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In which I justify my recent purchases

A few months ago, I was researching on what to get as a replacement for my dinosaur of a phone that is a Nokia N97. I was leaning towards an Android device since the iPhone, specifically the iPhone 4S, is out of my budget's reach. That, and a new iPhone is set to debut sometime later this year. And since my budget's a big factor whenever I get a new gadget, I entered various online contests just to satisfy my GAS. That's Gadget Acquisition Syndrome for you noobs. Never have I felt so dirty in my life.

I already made up my mind about getting a Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, or Neo V, if the former was unavailable. However, both online and offline shops are having trouble producing a unit with the color of my choice, which is blue since it doesn't come in black.

I also thought of getting a cheapo, yet decent, feature phone just to replace my old phone and just get an iPod Touch to make up for the lack of smartphone features of a, well, feature phone.

I was also thinking of getting a Symbian^3 device, particularly the Nokia 701 or the Nokia 500. OS notwithstanding, a Nokia device still packs more hardware features than anyone can handle. Unfortunately, even the OS can't handle the hardware Nokia manufactures. All Nokia really needs is a great user interface, and Windows Phone 7 or Mango is not the answer.

But it all boils down to budget and timing, and since the budget received a boost last month, the timing of the past holiday season's price reduction on a lot of stuff was good enough for me.

I basically ended up with two devices without resorting to getting a feature phone to replace my beloved-yet-beat-up N97: a white 8GB iPod Touch and a Nokia 500.

See the full gallery on Posterous

The iPod Touch is self-explanatory. It's an iOS device.

The Nokia 500 is quite unexpected as I was leaning toward the 701 if I ever chose another Symbian-powered Nokia device. It has most, if not all, features of my old N97. The only thing I miss from my N97 is the FM transmitter. Responsiveness is not at par with an Android device, but I'll soon be updating the software to Symbian Belle. It may or may not improve the phone's intuitiveness, but I'll take what I can get. If it sucked even more after the update, well, I can always wait for my wife's birthday gift. I just hope it's not a gift certificate to CD-R King.

The Nokia 500 is still a pretty solid device, despite the bad reviews it received from GSM Arena. It can basically do what my iPod Touch does, and more, since the Nokia 500 also has a GPS radio. Another big draw is the price point.

So, why did I get two devices that, although different, can basically, more or less, do the same thing? Part of the reason is to satisfy my curiosity, to experience the best of what Cupertino and Espoo has to offer. Another is to make sure I have something to use in case The Willspawn hijacks one of my devices. Brief intro: The Willspawn is a 5-year old little boy who has a knack for figuring out how to use gadgets and gizmos and play the apps installed without even knowing how to read, and who is also my son.

Anyway, I know the Nokia 500 is far from being the best of what Espoo has to offer. That crown belongs to the N9, which, if it wasn't for the price, I would've gotten that instead. And the iPod Touch isn't the best of what Cupertino has to offer, as the 17" Macbook Pro holds that title, I think. Still, these devices let me take a peek at what I'm missing out in the tech scene. Besides, it's still a way for me to reward myself for not being a completely useless idiot.

Not too shabby, if I say so myself.

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The year 2011 has been a taxing year - emotionally, financially, and psychologically - on both professional and personal aspects.

Earlier this year, the universe saw it fit to take away, not one, but two, of my dearest friends, both of them younger than me, in a span of less than a couple of months. WHAT. THE. FUCK.

And when the year was about to close, I just learned that my friend's dad also died. That's another fuck given. Dammit.

There were also a lot of professional situations that I wouldn't want to be in, but I am, nonetheless. And it only proved to be something that defined who I am: someone who fixes things.

The homefront wasn't all peachy either. Ailments that almost ended up being confined in the hospital was the norm. Breaking the bank was almost always a consequence. Thankfully, it was all just that: ALMOST. Still, it was a nerve-wracking close call.

Petty issues should've been diffused or even prevented if only the right words were said. However, it weren't. And what was once petty was made worse. Pride had a lot to do with it, though. Yep. I'm blaming one of the seven deadly sins.

The weather's all fucked up and unstable with the colder season finishing earlier than usual (mid-February, I think) and the warmer season was interrupted regularly by tropical storms. Not complaining about the tropical storms, since it IS a tropical country. The flash flooding in major cities and various other areas were quite a different story, though. Ondoy (or Ketsana), the storm that hit Metro Manila last 2009, did not repeat itself, but unfortunately, Mindanao experienced the same thing just this December, no thanks to Sendong, which compared to Ondoy, was lightweight. However, the drainage system and topography of the area made Sendong as equally as, if not more, destructive as Ondoy. So yeah, fuck you, universe.

On a somewhat ligher note, there were some good things that happened this year. The deaths of my friends were opportunities for me and my other friends to see each other, catch up, or reacquaint with one another. Not the best situation to do so, but I'll take what I can get. It was also then that I realized how much I missed them.

The third Banana Gangbang Rock Festival also happened. It was pretty much the highlight of my year. That, and me finally being able to get my grubby hands on an iOS device, the iPod Touch.

There were a lot of situations that made me think of calling it quits, throwing in the towel, whatever. However, I always remembered that these situations are what people would call an opportunity to overcome the challenge of an obstacle hindering me from getting what I desired. Yep. That's a lot of fluff right there. Strunk and White, if they could, would yell at me "OMIT NEEDLESS WORDS!" So to rephrase that statement: I remembered these situations are opportunities for me to overcome challenges.

If it's broke, fix it.

Happy New Year, mofos.

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I was coerced to create this.

Please don't kill me.

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The question is not age-old, nor critical to the national economy, but the debate is still on.

I'm about to differentiate the two based on how I understand both professions. This, hopefully, serves as my disclaimer or notice that I am in no way an expert on both, and that I am simply expressing my opinion.

Journalists, as I understand it, are people who find something interesting, write about it, and then publish it in the form of online, print, or broadcast media. The material they produce, or the news, is supposed to be unbiased and the goal of the content is to present facts. It should not be opinionated in any way. Journalists let their readers decide how they feel or what their reaction is depending on the content the journalists provide. 

Bloggers are sometimes similar to journalists. They find something interesting, write about it, and then publish it, but in the form of online media. The similarities end there, however. The material bloggers produce, or the articles/posts/entries/whatever is almost always biased and, more often than not, express reactions or opinions. Bloggers present what they feel and are, most of the time, inconsiderate of what their readers might feel or how they would react. The content matters to the author, not the reader.

Journalists are held to a stricter standard, simply because they have a more defined sense of integrity, and their reputation translates directly to their credibility.  Are they even allowed to express their opinion? Of course, but not publicly. At least, that's how I understand it.

Bloggers don't actually do as they please, as they also need to blog for a living. However, having no overlord to guide them towards a set of morals is what is currently lacking in the blogosphere. And anyone who tries to act as one will get their ass handed to them, citing the blogosphere as a non-corporate entity. Lacking a guiding hand, bloggers have been identified, but not personally confirmed, as brand assassins or brand advocates, depending on how much, if at all, the brand is willing to pay for it. I've heard of stories about bloggers blackmailing establishments, which makes me think: fair play is no longer the norm, but something of an advisory to consider or not. Credibility, based on the number of pageviews and NOT reputation, is the currency.

Bloggers and journalists are like apples and oranges. There's no point in comparing the two. Wherever you get your news from, make sure the author's or publication's credibility is not based on "game-able" numbers but on the quality of the content they produce.

Anyway, we all live in a fucked up world. Let's just live and let live.

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So I've been looking around the web for a smart phone to replace my dinosaur of a phone that is the N97 with something more future-friendly. The phones that I have been considering is something on the pricey side of things, and my financial status isn't that great, so I'm looking for the phone with the most bang-for-buck.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo / Neo V: This phone, in my opinion, is the best option I've found because, besides the stellar specs, the price range is quite affordable. Availability, however, is another story.

iPhone 4S: No doubt, one of the best smart phones out there. However, did I mention my financials aren't that great? Yeah.

Nokia 701: As usual, the bang-for-buck factor for this phone is, by far, the best smart phone. However, the current state of Symbian development is not the focus for Nokia, as it is pushing the Windows Phone 7 platform on its new Lumia series devices. I don't want to use a phone with its operating system's evolution put in the back-burner. And when they do consider releasing an OS update, the device is, by then, obsolete.

Blackberry: The Torch 9810 would be a great replacement for my phone. The price, however, is almost the same as the iPhone. The other models are definitely something to consider. Then I learned of this Blackberry promo from Globe. Now, I'm researching phone specs and computing for the monthly cost it would entail. For roughly P600 a month, you get a new smart phone with unlimited mobile surfing, which I really NEED. The Blackberry models they offer may not be the best or the latest, but hey, you can't beat the price of free, right? It simply makes sense. 

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In which I try very hard not to post spoilers about the show

The Fades is a British supernatural drama television series broadcast on BBC Three and BBC HD.

It was only last night that I was able to finish watching the show. One good thing about a six-episode season is that there's not much fluff in each episode. So there's no soap opera-like pacing to the story, which means it is quite action-packed, so to speak.

The show is about Paul, a boy who discovers that he has powers. He then finds out that there's a group of people, called Angelics, that share some of his powers, like the ability to see and converse with ghosts, or Fades as they call them, and the ability to heal that has the side effect of puking moths/butterflies. However, Paul has more abilities than any of the members of the Angelics, like sprouting wings or firing energy blasts from his hands, though I'm not entirely sure that those were energy blasts.

The show is also based on the technicalities of what happens when one dies, what happens/could happen after that, and what could be done to prevent or "game the system."

The characters aren't entirely fixed on their personalities, and they evolve given the situation they face. And of course, finales bring resolution and an introduction to the next season. The first season finale was so "WHAT THE FUCK WHY DID YOU DO THAT OH NO SHIT JUST GOT REAL" kind of episode.

All in all, it's a good show with a solid story. Natalie Dormer, whom I saw first in The Tudors, is awesome as always. [EDIT] I just learned she'll be in Game of Thrones's second season. /mindblown [/EDIT]

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In which I babble about the TV shows I watch

There have been a number of new TV shows that debuted this year, along with a number of shows that returned to lend closure to their last season's cliffhangers. I was also enticed, due to boredom, to watch shows that I've been neglecting to watch, only to be surprised of how good, or bad, it actually is.

Below is a rundown of the new shows I'm keeping an eye on:

2 Broke Girls is a sitcom about, well, two broke girls. One of them used to be filthy rich, the other a waitress in a diner. The characters' background aren't really interesting. Much to my surprise, 2 Broke Girls received an order for a full season. People lashed out at the show, AND at Whitney, the show of the show's creator, Whitney Cummings, saying they don't deserve it. 2 Broke Girls is basically a show in which Whitney rants about, and makes fun of, hipsters and their ironic (read: idiotic) actions. She basically made hipsters mainstream. And now, other sitcoms are making fun of hipsters, like Rules of Engagement (with David Spade and Patrick Warburton). How ironic. LOL. I am so going to keep watching these two Whitney-shows. And David Spade's. Ironically. LOL.

New Girl is yet another sitcom starring Zooey Deschanel. Quirky, adorable, and now-single Zooey Deschanel. Yep. Going to keep watching this show to see if it's going to be a train wreck or if it gets better. It's a win-win either way.

Suburgatory is a sitcom about a man and his daughter moving to the suburbs of New York City. I'm not really into the show-about-the-first-world-problems-of-a-teenage-girl types of shows, but this show is amusing enough, for me. It's somewhat predictable, and even if the outcome is obvious, it's still funny. That, and I'm a sucker for redheads.

Last Man Standing is also a sitcom that was originally from the UK, and was adapted for US viewers with Tim Allen in the lead role. The show is about a guy trying to raise a family, with a wife and three daughters, one of which is a single mom, and a grandson. Tim's character is essentially struggling to raise his grandson to be as masculine as he can. By masculine, I mean a good provider and a reliable, dependable person, not the douchebag, sexist, womanizer type of masculine. It reminds me of Home Improvement, and the occassional reference to Tim Allen's movie characters (Santa Clause, Toy Story) amuses me.

Once Upon A Time is a fantasy/drama about fairy tale characters, mostly from Snow White, that were pulled from their respective stories with their memories erased, due to a spell of Snow White's evil stepmother, and are now living ordinary lives. It's no secret from the show who will be able to break the spell, but what's interesting is how Emma, the spellbreaker, will do it, and at what price. Because using magic always has a price. It's no Fables adaptation, but I kinda like it, since there IS NO Fables adaptation.

Grimm is also a fantasy/drama, with some detective genre thrown in, about mythical creatures and their natural predator, a Grimm. Upon writing this down, it made me remember Lost Girl and how I lost interest in it. Not sure if I'll be wanting to watch the second season, but I'm still interested to find out what happens in the season finale.

Terra Nova is an adventure/sci-fi/drama about a family relocating to the past. Yep, THE PAST. The year is 2149, I think, and the air is barely breathable, and the people need rebreathers if they want to stay outdoors for extended periods of time, much like scuba was for underwater exploration. They were basically drowning in smog. Thankfully, the geeks of 2149 found a wormhole that enables them to travel to the past, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Dinosaurs and time-travel. I'm in. The show, so far, isn't doing much of time-traveling, but the intrigue is coming to a head and I'm pretty interested in finding out what will happen in the season finale.

Person of Interest is an thriller/drama about an ex-military guy who lost his marbles (somewhat explained in the pilot and a few succeeding episodes) who ends up becoming the muscle for an injured super geek who wants to prevent crimes from happening. The dynamics between the two characters are amusing, with one of them trying to outwit the other by getting as much personal info as possible. Much to the muscle's disappointment, though. Can't outthink a super geek. Anyway, they try to prevent future crimes from happening by catching the would-be bad guy while committing the unknown future crime. It has the right amount of sci-fi, intrigue, and spy genre that appeals to the frustrated geeky action hero in me.

Black Mirror is a satirical trilogy, and each episode (well, two of them as of this writing) presents a unique story. I'm not really sure how it's all going to fit together. From what I've seen, the stories are humorous, but very VERY dark. It basically tells you that the show, story, whatever, is fiction and should not be taken seriously, while making you think. Also, the writer of the two episodes I saw is Charlie Brooker. Charlie Fuckin' Brooker. And he executive produced the show. For those unfamiliar with his works, he's a nasty comedian who doesn't mind hurting people's feelings as long as he gets his point across. He's funny because of the way he expresses his disgust and contempt on the topics he makes fun of. But that's just me.

So many TV shows, so little time.

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Recently, two bills have made headlines and caused a ruckus here in my small corner of the Internet. Well, given that the Internet has about 6 billion corners, in 3D, it's one hell of a mess, you see, my little corner along with others were flooded with status updates of rants and ramblings of all kinds about the two bills currently in the Philippine political spotlight. Sorry, I couldn't help peppering my intro with a lot of words in the hopes of making me sound intellectual.

The first bill is the Reproductive Health bill. This bill, according to Wikipedia, aims to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care.

Access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care? You mean it aims to care for the women? And the Catholic church as represented by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines DOES NOT WANT THAT?

Face, meet palm. Head, meet desk.

Does it promote the idea that women can and should be promiscuous? In my opinion, no. This is, after all, my opinion. The bill, for me, equalizes how men and women are viewed. The CBCP, for all their arrogance, can't accept the fact that women are human, too. My question to the CBCP: WHO DIED AND MADE YOU GOD?! Oh, right. Jesus Christ did. Sorry.

The bill aims to improve the quality of life. The CBCP doesn't want that because having a better quality of life is against God's will, that it is immoral. You can guilt someone into helping you. Hell, you don't even have to guilt anyone nowadays. Thanks to the millenials, everyone is entitled to everything, and it should be free.

Here's a spoiler: God will provide is A LIE.

The second bill is the divorce bill. It was proposed a while back, and no, I don't have the exact date. Sue me. Upon searching the bible that is Wikipedia, every nation except the Philippines and the Vatican City allows some form of divorce. I guess the Philippines want to uphold the sanctity of the sacrament of marriage.

I have no problems with that.

I only have a problem with it when one or both parties in a marriage decide to screw each other by screwing around. Or by not giving a fuck what the other party is undergoing as long as their needs, I mean WANTS, are met. Or by conspiring to make the other party's life a living hell. Or by constantly reminding each other that it's their fault.

Finding yourself in one or all of the above situations, single-blessedness is, indeed, a blessing.

/rant

P.S.

I know I'm gonna get flak from the same people who loves raising hell. I forgive you. Because nothing would annoy you more than being shown kindness.

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Woozy from being up all night and not enough sleep, I arose from my bed, which cradled me for the last two hours. She’s about to call, I thought. I better get ready. So I put on a shirt, buckled my belt and laced up my shoes. Did I forget something? Oh yeah. Put jeans on first before buckling belt. So I corrected that mistake and did a final check on everything that I would be bringing on my trip. Passport. Check! Wallet. Check! Toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, shirts (long- and short-sleeved), slacks, other denim pants, socks, notebook (the electronic one), cellphone (virtually useless in transit and in the U.S.), digital cam, PDA, chargers for gadgets, webpage printouts for the e-ticket and car rental and hotel, I mean, motel room, wristwatch, nail clippers, pen, lighter (useless when you get to the airport), cigs, sneakers, handkerchiefs, and wits. CHECK!

And then the phone rang.

Yes, ma, I’m ready. Yes, ma, everything’s ready and packed neatly. No, I don’t need to pack lunch. I’m sure the plane will have something to serve that would be considered edible. I’m right here at the gate waiting for you guys already. OK, you can take me to the airport as long as you promise not to cry.

And so they came.

The gates clanked as I unlocked it, heaving my luggage through the small opening and into the waiting van. Yes, Pop. I have my passport and travel documents here in my jacket pocket. Yes, Pop. I will be bringing my leather jacket. I’m getting in now. It’s time for us to go. I don’t wanna run through the airport just to catch a flight that would later be almost the death of me.

The van roared as we sped to the airport. Earlier that evening, I had to ask my mother for some money because there will be no cash provided to me for the Terminal Fee, Food, and other miscellany. I had to reassure her that her money will be reimbursed. It turns out that she was going to give me some cash even if I didn?t ask for it. Asking for money from my mom was really hard for me. I basically made the company that I worked for look good by saying they’re going to provide everything and that she doesn?t have to worry about a thing regarding finances. The “hotel” was paid for already, including the car rental and airfare. I will not shell out any cash, except for personal expenses (shirts, shoes, etc.). Then I find out at the last minute that cash will not be given to me. I wondered how the heck I will pay for the terminal fee, food to buy when I get to Detroit for a 3-hour layover, and cab fare if my car breaks down. Made me swallowed a lot of pride when I told my mother the situation. Had to give her a very tight hug before I went into the terminal to check in for my flight.

Walking inside the airport, I looked for the line for my flight. I fell in line behind some Chinese or Japanese or Korean folks. Then I realized that the long line has Chinese or Japanese or Korean folks. I was the only Filipino in the line. Hmmm, I wondered. Am I lost already and the flight hasn’t even begun yet? Somebody tapped me in the shoulder. “This way, sir,” said the guy in the NWA uniform. It turns out that I fell in line for the group tourist package checking in. I fell in line, the correct one this time. And it was speedy. As I was walking towards the counter-person, I saw a sign. “Lighters are not allowed in any flights.” Fearing that I get denied permission to board the plane, I dumped my lighter at the basket where all the lighters get dumped. The lighter dumpster basket. The no-smoking part of the trip has begun already. Much to my dismay. Heh.

“Are you carrying any firearms or weapons of any sort?” asked the girl behind the counter. “I have a Swiss Army Knife. Is it considered a weapon?” The girl nodded and asked me to put it in my luggage and have it checked in. So much for not having any checked-in baggages. Then I proceeded to the gates but I had this urge to smoke. So I asked someone and they told me the area is still closed, BUT (then the sales pitch kicked in), I can hang out at the lounge where I can smoke and eat all the snacks I can for just a small amount. I figured, what the heck. I wanna be pampered before I go to the flying torture chamber. Agreeing with the girl, she led me to this lounge with some sandwiches and drinks and cupcakes and coffee and crackers and fruits and others. First thing I did, I lit up a cigarette with a complimentary book of matches on every table of the smoking area of the lounge. Then I had some lemon iced tea, a couple of sandwiches, some fruit, and a couple more sticks of cigarette. Checking on my watch, I figured I only have about 30 minutes more before the flight leaves, so I decided to leave and wait at the gate instead.

Then I proceeded to security check. Took off my very heavy leather jacket, shoes and pushed my notebook inside the x-ray machine. These security measures are such a hassle that you will really consider not taking the journey anymore. But I have to. There really is no choice for me but to undergo security checks, take-offs and landings. “You would have to take that off first before you pass through the security doorway. And your belt also.” Sheesh. What were those terrorists thinking when they did what they did last 9/11. The effect of their actions only caused the people not to fear them, but to hate them. It brought about numerous and annoying security checks, bans on cigarette lighters and now a nail clipper is also considered a weapon. Well, anyway, so I put my belt and MP3 Player on the basket together with my leather jacket and shoes, walked through the security doorway in my socks, pants and shirt while I held up my boarding pass and passport.

The only thing going through my mind when I was going through the security doorway was “Please don’t beep, please don’t beep, please don’t beep.” Thank God, it didn’t. Hurrying to put on my shoes and jacket and MP3 Player, I almost forgot my belt. As I went to my gate, I found out that they were about to close the doors already and that I almost didn’t make it. I was one of the few passengers who came late. I never really thought of the reason why people always hurry to be the first when boarding. Here’s what I found out. You will no longer have space in the overhead cabins to stow your luggage if you come in last. You’re gonna have to carry your bags you didn’t check-in earlier on your lap for the whole trip. Imagine the inconvenience you’ll cause the other people in your row if you’re sitting in a window seat. What a way to learn a lesson. Thank God, I was in an aisle seat.

Underneath the seat in front of me, I stowed my notebook. So I took the complimentary pillow and blanket, sat back, buckled up, and tried to find the most comfortable position so I can sleep on the chair. Then the usual show starts. These are the emergency procedures manual, which you can find in the pocket seat in front of you. Life vests are under your seat. Yada yada yada. Then here’s how you put on your life vest. Here’s how you blow through the pipes on the sides to adjust the air inside it. No, you don’t suck on it like a hooker would. Yes, do yourself first before assisting others. In case a sudden decrease in pressure occurs, masks will drop down from the flaps above you. No, it’s not for halloween. Yes, it’s to help you breathe. Blah blah blah.

Four hours later, I’m in Japan. Nagoya International Airport, to be exact. Have to de-plane and plane(?!), I mean, board the plane again after security check. I guess that’s how secure the airport is. An hour of lay-over is an hour wasted on waiting. I hate lay-overs. So the first thing I did after security check is find the nearest smoking lounge. Fortunately, it was near the gate to our plane. So I smoked about a couple or three sticks, asking this guy for a light all the time, before I realize that there were lighters provided near one of the ashtrays. D’OH!

Then boarding commenced. Yes, I am running out of simple words to use that’s why I’m using the first word that pops up into mind that I would consider is near enough to what I’m trying to say. This time, I made sure I got in early so that I still have space to stow my bag. And sure enough, I did get in early. I stowed my bag in the overhead compartment, sat on the same seat with the same people in the same row. Then I flew.

An uneventful flight, except for a few turbulent moments, wherein I thought I was riding Montezooma’s Revenge. I slept, or at least tried to. I ate whenever they woke me up to eat. “We only have chicken left,” is what I usually hear when it’s our row’s turn. Drank when they asked me if I wanted a drink. Took a dump when I felt I had to. Felt it only once, anyway. For 13 or so hours, it was the same shit. Try to sleep. Eat. Drink. Watch the in-flight entertainment, or what they try to pass as entertainment. Word of advice to all future flight passengers: Never watch an airplane disaster movie 24 to 48 hours prior to your flight. The worst movie you can watch is Final Destination. But there’s also Executive Decision. And guess what. I saw Executive Decision about 12 hours before my flight. In effect, there’s this thought at the back of my head that there’s someone who’ll try to take over the plane and ram it to the side of a building. Take my word. Don’t ever do what I did.

And then there was Detroit.

The plane landed at Wayne County, Detroit, MI. It was freezing. Fortunately, we were sheltered by the plane and the airport from the cold outside. I can barely see through the windows because of the fog. It was about lunch time when I got to Detroit. Lunch time EDT. So I was really travelling for about more than 15 hours now. Four hours to Nagoya from Manila, then an hour of lay-over, then about 13 hours from Japan to Detroit. Was I able to sleep along the way on the plane? Not really. Like I said, the attendants would wake you up in time to eat just when you’re about to doze off. Anyway, I figured I had about three hours to wait before my connecting flight leaves for San Antonio, TX. First things first. Where do I smoke? So I got off the plane and headed towards the baggage claim to get my checked-in luggage. We were instructed to check it back in again when I was going to the departure gates. So I checked it in again. It was like I took it from the plane and handed it over to someone to take it to the other plane. But I didn’t know that at first. I was curious why they had to take it again after I took it from Baggage Claim. But before checking it in again, there was the customs officer. Nice lady. Asked some questions about my job, where I’m supposed to stay, who footed the bill, etc. After a few minutes, she stamped my passport allowing me to stay in the US for about three months. Or at least as long as I can since I can’t remember till when she gave me. I don’t have my passport handy. Then through the declarations desk. I declared that I have nothing to declare. Just about $506 and change for food. Nope, I don’t have weed on me. Not a pig, either. I may look like one, though. “In you go,” she said. How come she’s so grumpy? I’m the one who sat on a plane for more than 15 hours without anything much to do. Sheesh.

So after I checked my baggage in again, unknowingly, I was once again subjected to security checks, like all the other people that was on their way wherever. Take off the shoes, jacket, music player, belt, hat, etc. Whatever. Stepping through the security doorway, the security officer at the other side looked through my stuff in the basket. She looked at my passport and looked at me. This kinda scared me. WTF did I do?

“Garcia?” the lady security officer asked.

“Yes?” I answered, surprised.

“Nora Garcia? Ring any bells?” she asked.

“Nope. Sorry. Medy Garcia. My mom.” I answered.

“From Texas?” she asked again, unconvinced.

“Nope. I do have relatives in California, though.”

“Oh ok. I just thought you were related to her,” she concluded, suddenly trying to appear busy checking other people’s carry-on’s.

I smiled as I hurriedly put on my boots, belt, jacket, whatever. I picked up my notebook and other stuff and walked leisurely out to where I can find a place to smoke. Now where the heck can I do that?

I asked a few people, airport personnel, about where I can go do that. Who better to ask than people who actually lived there a third of the day.

“That way sir. Just around this corner,” one of them answered.

“Thanks.” I turned around the bend and it was the way to the exit. There were no signages that says Smoking Area or something like it. All I found were the way to the bathrooms, some shops and a restaurant. I continued walking, pretending to know where I was going. Then I saw this airport guy just inside the exit doors. He gave me better answers.

“You can smoke outside, but you can’t come back in if you don’t have a boarding pass.”

“I do.”

“Then you can smoke and just come back after, but you’re still gonna be subject to security checks.”

“Not again. No way am I gonna do that again.”

“Well, there’s SkyBox bar. But I don’t think they’ll let you stay there and just smoke. I think you’re gonna have to buy something from them.”

SkyBox bar it is. Yes, yes.

When I was approaching the bar, I saw this sign that says “Smoking allowed. Reserved for Skybox patrons only.” Or something like it. Now why didn’t I see that before? I could’ve saved time and energy walking to and from the guard I talked to earlier. But then again, I still have about two hours and 55 minutes before the plane leaves. Crap.

So I found a corner to lay down my things, take off my jacket and relax my butt in a non-moving chair. THAT feels good.

“What can I get you?” the waitress asked.

Hmmm, what can she get me? “I’ll have one of those tall ones,” I said, pointing to a group that was having some beer. “And a menu.”

After a couple of tall glasses of beer, some chicken, and about 6 sticks of cigs, I glanced at my watch. 30 minutes till the plane departs. I flagged a waitress and asked for my check. Ten bucks. Not bad. Time to say goodbye to Detroit. I proceeded to the gate where my plane should be waiting. My head was buzzing lightly from the two glasses of draft beer. This is nice, I thought. After what I experienced during the descent to Detroit, it was a very welcome feeling. What happened was that during the descent, my sinus started acting up. Blinding pain seared above my nose and between my eyes. That was the indicator that the plane started its descent. I can’t believe I’m going to go through it all over again. I hate flying. When the boarding call came on the PA system, I fell in line and waited to be accomodated for the flight to San Antonio. Here we go again.

The plane took off without a hitch. It was crowded in the cabin with all the carry-on and bulky passengers. Good thing I had no one beside me on the plane. I finally sat on a window seat and appreciated the view. This is nice. After a few hours, my sinus started acting up again. We’re making our descent now, I thought. Yes, my sinus acts up, badly, every time the plane descents. Thank God, it wasn’t as bad as the Detroit descent. Finally landing, I started recovering from my sinus attack. All I could do was breathe deeply.

“Please stay on your seats until the plane has made a complete stop,” the PA of the plane announced. “Thank you for choosing Northwest Airlines,” it droned.

Finding my way to baggage claim, I took my bag and headed for the exits where the car rental counters are. What was that company again? National. Better get my shit straight. I took the papers I printed out for the car rental. It was around 5:30 PM already. CDT. So I went over to National’s counter and told them I had a car waiting for me. Blah blah blah. I gave the guy a confirmation number. He took my license number, and my address, and my phone number. I gave him the address and number of the place where I’ll be staying. My license was not an International License, however. But he still gave me everything I need. He said something about not being covered by insurance. Blah blah blah. Where do I sign? So I affixed my signature and whatever and took the receipts. The guy at the counter gave me instructions where to go next. Reeling from the buzz and the sinus attack I headed toward the direction where the National guy pointed. Then I heard him shouting. I looked back and saw him pointing to my right. I looked and saw the exit. “The shuttle will be taking you to the cars,” I vaguely remember hearing the National guy saying that. Oh yeah. “Thanks,” I answered back, waving goodbye.

The shuttle came and in I went. The driver helped me with my luggage and everything and gave me some safety precautions. I sat near where my bags where stowed. Need bed, I thought. That’s what I had been thinking about ever since I landed. Revving the engines, the driver took me and some passengers to the place where the cars are. The driver talked about the weather and how beautiful it was. Some of the passengers indulged him. I just smiled and daydreamed about the bed I’ll be plopping on later that night. When we got to the parking lot, I let myself be the last one out of the bus.

“Those are the only ones available. The keys are in the glove compartment. Take care,” the driver told us, pointing to some Chevy sedans. As the shuttle left, the other passenger and I looked at each other.

I shrugged.

Whatever.

As I was organizing my stuff, I noticed the other guy inspecting the car that he will be driving. Good idea. I’ll do that too. I made sure there weren’t any scratches or dents and that nothing is hanging loose under the car. I then proceeded to load all my stuff in the car. I then sat on the driver?s seat and adjusted everything so that I’ll be as comfortable as much as I can be. And then I started the engine. Everything seems to be working fine. Then I stared forward blankly.

How do I get to the friggin motel?

Before completely pulling out of the driveway of the rental lot, I asked one of the guys on the booth how to get to where I’m supposed to go. He said I should stay on this interstate, look out for this exit, and take it once I get there. I shouldn’t run into problems as long as I stay on my lane. Ok. I can do this. If all else fails, I still have the directions I saved on my PDA. So the first thing I need to do is get on the interstate. Great. So after negotiating curves and a few minutes of getting used to driving automatic, I finally entered the interstate.

After a few or so miles, I thought I already missed my exit and decided to get off on the next one. When I got off, I suddenly had this feeling that it wasn’t the right exit. Good thing there was this small store that clarified some things for me when I asked for directions. Yes, I ask for directions, and I’m a guy. So sue me. No, please don’t.

Anyway, I then went back into the interstate, being more alert than I ever was in my entire driving life, hoping I don’t figure into an accident by ramming the guardrails, or worse, other traffic. I finally saw the exit where I should exit, then positioned the car safely, to the best of my abilities, to exit the interstate. Uneventful, the exit was, but I’m just glad I’m on a lesser traffic road. A few more miles and I didn’t realize I already passed by the motel where I’m supposed to stay at. For one thing, it wasn’t on the side of the road, and I have to turn a right and cruise for about half a kilometer to get there. I then asked again for directions, but the locals there don’t even know where some of the establishments near the area. I then rechecked the directions I have on my PDA, then ventured a guess, which turned out to be lucky, to turn into the road beside a Blockbuster. Lo and behold, the motel structure loomed ahead of me. Finally, I can get some rest.

Then the noob in me made me park right in front of the door of the front desk, if you can call it that. Those who previously stayed in a Comfort Inns would know what I’m talking about. Anyway, to paint a picture of it in words, the front desk is in a small building, the rooms are in a separate building, and the parking lot faces the doors of the rooms where people stay. So it’s like some kind of a setting for a Psycho-inspired B-movie. If you still don’t get the picture, then hopefully, this will do. The room’s front door opens up to a hallway, but instead of having walls on both your sides, one side would the rooms, and the other is the parking lot.

So after checking in, I moved the car near to where my room is located. I then got the card keys and went in and ordered in some pizza. While waiting for the pizza, I checked if the facilities have wifi. And yes, they do. That’s one good thing of coming here. It’s also a good thing that my room was close to the main building. A little farther down the block and I wouldn’t have been able to get a decent signal.

Did I mention that I arrived there on a Saturday evening? Do you know how boring it is there if you don’t know anyone? Even if you have cable TV, and the Internet, it can still get lonely. And that’s just on the first day. Nothing kinky about it, though. Jet lag finally kicked in and all I could do was wait for tomorrow to find out where I can buy food, how to get to the office, where to get some meds, and where I can smoke. Sunday was spent most of the time on the road, looking for a strip mall, or something. Good thing there was. All this time, I still haven’t heard from anyone from the office.

Monday morning came and I knew I had to go to the office. I decided to go there some time before 8 AM. When I got to the front door, the security officer told me that I was expected. Well, they should be expecting me. They paid for my trip. Then I finally had the chance to talk to one of the people who organized my trip. She then said that she called the motel and was told that I haven’t arrived yet. She was really friendly and accomodating and I think she was really sorry she wasn’t able to speak to me earlier. I kinda sensed that with the way she spoke. Then she hooked me up with the food arrangements, etc. so that I don’t have to spend what’s left of my money.

The next few days went by and it all went as smoothly as it can be. I ended up getting a new backpack to fit all the shirts that I bought for my relatives. Pinoys know how it is with “pasalubong” and stuff. There was also this burger joint called Sonic that serves great burgers like In-N-Out (mostly in California). But I made a diet of roast beef sandwiches, curly fries, and soda at Arby’s, which I now miss. Put some horseradish on it and I’m in heaven.

And because of an Air Show over one of the weekends, I was able to see a Stealth Bomber in flight. Whatever they said about stealth planes is true. The ones shown in movies is louder than it actually is. I did not hear a single squeak out of that bomber cutting through the sky. All I heard was the engine of my car running.

But anyway, the trip back to the Philippines was sort of uneventful, with me trying to find a place where I can smoke. I tell you, long trips are hell, especially for smokers. So after returning the rental car, shuttling my way back to the airport, ans waiting for the plane to board, I finally got home safely via an airport taxi that charged me about 500 pesos. Same route: San Antonio, TX to Detroit, MI to Nagoya, Japan, to Manila Philippines.

This trip was made last November of 2005. And now, October of 2007, the story has been completed. Unless I remember something worth adding to this story, this, for now, is the end.

TL;DR - The trip was sucky, the purpose, meaningless.

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I’ve been satisfied with Google Chrome. So satisfied that I switched permanently from Firefox permanently. It’s either Chrome or any Chromium-based browser and nothing else for this Certified Hapless Techno Weenie. The only thing that bugs me is that whenever I install Chrome, the Omnibox will always use the localized version of Google’s search engine.

Here’s how to set up Google Chrome to make sure all your searches from the Omnibox uses Google.com and not a localized version.

• First, click the wrench icon, then go to Preferences.
• Under the Basics tab, go to the Default Search section, and then click on Manage.
• Click the Add button on the right.
• In the Name field, type in Google (or whatever you want).
• In the Keyword field, type in google (or something more to your liking)
• In the URL field, copy/paste or type this: http://www.google.com/search?q=%s
• Click on the Add button.
• On the Search Engines window, click on the newly created search engine and click on Make Default.
• Click on the Close button on the window, and on the succeeding one.

Your Omnibox is now set to use google.com whenever you search for anything.

Happy Hunting!

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This article is intended for those who want to install Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala), which is referred to as Karmic, on an MSI Wind12 U210x with AMD Athlon Neo X2 L335 processor. These are my installation notes. Your mileage may vary. You have been warned.

So I decided to get a netbook as a present/reward for this year (2009) since it has been one sucky pwnage after another (Ondoy, Pepeng, Ampatuan, PGMA’s $1M dinner at NYC, etc.). This netbook is quite the most cost-effective gadget I have bought for almost a year. The other one is Bruce, my Nokia 5800 XpressMusic semi-smartphone. Bruce is still there chugging along, and probably will be for a long time since I’m waiting for Nokia and Symbian to redesign S60′s user interface. That and beefier, faster processors for smartphones where 1GHz is standard on all phone processors. As for Lucien, the nom de guerre of my netbook, I don’t know how long it’ll hold, or how long I’ll still want to use it, and believe me, I like using it, especially the keyboard. Gotta love the keyboard. And the screen size (12″) is just perfect. But there are enough reviews out there so I won’t bore you with my babble.

Anyway, as you would know, since you already are here, the MSI Wind12 U210, which I’ll refer to from this point on as U210, doesn’t have an optical drive, so you would need to learn a few tricks (if you don’t already know) on how to install Karmic from a USB drive. Personally, I had issues with the bundled usb-creator.exe so I used Unetbootin. After that, installation was a breeze.

So, install Karmic as you normally would any Ubuntu flavor. I initially tried Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 but I didn’t like the interface, and Gnome-Do is all I’ll ever need, and preferred, so I used the desktop version instead. After successfully installing Karmic, you will notice that some components work out of the box, like sound, display adapter, ethernet, etc. What doesn’t work that is critical is wireless. To make the wireless card work, all you need to do is add a few repositories, install a package, and reboot. After that, it works. The U210 uses an RaLink Wireless card with 802.11n support. The following steps should help you install the drivers and make it work.

Add Rt3090 PPA:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/markus-tisoft/rt3090/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/markus-tisoft/rt3090/ubuntu karmic main

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 86F4C28E

Then execute this in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install rt3090-dkms

Reboot and you should be prompted that there are wireless networks available (assuming you have your wireless router configured and turned on).

Caveats: I use WEP as my security protocol for my wireless access, and I have tested and confirmed that this works. However, I have been seeing numerous forum posts and replies that WPA2 and other wireless security protocols doesn’t work. Consider yourself notified.

The U210 has Bluetooth capabilities, but unfortunately, this is an optional feature, one that I have overlooked. So in short, I don’t have a Bluetooth module installed, and I have no plans of buying one. And the webcam is supposed to be a BisonCam NB Pro. I have not tried, or will be attempting, to make it work. But if I ever change my mind, I will update this article.

What follows are more of a personal note-turned-to-article and you don’t have to install everything I recommend here.

The next step for me is to install all the software I consider essential to my online life and well-being. First off is to add Medibuntu repositories and apps.

Add Medibuntu repositories:
sudo wget \
--output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list \
http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list &&
sudo apt-get --quiet update &&
sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring &&
sudo apt-get --quiet update

sudo apt-get --yes install app-install-data-medibuntu apport-hooks-medibuntu


To install “essential” apps:
sudo apt-get install vlc preload ubuntu-restricted-extras gnome-do conky vsftpd

You may want to transfer files from your Windows or any other machine to your Ubuntu machine. That is the reason I installed VSFTP (vsftpd). VSFTP will allow you to create an FTP server on your Linux machine to enable you to transfer large files in a significantly shorter amount of time.

Once VSFTP is done installing, edit vsftpd.conf in your favorite text editor
sudo gedit /etc/vsftpd.conf

To allow user logins (beside anonymous FTP logins), uncomment the line: local_enable=YES

To allow uploads to your Ubuntu machine, uncomment the line: write_enable=YES

Make sure to restart vsftpd by issuing the command: sudo /etc/init.d/vsftpd restart

Also, make sure that port 21 is accepting connections:
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 21 -j ACCEPT

After everything is finished with the install and updates, you should be able to transfer files via FTP while being connected via WiFi. However, I would recommend to use ethernet instead of wireless when transferring large files via FTP.

Other apps I installed were Adobe AIR and some AIR-based applications.

Please feel free to leave comments here. If comments are closed please send comments or questions to mail [at] will [dot] ph.

TL;DR - Karmic Koala's hardware support for the MSI Wind12 U210 sucks. Natty Narwhal works out of the box, complete with 3D acceleration (Unity-capable). Use that instead.

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• electricdropkick.posterous.com

"Just do it." "You said tomorrow yesterday."

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January, the first month of the new year 2010, is almost over and only just now did I decide to write an entry in this here old and neglected blog. It's too late to share my resolutions, and let's be honest, it's not really relevant.

Last Wednesday though, January 27th of the year 2010, Steve Jobs unveiled Apple's latest creation: the iPad. If I didn't know any better and somebody just told me about it instead of reading it, I would've corrected them that they would have to drop their jaw when saying iPod.

It took a major Apple event to make me get up off my ass and rant, or ramble, about it. Right.

Anyway, Apple really didn't release a new device, or didn't really highlight what they actually released. The iPad is proof-of-concept. I mean, why would you NEED a device that basically does what your iPhone or iPod Touch, or any smartphone can already do? Exactly. The practicality of it all is that you WANT one simply because it has that used fruit as a logo. It's for the fuckin' status quo.

The iPad's features aren't really groundbreaking since all of its features can be found on ANY smartphone, and then some.

Feature-wise, read on...

Surf on the web while sitting on the living room couch via WiFi? Of course, but my phone can also do that.

Play videos? Of course. But from the web? Not the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. But my phone can.

Display pictures? You bet it can. Take pictures? Err...

Read e-books? Well, that's really the point of the iPad. BUT, my phone can also do that. iBooks store? <del>Why pay for something when you can get things for free?</del> Okay.

Play music? Please.

Two-way video conferencing? Only incoming, I think. So it can prevent you from broadcasting...inappropriate...acts.

Multi-tasking? Are you kidding?

"It's a big iPhone, but it's not a big iPhone." - iLounge

It's more like a big iPod Touch. It still doesn't, and I think will never, support multitasking.

So basically, my phone can do what the iPad can. And on top of all this, I can make calls with it. Also, I don't have to look like an ass when making VOIP calls with my phone, which is pretty impossible to do on the iPad.

So, what can the iPad do that my phone can't? Work stuff. Typically something my computer already does. And be serious. Are you really going to do work stuff on that thing? Really?

That was rhetorical, by the way.

So essentially, the iPad does what your existing gadgets already do.

Say it with me: The iPad does what your existing gadgets already do.

In a setting like my house, it really isn't practical; especially if you have kids in the house. So you sit on your couch with the iPad in hand. You want to visit some website or read an e-book. Great. Then your kid comes along, sees you with the iPad, and then jumps on you. Would you be able to drop your iPad anywhere? Really? Put it down in some dusty old counter or tabletop, eventually scratching your "precious" little gadget?

It's for the affluent, those that have the extra cash in this recessed economic times. The USD 499 starting price point? Please. An iPod Touch is cheaper. With more storage.

And if you're really pinching your penny, a netbook is still far more practical than an iPad. You want to read e-books on your netbook but the screen size is too small? Most e-book reader software has a rotate feature. Use that. Then rotate the netbook 90 degrees. There's your e-book reader. A little too heavy? Why? Is an old, 300-page hardcover of any... Twilight book *shudder* light as a feather? I thought so.

So what did Apple launch?

It's the new Apple A4 chip that clocks in at 1GHz, a processor that can be compared to one of those processors powering some of the high-end smartphones. Smartphones? Oh yeah. That Apple A4 chip will soon power the next generation of the iPhone (and maybe the iPod Touch). The reason: this low power chip that competes directly with Intel, AMD, VIA, and other mobile processor manufacturers can last up to 10 hours while using all of its major features (Wifi, Bluetooth, watching videos, etc), or a whole month when on standby; which means it's just sitting there on that dusty old counter, accumulating dust and scratches.

The iPad isn't exactly another game-changer from Apple, not in the sense where "game" are played in the consumer market. It may have probably put the tablet device to a more mainstream perception, and that's simply just it.

The game Apple is trying to change is the way manufacturers innovate. When chip manufacturers are already complacent with what their making right now, innovation takes a hit. That's what Apple is aiming for with their new creation. And it's NOT the iPad, no matter how much the fanboys point it out.

And no, this is not news. I just can't believe I waited for Steve's "One More Thing" section and ended up getting nothing. So yeah, you can equate this entry to zero.

</rant>

Additional Reading:

Apple iPad tech specs: rumor vs. reality scorecard

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• Purpose
• Budget
• Processing power
• Screen real estate
• Graphics performance
• Amount of RAM
• Storage space

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(via CBR)

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I dreamt of flying chickens.

No, that’s not the weird part.

Their eyes weren’t the usual small, chicken-y eyes. They were as big as a humans. Their feathers were colored, not the usual white, or brown, or whatever you call those colors, but it was bright yellow, blue, red, and orange. One by one, they landed on rooftops of two-storey houses, mostly my neighbors across the street. They landed on their four legs, two attached to each thigh. Their wings had hand-shaped flaps that they can control individually. And yes, its plural. Most of them had two hand-shaped flaps on each wing. Their leader, I presume, had three on each. I presumed it was their leader since it was the last to land. And it waved at me as I hung out at my gate, staring in awe.

Then I woke up.

It was just too much of a weird thing for me to handle. And as I write this, the dream slowly fades into oblivion. But before I got up out of bed and started writing, a few thoughts came to my mind.

First, I thought it was evolution, that this is what chickens will look like after a period of time. I wasn’t expecting it to happen in my lifetime, but there it was. But then, I remembered of J.J. Abrams and what he’s doing with his TV show, Fringe. If you haven’t seen an episode yet, please see one now. Anyway, the chickens were a failed experiment by KFC trying to breed mutant chickens that had more wings and legs. To produce cheaper chicken wings and legs. Yeah, one of those conspiracy theories. Of course, KFC will deny the claims and would try to cover it up. But the chickens were able to escape. Enter Agent Olivia Dunham, Peter Bishop, and the mad scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop, Peter’s father.

It was like I was dreaming an upcoming episode of Fringe. A shiver suddenly ran up my spine as I thought Mr. Abrams thinking exactly the same thing I was. That I dreamt what he was dreaming. And that Fringe is, actually, true and happening right now. After all, science fiction is based on fact. But later, I dismissed it with a shrug. Yeah. Right. Like J.J. Abrams would think of put flying chickens in his show. Like I’m special enough to have witnessed how his creative mind works. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m plain ol’ vanilla.

And then this got me thinking about the latest Heroes episode. Hiro going back in time to undo the wrongs he had committed in the past is practically a big retcon, like trying to save Charlie in season one by going back six months in the past (lets peg this timeline with Charlie-6M). This time, he goes back three years in the past (this timeline with Charlie-3Y). What I think will happen in the next episode will be Hiro trying to keep joy and dignity alive in the life of a terminal Charlie-3Y recently finding out of her illness, thereby giving the Hiro that will try to save Charlie-6M the chance to fall in love with him (again? maybe?).

Confusing, I know. My head hurt, that’s why I got up out of bed and started writing all this down here.

I should be sleeping right now (I work nights), and I’m slowly realizing how pathetic my life is. That thinking about TV shows’ upcoming episodes take up most of my waking hours. I think I need a new hobby.

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