The Computer Sounds Like a Robot no More

I was experimenting on my computer when I bumped into the configuration of the Babylon dictionary. Then the ‘voice’ tab caught my attention. I did not know that there is a speak function in this dictionary, which I thought would be an advantage by my previous Encarta Dictionary. I must definitely acquire the habit of reading the readme files of programs.

Nevertheless, I clicked the tab. It contained the Say-it settings of the dictionary. You can choose the voice and adjust the speed of the pronunciation. I have two choices for the voice, one is called “Microsoft Anna-English (United States)” and the other one is the “TOSHIBA male adult (US).” I believe the latter is a preset of my laptop and the other one is Bill Gate’s secretary.

The best part is that you can try how the high-tech voices say anything. I tried typing several words into the text box. The result is fantastic. Years ago, when you commanded the Microsoft helper to speak, the sound is very robotic that even the gay wizard helper cannot do anything about it. Right now, the voice is.. so human.

Of course the voices have limitations. I tried some Filipino words and the voice mispronounced it by just spelling out the word. But Microsoft Anna got my favor when she (or it) pronounced my name correctly while the Toshiba dude did not.

The improvement of features like this is sensational. It makes me wonder what the future releases will be. Maybe the next version of the voices can already kick local rapper Gloc 9’s arse and his homies’.

Swimming Tomorrow, I Can’t Wait

Tomorrow will be our class farewell party. I’m so excited. I’m not excited because of the party itself. I’m excited because its EXCITING!! Haha!

Before graduation day, our class didn’t have the opportunity to plan about the party. And so, we resort to the most effective media of communication today – TEXT MESSAGING. But planning using text messaging is just on its beta version.

The routine was someone would send a group message to the whole class regarding the planning of the party. I don’t exactly know what happens to the one who organize and send the message but maybe people would reply to her giving their own ideas. I believe nobody would miss the message because somebody echoes it sometimes. That is so annoying.

Some people were assigned or volunteered what they will bring. I volunteered for bringing either baked mac or pizza. Others would also bring foods and utensils. But here’s the problem: yesterday, one of those who will bring the utensils said that he cannot attend he farewell. The other one said that she cannot bring all of the utensils needed and she could only bring half of those.

That’s too much of a problem. It’s like Bob Ong losing his website.

My oh-so-not-serious-idea is that we will eat by batch. One group will eat then will clean the utensils and then another group will eat. That might do it. Only if the utensils available are not literally in half. HALF-SPOONS, HALF-FORKS, HALF-PLATES AND HALF-CUPS. In that case, I will just buy Chickenjoy from Jollibee. Or an M16 in a local gun shop and I will shoot at everyone and everything to dust.

I guess we’ll just stick to the Filipino come-what-may attitude. And no more M16 ideas because GTA IV is in the market and it will surely get the blame.

Pinoy Big Brother Should Be Like This

No need for interior designs. One camera does it all. Come on PBB people! With the country suffering from inflation, you definitely need cost cutting.

Type A

I now know my blood type. And guess what, I got it from an actual laboratory test and not from an internet questionnaire/generator/whatever. To my surprise, the internet indeed has one.

Anyway, my blood type is A. I was expecting Z like the ones I saw in the Budokai game on PSP. But that is rating, not blood type. Other results from the CBC were normal except my WBC which is a little bit high. I was a little bit disappointed because the laboratory doesn’t offer midi-chlorian count and I am unaware of mine. But hey! The abnormal WBC could mean something. It could mean that I got midi-chlorian count slightly below Anakin Skywalker. Or it could simply mean that I’m too handsome to be normal. NOT!

Internet was Broken

1. I don’t know if it is the internet or my connection but for some reason, I was not able to open several websites in the last two days. I could not open random sites or even pages of a certain domain. I could open http://www.shartak.com while I could not open http://forum.shartak.com. I know little about networking and internet connections but Shartak got a free advertisement on this post.

2. Niña was back. But just for about a couple of hours. She secretly used her computer to get away from the boredom of being grounded. But that is not the Jedi way.

Where is Niña?

I haven’t got any chat with my friend Niña for a while. Seems like she left the face of the planet – in order to pursue the intergalactic dreams of her to be a Jedi. I believe she got skills. I laughed my heart out when she power jumped one time imitating Yoda.

Where is she? Right now I have lots of things to tell her. She’s the only person I’m telling what’s happening in my love life light saber experimentations. I’m gonna explode!!

Survivor Philippines

GMA 7 got the franchise for the Philippine version of the reality game show Survivor. I wonder how Filipino it would be. According to Mukamo.com, the taglines “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast” is translated into “Pautakan, Pagalingan, Patatagan.” I only hope that the show wouldn’t involve text messaging in eliminating a contestant. I’m also wondering where will the show take place. In a Senate blue ribbon committee probe, perhaps?

Some Random News

1. There is a shortage in the supply of NFA rice in some parishes and authorized resellers. It seems to be because the buyers form a line longer than those of the entrance gates of Eat Bulaga and Wowowee.

This shows that food is more important than kissing either Willie Revillame or Vic Sotto. But I would want to write a placard professing that I am the missing son of Sotto. I’d do either that or I would kiss him.

Back on the rice shortage. People buying the rice seems to be mad. Mad at the government or mad to the reseller who is not organized in selling the NFA rice. But whenever the camera hovers on them, they would still smile and wave at the camera.

2. A Las-Vegas-like-casino will be constructed here in the Philippines. According to the planners, this will give Filipinos thousands of jobs and dollar earning opportunities.

I believe this would indeed give Filipinos lots of benefits. People would exchange their cocks for casino chips. Cocks as in the ones used in cock-fighting. The jobs – come on, who doesn’t want to have a Job that pays of several hundred dollars and lung cancer? I only hope there isn’t any Rex Navarette below jobs in there. Last and not the least is what I believe the most important benefit – the possibility of gay marriages, of course.

Musical

Half an hour ago, my cousin asked me to play her newly bought VCD on the computer. It is High School Musical 2. I played it on the PC because the DVD player is faulty. And then we watched it. I left my cousin because I got bored and then I get my laptop and went downstairs.

After I opened my computer, my mom’s aunt opened the television. My lola browsed from channel to channel and eventually stopped at Star Movies. The movie being played is The Sound of Music.

I guess today is the watch-a-musical-day. But I would stick with The Sound of Music. I’m not a fan of HSM. I hate to watch gay people sing.

The Header

Today is my edit-my-blog-design-day. Although by accident. Those who visited this blog before would notice the changes. But then, those who have visited don’t want to return anymore. I would look like I lack self confidence but the truth is, as Meryl said earlier, I suck.

Anyhow, I changed the layout and the header. The header is personally made by me. So it also sucks. But I want to boast the Jolly Roger there with pens replacing the bones (although the pens look like sharpened bones). Now, the question is why Jolly Roger? It’s because I googled Jolly Roger yesterday and I now know what it is. I felt I sucked less after I learned about Jolly Roger. Jolly Roger changed my life. But just a little. =)