Basically a blog which is a mixture of anything that comes up in the author's mind. From the technologies that makes his life convenient to the everyday news in his country.

Typhoon Santi (MIRINAE) on its way to towards Central Luzon

Friday, October 30, 2009

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Today we we're sent home, early as usual from our office. Why? It's because yet again our country the Philippines is about to experience another storm. Not a month pass since the twin storm hit us (Pepeng, Ramil), and today Santi, International name MIRINAE is expected to make its landfall tomorrow (Saturday, November 31, 2009).

Based on several satellite readings:
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/guamloops/guamir.html
http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/
It's heading for a direct hit in Central Luzon, which already was devastated by the previous storms.

At 4:00 am today, the center of Typhoon "SANTI" (MIRINAE) {0921} was located based on satellite and surface data at 580 kms East Northeast of Infanta, Quezon (15.6°N, 127.2°E) with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It is moving West Southwest at 22 kph.
[http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/]
This speed is enough to bring down homes specially those lying in nearby seas, rivers, dams. Also based on the satellite image, it has a huge amount of water within it.

November 31, is a National Holiday and at this time most of the people are visiting the remains of their love ones. But I think it would be safe to stay at home, keep safe and pray...

Some of the things that could help:
AT HOME
1. Make sure you have adequate drinking water for at least 3 days, back-up food that will not require refrigeration, torches/flashlights with extra batteries, and some candles.
2. Make sure your mobile phone is charged.
3. Ensure you have some money on hand as ATMs won’t work in the event of a brownout.
4. Check on any elderly relatives or friends.

OTHER PRECAUTIONS
1. DO NOT drive through fast flowing water in flooded areas.
2. DO NOT walk in floodwater as there is a definite chance of waterborne disease and other injuries.
3. DO NOT go anywhere until the typhoon warning signals have been lifted. Your safety is more important there is a limited capacity for rescue operations.
4. Note the additional safety information located on the SSS shareportal: Environmental Advisories.
5. Know the emergency numbers in your place, just in case.
6. Be prepared
[IRRI]

Another Tennis Game

Sunday, October 04, 2009

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After months of a busy life analyzing systems and programming in a chair, finally I have the time to play around physical sports. And one of my favored game is tennis so I ask my brother to play with me in the IRRI's court (Los Banos, Laguna).

But what is tennis? Tennis is a game that requires strength, flexibility and endurance (Right now all that's left to me is flexibility) so after 30 minutes of smashing the ball, I was out, poor me. So you see to enjoy this game you must build your body really well. But I love it, my stress is gone and it's good for the mind and body.

Tennis can be played as singles or doubles, most like the first. It only requires a racket, a tennis ball and a court. Tennis racket cost at least 4K (good quality) and the ball I think you can buy 3 for Php100. These are available in most malls like festival in Alabang, SM Malls, just look for a sport's shop like Toby's, etc.

For me I have 2 rackets, with 2 different quality one is of titanum graphite class made by Wilson, super light - enhanced power osft shock system. It's pretty light so it's good for beginners. It's dimension is 110 square inch. Recommended tension range is Lbs 50-60, Kilos 23-27. I used it a lot, I have more control using this racket but it requires a lot of strength. I haven't seen this class in toby's festival, but I think it cost around 6K+. If I'm not mistaken.




The other one is also from Wilson's Profile class. Also 110 square inch, I'm not a big server :-D. This measurement is the wide surface of the racket. For big servers they use a not so wide probably around 90+ square inch. My Tito use that kind, he is a veteran who serves a pretty strong and fast ball. Recommended tension range is Lbs 58+/-5, Kilos 26+/-2. This racket is quite costly around 10K+. This one is hard to tame it has it own bounce, meaning you don't need to hit the ball hard to make a good return. But I love this racket.



Tennis rackets must be stored in a bag that should not be moisted and water resistant, racket's are quite sensitive. I use the Wilson's (K)Factor Red Pro Tour class. You can get this in Festival mall, ask around for a lower price, since I got mine on a sale it only cost I think Php3200.



This game is played in 3 to 5 games, I usually play 3, don't have enough stamina. Scoring is 15,30,40,Set.


A tennis match is determined through the best of 3 or 5 sets. Typically for both men's and women's matches, the first player to win two sets wins the match. At certain important tennis tournaments for men, including all four Grand Slam tournaments and the final of the Olympic Games, the first man to win three sets wins the match.[28] A set consists of games, and games, in turn, consist of points.

A game consists of a sequence of points played with the same player serving. A game is won by the first player to have won at least four points in total and at least two points more than the opponent. The running score of each game is described in a manner peculiar to tennis: scores from zero to three points are described as "love", "fifteen", "thirty", and "forty" respectively. (See the main article Tennis score for the origin of these words as used in tennis.) If at least three points have been scored by each player, and the scores are equal, the score is "deuce". If at least three points have been scored by each side and a player has one more point than his opponent, the score of the game is "advantage" for the player in the lead. During informal games, "advantage" can also be called "ad in" or "ad out", depending on whether the serving player or receiving player is ahead, respectively.

In tournament play, the chair umpire calls the point count (e.g., "fifteen-love") after each point. The score of a tennis match during play is always read with the serving player's score first. After a match, the score is always read with the winning player's score first. At the end of a game, the chair umpire also announces the winner of the game and the overall score.

A game point occurs in tennis whenever the player who is in the lead in the game needs only one more point to win the game. The terminology is extended to sets (set point), matches (match point), and even championships (championship point). For example, if the player who is serving has a score of 40-love, the player has a triple game point (triple set point, etc.) as the player has three consecutive chances to win the game. Game points, set points, and match points are not part of official scoring and are not announced by the chair umpire in tournament play.

A break point occurs if the receiver, not the server, has a game point. Break points are of particular importance because serving is generally advantageous. A receiver who has two (score of 15-40) or three (score of love-40) consecutive chances to win the game has double break point or triple break point, respectively. As with game, set, and match points, break points are not announced.

A set consists of a sequence of games played with service alternating between games, ending when the count of games won meets certain criteria. Typically, a player wins a set by winning at least six games and at least two games more than the opponent. If one player has won six games and the opponent five, an additional game is played. If the leading player wins that game, the player wins the set 7–5. If the trailing player wins the game, a tie-break is played. A tie-break, played under a separate set of rules, allows one player to win one more game and thus the set, to give a final set score of 7–6. Only in the final sets of matches at the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, the Olympic Games, Davis Cup, and Fed Cup are tie-breaks not played. In these cases, sets are played indefinitely until one player has a two-game lead. A "love" set means that the loser of the set won zero games. In tournament play, the chair umpire announces the winner of the set and the overall score.

In tournament play, the chair umpire announces the end of the match with the well-known phrase "Game, set, match" followed by the winning person's or team's name.


For more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis

I plan to play more often these days, since I'm getting weaker in terms of physical strength. So I never really play all out, I play with my mind on it, I usually play defensively, which is my style, for this I used the profile class tennis racket since it doesn't require much strength but control.

So let's play tennis?

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