A Top Nerd

Posted on December 23, 2011 | Filed in Online Odysseys | Leave a comment

Since I started playing Game of Nerds, I’ve set my ambition high: to be the top nerd and be included in the Hall of Fame. But try as I might, I couldn’t even secure a spot in the top 100. My best high score last season (Season 2), although it was the highest among my friends, was still a thousand or so points shy of beating the 100th nerd. And so Season 2 ended with me hiding in the relative anonymity of my profile, with top marks in science subjects — 86% in Chemistry, 77% in Physics, 74% in Biology, 73% in Mathematics, and 71% in Astronomy — as a consolation. Anyway, that was history.

Just this morning, Game of Nerds opened its doors again to their veteran nerds. December 23, as far as I know, is not my lucky day but for some reason, most of the categories that flashed on screen (given at random) were science-related. I answered the questions like a shark hungry for a taste of blood. The score went a hundred, and then a thousand. And then two thousand. That’s it! A new high score for me. I was still enjoying my newly obtained victory when the time ran out (a bummer, really!), enabling me to add just another 31 points to my final score. And then, the moment of truth came with an unnerving question: did I make it to the list? And then, it just propped out of the screen… I ranked ninth! As in 9th. I did it! The screen ordered me to type in a message, but wild as I was, I only managed to place my blog URL. I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of joy and fulfillment.

But not for long! You see, I could be as competitive as I could get. So I prepped myself for another bout of nerdy action. And then another… and another — three all in all in a futile attempt to outdo my highest high score. But I didn’t. Perhaps being in the Top 100 is enough blessing for a day. On second thought, I think it actually is. Yeah, it’s a big blessing to be among the few who managed to score enough points to be included in the season’s top scorers.

And oh, before I forgot, here’s a photographic evidence of my epic rank (if I say so myself):

Top 9 Nerd
Top 9 Nerd

Have a nerdy Christmas, y’all!

Spirited Away (2001)

Posted on December 22, 2011 | Filed in Film Ratings | Comments (1)
Spirited Away

Spirited Away

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette and Miyu Irino

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Fantasy

Year Released: 2001

Runtime: 125 min.

My Rating: 3.5/5.0 (Good)

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans

Posted on December 22, 2011 | Filed in Book Reviews | Leave a comment

The Christmas List

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Reading Dates: December 19-22, 2011

Edition: HB

Genre: Inspirational

Year Published: 2009

No. of Pages: 353

My Rating: 3.5/5.0 (Good)

“Still” by Hillsong United

Posted on December 22, 2011 | Filed in Images/Sounds/Videos | Leave a comment

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When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God.

We will make it through the storms of life when we put our trust in God. He won’t abandon us in times of need. Just believe.

[More Than] Two Years Ago

Posted on December 21, 2011 | Filed in College Chronicles | Comments (1)

I was browsing my past messages on FB when I saw this particular message. It made me realize three things which were true and valid [more than] two years ago:

  1. I was fond of abbreviating words. Physics = p6; kc = kasi. Luckily, I’ve gotten rid of this annoying habit. I now type and text like a regular human being.
  2. I used various emoticons: T_T for crying, XD for “that rockability smile,” and so on. Now my choices were limited to :) , :| , and :( .
  3. I was worried about my midterm exam in General Physics I. My initial grade was 29/60 which was below the 50% cut-off. Fortunately, after a rigorous portion of checking/rechecking, I managed to get a score of 31/60. Those two points were heaven-sent because if they didn’t exist, then I would have had a failed exam in my college life. But then again, my midterm examination grade in General Physics I is currently my lowest score ever. Now I just laugh at this experience. Why was I so worried about my grades?  It’s not as if they could define me as a person. (Note: I got a high final grade in General Physics I, by the way — in case you’re wondering).

Two years is indeed a long time.

The Detractors of Life

Posted on December 21, 2011 | Filed in Rants and Raves | Enter your password to view comments.

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Love the Kids Street Party

Posted on December 19, 2011 | Filed in Events and EXP | Leave a comment

It’s been said time and time again that Christmas is a season of giving. With this in mind, we, the Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees (GRLA) went out of our ways to be together with the street children of a barangay in Cubao, Quezon City. What we organized was a simple Christmas party full of games and gift-giving for these children. Our group leader reminded us not to be overwhelmed with the trials that these children face; that we were there not to offer a permanent solution to their problems but to give them joy even just for a day. And so off we went to cater to them.

The Street Children

Each one of us was assigned to take care of two kids. I was asked to spend the day with Jemar (12) and Haren (7). Jemar is currently in the fifth grade. He proudly told me that he’s been an honor student since he started school. In fact, he ranked first in his class during the previous quarter. Haren, on the other hand, is in his first year of grade school. Like Jemar, he is also a consistent  honor student (suki ng honor roll, as he calls it). After hearing their introductions, I was elated and inspired. Poverty didn’t act as a hindrance for these two children to be achievers; instead, they treated it as a stepping stone for them to view their horizons. I, on the contrary, have taken financial matters for granted just because my parents can provide me with everything I need and almost everything I want. My respect for those who came from poor families yet  ended up successful in life only grew stronger.

With My Fellow Camp Graduates/Participants (L-R): Rashanne, Morcy, and Che-che

Before the day ended, I gave them my unwrapped gifts — Ben 10 toy cars. When I was a child, I was fascinated with the elaborate designs of super cars (the ones you don’t see in real life). I considered this thought when I chose my gifts. Luckily, the three of us share the same sentiments when it comes to super cars. Though they said their thank-you’s, the glimmer in their eyes when they held the toy cars served the same purpose, if not better.

With the Kids

We had a post-event evaluation when we had returned to the hub. We congratulated one another and thanked God because the event we organized became fruitful and successful. We promised to do the outreach project again next year.

We Are Family

It’s been said time and time again that Christmas is a season of giving… So, why not make it a daily habit?