Monday, July 27, 2009

A brief review on US-released Nintendo handheld consoles

This is a tribute on Game Boy's 20th Anniversary.

In 1989, after it was released in Japan, the Game Boy conquered the United States. Having just dot matrix graphics, in that time, I already found it very interesting. I was playing it for hours especially the Super Mario Land. With that kind of indigenous graphics, Super Mario Land as well as the Tetris can still be considered classics.

The, Pokemon Red/Blue came into the picture as well as the Gameboy Pocket. Its CPU is just like the original Game Boy and the only difference is its smaller size and LCD screen. Pokemon Red/Blue is the first RPG I've ever played and one of may favorite game of all time. People can trade Pokemons using the link cable. There are other Pokemon which are released compatible to the system which are Pokemon Yellow (story is similar to Red/Blue) and the 2nd Generation Pokemon Gold/Silver.

After that, Game Boy Light is released in Japan but not released in the US. It graphics is just the same and the only difference is the back light wherein playing is already possible even in the dark. Unfortunately, I was not able to acquire it because aside from it being a Japan-only release, Nintendo only made a few copies of that model because of the upcoming release of the Game Boy Color.

Speaking of Game Boy Color, of course, its more prominent feature added is the colored graphics as well the enhanced CPU. Games like Tomb Raider and Super Mario Bros. Deluxe were released in that era but the most popular game on that time is the Pokemon Crystal, a revised version of Pokemon Gold/Silver. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is the remake of the original Super Mario Bros. in NES of Famicom.
After a long time of Game Boy Color's dominance, a very different Game Boy was released which is called the Game Boy Advance. It has now a wider screen and a more powerful CPU which can also play all the games of the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color. The position of the buttons also changes putting it on the side of the screen. Remakes of Super Mario Games (Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros. 3) are also released with better graphics. The 3rd Generation Pokemons are born in the released of Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire.

After few years, a more sleek Game Boy Advance was released called the Game Boy Advance SP. Having a flip style, its CPU is just like the original Game Boy Advance in addition of a back light. In this era, the Pokemon Emerald, also belonging to the third generation, was also released. Remakes of Final Fantasy Games (1, 2, 4, 5 and 6) and Pokemon Red/Blue (Titled as Pokemon Leaf Green/Fire Red) was also released.

The Last Game Boy called the Game Boy Micro is the smallest Game Boy ever made. Comparable to the size of a mobile phone, it has brighter back light and sharper graphics. It can play all Game Boy Advance games, but now, can not play the Original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. This is the end of the Game Boy line.

In 2006, Nintendo released a brand new handheld console called the DS. It has more powerful CPU comparable to Nintendo 64. The most prominent feature of this one is the Dual Screen wherein the lower screen is a touch screen. It made interactive gaming possible. The most popular game of this system is the New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart DS. Lawyering games like Phoenix Wright series were also released. Remake of Super Mario 64 was released as well as Final Fantasy III and IV in 3D graphics. Good Castlevania games were also released. DS is the rival of the PSP.

With the release of the 4th Generation Pokemon (Pokemon Diamond/Pearl), a new design of DS was released called the DS lite. Its CPU is just like a original DS with new design, lighter in wieght, and brighter screen. The Legend of Zelda the Phantom Hour Glass, The World Ends With You, and Rhythm Heaven are the most popular games in the Era.

After the Release of the latest Pokemon game, Pokemon Platinum, DSi was released. It is a more enhanced version of DS with much brigher screen and louder sound. It has camera with various features and music player with music editor. It has also built-in internet feature and downloading games called the DSiware is also possible. It is also called the PSP killer. Next year, the remake of Pokemon Gold/Silver will be released called the Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver.
Now, that I've completed the US-released Nintendo handheld consoles, in this time I'm wondering if what will be next for Nintendo. A Nintendo DS phone? A Wider Screen? A More Powerful CPU like the PSP? I'm really excited for the next Nintendo Console and I hope that I'm already lawyer in that time so I can easily afford to buy it. :)


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The terror ends...

Through amicable settlement with the help of the Student Council, my complaint, in behalf of the class, against the "terror" professor turned-out fine. :)

The professor has already explained his side and we assume that he already understood our side.

Thank you for those people in the Civil Law Student Council who helped us in the resolution of this problem.

With that, all statements against that professor in my previous blog entries are hereby REPEALED. :)

After the class, we went to dapitan square and have our first 2AA drinking session. :)



***extra curricular updates.

- - elected as one of the batch representatives ---> more responsibility...
- - still making the lay-out of our Student Council news letter --> I hope that it'll be fine...



Sunday, July 19, 2009

Why Shouldn't I drop?

It's 12:33 AM. I gave up reading...

I'm not yet finished reading and understanding the cases in Labor Relations Law.
- Rights of the the Members of Labor Organizations.
- Remedies in case of violation of rights.
- Unfair Labor Practices.

My mind is very tired and sick of reading these following words:
- Labor Organization
- Union
- Med Arbiter
- Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR)
- National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)
- Labor Arbiter
- Reyes Trajano
- Ferrer-Calleja
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
- Secretary of Labor and Employment
- Federation
- Local Charter
- Independent Union
- Unfair Labor Practices
- Labor Code
- Omnibus Rules
- Voluntary Arbitration
- Certification Election
- Petition for Certification Election
- Employees
- Employer
- Union Security Clauses
- Closed Shop
- Union Shop
- Modified Union Shop
- and other related words

A number of my classmates dropped the subject.
- - for these concurring reasons - -
- - WE DO NOT LIKE THE STYLE OF THE PROFESSOR - -
- - Aside from he only terrorizes us, WE ARE NOT LEARNING SOMETHING - -
- - UNFAIR - -
- - The saying of 1 MILLION UNITS - -

I decided. I WILL NOT DROP.

I really understand why my classmates dropped.

BUT...
I have more compelling reasons for my self why not to drop.
As I contemplate, I thought of these reasons...

1. I survived my 1st year not using my full effort and skills without failing a single subject.
--- This only means that I can do better this year than the previous year.
--- All I have to do is to add more effort and my the improvement of my skills will follow.


2. I got a grade of 87 percent in my Labor Standards class to a professor who has a better credentials than my present instructor and has a strict standards in grading.
--- Why should I be afraid to a professor who only knows is to terrorize?


3. I'm the class president. I should be a role-model. I should be strong.
--- Our class should stand strong. I don't want to fail them. We should fight!


4. My friends in the Faculty of Civil Law are always there for support!
--- We can do this together! United we are strong!


5. Aside from being a Thomasian. I must not forget that I'm a La Sallian!
--- It is a shame for me, being a La Sallian, that I will just give-up with this small trial!
--- ANIMO! xxx and never shall we fail!

All contradictions from my previous blog entries are hereby repealed! lolz

It's now 1:42 AM... Time to sleep... The new morning is waiting for me. :)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A Crucial Stage

I am now in the stage of contemplating if my decision of studying law is right.

I know that most of you know that I just a happy-go-lucky person who hates reading and studying.

A conventional law student, as they said, should be reading and studying much which I'm not doing. They say that a law student should be studying at least more than 50% of their time which I failed to do.

Yes, I know that I have a lot of time to study. But I'm not really comfortable doing it.

Reading lots of cases...
Memorizing provisions of law...
NO WAY

With that way of attitude, it seems that I can't survive in the Faculty of Civil Law.

I'm just studying 1-2 hours a day and that's it.

In my first year, I don't know why I survived with that kind of study habits considering more that half of my classmates, who studies a lot more than I do, were debarred from UST.
PS: I didn't fail a single subject...

I'm really wondering why.

Maybe, I'm just LUCKY... I'm NOT BRILLIANT anyway...

I repeat... I HATE READING (cases) AND MEMORIZING (provisions).
I can't force myself to do so...

I cannot make myself a conventional law student. I'm trying to do but I really can't do so!

I'm still allowed to drop subjects before August 3rd.
I'm still thinking about it...

Question: Should I really act as a "conventional law student" in order to survive?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

So tired...

Last night, I went to the birthday dinner of a high school friend in Quezon City after my evening law class. It was fun and happy seeing my high school friends after a long time.

Have some games.
Have some drinks.

I got home for about 4am this morning.

I went to school at 8am.

I was called for the recitation in Negotiable Instruments Law.
I was called for the recitation in Labor Relations Law.
I was called for the recitation in Public Corporations.

GRAND SLAM!!!


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Reasoning...

What is the reason why am I doing these things?

None. I don't need a reason. I know what to do.

The world is too big to find the reason of its existence. We are just a small part of this big world.

Monday, June 22, 2009

stressed...

3 hours of Law on Property... movable, immovable...
Sobrang bilis...
Article 415 - Article 439.
Isang meeting lang 'yun.
Buti na lang hindi natawag.

On our way home,
Sinubukan namin ang Roxas Blvd. route.
Akala namin, may left turn papuntang Vito Cruz...
'Yan tuloy, sa MoA pa kami naka-ikot.
Pero ok lang 'yun...

Sapagkat mas nakaka-pressure ang Labor Standards Law bukas...
1 Million Units!!! (hoping for the class suspension)
...and Criminal Procedures...