The Rookie Blogger

February 14, 2010

We Are the World Music Video - Haiti Tribute

The song ‘We are the World’ was originally written to raise awareness for famine victims of Africa. Composed 25 years ago by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, this song topped the music charts across the world. The last recording date of the song was held on February 28, 1985 and on March 7, 1985, the song was released worldwide.

This year, ‘We are the World’ was revived to initiate a fundraising activity for Haiti earthquake victims. This time, the song was sung by over 70 stars and singers which include Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, and Justin Bieber. Justin sang the opening of the song with a very cute voice quality. There were also parts of the music video wherein Michael Jackson’s original rendition was incorporated.

Some famous stars I know who were in the music video are Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, The Jonas Brothers, Nicole Scherzinger, Mary J. Blidge, Miley Cyrus, Enrique Iglesias, Jamie Foxx, Pink, and Jennifer Hudson. For me, the revival of the song was a great masterpiece by the producers and the artists who took part in making the music video.

To know more and help Haiti earthquake victims, just visit ‘We are the World Foundation’ website. To donate $ 10, text ‘WORLD’ to 50555 or buy this song at the iTunes store.

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February 7, 2010

Gliese 581 c, d, and e - Possible Habitable Planets

Just 20.3 light years away from earth lay a red dwarf star as old as our own sun named Gliese 581. This star has planets of its own and is the 87th closest star system next to our sun. The Gliese 581 star system is believed to have four planets; Gliese 581 b, c, d, and e.


Artists' impression of the Gliese 581 star system.

Most extra solar planets found by astronomers are closely the size of Jupiter or a lot bigger but Gliese 581c is just one third of the earth's size which means that the planets' gravitational force is just similar to that of our own. Gliese 581c lies in a belt called the habitable zone, an area around a certain star which enables water to be in its liquid form.

Gliese 581c is believed to have a runaway greenhouse effect and is more similar to Venus rather than earth. Just within the border of the habitable zone is the Gliese 581d which is roughly 7 to 14 times the size of the earth. Because it is in the habitable zone, water in this planet could be in liquid form and therefore, life could possibly exist.

In April 2009, astronomers found out that a planet which they named Gliese 581e in the same star system exists and has the size roughly close to earth. So far, this planet has the size closest to that of the earth than any of the extrasolar planets discovered.

More at: Space.com
Philippines Best of Blogs

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January 23, 2010

Café World Delays My Thesis

I can honestly say to myself that I am so addict with Facebook applications like Farm Town, Farm Ville, and Mafia Wars. These past few months, I’ve spent so many hours playing Café World. Even though I am so busy working with my thesis, The Rookie Slide Presenter and Editor, I still allocate a time everyday just to play this cooking-inspired flash game by Zynga.

Presently, I am level 44 (Pots and Pans Chieftain with 148,307 experience points) in Café World. I can already cook lots of food at this level. Please feel free to add me as a neighbor in this humble sophisticated flash game (if we are friends in Facebook).

I really enjoyed playing this game because the fun never ends as long as the cook (yourself) is still cooking. My only message to the players and future players of this game is that don’t be addict like me…

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January 16, 2010

2nd Annual Sinulog Fireworks Competition Videos (PyroFest 2010)

Today, I just witnessed the annual Sinulog Fireworks Competition. I’ve seen a lot of fireworks display in events like fiestas and thanks giving parties but this one is a lot different – it’s a competition meaning not only one exhibit but a lot. There were eight competitors and one special presentation for this year’s competition.


Finale fireworks display.

The pyro works event was held at SM City Cebu Northwing parking lot. The place was all wet and muddy but it was worth it standing for almost an hour.

For more videos about PyroFest 2010, check out my Vimeo Account. All eight contestants and the special guest fireworks presenter were filmed.

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December 28, 2009

I Need $5 for Pangya (Closed - I Got $15)

I have been playing Pangya (online golf game) for almost four years. Before, I used to play in the Philippine server but the management decided to close it down because the number of players is declining. Now, I am playing in the international server. This Christmas season, Pangya has this so called “Stocking Offers for Christmas”, an event wherein a player can have expensive items (when I say expensive, it’s terrifying expensive in Pangya) for a very little price. But there’s a twist, each player, including myself, should gather the so-called “Christmas stockings” by playing the game.

This event from Ntreev Pangya has lots to offer ranging from clothes to club sets. The item I want to obtain is the “Christmas Clubset” which is so cool because this item can only be seen in the stores every Christmas season (it’s pretty rare). There’s a problem, I already have all the items except for one which I cannot obtain if I don’t use electronic money. In the virtual Pangya store, it costs 1300 points and to be able to buy points, one must have real electronic money. The smallest amount a player can buy is 5000 points which costs $5. Huhuhuhuhu that’s all I can say.


I don't have Mulligan Rose which costs 10 for 1300 points.

Of course, I am not a beggar (as if someone is interested to give me $5) that will just accept some $5. If someone, a kind-hearted one, will give me money via PayPal, I will design him/her a 270x200 image banner (porn not allowed of course) to be linked ("do follow" method) to his/her blog or website. If there are two or more donors, then the size will still be the same but the banners will have a uniform theme. The banner will be visible up to December next year. The point is - I badly need five dollars now.


The position of the image advertisement.

I know Christmas season is over but I badly need some $5. I have roughly five dollars in my pocket (of course in peso) at this moment but the problem is I need an electronic one.

If you are willing to give me money via PayPal or just interested with my offer, you can leave a comment to this post. Anyone is welcome to grab this very little and simple opportunity. Deadline for this offer is December 29, 2009, the end date of the Christmas stocking event in Pangya. Thanks for reading. ahehehehe

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December 8, 2009

Festival of Lights - Naga, Cebu

Today, I just witnessed the christmas lights lighting ceremony in the town plaza of Naga. Before, the town plaza was just lit by few lights but this year, it's quite audacious - the whole place is very bright. Each tree is crowned with numerous simple christmas lights that as a whole, looks like small galaxies. The old municipal hall and the town complex are also covered with the same kind of christmas lights.

naga, cebu
Christmas-themed old municipal hall.


Countdown to lighting of christmas lights and fireworks.

I know questions like over budget for christmas lights and decors could arise but the local government ensured the public that an honest audit will be conducted. Some even said that some lights and decorations are donations from the town mayor, Hon. Valdemar Chiong. Electric consumption is also a big deal not only to the local government but also to environmentalists - for not saving energy.

Here are some high-resolution photos I took today. I enjoyed a lot during the lighting ceremony especially when the host of the event starts to count down.





naga, cebunaga, cebunaga, cebu





Christmas is just a day in the calendar but in our town, it is celebrated whole month long (up to January like last year).

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November 24, 2009

Rookie: Slide Presenter - A Web-based Application

Microsoft has PowerPoint while OpenOffice has Impress. These two slide editor and presenter software shapes and changes the ways business presentations are delivered. This semester, I am going to develop a similar application - a web-based slide editor and presenter. Well, this plan isn't final yet because there are still people who are going to scrutinize the specifications of what I am going to develop. There is still a possibility that this project will be canceled either at the beginning or at the middle of the development (rejected is the worst).

james arnold nogra rookie slide presenter
Temporary logo of the "Rookie: Slide Presenter".

The name of my web-based presenter is "Rookie: Slide Presenter" because even rookies (beginners) can create their own business or wacky presentations using this web application. As much as possible, the controls and buttons of this application are minimal unlike PowerPoint and Impress which has numerous buttons and menus. I am not saying that the two existing applications are difficult to use, what I am trying to say is that this one which I am going to develop is an easy-to-use one.

Failure to accomplish this project means a failing grade. I need sheer courage and numerous sleepless nights in order to finish this project on time. I hope someone will help me along the way.

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November 11, 2009

Sun, Sea, and Sand at Maribago Bluewater

Even though I am not sure if I can really avail this once in a lifetime opportunity, I am so excited about this Maribago Bluewater invitation to selected bloggers. I have never been to this kind of luxurious place and I think this is one of the right moments I should be visiting and enjoying this sun, sea, and sand experience given by Maribago Bluewater resort. The resort also offers not only maximum enjoyment but also ultimate relaxation brought by the in-house Amuma Spa. I’ve visited their website and found out that they can also host events like conventions, graduations, baptisms, weddings, and a lot more.



There were already bloggers who availed this shall I call summer escapade but I am really hoping that I could do or experience alike. Selected bloggers started visiting the resort last October 25 but I am hoping I can go on November 22 – Sunday at the beach. From this very moment, I am now visualizing the food, nipa huts, white sand and the crystal blue sea with matching sound of the sea waves.

To have a sneak peek and discover more about the resort, just visit Maribago Bluewater blog. You can also watch a Maribago Bluewater video or stopover at PinoyWorld.

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November 5, 2009

Before the 2012 Movie

November 13 is the showing date of the movie 2012 here in the Philippines. I don't know if everyone's excited because I myself is not looking forward to watch this film in the theater. I think this movie is just based from History Channel's "Decoding the Past: Doomsday 2012" which is a documentary type film. The most creepy part of the documentary is the prediction of the Mayan people (native and ancient people of Central America) wherein they made a calendar that predicts many things and scenarios in the future. This calendar does not only predicts phenomenon but also planetary alignments and lunar activity like solar and lunar eclipses. The calendar mysteriously ends on December 21, 2012. Many westerners including the creator of this film, 2012, believes that there will be a major shift or change that will happen to the world.


Video Credits: YouTube EmbarkToHeaven


Promotional poster of the movie 2012.

Before you believe this film and the predictions that will be shown in the movie, take a look on the previous failed end of the world predictions.

1806: Prophet Hen of Leeds - Someone said that in the town of Leeds (now a city of United Kingdom), there is a hen laying an egg 0n which the words "Christ is Coming" is printed or written. A curious local watched the hen and the eggs and found out that the phenomenon is just a big hoax.

1910: Halley's Comet - An astronomer discovered that the tail of the Haley's comet contains a deadly toxic gas cyanogen or simply cyanide. The panic started when it was discovered that the tail of the comet will pass through earth. Nothing happens as the comet passes by through the skies of the earth.

1997: Heaven's Gate - When comet Hale-Bopp appeared in the skies of the Earth (probably the only comet I've seen so far), a cult named Heaven's Gate speculated that a UFO is following in its tail and NASA is responsible for the cover-up. Astronomers or even people with telescopes can prove that this speculation is not true. Their little world ends as they committed suicide (all of them) on March 26, 1997.

These three failed doomsday predictions are just a condensed form of the article "10 Failed Doomsday Predictions" from Live Science.

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October 29, 2009

Firefox 3.7 Theme for Firefox 3.5

I have seen a lot of people who are still using Firefox build 3.0 even though version 3.5 is already out and ready for download. Now, there is version 3.7 available for testing. What shocks me the most is that before this pre-alpha release build 3.7, there was a 3.6 build and I didn't know about all these releases made by Mozilla.

This release focuses much about sheer performance and appearance. The menu bars are already hidden just like Internet Explorer 8 and Google Chrome. This new version looks best if you are using Windows Aero.


(Photo Credits: Mozilla) A screenshot of Firefox build 3.7 that looks elegant with Windows Aero.

To download Firefox 3.7 pre-alpha release, just click this link. I don't know why the browser is named Minefield but I'm pretty sure it's Firefox.

If you don't want to use or test the alpha release, there is still an alternative way on how to make your Firefox looks like version 3.7. First download this ZIP file and extract it. One of the extracted files is a JAR file. Open the 'Add-ons' window ('Tools' -> 'Add-ons') of your Firefox and drag that JAR file to that window. Firefox will ask you if you will continue installing that add-on. After installing that JAR file, you have to install this add-on. The same as the first file, Firefox will prompt you if you are going to install this particular add-on. The third step is to install another add-on. This add-on will enable you to hide or show the menu bar of Firefox. After installing the third add-on, you may now restart Firefox as you were prompted even at the first installation of this tutorial. I know, some of you had already restarted the browser but it's OK. To hide Firefox's menu bar, just right click anywhere at top or maybe at the large empty space at the end of the menu bar (the empty space after the 'Help' menu) and then uncheck 'Menus Toolbar'. To show the hidden menu bar back, just press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S.


A screenshot of Firefox 3.5 with a theme that looks like Firefox 3.7.

The tutorial I made is just a condensed form from Askvg.com. If this tutorial didn't work for you, you can view the original tutorial by clicking this link.

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About The Rookie Blogger

This is a personal blog of James Arnold. This blog contains posts about travel, technology, dining, and many more. James is also a freelance photographer that caters events such as weddings, debuts, birthdays, and even personal photoshoots.


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