Frank buyer will get negative feedback.
I won’t buy from that person, then.
Monthly Archives: November 2006
29
Nov
Teenagers of Wrestling
When I was in second year high school, 5PM signified two things. One, it was time to go home. Second, it was slam-bang action time.
Nope, it is not what you are thinking.
The rage back then among teenaged boys was three words – World Wrestling Federation (now WWE).
Back then, WWE programming were seen on channel 9 (or was it 13?), showing Superstars of Wrestling. Pay-per-views were shown several months behind. And later episodes of Superstars were more on talk and less on action.
So imagine 10 or more boys, waiting to see their wrestling idols bang each other to bits on the small screen. And with Superstars transformed into a talk show, raging hormones pushed these boys into action.
The third floor of our school was our wrestling ring; 5PM meant noisy kids doing Heaven knows what. Teachers were busy packing up so that they could go home immediately, paying no heed to the ruckus in the third floor.
The third floor was the usual metropolitan public school corridor, all concrete, with red tiled floors and concrete railings where one can sit comfortably (but of course not allowed, since it was the third floor). The place was not conducive for physical games that involved head bashing, hits in the chest and back, elbows to the face, and so on.
One afternoon, the wrestling action got so heated, everything were a blur of black and white (school uniform) until a tinge of red appeared. I cannot remember clearly now who did it (I have a nagging feeling that I did it), but someone hit someone’s head to the door. I mean, someone held a classmate’s head between his arms and body, forming a ram of sort, and went on to bang the head in a door. BAM!
Good thing it was a minor wound, or we would have been in deep trouble then. The rusty red blood had somewhat led us to a more circumspect life. We were content with watching Superstars, until we lost interest, like any other impressionable teenager.
But, I am still watching Raw and Smackdown! and the pay-per-views; until Solar had wisen up and offered pay-per-views as pay-per-views. Ca-ching! Solar bodyslams its way to the bank.
29
Nov
Take Back the Tech: Mobile Pornography
When Nokia introduced the 7650 model almost three years ago, it has single-handedly changed the way we use a mobile phone. The 7650 was the first Nokia phone to carry a camera. Now a prospective mobile phone buyer looks not for a cellphone with a camera, but asks how many megapixels that a mobile phone camera has.
And the creation of applications that allow camera-enabled cellphones has led to what I call mobile pornography.
I find it sad that some women, in the name of love, actually allow for their lovers to take their pictures in the nude. And what saddens me most is the fact that some even allowed videos of them taken in flagrante delicto. Love can really make a fool out of us.
And again, business-minded fools are not far behind. You can even get these cellphone “scandals” in VCD and DVD forms. Heck, if you know where to find, you can probably get them from those cellphone stalls in bazaars and malls, for a fee. The scandal involving a starlet and her basketball player-boyfriend is just a symptom of what’s possible with a cellphone.
The camera-enabled cellphone is just another piece of technology that we have to take back from the realm of the malicious.
technorati tags: takebackthetech
29
Nov
Another SOHANAD worm
I think a new SOHANAD variant is in the wild.
I had received a suspicious message from a friend via YM. Actually I had received several messages, but it contains one link only. Unlike other SOHANAD variants, the link is not disguised as such; the link address is what is stated in the message.
So I tried looking at it, and it was a PHProxy page. But when I viewed its source, it was just just a frameset with two frames, both SRCs are located OUTSIDE the Web site itself. One points to a Vietnamese-like Web site (with a Vietnamese-sounding URL), and another from a Yahoo!-hosted page (no longer available at the moment).
So viewing the Vietnamese-sounding Web site and its source, I am convinced it is a SOHANAD worm. The source contains a VBScript typical of SOHANAD carriers that exploits MS06-014.
Basically what it does is to download a file from the Vietnamese-sounding Web site, save it on your computer, and using the exploit to execute the downloaded file. Voila!
So far, here are the messages that I had received:
Beauty KIDs… http://cso[BLOCKED]2.net
For iTunes hacker, the freedom of the open code … http://cso[BLOCKED]2.net
How Windows XP Wasted $25 Billion of Energy… http://cso[BLOCKED]2.net
Oh my GOD #… http://cso[BLOCKED]2.net
The file to be downloaded is named VNN.EXE.
YM users are advised to be careful when handling links sent via IM, even if it came from your friends. BTW, FireFox users can view the page safely, as it ignores VBScript.
28
Nov
Take Back the Tech: Web Voyeurism
The invention of the Webcam spelled the beginning of online exhibitionism and voyeurism. Not contented with text and voice chats, real-time video added a new dimension to the sleaziness that pervades a part of the online world.
And for the first time, exhibitionists and voyeurs found a medium well-suited to their “needs”. Unfortunately, capitalists took notice and set up businesses that cater to online voyeurs.
Unconvinced? Here are some links:
Task force rescues women, arrests a couple for trafficking
2 foreigners killed in raid on cybersex den
Cops arrest 20 in ‘cybersex’ den raid
19 girls rescued from cyber exploitation
On Google search for “raid on cybersex den”, and see what I mean.
But I always feel sorry for the women who had unwittingly became victims of Webcam abuse. While I respect everyone’s personal conduct on the Web (I’m no puritan), I hope women will be more circumspect, specially when using Web cams.
There are some scrupulous individuals (mostly males) who looks for women chatters in instant messenger chat rooms. They always look in “sleazy” chat rooms and for women chatters with Web cams. When a victim is found, they convince her to do things. And the fools take a screen capture, and distribute the compromising picture to anyone interested.
This racket can even be used for black mail. After all, who wouldn’t protect someone’s reputation?
The Webcam is another piece of technology that is abused. Another sad evidence of man as a perverted animal.
technorati tags: takebackthetech
27
Nov
Take Back the Tech: Web Pornography
The Web is a facet of technology that has become ubiquitous to human kind. It is a big infrastructure well-suited for sharing information and media. It is also a medium of communication guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (Article 19).
The Web is a reflection of man – complicated, complex, convoluted. And as an invention of man, it has a lot of uses, from the sublime to the divine, from the mundane to the inhumane.
Violence can be defined as “any act of aggression and abuse which causes or intends to cause injury, in some cases criminal, or harm to persons, and (to a lesser extent) animals or property” (Wikipedia). The Internet in general and the Web in particular are simple tools to violate other’s rights and persons. How simple can it be? All you need is twenty Philippine pesos.
Probably the simplest form of violence inflicted against women using the Web is pornography. The prevalence of this violence is due to the fact that “(Internet pornography) allows people to view pornography (essentially) anonymously in the comfort and privacy of their homes. It also allows access to pornography by people whose access is otherwise restricted for legal or social reasons” (Wikipedia). This makes the violence more criminal, more foul; it is pornography in a large scale.
True, that most of these are for-pay services. False, that it is a valid excuse. A complex Google search will generate results that will show FREE pornographic materials available online.
For a simple signup, a perverted user can join Web groups and browse pornographic materials for free. Or an email-based group, perhaps. The point is that exploitation is not always equal to financial return.
The problem is serious. For one, the victims are getting younger; exploitation and loss of innocence is not limited to the primary victims.
Unfortunately, despite getting paid for using their bodies for satisfying other’s carnal desires, women are victims in whatever way you look at it. And there can be no justification for exploiting unwilling victims of this violence.
What can be done?
—
What can YOU do?
1. commit: commit yourself to 16 days of blogging about violence against women and technology.
2. _email:_Email ideas@takebackthetech.net, with your blog address and name/handle/nick if you want to sign up as a Ka-BLOGger, if possible, before 25 November. f you don’t have a blog yet, this will be a great place to start! Email us, and we’ll send you links on how to start your own blog
3. identify: make it known by putting a takebackthetech icon on your blog — create your own or grab a few icons from our Campaign Tools and Materials.
4. post: post something about the how you think violence against women connects with information communications technology? have a story? heard something quirky? snap a picture? think this is serious? doesn’t make much sense? anything at all! just commit one post a day from 25 nov to 10 dec on thinking about violence against women
5. tag it: use “takebackthetech” to tag your posts;
6. link back: send in your bloglinks and we’ll rss your posts to the campaign website throughout the 16 days.
7. expand: widen the campaign to your readers by linking your blog to the campaign site.
technorati tags: takebackthetech
23
Nov
An Initiative to Cut Term of Current President
The Supreme Court has ruled on Sigaw ng Malacañang’s motion for reconsideration regarding the Court’s decision in Lambino v. Comelec. Aside from junking the motion, the Court also in effect ruled that the law governing initiative is sufficient.
Basically, the Court had junked the Sigaw petition not because there is no enabling law; the Court notes that (1) the signature gathering is suspicious, (2) the law covers only amendments; and (3) the Sigaw petition calls for a revision of, not amendment to, the Charter.
Now that the initiative law is deemed sufficient for the purposes stated in the Charter, there’s no more hindrance for a true people’s initiative. Currently simmering in the comments section of several blogs (like this one) is an idea of a people’s initiative to amend the Charter in such a way that the terms of the current President and Vice President are cut and new elections are called.
An issue may arise due to RA 6735 (Initiative Law) itself, no thanks to Sigaw. Section 5 (b) states:
(b) A petition for an initiative on the 1987 Constitution must have at least twelve per centum (12%) of the total number of registered voters as signatories, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters therein. Initiative on the Constitution may be exercised only after five (5) years from the ratification of the 1987 Constitution and only once every five (5) years thereafter.
The operative clause is this: “Initiative on the Constitution may be exercised only after five (5) years from the ratification of the 1987 Constitution and only once every five (5) years thereafter.”
Now the question is this: since an initiative can only be exercised once every five years (after such exercise?), can a people’s initiative be exercised after the Sigaw fiasco? That will depend on how the word “exercised” is defined, and that I leave to lawyers.
Basically, if we follow the timeline from the Delfin/PIRMA petition of 1997 to Sigaw, almost nine years had passed; the Sigaw petiton satisfies the once-every-five-years rule. If the Sigaw petition is considered a exercise in initiative though voided by the Court (as the Dean said it, SC void Sigaw petition due to insufficiency in form), that means the next time an initiative can be exercised is on 2011, way past the term of Gloria Arroyo.
NB: If the previous definition of an initiative exercise is correct, the Sigaw petition was pushed as such so that any other petition can only be made after 2010.
I believe the best definition of the word “exercised” (as far as I can glean from the spirit of RA 6735) is a completed petition timeline – from filing up to plebiscite. Mere filing of a petition does not mean the initiative is exercised.
But that’s conjecture. Lawyers better explain that to us (blawggers, please!).
Anyway, back to the topic. Let us exercise our brains for a bit. Let us propose an amendment to the 1987 Charter that will cut short the terms of the President (or all elected officials if you want) and will call for an election. So let’s put into words that idea:
Section 1. Amending Article IV, section 4 (cvj amendment), the terms of the incumbent President and Vice President elected during the 2004 national elections are hereby cut and will end four months after the ratification of this amendment.
Section 2. (1) Three months after the ratification of this amendment, an election to replace the outgoing President and Vice President shall be held.
(2) In case no candidate for President or Vice President can garner at least 40 per cent of the total votes cast, a run-off elections between the top two candidates shall be held.
Section 3. The elected President shall take the oath of office immediately upon proclamation by the National Board of Canvassers. The terms of the elected President and Vice President shall last until June 30, 2010 be for six years starting from the day the oath is taken (cvj amendment).
Please feel free to comment and refine. This is very inelegant and not well thought of.
16
Nov
The Third Flank in 2007 Elections
The 2007 elections is seen as a referendum on the Arroyo administration. And based on surveys made by Pulse Asia (link here) and Ibon Foundation (link here), it is expected that the people will elect senators that will probably vote to convict Gloria Arroyo in an impeachment trial.
Take a look at Pulse Asia’s list:
(1) former Senator Legarda (48.6%)
(2) Senator Francis N. Pangilinan (39.0%)
(3) Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (34.9%)
(4) Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. (34.2%)
(5) Senator Ralph G. Recto (33.1%)
(6) former Senator Vicente C. Sotto III (31.0%)
(7) Atty. Aquilino Pimentel III (29.9%)
(8) Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter S. Cayetano (29.5%)
(9) former Senator Greogorio B. Honasan (27.7%)
(10) San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito-Estrada (23.8%)
(11) Ilocos Norte Representative Imee R. Marcos (23.1%)
(12) former Senator John Henry Osmeña (22.7%)
NB: I find it weird that a virtual unknown (Aquilino Pimentel III) appears on the list.
Here is Ibon’s list (presented with choices):
1 Legarda, Loren
2 Pangilinan, Francis
3 Marcos, Imee
4 Cayetano, Alan Peter
5 Pimentel, Aquilino III
6 Recto, Ralph
7 Escudero, Francis
8 Villar, Manuel Jr.
9 Arroyo, Joker
10 Sotto, Vicente III
11 Failon, Ted
12 Ejercito-Estrada, Jayvee
However, some sectors find the list of senatoriables unpalatable. And the non-existence (so far) of administration ticket (it’s too early, anyway) does not help.
Some have a wish list of senatoriables: see here and here.
Basically, I am seeing the play in the game: to battle the seemingly inevitable opposition win, attack the undecided (which I believe most of the middle class are), repeat the same mantra over and over. Simple: push the undecided into the decision that the opposition is no better, that there is no choice. The same play since 2005.
It seems that the opposition (the vocal one) is again unwittingly doing its part in the game.
I guess our only hope is for a third flank – a set of senatorial candidates that is acceptable to the undecided. While this will play for the administration’s advantage (dividing the opposition), this is the only way (in my mind) to convince the undecided and the majority of the so-called middle class. By presenting candidates who are acceptable, untainted, competent, and qualified, the no-choice reasoning will no longer be in play.
NB: Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose tragedy comes into mind.
For the main opposition to win, first it must present a list of acceptable and qualified candidates. Second, it must convince the undecided of its fitness to be chosen by the people. Third, not play according to administration’s playbook. The opposition really needs a single strategist.
The third flank will divide the votes. The beauty of this is that it affects both sides. The third flank should instead campaign against the administration and at the same time show that it is better than the main opposition.
Otherwise, the administration only has to present a so-so but credible slate and enjoy the fireworks. The opposition will self-destruct if it plays to the administration’s tune.
10
Nov
This is not a post in Filipino
Kahapon, aking napagtanto na hindi ako magaling sa pagsulat sa Filipino. Kailangan ko pang maghirap sa pagsalin ng isang dokumento upang malaman ang katotohanang mahirap magsulat sa Filipino.
Halos araw-araw naririnig natin sa mga matatanda, mga negosyante, mga guro, mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na bumababa ang kakayahan ng mga Pilipino sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles sa pananalita at pagsusulat. Nagrereklamo ang mga kumpanyang call center na mahirap na raw maghanap ng mga manggagawang Pilipino na bihasa sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles. Kung may nakita silang manggagawa, kailangan pa nila itong sanayin pa; ito ay dagdag-gastos, kaya napipilitan silang papirmahin ng kontrata ang mga manggagawa upang hindi masayang ang gastos sa pagsasany.
Nitong nakaraang buwan, iniulat na mababa ang naging resulta ng pagsusulit sa agham at matematika ng mga mag-aaral, bagaman medyo maganda ang resulta ng mga pagsusulit sa Ingles. (Tingnan angulat na mula sa National Statistics Coordination Board para sa taong 2004-2005.)
Ayon na rin sa nasabing ulat, mas mataas ang mga nakuhang marka sa Filipino ng mga mag-aaral sa elementarya, kung ikukumpara sa mga nasa high school.
Nabasa ko itong sanaysay ni Peter Wallace. Di ko malaman kung matatawa ako o maiiyak o maiinis. Bukod sa gumamit sya ng maling datos (pakibasa yung sinabi kong ulat mula sa NSCB at ikumpara sa mga pinagsasasabi ni Wallace), may mga katwiran sya na medyo paling. Halimbawa, sinabi nya na:
As to English, only 7 percent of graduating high school students in 2004/05 could read, speak and comprehend English well enough. A fact supported by the fact that only 3 to 6 percent of applicants for a call center job are competent enough in English to get that job.
Pakibasa pong mabuti, dalawang pangungusap lang po iyan. Sabi po nya, 7 porsyento lamang ng mga magtatapos sa high school noong 2005 ang kayang magbasa, magsalita, at makaintindi nang maayos sa wikang Ingles. Di ko po alam kung saan nya nakuha ang numerong 7% (baka po di ko nabasang mabuti), pero ano po ang kinalaman nun sa ikalawang pangungusap nya? Baka naman po inaakala nya na pagkatapos ng high school ng isang mag-aaral ay maghahanap na sya ng trabaho sa isang call center.
Basta basahin nyo yang gawa ni Wallace, at kung isa kang taong nag-iisip at may lohika, matawa ka na lang. (Punta na lang kaya ako sa bansang Hapon, isang maunlad na bansa na hindi magaling sa Ingles. O sa Tsina? O sa Timog Korea?)
Noong ako ay nasa elementarya, tatlong aralin lang ang itinuturo sa wikang Filipino (Pilipino pa noon): Sibika at Kultura (sa Baitang 1-3); Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika (sa Baitang 4-6); at Pilipino. Di ko nga matandaan kung paano ko naintindihan ang agham at matematika noong mga panahon na yon; Ingles ang ginagamit na wika sa pagtuturo ng mga araling iyon, kasabay ng pagtuturo ng wikang Ingles.
Mali po ang solusyong gusto ni Ginoong Wallace. Ayon sa kanya, dapat na maipasa ang HB 4701. Ang batas na ito ay naglalayong gamitin ang wikang Ingles sa lahat ng mga aralin sa paaralan. Wala po sa wikang gamit sa pagtuturo ang solusyon. Sabi nga sa wikang Ingles, Wallace is barking at the wrong tree. (Bagamat sang-ayon ako sa iba pa niyang suhestiyon.) Pareho yata kami ng saloobin ni Ginoong Manuel Quezon III.
Bilang isang manunulat-teknikal, ako po ay naniniwalang dapat na paunlarin ang kaalaman sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles. Dapat na itinuturo yan sa paaralan. Tama na tulungan ng magulang ang mga anak sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles. Pero ang pwersahin ang isang tao na matutong gumamit ng wikang banyaga ay mali. At ang pwersahin ang isang tao na matutong gumamit ng Ingles para lang maintindihan nya si Wallace ay isang napakalaking mali.
Pero mabalik tayo sa usapan. Hindi ako magaling sa Ingles, marunong lang ako gamitin ang wikang ito. Pero nalulungkot ako dahil nahihirapan ako sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Dito pa lang sa pagsusulat (o pagpindot sa tipo, o pagtatype sa wikang Taglish) ay nahihirapan na ako. Kung masusunod ang gusto ni Wallace, mauubos ang Pinoy na marunong magsalita ng Filipino.
Buti na lang may mga diksyunaryo na nasa Internet na pwede kong magamit. Tulad nitong nasa Bohol.ph, saka itong tagalog-dictionary.com.
Pero mali yata ang salin nila sa irony (panunuya raw ayon sa bohol.ph). Pero di ba ironic na balang araw mas magaling pa tayo mag-Ingles kaysa magsalita sa Filipino?
3
Nov
Remembering
Requiescat in Pace
My maternal great-grandmother (I don’t know her name)
Antonio D. Bernardo
Peter Y. Wong
Buenaventura Corpuz
Conchita S. Bernardo
Yue Che Wai
Jebb B. Bayocot
And to those who are unremembered
In memoriam….