Marvin’s Place

This one is a headache. I tried installing Xubuntu 8.04, after rebooting, I got the Grub Error 18. Heck, my BIOS has no problem, been able to use 7.10 with no problem for months.

Someone suggested me to reformat my “whole” HDD. It’s a pain, but I’ll do that (need to back up GBs of data). But if this won’t fix the problem, have to look for other distro that won’t give me this headache, or I’m stuck with windows again..

Just for info, I was “turned down” by the linux community (chatroom and forums) for the second time now. First was my problem with shutdown, and now this.

I was planning to completely shift to Linux, but if I can’t boot it, how can I use it? I’m now having some second thoughts about it.

(I like Linux, that’s why I want it to be fixed. I just hate it when people says Linux is the “best” OS and then you can see a lot of UNSOLVED problems in the “community forum”.)

During the writing of my previous article, the Ubuntu website is not yet updated. Meaning it doesn’t have any info regarding the release of Hardy Heron (but rather the Release Candidate only). Now, the website is updated and information regarding Hardy Heron can be seen (click here).

I am currently downloading Xubuntu 8.04, Which is basically the same with Ubuntu, but only differs primarily with the Window Manager and some other softwares. It is lighter (in terms of graphics) than Ubuntu (which uses Gnome, Xubuntu uses Xfce).

Cheers…

Ubuntu, one of the popular Linux distribution (ubuntu.com), has just released its latest version “Hardy Heron” (8.04). Ubuntu is designed to be “free” (you can download for free or request for a CD with free shipping virtually to any country, which is good for those with slow or no internet connection). It is also pre-installed with softwares that is basically needed by a user (office productivity suite, photo editing, internet and mail, video and audio player. system management, networking tools, and more.). And other softwares are readily available from the Ubuntu Repository (can be installed with just a few clicks).

This release of Ubuntu has many improvements from the latest core products it has to how the OS and its software communicates to its users.. And best of all, it has “Long Term Support”, meaning updates and support is available up to April 2013 for server edition and April 2011 for desktop edition.

You can check for more information from their website and download it here (via download or free/paid shipping). BitTorrents are also available for hassle free downloading (click here).

Though we can start upgrading/installing now, I will wait up to one month before installation so the “final” bugs can be cleaned. And also, the servers are “very busy” right now.

Cheers….

We conducted a two day seminar for Sunday School Teachers. And it’s been a great one. It is our first conducted by our church, and for us speakers/lecturers, it’s our first time also. 7 teachers attended the seminar.

I want to thank God for the success of this seminar. I pray that what we learned can be applied properly to improve and develop our Sunday School Organization.

Soli Deo Gloria…

Liberty Presbyterian Church will be conducting its first Sunday School Teacher’s Training this coming 2 Saturdays, April 12 and 19, 2008. It’ll be a 4 hour each day Training/Lecture/Discussion on topics/subjects needed by our Sunday School Department. The topics and lecturers are:

Day1

• Basic Doctrines, Refresher course. - Ptr. Ronnie
• Attitudes of a Sunday School Teacher. - Teacher Bernadette

Day 2

• God’s View of the Children. - Teacher April
• Heart to Teach. - Bro. Marvin
• Teaching Strategies/Practices. - Teacher Mercy

All session shall include interactive discussions, activities, and snacks.

Please pray for this activity.

Soli Deo Gloria.

I got a new phone. It is a Samsung SGH E250.

It is a low priced mobile phone that have almost everything I need. A mobile phone with GPRS/EDGE (don’t need 3G/HSDPA yet), FM radio, MP3 Player, VGA camera (yeah, VGA, I am planning to buy a digicam soon), video recording, voice recording/memo, expandable memory (up to 2gb).

Actually, I am not planning to buy a phone. I have (or had) a Nokia 1112i phone. My father in law also have the same phone. But he lost his phone when he went to Bagio City for a seminar. He is hesitant in buying a new phone since he don’t want to “study” the new phone. So, my wife sold my phone to him. And I have to buy a new phone.

I was looking at three phones, this one, a Nokia and a Sony Erickson. which has (almost) the same specifications. I chose (actually, my wife did) this one because of expandable memory and MP3 Player.

There are things that I don’t like (but it is not a problem though) with this phone is, you can’t set the extended memory (microSD) as the default memory for the phone to save captured photos or videos. So, you have to copy those pictures to the memory card. It is a bit of a hassle. But I’m not using the phone as a digital camera. Well this is not specific to this phone because all Samsung phones can’t use extended memory as default memory. Another thins is, the user manual is not elaborate enough for a not that easy to understand menus and submenus.

Overall, I like the phone. I only had it for a day, and I hope I won’t experience something that would make me call their customer service and rant about it… hehe…

This phone was released last year (but it is not yet “phased out”, but due to my limited budget, I bought it.

I am not talking about chocolates here. Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to meet a friend from college I haven’t met for a few years (though we were communicating through chat). He invited me to speak in one of their Worship Ministry Night (it is like a service for their worship team every first Sunday of the Month).

I am happy that God used me in their church that night.
Asking why M & M. His name is also Marvin.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Yesterday, 3rd of April (Manila Time), my wife celebrated her 22nd birthday.

I cooked some pasta and she made fruit salad. Nothing much happened (we’re finishing report cards and certificates for her students).

Well, just want to thank God for the blessings and guidance for her…

Soli Deo Gloria…

Our church made an abrupt change last Sunday. It was so abrupt that almost half of the members weren’t able to attend the Sunday Service. It is about the schedule of the Service.

When I came in to that Church, Service starts at 10 in the morning. After few months, we have decided to move it at an earlier time (8 in the morning) so we could conduct Sunday school for adults after the service. Sad to say, members doesn’t want to go to church that early, so they came to church around 9 a.m., and later on 10 am. So, our pastor announced that the adult Sunday school shall be 9:30 and Service begins at 10.

Last Easter Sunday, we had our “Sunrise Service” at 5 in the morning. Almost everyone is in the church by 5:20. During the service, our pastor mentioned that he thinks it would be nice if we move our schedule in an earlier time. After the service, some members talked about moving the schedule at an earlier time because of the following reason:

• It feels more relaxed if we go to church at an earlier time
• It is summer (Philippines, tropical country) and it is hot (I mean HOT) at noon time, so if we could go home at an earlier time, we the sun isn’t that “high” yet.
• You can do your “things” that you want to do (cook, go to mall, chat with peers, etc) longer after the service.

Even I, myself, agreed with these. As you can see, the reasons are materialistic and for personal gain.

(more…)

I do apologize, my blog was in an “on and off” state.

I had changed webhost, and encountered some problems with the database.. I don’t know if it is my fault. But I hope this is fixed now.

Thanks for bearing with me…

I will be on paid hosting soon…

Soli Deo Gloria…