D!

I came out alive of my defense today! It is with a happy thought that I'm now in the process of revising my thesis. What else could possibly go wrong? :)

Last home game of the season

The hokies beat the tar heels today, 30-3! With the win, they earned their berth in the ACC title game next week. This might be my last football game here at VT -- It feels good to watch our team win their last home game this season.

The pictures taken by Roy are here.

Tech beats the Canes

Today, the hokies rout the cavaliers and the yellow jackets reduced the hurricanes to tropical depression.

The hokies still control their destiny. :)

sweet.

The second One!

I tried the QuizFarm flyingroc suggested in his website -- Oh boy, I'm the second One! Is being in CS got to do about it?

You scored as Neo, the "One". Neo is the computer hacker-turned-Messiah of the Matrix. He leads a small group of human rebels against the technology that controls them. Neo doubts his ability to lead but doesn't want to disappoint his friends. His goal is for a world where all men know the Truth and are free from the bonds of the Matrix.

Neo, the "One" 79% James Bond, Agent 007 75% Lara Croft 71% Maximus 63% Indiana Jones 63% The Amazing Spider-Man 63% William Wallace 58% Captain Jack Sparrow 54% Batman, the Dark Knight 54% The Terminator 50% El Zorro 46% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Laying Eggs

The hokies are on the way of being shut-out in 10 years. The hokie nation is being rampaged by Category 5 hurricanes.

... Peach bowl - here we come. :(

Category 5 hurricane in Blacksburg

Cold pizza held their show yesterday near the Torgersen bridge and the Gameday trio would do the same today. The Hokie country are excited! Most of the predictions I have read says the Hokies would beat the retro-Canes. Which team would Lee Corso pick?

A terrible wind is blowing from the south... and we have no tickets!!!

Thursday Night Lights

We got 10 student tickets and we went to watch the game of Hokies vs the Golden Eagles. The Hokies won 30-10. The average score of opponents of the Hokies this season is 9.0. The golden eagles are #13 in the nation and they were able to muster 10 points -- one point above the average. :)

The offensive line led by Marcus Vick was very conservative. It is good to see Marcus near perfect again. His passes were never intercepted. Also, it is great to see a touchdown pass and a defensive touchdown again.

Four more to go

The Terrapins forced 4 turn-overs but failed to capitalize on them. They only got 3 points to show for those turn-overs. Marcus Vick was forced to show some leg work. He run for more than 100 yards tonight and put the Hokies first on the scoreboard with a rushing touchdown.

It is disappointing however that the Hokies got penalized for two consecutive personal fouls. The penalities moved the football for 30 yards for the benefit of the terrapins and the Terps got their only touchdown. Consecutive personal fouls are something that we haven't seen for a while. Penalities like these cost the Hokie teams of 2002 and 2003.

Vick had 3 interceptions tonight while Brandon Pace's only field goal attempt didn't convert for a score. The Hokies however find ways to move the football and score 4 rushing touchdowns (1 by Vick, 2 by Imoh, and 1 by Ore).

The Hokies won 28-9 againts the Terps.

Four more games remain for the Hokies: vs Boston College, vs Miami, vs Virginia, and vs UNC.

North's windmills

This is something you don't see everyday in the Philippine news. We actually have modern windmills at Bangui bay in Ilocos!

Doing the right thing

La Salle recently found out that one of their players is ineligible to play in the men's basketball team. The team's center man -- Mark Benitez -- has allegedly provided a forged Philippine Educational Placement Test Certificate of Ratings in leiu of HS diploma. Hence, La Salle is ready to give up its trophy won last year and forfeit all games where Benitez played.

La Salle actually placed second to FEU this year. La Salle denied Ateneo and UE the chance to play for the UAAP title. La Salle sweeped Ateneo and UE this year. Had this incident known before, either Ateneo or UE could have played FEU for the UAAP crown.

I wonder how the UAAP board would resolve this issue. Would FEU get the UAAP 2004 throphy? Would the 2005 UAAP title game be replayed? -- or just forget about it and move on?

The story is here.

Rout of herd

The thundering herd surprised the hokies during the first half. They can actually penetrate the hokie defense and run the football! There was a moment during the second half where Bud Foster was furious -- after the herd got a touchdown. Is an upset brewing?

During the third quarter, the hokies showed why they are #3 in the nation. They scored 17 points in 3 and half minutes. The herd just moved 1 yard compared to 200 yards of the hokies during the third quarter. With 41-7 on the scoreboard, Frank Beamer and the coaching staff let the second stringers handle the ball.

Aside from Marcus Vick, Vince Hall, and Darryl Tapp, the redshird freshman, Brenden Ore emerged as a star to watch. Ore stepped up to do the running job when Cedric Humes went to the sidelines because of injury. Mike Imoh is also injured and did not play.

The hokies won 41-14.

A couple of upsets however happened later of the day:

#16 Penn state lions beat #6 Ohio buckeyes
#20 UCLA bruins beat #10 Cal bears
#25 Oregon ducks beat #17 Arizona St. sun devils
Minnesota gophers beat #21 Michigan wolverines
Northwestern wildcats beat #14 Wisconsin badgers

Lolo Jose

Coritha is one of my favorite pinoy folk singers. I memorized the lyrics and chords of a few of her songs when I was still learning to play the guitar. The chords are amazingly simple and the lyrics deep. Lolo Jose is one of those Coritha's compositions that I still like.

~

Lolo Jose

Noong panahong siya ay hari
Masigla ang kanyang pagbati
Mahigpit ang hawak ng mga daliri
At and lakad nama'y matuwid

Mahusay ang kanyang talumpati
Makisig kung siya ay magdamit
Malalim ang kanyang pagiisip
At lahat ay sa kanya nakatitig

Ngunit ngayong siya'y pagod na
Mahina na rin ang katawan
Pinagmamasdan na lamang sa bintana
Ang unti-unting pagdaloy ng ulan

At ang unang tanong sa umaga
Kung ano ang kanyang nagawa
Sa paglipas ng siyamnapung taon
Nang siya'y malakas at bata pa

Si lolo jose, si lolo jose
Si lolo jose ay matanda na
Ngunit mahal ko pa si lolo jose
Kahit siya ngayon ay laos na

Sa piling ng mga ala-ala
Lagi na lamang nag-iisa
Kahit sulyap walang maaasahan
Sa anak na di man siya mapagbigyan

At ang unang tanong sa umaga
Kung mayro'n pa siyang magigisnan
Na liwanag sa nalalabing buhay
Ngayong siya'y matanda at laos na

Si lolo jose, si lolo jose
Si lolo jose ay matanda na
Ngunit mahal ko pa si lolo jose
Kahit siya ngayon ay laos na

Sa dilim ng kanyang pag-aasam
Maghapon na lang nakabantay
Kung kanyang matatanaw pa ang hiwaga
Ng hindi malimot niyang nakaraan

At ang diwa ng kahapon
Di na matagpuan
At ang sinag ng umaga
Dinaanan ng ulan
At hirap ng nasa puso
Di mapapantayan

Kung maari lang
maari lang
Pawiin ang dusa

Si lolo jose, si lolo jose
Si lolo jose ay matanda na
Ngunit mahal ko pa si lolo jose
Kahit siya ngayon ay laos na

not until 2015

Two years ago, the hokies beat #16 Syracuse by 51-7 score. With #3 ranking on their shoulders, the hokies went to Morgantown only to be clobbered by the mountaineers.

Today, the hokies went to Morgantown after beating #15 Georgia tech 51-7 last week and again having a #3 national ranking. Deja vu? It didn't turn out so.

The defense of the hokies were vulnerable several times during the first half. It was a good thing that the hokies kept their calm and composure. The hokies never trailed thoughout the game and won the match 34-17.

They will be keeping the black diamond trophy possibly until 2015.

The better tech wins!

The hokies beat the yellow jackets 51-7! Until the 3rd quarter of this game, the hokies defense didn't gave up a touchdown since their match-up with the wolfpack.

Almost every hokie player wants a touchdown -- not only the offense team but the defense and special teams. With around 12 minutes still on the clock, Marcus Vick let Cory Holt do the QB job. If Marcus stayed, I imagine the yellow jackets will be buried.

This lopsided match-up features the first beamerball in 2005. Parker made a rushing touchdown with the blocked kick during the first quarter.

What can I say?

Sweet.

UAAP Final Four

La Salle archers came from behind and dumped UE warriors in their contention for the second twice to beat advantage in the UAAP Final Four. The number one seeded team is FEU tamaraws. While La Salle archers, Ateneo eagles, and UE warriors have the same 10-4 cards -- La Salle has the highest quotient over Ateneo and UE. Hence, the second seeding goes to the archers.

FEU has beaten La Salle twice, La Salle has beaten Ateneo twice, and Ateneo has beaten UE twice. It is noteworthy that the two losses of FEU came from Ateneo and UE.

The La Salle archers have the drive and spirit to defend its title. While I root for the Ateneo eagles, I think Norman Black and the Ateneo squad must solve the unyielding defense of the archers if they want to get to the finals.

Excitement at Blacksburg

The tail gate food of the College of Engineering was catered! Of course, the smell of food never escaped us. Roy, Robert, Jess, Romeo, and I enjoyed the food before watching the rout of Ohio bobcats. The hokies won 45-0, the second shutout in a row.

The hokies will not move in the rankings -- however Tennessee volunteers might leave the hokies alone in the 4th place.

We were also trying to catch up with the Clemson tigers and Miami canes face-off at death valley. During the half time, we saw in the little screen at the south-west corner of lane that the score was 10-6 in favor of the tigers. However, on our way out -- the canes were gaining. We thought the game was over. But then, upon reaching the apartment, to our surprise, the game was tied 20-20. The tigers never gave up easily. We were rooting for the tigers -- but the younger Bowden never made it. Cocker was triumphant at the death valley.

The other dark horse, Boston College eagles, also lost to Florida state seminoles.

Warren Abstract Machine

I found this webpage about WAM. Prolog compilers are based on WAM and it is interesting that someone has a tutorial book about WAM. I might read the details of WAM when I have the time later this year -- presumably after I graduate. :)

Peru in pictures

This is the facade of CIP. Collaboration with scientists here is the reason for our visit to Peru.

The message on the side of this mountain of dry soil says: Peru Moderno.

This is "La Catedral" -- a very beautiful natural landmark in Ica.
It is very difficult to reach this place.

La Catedral dates between 30 and 34 million years old according to this sign.

These are skulls of ancient peruvians. Notice that the skulls have odd shapes. These skulls remind me of the "coneheads" movie years ago. It turned out that the ancient peruvians actually shaped the skulls of their babies using elaborate methods.

This is the entrace to an Inca palace in Tambo Colorado at Ica.

This is a sign in near the entrace to the Inca palace.

This is a very old bathtub of the Incas. Their plumbing system is amazing -- especially when you realize that this palace is sort of in the middle of a desert.

This is a fishing port in somewhere in Ica.
No, we didn't buy any fresh fish. :)

Flying back to Virginia

I stayed here in Peru for a couple of days -- to collaborate with scientists at CIP. I'm flying tonight. My flight goes straight to Miami, then get a connecting flight to North Carolina. I'll post some pictures when I get back to Blacksburg.

I could possibly catch the match of hokies with the blue devils tomorrow afternoon. :)

Tough wolves!

I thought the wolfpack would get a touchdown its last drive during the dying minutes of the 4th quarter. However, they came short and the hokies claimed their first win in the ACC conference this season. The final score: hokies (20) - wolfpack (16).

The other ACC teams fared well in their opening games:
> Clemson tigers upset the 17th ranked Texas A&M aggies
> Georgie tech upset the 16th ranked Auburn tigers
> 22nd ranked Boston College eagles have beaten BYU cougars
> 25th ranked Virginia cavaliers have beaten Western Michigan broncos
> Maryland terrapins have beaten Navy midshipmen

Duke blue devils and Wake Forest demon deacons came short in their respective opening matches. For tommorow's match between Florida State seminoles and Miami hurricanes, I would go with the seminoles.