Bragging Right: Yearend Special

The year 2011 was a very great year for my professional life, but it doesn't do the same on my personal side of things. Achievements, recognition, the chance to prove my worth, all of those have happened in this year. In a nutshell, let me crack the few things that have taken over my life.

(However, the new layout first. Yes, I've reverted to simplicity because I have a new layout which was on the workings for quite sometime now. Wahaha. Nothing very grand though, just a simpler version which is personalized.)

Let us start with my professional path. On our Project Study, I worked as the Software Engineer which ratified my abilities on employing the programming language to create a firmware for our Hockey-playing robot. Yes, I was the one assigned to control the machine using a special program that I myself have devised. To me it is just cool, because I was finally recognized to do well on that department, not that I brag. I was the only one on the group who got 1.00 and 1.25 grades on the two subjects which are needed to perform the Software Engineer task.

Together with another classmate, I  was able to design a Microwave Communications Link from Manila to Bulacan to Pampanga. You could only imagine how we computed for the atmospheric losses, the antenna gain, free space loss, and other stuff. We had sleepless nights trying to reconcile and maximize the antenna/design limitations to get a recognizable signal on the other end. Yeah, truly geeky.

February-ish, I was able to attend different seminars and lectures about Digital TV and the likes. This is very interesting because this is on trend. I also went to different companies to look at their methods of carrying over different Electronics-related stuff like Geosynchronous Satellite Control and Television Broadcasting. I felt nearer to my calling.

I became a scholar, just again. I guess, you get this gift when you really love what you study.

Since I had less units on my last semester, I was able to work with different Electronics Engineers on my spare time. I also received special requests to automate other people's houses. Imagine, I'm assembling door access controls all by myself! I was also tasked to do something about a turning on/off light system using a Bluetooth device (cellphone). These little technologies I still owe to the experience that I had as a Software Engineer.

Before leaving the University, I checked my grades back, and whoo. I'm a scholar, just again. But it would be worthless since I'm already graduating but the fact that my grades once again reached the line of recognition is none but a bonus. I graduated though without any Latin Honor because previously, I have screwed on the minor subjects which affected my GWA (Grade Weighted Average) big-time. However, I'm still very proud of myself. I graduated an Engineering course without failing a subject. They say its unusual, while not getting an Honor.

After graduating, I flew to a certain review center. Choosing the center is critical to the board examination, I believe. When I first had the exam, oh boy, those were the weirdest sets of questions that I have ever encountered. Well, that is the exact reason why there is a review center, to prepare us for battle against these weird questions. After the Diagnostic Exam and the First Evaluation Exam, out of 120 students from mixed schools, I was able to get Top 5 and Top 6 for the exams, respectively. Ang hirap kalabanin ng mga taga-UP! I hope that with my continuing study habits, one day, I'll get them off the top spots. Bwahaha.

That caps my professional road for 2011. It was pressure filled. Having reached the conclusions of these things which were positive, I cannot help but feel for myself that I'm doing a good job. I'm very confident that in the days, weeks, and months to come, there can be no other impediment to my success, because I always hold on to the Greater Being who has been my constant source of help and strength.

I would also want to make this an avenue to thanking the people who have been with me through all these challenges, the sad and happy times. Without having you guys around, I could have not survived. I can never stress the joy that I have found in meeting new people and sharing different experiences with them.

As I leave 2011, I'm geared to face tougher things ahead, things which might be the firsts of its kind, but I will always be optimistic in fighting off these tests. For I know that on the battle, I'm always on the winning side, for He is with me.

To God be the Glory! Without Him, Engineer Josh is nothing. Happy New Year folks!

Avatar Movie

From last week's Friday, the bar and coffee (same as last week's) day, I'd like to skip on a talk with my today.

I have been much of a couch potato since Sunday. There were supposed to be a lot of things which could hit my imagination up but I'm just too lazy to work on it! Stretching my muscles wouldn't really do the great job.

Late this afternoon, I started watching Avatar, the film by James Cameron. Movies always do a great deal after bringing up a trustworthy connection, I mean to say, my torrent leeches are always up and going and I've been receiving the best of download speeds so far.

Going back to the movie, it kind of stretched my scientific mind a little bit. It was this whole lot sci-fi with a portion of interracial love story, but man I have to commend the writer/director for the great movie and concept.

I don't know how to put up a praise for him, but the only thing I know is that there is only one living planet and that is Earth, and Cameron wanted the message simple and straight: Save Earth before nature is gone.

The graphics were clean and cool. Pandora looked like more of a super-undiscovered-tropical-rainforest if it were on Earth. The blue-colored natives called Na'vi were also a good part of the story. I admire the way they appreciate their own planet's riches like making a connection to trees and nature and having this belief that all living beings comes from and goes back to nature after serving its lifespan (more of life's purpose).

When I was younger, I remember being so close to nature as my hands appear to like plants. In the story, I found a relatively sanguine bond with the scientist Grace (Sigourney Weaver) who discovered the ways, means, flora, fauna, language, culture of the Na'vis in Pandora. There were a few cuts there which showed the concern her avatar-Na'vi had for the native children in the Omatacaya clan.

What I loved with this movie is the connection it made to me, and it was not hard for the movie maker to make that connection to reach my senses.

The most touching part for me was when the clan shaman tried to merge the injured physical body and the avatar-Na'vi body of Grace at one of their sacred trees but it failed. Grace had one last moment to say, "I'm with her (Eywa, the deity of the Na'vis) Jake."

I wish it has a sequel but I hope the story can maintain the strength and sense.

I can't believe I'm having to face Earth again. Time to do some work. :)