Year 2038 bug?

A decade ago, everybody seemed to be very pumped up about the Y2K bug. Although the media had to do something about all that hype, nevertheless, there were some truth into it. It was a good thing that some systems were able to make the necessary cleaning up and preparation before the turn of the century.

Around 28-years and 15 days from now, or on the Year 2038, 19th of January at 1500 Hours, 14 Minutes and 7 Seconds, we are going to have another major glitch in the system -- The 2038 Bug. The name doesn't really have that same ring into it compared to Y2K Bug -- but -- it seems to bring in a similar problem. Question this time might be -- would we take this bug seriously?

Wait... 2012 is just less than a year from now -- the end of the world is basically around the corner. I guess this wouldn't be a problem after all.

Here are some information:
2038bug.com

* I found this laying around in my Drafts. I thought it's better to publish and share it with you guys, in case you forgot -- I know I did.

As the New Year starts... backup your backups.

First blog of the year folks, and maybe it's time that you should think about the precious data stored in your external hard-disk(s). I didn't and this happened to me.

First morning of the New Year, and what a way to start the year than waking up to a non-responsive external HDD. The data stored in it does not really contain the codes to launch an all out nuclear catastrophe, but rather, they are pictures and videos dating all the way back since my first digital camera. I dunno about you guys, but to me, pictures of family and friends and one's experiences are more worth than anything.

The disk did not mount although you can see that the LEDs are lighting up. The most frightening of it all is its clicks which sounded like a person saying its last dying words. "Click... click... click", it whispered. You can only hear it when you put your ears next to the seemingly dying HDD. If one has worked with hard-disks, this usually suggests that it has already reached its time.

Surfing all over the net for answers, a glimmer of hope appeared. One guy had a similar issue, and it appeared that the problem was with the enclosure and not with the HDD at all.

Banked in the hope that I have a similar issue as well, I yanked my external HDD open, verified the hard-disk inside, and went out to buy a new enclosure.

I'm writing this piece in order to share and remind you guys to backup your backups.

I had a Maxtor One Touch III (320Gb) bought about 3 years ago.

And my hard-disk is still alive, and its undergoing diagnostics as we speak. It's starting to look like that 2011 will be a good year... hopefully.

Apple store down, getting ready to fulfill those rumors?

Rumors have been floating around lately about the updating of the iMacs, and the Mac Pros. Could this be it? Hold your horses, we will know in a few hours.

It is also a big probability that it's the Macbook Air's time for that long awaited update. Many people have been asking around for this, and if you are one of them, go to the Apple Store website now, and press away on that "Refresh" button.

** I refreshed the site just now, just to make sure. :)

How about that rumor that a new Apple TV is coming? Or that Magic Track Pad that has been catching eyes lately?

Nothing we can do actually, but to just wait.

wait, wait, wait.

UPDATE:
And the winners: New iMacs, and the New Magic Trackpad.

Is this porn?

I think the title gave everything away that I somehow I'm guessing that an expectation looms somewhere in your head that this post will be "naughty". Well, it kinda, and it is kinda not as well. Just see for yourself.



The whole gallery is here.

To answer my own question, this is not porn, but, it is an art. I think it is a stroke of genius. I guess that when you're a medical imaging manufacturer (Eizo), this will also pretty much make for an interesting marketing strategy.

Do you remember those Boner t-shirts? I'm not sure if that was what they were called, I think you have an idea of what I'm talking about right? They did made you glance over and actually checked out every position the bones were doing, c'mon admit it! Ok, I admit it.

Anyway, my only question is this: were the models actually exposed to X-ray radiation? I mean, there are studies that relate cancer and x-ray radiation right?

For the record: this is not an advertisement.

Looking for: Antenna Engineers

Do you climb up to the top of your rooftop to adjust the antenna? or just for the heck of it, do you climb up to the top during a thunderstorm, fiddle with the antenna, and maybe get struck by lightning, and acquire lightning powers? Well, if you do, then you might have a shot at getting hired at Apple. (For more info, a post from Engadget is here)

Well? Do you? Do you? Do you? Because, Apple is looking for Antenna engineers. Oh wait, do you think this is somehow related to the iPhone 4's antenna issue? Or the proper way to hold an iPhone 4? No... I think n... (thinking) wait... yep! I think it is. Well, at least, there is a big chance that a relation exists. This has been going on for days since iPhone 4's launched. There were a few lucky subscribers who got a free Bumper as a remedy to this whole misunderstood thing. Talk about timing though.

For the record, i'll exchange my current phone with the iPhone 4 anytime!

Might be the 1st used iPad on sale

Barely 3 months since the release of Apple's iPad, upon loitering around the computer shops in my place, I was stunned to see this:



Well, I was stunned for a couple of reasons. First, it's a little bit too early, for me at least. I mean, it is inevitable here in Japan that used stuff will bound to pop-up at some point. It's not clear from the picture, but that's an iPad Wifi + 3G - 32Gb model. Since its release on April 30 this year, in less than 2 months, the previous owner decided to just sell it to a used store here. Maybe for some personal reason, or maybe he found it not to be as magical and amazing for his or her taste. Be that as it may, it is there, and it is now for sale.

Which then leads us to the second reason...

Second reason is something about the price. If you take a pick at Japan's Apple Store website, this is priced at ¥71,800. And this used iPad is sold at ¥69,800.

This is stunning for me because I, more often than not, buy used electronics, but not at this price difference. Used stuff can be bought here with a 30% - 70% price slash. But this? I'll let you do the math. I'm pretty sure thats not even 5% off the original price.

(Come to think about it, I think most of my gadgets had previous owners. Well, as they say, one man's junk, is another man's treasure.)

There you go, your first glance at a used iPad. Soon enough, they will start popping up like daisies.

iPhone 3G day! But --

iPhone 3G -- today is its most-awaited release day. And yes, just like its emergence last year -- it generated the same fuzz.

Check out the people at Softbank Tokyo at the morning of July 11. As it was reported here in a local news, there were an estimated 1500 people lining up even before the store opened.



I won't deny -- I would love to get my hands on this baby. But, let's just relax for a while and think -- think -- think. Recently on various web-based news sources, they say one thing -- other big players of the mobile phone industry would not just sit around and do nothing and watch this. There is no denying though -- Apple has made a big impact that it is sending a market slice threatening tsunami to these other big players.

This is where we -- the consumers -- need to just relax, keep our hands in our pockets and discern for a moment. If these big players will come out and play (you know they will) -- maybe they can offer a better deal. It won't have that mesmerizing hype as that of Apple's iPhone but maybe, the main features are there -- maybe even more -- and the affordability is there -- won't you think this would be better?

2 cents.

Eh?!?

It's time to juice this blog up once again. I can help but notice that this blog just seems to die once in a while and then come back from wherever.

Well, for one thing, I've been disconnected for about a month. For internet junkies like me, a month is like a lightyear. Just A lightyear -- no point in over killing the expression.

Another reason might be -- I'm living by myself for quite a while now. Having to cook my own dish every now and then eats up your supposed blog-surf-chat-download-video time.

Anyway, let's just stop there coz there are quite a few reasons really.

Booyah!!

beer on a tuesday night

I see a trend brewing here. Whenever I go out, have a more than the average dinner and drink 2 mugs of beer -- I always end up writing about something. Well, at least, it breaks the im-lazy-and-i-dont-feel-writing-anything-on-my-blog streak.

i'm not sure if alcohol is the main reason -- but -- it seems that your gestures are getting noticed, and i dunno, but, it seems that my gestures annoy some people. "annoy" may not really be the exact term but it could be close. i really don't have any idea as to how it makes some people feel. but, hey, sorry, i'm not gonna change any of it -- not for anyone. but if my gestures could cause WWIII, then, maybe i would.

and finally, this:

I don't really care about pageants. although, i wouldn't want to miss the swimsuit part during a pageant show. and sometimes, the Q&A is fun. Speaking of fun, watch the video below and if you're a "kababayan" -- i know how you feel.



Yes, ladies and gents, we are sending our prettiest, sexiest, most appealing, most confident, ummm... and then... I seem to forget the most important quality... lemme see... prettiest, most appealing, jaw dropping... errr.. i guess that's all of it!

Even though there are emails circulating, blog entries popping, and videos playing on sites everywhere about this "oh my God. I’m… OK, I’m so sorry" moment -- I just hope that she would prove to everybody that she can grab that Ms. World Title and give the finger to everyone who doubted (I don't blame them). Well, if she doesn't -- i guess it sucks to be her!

Here's the transcript of that video above:

Host: Number 15, Janina San Miguel. Janina, how are you?


Janina: I’m fine.


Host: Alright. So you won two of the major awards - best in long gown, best in swimsuit - do you feel any pressure right now?


Janina: No, I don’t feel any pressure right now.


Host: Confident! Alright! Please choose a name of a judge…. We have Ms Vivienne Tan.


Tan: Good evening.


Janina: Good evening.


Tan: The question is what role did your family play for you as candidate to Binibining Pilipinas?


Janina: Well, my family’s role for me es so important, becos… der was dow, dir, dey was da one… whoo’s…very… haha… oh, I’m so sorry. Um, my pami-ley, my fami-ley… oh my God. I’m… OK, I’m so sorry. I, I told you dat I’m so honfident. Eto, ahmm wait: Ahahahaha. Um, sorry guys becos des was really my perst pageant ever! Because I’m only seventeen years old. And, ahaha-hee. I, I did not ikspek dat I came from… I came from one of da taff ten. Hmm… So… but I said, dot… my family es da most important persons in my life. Tenk you.

2 mugs of beer

Just back home with 2 mugs of beer and then some in my system, if you think I'm drunk right now, you don't know me that well.

Let's start off with -- "Man! I haven't written something here for so long now!" Well, basically, I just didn't have the drive to write anything just yet. I don't know happened -- it just came to me like a disease in which writing nothing on my blog is a lot more satisfying. So -- that's that -- end of story into why I haven't written anything for a long while.

And then we go to the realization part which is mainly the bulk of this entry. It seems that some people find me kind of dumb so to speak -- well mainly because I don't fairly give them a straight answer to their non-challenging but rather straight-forward questions. I don't blame them -- who would what a deviating answer from just an uncomplicated question. I know I wouldn't. The disadvantage is that it gave them an impression that I'm dumb guy -- lacking in the north and can't compensate anything with anything whether in the south, east or west -- someone who wouldn't be able to understand any given subject, thought, or procedure with a single explanation. I know that it would be hard to change this impression from them. Anyway, it's worth the try -- from now on, if they ask me something -- i'll just give them a straight answer. No fuzz, no nothing. Nothing but the answer -- next question please or get out of my face!

This isn't a rant -- it's a realization.

If you're not down with that, I've got two words for you -- **** **!

Calvin And Hobbes

Have you ever thought of the good old days lately? Childhood, Highschool life perhaps? Have you ever thought of the stuff you grew up with? The cartoons you were eagerly waiting? The neighbors that you were histerically calling out to come out and play?

Well, I did lately when I saw a comic that I often times read and practically grew up with -- Calvin and Hobbes. Remember these two?



Thanks to Bill Watterson for the comic strips over the years between 1985 to 1995.

If you like, here are links to the entire collection of Calvin and Hobbes comics.

Through the years:
http://rapidshare.com/files/53933028/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1985__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53933581/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1986__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53934125/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1987__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53934624/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1988__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53935176/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1989__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53935695/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1990__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53937477/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1991__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53938209/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1992__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53939425/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1993__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53939886/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1994__storekeeper4319_.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/53941829/Calvin_and_Hobbes_1995__storekeeper4319_.zip

The password for these files would be: tehparadox.com

Here is another link in case you have a monstrous bandwidth to spare:
http://rapidshare.com/files/29002306/CALVOBBES.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/29002346/CALVOBBES.part2.rar

Walk down the memory lane, you'll find it rather refreshing.

Thank you 2007!

This is a bit late -- but -- I think it's never too late to greet everyone -- a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As I watched the fireworks lit up the midnight sky at exactly 12 on New Year, I can't help but wonder about the year 2007. As of yet, it is the by far the most generous year to date. Let's do a little review what made it so.

First month into 2007, we were already expecting an angel. Mommy got pregnant and we were very happy and excited to meet the little one.

Then, just barely 3 months after, my company offered me an opportunity -- the AOTS. Although, the timing was a bit off because I wouldn't be around during the 9 preggy months -- not being able to see the baby kick while still on mommy's tummy and stuff like that, and more importantly, I wouldn't be around during the delivery.

It would still be a generous year because my baby was delivered normally. All the while -- it seemed that the signs most probably pointed out that a CS operation would more likely happen but instead it didn't. And more important, my baby was born without any physically defect or illness.

After the end of the training, just around a month after arriving, we were notified of another opportunity. It would be longer but at least, I would be able to bring my family -- wife and baby -- with me.

These would be the 3 major blessings that I am really really thankful for -- especially to the Lord. Thank you very much.

I wonder what 2008 would offer us. We will soon find out.

Happy New Year Everybody!

got busy

I got busy at work lately. Last week, straight through the weekdays, every single night of it was spent rendering overtime. This is really a routine for most of the guys in our company but I'm not conditioned for this lately. Just as I expected, on the weekends I got the colds, and basically my body was just weak on the bones. My wife said to just take some well deserved rest -- which I did by spending the whole Saturday afternoon up to the late wee hour of the night just sleeping. Eventually, I had to wake up and eat dinner after which, I spent the rest of the hours melting on the bed watching the TV.

But, all this could just be a preview of what would be in the near future -- stay tuned for that.

Your Laundry and Jeepneys

Last Monday, I had a realization -- never let your laundry reach over 7 kilos. If you're like me who needs to go to a laundry service to have your laundry done, I think you would understand. 7 kilos? It doesn't sound really heavy, right? Well -- think again -- especially you are in a situation wherein you had to carry that 7 kilo load on a 20 minute walk and in the rain. Or with your 7 kilo load -- riding a almost full jeepney -- those multi-cab types. I'm talking about these types --


There's nothing really wrong with these types. It's just that when they are full -- peoples knees can almost touch kneecap to kneecap. When you are a passenger trying to get on or even off, there is really no easy way to do it -- but -- ram over those kneecaps. If it's annoying for the getting off or on the jeepney, trust me, it's also rather annoying for those who had their kneecap rammed.

If I'm not in a hurry to get to my destination, and I had to ride a jeepney, I make it to a point to choose the bigger type jeepney -- like this

TC vs PPP?

Like yesterday's storm that slowly turned into a tropical depression from just a low-pressure area -- this seems to be happening between TC and PPP.

I love both sites.

For TC -- this is one of the websites I most of the time go when I want to get in touch with the newest buzz around the Internet -- stuff like new companies and sometimes the old ones that are making a brand new impact in the world wide web.

Of course, PPP has been a great help to me ever since I became a member. For one thing, I surely do hope that PPP will stay for a long time.

But, these two going at it -- I had not imagined. For all I know -- correct me if I'm wrong here -- this started when the Big G made the move to grinch PR-slap websites (including mine). Since, then, it seems to me that a clear division has been set between those who shouted for joy because other people's websites got PR-slapped (hard!) and those who were greatly affected by it.

If the Big G wants a reason as to why they should discontinue the PR system (or at least modify it), this is mine. The Internet is not just solely about money, business, heavy-visited websites and high PR.

Because of one move, the effects seem to ripple out bigger and bigger. And I'm not sure when it will stop. (Well, maybe in the next few months.)

PR Grinch-Slap

This is a wholesome blog -- profanity like -- b*t*h -- will not be seen anywhere in this blog. Thus, it shall be aptly replaced by the word -- Grinch -- instead.

I got grinch-slap again by the big G. They have been warning everybody about this since the middle of this year I think -- and finally here it came, a major slap in the homepages (faces) of thousands of blogs. I'm one of those thousands, of course. I said I got grinch-slap again because 3 weeks ago I had my PR increased by one -- then it with down to its original value -- and, apparently, today, its down to zero -- zilch. It's like getting a toy in your birthday and had Matell recalled it and never getting anything in exchange.

They are the big G. They can practically do anything they want with their PR thing -- for all I know -- they might have this blog (which is hosted by big G) deleted all of a sudden and just leave a note saying -- "I just felt like doing it." (Which reminds me -- start backing up)

I hope to see positive changes in the future -- like -- maybe there was just a major boo-boo on the PR system. But -- naaaa -- it's like hoping to win the sweepstakes with just one ticket in just a single try. I could happen you know.

I don't like to sour-grape all over this entry saying that the PR thing isn't important and it's the traffic that counts. I do believe that it's the traffic that should count -- but -- somewhere deep inside your archives -- especially if you are also a victim of this -- you are deeply troubled by this and, like me, also hoping for some resolution.

on the sad note -- kidneys

What's been happening? People are getting hurt lately. First, it was about the knees of my friend and colleague -- and now, it's my uncle's kidneys. Both of his kidneys are malfunctioning. And apparently, he was admitted around 6 days ago -- and I had no word about it. This is the thing about being away. Just to make things clear -- he is not dead -- kapish!

His kidney failed primarily because of diabetes. I'm not pretty sure what causes diabetes -- what I've learned from my parents is that one should not be eating too much sweets. Is this true? Well, it really doesn't but it causes obesity which would most likely lead to having diabetes. I'm pretty sure there are a lot about the subject in the internet.

I dedicate this entry to my uncle who is now currently in the hospital. I will pray for your swift recovery.

I think its about time for us to take care of our healths too.

Mass Observations

Just got back from church -- yes boys and girls -- I go to church -- although I haven't in around 5.5 months but I'm making up for it now. So ssshhh! Anyway, I usually go to Ayala mall to attend mass -- and this time around -- since that place where the mass is usually celebrated is currently under construction -- they now held mass at the Entertainment area I think temporarily. It was my first time to attend mass there -- so I had a couple of observations.

I first decided to just stay near the entrance -- but I eventually found that difficult because of the many people (most especially -- beautiful people) who come to and fro -- I could hardly concentrate on the mass (again, just read -- shhh!). So I went up to the upper level -- a much better position -- you could really see all the cleav.. -- err wait -- people from there -- apparently, from there, one could see what's really happening while the mass was going on.

First, there were these 4 girls on a coffee shop table situated outside -- "appropriately" -- while hearing mass -- they were eating their crepe and drinking their coffee and of course, the occasional chitchat especially during the 1st and 2nd reading -- and unfortunately, also during the Homily.

Second, a group of waiters and waitresses gathering in a table -- who were just speaking so loudly that it was hard to hear anything the priest was saying. That was really annoying -- but -- I think they get the picture and suddenly, I could hear the priest again.

During the whole duration of the mass, people were just passing by everywhere. I get it -- because it was a public area -- but common sense would dictate that seeing something going on -- especially when a number of people are gathering singing praises and praying -- would you not normally yield and examine the current situation and say -- "Opps!" I sort of understand foreigners (mostly, Koreans, and some Westerners) not knowing anything about Christian Religion activities -- but -- fellow Filipinos? C'mon! Who knows what they were thinking -- I could only see them from above -- not see through them and read their minds.

Since the Entertainment area is surrounded by restaurants, while the mass was going on, it was business as usual for them. I can't blame them, of course! But, during the part where we sing the great Amen -- one particular restaurant sang a really loud happy birthday song to one of their customers -- complete with tambourine and maracases (spelling check please). I think it echoed all around that hall.

There you go -- my few observations during the mass -- the place of worship really does matter (even if it's just a little).

Google lowering PageRanks

Apparently, this buzz has been out in the web lately, I'm just surprised that I just noticed it now -- Google has lowered my PageRank too. I think this just happened a couple of hours ago. I could still recall seeing my PageRank as it would have been yesterday.

Naturally, I googled all about it and found that there have been a lot of articles already out about it. I'm not an expert on Google PageRank and the system behind it so I can't really discuss the details as to why this sudden change occurred. But, Matt Cutts of Google has confirmed that there was indeed a change --

The partial update to visible PageRank that went out a few days ago was primarily regarding PageRank selling and the forward links of sites. So paid links that pass PageRank would affect our opinion of a site.

Going forward, I expect that Google will be looking at additional sites that appear to be buying or selling PageRank.

Lately, I have been doing my best to increase my PageRank, and it has increase by 1. And this event has instantly nulled and voided my efforts so effortlessly. I think you can imagine how I would feel right.

Knees and the Menicus

Today I've learned a valuable lesson about the lower part of our body -- specifically -- the knees. Unfortunately, it is at the expense of my friend. He has again (yes, again) damage his meniscus. I'm no doctor so I can't explained what this is in detail. Basically, it is located between the two bones that form the knees. It acts as a stabilizer, and shock absorber. Moreover, it provides the lubrication needed for the two bones (femur and tibia). See! I told you -- I'm no doctor -- if you want to know more -- Mr. Google can certainly provide you with the details. Check out the image below too.



Now -- on with the valuable lesson -- simple -- you can't walk (at least painlessly) when your knees are damaged. You can't run either. Nor play soccer (and any game that requires the lower part of the body). Come to think of it -- there would be plenty of cool things that you won't be able to do.

For my colleague and friend, I hope for the best. I hope you will still be able to do all the stuff I mentioned above. I hope the injury is just minor and it won't require that much repairing.

Get better soon!