Ruby PH

The Philippines is frequently visited by tropical typhoons all throughout the year. At present, the deadliest storm that hit the country was Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). This is the strongest land falling tropical cyclone ever recorded as it crossed the Central Philippines last November 8, 2013.

A year and a month later, reports are saying that Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) is as strong as Typhoon Yolanda. 

Nowadays, you do not only worry about the rain and wind brought about by the typhoons, but also the storm surge that comes along with it. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), there will be six landfall. As of 11am this morning, here's the track of the typhoon:

And here's one from Rappler:

Here are some advisories as well:

DigitalGlobe, together with the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, shared a pre-event imagery that will greatly help search, rescue, and recovery operations. Here's the link:

http://tasks.hotosm.org/project/801.  

Let's work together. If you want to volunteer, volunteer for http://agos.rappler.com. 

Creating a Mosaic Dataset

Nowadays, there are many sources where we can get remotely sensed data: satellite imageries, aerial photos, digital elevation models, IFSAR, LiDAR, and more. Organizations with large collections of data sources may encounter difficulty in managing and making it accessible to all their users. 

Traditionally, we share our files physically that may create problems, especially with large datasets. To resolve this, we can use Esri's Mosaic Datasets. Mosaic dataset manages your data as a catalog collection where you can dynamically deliver a mosaicked image on-the-fly.

So, how do we create a mosaic dataset? First step is to check if your dataset needs to be preprocessed - build pyramids and calculate statistics. By building pyramids, you create a reduced-resolution versions of your datasets that will then enable faster access. Calculating statistics on the other hand ensures that your dataset is rendered properly. After that, you can now create your mosaic dataset.

Here are the typical steps:

1. Create a Geodatabase.
2. Create a mosaic dataset inside the Geodatabase that you have just created.
3. Add all your raster data.
4. Define additional metadata - e.g. sensor name, product type, processing template, filter, minimum and maximum stretch, band combination, pan-sharpening technique, orthorectification method and function templates.
5. After that, the raster data will be cataloged inside your Mosaic Dataset. You can now refine the footprints of your raster data and define NoData pixels as well.
6. Then, you can create seamlines. Seamlines are used to define the line along which the rasters in the mosaic dataset will be mosaicked.
7. After that, you can color balance your mosaic to create a seamless looking mosaicked image. This is necessary since your mosaic dataset is composed of many raster datasets that may have significant color differences.
8. Then, you can refine your mosaic dataset.
9. Lastly, you will need to generate overviews. Overviews, in a way, are like raster dataset pyramids.

If you haven't tried mosaic datasets, try creating one now! xx

DigitalGlobe's new website

Check out DigitalGlobe's new website! 

They made significant changes to the look and feel to make your web experience more engaging. It is now more customer-centric, with a deeper focus on key verticals served by DigitalGlobe. 

Here are some of the specific highlights of the website:

• Responsive design allows you to easily explore the site from your computer or any of your mobile devices.     
• A simplified global navigation focuses on DG's key industries served, as well as DG's core product offerings.
• More interactivity including roll-overs, sliders, and animations that helps to simplify complex ideas and solutions.
• A robust footer area containing important links such as DG's investor page, partner links, and access to DG's Partner Extranet.
• Localized versions of the site (English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese).

Visit their site today! xx

GTA 5 for Xbox One and PS4

Here's another game to look forward to this week, November 18, the Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) by Rockstar Games for Xbox One and PS4!

Photo from gottabemobile.com/

GTA V was released last year. So what's new with this year's release? For one, it's an upgraded version. Then, there's the much-awaited new first person mode. Hooray! I'm sure a lot of you are pretty much excited about this. Say hello to first person shooters! And of course, the more detailed graphics for a more amazing experience with our GTA story and main characters. 

Photo from gottabemobile.com/

For more information, visit gamespot.com! xx

Rocksmith 2014

Wanna learn how to play the guitar as easy as ABC? Try Rocksmith 2014 for Xbox 360. :)

Rocksmith 2014 is a music video playing game that allows you to play any electric or bass guitar. It only requires a USB cable that comes with the disc. 

With Rocksmith 2014, you can choose to play as lead, rhythm or bass guitar, depending on what path you want to play and improve on. The good thing here is that you can set the song difficulty. And as you progress with one song in particular, it automatically updates your difficulty as well. 

This game is designed to be a teaching tool for guitar beginners. As you learn a song, you'll learn the proper finger position and improve your guitar skills as well. Not only that, this will also enhance your memory skills as there is a master mode. And once you've finally memorized one song, you can then play it elsewhere. :) 

Grab your own copy now! xx

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

The long wait is over! Halo: The Master Chief Collection for Xbox One is finally here! Well, last November 11 to be exact. :)

Photo from www.xbox.com

Halo: The Master Chief Collection, a first-person shooter game, combines all four Halo games in one disc. Thus, you get to play Halo 1 to 4 all for the price of one! Yes, you heard it right! :) Not only that, you get to play the original gameplay! And here's the real catch, you'll have access to Halo 5's beta.

Amazing news right? :D

Halo 3 is the first game I've tried in the Halo franchise. Ceejay would be Master Chief and I got to be the Arbiter. I think it's one of the games where I really honed my shooting and driving skills at the same time! :)

Photo from www.microsoftstore.com

Now, what are you waiting for? You can get your copy at your nearest Data Blitz stores for only Php 2400. I know someone who' s very eager to get his own copy. Haha!

Can't wait to get my hands on this one! xx

The Rosetta Mission

Another hooray for mankind!

Photo from www.flickr.com/photos/dlr_de

Ten years ago, the European Space Agency (ESA) sent the Rosetta spacecraft to comet 67P/C-G. Today, the spacecraft, accompanied by a robotic lander called Philae successfully landed the comet nucleus - a first in history! The main objective of this mission is to get images from the comet's surface to determine its composition, 
among other things.

67P/C-G also known as 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a comet that was discovered by Klim Ivanovych Churyumov of the Kiev National University's Astronomical Observatory in 1969. At present, 317 million miles away from Earth, ESA was able to make the 
historic touchdown. 

For more details from ESA, check this link. There's also some exciting videos from NBC News, take a peek. As well as some amazing photos from Rosetta itself. 
Check them all here.

Enjoy! xx

The 100

There's something with post apocalyptic movies and TV series that fascinates me. It makes me think what I would do if it were to happen in real life. 

I am watching this TV series based on a book by Kass Morgan. The 100 is set in another post-apocalyptic era that premiered last March and currently airing its second season. 

Photo from www.imdb.com/

Photo from www.imdb.com/

Photo from www.imdb.com/

The story starts with a number of survivors living on a space station floating above the Earth, called as The Ark. These people are the remaining survivors when a devastating nuclear war took place 97 years ago and wiped out almost all life on the planet. Well, that's as far as the survivors know. As expected, resources on the space station became scarce and life-support starts to fail. If you were to ask me, they were lucky to have survived that long. 

At the Ark, a group of people, called the council, works as the governing body with all the political drama still in place. To check if earth is habitable once more, they sent a hundred juvenile prisoners to do it. Though thinking that these kids 
will not survive, thus doing a suicide mission since they need to conserve the remaining oxygen that they have left. 

Since the 100 that was sent are composed of juvenile teens, this is where all the conflict, drama and action starts. As well as the typical moral dilemma. There's our good guys that are sometimes bad, and our bad characters that tend to be good.

This show reminds me of BattleStar Galactica. Unlike BattleStar Galactica, they do not have Cylons as enemies, but humans who were able to survive on earth. As far as Season 1 is concerned, the 100 have encountered the grounders, reapers and the mountain men. 

Now, if you're into post-apocalyptic stories, try this one! xx

CitiesXL Platinum

My last post was about Esri CityEngine. Now this one is about CitiesXL Platinum, a city building computer game developed last 2009 by Monte Cristo and then the franchise was bought by Focus Home Interactive. This is an expansion pack really 
for CitiesXL created last 2012. 

Photo from www.toniworld.com

Photo from www.gamersgate.com

Photo from www.comicbuzz.com

At the start of the game, you'll have an option to choose where you want to build your city. The different location offers different type of resources which will be very vital as your game progresses. Once you have chosen, then you'll be able to start. 

With CitiesXL, you can create different building lots (residential, commercial, industrial) and road networks. Take note that when creating residential areas, you have an option as to what social class they'll be in - unskilled workers, skilled workers, executives and elites. Now the trick here is to have a balance with the people in your society and the work your city will offer based on the commercial and industrial industries 
you will soon create. This is the game right here. 

You have an option to create additional recreational activities for your people as well since you'll be acting as Mayor. It's pretty exciting as you will soon learn the 
dynamics of supply and demand. 

What I also like about this game is that it takes into consideration the terrain to make your city more realistic. And you know me, I like my cities unique and realistic 
as much as possible. 

Try this game, you might like it! xx

My City in 3D

Ever heard of CityEngine? 

CityEngine is a stand-alone software application from Esri. It uses procedural rules to enable the creation of detailed large scale 3D city models. This one basically relies on three ingredients -  procedural rules, feature geometry and feature attributes.

Take note that one must at least be familiar with the ArcGIS for Desktop to be able to use CityEngine since it uses the geodatabases you have already created. With Esri CityEngine, you can build flexible scenarios, create realistic context and share your urban plan 
by publishing your 3D models online. 

Here's a trivia, did you know that Cars 2, Total Recall and Man of Steel used CityEngine? Amazing right? Not only can this tool be used by urban planners and architects for visualization but also by the people in the entertainment industry to create cities for movie production. This tool can also be used for creating simulations out of real 
and existing data.

If you're familiar with Sims3 and CitiesXL, then you might want to try this one. Unlike the two games that I have mentioned, with Esri CityEngine, you are creating cities while manipulating real data. You can also create your own procedural rules 
to make your city more realistic. 

To learn more about CityEngine, click here. You can also try CityEngine for free. 
You only need to have an Esri account to access the trial version.

If you want to see my sample city, click here. 

Create your 3D city now! xx

We're Alive!

It's Halloween and zombies are one of the things that are IN these days. If you're into zombies like I am, try listening to this podcast entitled, "We're Alive". This is not your typical zombies from The Walking Dead, more like the zombies from 
World War Z and Z nation but way better.

We're Alive - A Story of Survival is a story that started with three reserve soldiers, Michael, Angel and Saul in downtown Los Angeles. This audio drama is produced by Wayland Productions and can be accessed through the Nerdist 
Podcast Network in iTunes.

Our three reserve soldiers struggled to fortify a safe haven with a group of survivors that they have managed to save from the post-apocalyptic chaos they're in. This is an exciting series packed with amazing performances and sound effects.

Listen to the audio podcast now! xx

Cafe Flafé

We found a cozy little Korean place just a few steps away from our building, 

the Cafe Flafé. The place has a cute interior concept. Since Halloween season is coming up, they have designed it to match the occasion. It's a perfect place 

for some alone time or some catching-up moments with friends.

The cafe offers a wide variety of coffee and tea. And a few pasta choices 

and risotto as well. 

I tried their lemongrass tea and their kimchi risotto. It's a good combination for lunch. 
If you wanna try their goodies, here are the details from Booky:

Cafe Flafe

(0927) 638-4455

118 Grand Emerald Tower, Emerald Ave, Ortigas, Pasig

Tap to view map:

http://ph.phonebooky.com//i/10778

Happy eating! xx

TWD - Season 5, Episodes 1-2 Review

The Walking Dead's first two episodes are just the BOMB! 

Here are my thoughts. Unlike the other season where they are stucked in a particular place, in this season, they are just wandering through the forest looking for some food and shelter. Not to mention getting some distance away from Terminus. Running away from that place all together and unscathed, they are more stronger now than ever. Numbers and all. However, with the Terminus incident, Rick becomes less and less trustful. We can't blame him. After all that happened, it's pretty much expected.

And Carol, where to begin? She is just like Rambo! Man, she is something. She is definitely the most improved one in the group. It's like Season 1 all over again, covering her body with the walkers blood and all just to be able to blend in the crowd of all those walkers. 

Now let's talk about the priest, Father Gabriel. There is something fishy about him. For one, I think the walkers submerged under that storage were the ones trying to get inside his church. And that could be the reason why he is so bothered about that particular (lady) walker that was trying to attack him. Not to mention how he could be related to the people who got Beth. I mean there was a "+" sign in that car, so whoever they are, they might be also members of his congregation. 

Then there's Gareth and company. These guys are the worse. Makes me wonder if they were the ones that Daryl felt when he was on guard duty with Carol. There is that possibility. And man, what they did to Bob! Wow! Talk about being "Bob-b-qued"! They have already crossed the line of cannibalism and there is definitely no going back. But, Bob was having his moment before he was taken by Gareth and company. I really thought that he was bitten or something when they were gathering the canned goods. Why else would he be having that emo moment?! 

And with Bob, Carol and Daryl missing, what would Rick do now? 

Ahhh! The Walking Dead is driving me nuts! :)) 
Excited for the next episode tomorrow! xx

LOST Encyclopedia

Who remembers LOST? Let me see a raise of hands! :) Yes, this is the TV series 
that aired 121 episodes from 2004 to 2010 on ABC. I remember being hooked on this 
so much that we would watch this from morning until the next morning! :) 
Basically doing nothing else. We would wake up and start watching it until the sun 
would rise up again. That was our cycle back then. It was all worth it, until the 
last episode!!! We spent months doing a marathon on this series. And as if that was 
not enough, we would also listen to podcast if we manage to get ourselves 
out of the house. 

Just a quick recap, LOST revolves on a number of people that survived after their (commercial) plane crashed on an island. (Talk about being deserted on an island) 
This show used supernatural elements and science fiction that sometimes I can't barely connect the stories together; the downfall of this one. They have introduced a lot of exciting elements, but in the end they were not able to tie all the loose ends. That is just my opinion. However I may have been disappointed with the ending, I still love this. We would talk about this for hours, then debate on what would happen next to our favorite characters.

Here's the good part, if you were once addicted on this series like we are, you might 
want to get a copy of this book: LOST Encyclopedia. :) It's a real catch! 
You can get this at all bookstores (I think) in the Metro.

Happy reading! xx

Mr. Parks!

Craving for some desserts? You got to check out Mr. Parks Bread & Cake. They have a variety of delicious pastries and cakes. Not to mention how cute their cakes 
are creatively designed. 

Here are the details from Booky:

Mr. Park's Bread & Cake

(0917) 977-3353

Unit 5 Eton Emerald Lofts, Garnet St cor Emerald St, San Antonio, Pasig

Tap to view map:

http://ph.phonebooky.com//i/304

If you're in the area, try their goodies now. Happy eating! xx

The Flash

If you were able to move faster or as fast as the speed of light, what would you do? Or better yet, what would you be? Would you choose to use your ability for the greater good? Or be the evil villain that creates chaos? 

Having superhuman powers or being a mutant has been one of my ultimate childhood fantasies. I mean, who doesn't? The question here all boils down to what power you would choose. And of course, the ultimate why at the end. 

Here's Barry Allen.
Photo from http://www.rottentomatoes.com/

There's this new series I'm watching - The Flash. It's an American TV series based from the DC comics, developed by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Geoff Johns. It stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, a.k.a. Flash. He grew up at Detective West's care after the mysterious death of her mother, where his father was wrongfully accused for the crime. He works as an assistant police forensic investigator before an accident occurred at the S.T.A.R. Labs that made him comatose for nine months. 

When he revives from the coma, he realizes that he has a superhuman speed.

The Flash is a spin-off from Arrow, another series that I am watching 
(which I still have to write). That is why I am not surprised when Oliver Queen 
makes a cameo appearance. 

This series is just starting. Try watching it too! xx

The Death of Wolverine

Wolverine is dead?! How, when, why?!?

How do you kill someone who has a skeleton coated with adamantium and a healing powers like no other? THAT is the question.

Photo from http://www.comicbook.com

We all know that Logan (James Howlett) has survived a series of ordeals that one man can't surely handle in a lifetime. 

Then a new story-line was released. It all began with his healing powers degenerating through time due to a mysterious virus. As if this was not enough, someone put a very large price on his head. Of course, he went out and looked for the man behind it. 
He then went on a series of adventures (if you can call it like that) while fighting 
for his life against the people trying to kill him. 

Eventually, he meets the man behind, his maker, Dr. Abraham Cornelius. Maker, in the sense that (as we all know) Dr. Cornelius is the reason why Logan became Wolverine. 
He put Logan under an experiment until the latter was able to escape. At this point, 
I think it is just fitting that they meet face-to-face to battle it all off. 

So when Logan finally finds out that Dr. Cornelius was the one who put the bounty on his head, he then set off to the place where it all began. There, he finds the doctor recreating and perfecting the experiment to create an army of soldiers, better than the one he did before. When they finally meet, the doctor attempts to kill Wolverine but fails miserably. Instead, he is wounded in the process and tries to escape. While all this madness occurs, the switch button was accidentally switched, thus starting the experiment on a young kid. Wolverine's inner heroic self kicks in, so he saves the kid that was then supposedly be injected with the liquidized adamantium. In the process, 
he is then covered with the liquidized adamantium. Oh no! 

After that, he did not waste time and tries to catch the fleeing doctor while he still can. As the liquid cools down and the metal hardens, he then eventually slows down. 
At his final moment, he ends up alone looking at the sunrise.

And that is how his story ends. 

Among all the heroes that I love, I think Logan has the saddest story. He's able to survive all his ordeals, yes. But the memory of it all is enough to break any man; sanity and all. That is why I adore this man. I also pity him in a way, but I feel the need to be awed as well. And with his death, I really felt cheated. It was heroic of him to save the kid. 
But was there no other way to do it? 

Take note that this is not the first time that a hero died. And I won't be surprised 
if he lives again (I sure hope so). 

Bottom line, someone has to die and Marvel decided that it has to be him. With a heavy heart, we must accept it. But I still think that he will come back, just like the others 
that has died before him. 

What do you guys think? xx

Lucca Bakery

There are a lot of new restaurants at the SM Mega Fashion Hall. One of the restaurant that we recently tried is the Lucca Bakery. 

My friend tried the tuna melt (upper left) while I tried the green egg and bacon (lower right). The bread was thick and crispy, topped with twin eggs and basil leaves and a delicious salad on the side. A cup of coffee made this meal complete. 

It's really good! A must try. :)

If you wanna try their food, here are the details from Booky:

Lucca Bakery

5/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, EDSA cor J. Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong

Tap to view map:

http://ph.phonebooky.com//i/4536

Visit their cozy shop now. Happy eating! xx

Ca$h 'n Gun$

Here's another fun game published last 2005 that is good for six people, Ca$h 'n Guns$. 

A game designed by Ludovic Maublanc.

If you have been wanting to play as a gangster, then here is your chance to be one! :) 

The premise of this game is that you are part of a gangster band splitting your loot in an abandoned warehouse. However, you can't get an agreement with your band on 

how to split the loot. This is where you let the guns do the talking! 

The box contains 6 foam guns, 6 set if bullet cards (5 Clic Clic Clic cards, 2 Bang cards, and 1 Bang, Bang, Bang card), 10 super power cards, 14 wound markers, 14 shame markers, 40 banknotes (15 $5,000, 15 $10,000 and 10 $20,000), 6 characters with stand, and of course the game rules.

The mechanics of this game is real easy. Each round, selecting from the three possible bullet cards, all players need to load their guns. After the countdown, all the players need to aim their gun. Based on the guns pointed at each of the players, they have the option to chicken out. But this has to be done by the players at the same time. For the players that have chickened out, they will receive a shame marker. While for those remaining players, they will have to resolve the shootout by showing their bullet cards. The player/s that are wounded after that receives a bandage wound marker. While those who are not wounded participates in the split of the cash. Take note that if the cash cannot be divided evenly, then it is added to the new pot for the next round. 
Also, one must not forget that a player can only take up to three wounds, 
and after that he's out of the game. The game is played up to 8 rounds, 
and the richest surviving gangster wins the game. 

So what are you waiting for, try this game now! xx