Proposing an experiment

Crazy/evil/stupid/angry/etc people kill people -- but with MUCH GREATER EFFECTIVITY and EFFICIENCY when they do it with GUNS. Unless you have a pen that shoots bullets or lasers (wow I want on...oh squirrel!!), I volunteer, in the spirit of theory experimentation, to stand 10 feet in front of you have you point your mightier-than-the-sword pen at me and kill me without approaching me thus demonstrating that there's no need or sense to limit who can have access to guns and as to which type of guns they can have access to (those with Death Notes, scientists who can conjure mini black holes, and assassins who can throw pens with deadly speed and accuracy not allowed in this experiment). I think I got my crazy stupid cowardly ass covered, but if you still managed to...man that would be something to see before the world ends.

Of cavemen present, future, and past

Musing back on Plato's allegory of the cave, my thoughts have been reflecting round this old realization that truths beyond some human society's current capacity, willingness, or ability to perceive are irrelevant and the exercise of "educating" a many of these ultimately futile.
Many a man, enlightened by discoveries of new truths -- nay, by the curtain unveiling of more dimensions of the ever existing universal facts, has been deemed a lunatic or worse branded a heretic for speaking of things most are not yet ready to hear.

Society has only ever moved forward on any issue (the earth being round, "witchcraft", abolition of slavery, women's rights, etc)  when finally more and more people are seeing/perceiving in the same context the things discovered; when the "lunatics" have achieve a critical amount of mindshare and are starting to threaten things that are currently accepted as "normal".
For society to continue progressing, it is better then that we learn not knowledge per se but the ability to perceive, understand and accept new information while distinguishing falsehoods in between.  More than anything else, what must be taught and practiced is razor sharp, uncompromising, and if necessary "blasphemous" (er, ok "Galilean-Copernican era") application of critical thinking.

Enacting anti-blasphemy laws, as being proposed to the UN, even if well intentioned discriminates the truth.  It will instead protect falsehoods, proclaimed as dogmas by those who benefit, from scrutiny and rebuke.  It, as in Plato's allegory, will put a chain on our necks and orient us to a wall of shadows that will become the only source of what which will define our perceived reality.

The modern world and it's 27+ million slaves.

Any modern self-styled philosopher (all philosophers are self-styled) has at one time or another tackled the question about freedom. Are we really free? What is true freedom? Where does it begin and end? In the course of this exercise one may have dealt with concepts such as bondage thru desire ("We are enslaved by our wants"), or mental slavery through dogma ("Religion is like opium"), or entanglement based on our fears ("What's between you and success is fear").

 I for one have never really considered on the literal concept of slavery. In the age of social media where the world is highly interconnected, it is hard to conceptualize the idea of how in a world with so much freedom real slavery still exists. One immersed in a free and liberating environment such as the Internet can completely be oblivious to the fact that there are areas in the world where people lack basic freedom; that there in the fringes of modern society real affliction against basic human dignity is inflicted by those who cannot fight back.

As human beings we should disdain slavery; nay, we should be angry! Angry that such a situation exists. Angry that people are enslaving fellow people for the sake of profit. Slavery's eradication from our society is something each and every one of us should actively pursue. Take action!


Below is the Ted video that brought this topic to my attention:
Another video about the topic:

Rant Friday.

People prefer to say quotable phrases with artfully stretched truths (i.e. subtle lies). Wit is more valuable than honesty. Humor more appealing than frankness. Most claim they prefer the truth, but not really...they just want you to quote them on that.

So how about we get over it already and be more honest with ourselves?

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs

The greater part of the generation of my circle of the world was dominated by two figures:
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Steve Jobs' story is something you could get from an epic fantasy novel depicting the tale of a small hero taking on the Goliaths of his time, and succeeded. And himself turn into an antagonist and was dramatically taken down. As the hero he will embark on a quest of self-discovery and a mere 10 years later he is once again riding on top of the world and will do so ever since.
His story is dramatic in part to the way he tells it...arrogant but alluring which makes him both well-hated and well-loved.

Bill Gates' story some would say is a boring management book. There were some questions to the ethics by which he achieved things -- by employing methods well accepted in business but abhorred when you are very good at it. His story was plain boring and his rise to the top was methodical and straight forward. Almost everybody who never achieved what he has hated him -- although deep inside it was a manifestation of envy for who does not want success?

Over 3 decades since they have started, it still amazes me how much their impact is in our world today. Steve Jobs' second act was magical and he seems to conjure magical products all the time.

Bill Gates seems to be more low key since focusing on the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation -- but is solving some key human problems that no iPhone could (okay..maybe there's an app "Save the world" that I don't know of). The foundation's research into solving hunger, diseases, and education are very appealing and noble efforts that are changing the world every day also.

The Khan Academy (http://www.khanacademy.org) that he is supporting seems to be one of the great best things that happened to human civilization from my point of view.
Of course I have to dramatize for Bill since he presents it and his life in a very boring manner.

Amazing how these two men have achieved and contributed so much. I wonder how they will be looked at 100 years from now -- I hope on the same pedestal as Einstein, Edison, and Pamela Anderson (who stole my innocence and youth!)

QR-Code Haiku 1

I've always wanted to write Haikus in QR-Code

Sleep over it

When I was younger I gave a premium to sleeping well; because I wanted to be smart...hold on let me explain. There was this book entitled "Doctors" written by Erich Segal telling the individual stories of a group of...well...doctors. The smartest one was "Seth" who does not do overnight studies. He sleeps early on the day before the exam. Or on any day at all.

Now you may be asking, "You're following an idea based on a fictional book?" Hey, just because something was present in fiction literature doesn't mean the idea in itself is fictional. It's not like you can re-write all the rules -- even in fiction soda is still not beer, and the sun still rises in the east. Of course there are fiction that re-write a lot of rules, but this book was not one of those. But now we are starting to digress, so just let it go...

I've been losing sleep anyway starting from college as I try to uphold to programmer/hacker persona. Plus it is easier to program when nobody is at your back able to watch you while you do your porn break. Plus the chicks are online in irc only at night (mirc was the facebook back then).

But whenever I face a very tough problem, my body somehow just auto shuts down and I become very sleepy regularly. Now some might argue it was depression but I think it was because my brain just wanted to concentrate on the problem and did not need the distractions of this thing called...life.

And I always solve the problems after getting several hours of sleep. It's like studying unconsciously. (Side note: People sleeping around I guess were not horny, they just were just doing group study. I wish I was such a studious person.)

There must be really something into dreaming. Which was why King Solomon (let's stop the debate for a moment whether he and his line was fictional or not) went for a dream.

Just last night I've once again discovered the solution to a software design problem; in my sleep. Previous times I've solved programming problems, come up with decryption algorithms, figure out a video game puzzle, heck even discover the key Chess and Go moves of the games I was reviewing.

I even googled this phenomenon to see if I was the only person seeing this, and found that I'm not. Scientists even somewhat conclude that this is very plausible:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/learning-while-you-dream/
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20041223/dreams-can-solve-problems

Okay now that I think I'm into something, I should:

1. ask to get paid more as I am working even in my sleep.
2. Advocate sleeping at work (and have it called brain storming)
3. figure out my life (again). Dreaming of setting up computer servers and writing software might indicate that there is something fundamentally wrong somewhere. Shouldn't I be dreaming of Ana Ivanovic, Megan Fox, and Jennifer Grey (yeah, I'd tap that)?

Oh I just remembered, there was one dream where I had a hot pornstar girlfriend...but let me save that for another blog post.

My fantasy #1

I'm flying first class on a Cathay Pacific flight to France, except the flight attendants are the young beautiful dancing FA's of Cebu Pacific (but interestingly all are cute chinitas), when suddenly the plane's computer has been hacked by some rogue Chinese teenagers; and the pilot then announces, "Is there a reverse engineer on the plane?" And then I say, "I am a reverse engineer. Step aside, and witness." I perform an on the field computer surgery, carefully dissecting as I explore broken internals and failing software organs. Prying and prying until I find and kill the offending pathogen; and with my metaphorical apple I feed the system back to life. Caressing the carbon fiber chassis as if they were wonderful bosoms left unattended too long; softly whispering, as if giving the breath of life to a dying woman -- who btw looks like Ana Ivanovic. And as I hear the frozen heart of an 8-core i7 CPU churn back to life I gently touch her screen, nay her face, who greeted me with such a wonderful picture of a smile: Linux Mint 9 (Isadora). Isadora...such a beautiful name. And with her emerald eyes we are caught in a trance...broken only be the realization that we are blissfully alive!

I save the day, everyone cheers, and the Miss Universe contestants who were coincidentally also on the plane belly dance to Shakira's "Hips don't lie".

Closest Encounter with Jupiter until 2022

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/15sep_jupiter/

Bring out your telescopes midnight of the 20th-21st.
You might already be dead when this happens again.

Let make this 21st midnight of September something to remember ;)
Well I don't know whether it is the 20th or the 21st...but you know, I had to associate it to a song.

Major events in my life...?

20 years ago: Someone circumcised me. That hurt but they say I will go to hell if I won't get with the program.

16 years ago: I graduated from Elementary. I thought I did not get a medal but my teacher told me she forgot to mention it. But only after I got scolded at home.

14 years ago: I was partnered with my crush in a Values project. That year was a demonstration of puppy love: Math quiz bee, Chess medals. I was still under pressure to bring home those circular metals.

12: years ago. Graduated from high school. Nothing special except I've started delving deep into existential nihilism. Well there was this one play that made me famous for a month -- which for a while there got me thinking I might have a future in acting (or rather, looking stupid on-stage or on camera)
My first girl friend was from the internet. I was pretty modern I guess, since now online dating is the craze.

10 years ago: I fell so madly in love I literally almost died (well killed myself that is)

8 years ago: I graduated from college without any serious academic achievement except pissing my professors off since I come to class with only a pen and paper..and lots of philosophy to boot. I thought it was fun back then to play the rebel genius anti-hero persona. Got everything right except the genius part.
I also got to see Hong Kong and all those rich chinitas.

7 years ago: I joined TrendMicro and it's hellish training. It was one of the best times of my life.

5 years ago: I finally got to see THE America. It was anti-climactic.

4 years ago: I finally got to see NASA!!! It was amazing.

2 years ago: I moved to another company. The decision made me better and fatter (literally and figuratively). It was also an amazing year in meeting someone. Too bad I was not able to mate. :P Let me get away with the chess terminology

1 year ago: Saw Geneva. Just okay.

And here we are...moved to Florida and all...shucks it seems I've still done so little. I thought I was gonna be someone well-accomplished by now.

Re-focus. Re-commit. To the childhood dreams of old.

"Stay hungry, stay foolish".

Beauty and Madness.

Beauty dies when gazed upon too long. Ironic. Or is it rather poetic? How the achievement of one's purpose of being becomes the death of it.

Been living in a very nice place, with gorgeous sunsets which still are...but aren't.

My agnostic rant.

I remember the first time I saw the pic at this link:
http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/odds_and_oddities/ultimate_in_unfair.htm

I am as pissed now as I was a pissed then. It's just so...wrong.

*rant warning!*

Tell me why, why should I believe in the one you claim to be giving redemption? The one who also has condemned me into oblivion...for simply being born. The one who also finds me guilty for simply being the way you claim he created me to be -- an imperfect, chubby but cute, human being. Who's like the Mafia asking for "protection" money -- if you pay I won't break your bones. I will go to hell -- unless I believe.... Oh yeah and you conveniently forget to mention that hell is where all those sinful hot women end up in.

:/

The Imperfect Perfect Guy

This is primarily in response to a blog post that a girl I like wrote in response to the question "What kind of guy are you looking for?" -- I asked the question btw.

It turns out I am not so qualified, and with me being far away and all that it seems mine is a hopeless case. Another "friend lang" :D. But I wanted to make some comments and maybe present my case (magpaliwanag sa baranggay ika nga)...and I figured the best way to do it is through a similar process of applying for a job.

So here it goes:

Dear Madam:

It has come to my attention that there is an opening for a "Perfect Guy" position and I am very interested. I am not that experienced (most of the positions I handled were temps such as "Meantime Boy", "Gym buddy/Slave", "Friend WITHOUT Benefits", "MU + Textmate + Kuya") but am very motivated and very willing learn if you show me the ropes.

On the specifics of the requirements:

1. Godly. Well, I am an agnostic so I don't believe in the God as presented by the Bible, Koran, Talmud. But this doesn't mean that I live a "god-less" life. I have a great respect and amazement for life, and I make it a point to be at peace with other people. If you let me, I will love you faithfully and persistently. My love will never be perfect, but this does not hinder me to strive for a perfect love - of being patient, and kind, and not harboring a list of wrongs. Of always hoping, persevering and being able to forgive. Of living to a standard that says love never fails. I will fail on everything else, but not on doing everything I can to love you with all that I am.

2. Generous. As a man, I see it and happily accept the duty of providing for my family. It's an awkward question for some people, but I see it as something that should be asked. I will take care of you (not in the DOM way -- "papaaralin kita iha"), that I promise. And I will not undertake activities that will hinder my ability in providing for you and our family.

3. Genius. Well...I don't want to brag but.... Okay okay :D Some changes in perspective had made me to always want to give the best in what I do, in as creative of a way as I can. As a person I just see that life should be lived that way. And relationships too. Genius really is just common sense and persistence...as Einstein would say, "I am not the smartest, I just stayed on the problem longer".

4. Good looking. Patay tayo dyan. Este...pano ba...beauty is in the eye of the beholder :). Give me some time and soon you will succumb to the acquired taste that is prankoyz :P

5. Family background. Well I have a good family I think -- well there's a crazy uncle and auntie or two but I think they will just love you. I come from a broken family though that had just recently started to heal, but having to undergo through that process I think I am more determined that others in keeping the family we make together intact.

So...how about a chance?

Losing is sometimes also gaining

There was a poem in high school which I now barely remember, but the main story was about a man who finally got to appreciate the stars after his roof got blown away (or got burnt down).

Mindanao, where I am from has been suffering from scheduled black-outs due to insufficient power supply. However, I've realized that I've never stared at the moon as often nor as long in such a long long while.

Respect

Respect. It was, and often still is, a contentious issue that arises over certain conflicts concerning the equality (or superiority) of one concept over another. Man vs woman, black vs white, strength vs intelligence. Belief vs unbelief. The list goes on.

It has been a well accepted notion (though a blatant misconception) that respect arises only between equals -- and a tribute of the weak to the strong. Indeed it is easy to respect something you cannot (easily) overcome -- the sun, Mt. Everest, Michael Jordan...the Pacific. Conversely, man (okay...and woman) it seems is pre-dispositioned to abuse something that he thinks is inferior to him -- slaves, pets...nature...newbies in Mafia wars.

Only when respect is borne out of personal conviction that it is truly shared between complementing unequals.

Give to the needy...

Please donate! A lot of people in Metro Manila are in dire need of help right now.
Be careful with donating though, internet scams heartlessly use these calamities to prey on generous hearts:


The Philippine National Red Cross Web Site
http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx

Info from Gmanews.tv website:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173256/3-drop-off-areas-designated-for-ondoy-victims-donations

Constructive learnings

Shared a jeepney ride with 4 construction workers each talking with pride about what they have finished that day. Filled with envy, and eavesdropping at their lively banter, I came up with the following realizations:

1. Eavesdropping is done best at public transportations.
2. All you really have to do to end your day with pride is work the best you can.
3. It doesn't matter that much what you do, but how you do it

Pinoy pride.

Today Manny Pacquiao defeated (more like a beating) Oscar dela Hoya in their much promoted Dream Match. This victory cemented his status as one of the greatest boxers of our time. This victory will also perhaps mark one of the greatest heights of Pinoy pride.

I can imagine it already, Filipinos like myself walking around chins up, noses pointed high, and with boisterous laughter declare to the world how great we are as shown by our compatriot Manny. Notwithstanding the fact that it is a fallacy to think that one boxer's success reflects the ability of a whole -- and that if the thinking taken to a broader degree disenfranchises all those other Pinoy losers who never achieved any form of success.

But who cares. Today we Filipinos can stand tall and proud--even if tomorrow we go back to our backstabbing, swindling, apathetic, crab-mentality ways.

Laziness is sin...

I haven't written a blog for a long time. Tinatamad eh (the usual excuse..done with a smiley grin..followed by the conventional half-laugh).

Looking back, it seems I have once again wasted another year of my life idling at square one. The game plan this year was to not just excel, but amaze. Amazingly I haven't started just yet. I have enrolled in a gym 4 months ago, and I still weigh the same. I have wanted to apply for patents, but I haven't even typed a single letter in my powerpoint presentation. What the fuck is wrong with me?!?!

I am quite amazed at how other people have that inner drive to do things. How they seem so inspired with life. They give their best at what they do. They have intense energy. Their will and focus unbending. How does one become one of those?

It seems I've become addicted to laziness. And laziness has never failed to bring one to ruin. I'm scared shitless with the direction my life is heading into. Somebody save me please...

Too Late To Turn Back Now

This is a song I heard only once, but one which touched my heart so much, and left so much emotion in me that I almost choked from the tears I barely held back from view of my most unforgiving friends.

--------

Too Late To Turn Back Now
( Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose )


My mama told me, she said, "Son, please beware"
"There's this thing called love and it's everywhere"
She told me, "It can break your heart and leave you in misery"
And since I met this little woman,
I feel it's happening to me, and I'm tellin' you

It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm fallin' in love
It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm falling in love

I found myself phoning her at least ten times a day
It's so unusual for me to carry on this way
I tell you ...
I can't sleep at night
Wanting to hold her tight
I've tried so hard to convince myself
That this feeling just can't be right, and I'm tellin' you

It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm fallin' in love
It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm falling in love
It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm falling in love
It's too late, Baby....

Whoa-oh
I wouldn't mind it if I knew she really loved me too
But I hate to think that I'm in love alone and there's nothing that I can do
Whoa

It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm fallin' in love
It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm falling in love
It's too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I'm falling in love
It's too late

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Sorry...no psycho-babble/analysis for this one. Writer's block.