Days in the life of Buwayahman

Men's Fun blog moved

2006-01-19T18:36:00.000+07:00

Just want to advise that my "other" blog has moved to its own site at www.philippines4men.com. So update them bookmarks!

Writely

2006-01-17T19:29:00.000+07:00

I wrote in my 2006 geek predictions that there will be a web-based office suite. Well, tobats04 pointed out that a website (http://www.writely.com/) that provides for web-based word-processing.

I tried it out today and it is awesome.

Google on a downward trajectory

2006-01-17T10:41:00.000+07:00

I once thought that Microsoft should be worried about Google. Now, after reading the news of CES and seeing the latest output from Google, I am now re-thinking my position on this company.

Lets start with Google Pack. Now isn't this a bunch of crappy software? Google Search is a resource eater. Who needs a Google screensaver? Why bundle a toolbar for IE AND Firefox? Who doesn't have Adobe Reader? They bundle a TRIAL version of Symantec Norton Anti-Virus when there is a reported vulnerability in all Symantec products. Besides, there are a lot of free anti-virus products out there (I use avast). No bundled firewall? And Real Player????

Some tech pundits analyze this as Google's "F**K YOU" flipping-a-bird gesture at Microsoft byy releasing tools that highlight Microsoft's weaknesses. But seriously, if they want to flip a bird at Bill Gates, releasing crap against crap is not the way to do it. Besides, why compete with Microsoft at the Operating System level? I don't think that Google's core competency is on the PC level---it is in the web space. And they are not in the business of selling software---their business is in advertisements. So the more they get people to flock to the web and into their site, the more eyeballs and hits they get, the more ad revenue they garner. So Google should try to get users to move away from applications on the PC and get applications on the web. Writely already has an incredible web-based word-processor---Google should seriously consider buying that company.

Firefox 15% Marketshare In U.S. And 20% Marketshare In Europe!

2006-01-17T09:40:00.000+07:00

Spread Firefox Announced: A new Xiti Study shows that Firefox has now more than 20% marketshare in Europe and more than 15% in the U.S. Check it out!

read more | digg story

Can't read my Men's Fun blog?

2006-01-16T19:15:00.000+07:00

A reader commented that his IT department blocked my other blog Men's Fun in the Philippines because of adult content and wondered how to get around this.

One way is to subscribe to a news aggregator. I use Bloglines a lot, mainly because I can view all the updates of various websites that I subscribe to. And it is also PDA friendly!

Another way is to get the articles via email. Click here to subscribe via email.

Prediction: Movie houses dead?

2006-01-16T11:31:00.000+07:00

I spent most of the weekend watching DVDs at home. I, together with a companion, watched The Matador (starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear, about a hitman and a salesman meeting in Mexico) and Syriana (a VERY complex story about oil, power, and politics). Both are supremely incredibly EXCELLENT movies, the type of movie you watch relaxing on your couch, maybe with a glass of wine and some light snacks. Both are intelligent and thought-provoking, the type that encourages conversation and discussion, and definitely not a mind-numbing SFX-laden film that makes you shuffle out of theaters like a brain-emptied zombie. If you consider yourself a movie affecianado, you owe it to yourself to watch these movies.

(As a side note, I also watched "The Village" in Star Movies last Sunday and that movie sucked big-time. I find that M. Night director severely over-rated and while his directorial style is good, his stories are becoming more and more ridiculous.)

It just dawned on me that DVDs, large screen monitors, and the Internet will soon spell the death of movie houses as we know it. Probably in 5-10 years. Variety had published that worldwide ticket sales was about USD10.1 billion in 2005, as against USD10.7 billion in 2004. Consider that there were 527 films in 2005 versus 507 in 2004. Consider also that ticket prices have been steadily increasing. What does this translate to? Less and less people are watching movies in theaters.

And I don't blame them. I am very meticulous about movies, but nowadays I have chosen to watch movies at home rather than at movie theaters. With the cost of movie tickets themselves, plus the extraneous expenses such as gas, parking, popcorn, I begin to wonder---what is the added value of watching at a theater? I would agree that if you want a movie EXPERIENCE (like King Kong or a SFX-laden film), then you go to a movie house. But in a movie where dialogue and character situations are key, a pirated clear-copy DVD at a fraction of the cost will offer you the same thing.

Then we have the whole mobile phone situation. There was a time when I was watching a movie and someone's phone went off. This person literally answered the phone, and proceeded to have a conversation! I paid good bucks to enjoy a movie undisturbed and I have to put up to this. Ok, so one can argue that the disturbance is worse at home with dogs barking, kids running, phones ringing, tricycles roaring in the background, but at least I didn't pay P100. And if I missed a dialogue point, I can always stop and replay. Or if I have to pee or answer a phone, I can pause the DVD.

Which moves me to the next prediction. People will flock less to movie houses. And the old adage that SFX movies are best viewed in a theater will no longer hold. As LCD and plasma screens become cheaper, people's home theaters will begin to rival those of big-screen theaters. With bandwidth similary becoming faster and cheaper, Internet movie distribution will begin to hit mainstream. Soon, instead of going to a theater to watch movies, people will begin to download them and watch them at their schedule. The whole concept of DVDs will change---instead of purchasing DVD movies, you will buy DVD-RWs to store the movies you downloaded.

Timeframe? I'd say in 5 years . . .

Having an affair

2006-01-13T12:56:00.000+07:00

In many forums, chat rooms, and blogs, one question that often pops up is whether one should fall in love with a married man/woman.

Without going into a religious or moral debate, here is my response: I don't see anything wrong with falling in love with another married man/woman

A lot of people argue this way . . .

"HE/SHE WILL NEVER BE YOURS. " My response: how sure are you? If he/she is looking around, then there is something lacking in his marraige.

"YOU WILL EVENTUALLY BE HURT." Again, how sure are you that you won't be hurt? Or, the flip side, how sure are you that you won't be hurt EITHER WAY with or without him/her? Let me put it this way. In every relationship, there will always be pain. And even in a marraige is no guarantee that the relationship will last forever. So if you feel you will be happier with him/her than without him/her, then why not?

"YOU ARE BREAKING UP A FAMILY." How sure are you that it is YOU who is breaking up the family? Maybe it was doomed from the beginning? Maybe it was broken already? To think that you are the sole, lone, singular, number one reason for a marraige break-up is kinda arrogant. And maybe even without you the marraige will fail. In life, there is rarely a simple one-to-one cause-and-effect relationship---in many cases an end effect is the result of a multitude of causes.

"WHAT'S STOPPING HIM/HER FROM DOING IT TO YOU?" My response: if you think everything in life has a guarantee, then wake up and smell the coffee. In life there are no guarantees. Promises are broken. Contracts reneged. Even marraiges can be dissolved.

In short, I think the question is not about right or wrong. It is a question of whether you can live with the choices you made, the risks you've taken, and whether you can survive if the worst happens. Come to think of it, isn't that how life is---you are never really certain of what happens in life, so go where you think you will be happiest and live your life without regrets.

Internet Cafes

2006-01-04T21:37:00.000+07:00

I went around a few internet cafes here in Philippines and there are a few trends or questions that pop up in my head.

Why aren't there a lot of PCs with Firefox installed? Don't these people know that it is a technically a more superior browser than IE?

No Open Office? It is a free alternative to Microsoft Office. And are you telling me that Internet Cafes are able to buy Microsoft Office for all their PCs?

And why not Linux?

Taegukgi

2005-12-31T15:00:00.000+07:00

I was having a drink with friends when the discussion moved to war movies. Why is that when people mention war movies, the discussion almost always gravitates to "Saving Private Ryan?" Ok so it is a well-made film, and granted that the first 30 minutes are indeed a harrowing and riveting experience, but after the Normandy beach sequence the movie doesn't seem to make sense.

Take the reason why the character of Tom Hanks decided to stay and sacrifice his entire platoon for Pvt. Ryan. Why was it a choice between leaving him behind or staying behind? Why not instead haul that spoiled brat home?

And what was that flashback scene anyway? How can the story be told from the point-of-view of Ryan? He wasn't even at the Normandy beach!

Take away those two plot points and the movie falls flat. And I don't care if it was a Spielberg film. Sometimes I feel that I am being manipulated and led astray when senseless scenes are placed simply to tug on emotional heartstrings.

Now I contrast this with a little-known but nonetheless critically-acclaimed South Korean film titled "Taegukgi." The movie is about two brothers who are dragged into the Korean War, told (in a more coherent manner) through the point-of-view of the younger sibling. The relationship of the two brothers is what drives the story forward. There is however no less action. If you take "Ryan's" Normandy scene , create maybe 4 or 5 such scenes, and spread them throughout a 2 1/2 hour movie, and you have a sense of what "Taegukgi" is. "Ryan" shows that war is an affront against man's unmeasureable value (one entire platoon sacrificed for one man---which I still find stupid because they could have dragged his stupid ass home). "Taegukgi" simply shows that war is inhumane, barbaric, and senseless. War causes relationships to falter. Morals are compromised. Friendships are forgotten. And there is bloodshed galore. Torn limbs. Bloodied stumps. Dark gushing blood. And up close in-your-face battles.

I was pleasant surprised with this film. It is a further testament of the quality of Korean cinema (look for another memorable if not shocking film called "Oldboy" if you are not convinced).

Pocket PC

2005-12-25T12:44:00.000+07:00

Yesterday I got myself an HP iPAQ h6300. Fascinating device it is, being a wireless PDA cum phone. Now I can surf wirelessly through hotspots if in malls, or through GPRS if no hotspots are available.

One advantage is that I can post to blogs (using a freeware called PocketBlogger) and respond to mails wherever I am. I can now transcribe comments and thoughts almost immediately after the experience.

King Kong opens lower than expectation

2005-12-16T14:26:00.000+07:00

Found some news in Variety that King Kong opened with $9.7 million in U.S., well below the studio's expectations. In contrast, the movie did well in Asia (Philippines included).

My take on this? Wait until the weekend, but I don't think this will be a massive blockbuster to the likes of Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. Why?

First, fan base is not strong. King Kong does not present a whole new rich universe that fanboys can build a strong foundation on.

Second, the story is well-known. Beast falls in love with beauty and meets tragic end atop Empire State Building. No surprise there. Unlike other movies which showcase both story and effects. True, Revenge of the Sith's story sucked but we all wanted to see the fall of Anakin, right?

So basically people will just see it for the special effects and aside from Kong, all the other effects are nothing we haven't seen before.

Don't get me wrong, I saw it last night and the movie was awesome. In comparison to the original version, the first Kong-Ann relationship was . . . well . . . kinda creepy. Almost perverse. This new version has a more tragic atmosphere. You knew that Kong was going to die for Anne, and as he becomes more and more enamored for her, the more you feel sorry for the poor guy. Peter Jackson's version is more respectful of the original and I look at it as more of an "interpretation" rather than a "remake." I still think it'll make a lot of money, but I don't think it'll make for an explosive weekend.

Lets see if the numbers will prove me wrong . . .

Setting up a home network

2005-12-16T09:26:00.000+07:00

A lot of folks were surprised when I mentioned that I was an IT executive and that I setup a home network on my own.

Actually, I myself was surprised that it was so easy to setup a home network. I thought I would be spending my entire day figuring everything out. But it came out to be a simple process.

The key component in the whole home network puzzle is the router. Plug all your PCs into the device and you are up and running! If you are running a wireless network, and you are damn serious about security or worried that someone is leeching your internet connection, you will find some tips below.

1. Change the admin password immediately. The admin password is normally "admin" and many people know this. So if you don't change it, people can connect and reconfigure your router.

2. Do not broadcast your SSID. The SSID is how people identify your network. If you don't broadcast it, people will have to figure out the SSID themselves to connect.

3. Enable encryption. By enabling encryption you require all clients to enter a complicated string of alphanumeric characters to connect to your network.

4. Limit the number of IP addresses. For example, if you have only 2 PCs in your house, then you can limit the number of IP addresses to 2 or 3. If you specify a higher number, say 5, then it basically means that an extra 3 PCs can connect to your network.

Now if you do not care about other people leeching your internet connection, then tips 2 to 4 can be disregarded. Some people I know do this, especially if they are on leave.

Discussion on prostitution

2005-12-15T16:04:00.000+07:00

Right now I am embroiled in a heavy discussion on prostituion in Philippines. You can read the thread here. But in case this link goes dead here is the gist.

Apparently I had offended some ultra-conservatives with my other website
Men's Fun in the Philippines. The poster, a semi-retired Fil-Am from Florida named Kurt with the handle "gihigugmataka," wrote that:

If this were a men's forum , I would agree with you 100%. But it's not. At least in the past , this has been a family forum. We have some very young members who do not need access to this type information.

There are several other low life topics we could discuss and post reference to in order to juice up our forum. How about some good gay sex dens ? Or maybe some of you would like to tell the rest of us the best places you have found to buy illegal drugs. And please don't forget about the needs and desires of our female members. Please list the countries where they can go to find the best male action at the most affordable prices.----PUKE !

Just a side note.---What sane individual knowing of HIV (AIDS) and one of the ways in which it is contracted , would frequent this sort of establishment ? Especially in Manila of all places.

When another conservatist supported him, Kurt further wrote that

I was beginning to think I was the only one with any decency left. It really pains me to read of such things. I am sure that given the opportunity , most of the gilrs in this profession in the Philippines would choose differently. I will never forget the night that a woman tried to sell me her 14 year old daughter. She wanted $60. ---SICK !!!!!!!!!!

I truly feel sad and angered when people take such a narrow view of life. This person had better face up to certain realities in life. One of which is that you can find porn anywhere in the net. All you have to do is google porn or sex. If you want to ban porn in the net, you might as well ban the whole internet.

So what's wrong with sex anyway? Why do people think it is filthy, vulgar, immoral, and unfit for intelligent conversation? Sex and drugs are two different categories. Sex drives are natural. Sex brings life. Sex provides natural pleasure. Sex can make you live longer, bring down blood pressure, release endrophins that make you happier. Drugs on the other hand can kill you. They can cause irreparable damage, both physically and psychologically. Why equate the two?

And also, what is it in prostitution that makes men and women cringe with disgust? When you strip out all the pre-conceived notions, all the Christian moralities, and break it down to its fundamentals, prostitution is basically a profession. Henceforth, lets not refer to them as "prostitutes" but instead as "sex workers." A sex worker offers a service, and the customer pays for the service. Please, do not muddle the discussion by bringing in a situation wherein some young girl is forced against her will by some pimp---that's slave labor and possibly pedophilia. And like some jobs, it could be an unpleasant experience. And like some jobs, the worker feels that she deserves something more or something better. True, the sex worker exposes herself to all sorts of health risks, but if she is careful, the risks can be no greater than a factory worker. A doctor or nurse probably expose themselves to far greater health risks.

And where does Kurt get the impression that Manila is a risk in terms of HIV or even AIDS? According to Avert, North America has about the same infection rate as that of Southeast Asia, and consider that Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Laos are part of Southeast Asia and that according to UNAIDS, Philippines has one of the lowest AIDS rates in Asia. In short, it can be surmised that a person is more likely to get infected with HIV in the U.S. than in the Philippines. Furthermore, to say that HIV is a sex-related disease simply shows how narrow minded some people can be.

2006 geek predictions

2005-12-14T11:08:00.000+07:00

Ok here's my prediction of the 2006 on gadgetry (in no particular order):

1. iPod 2.0

Ok so the iPod Video came out but people complained on the small screen. Next year you will see a bigger better screen in the iPod while still maintaining the same form factor. How will they do it? Simple. The screen will fill the back of the unit!

2. Flash based laptops

Imagine a laptop as thin as an ipod Nano. Ok maybe not that thin but thinner than the existing laptops because there will be no hard drive.

3. Mac Mini media center

Apple's latest G5 sports a user-friendly media interface called Front Row. Using a tiny remote control (the size of an iPod shuffle) you can control your pictures, music, and DVDs. Now imagine that in a Mac Mini using your existing TV as your monitor. Plus the ability to plug in your iPod. Plus running Intel microprocessor to bring the cost down.

4. Google (or Yahoo) Office

I've ranted this enough already. Imagine a web-based office suite. No need for Microsoft Office in your PC

5. Mobile VOIP

Some phone manufacturer will develop a VOIP-based phone. You are walking around the mall, talking over Globe or Smart network, phone will be able to detect a wireless hotspot and convert the call from GSM to IP. Now instead of just loading Globe/Smart you also have to load internet hours.

Music piracy

2005-12-13T11:01:00.000+07:00

I read a piece of interesting news today. A U.S. court refused to overturn a $22,500 judgement against a Chicago woman who was caught downloading music illegally. This looks like a precedent against peer-to-peer file traders and may be the first step for the music industry to go for the consumer performing "illegal" music downloads.

Personally I don't see the logic of this whole argument on music piracy. Ok I know it is illegal to "steal" music, whether it is from your bricks-and-mortar Odyssey music store, or if you are able to hack into a legitimate online music store (like iTunes) and download their music. But hey if I bought a CD and I ripped an MP3 version and I posted the copy on the web for all to download, why is this wrong? How different is this from lending my CD to my friends? I bought it so I damn well can do anything with it. I can decide to use it as a frisbee or a coaster.

And if there are online distributors (like Kazaa and Napster) who provide peer-to-peer transfer, why is this illegal? All these companies do is perform a service no different from a matchmaker---they link someone who is willing to share with someone who wants to listen.

Actually what I am wondering is why can't some lawyer win with this argument? Why do I keep on hearing news that online music distribution sites like eDonkey, Kazaa, Napster are shutting down or redesigning their systems?

Sony's Debacle

2005-12-09T18:52:00.000+07:00

Apparently, in their efforts to restrict piracy and unauthorized duplication of music CDs, Sony had bundled several of their CD titles with a software that prevents duplication of the music CD. In other words, you can play the CD on a CD player or on your computer but the software prevents you from importing the songs as MP3, AAC, or what not.

Comes out that the software is a rootkit. In other words it installs itself onto your computer in such a way that even the OS cannot detect it. The danger, obviously, is that no anti-virus or anti-spyware tool can control this software. This software is reportedly so badly written that it can make your PC unstable. To make matters worse, there are reports that this software installs itself EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE TO THE EULA! And the final nail on the coffin? There is a report that there are two trojan malware that takes advantage of the software's weaknesses. Already class action suits are being filed against Sony.

Sony is really on a downward trajectory. Ever since founder Akio Morita passed the baton, Sony has been making a lot of bad management decisions. Their foray into the movie industry has been met with disaster. Their PSP, though definitely eye-catching, has not achieved the same critical mass as, for example, the iPod. Samsung and LG are knocking on their doors. And now their debacle with digital rights management has brought them shame and anger from the tech community.

As for me, a company as arrogant as Sony to think that we are all thieves and pirates does not warrant my business. Am going to dispose of all my Sony stuff---my Ericsson phones, to begin with. What's Sony anyway but just an expensive brand name? It no longer equates to quality. And with this latest debacle, it no longer equates to honest and customer care.

Hipstir

2005-12-08T18:45:00.000+07:00

I checked by Hipstir account. So far 3 friends and 4 profile views. Well it was languishing with 2 profile views until I added pictures. Still nobody finds me attractive enough to warrant a response. Either that or they are too scared because of my voracious appetite!

Anyway, got a call from one of the Hipstir girls. She is apparently into heavy phone sex. Quite wild. Full of obsecenities and dirty words. Maybe I'll record it and post it here.

But I am still wondering what's the catch. I mean she posted her number in Hipstir. She advertises herself as a "sex goddess." No such thing as a free lunch I would say.

And then she asked for a sex video of me playing with myself. Interesting. I am not inclined to provide any video of myself in such compromising acts. Lets see how it plays out.

Firefox

2005-12-08T12:59:00.000+07:00

I am and have always been a fan of Firefox. If you aren't using this as your browser, then you are missing out on a lot of features. Two of the features which I now cannot live without is TABBED BROWSING and AD BLOCKING. These two alone are worth the download.

What is newsworthy is the fact that Firefox is now eating up Microsoft's market share. The goal of Firefox is to achieve a 10% market share of the browser market by the end of the year. Right now they are about 8% or 9%.

Big deal you may say? Consider that at one point Microsoft's IE virtually held 99% of the browser market.

Personally I can't believe that Firefox's market share is 9%. In fact, I THINK IT IS MUCH HIGHER. Almost all of the tech guys I know use Firefox. Based on Sitemeter, the browser share of my other blog is 71% IE and 23% Firefox!

Off to Singapore

2005-12-04T15:25:00.000+07:00

Am writing this in my cozy hotel room in Ritz Carlton, Singapore. Will be here for just a few days. I would have brought this girl but she couldn't get her passport ready in time, despite my repeated reminders. Too bad. It would have been nice to go home to a pretty girl, waiting in bed, naked, and ready for some hot loving . . .

Or waking up an taking a shower together . . .

Or eating breakfast in the room (c/o room service) wearing the hotel robes and nothing underneath . . .

And then doing it all over the hotel room . . . the couch . . . the dresser . . . in the tub . . . inside the shower . . .

Sigh . . .

More computer predictions . . . Microsoft going down?

2005-12-02T14:34:00.000+07:00

Back to the Windows versus Mac debate. Some people have commented that the strength of Microsoft Windows is with the applications it runs. And Apple Mac is not the preferred platform because it cannot match Microsoft in terms of applications.

Presently this is true. But consider this . . .

For those who use Yahoo mail, notice that there are now formatting tool bars when you compose mail.

For those who rely on Encarta, do you also realize that there is an online encyclopedia called wiki? And that this is updated real time?

There is a coming paradigm shift on what we call a "PC workstation." Now we have applications running on the device. Soon we will have applications running through a site and accessed through the internet. The PC will cease to become a processor and will now shift to a presentation and user interface device. In fact, this is the advantage that Google and Yahoo have, and this is why Microsoft is playing "catch-up" with a new web platform called Microsoft Live. Very soon we don't need to have applications on the PC; we can run it off the web.

Furthermore, there is the open source applications. People who equate Microsoft with stability should look at the open source community. For every Microsoft application, there is an open source application. I have already ditched Microsoft Office for Openoffice. I don't use IE; I use a far-superior Firefox. My email application is not Outlook but Thunderbird. I use Skype and GAIM for instant messaging. I will admit that the only open source application that SUCKS big-time is GIMP. Until they figure out a platform for photo manipulation, I will stick with Photoshop.

Lets take another look at how the PC is evolving. Many of us use the PC to play music. Some of us even play DVDs. While I am typing this blog, internet radio is streaming jazz music. The consumer PC is now moving away from the typical home computing applications to become a media center, where people can listen to music, watch movies, record from TV, play radio, and view a slide show of pictures taken from digital cameras. The PC is no longer a geek techie device, but will soon become a true consumer device like a DVD player or a toaster.

What does this all mean? It means that a PC has to be user-friendly, stable, easy to use, intuitive in such a way that a non-techie should be able to operate. Does this sound like Microsoft Windows? Let me put it this way---ever try to explain to a non-techie user (like your grandmother) how to use Windows (like when to click, double-click, or right click)?

And what about the applications? Who cares---I can run it off the web.

My feeling is that this is where Microsoft is worried about. They need to provide a stable intuitive environment, and this is where Apple has the advantage. The fact that Microsoft is the perennial target of hackers and malware does not help their case either, and hence alternative OSs (Mac OS and Linux) are on the rise. Now to run office applications over the web, all you need is the browser . . . and that Firefox is eroding on IE's market share is not helping Microsoft's position.

MP3 and ALE

2005-12-01T13:00:00.000+07:00

Just last night I decided to try out Apple Lossless Encryption (ALE) and imported two of my CDs into the ALE format. For this test, I imported Jamie Cullum's two CD album into my iPod using the ALE format.

First of all, the size of the file ballooned to about 20Mb, almost 8x more if encoded using MP3. To those who know MP3, it is a "lossy" compression algorithm. What the algorithm does is it "strips" the notes and sounds which are theoretically speaking beyond the range of human hearing. So supposedly it only stores the music which could technically-speaking only be heard.

However, maybe its me or the "placebo effect," but when I did play the music encoded in ALE, the music sounds slightly better. While it is hard to describe an audio experience using words, the music sounds "wider," and the "live" experience seems more enhanced. You hear more distinct notes plus some slight nuances on the vocals.

Unfortunately, as you can see, music encoded in ALE will consume a lot of disk space. I intend to use this compression method only for music worth an enhanced listening experience---most especially my jazz albums.

Dear readers - my profile

2005-11-30T11:11:00.000+07:00

Ok so I posted my profile and my blog all over the websphere. It is in friendster, hipster, dogster, monster, whatever . . .

If you got here from those sites, then at least I know I piqued your interest . . .

Anyway, in case you want to know more of me, here I am and what I do and why I do what I do.

Am 40ish, currently single, married once and it did not work out, so you can say I have grown in wisdom over the years.

I run a humble call center and work as its technology executive. In addition to this, I have a small internet cafe on the side. I also do consultancy work in Information Technology, Technology Project Management, and Information Security. I am a college degree holder and a Masters degree holder in Information Technology.

I don't drive a fancy car. No Benzes, No BMWs, no huge gas-guzzling Ford F-150s or Expeditions. Just a simple Honda CRV but with a good car stereo system. I love music and I listen to all kinds of music, jazz being my favorite. I take my movies very seriously, prefer watching movies than pirated DVDs, have a 5.1 home-theater system and my all-time favorites, in no particular order, are Godfather, Pulp Fiction, and Citizen Kane.

I am HIGHLY SEXUALLY DRIVEN. As in I can't seem to get enough. I have no other vices. I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't really gamble (just the occassional visit to casinos). I don't do drugs (though I tried marijuana, coke, and LSD; never heroin, never shabu or ecstasy or whatever are the designer drugs out there). I just plain and simple love sex. I love to please a woman, spoil her, treat her like a queen. I travel a lot, most often to Singapore, sometimes to Hongkong, and I do bring a lady friend at times with me.

I am not a flamboyant dresser; I like plain, classic clothes. I workout often but I do not have a chisled body nor any sort of six-pack. Am just slim. I am not a very religuous person so please don't discuss religion or even attempt to preach to me. I live for fun and I never take life too seriously. I love to party. I love to meet people. And did I say that I love sex? So I have no plans of a permanent relationship. I am passionate and insatiable in bed, and my sexual appetite seems endless. But don't get me wrong, I still take time out to help people, and every Christmas I visit a nearby orphanage---helps keep me grounded in life.

And my motto in life: Work hard. Party long. Help people. Die broke.

What is it with me?

2005-11-28T11:18:00.000+07:00

I have little vices. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. My drinking is limited to social drinking--- a few glasses of wine or a few bottles of beer with the boys. I don't gamble---last time I went to a casino was probably 6 months ago.

But I do love sex. Sex with a capital X. I can't seem to get enough of it. There was a time when I had sex with a girl in the morning (about 8 am before going to work, came twice) then with another girl (a model) in the evening (came thrice, but the third was really a struggle and I didn't think I could make it). I would swear to myself that I would lay off sex for a week, but I find myself drawn to it the next day.

I do have a "fuck buddy." She is an ex-GRO from Genie. She calls when she needs to get laid. I call when I need to get laid. Call me selfish but if she is not around and I need to get laid, I go elsewhere. If I am in a bar and I see a girl that I like, I will make a go for her and see if I get lucky. If my friends invite me to a "boy's night," I will still get laid.

But don't get me wrong. She is still special for me. She never fails to please me. She dresses up sexily for me. Once she did an erotic dance for me and it drove me wild. When I travel and I get horny, I call her up and she does phone sex for me. She will always be my first choice.

Mac vs Windows

2005-11-25T15:17:00.000+07:00

Saw a blog today on Apple Macintosh. You can also read it at http://mv.vexite.com/2005/11/25/is-mac-for-everyone/

While the blog was insightful, it does not present the whole picture.

First of all, the selling point of the Macintosh is ease-of-use. The hardware compatibilities and graphical user interface are so intuitive that you can immediately set it up and operate it with almost know training whatsover. That is the point of the ad slogan: "The truth is Mac is for everyone."

However, that is not what the Mac is all about. I know the the Mac is more expensive than the Windows counterpart, but if you think about fully-loaded, the cost is not too far apart.

Consider first software. Of course, when comparing the price of a pirated copy versus the original copy, a pirated copy will ALWAYS be cheaper. If you compare original Windows software versus original Macintosh software, then you will see that the price is comparable. In its original version, Photoshop for Mac and Photoshop for Windows cost the same. Same with World of Warcraft.

Next, lets talk hardware. It is true that you can get a P20,000 Windows PC. I checked Villman and their P20,000 PC is a Celeron 2.26Ghz with 256Mb memory, 15" CRT monitor, 40Gb hard drive, 64Mb integrated video graphics. You still have to add in a copy of Windows XP (P5500). Good enough for internet surfing. But when we start talking about gaming or even the most basic photo manipulation software, believe me this baby will CRAWL! And a 40-gig hard drive? Where will you keep all your pictures and MP3s?

I admit that the lowest end iMac G5 is about $1500, but it already comes with 2.1Ghz PowerPC CPU, a 17-inch LCD monitor, 512Mb memory, 160Gb serial ATA hard disk, built-in wireless LAN, built-in bluetooth, basic video camera, basic software. I tried to build a comparable PC with approximately the same specs and you know what? The cost of a similarly-powered PC was more expensive!

Then add in the compatibility factor. Count the number of hours spent trying to get hardware to work in a Windows PC, downloading the latest drivers, installing the latest patches. Factor in the anxiety, frustration, headaches. Thrown in all those Windows vulnerabilities and patches.

Ok ok ok . . . I know that people will say that they don't need all that power that an iMac G5 can offer. But these people have not thought it through. The near future will see a merging of the TV, DVD players, and audio systems into one box. This is what the tech pundits call convergence. Think that this is still science-fiction? Consider this:

As network speeds become faster and cheaper, the internet will become the preferred distribution method. Already we can purchase download music through the internet. Apple in fact has already began to outsell traditional music retail stores. Apple iTunes has already begun the wave of downloadable TV shows and music videos. Movielink will soon offer 20th Century Fox movies for download. Podcasts are now becoming as mainstream as the radio shows of old. And instead of printing your pictures to show to your friend, you can display it as a slide show, with background music to boot!

And very soon, you will be able to run software through the web. And this is why tech experts are looking at Google and Yahoo as the next technology behemoths. And Microsoft is now playing catch up with their Microsoft Live web concept.

But I digress. To get all this content, you will need a powerful PC. And a P20,000 turtle will not be able to handle it.

Technorati: Mac, Windows, Microsoft, Apple, Philippines, iMac

Whining selfish insecure cry-babies

2005-11-25T14:31:00.000+07:00

There is this girl that I met from MYG. I won't go into specifics. She was just recently dumped by her boyfriend for 8 months. All she does is whine, whine, whine. About how much she misses the guy. How this Christmas will be sad without him. How he meant the world to her. So on and so forth.

Man oh man, please wake up. You were dumped for heaven's sake. And you want him back????? What the fuck. She keeps on mentioning in her blog that she wants him back as a Christmas gift. She then texts me on how she likes to shop. And also how she complains about herself. How she hates a friend of hers because this friend is too busy for her. How she was envious of another friend because she has a boyfriend. She goes out with a friend but then she complains that she can't stand her friend. Jeez, then why go????

These are the girls I can't stand AT ALL. I can take on bitchy babes. They at least give me a challenge. And it does boost my ego if I can charm them and soften them up. But whining selfish insecure cry-babies? You know, the ones who are so shallow that all they live for is shopping, who whine about their appearance, about their lives and their problems, BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?!

Live a life. Move on. Grow up. Take control of your life.

Home network

2005-11-23T18:00:00.000+07:00

Finally got the whole home network. Here is the configuration at home.

One networked attached storage holding all my music and picture files.

One media PC beside my home theater system

One main PC at my bedroom. Here I play my computer games. Right now am into Civilization IV and World of Warcraft.

One laptop. Here is where I do most of my work because I take the laptop to office.

Internet connection via PLDT DSL connected to a wireless router.

Printer connected to the network via a wireless print server.

And I can also play my iTunes music through my home theater system via Airport Express and Airtunes. I can control the home theater system through any PC, even the laptop. I don't have to load any CD.

And when I am on the road, I have all my music files and my podcasts on my 40Gb iPod. Unfortunately, I don't have the new iPod with video.

Future music

2005-11-23T17:30:00.000+07:00

I think the future of CDs is bleak. The music industry knows it. The software companies know it. And definitely the internet companies know it as well. Why else do you think Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft are into the online music distribution business?

Sales for MP3 players are rising. Network bandwidth is becoming cheaper and faster. Media devices are becoming mainstream and you can already stream music from your PC to your stereo equipment. In fact, it won't be long when MP3 compression, which is "lossy" in the sense that bit-data is lost during compression, will no longer be necessary and we begin to rely on lossless compression.

How will the future look? I think in the near future, CDs will no longer be the distribution media for music. Music will be available for downloading through the internet. You will be able to play this downloaded music through your PC, through a portable digital player, or streamed to your home audio system. The traditional "brick and mortar" CD and music shops will disappear, replaced probably by internet shops that allow the customer to download music to their portable device or burn to their own CDs. Music and record companies will shrink as and music artists will be able to publish their own music online. Studios also will face extinction as more and more home garage studios become prevalent.

And if you ask me, this will not be detrimental to any of the music artists out there. Music artists don't make money from CD sales anyway. It is the record studio that makes money from CD sales, and they are the ones who stand to lose. Music artists make money from live performances or for composing and playing music for other media like movies, TV shows, or commercials.

And personally I think this is how it should be. Let the money go to the artist and not the recording company.

Technorati: Music, MP3, Technology

What is this about?

2005-11-23T12:33:00.000+07:00

This is a little more personal blog. Compared to my "sister" blog
Men's Fun in the Philippines, the topics in this blog are more varied, touching on technology (I am a geek at heart), troubles at office (I am an executive in a multinational company, but don't bother asking me where), sex (I am perenially horny), the female species (to quote Tom Arnold from True Lies: "can't live with em, can't kill em"), life in Philippines (my home country), and other rants that may cross my mind.