CLEVO’S X8100 - NICE SHOT FOR GAMING SENSATIONS

Mobile gamers might get a little jumpy at the edge of their sit with CLEVO’S state-of-every-art and the front in every line when in comes (perhaps) design and beastly speed and power. Clevo’s X8100 from Taiwan put a best foot forward into the gaming as well as gadgetry world.

The clamshell is claimed to be the fastest laptop in the world – well if not the finest. The objective evidence is redeemed by figuring out the lethal combinations of 3 Core i7 microprocessors, seconded by up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, followed by 1 to 2GB of nVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics module. Now the real combo gets with up to 3 spaces for SATA HD drives. Wow, that’s miles and miles of generous spaces on that something at the top of your lap.

Below is the breakdown of the latest Core i7 processor craze and the potpourri of the same power line complementing peripherals:

• 18.4” Full HD (1920x1080) TFT LED LCD
• Intel® Core™ i7 720QM / 740QM / 820QM / 840QM / 920XM / 940XM Socket G1
processors support
• NVIDIA® GTX 285M 1GB single or 2GB Dual VGA / SLI configuration
• up to 8 GB 1066/1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM Memory Supported
• Support up to 3 Hard Disk Drives
• Integrated SATA Raid 0,1 Controller
• 2 HDMI ports input / output
• 1 DVI Port, 1 VGA Port for external Monitors
• Support for Internal Mini-PCI TV-Tuner with Multi-Function Remote Control
• 5 Built-in Speakers
• 3 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 IEEE 1394a Port
• Built-in 7-in-1 Card Reader
• AIntegrated 2M High-Resolution Digital Video Camera
• Full Sized Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
• High Definition Audio interface with 3D stereo enhanced sound system

That’s a daredevil of a ride onboard this platform! The dissection from within gives us a titillating technical chasm. Nonetheless, we haven’t seen yet the skin and the cover – of course from without.

And guess what? It’s burning!

A huge 18.4 LCD display treated a VIP of 1080p high definition screen pride for maximum graphic trans and nirvana. The left side of the machine is furnished with eight programmable gaming slots. All the way to the top are majestic arrays of touch sensitive hot (ok I say hot), keys for quick access to some other applications such as WLAN, volume control, Bluetooth and web applications.

The mighty form factor includes more: The touchpad supports the gestures and scrolling mechanism. The 5.1 speaker system brings you a superb 3-dimensional auditory laud with its built-in subwoofer. The typical S/PDIF audio complementary are of course on the line.

Now here’s another loop from this superb high hitting machine; besides the connectivity of the USB 2.0 ports, IEEE 1394a and an eSATA port, HDMI-out and a 7-in-1 card reader and few others, a TV tuner is a palpable option in case you can’t get even with a bot on Counter Strike Source – turn on the TV and puff you’re a game underdog turned couch potato slab.

If the said configurations inside-out rocks your senses then the figures that comes dangling to it will, perhaps scare the hell out of your pocket.

The basic set-up and default knocks up to US$2000 but of course the extreme complete and monster customization rips you up to more or triple the amount. Well, they said, sometimes it pays to be entertained. Why not give it your fat check a nice shot!

Gadget industry is like sliding a race car on the track. You won’t expect to be racing alone or at least monopolize the oval of the race. You’ve got to have adversaries and competitors right behind you, beside you or even getting ahead of you fast.

Clevo can never be too sure of how low will they hold the limelight for that “fastest gaming thing.” MSI drops the a notice to the gadget world that they’re pregnant with the same baby naming it GT660 gaming laptop now with USB 3.0 ports on board its carcasses and a 12GB RAM.

Are they (MSI) saying it’s cool enough?! Duh, ASUS is on queue heralding to the top of their lungs their i7 powered furnished gaming machine later to be born. And so with CES, DELL’s Alienware and perhaps others to trying to catch up with the race!

For all tech buff – gear up and prepare your pinky for a fun click click ride!

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ECONOMY AS MULTIDIMENSIONAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE

What is economy, and what is the purpose of economy? I just learnt from the previous economic units that I took-up, that economy is a sort of management. Etymologically, from the Greek terminology, oikos and nomos, which laterally means, “house rules or house management.” What is being ruled, and what is being managed? Obviously, it is no other than, goods that are necessary for human existence. Why do they have to be managed? It is because of their scarcity – the underlying element of economic functions. According to Roberto G. Medina, Ph.D., scarcity is “when most things that people want are available only in limited supply. Thus, there is a great necessity calling for the appliance of the house management.

An apple has to be quartered equally to three craving toddlers. Luckily, there are goods that don’t have to be mathematically or demographically stipulated in order to be available for consumption. The air we breathe that is being given freely and copiously by nature fits this picture; all we have to do is to literally ‘economize’ our negligence and irresponsible disposal of waste elements. God must have been so generous to us uncaring individuals that he made this so abundant we don’t even notice its encompassing value more than any economic goods, or we don’t sleep late at night uneasy of what air to breathe tomorrow and the coming days. Besides, human values are elements that defy economic calculus.

Economic goods, no matter how scares, are given the utmost thought for further proliferation. There are basic economic resources that underscore economic operations, the land, labor, capital, plus the prolific synthesizing capability of an entrepreneur.

Thus, in the bivouac of economy in a political society, every economic action are channeled to economic growth, full employment, economic efficiency, price level stability, economic freedom, equitable distribution of income, economic security and balance of trade (Roberto G. Medina, Principle of Economics,) How do we measure now economic growth and development? Is it when everybody’s well fed, every employee or worker receives considerable salary; every one’s owning a car or nestling on a well furnished houses? Perhaps, it is? How does economic develop? Obviously, economy develops if it allows more output of goods for consumption. Some say if a society is highly industrialized with a high standard of living or in view, it is highly urbanized. Sadly, it fosters few side-effects such as, increased noise, congestion and pollution, towns and cities may become overcrowded, and traditional way of living maybe lost, people may experience increased anxiety and stress, and few others. Therefore economic development doesn’t always guarantee the populace a happy and auspicious living.

I dubbed this paper as multidimensional because economics doesn’t only show the monetary, the GNP or the GDP and agility of a country to show off material productivity, but also of the integral dimensions or dispositions of every individual. Economic condition may cause crimes, calamities and other derogating phenomena. A highly industrialized city might be the cause of the land slide in a certain locality. If the economic revenue is not equally distributed, then deficiency to a certain area to a certain individuals will happen (a statement highly tantamount to saying corruption). With considerable economic growth comes considerable demand and consumption of every individual. This would eventually change individual’s quality of life – considering that few determinants of economy are man’s unlimited wants, and his maximum satisfaction.

We can elucidate thousands and thousands of economic norms for economic growth and development, but after all, each and every one of us has always the last say about our ‘economy’ from within and from without.

Material economy alone cannot satisfy the unlimited wants of each and every one of us. There is no maximum satisfaction after all. Economic development resides and emanates from each one of us. Economic downfall does not only begin when an official corrupts the revenues, but when a single centavo is being used in vain. It doesn’t begin when a tycoon or president went on to an expensive trip or party spree, but when an individual doesn’t make good enough of the left over in his table.

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THE BETHLEHEM SUPERNOVA

The avalanche of the ideal foundation of this article did not evoked from an awe-stunning blight of a supernovatic-effect of a star. Rather, it started from an exodus of this paper-article from a dark and stingy compartment, kept perhaps as a valuable chronicle of things almost immemorial.

The pages of the paper almost collapsed even by the gentle caress of my fingers; signaling a surrender and exhaustion from a long vexation of time and matter.

Hence, from the cunning intent my mental faculty could give, I begun unearthing the lacklustered pages of the old magazine. I seemed to be a vagabond lost in every unfamiliar highways of its leaf. Till the curious ardor of my wondering consciousness was spellbounded by a generous article which spells – “The Bethlehem Supernova.”

That article of Gregorio Brillantes hooked me up like a man hypnotized by a perfect stranger. I noticed myself pressing my nose against the faded pages of the magazine for several minutes. For some time now, we will plunge into retrospection of this awe-inspiring phenomenon between the two grotesquely intertwined narrative accounts; the beautiful interplay of the theoretical exposé of the celestially based sciences and the literary brainchild of Arthur Clarke, a sci-fi of his short story – “The Star.”

The scientific discipline broods of the theory, that after a few hundred years are consummated, a star in our galaxy will reach the edge of its glorious immortality. An infernal outburst of its searing chemical components exudes an overwhelming amount of light and radiation. Due to the exhaustion of its thermonuclear elements and processes, the sun tends to overheat, giving off a bedeviling temperature of seven billion degrees centigrade. The power chamber of the sun, which is its core, collapses, causing the outer envelope of the searing gaseous chemical to rush in, forming a highly insufferable concentration. Soon thereafter, a critical stage is reached. The high concentration undergoes chain reaction, ending a star breathing-off its last thermonuclear sinews.

However, before the star shrinks into an “insignificant” white dwarf, it will first paint the abode of heavens with rich thick clouds of luminous gases. Afterwards, a signature of an oblivious retire follows. The Nebula, which astronauts later capture epitomized the remains of the said cataclysm. The next story is comparatively a sequel of the previous account. However, it is just being exemplified in a sci-fi celestial fantasy. This is the story of “The Star,” courtesy of a, perhaps, fictitious intellectual sleigh of an author Arthur Clarke.

This story as told, might have been a grotesque enterprise of a Christmas story, of the manifestation of an Intelligence beyond human arrest, and a test of faith – all brought about by the explosion of a certain star, we opt to quote as “The Bethlehem Supernova.” After a said stellar outburst, a Jesuit priest-scientist, an astrophysicist by specialization, had just retreated from an expedition to a pro-chaotic remnant, the nebula. The Jesuit scientist (the narrator and character in the story), though reluctant to admit, had with them viable data from the mission to phoenix nebula. Together with them were scrolls of photographs that captured the panorama of the mission.

They are unconsciously expecting to discover a ‘last standing planet’ circling the exhausted star at a considerable range – the ‘Pluto prototype’ of this vanished solar system. Upon surveillance, they were stunned to discover archives of a long-before existing civilization. It was immortalized by the artifacts and intelligent remains nestled in that planet. The “vault,” that they call, encased the signature of a relatively human-like civilization that existed just before the cataclysm – or even advanced and brilliant than what we have.

The ‘monolithic marker’, which was engrossed on the entrance of the vault and the pylon, gave additional weight to the objective evidence of the doomed civilization. They must have been given an ample time to prepare; the sun just have warn them of the imminent end they will meet.

The fruit of their genius were all brought to this distant planet in a hope that they will never too soon be forgotten. They might even trumpeted to the whole macrocosmic vicinity, especially to the whole human kingdom, which are at least relatively aware of this fact, that indeed, we don’t have the monopoly of an intelligent and conscious existence in this splendid valley.

The magnificent aura of their civilization was projected against the disconcerted being of the earth through thousands of visual records and machines preserved inside the secured ambit; records that present a tough sophistication of a civilization superior than of our own. The priest scientist would helplessly sigh in bitter confusion bugging his soul: “even if they had not been disturbingly human as their sculpture showed, we could not have helped admiring them and grieving for their fate.” How can we reconcile this to the mercy of God?

It might be common as grass for the people and cultures of the earth to come and go. But to be vanquished from a full flourishing civilization without survivors at all – would be unthinkable. The atheist co-worker of the Jesuit-scientist says these things happen because there is no divine justice – God does not exist.

But the Jesuit-scientist, perhaps, from the repugnance of a bitter anguish and retaliation from the smog that put his faith into the crucible, took a stiff heads up, hailed his being saying to himself, “God indeed needs not explain to His actions to His creatures.”

There must be a time that as humans even the firmest faith may falter because of the weight of the dilemma pressing against ones shoulders.

Being an advocate not only of religious acumen but of scientific as well, he had calibrated the exact moment when the colossal conflagration reached the earth. It just have reached the earth before the dawn somewhere in the East – when and where Jesus is about to be born.

The supernova, through the instrumentality of the exceptional star that shines triumphantly in the night sky before the sunrise, serves as beacon and a guiding light for the Three Kings that would give praise and honor to His majesty, our savior Jesus Christ.

“But O God, there were so many stars you could have used, what was the need to give these people to the fire, that the symbol of their passing might shine above Bethlehem,” cried the disconcerted Jesuit priest. But again, can we compel God to justify his deeds over us, though it might seem crazy in our own opinion?

Is it that God valued earthlings more than those doomed civilization? (They’re isn’t too evil perhaps?) If not, then what is that sublime reality calling God to plunge this civilization on the furnace just to give the passing of these Three Kings a compass on their nocturnal journey?

We may for some instance in our life accuse God of putting us into the crucible and question him of such like a culprit at large.

The stories, if we remember, are conglomeration of factual and fictitious accounts. However, no matter how factual or fictitious those narratives may be, it nevertheless, conveys sublime reality – God’s love to the whole human civilization.

First, he made a ‘sacrificial lamb’ through the agency of the distant doomed civilization in behalf of us his beloved sinful civilization. Second, and the greatest of these, God sends forth His only begotten and precious son to be subjected to human civilization. To be accused though innocent, to be killed in behalf of our own transgression over the divine justice, and to be resurrected to arrest human civilization from the doom akin to the fate of the distant civilization.

Lastly, we may never be able to capsulate the plans and thoughts of God, yet his love is a reality beyond all telling and mark of any reasonable doubt.

(An excerpt from the December 13, 1969 issue of the Philippine Free Press in an Article by Gregorio C. Brillantes)

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REASON FOR THE SEASON? Santa Clause Vis-A-Vis Jesus Christ

“Reason for the Season” might just rhyme words that don’t make sense if you're materialistically o'er head for Christmas. Much more if you don't have a single penny to dodge just a simple omelet for the eve of the celebration. You might as well raise your head up the starry night and wonder who would you whisper to – a jolly old man with his sledge led by red nosed reindeers or the Big Guy above who once shivered at the cold of the night when he assumed a human body? It would be easy to think that Christmas is a joyful celebration and tempting to associate it with the stereotyping image of a Santa Clause.

From a distance, there are two Iconic Figures we see come Christmas season – Jesus Christ, particularly as a Child in a manger, then Santa Clause, the big fat fellow in a ho ho ho sleigh. Closer, we notice that the first seems always “behind the canvass,” and the latter is always on the “limelight.” You see, Santa Clause is ornamented everywhere, is seen everywhere and could be gotten everywhere, well, as a toy stuff. Some said Santa Clause is in malls, streets and chimney walls, while Christ Jesus is in our hearts. That's the loose compensation and statement of things at the verge of forgetfulness, while faith, like love must be redeemed by actions. We don't mean to say no to Santa here, just the right thing on the right place – give to Caesar what is due to Caesar – we give the real thing to the real reason for the season.

Most just don't want Santa to “gatecrash” on the celebration of the season and gets all the folks in town. A real Santa wouldn't like that thought even. Since he knows that he's just a messenger of kindness, generosity and jolly soul to everyone, especially to children. He knows he doesn't own the piece of cake and the piece of blow every Christmas. He himself knows who’s the Reason for the Season.


WHO IS SANTA CLAUSE?

Fairy tales after fairy tales accumulates every Christmas books and stories we read. Nonetheless, here are few thoughts about Santa Clause:

Would you wonder if there is really a Santa Clause? The answer is – yes! Well, I mean not really that fat bellied fellow on his mighty gifts-stuffed chariots and reindeer, he's quite far from what I mean.

The practical “Santa Clause” is said to be Saint Nicholas of Patrara, Turkey. He was a priest who became a bishop of Myra after the bishop of the district died. Though he was orphaned at a very young age, his Christian orientation has greatly contributed to his charitable acts. He is honored by children as well as parents all over the world because of his exceptional generosity. He is in fact born of wealthy parents, but he doesn't mind spending his wealth for the orphans, widows and poor families. His acts credited him, especially to the Western countries the title “Santa Clause.” Saint Nicholas is also the great Patron Saint of children and gift givers.

The Santa Clause we've mentioned earlier is not a white-bearded in a red furry coat old man and doesn't even count pounds and pounds of weight. He doesn't even own a reindeer, though he might afford one. So, is there a Santa Clause? Yes, he made it a few lines above.

On the other hand, the other Santa Clause or Santa Clauses, as there might be few not mentioned, are details of mythology and childish narratives such as the one, I presume, hanging on your doors. Yeah, he can fly miles and miles from the thick snows of the North Pole all the way to the streets, to your doors and to your chimney holes.


JESUS VIS-A-VIS SANTA CLAUSE

Meanwhile here are few thoughts that would reconcile Child Jesus and Santa Clause (fictional) on their right place:

• Jesus is a factual character noted by redoubtable individuals in history themselves. While Santa Clause is a fictional character for something else.

• Jesus performs miracles and claims to be divine with authority. Many witnesses attested to this since Jesus lived with us 2000 years ago and the words transmitted to us by meticulous textual adaptation, while the fictional Santa is still in the North Pole buckling up for another Christmas.

• Gospel writers intend to relay the physical reality of Jesus Christ such as His nativity all throughout his crucifixion. Santa on the other hand has been made to cater the wandering imaginations of kids.

• Jesus' existence has verifiable names, places, events and cultural as well as political dimensions. Santa Clause squeezes on non-factual elements such as flying reindeers and his visitation to every house.

Parents have to be reminded that they have to remind as well their children that Santa Clause is just a fictional figure that flies only on silver screen and in their dreams. He is pretty much like the tooth fairy that comes in trade for a kid's tooth that fell. Though Santa's character is worth emulating, as in the act of being generous and kind, this has to be confined on parent's sense of diligent supervision to let them understand who Santa is.

Children's anticipation for (material) gift during Christmas may led them to overemphasize materialism with Christmas. It would be a tough job for Christian parents to explain to their kids the mythology of Santa Clause and the factuality of Jesus Christ, if they are continually teased to Santa Clause.

Though, the thought of a Santa Clause is secularly entertaining, we must spearhead in letting our loved ones understand, specially little kids, that a Child, shivering the cold nights in the manger, no matter what is still and will always be the Reason for the Season.

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PRE-CHRISTMAS WRAP-UP: The Hows and Whys of Gift-Giving

Christmas season use to scoop-up the tradition of gift giving. If we give gift for the newlywed, for the birthday celebrant and to our sweethearts on certain anniversaries, then Christmas must have been a culmination of all those gifts put together. So why do we give gift on Christmas then? We have simple and deep reason for it. Others do it by tradition (because it's Christmas) and others do it for some emotional reasons.

By tradition it was said that it started with the three wise men or simply the magi when during Jesus Christ nativity in Bethlehem, they offered gifts namely gold, frankincense and myrrh. The visitation is celebrated on the sixth of January, we call it the Epiphany (from the Greek word, meaning to “show” or to “manifest”). Over time celebrating the Epiphany (on the part of its ritual which is gift giving) became more associated with Christmas rather than an independent practice itself. Gift-giving could be more likely is credited to Epiphany, nevertheless December 25 could be considered the climax of this ritual. Epiphany's cause is Christ's birth and Christ's birth caused the Epiphany. They could be one and the same with due respect to their meanings – love. After all, giving gift doesn't wait for seasonal emphasis but with ones choice to love and to give any time of the year.

Further, Santa Clause has something to say! For more secular rather than religious buffs of gift-giving, Santa Clause is an iconic figure during this cool season of the year. For short, he is that big jolly old man depicted on various narrative denominations who works with lots of gifts on a sleigh and rain deers too. His generosity is most noted during this season tossing gifts to children on the streets and on chimney walls.

Emotively, few other's give gift for deeper purpose. A gnome quotes, “you can give without loving but you can't love without giving.” Whatever that saying means to you, one of the essential requirements of love is for it to be redeemed by actions for it to be called as such. The perennial thing we used to do – gift-giving. We give gift to let that person, in the first place, feel his worth especially for the Christmas season. Although sometimes giving gift tends to be mechanical, it is worthwhile to step out from your door and think about why you give gift on Christmas.

Meanwhile, here are few tips you might use as your guidelines in buying gift. Thinking why you are giving gift could be proportionately difficult as how to get and give that gift stuff. Don't worry, you're not to give an absolutely perfect gift, you are only to give a sincere gift which doesn't need to be perfect. These tips gets through either you’re giving gift to your parents, relatives or especial loved ones.

According to “Present Perfect: The Essential Guide to Gift Giving” (Mobius Press), by Sherri and Larry Athay, the best gifts share several common characteristics: appropriateness, perceptiveness, selflessness, generosity, indulgence, surprise and evocation.

Appropriateness - The perfect gift is fitting for the occasion and the relationship. A tin of homemade Christmas cookies to a coworker would be a thoughtful gesture.

Perceptiveness - A gift that reflects the giver’s attention to the tastes and preferences of the recipient is preferred. In essence, it’s a compliment that says, “When I saw this, I couldn’t help but think of you!”

Selflessness - The giver should only desire to please the recipient - expecting nothing in return. This “no-return” policy includes any satisfaction the giver anticipates from the observations of others about the extravagance of the gift or the generosity of the giver.

Generosity - Resourceful gifts reveal how special the recipient is to the giver. Often, endowments of the giver’s time, effort or creativity are the most generous and memorable characteristics of a gift.

Indulgence - It pampers, it humors, it appeases, it satisfies - the perfect gift says there is something extraordinary about the recipient in the eyes of the giver.

Surprise - Careful and discreet planning can catch even the most suspecting recipient off guard. A spontaneous gift even can be more fun.

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