Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Why be against SOPA/PIPA?

by xarki, on Wed, Jan 18 2012 | No Comments

courtesy of remedialthoughts.comThe World Wide Web is currently dazed with the actions made by several websites as support to the anti-SOPA/PIPA to serve as a protest in the ratification of a bill to stop online piracy in United States. SOPA/PIPA is a way of censoring the Internet.

 

When I visited Google’s main page to make use of their extensive search engine, I was greeted with a different UI (User Interface). Google censored its logo (just like what they do on TV) by putting a black box over the website’s logo. It was so surprising to find out that there is an issue stirring the web and knowing about it already means how widespread its nature is.

 

Before we proceed on discussing this issue, it is better to know some of the few details about these House Bills.

 

What is PIPA (Protect IP Act)?

 

PIPA gives US corporations and the government the right to seek legal action against any website that they see as committing copyright infringement whether US in origin or not. It was originally introduced in the US Senate on May 12, 2011. This bill will work in conjunction with SOPA.

 

What is SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act)?

 

House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261, is a bill that was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, that would expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.

 

The bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders against websites outside U.S. jurisdiction accused of infringing on copyrights, or of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement.

 

These two bills are similar in its goals and the enactment of these two into a law will possibly affect majority of US Internet users and even the rest of the world in sharing online information as we presently enjoy.

 

Truly, piracy and intellectual property infringement has always been a problem since the dawn of digital computing machines yet limiting and monitoring the flow of data is against several issues like privacy, liberty to information and freedom of expression.

 

I can’t imagine that with the existence of these laws, it is possible that one of my blog sites will be shut down due to an illegal sharing of digital information as seen by its proponents. Featuring logos, products or even information (doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad) can be grounds for a possible closure of my own website.

 

Definitely, there will be a huge drop in Internet traffic when these bills are passed. No one would ever be able to enjoy the same privileges while they go and surf the web. Tech giants will in the end be affected by the presence of these bills. Filtering the flow of information will not only slow down the way we receive information but also inhibit anyone the access to a certain website.

 

I hope people around the globe will support in preventing the approval of these bills. Enactment of these bills despite the disapproving audience would mean there’s something that the people from the US government and its supporting agencies wouldn’t like to tell or be found out.

No margin for error

by xarki, on Tue, Dec 27 2011 | 1 Comment

courtesy of thinveil.netLinking a Catholic Church’s website to an adult porn site is something that anyone would find rather perplexing. This is the last thing any Catholic organization especially the Archbishop of Manila would like their followers finding out after clicking on a web link that is supposed to be sending its audience to watch a live streaming of a holy ceremony.

 

The live stream of Archbishop Luis “Chito” Tagle’s installation ceremony surprised his online followers after being forwarded to an adult porn (transvestitism) site.

 

Transvestites are people who are straight men and women who wear clothes of the opposite sex. Also referred to as “cross-dressing.”

 

At first, they regarded it as an attack made by proponent hackers but after a while the church’s communications office admitted it was an honest mistake from their side.

 

Peachy Yamsuan, head of the Archdiocese of Manila’s office of communications, conceded that she committed a mistake in providing the link to the Archbishop’s live installation ceremony.

 

“Please be informed that I was the one who committed the mistake of putting in our website the wrong TV Maria website for live streaming and I’m sorry for the confusion it has caused,” Yamsuan said

 

The right link should have been “tvmaria.net” instead of “tvmaria.com.”

 

Distinctively, the confusion has caused the social media community to take advantage of it clouding the image of the new Archbishop and the catholic organization.

 

The site link was finally corrected by 3 in the afternoon. Well, that was disappointing for those who were not able to witness the Archbishop’s momentous event. Nevertheless, I am sure we can still catch the replay of that ceremony now with the right link to its viewing channel.

 

Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle is now the 32nd Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila.

 

One thing I would advise Yamsuan is to test the link before making it publicly available and the same goes to anyone else who is making use of online resources in sharing delicate information.

Another Earth

by xarki, on Wed, Dec 7 2011 | No Comments
Super Earth

No. This is not a review on one of the latest movie with the same title which is a story about the existence of a mirror Earth but rather an article about the latest news in the space research program for the search of a potential habitable planet in our universe.

 

Kepler mission has yet again discovered another candidate for an Earth-like exoplanet some 600 light years away. A more probable one and promises a great find for our
astronomers.

 

Based on the report, the planet designated as “Kepler-22b”, the first-ever planet in a habitable zone was spotted by the Kepler Space telescope outside of our solar system.

 

Classifying it as one of the “super-Earths” because of its enormous size – 2.4 times bigger than our own and revolves around its sun in 270 days (195 days shorter than we have).

 

Kepler-22b’s distance from its sun suggests an optimal temperature of 22 degrees centigrade which is enough for water to exist on the planet’s surface – something which is vital for planetary life to propagate.

 

Kepler-22b is one of the three planets that were confirmed globally by Astronomers as a candidate for human habitation yet the other two have smaller and cooler suns while K-22b has a solar source similar to our Helios.

 

Though the space telescope has unlocked more than 2,326 possible planets with 48 among them identified as having life sustaining capabilities, NASA may have to do additional monitoring of this recent planetary discovery. They still haven’t identified the surface properties of this one so as to validate the research data.

 

So then, are we looking at an interplanetary mission right now, or a proof for the
existence of extra terrestrial life?

TV Size does matter!

by xarki, on Mon, Nov 28 2011 | 13 Comments

screen-size-viewing-distanceBlack Friday is here again! Well not for us here in the Philippines but for our fellow brothers in the U.S. who’ll get some great deals with the latest tech gadgets and devices.

 

Nevertheless, we will still experience some Christmas shopping since everyone else will be receiving their 13th month (or 14th month) bonuses. The products of hard work! (And lots of overtime). It is the time of the year when many home appliances are on sale, which includes the TV.

 

I am thinking of getting that 32-inch LED TV that I saw a few months ago. But I have doubts that it will be the best buy in terms of size. Will it be enough to fit my living room? Or should I get a bigger one instead?

 

These are some of the questions you and I are commonly asked when we buy our new TVs. But is there a way to figure out which screen size is the right one for us?

 

I came across one article on the web that provides a way as a guide for people like me who are planning to purchase their next boob tube.

 

THX has provided us with a guide to determine the right size of TV for us to purchase thus to avoid regretting the purchase later.

 

According to the article, we need to acquire the best “seat-to-screen distance” to where you will be placing your TV. THX recommends dividing the diagonal size of the screen to 0.84. So, a 32” screen divided by 0.84 will result to 38 inches (roughly 1 meter) minimum viewing distance. Using this formula, it will provide you with a 40 degree viewing angle that is enough to fill your line of sight and deliver the best visual experience.

 

Here is the list as provided by THX:

  • 32 inch class TV = 3.5-5 feet away
  • 42 inch class TV = 4-6 feet away
  • 50 inch class TV = 5-7.5 feet away
  • 60 inch class TV = 6-9 feet away

 

Before, you buy that dream TV of yours, better check out this guide. I’ll see you guys later. I’ll have to make measurements of my own. I hope my 32-inch TV is enough though. Or else I won’t have enough cash to purchase a 42-inch one – maybe next Christmas?

Catholic Church goes for online resources

by xarki, on Tue, Nov 22 2011 | 2 Comments

courtesy of pinoy ofw.comBroadcasting “Masses” in National TV was one way for the Catholic Church in the Philippines to extend its arms to encompass more people. It aims to reach every Catholic who is incapable of attending the regular Sunday mass for some apparent reason. Disability, serious illness and cultural location are among the few.

 

I do watch one every early Sunday morning (if circumstances allows me) just to get ahead of the liturgical context for that day. Yup! I am one devout Catholic! I’ve been serving the Church since I was a kid (12 years old, almost a teenager) as a choir member. Honestly, some priests do not deliver their sermons as clearly as we would like them to.

 

The Church has preferred to make use of the media (TV broadcasting) to gain more followers and further make Catholics acquainted with their church’s spiritual activities like any other religious sects are currently doing on TV.

 

The social media network in the online community as we know can span more areas and bring about more people faster than the telly which is the reason for the church to utilize it.

 

Bishop ‘Chito’ (Luis Antonio) Tagle’s “The Word Exposed” was one worth mentioning. The show’s unique way of tackling the contents of the Sunday scriptures makes it easier for us Catholics to fully understand the message in between these biblical passages. Though it was originally released on National TV, the video archives that were shared on different online channels (YouTube and Facebook) made it a great way for the congregation to uplift their religious beliefs anytime and anywhere around the globe.

 

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (also known as the Quiapo church) has introduced the online streaming of its regular Masses which was officially announced on November 13, 2011. This step was taken by the parish after receiving several requests from Quiapo faithful (who wants to hear but were not able to do so because of their current predicament).

 

“Catholics still have to go to Mass in their churches,” said Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio. “We are just offering this for those who can’t go to Mass due to their condition,” he added. (Source: inquirer.net)

 

As for me, these resources can be used to nourish our faith but not as a substitute to the obligation of attending a live Mass every Sunday in our churches.