In Memoriam...Randy Pausch

Should've blogged about this much earlier when I read the news at ACM's website. Though I really don't know much about the guy, he will surely be missed especially in the computing science community after all his work with virtual reality.

Anyways, I got to know about this guy from a video posted at YouTube about his "last lecture" which I have seen about 3 months ago (although the lecture itself was presented on Sept. 18, 2007). He talked about how one must achieve their childhood dreams and that along the way, enable the dreams of others. Although presented before a packed auditorium, the entire talk was really for his children that he knows he wouldn't see grow old, enter school, graduate, date, have a work, get married, have children, have a family life and, most importantly, achieve their dreams. What a really remarkable way to teach your children to follow your dreams. He may be gone, but what he presented in that lecture will surely be remembered, not only by his children but by everyone who have seen and heard that "last lecture". I guess it is about time for us, for me, to rethink about my childhood dreams and where have I gone so far. To see what's beyond the wall facing me and try to reach that other side of the wall.



For a link of the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

*Picture taken from ACM's website.

One Piece...update

Just to let you know that after three weeks of staying up late, I was able to finish the entire collection of One Piece. Still waiting for the next episode to be released on Aug 3 (?).

Nagano Tour

In an anticipation for a need to relax after the defense, I signed up for a tour with the Honjo International Friendship Association a few weeks ago. As the scheduled date for the trip closes I was having doubts whether I would join or not. I'm a little bit out of cash so I was hesitant to join but also I only have a few months left (about 2) here in Japan so this would be a great opportunity to maximized my stay. I really don't have to worry about the travel fee as I have already settled it a bit earlier, what worries me is that I don't have any cash at my disposal once something happens.

But the eager side of me triumphs as I joined the tour last Sunday (13 July 2008) and I am glad I did as I joined fellow students who are also joining the tour. It was fun to travel and see new sights. The itinerary for the tour starts from Matsumoto Castle, then lunch at Azumino Swiss Village, a tour at a Wasabi Farm (大王わさびのうじょう　－だいおうわさびのうじょう), and finally a quick tour at Azumino ArtHills Museum just near the farm.

Here are some of the pictures I took during the course of our travel. More can be seen at my winkflash site.

and the VERDICT is...

The results of the master's thesis presentation held yesterday were already posted and two friends and fellow master's students already called up informing me of the outcome. The verdict was that almost everyone passed the presentation except for two who needs to make another presentation by next month. It was a relief actually as I was having doubts whether I could pass or not considering the questions thrown at me yesterday.

I'm heading for the campus now to check the results and will also drop by at the admin office for our monthly scholarship sign up.

One Piece

For the past week as I prepare myself for this "gruesome" day of master's thesis presentation, I spent my time watching online videos. I guess I got tired of watching movies or maybe I just couldn't find something interesting to watch so I ended up watching One Piece (ワンピース).

I know that they used to show this back home in Manila but I really didn't have the chance to see it or maybe I just didn't like it that time. Then again, it is really hard to follow the story line of something when you didn't watch it from the beginning. Anyways, I didn't know that it's more than just an anime but has a very good story as well. Honestly, I even cried in some of the episodes. Some of the scenes are quite visual in nature but done in a very subtle way (specifically some of the more violent scenes with all the blood and everything). More of suggestive leaving it up for the audience to visualize and explore their imaginations, I just close my eyes whenever I feel like the scene will end up just like what I have imagined it to be (especially with every scenes that has blood written all over it).

Currently watching Episode 40 now and I plan to finish it all the way.

Done >_<

T'was a nerve wrecking, hair raising, brain twisting day. Glad it was ALMOST over. Almost, as I still have to wait for the results. >_<

Gambarimasu!!

Preparing for our thesis presentation today. Gambarimasu!!

Defense! Defense! Defense!

In the Philippines, you usually hear these words in a court...in a basketball court that is. As part of a cheer, crowd shouts in harmony encouraging and motivating players to stand ground and protect the goal. Enough of the basketball. Three days from now, I will be facing a stiff crowd, trying to convince them to approve my work. Not really freaking out right now but I am still concerned for the outcome of my presentation. Hopefully, everything turns out good. Sigh. Wish me luck!

Replication

Have just learned that I could actually "duplicate" my blog here at blogspot to multiply. Well I really didn't knew it first until I came across a post from someone else's blog. Anyways, I have a multiply account that I used to host pictures before I found another hosting site. One thing I love with multiply is that you could actually embed a player for my mp3 files and do a lot of things with it so I still maintain it to date. Having learned the capability to import blogspot in multiply, I started the move. Now I am currently testing whether this post would reflect on the other site.