharap ang upuan ng jeep at LRT?
Dahil ang mga Pilipino ay communal at mahilig makipag-usap, natural lang na magkaharap ang mga magkaupo para madali silang makipag-usap.

Eh bakit tulog yung mga nakaupo sa LRT o yung ilang tao sa jeep?
Kapag tulog ka sa jeep, hindi mo na obligasyon na mag-abot ng pamasahe ng iba. Kapag tulog ka sa LRT, meron kang excuse para hindi magpa-upo ng ibang tao. At saka, dahil ang nakikita mo lang kapag nakaupo ka sa LRT ay ang mga puwit at pang-ibaba ng mga taong nakatayo, mas mabuting matulog ka na lang.

"Filipino is not the language of the learned." Totoo ba iyan?
Tignan mo ang science o math subject mo. Filipino ba ang wikang panturo? Tignan mo yung mga professionals. Filipino pa rin ba ang ginagamit nila sa trabaho?

Mali ba ang "Filipino Time"? Ano ang sinasabi nito para sa ating mga Filipino?
Una, walang tama o mali pagdating sa kultura. Kung sa palagay mo mali ang tradition ng mga Eskimo, para sa kanila normal lang iyon.
Ang Filipino Time ay galing pa sa mga ninuno natin. Dahil wala pang orasan, sa kapaligiran sila tumitingin upang malaman ang oras. Gigising na kapag sumikat ang araw, tanghalian at siesta kapag tirik ang araw, at tulog na kapag gabi.
Isa rin sa ugat ng Filipino Time ang pagiging mapagmalasakit sa kapwa. Tignan ang halimbawang scenario:

[magsisimula ang meeting ng 10 AM. 10:07 AM na ngunit wala pa rin si Juan]
Pedro: Saan na si Juan? Sisimulan na ba natin ang pulong?
Sebastian: Teka, hintayin muna natin si Juan. Malapit na yun.

Goodbye Casio LK-50, Hello Casio CTK-660L

My LK-50 keyboard started failing a year ago. Initially, the problem was the last 5 keys of the keyboard won't respond anymore. Last week, the problem got worse; the right half keys of the keyboard won't work.

I began searching for a replacement keyboard. Buying brand new is too expensive so this will be my first purchase of a second hand item. I browsed Sulit and AyosDito for the replacement.

The specifications I'm looking for were:
* has touch response (or velocity sensitivity)
* has MIDI port
* has assignable jack for pedal and audio out
* at least 61 keys
* don't exceed 5000 pesos

I found two keyboards at Sulit: a Yamaha PSR-172 and a PSR-220. I got excited because it will be my first time to own a Yamaha. The PSR-172 costs 500 peso more than the PSR-220 but the former looked cleaner and newer. After extensive research, I found out that the PSR-172 has no touch response so I went for the PSR-220. I contacted the seller but he told me that he had already sold the keyboard YESTERDAY. Oh well, back to the search.

I looked this time on AyosDito. I found a Casio keyboard that only costs 4000 pesos. I searched for the features of that model but I was surprised when even the Casio website has no page for this model. The product description said that the keyboard was an import from Japan. It has touch response and more pictures showed that it has MIDI port and assignable jack.

Meeting up with the seller (a middle-aged lady), she told me the product is in good condition and only slightly used (by a kid). She reminded me that this adaptor must be plugged on a 110V source so I need a transformer. The writings on the instrument is in Japanese but the screen is in English.

I brought the product home to test it and it sounded EXACTLY like my old LK-50 except this model has reverb feature so it sounded a tad better. The buttons and interface were extremely similar so I got familiarized with the controls quickly.

Overall, the CTK-660L is a direct upgrade over LK-50: it has the features of my old keyboard plus a few more. The only drawback maybe the Japanese writings all over it but it is quickly outweighed when I heard the DORAEMON theme playing from the sound bank. I was satisfied.

EDIT:
I noticed that the CTK-660L's stereo speakers were not as good as LK-50 and the keys of the CTK-660L feels 'shallow'  than LK-50's.

Trolling with Microsoft Sam on TF2

I found a 3.5mm cable lying around so I decided to experiment. I plugged one end in the earphone jack of my Windows XP laptop and the other end in mic jack the Windows 7 desktop. As expected, the sound played on my laptop were received as mic input. Then I got this bright idea of using XP Text-to-speech Sam to use as voice communication in TF2.

"Hello everyone on skial server. My name is Microsoft Sam"

People burst out LOLs and giggles.

MotleyHar: Hey Microsoft Sam, say my name.

"Mot-li-har"

MotleyHar: I love you.

Playing while typing was a challenge. So I played mostly Engineer so I can at least contribute while mic spamming.

"Spy around the base"
"Incoming Heavy Medic"

Since I'm typing on the other computer, I'm often caught with my pants down.

"Oh shit"
"Fuck you"

My laptop is running low on batteries so I think it's time to say goodbye.

"I'm leaving now guys. My batteries are running low."

Everyone bid farewell to Microsoft Sam.

"Don't forget to buy Microsoft Windows 8 on october 2012"

And everyone laughed their bottoms off.

 ----
THERAPIST: he sounds like that guy in the wheelchair, who was it again?
Microsoft Sam: you mean Stephen King
[some guy in the text chat]: It's Stephen Hawking.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL

Shinryaku! Ika Musume Anime Review

My sister once told me about an anime about a girl that has tentacles, can spit ink, and light up like a squid. I thought how out-of-this-world animes these days had become.


For some crazy reason, I decided to watch the first episode of Ika Musume and since then, I got hooked into it.


The graphics are average but the character design is cute especially for the titular character. There are times when the animation is not smooth but it does not detract me so much.


"Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~!..." The soundtrack is addicting. The OPs are lively electronic music which are common for a young audiences' show. Somehow, I find the first season's OP better than the second season's but that's just my opinion.



Contrast to the OP, the ED of this anime is calm and acoustic. All EDs of this Anime including the OVA are my favorites.


The show's episodic structure is different. Each episode is divided into three short stories. I heard each chapter of the manga has only 8 pages. This three-story-in-one kinda reminds me of Doraemon.



The plot is okay, considering it's for younger demographics. It's not as deep as Rozen Maiden or as complex as Death Note but it sure gave me a good laugh. It is mostly comedy but once in a while, some drama will occur.

Ilang trivia sa Filipino Modern Culture

na natutunan ko sa Araling Panlipunan 12 (at pati na rin Music Literature 13) ng UP Diliman:

Bakit nga ba walang relo ang mga mall? Bakit (madalas sa mga lumang mall) walang bintana?
Para daw hindi mo mapansin na lumipas ang oras. Para hindi mo maisip na "Uy, hapon na pala. Uuwi na ako."

Bakit magkaharap ang upuan ng jeep at LRT?
Dahil ang mga Pilipino ay communal at mahilig makipag-usap, natural lang na magkaharap ang mga magkaupo para madali silang makipag-usap.

Eh bakit tulog yung mga nakaupo sa LRT o yung ilang tao sa jeep?
Kapag tulog ka sa jeep, hindi mo na obligasyon na mag-abot ng pamasahe ng iba. Kapag tulog ka sa LRT, meron kang excuse para hindi magpa-upo ng ibang tao. At saka, dahil ang nakikita mo lang kapag nakaupo ka sa LRT ay ang mga puwit at pang-ibaba ng mga taong nakatayo, mas mabuting matulog ka na lang.

"Filipino is not the language of the learned." Totoo ba iyan?
Tignan mo ang science o math subject mo. Filipino ba ang wikang panturo? Tignan mo yung mga professionals. Filipino pa rin ba ang ginagamit nila sa trabaho?

Mali ba ang "Filipino Time"? Ano ang sinasabi nito para sa ating mga Filipino?
Una, walang tama o mali pagdating sa kultura. Kung sa palagay mo mali ang tradition ng mga Eskimo, para sa kanila normal lang iyon.
Ang Filipino Time ay galing pa sa mga ninuno natin. Dahil wala pang orasan, sa kapaligiran sila tumitingin upang malaman ang oras. Gigising na kapag sumikat ang araw, tanghalian at siesta kapag tirik ang araw, at tulog na kapag gabi.
Isa rin sa ugat ng Filipino Time ang pagiging mapagmalasakit sa kapwa. Tignan ang halimbawang scenario:

[magsisimula ang meeting ng 10 AM. 10:07 AM na ngunit wala pa rin si Juan]
Pedro: Saan na si Juan? Sisimulan na ba natin ang pulong?
Sebastian: Teka, hintayin muna natin si Juan. Malapit na yun.

Goodbye Casio LK-50, Hello Casio CTK-660L

My LK-50 keyboard started failing a year ago. Initially, the problem was the last 5 keys of the keyboard won't respond anymore. Last week, the problem got worse; the right half keys of the keyboard won't work.

I began searching for a replacement keyboard. Buying brand new is too expensive so this will be my first purchase of a second hand item. I browsed Sulit and AyosDito for the replacement.

The specifications I'm looking for were:
* has touch response (or velocity sensitivity)
* has MIDI port
* has assignable jack for pedal and audio out
* at least 61 keys
* don't exceed 5000 pesos

I found two keyboards at Sulit: a Yamaha PSR-172 and a PSR-220. I got excited because it will be my first time to own a Yamaha. The PSR-172 costs 500 peso more than the PSR-220 but the former looked cleaner and newer. After extensive research, I found out that the PSR-172 has no touch response so I went for the PSR-220. I contacted the seller but he told me that he had already sold the keyboard YESTERDAY. Oh well, back to the search.

I looked this time on AyosDito. I found a Casio keyboard that only costs 4000 pesos. I searched for the features of that model but I was surprised when even the Casio website has no page for this model. The product description said that the keyboard was an import from Japan. It has touch response and more pictures showed that it has MIDI port and assignable jack.

Meeting up with the seller (a middle-aged lady), she told me the product is in good condition and only slightly used (by a kid). She reminded me that this adaptor must be plugged on a 110V source so I need a transformer. The writings on the instrument is in Japanese but the screen is in English.

I brought the product home to test it and it sounded EXACTLY like my old LK-50 except this model has reverb feature so it sounded a tad better. The buttons and interface were extremely similar so I got familiarized with the controls quickly.

Overall, the CTK-660L is a direct upgrade over LK-50: it has the features of my old keyboard plus a few more. The only drawback maybe the Japanese writings all over it but it is quickly outweighed when I heard the DORAEMON theme playing from the sound bank. I was satisfied.

EDIT:
I noticed that the CTK-660L's stereo speakers were not as good as LK-50 and the keys of the CTK-660L feels 'shallow'  than LK-50's.

Trolling with Microsoft Sam on TF2

I found a 3.5mm cable lying around so I decided to experiment. I plugged one end in the earphone jack of my Windows XP laptop and the other end in mic jack the Windows 7 desktop. As expected, the sound played on my laptop were received as mic input. Then I got this bright idea of using XP Text-to-speech Sam to use as voice communication in TF2.

"Hello everyone on skial server. My name is Microsoft Sam"

People burst out LOLs and giggles.

MotleyHar: Hey Microsoft Sam, say my name.

"Mot-li-har"

MotleyHar: I love you.

Playing while typing was a challenge. So I played mostly Engineer so I can at least contribute while mic spamming.

"Spy around the base"
"Incoming Heavy Medic"

Since I'm typing on the other computer, I'm often caught with my pants down.

"Oh shit"
"Fuck you"

My laptop is running low on batteries so I think it's time to say goodbye.

"I'm leaving now guys. My batteries are running low."

Everyone bid farewell to Microsoft Sam.

"Don't forget to buy Microsoft Windows 8 on october 2012"

And everyone laughed their bottoms off.

 ----
THERAPIST: he sounds like that guy in the wheelchair, who was it again?
Microsoft Sam: you mean Stephen King
[some guy in the text chat]: It's Stephen Hawking.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL

Shinryaku! Ika Musume Anime Review

My sister once told me about an anime about a girl that has tentacles, can spit ink, and light up like a squid. I thought how out-of-this-world animes these days had become.


For some crazy reason, I decided to watch the first episode of Ika Musume and since then, I got hooked into it.


The graphics are average but the character design is cute especially for the titular character. There are times when the animation is not smooth but it does not detract me so much.


"Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~! Shinryaku~!..." The soundtrack is addicting. The OPs are lively electronic music which are common for a young audiences' show. Somehow, I find the first season's OP better than the second season's but that's just my opinion.



Contrast to the OP, the ED of this anime is calm and acoustic. All EDs of this Anime including the OVA are my favorites.


The show's episodic structure is different. Each episode is divided into three short stories. I heard each chapter of the manga has only 8 pages. This three-story-in-one kinda reminds me of Doraemon.



The plot is okay, considering it's for younger demographics. It's not as deep as Rozen Maiden or as complex as Death Note but it sure gave me a good laugh. It is mostly comedy but once in a while, some drama will occur.