Man versus Nature

Ondoy’s arrival is not unexpected; the havoc it wrecked was. Imagine: Manila, I believe, was placed only under signal number 1 (I think because typhoon signals are based on speed of winds), but look at what it has brought with her — heavy amount of water that has caused many parts of the Metro to be placed under state of calamity. I can only wish the worst is over.

One of the things that we could probably donate to help those who were affected are old (or even new) pants and clothings, food, or even money. Forget fashion trends and styles for now. Here’s one way of donating money if you cannot donate other things:

…one organization who’s accepting Paypal donations. Please refer to http://www.txtpower.org/. Inquirer published their story so I would have to take that as an assurance that they are legit. Here’s the story:http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20090927-227196/Help-Ondoy-victims-via-Paypal.

Paypal users, you may send your donations to magbayanihan@yahoo.com.ph or by visiting this Paypal page:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8484182

Typhoon Pepeng seems to be approaching us gently (well, at least compared to the panic it has created over the past few days), and hopefully, it either stays the same or even become more gentler. Let’s not forget to pray… we probably need it now more than ever.

I’m Still Here

It’s been a while since I last posted an article on this site. Imagine the last entry: 31 May! That was about 3 months of hibernation. Or so it seems. Well, I guess that happens once in a while. I mean, I have a blog here, a Facebook account there, and a Plurk and Twitter there (again)… You basically don’t run out of something to do online nowadays. It’s like having your own Direct TV Service every time of the day. Or you have your own access everywhere you go. (Or does a Direct TV System really work that way, i.e., 24/7 access?)

Anyway, my point is, when you turn your PC on, with a plan of writing a blog post or something, you tend to check other online sites first. I mean, you have no restrictions (unless you are in an office that blocks social networking and other “unproductive” Web sites). When you open a Direct TV, if you have one, you will most likely surf around many channels first even if you have a program you would want to watch in mind.

For two or three weeks already, I have been thinking of writing a blog about getting fit through exercise, about the economy, or about the newest gadgets in the market. But as soon as I turn the CPU on, well, everthing but the original intent happens — I visit YouTube, check LinkedIn, Facebook, Plurk, Twitter, Inquirer, etc. And the blog post? It didn’t materialize. Hay naku.

So, here I am, starting to post again. And hopefully, to a much more regular interval this time. Happy long weekend, pips. Yes, it’s going to be a long weekend!

This, Too, Shall Pass

It was only yesterday when I decided to look for the origin of the phrase above. Well, I don;t knowhow true this is, but hey, as long as we know the meaning, I guess the origin is notof significant importance

Happy last day of May!

One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, “Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it.” “If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty,” replied Benaiah, “I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?” “It has magic powers,” answered the king. “If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy.” Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility. Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day’s wares on a shabby carpet. “Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?” asked Benaiah. He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. “Well, my friend,” said Solomon, “have you found what I sent you after?” All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone’s surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, “Here it is, your majesty!” As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words “Gam zeh ya’avor” — “This too shall pass.” At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.

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Haaaayyy…My future wife has to understand — she’s just a second choice. Nyahaha! Biro lang, KC.

In a Perfect World, You Don’t Settle for Less

I just had a short chat with a friend who’s in the US right now. She’s working there as a legal assistant and part-time tax analyst. She got the previous of the two jobs just recently (because it’s April once again and filing tax is in its peak right now). Anyway, she was so happy that in such a short period of time, she was able to earn a relatively huge amount of income. (If I’m not mistaken, she mentioned earning almost equivalent to her half-a-year of earnings here in the Philippines. W.O.W.) By the end of this month, all the payday loans she availed of when she was still here in the Philippines will be wiped off already. Again, WOW.

It’s amazing how some people are complaining of how bad the economy is, how badly they are affected, how they cannot afford this and that because they don’t have a job, and at the same time, there are those non-picky and industrious people who are earning so much because they are determined to earn. I know the bad (and probably worsening) economy has had a huuuge impact to a number of people. But maybe, just maybe, if we won’t be so choosy of the work we have to do, we’ll be able to get through this. I know, this sounds so cheesy, but there’s a certain truth to this.

In the news last night, a number of activist groups are blaming the government, specifically the Arroyo administration, because of the many people who don’t have a job. I am not blaming or condemning these activists, or those people who can’t find a job. But I know the government should not be blamed, too. It’s doing its part. But are these people doing theirs? You can’t find a perfect job in an instant; but there are a number of available ones that you can do. I know some people who are still looking for jobs, who are letting go of some opportunities because they want a better one; they don’t complain. Those who are complaining are mostly the ones who are so choosy, those who won’t settle for less even if the economy has already nose-dived. Hayyy… I just hope people could realize that we are in desperate times, and some sacrifices have to be done. And probably settling for a little less is one of those sacrifices to make…

Delaying Gratification

In one of my previous posts here, I said I am considering changing career. I took the ITTC exam last February, and fortunately, I passed it. I am qualified for enrollment to the full-time 1-year IT program of UP-ITTC. But unfortunately, the scholarship — the application for scholarship — won’t be available until the second quarter of the academic year. which means, I have to take the risk of enrolling and committing to at least 1-year, 100-K worth of full-time study. Hayyy…

I am a risk-taker , but I think this risk is too much for me to take. I have some other urgent and more important commitments to attend to at the moment and this additional one might be too much for me. (If only I can avail of those cash advance instruments they offer at a very, very low interest… or no interest at all.)

For now, I guess I’ll have to say no to this learning opportunity. But I am not giving this challenge a chance to stop me from learning something else. I already found a 7-part book series on computer systems, and believe it or not, it actually covers a large portion of the ITTC program. So, who knows? I might be able to gain that knowledge on my own! Hehehe.

E-Votes for Sale

Have you guys ever wondered how far technological progress has brought us since the wheel was invented? I don’t want to sound academic-ish here but it is technological revolution that has allowed globalization to work, i.e., economic, political, and geographic boundaries were dissolved by the Internet. I can still remember when I ordered a hard-to-find (more like impossible-to-find) book at Amazon.com. It was delivered to me two weeks later. Transactions were done right in front of my PC. And that was 5 years ago! If you are looking for a diamond for someone you love, you can go to an online store database like ShopWiki. (And while you are at it, you might want to check these wrist watches and imagine how it feels like to wear a $375K or PhP18M Patek Phillippe watch. Oohh-zaa…) If you want to find a certain place in the world, you can check and visit Google Map or Wikimapia. There are sooo many things that technology can offer to us.

But here’s the problem: Did you watch the news last night? According to Canadian researchers, a group of Chinese hackers were able to infiltrate the firewalls of many Asian government IT facilities. Needless to say, confidential information are there. Information that may, in extreme cases, cause civil or political unrest. In my other blog, I wrote some potential benefits and harm or risks present in the Internet. This hacking incident is way beyond what I am afraid of.

Which brings me to a very significant concern: The automated 2010 national elections. If the news on the hacking incident is indeed true, then, I am afraid our basic right as free individuals is at risk in this automated election. I am not a techie person, but if the hackers can infiltrate government firewalls across Asia, well, we might be heading to an automated cheating. I know that IT is the way of the future, but I really hope, and wish, that we are not spending so much on something that can only facilitate cheating… that can automate cheating.

Hayyy… Is this the price we have to pay for technological advancements? Sometimes I am wondering if it is possible for any development to happen without any potential drawbacks. Oh well…

Earth Hour 2009: Take One for Earth

We are being challenged once again to make a stand between preserving our future and, well, the opposite of it. Tonight, a global effort to save one-hour worth of energy per household around the world will be attempted once again. We participated on a similar effort almost exactly a year ago. I hope a lot of people participate tonight.

Image taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/smsanch/

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm

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I Am Doing a Nicole*

*I know the title sounds like I am a perv, but please let me explain.

Have you heard about Nicole’s new statement re her rape (that she was not even sure if she was indeed rape)? In two words: she recanted. (Oh, and she earned 100 grand on that, according to some news articles I saw). Well, here’s what I will do now: I am also recanting my statement from my most recent post here, that that “last” post is my last post. Hehehe.I want to explain why.

You see, the global financial crisis has shutdown many companies, laid off many employees, and I am not that awesome not to be affected in one way or another. So, I am venturing into online marketing, paid blogging, and whatever the Internet and other social media can offer so I can earn some moolahs. So, I am here once again because the  other site is not yet “qualified” as per some indexing site to earn money online. I agree.

So, you’ll be seeing and hearing from me here once again.

In case you have deleted me already from your bookmarks, well, I won’t be requesting that you put me back. I’ll earn that through quality post! Nyahaha! Kidding aside, I really won’t request that. Just add me up if you feel like reading some more of my posts.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

(PS: I am cooking up a semi-techie website [own domain] and will be launching that out soon. I’ll be releasing that soon here and there.)

Moving to Blogspot

Guys (I swear my web stat shows there are at least two people reading my posts), I am migrating to another platform — Blogger. I want some flexibility in the layout, make some tweaks in the template/CSS, and have access to some more functionalities. This would be my last post here. If you have my blog bookmarked in your browser, please add this new one: http://ekstranghero.blogspot.com.

Oh, my new site is Web-2.0 utilizer. I hope to see you there.