I have had an iPhone since October of last year [2007] and even though it was unlocked to work with any sim; I had left it as that. I did not put any extra software since I didn’t have installer. Also, I was still sitting on firmware 1.0.2. I was not all interested in updating the iPhone until there was a firmware worth the upgrade. That is until I saw some of the functions available on the 1.1.3 firmware that I decided to update.
Did I want to take it back to where I purchased my phone for the update? I probably could have taken it there but they would have charged me for it. Also, I would miss out on all the fun of actually unlocking my own iPhone. Since the iPhone came out, there have been numerous development teams out there unlocking and jailbreaking the phone so you run additional applications on the iPhone. I did not know the potential to all this until I actually successfully updated my iPhone and jailbroken it.
Continue reading ‘How I did my iPhone unlock and update to 1.1.3′
The defining speech that Barack Obama made Tuesday morning, March 18, 2008 is witnessed as one of the greatest of speeches in American history. I over heard parts and pieces and actually read through the entire text here. (The video is there as well.) After reading the transcript of the speech, my emotions are a bit unsure. In a way, I am glad Obama decided to have this speech and face criticism and controversies head on. Especiallly the race issue because everyone makes it a larger part than it really should be. Yes it is in the American history. Yes it effects all races. But if we are to be a true United States and to be a real American, we need to stand united as one and not divided.
Opposing views will surface that would like to flank these issues with other issues and make our minds wander and focus on other problems but we should not kid ourselves. We need to pay more attention to what is close to us; home. The great social divide whether it is the old or young, black or white, rich or poor. The looming fear that the economy is going into recession. Health care for the baby boomer generation ready to retire. Real estate industry faltering and financing on the verge of not being able to withstand. Rise of energy costs and the decline of the once proud American dollar. Its not the war in Iraq we should be focused upon as our valuable resources are being sent overseas to what seems to be an endless war like Vietnam.
Continue reading ‘The defining speech…’
After the opening tip; it was clear that the Lakers were disoriented. They straight out looked lost on the court. It was about 4 minutes into the game before either team actually made a basket that went through the hoop. Then Rafer Alston decided to just take the game over with his phenomenal three point shooting.
The game really was not close with the Rockets leading the entire game. Lakers did cut it to 2 points but that is as close as it got. I feel bad for the entire team as there really was a lack on effort and watching Kobe painstakingly try to keep the game close. His game was not pretty either as he hoisted more than 30 shots to just total 24 points in this contest. The other ineffective Lakers were worse as they could not get open or help Kobe out either.
Continue reading ‘Rockets charge towards consecutive win number 22 against Lakers; wheres the defense?’
The hollow stadium with only the sound of winds blowing around. The sun pierces down through the clear skies. Empty rows of empty seats from the upper deck to the lower levels. Dodger Stadium sits, empty with only us tourists visiting.
The weather was actually windy and on my way home it actually started raining; it even hailed. However, too many weekends have gone by where I wake up in the morning and just sit around not doing anything. That has to be a thing of the past especially living in Los Angeles. There are so many landmark locations that growing up over here lets you take things forgranted.
Continue reading ‘Visiting Dodger Stadium’
I was never a really good chess player but I can claim to be a fairly moderate XiangQi (Chinese chess) player. So when I saw this Three Kingdoms themed XiangQi set; it was just too irresistible to not buy it. I have always thought collector chess sets that were being displayed at hobby stores were really cool especially when each figure on the chess set was a different character. I knew I had to buy this chess set and I have yet had a crack at it yet. I need to find an opponent; anyone out there familiar with XiangQi?
Here are some photos of the set (forgive photo quality, not the greatest): Continue reading ‘三國演義 Three Kingdoms - Xiangqi Collection’
I been hearing about it ever since the Xbox 360 was launched more than 2 years ago (?) and even have had friends speak about it. It must have been fate because the night I experienced it, there was an article featured on Yahoo! about the high failure rate of this console. And finally the unholy sight of the Red Ring of Death do I understand what its all about. I may be fortunate that my console is actually about 2 years old and it lasted this long but at the same time; I have played less than a handful of games.
I also have my doubts that the system will be cured of this overheating cause of the red rings of death issue even when I do receive my console back. And I wonder if they will even attempt to fix it at all; since my console in question actually showed the symptoms of the system failure but after several hours of rest; it will actually power up again properly.
Continue reading ‘Doomed… Red Ring of Death to my 360 console…’
Last week, Nintendo released the highly anticipated U.S. version (NTSC) of Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Nintendo Wii console and after reading great reviews from Gamespot, IGN, and others; I had to go out and get it. I already knew I was going to pick this game up but since my Xbox 360 decided to turn the Red Ring of Death on me; I figured nows the perfect time to just play Smash.
So how did my experience turn out? I decided to trade in several games to get in on a promotion to get Smash at Gamestop for only $9.99. First Gamestop I get to around my house has no extra copies; apparently they only had enough to cover pre-orders. Who actually pre-orders? And I got this game on Monday; it was released Saturday. They should already received their second shipment already. Anyways, had to go to a second Gamestop in the local area which had the game in-stock. Traded in my games and headed home to test the game out. Popped in the disc into the Wii and apparently it prompted a “disc unreadable” message. Not freaking out yet; I decided I need to update the console as it HAS been collecting dust for the past 3 months. After waiting for the system to update; still a no go.
Continue reading ‘Almost smashed my Wii because it didn’t play Smash’
I have been trying to compile a list of movies that had memorable movie scores to it. Several come to mind such as The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Titanic, etc. However, I think my personal top 5 movies with amazing music soundtrack scores are the following:
| Rudy |
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The first time I saw this movie was in my sociology class. Didn’t think too much of the movie at the time, except that this is the ultimate underdog movie and I shared a name with the movie’s title. I think the musical score stood out the most and made this movie a whole lot better. Very dramatic indeed. |
| Requiem for a Dream |
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I saw this my first year in college recommended by my roommate. Movie was awesome and musical soundtrack made it unbelievable. Yes, the change of seasons, the psychedelic theme, and probably because I was under the influence made this movie and soundtrack especially memorable. To this day, I can still feel chills when I hear the violin from the main theme. |
| The Last Samurai |
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I saw this movie twice in the theaters. It wasn’t an especially great story; although I thought the movie’s cinematography and costumes were awesome. Add the musical score in the background, it just played over and over in my head. Must be my fondness toward Japanese culture and the Meiji period, due to watching one too many Kenshin episodes. |
| Cruel Intentions |
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Movie wasn’t impressive. Soundtrack impressed me. I really did not pay too much attention to the story; at the time Sarah Michelle Gellar was pretty hot but after watching her nose for too long; it became annoying. The background musical score made the mood though. It is one of the tougher to find soundtracks out there. I believe it is from the same composer of Requiem for a Dream. |
| The Rock |
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Awesome characters, awesome plot, awesome movie! Period. How can you not like Sean Connery’s character in this movie; the only man to escape Alcatraz? Also, listen to the music that plays in the background. Everything goes with whats going on the screen perfectly. Especially the scene between Sean Connery meets his in-movie daughter. |
Continue reading ‘Movies with amazing musical scores’
