Surface Deja Vu

I have been following the Surface tablet since it surfaced on my favorite sites for tablet news. My iPad 1 is already an orphan. It doesn't have camera, cannot run the newest iOS, and inking is terrible even with a stylus. I have on it NotesPlus, NoteTaker, and Noteshelf which I thought would replace my need for pen and notebook as touted. Not really.

GoodReader has been more useful. I did not have the need to bring bulky books anymore. Black's Law Dictionary was also a very good help. But something was still missing. I missed Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. The Pages I have on the iPad has been left unused. I wasted $9 on it. I still have to do my word processing on my home desktop and my daughter's notebook.

I was looking for a tablet that could run MS Office at a price comparable to iPad. I think the Surface RT is a viable candidate. But I also need a pdf reader for my books. I found PDF Exchange Viewer as the best in its price range: free. But I understand it is not possible to install on the Surface RT any apps you wish. It's possible on the Surface Pro but the price is a little stiffer.  However, if for that price MS Office is also pre-loaded, then I'll go for it.

Now comes this ad on the Surface which brought back not-so-pleasant memories.





The place where the ad was shot is the former HQ of the Worldwide Church of God where I wasted 30 years of my life. The church splintered into many small groups after the death of its founder. The lucky guys who managed to get hold of the headquarters offices sold the place to another church afterwards and moved to a cheaper location. Most probably because they did not have enough tithes and offerings from their dwindling membership to maintain the Ambassador College campus and the Ambassador Auditorium which the original group boasted as among the best in the world. About the college, it is mostly church hype to encourage members to donate more. As regards the auditorium, there is some truth to it. See here.

The auditorium and the administration building, which is in the background of the guy in the above video, are now owned by another church which, I understand, asked its member to pledge  a lot of money each in order to buy the place. Deja vu.

WCG ministers used to tell the members that they have not given enough if the giving does not hurt.  Sadly, the splinter groups are still at it. See here. Shame, shame, shame!

What a relief, I am past that. I am now here. Just kidding!  But it sure is a better alternative for WCG exiters and other former religionists who needed release! To know what I believe now, see here, here, or here.

And, oh, I am definitely replacing my iPad. Not sure yet if it will be a Surface, though.

And before I forget, how much did Microsoft pay the new owner of  the WCG HQ for the shoot? Eat your heart out former WCG members. LOL.

Peace in Mindanao, finally?

About four years ago I blogged about the Mindanao conflict. I am not sure now what events in Mindanao happened at around that time that caused me to write that blog. In fact I only called it a draft and hoped I had the time to finish it.

Right now my thoughts about Mindanao is about the recently-signed GPH-MILF Framework Agreement.

Could this mean I might be able in my lifetime to bring my children to Dimataling and show them the place where I spent my childhood?

Altho I am a non-believer, but for lasting peace in Mindanao; for the blood of my father, uncles, and cousins who died violently as a result of the decade-long conflict; for my Muslim and non-Muslim friends and their families who have suffered more than enough already; I am almost about to shout Alahu Akbar!