Half-Life

.

Half-Life plays remarkably well on a PIII-733 with 260MB RAM and a 32MB TNT2. I am edified. :)

Bryan Smith dies

.

Bryan Smith, the guy whose van struck and crippled Stephen King, died at 43. Stephen King officially expressed his sympathy in a statement issued by his assistant. He went through a lot of pain and suffering because of that accident, both physically and professionally, and his writing was deeply affected. To be able to express regret rather than vindictiveness at Smith’s death takes real heart.

PEX upgrades

.

PinoyExchange just revamped their system and interface. Looks nice, with more cool features. While they’re ironing out the kinks, though, it has slowed down somethin’ awful. Server problems.

Starting on LOTR

.

After years and years of procrastination, I have finally gotten down to reading Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. And not a moment too soon: copies in local bookstores are disappearing from the shelves faster than they can be stocked, and the prices of the volumes are rising. I was fortunate enough to find copies of Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers on sale in National-Greenbelt. Return of the King seemed to be in heavy demand, as it was nowhere to be found, but I eventually found a stash (albeit at full-price) in Powerbooks-Makati; most other stores — Goodwill and other National branches — were already out of stock. (Of everything, that is, except The Hobbit, of which I already have a copy.)

Some advice: don’t buy the trilogy from “A Different Bookstore” in the Rustan’s wing of Glorietta. They’ve overpriced it horrendously; almost 300 PhP per book, or the whole set of four (including The Hobbit) for over a thousand. Far cheaper to buy it from Powerbooks at about 200 PhP each. If there are any copies left.

Okay, I admit it. I only now set myself to reading it because of the upcoming film. I truly do not want to diminish my experience of such an epic fantasy by watching the film before I have ever read the novels. Not that I doubt the movie will be any good; but of course the real treasure is in the written text.

I’m enjoying every word of it. I started with Tolkien’s appendices to get a primer on the background, culture, and history of Middle-Earth, and now I’m at Frodo’s departure from Hobbiton.

Overcoming Transitory Angst

.

I’m over the initial bout of mild transitory angst. Now I’m looking forward to working. And it pays well, too. :)

Hmm. Someone in the US has come up with a book trying to prove that Jesus didn’t exist and the gospel accounts of him were just an amalgamation of ancient myths from the Middle and Near East.

Sigh. Another one.

Despite centuries of overwhelming documented scriptural, textual, historical, and archaeological evidence supporting the authenticity of the events in the gospels, there are still “liberal” scholars who think they can prove, with a few tenuous and obscure historical links, that Christianity is a lie and the Church is conspiring to cover it up. When In fact, their own “proofs” are often even flimsier than they claim the faith to be. Myself, I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. (Romans 1.16)

Whether you’re with the Roman Church or Protestant, or any other Christian denomination, our faith still stands or falls on Jesus. And this much I know: He existed, He still exists, and He is very much alive, our loving Lord and Savior, father, brother, protector, teacher, and friend. I have felt His love, I know He is real, and by His grace I will stand firm in that faith.

So much to learn…

.

Flash, Authorware, Director, Javascript, DHTML, SQL, VB, Fireworks… So much, so much, so much to learn…

New office

.

Am typing this from the new office. It’s very small. New job, new long-term commitment to a career option. I should be excited, I suppose. Sort of. Hard to be excited in this tiny office. At least there’s a window beside my workstation.

My HK trip got moved to next Thursday. I’m looking forward to that, but there’s still life after I get back to reckon with. Hmmm… I’m getting a tinge of ennui here. Must be the drab, windowless room I’m in now. Well, it’s time to start learning Macromedia Authorware and Director.

Is anyone even reading this? Why don’t you people out there sign my guestbook?

Who Strengthens Me

.

Well, today’s the last day of leave; I’m getting briefed tomorrow for my new job as a multimedia designer. We’re seeing the office and checking out the equipment for the first time. And on Monday, to Hong Kong for training. I’m a bit nervous about this new career. For one thing, like I said earlier, it means staying here in the Philippines, shelving my plans of leaving for greener pastures in the US. Also, in my first two jobs, I had prior experience in both fields: as a digital video editor, I had entered with the benefit of a brief internship on the same platform shortly before that; and when I started as a web design executive, I had been studying HTML-based web design and making my own web pages for years. But now, this is completely new territory that I’ve never touched. While I’ll be receiving training, I have trouble assuring myself that I’ll do well.

Times like this, it helps to remember the Old Testament examples of Joseph and Daniel, who, despite the desolate or oppressed situations they found themselves in, still prospered and succeeded in everything they did because of God’s love. So I ask the Lord to strengthen my faith in His providence. He will make me able, if I only put my trust in Him and lean not on my own efforts and skills. (Of course I still need my talents and skills, but I do well to remember that it is He who enables me, and ultimately He who is responsible for my progress.)

Now I’m not so worried anymore. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Going to Hong Kong

.

I’m going to Hong Kong on Monday! But my schedule will probably be so tight I won’t have time for sightseeing or shopping. That’s okay. Just the fact I’m leaving Manila and the Philippines for a few days to go somewhere else in the world — for the first time in years — is exciting enough.