bobreyes

BrainBench Games Ranking for the Philippines

As of 1500Z, the Philippines is ranked Number 11 in terms of Countries with Most Number of Certified Citizens (in Brainbench, of course) and 43rd as the most Certified Country (in relation to the countries population vis-a-vis the number of successful exam passers).

The ranking is online at
http://www.brainbench.com/xml/bb/landing/offer/promotion.xml?contentId=2313

I had just passed (again) my Microsoft Word 2002 Fundamentals before I had my lunch today.

My BrainBench Certifications as of 23 March 2005

As of this writing, I had already passed ten (10) current Brainbench Certifications online.

Looking at the above, I just realized that I still have to get (and pass) Microsoft Word, Excell, Acces, and PowerPoint 2002 exams. As well as VisualBasic exams.

FREE BrainBench Online Certifications!!

Did you know that from yesterday until 04 April 2005, all BrainBench (http://www.brainbench.com) Online Certifications may be taken for FREE?!

This is part of their BrainBench Games, wherein the country with the most number of certifications earned will received a prize.

Let's go, and make the Philippines hit a spot on the top.

Just finished (and passed) Computer Fundamentals (Windows XP) with a score of 3.93 .. off to taking two (02) more today before I go to lunch, and a seminar later in the afternoon.

Reasons To Be Happy This Week

A couple of reasons why should I be happy this week:

1. I have a new Linux server up and running, and I had allocated initially 10GB for my webhosting business (resellers are now welcome!).

2. The MidTerm grades of my students are distributed, and only 7 out of 40 got egg grades (0.0).

3. After being sick for a couple of days, I'm back online now!

4. It's a Friday once again, weekend once more!

Happy weekend guys & gals! Take care.

Some Statistics This Week

I am very happy this week, you know why?

Today, being a Saturday, I didn't expected that there will be an actually sign-up in my webhosting business. Thanks to the power of electronic banking, I had just configured the 101st website domain to be handled by TurfSitePH! Yippee! Yippee!

Another reason for me to be happy, is the fact that my personal website, http://www.bobreyes.com had just crossed the 11,000th hit mark.

Thanks to all the supporters of my website.

VisualBasic.Net in 24 Hours ..

You see, one of the things I enjoy of being a university professor is the privilege of borrowing up to 10 books for a period of 30 days ( a student can only borrow up to 4 books for a period of 7 days or less).

This morning, I had visited our library for the first this year (and for the first time this term, too!) with the aim of borrowing any VB/C# .Net book that will help me jumstart with my quest to learn those .Net stuff. Unfortunately, all the C# books are out, since they are new arrivals. So, I'm off to my second choice: a VB.Net book. Luckily, I saw this SAMS Teach Yourself VisualBasic .net in 24 hours (published by SAMS, and authored by James Foxwell) book. I personally had chose this book, not because it is the thinest of all the VB.Net books there at the library's shelves, but I think this would help me learn .Net stuff faster than any other book.

My First Optical Mouse

I had always wanted to buy and actually use an optical mouse. But having problems with my USB port (then, when my PC was still running under Windows 98) will not allow me to have a device such as that on my PC.

Now, that my PC was recently upgraded to Windows XP Professional SP2, I was able to configure the USB Root Hub of my PC, and I think I am ready to retire my good old Genius NetScroll+ mouse, which has been of good service to me since Y2002.

I was searching for some good reviews that will make me decide on which of the optical mouses available here in Manila will eventually be my first one. I stumble upon an article at the M-PH magazine (http://www.m-ph.com) about this optical mouse from CD-R King (yes! they're not just into the optical media sales thingy now!) which costs Php240.00 (approx. US$4.36) only. Such a good buy. Nice packaging, inside a box.

What I got (last night) was the blue transparent model. The blue and red lights in it looks great in the dark. The resolution is also great at 800dpi (3 million for the buttons -- as indicated in the box).

C# and XOOPS

Finally, after more than a week of being offline, my personal portal website http://www.bobreyes.com is back online! With a new look (and feel?!) .. hehehe .. BTW, please do not forget to sign my guestbook there, in case you will be dropping by ..

Anyway, let's get back to C# .. I am still finding time to really focus on the electronic books and printed matters that I already have on hand.

Just before having my cup of coffee this morning, I played with VisualBasic 2005 Beta for a little while, and guess what? I had finished their really simple app: a web browser that uses some Windows Forms controls (lot of S there) .. Maybe, just maybe, I'll spare this weekend (after my Saturday class) from my usual activities and concentrate to C#.

I now have C#!! What's next?

I'm totally clueless! After downloading VB & C# 2005 (around 260MB++ on a Monday, geez!!), what's next? The interface of both VB and C# is so kewl and clean! The best I've seen so far, as compared to Delphi and VB/C++ 6.0

Can anyone suggest a better next move? Where shall I start with C#?

XPerience at the Mall ..

Bloggin here at the Alabang Town Center while using the PC at the XPerience Mall Tour ;)

Let's Start the .Net Thingy ..

Part of my New Year's resolution is to learn how to develop applications under the .Net Framework. And to begin materializing my resolution, I will be downloading the VisualBasic 2005 & Visual C#2005 Express versions in a little while (after posting this one).

A friend once told me that using the Express Versions will really help me get into the .Net thingy .. hehehe .. finally!

Microsoft Philippines TechFest 2005

Wow! What a day! I am on leave, yes! You had heard me right .. but have to attend some school thingy's by 1pn, and yet I'm attending the Microsoft Philippines TechFest 2005!! Talking about multi-tasking, the TurfSitePH way .. hehehe ..

Anyways, I had arrived at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel at around 0730H, quite early, thinking that there would be traffic somewhere .. hehehe .. actually, I took the MetroRail from down south .. registration started promptly at 0800H. I was quite disappointed though, after seeing what others got inside their "conference envelopes" .. I DO NOT HAVE THE MSDN BALLPEN .. i envy them .. hehehe .. i loved that pen .. especially when it is lighted ..

But, there is this BUT .. I was able to see Tanya (of Microsoft Philippines, you silly reader) .. and my MSDN Connection Card plus jacket was finally given to me!! Only Gold Members of the MSDN Connection will receive the jackets .. hehehe ..

It was nice meeting old buddies (not quite old, actually -- yuppies) from the Microsoft Philippines Forum .. jasper was there .. andro .. jen .. mike .. vic .. catt .. jerome and his brother mark (who later gave a very insightful talk about C# vis-a-vis VS 2005) .. etc .. i'm not good in remembering names .. but i do really remember the faces ..

When the Plenary adjourned, I had to rush going to school and meet a 1300H deadline .. wheew!! then, was back at the TechFest venue at around 1530H .. thanks to modern transpo system ..

Finally, I was able to meet Chay (of Microsoft Philippines, once again -- you sillier reader) .. hehehe .. I had won a Polgas T-shirt via the SMS contest .. and then had a small chit-chat with fellow MS Philippines Forumers ..

I'm now here at the SM Megamall .. reading tons of emails .. it's been 24 hours since I last peeked into my inbox .. clients keep on SMSing me .. students asking about their assignments .. darn students .. hehehe ..

Well, better be home early .. there's still TechFest 2005 Day 2 tomorrow .. hope to have a seat on one of the hands-on labs ..

TurfSite Manila Hits 10,000 Hits Today!!

My personal portal website, TurfSite Manila -- online at http://www.bobreyes.com -- will be hitting the 10,000th site hit mark sometime within the day (already at the 9,950 hit mark as of this blog entry posting). I'm very very happy for this achievement.

How I wonder when will Google send me the cheque for my Adsense account? Hehehehe ..

Anyways, I'm back to programming with VB over the weekend. I will try to upgrade my skills to VB.Net sometime next week. I'm thinking of what material(s) shall I use for my self-study.

19 Days After the Windows XP Stress Test

Nineteen long days (19 days, 16 hours, 36 minutes, and 33 seconds to be exact) after I had started my Windows XP Professional Stress Test, my PC finally required a reboot.

As you may see on the screenshot above, there's an infotext that says "Contains letters, .." and it seems that it just wont go out of my screen. I tried refreshing the screen, but still that yellow info bar is still there.

So, I had no choice but to reboot the computer, thus ending my own Windows XP Stress Test, hours before the 20th hour mark.

NAIA Terminal 3

I was privilege enough to be one of the people invited this morning to have a tour of the infamous Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The tour was headed by no less than the MIAA General Manager. Together with me, are my bosses, airline station managers, airport employees, and media from the different TV and radio networks.

I should say that the T3 can be placed on the record books as the longest building here in our country. It's quite amusing, that you'll wonder if you're still here in the country or in Germany, with the design of the terminal.

Hope that they'll open it in six (06) months time.