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Angelo is humble about it, as per his entry:

We think it’s good that PayPal has again enabled its services here in the Philippines. This will enable Filipinos here to purchase goods and services online. However, the functionality is still very limited, and we are still not able to use the service for our intended purpose, which is to receive funds. We think this is a bigger aspect, since being able to receive funds online will greatly benefit Pinoys who need a quick, cheap and (relatively) safe means to receive money online from here and abroad.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a good start.

I agree, and congratulations are in order to him and those who helped.

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According to them, the reported “security breach” could adversely affect the country’s economy and tourism industry, and someone said “Tourist arrivals might go down and that could adversely affect our economy”. Golez said that the expert should have confirmed with the Authorities first, before conducting the test, presumably so they would be more prepared. The PNP guy said “Pinahiya kami nang walang laban (We were embarrassed without being given a chance to give our side),” according to here.

You know what? I agree! While we're at it, the best thing to do imo, is ask all the terrorists, to please register themselves with the Philippine Government, and kindly inform us whenever they plan to undertake civil unrest, kidnappings, suicide bomb attacks, beheadings, crashing planes into buildings, and all sorts of activity that may be described as 'terrorist' or 'terrorist-like'.

Duly registered extremist groups should then provide a list, with pictures and pertinent data, of their members along with their itinerary, so that the Philippines can know ahead of time when such activities will occur. Will that not be so much more convenient for everyone? I'm positive Mr. Golez would agree. I further suggest that after registration, the government can then issue nametags, with smart chips and barcodes and all that, so that airport officials would not be so 'surprised' and 'taken aback' whenever such incidents occur. With such cards, they can even be given special VIP privileges, such as discount coupons from Duty Free and the chance to win special prizes!

Alas, but NAIA may not have a budget for that. Yes I know times are hard. They could at least give the guys a free cup of coffee and some biscuits while they wait at the departure lounge, it's the very least we could do for their efforts.
 

At any rate, we were driving around the city picking up 'tips', buying flowers from Sampaloc, and looking for 24 hour McDo branches at 3am all in the name of above mentioned pursuit. It was fun, that is, if you happen to suffer from Insomnia. But nevertheless I resolved to learn something from it. And that would be - help Jill prepare for her time next year, so that I'd only have to do that one more time in my life. Yep, that'd be the lesson there.

Anyway, a big shoutout to Rosa, who was amongst those taking the Bar in the weeks to come, something I woefully did not do last year. So in the hope my wishes of success will serve to do the trick, should you read this, I am in full expectation of news of your triumphant achievement, in due course.

That 'course' being a year, as it apparently takes the DOJ that long to check their papers and publish the results. I suppose this prepares these young lawyers for later in life in some way, although it escapes me how at the moment. Perhaps it teaches them to learn to function for a prolonged period in extreme agony and anticipation? If that's the case then mission accomplished.
 

It was just that case a few hours earlier, when it was hot as summer in the early afternoon then suddenly rained like a typhoon in the span of a few minutes. Up here in mountainous Cainta, you can't help see clouds moving about so busily, as if they couldn't get ready enough to start pouring it on. And pour it did, making me have to run around the house closing windows and such.

I've always noticed ever since I was a little kid how that kind of weather brings such fantastic sunsets, and here we get to the 'beautiful' part. Even Inquirer's headline today had a pic of a guy with a blazing ball of a sunset in the background.

I drove to Tiendesitas yesterday with the sun setting right in front of the car. It was one of those situations when you can't use the visor no matter how low you set it, and it gets in your eyes. But I didn't mind all that much, because it was just so beautiful. Everything was glowing yellow, orange and red, and the clouds were in these big puffy shapes clearly outlined in the sky, against a blue background.

Just before it rained earlier, and the gray clouds probably had something to do with it, everything was a complete dark shade of red. From the sky to the horizon, to the ground. From one of our windows we can see all the way to Laguna de Bay, and it was just breathtaking. Sometimes I think the reason I get so impressed is that I stare at a monitor all day, and no matter how hard it tries it really can't get all those colors, those little nuances that make up a terrific scene.

But I know I've always been impressed at such things ever since I was a kid. It's so grand, so beautiful, and the vast, quietness of it all just makes me take a breath and think that at that very moment everything just feels right.

[tag]roilo golez[/tag], [tag]al qaeda[/tag], [tag]terrorists[/tag]

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Ack it's 11am. Off to work!

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An iPod and two mobile phones are the latest must-have accessories for status-conscious British office workers,... according to a survey released on Wednesday.

(The people who surveyed) branded the people in the survey as GOSSIPS (Gadget Obsessed Status Symbol Infatuated Professionals), a contemporary version of yuppies--the acquisitive young urban professionals of the 1980s.

Ok.

Number 1. When I was in my late 20s (and 30 lbs. lighter), I was corporate, dressed it, went out a lot, and earned well into 'yuppie' territory. However, I'd hate anyone calling me one. Why in heavens name would anyone want to be called that? Everyone knows the moment someone niches you, you're obsolete.

Number 2. Today, if anyone called me a G.O.S.S.I.P. (acronym for Gadget Obsessed Status Symbol Infatuated Professionals), I'd similarly puke. Gadgets for the sake of gadgets, as I've said time and time again, is stupid and completely misses the point of technology. Not to mention actually being obsessed with buying them, which is like, obsessed with missing the point.

Number 3. People who buy Gadgets solely with the intention of showing them off in clubs and such, is poison for the industry. Not only will manufacturers take advantage of this, and price them beyond the reach of people who can really make use of them (because status symbols need to be expensive to become status symbols. Duh.). Technology will suffer as well, since if no one really uses these to do anything, then what sort of feedback will it send to the manufacturers? Build them smart, and geeks will appreciate it, so what? But gold-plate them and sell them as bling, and make a ton more money!

Number 4: Couldn't they think of any other acronym than 'gossips'? No I don't think of gadgets, nor gadget - obsessed individuals, when I hear that word. Rather, I think of losers. People who have nothing better to do than to waste resources on idle talk and useless activities that ultimately bring negativity instead of --- waitaminit... it's not so badly named after all!

Technorati Tags: g.o.s.s.i.p.s., gadgets, gadget lovers

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The Mitsubishi Evolution IX.

OMG.

Sure it doesn't look too impressive. It looks just like an ordinary Lancer actually.

The innards are spartan. Doesn't even have a radio. No Momo, no Recaros, nothing.

But what's special is under the hood.

The legendary Mitsubishi 4G63.

An inline four, iron block, aluminum head, turbocharged and intercooled DOHC. Producing 286 hp @ 6500 rpm at a claimed crank torque of 289 lb-ft horsepower at 3500 rpm.

There are few telltale signs, like that humongous air intake hood, red Brembo calipers all around, wrapped by 45 series Bridgestones on 17s.

A big wing at the back, which you'll need to keep those Enkeis on the road.

and an insignia, but anyone can buy that off an accessories shop.

But you can't just buy that performance though. It starts at P2.3M for the base car, with no warantee, (since Mitsubishi knows you're going racing and will not want to replace anything you'll likely break). Probably a big waiting list to get your hands on this baby. The rep said there are only 4 in the country, and only one's been allowed to be sold otherwise they wouldn't have any for the showrooms.

I've tested and laid my grubby hands on some of the most exclusive gadgetry in the world, but nothing, absolutely nothing, gets my heart pounding more than a car like this.

Just thinking of what you can do with it. That fire-breathing 4G63 roaring under the hood while you careen off a corner, all wheels screeching, tires smoking, turbo bursting fire out the rear as you dig your foot into the carpet, wondering how far it can go as you opposite lock, your right hand balancing the bottom of the steering wheel along with your right foot putting just the right amount of power, as you drift into a curb as far and as long as you can go.

Your ears are splitting with the beautiful sound of an engine at full song, a sensual overload as you see, hear, feel it hurtling you across a track.

Whew.

And all that just from standing beside it at a mall.

Ack what a special machine can do to you.

Ok back to work.

Teenagers who listen to music with explicitly sexual lyrics start having sex sooner than those who prefer other songs, a study found.

Whether it is hip-hop, rap, pop or rock, much of popular music aimed at teens contains sexual overtones. Its influence on their behavior appears to depend on how the sex is portrayed, researchers found.

Songs depicting men as "sex-driven studs" and women as sex objects, and with explicit references to sex acts, are more likely to trigger early sexual behavior than those where sexual references are more veiled and relationships appear more committed, the study found.

You know what? He's right, there is something wrong. When I was a teenager, I didn't need no sexual lyrics to think of sex. I thought of sex ALL THE TIME!!

And now kids today need songs to think of sex? Wusses!

Technorati Tags: sex, sex acts, teens, teenagers and sex

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Try and catch it before it's fixed.

Technorati Tags: mayon volcano, fox news

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Specs:

• 15.4- or 17-inch widescreen display
• Up to 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
• 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
• PCI Express architecture
• Up to 120GB Serial ATA hard drive
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with up to 256MB memory on 16-lane PCI Express
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Dual-link DVI, VGA adapter included
• FireWire 400, FireWire 800 (17-inch only), and USB 2.0 ports
• Optical digital and analog audio I/O, built-in microphone and stereo speakers
• Slot-loading SuperDrive
• Illuminated keyboard, Scrolling TrackPad
• Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11g), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, and Gigabit Ethernet
• Mac OS X Tiger with iLife ’06 featuring iWeb, iWork ’06 trial, and more
• MagSafe Power Adapter

Complete specs here. Excited!

Technorati Tags: macbook, macbook pro, mac, 17" mac, duo core

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muhammad ano bang kinakain mo
kinakain mo sa yong pinggan
bakit di mo na lang tignan
at tikman sa king pinggan

ang maanghang, anghang anghang anghang
anghang anghang anghang
mashadong maanghang
kinilaw!

ayaw mo bang kumain, eto at nakahain
wag ka nang tumakas, magkaka almuranas
ang anghang ng patatas, maanghang kahit prutas
sing init ng Bangbus, magpapawis ang balbas

tayo'y wag magtalo, 'lika na't magsalo
papakin ang sili, wag ka nang mamili
uusok ang 'yong tenga, mapapa macarena

ika'y mapapaihip, sa sobrang init dahil maanghang, anghang anghang anghang
anghang anghang anghang, anghang anghang anghang, ang anghang ng ulam

tadtad ng sili
(ahh) dagdagan mo pa ng sili ang gusto ko marami
dagdagan ng sili
(ahh) ngayong marami nang sili, lets party

rajiv, ano bang kinakain mo kinakain mo sa yong pinggan
bakit di mo na lang tignan, at tikman sa king pinggan
rajiv baka may mikrobyo yan, yan yan, yang pagkaing yan

bakit ba naman ang arte mo, arte mo, arte mo?
dahil maanghang, anghang anghang anghang
mashadong maanghang, anghang anghang anghang, kinilaw

kakain ako, wag kang manuyo
hah hah hah, siling labuyo
amoy kili kili at kawili wili
pagkain ng saudi
merong milk, merong coconut, sari saring sangkap
merong milk, merong coconut, siling may gata

lalo kong lumiliksi, namumula ang pisngi
kahit sa shawarma, tataob si darna,
lamunin mo na nga to, parang di ka arabo
wag mo kong pagalitan parang di mo ko kaibigan

teka, wag kang madrama, wag ka ngang madrama
ako madrama, kaw nga tong madrama
di ako madrama, wala kang pakisama
wag kang magreklamo, pag maanghang

anghang, anghang anghang anghang
dahil maanghang, anghang anghang anghang
mashadong maanghang, mashadong maanghang, mashadong maanghang, mashadong maanghang, ang anghang ng ulam

From here. Song here.

Technorati Tags: anghang, bubble gang, michael v., MUHAMMAD , RAJIV SOLEIMAN, SAHARA

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Here it is:

from here, learned via here.

What's up with Sony lately? They've been getting into news but not the kind they prefer I'm sure.

Another thing going around is reports that they're going to make it impossible to use PS3 discs in players other than the first one its used on:

Sony plans to make it impossible to play used or borrowed PlayStation 3 discs. In 2000, Sony patented technology that effectively marries a game disc to the first console it's put into. Subsequently, the disc would not work if put into another system, such as a friend's console or a console owned by someone that purchased the game "used." Theoretically, this technology could also put an end to the billion dollar a year rental market.

from here. Shades of the rootkit issue that took off last year for sure, wrote about it here.

Pity, since I like their products.

Technorati Tags: sony patent, sony racist ad, sony rootkit, sony bmg rootkit, dutch sony advertisement, sony playstation patent

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Dang. I've been opening bottles that way since HS (and yes, that was a long time ago). Maybe I should make a vid of me opening one with a lighter, and the 'FPJ' method, where you slam the cap off the side of a table in one smooth (it better be smooth) downward stroke.

Technorati Tags: beer, youtube

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More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were the single "must have" item for work this summer.

But many companies disagree.

"The dress code says no beach wear and flip-flops are considered beach wear," said a spokeswoman for BNP Paribas.

Style gurus warn that flip-flops, which are worn mainly by younger women, could be harmful to a career.

"Shoes convey the mood of a woman. Wearing flip-flops conveys the mood that you are relaxed and on vacation. That's not a good message in the office," said Meghan Cleary, a style commentator who wrote the book "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You."

tsktsk. :>

Technorati Tags: flip flops

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It's short enough to quote:

Summit tackles Net governance

The Philippine Summit on the Information Society (PSIS) will finalize its position on Internet governance, in a meeting of information and communications technology (ICT) experts from the government, the private sector, civil society and the academe, on Sept. 9 at the Manila Hotel Grand Ballroom.

The summit is the culmination of a series of seminar-workshops held in various cities nationwide, the National Computer Center said in a statement last week

In the main session of the summit, the participants will be given the opportunity to help finalize the Philippine position on Internet governance.

The final papers on Internet governance will be presented during the second phase of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis in November. The first phase, which established a declaration of principles and an action plan, was held in Geneva in December 2003.

After some googling, I came up with Manila Bulletin's version, and Inq7.net's version too. You can read it, but I guarantee they're just as cryptic, probably reading from the same press release.

Questions abound:

• it mentions The Philippine Summit on the (sic) Information Society (PSIS). Who are these people, are they gov't? Private? What is their mandate / goal?
• Apparently it will finalize it's position on "Internet governance". Meaning the .ph issue? The local registrar?
• It says "The summit is the culmination of a series of seminar-workshops held in various cities nationwide, the National Computer Center said in a statement last week". Really? What happened in them?
• MB.com also says "About 300 participants from government, academe, private sector and civil society from 16 regions are expected to attend." Like who? And what are they gonna discuss exactly?

I will assume I am the one at fault here, apparently I had not been keeping up with the news.

However, that is unlikely. Even more so that this seems such a big event that it makes me wonder why I missed it! If it has to do with the local domain registrar, of which I obviously i deal with since I own one, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

I am so f__king proud of my sister Wickie! :D for her excellent article that came out at Manila Standard today:

much like she can't believe it whenever I produce any of my own stuff, forever relegated to just a 'little brother' as I am, from my point of view it seems incomprehensible that my big sis can produce something of value as well (other than my beloved nephews of course) hehe.

at any rate, download the PDF here!! ('right-click > save as' to download the 244kb. file otherwise if you left-click it will open your pdf reader). where she quite deftly displays the ability to string words together in a coherent fashion! terrific!

honestly Ik, it's wonderful :). You are the Philippine's William Safire.