We are BLESSED

For the record, I'm one of the people who really hate spam emails. But once in a while I would get some unsolicited messages that would shake my soul and in the end be thankful for taking the time to read it. It's an off-track from what I would usually blog about, but I know it's worth reading.

1. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.
2. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.
3. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death,you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
4. If you have food in your refrigerator,clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep,you are richer than 75% of this world.
5. If you have money in the bank,in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
6. If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States.
7. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can,but most do not.
8. If you can hold someone's hand, hug themor even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you canoffer God's healing touch.
9. If you can read this message,you are more blessed than overtwo billion people in the worldthat cannot read anything at all.
10. You are so blessed in waysyou may never even know. "

Thanks Ma for sharing this.

Shift from Windows to Mac OSX

I’ll be taking my Mac OSX certification exam very soon. I recently finished a 3-day course on the subject and I have no regrets on the investment I just made. I have convinced myself to make the switch from Windows to Mac OSX not so much because of the features of the Mac but because I’ve never been a fan of Windows. And the only reason why I'm using it is I am forced to.

Since high school, Windows was the only operating system available for us. And ever since I never liked it because it’s so linear and predictable. Like you can predict when the screen would suddenly turn blue, hehehe. I would always look for an alternative software application. For example, I would use Netscape Navigator instead of Internet Explorer. Also, in college, when all of the students were using MS Visual Basic as the platform for our software development, I forced myself to study Borland Delphi. Just because I never liked Visual Basic. Modesty aside, I came up with one of the highest grade in the subject. When I started working and everybody was using MS Office, I used Open Office. And so, there was always the urge inside me to breakaway from the Microsoft. There were times when I attempted to shift to Linux but my work just won’t allow me to have the extra hours to study it. In short, I was really stuck with Windows for a long time.

When Mac OSX debuted, I finally found the light. Although it took me sometime to become really aggressive in learning the new OS, I’m happy now that I am now making the shift. Good thing there are companies that offer Mac OSX and Apple training and they're not very expensive at all. In Mac OSX, I have all the office applications I need, from word processing to email. And even the development tools I need can be found in the Mac OSX. No more security issues, viruses and f$@#ing blue screen! As a professional, here’s what I think…INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY. As a consumer, VALUE FOR MONEY!

Tracking Device

I met a Finnish guy who showed me an amazing device used for tracking. Yes, as in, tracking a person. As in spy gadgets. Imagine a device, the size of an average PDA-phone, that gives you the capability to track the whereabouts of a particular person, a group of people or even your assets using your cellphone. Now add this capability..."be able to hear people talking near the device." Instantly, I knew I need this device.

As a parent, I worry so much about the whereabouts of my son all the time, that I do it even when I'm at work. Yes, I am guilty of secretly sending sms messages under the table during corporate meetings, presentations or seminars, asking if he is ok or if he's home already, etc. Forgive me but I just can't stand being un-productive (I hope my boss don't read this). This device has given me an added peace-of-mind in a very convenient way. Here's a scenario, imagine when school is done and that the school bus should be taking him home. It is very convenient for me to easily know where he is. Ofcourse you can do this with a cellphone, but cellphones, as experience taught us, can easily be lost, stolen or damaged because it is frequently used. Unlike this device which you can easily tuck-in a back-pack or a pocket. What are the chances of it getting lost if it's hidden right? Here's another scenario, how bout I implement this as part of company policy, that all staff working on field should carry this device inside their vehicles. Since reports can be easily downloaded to a computer, I would know where they are during office hours. Not a bad idea huh?

After the meeting, it got me thinking, what if my wife has already bought one and have secretly installed it in my car? Oh boy, I guess the line "I'll be playing golf tomorrow" will be over. LOL!