Unhide or Recover Virus-Hidden Files on Your USB

 Virus here, virus there, virus everywhere. Ever hate it when your USB containing all your important files gets infected by a virus? When all you wanted to do was to print your report and get on with your life? One common virus is where it hides the files on your USB without you knowing it. Good thing there's a way around this virus. Just check out the next steps:

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Create a Photo Collage Screen Saver

 Want to have a unique screen saver? Follow these few easy steps to do so.

1. Download an Open Source software (it's free and safe) called Photo Collage Screen Saver here.
2. Install the software and customize it the way you want. You can change how many pictures show up on a screen at a time. For example if you set the number of pictures to 30, when the 31st picture pops-up, the1st picture will disappear and so on.
That's it, you've got a unique screensaver!

 Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Create a Photo Collage Screen Saver

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Tool Used to Indicate if Scroll, Caps, or Num lock is on

Sometime's its a pain in the butt to be typing so fast and looking back at your monitor and seeing all you've typed are in capital letters. You never had the chance of knowing that you have accidentally pressed the Caps lock already. Also trying to type numbers on a document using the Numpad and you forgot the Num lock was off? Well with this simple tool I'll introduce, you will have a fighting chance.

Introducing the Keyndicate - A software that is very helpful in indicating on-screen if one of the locks is on. It is bery useful for persons who type fast and never looks at the keyboard. On the notifications area, a small gray square will indicate whether the Caps loc, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock is on.

If you see the C, that means Caps lock is on, if S then Scroll lock is on, and N if Num lock is on. Keyndicate or a shortcut for Key indicate is available for free here.

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Tool Used to Indicate if Scroll, Caps, or Num lock is on

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A recent trip to Manila

Another travel means another set of places to explore. I've been to Manila recently and I was able to visit SM North Edsa again for the second time. I've been to Trinoma the first time I was in Quezon City but did not like the aura there and besides, SM North Edsa Annex is heaven for tech fanatics.

Of course, you can't leave food behind too. We had coffee at Figaro and dinner at Banana Leaf - a nice Asian restaurant. Food was great as there were many meals to choose from.

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | A recent trip to Manila

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Uncle Tom's Restaurant in Iloilo City

Here's another adventure and another trip down Food Memory Lane. Kaye and I have always been out to find and try new or old restaurants but this time we took another try at Uncle Tom's Fried Chicken, Ribs and Steaks.

They actually have two branches now: one at 158 Ledesma Street, Jaro, Iloilo City with telephone number (033) 301-9988 and the other one at Sen. Benigno Aquino Avenue, Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City with telephone number (033) 300-3563.

The best thing when you get into the restaurant's area is the ambience you feel like you're at home. It's just relaxing and not too many hassles before you get to a table. The service here is also fast assuming that's how they serve even on a rush hour.

We ordered 2 food on their menu: 1 chicken and 1 fish meal. They were both delicious and just cooked right. The chicken was crispy and juicy while the tangigue was full of taste - not smelling fishy at all. The main attraction for us was their hot garlic rice. This rice was super hot that eating the hot chicken with it only made you sweat more and tears would fall over your eyes but that's what makes eating food there a lot more exciting. Below is their menu, enjoy eating!

This is as of August 4, 2012.

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Uncle Tom's Restaurant in Iloilo City

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Hula the Cat

Felines are very intelligent and proud creatures. Hula is a feline not only proud but excited to show off her young curves and humor. Here she is - Hula - FHM's sexiest cat.

Felines Hairiest Magazine's Sexiest Cat

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Hula the Cat

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Information Security and Technology

Back in the days, when you needed information the library is the first thing that comes into mind. Nerds and researchers alike would most likely be found in a library decades ago. Now, the term library is being associated into what we call now as the Internet.

Information is the most powerful resource in the world and making it available to just about anybody is a big risk for security not only from a single individual to a nation but to the whole world. Information technology has been fast and furious in its advancement that what you know today may be different tomorrow.

The technology of the internet today is filled with vast information that securing every single information in it is impossible. Security in today's world wide web has turned from open to a mostly encrypted site to protect their data from hackers. Hackers have come from simple information thefts to stealing hundreds and billions of dollars, that's where the security guards of the cyber world come in.

Internet security has come from a couple of cyber security companies to more than 50 brands of trusted spyware firms. They provide everything to secure your data and information from a simple antivirus to a complex security suite. All companies have different methods of securing your data but all have one goal, to protect the users from viruses and hackers out there. They are presently more focused on spywares that injects a program into a computer then the hackers access all the information on the computer especially credit card information.

The best thing about today's technology is that it has been very useful for everybody. The only downside to this is that with great information comes great risk of security. So be careful to whom you give your personal information on the web, identity thieves are everywhere.

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Information Security and Technology

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Mandarin Tea Garden at SM City Iloilo

My partner and I are very fond of eating at different restaurants, it's our hobby together. Whenever we are out on a date, we always make sure to try out new restaurants and new food even if it's our nth trip to that resto. One restaurant we are fond of eating in is at SM City Iloilo and it is named Mandarin Tea Garden. We have been eating at this place for so many times already but I never had the idea of blogging about it until now.

Mandarin Tea Garden is a Chinese inspired restaurant (food is much better than Chowking) found at the left wing, upper ground floor beside Greenwich. To start off with, the motto what you see is what you get really applies here. When you look at their menu and see the way they took the photos of their food, you'll be amazed that how much is shown there is how much you'll really get. So there's no photoshop trickery involved in their menu. For all rice lovers out there, you will never have to order an extra rice.

The price may come out as a surprise at first but you will soon find out that it was all worth it because all that money was spent on good and satisfying food. Their steamed scallops is one of the best and my girlfriend's favorite. I have not personally tasted it as I am allergic to crustaceans but I'll take her word for it.

We ordered beef brisket soup, steamed squid, steamed scallop, soy chicken rice, halo-halo, and four seasons shake. All of these for 500 pesos is well worth it. Let's start with their beef brisket soup which is full of meat. I recently ate a beef ramen at JD Bakeshop and found it unsatisfactory as the meat it had was about 4-5 pieces only and it was sold at 61 pesos. The beef brisket soup at Mandarin Tea Garden however was full of beef and you just can't get enough of the meat for only 81 pesos, a bit more expensive but you'll know every penny's worth it.

The steamed squid - 62 pesos and scallop - 74 pesos only. A cheap bargain compared to other restaurants out there and is full of goodness. Their plain rice is priced at 24 pesos and the four seasons shake is a bit expensive at 54 pesos a glass but it's about 500 mL, I think. The Soy Chicken Rice is at 88 pesos but with a big slice and a lot of rice already included in the meal. The halo-halo sells for 57 pesos but as I will say again, full of ingredients and you will never find yourself scooping only ice or milk because every scoop will get you either a gulaman, jackfruit, and other things you'll find in a halo-halo, and did I say it also comes with a big scoop of ube flavored ice cream?

See links below for the pictures as I am currently having problems uploading them here.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403676499693667&set=a.403676466360337.92562.143489479045705&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403676529693664&set=a.403676466360337.92562.143489479045705&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403676556360328&set=a.403676466360337.92562.143489479045705&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403676646360319&set=a.403676466360337.92562.143489479045705&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403676683026982&set=a.403676466360337.92562.143489479045705&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403676703026980&set=a.403676466360337.92562.143489479045705&type=3&theater

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Mandarin Tea Garden at SM City Iloilo

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Upload Files to Dropbox Without Transferring the Files

Dropbox has recently been outmatched by the new Google Drive. Users have now switched to Drive due to it's large starting capacity but Dropbox has also made their move. I have not used Google Drive yet because I'm still satisfied with the way Dropbox works and almost all the PC's and Laptop where I work in have my Dropbox files in it.

The one thing I really would like to have is an option where you can just select the folder that you want to synchronize with and not have to transfer the files to the main Dropbox folder. This is now made possible by an open source program called the Dropboxifier. What it allows you to do is that it will give you the option what folders you want Dropbox to upload without having to transfer them to the Dropbox folder. You can find the software here.

After downloading the file, all you have to do is put it in the root folder of Dropbox and execute the file. A window will open where you will need to locate the original Dropbox location and choose what folders to sync too. See illustration below.

The biggest use of this for me is that I can upload my save game files onto my Dropbox account without having to transfer it to the Dropbox folder. This will be very convenient especially when I'm mobile and I want to play on my notebook. This way I won't have to copy and paste all the files from the PC to it's Dropbox folder and then copy it from the same folder on my Laptop to the Games saves folder.

Another thing to take note is it can not only be used with Dropbox but also with other Cloud services. If you're a mobile person and use many PC's, notebook, netbooks, and tablets, why not try using it? It's all for free.

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Upload Files to Dropbox Without Transferring the Files

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Adventure Land in Island Cove Cavite

It's been a very very long time since my last post in this blog. I don't know but I just lost my interest in writing these past few months and did not find any urge to write even a short post/guide/tip. This post will be about my latest travel to a hotel and leisure park in Cavite.

I was fortunate enough the our program was able to hold our annual Team Building activity at the Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. My first thought about the place was a sandy beach and a fresh look. To my dismay, when we were near the venue, the surrounding area on this resort was very polluted. Garbage was floating all over the water around the resort and I mean piles of junk that will make the surrounding water look like a dump site (though to my disgust, I was not able to take a photo of it).

Anyway, that was on the outside. As what they say, don't judge the book by its cover because the moment you enter their premises it's the opposite of their surrounding environment. Inside, the grounds are clean and green and you will also enjoy every bit of fun they have in store for you.

I was there together with my office mates last May 11-13, 2012. We had a lot of activities in store for us but we were also given time to enjoy the park all for ourselves. And by the way, the park also had programs and activities for team building already prepared for groups so if you're on a family reunion or an office outing, you will really enjoy the activities they have pre-made for such adventures.

They have facilities like an Oceania Water Park, an Adventure Zone, Animal Island, Island spa, Island Songs, Restaurants, Bar, and Function Rooms. The Water Park is a 2-layered pool with 4 slides, this is really good for water lover's out there. We also had an activity by the poolside and would you believe they had Kayaking in store for us? It was an amazing experience to do some Kayaking in a pool.

Their Adventure Zone comprises of an outdoor paintball field, a giant chess set, horse-back riding, and biking. Our group was able to play some paintball at their field. The field was like a mini-jungle because the grasses were very tall and there were obstacles where you can hide for cover. We sweat like a faucet fully opened and it we all laughed at what happened during the bouts.

The Animal Island consists of a petting zoo and a butterfly farm. I was able to go through all the zoo animals and I was able to see these animals for the first time and in close encounters. We were also able to experience their Karaoke/KTV's with matching consumables.

Overall, the Island Cove experience was unforgettable and you would not regret having to spend a day or two in here. You'll just have to come packed with money though if you want to maximize their facilities as they will cost you some but not much. If you're planning to go to Manila for a vacation, you can try spending your vacation here. Foods they served during our functions were not only great but also very healthy- it always come with fruits and vegetables.

For more information, you can visit Island Cove's website here.

Copyright 2012 Notes on Hobbies | Adventure Land in Island Cove Cavite

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