Author Archives: Arbet Bernardo

17
Jan

Smart 3G network problem?

Posted by | Categories Byte | Tagged ,

Last night, I was having trouble with my Smart postpaid line. I was on the bus when I took a peep at my Sony Ericsson P1i. At the status bar, an icon appeared. So I tapped on it, and a window appeared. It said that “Incoming calls not allowed” and a Settings button appeared. Tapping on the button led me to the Internet accounts settings page. I ignored it and went on with the trip home. BTW, I sent a text message, and at first the sending failed, but on the second attempt, the message was sent. It was 10 minutes before 6PM.

I got home by 7PM, and after dinner, I checked the phone again. The icon remained, and out of curiousity I made a call to our landline. So I keyed in the number and tapped Call. After two seconds the phone returned to standby mode. So I turned off the phone, took off the SIM, and inserted the SIM into a Nokia 3660. I made a call to the same number, and our landline phone made its usual ringing sound. So I inserted the SIM back into P1i, powered it on, and the icon was still there. Making the same call, and the same result – nada.

What I did was to set the phone so that it would connect to GSM network only. The setting before was 3G only. (To do this on P1i, go to Main Menu>Control Panel>Connections>Mobile Networks. On the Mobile Networks window, tap More and then tap on GSM/3G networks.) The phone disconnected and reconnected. The 3G icon was gone. I then made a call to our landline, and the landline sounded. At this point, I received a reply to the message that I had sent earlier; the message was time-stamped 6:10PM.

I set the mode back to 3G only, and after disconnection/reconnection, the suspect icon appeared again. So I set it back to GSM only, and then played Warcraft III: Frozen Throne for an hour. After playing, I set the mode back to 3G, and the suspect icon was gone. Content, I went to sleep.

End of story? Nope. Woke up at around 12 midnight and took a look at the phone. “Emergency calls only,” the phone display said. Set the mode to GSM only, and the operator name appeared. Went back to sleep.

So at 8AM, I set the mode back to 3G, and no problems so far. Must be a problem in Smart’s 3G network yesterday. Or my phone’s getting old.

16
Jan

Lip service

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

For those who don’t know it yet, or for those who think they don’t know it yet, the Arroyo regime’s concept of transparency and good governance can be simplified by using the term “lip service.” When you hear any Arroyo factotum (or Gloria Arroyo herself) utter the words “transparency” or “good governance”, just substitute “lip service.”

For example, there are several vacancies in the Commission on Elections. The Fortress had already appointed someone whose reputation was suspect, and while there was a muted outrage, it burned the Fortress badly, and its intentions were already under suspicion. To rescue its already tattered reputation, it formed a search committee, composed of seemingly upright individuals. However, the search panel suffers from the same problem that the Arroyo regime has. Lip service=search committee.

Then, we have this nice episode of a convict (who happens to be the husband of a representative that is very close to Gloria) who is reportedly missing (though the representative says he’s not missing). Now, still reeling from the Jalosjos caper (also under investigation), the Fortress is now ordering an investigation on this issue. I can still remember the Mayuga report, the Feliciano report, and the Melo report, all unacted upon (and the Mayuga report unreleased to the public). Do you think something will come out of the said probe? Lip service=investigation.

And lastly: have you noticed the high-profile pardons that this regime is issuing? We have Erap last year. Then there was the botched Jalosjos caper. And now, SalvadorNorberto Manero (what’s with people named Norberto). For Jalosjos and Manero, too bad this ain’t the day. There’s nothing wrong with pardon. The problem is the kind of person being pardoned. That is not good governance. That is patronage. Good governance=lip service.

Transparency=lip service. Good governance=lip service. Wash, rinse, repeat.

14
Jan

Paranoia

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In what hospital was Raul Gonzalez operated on? I wouldn’t want to be confined there. It seems that the doctors there were incompetent. They should have not released him and instead confined him more. He is clearly suffering from some mental difficulties.

Gonzalez has been hogging the limelight for the past few days, what with his ridiculous statements and ominous words. First, he issued an ALL CAPS “reminder” to CEOs of news organizations, warning them about interfering with official police business. The reminder goes:

Please be reminded that your respective companies, networks or organizations may incur criminal liabilities under the law, if anyone of your field reporters, news gatherers, photographers, cameramen and other media practitioners will disobey lawful orders from duly authorized government officers and personnel during emergencies which may lead to collateral damage to properties and civilian casualties in case of authorized police or military operations.

Oh, he is not content with that. The “reminder” also covers foreign press. Wonderful.

What caused this latest intelligent remarks from Gonzalez? Another destabilization plot, he claims.

I said earlier that Gonzalez should have not been released from the hospital. He is clearly suffering from paranoia.

Why? While he thinks there is another destabilization plot, the Armed Forces of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo belittles such plots. It will not succeed, Mister Hermogenes Esperon boasted. Mr. Esperon, tell that to Raul Gonzalez.

Heck, even the Philippine National Police joins the fray, saying that it is the communists who are plotting something. To even sweeten the plot, it is another left-right destabilization plot. Paranoia clear and simple.

If these plots are true, Senator Rodolfo Biazon is correct. Why can’t the AFGMA and PNP just arrests these plotters? If they don’t have a case, Esperon and Razon and Gonzalez better shut up.

Paranoia. n. a disturbed thought process characterized by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat.

13
Jan

Snaps: Isn’t that so Freudian?

Posted by | Categories Journal | Tagged ,

Last Friday, I was at a certain bookstore when I saw this for sale:

Definitely, I will not buy one.

(Photo taken using Sony Ericsson P1i.)

13
Jan

Annoyance of the Week: Trip to a memorial plan

Posted by | Categories Journal | Tagged ,

Yesterday, I wasted two hours of my life by allowing shady marketers to entice me to get a memorial plan. Yes, a memorial plan. Now, there’s nothing wrong in getting one – I think everyone should at least prepare for the inevitable. It is the way they attempt to entice me that was annoying.

The story actually happened a month ago. Someone called at the office, claiming that she works for a certain hotel chain, that I won a free gift certificate to stay in one of their hotels. Sounds good, no? All I had to do was to claim it at their office. Now, I was lazy back then, so I made a lot of excuses. My final salvo was to tell the lady to call me up again by December 26. December 26 came and went, and no phone calls. Yes, finally in the clear.

Or so I thought. I got a call last Thursday. It was the same lady, and so I agreed to drop by yesterday. There were no strings attached, nothing to pay, the lady assured me. All they ask from me was to spare them 90 minutes for some audio-video presentation. Wow, was it that long?

So I went there, filled up a form, and waited. A few minutes later, a guy introduced himself, and we went to this table. There were several other tables, most of them with people. The guy started some small talk, like what a good salesman would do. With the talks going nowhere, with the guy bombarding me with questions whether I had questions, he then introduced their companies, and then he went on to the memorial plan. He kept on giving corny and semi-offensive jokes about death (like if you refuse this offer, what if you die when you get out of their office). I think you get the picture.

It was like Family First.

No, they got nothing from me; I got to say no. Please remind me to say no when another telemarketer calls me.

Oh, they did allow me to pick from a fish bowl a destination for the free GC. Well, it was for a far place, and the GC will prolly be left unused. One, you have to make a reservation within 14 days from the date the GC was issued. I wish I could make a decision within that time frame. Second, it was a far location, so it really needs a lot of planning if I want to go. Fourteen days are not enough. Oh well.

12
Jan

Makasarili

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Isang nakakalungkot na bagay ang aking natutunan sa isyu ng pagpataw ng buwis sa text messaging.

Dahil sa direktong apektado ang mga tao sa nasabing panukala, marami ang umalma at kumontra, at napilitang umatras ang rehimeng Arroyo.

Pero sa mga mas mabibigat at mas malalalim na isyu pero hindi direktong apektado ang karamihan sa atin, ni ha ni ho, wala. Ganoon na ba kalala ang ating pagiging makasarili?

11
Jan

Buwisit na buwis

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Habang ang karamihan ay nangangarap na masuspinde ang pagpataw ng 12% na VAT sa mga produktong petrolyo, ang rehimeng Arroyo naman (sa pamamagitan ng kalihim ng kalakalan Peter Favila) ay nangangarap na patawan ng buwis ang text messaging. Opo, mga text addict, dahil sa lakas ninyo magtext, nakaisip ng dahilan ang rehimen para makalikom ng pera para sa 2010.

At hindi naman pahuhuli ang dalawa sa mga pangunahing tagasuporta ng rehimeng ito. Ang dalawang ito ay kumakatawan sa grupo ng mga mangangalakal at mga malalaking kumpanya. Ayon kina (ihanda ang inyong mga sarili) Donald Dee at Francis Chua (gusto ko maduwal), sang-ayon sila sa panukalang buwis. Sabi ni Dee, mabuti raw ito dahil marami raw sa mga kabataan ang nagpapadala ng mga walang kwentang text messages.

Kung gagamitin natin ang napakalupit na lohika ni Dee, dapat din nating buwisan ang mga sumusunod:

* mga tawag sa telepono, singkwenta sentimos kada minuto, 100 piso para sa mga komersyal na linya
* mga email, piso para sa mga email na galing sa mga kumpanya, 2 piso kung galing sa mga kumpanya na may kapital na mahigit sa 1 bilyong piso
* mga anunsyo sa radyo, telebisyon, at dyaryo, 100 piso kada 1 libo na ginastos sa nasabing anunsyo, 1 libo kada 500 piso kung ang kumpanya ay may kapital na mahigit sa 1 bilyong piso
* mga board meetings, 1 libong piso kada 30 minuto ng pagpupulong; 10% ng per diem ng mga board directors
* paglipad patungo sa ibang bansa upang dumalo sa mga pagpupulong, 5 libo kada isang araw na wala sa bansa
* dami ng sasakyan ng isang kumpanya, 1 libo kada isang kotse, 5 libo kada isang trak
* mga palabas sa telebisyon, 1 libo kada isang minuto ng palabas, na babayaran ng producer ng palabas; hindi kabilang ang mga balita

Alam nyo na ang ibig kong sabihin.

Kumontra naman sa nasabing panukala ang TXTPower. Hinamon nito ang rehimeng Arroyo na pagbawalan ang lahat ng byaheng panglabas. Ayon sa nasabing grupo, gumasta ang rehimen ng halos 692 milyong piso para sa mga byahe ni Gloria Arroyo noong 2005 at 2006. Grabe, ano?

Ngayon, sinasabi ni Favila na wala raw silang balak na patawan ng buwis ang text messaging. Siguro natambakan sya ng text messages. Buti nga sa kanya.

—

Bakit mali na buwisan ang text messaging? Simple lang. Mas matipid magtext kaysa tumawag. Mas mabilis ito, hindi kailangan ang internet connection. Pwede ka magtext kahit saan, basta may signal, may baterya, at may load. Bakit mo bubuwisan ang isang matino, mabilis, at maayos na paraan ng pakikipag-usap?

10
Jan

CES 08 Notables, 2

Posted by | Categories Byte | Tagged , ,

CES LogoListed below are the notables in this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, and why:

* Skype on PSP – A gaming phone is near. Just you wait.

* Cloudbook/Nanobook v. eee and Cloudbook’s coming – Should Asus be threatened? At the same price, Cloudbook/Nanobook appears to be better than eee, spec-wise (except for the weight). We’ll see. Everex better put gOS Rocket on Cloudbook.

* Curved displays – What’s next? a 306-degree-view display? Half Life addicts must be salivating at the potential.

* MSI venturing into mobile phones – First, they have to be aggressive first (they have nice notebooks spec-wise per price point). Second, have a better logo; why can’t MSI use its star logo instead of the logotype MSI?

* eee on Splashtop – It seems that Asus’ miniwonder knows no bounds. What’s next? eee pc server edition?

* USB 3.0 – At least we have an idea on how the connector would look like. Hopefully it is not vaporware.

* Point-here-and-there – Military generals would want this. Congress better look out.

9
Jan

Oil price slick

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ABS-CBN reports that any law that will suspend VAT for oil products shall be vetoed by Gloria Arroyo, says Finance Secretary Margarito Teves. The purported reason is that such a move will be “detrimental to the country’s economy and will only benefit the rich.” According to projections, the government stands to lose Php 54 billion from lost VAT revenues from oil if Mar Roxas’ proposed bill passes.

First, I don’t think Mar Roxas’ proposed measure will prosper. The House is firmly controlled by Arroyo lapdogs, and as such, a counterpart bill is impossible. Even if such a measure passes through the eye of the needle, Gloria Arroyo can simple veto it. And I doubt if both Houses can muster enough votes to override the veto.

Second, the government can always find a way to plug a possible deficit by reducing unnecessary spending. If these elected and appointed officials really mean it, the 40 billion shortfall can be cushioned or eradicated. For example, senators and congressmen and Gloria Arroyo can forgo their pork barrel allocations. Again, that’s impossible, given the kind of characters we have in government.

Third, Teves claims that only the rich will benefit from the suspension of VAT on oil products. He is assuming that the suspension will greatly benefit rich car owners. How about the middle class who owns cars? How about the jeepney and tricycle drivers and operators? And what about the so-called trickle down effect that this regime has been yakking about? Is that also one of this regime’s lies?

No. This regime is composed of goons who cannot afford to scrimp while the people it purportedly serves gets the shorter end of the stick. That 1% tariff reduction is just lip service. Imagine. A one percent reduction can mean a Php 0.23-0.25 in the price of diesel – and the people should be thankful for that. It will take effect two weeks from now, but independent oil players are already proclaiming an increase by January 15. There you go.

I find this piece of news curious:

She said if the tariff’s current rate remains at three percent the government will have windfall earnings of P11 billion but she added that this would be useless if prices of commodities go up as a result of high oil prices.

Using that logic, a windfall of earnings from VAT is useless if prices of commodities go up. Go figure.

So here are the main suggestions on how to cushion the effects of high oil prices:

* The regime slashes one percent from the tariff imposed on diesel. Token gesture as they say.
* Some lawmakers want the VAT for oil suspended. The regime calls it suicidal.
* The Left calls for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law. Businesses (specially oil companies) balk at the idea.

Hmm. Why not reduce the VAT rate for oil to six percent?

Do you have any suggestions? Leave them at the comments.

8
Jan

CES 08 Notables, 1

Posted by | Categories Byte | Tagged , ,

CES LogoListed below are the notables in this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, and why:

* Panasonic’s humongous TV screen – If that ain’t big, you must be Goliath. 150-inch plasma? You must have a net worth like Bill Gates’ to get one – if it becomes available. And soon. (Via Engadget)

* Pioneer’s extreme contrast concept plasma – Good thing I was not there, or I might have sensory overload.

* Bill Gates’ final CES keynote – Aside from the fact that it was the last time for Bill (ha ha ha, yeah right, first name basis) to keynote CES, the intro video was LOL.

* Asus’ eee pc with WiMax – It seems that Asus can’t go wrong with its eee line. I wonder how much it will cost. And with GSMA going for LTE, do not expect this unit to ship here (unless one telco offers WiMax here, ehem Bayantel). And those early adopters in the US must be puking now.

* Driver-less cars by 2018 – Finally, an incentive for me to get a car – if I have the funds by that time. But, nah. Unless GM ditches manual override, Filipino drivers will override the auto when they find the car slow. Filipinos are after all, more daring versions of Michael Schumacher. Either that, or these automated cars get attitudes due to horrendous traffic and undisciplined Filipinos.