tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63313495880797552752024-03-13T08:15:14.808+08:00EXPONENTIAL DECAYEXPONENTIAL DECAY - blog
about urbanism, futurism, science and technology, pop culture, trash philosophy, anything actuallyExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-31376904630303570392023-10-27T09:56:00.000+08:002023-10-27T09:56:02.509+08:00Log 04 - Drowned World<p>I. Floodside thoughts</p><p> Another road raising project is in progress in our area to mitigate the ever rising flood levels during the rainy seasons. Again, the houses and establishments on the roadside are left as the street rises higher.</p><p>If things continue like this and the government does not think of a more permanent, sustainable and future-proof solution to the rising water levels, I can imagine many years or decades from now a future where streets are very high like skycrapers winding up on the clouds while the old houses lay abandoned on the ground. Some innovative buildings standing on adjustable tall stone or metal stilts which they can increase height in a modular manner like a lego building where you add more and more blocks at the bottom. While some just add more and more floors above the water and just abandon the levels that get submerged underwater.</p><p>Song on the radio: Flood by Jars of Clay</p><p><br /></p><p>II. Green Dystopian Future</p><p>We always think a green future is a good future. In fact we strive to have a green future for the next generations. 'Green' is a synonym for good. It is almost conflicting to have a green yet dystopian future. </p><p>But just like any kind of technology or tool, 'Green' can be handled with the wrong hands and can lead to a dystopia. </p><p>Where am I coming from with these thoughts? </p><p>Well, these past few days I've been spending a lot of time cleaning up the plants that grow too fast in the garden around our house. Chinese bamboo grow very tall very quick and produces a lot of runners in just a few days of continuous rain. The two bougainvillea climbing on top of our gate quickly grows into a cluster of thorny and leafy and winding branches. The banaba and cherry trees quickly spread a wide canopy of leaves and branches. </p><p>It has been a struggle to trim them to aesthetically good looking and manageable sizes. There is also a problem of caterpillars making the trees and plants their home and multiplying to scary numbers.</p><p>This was just after a few days to weeks of continuous rains.</p><p>In the movie 'Weathering with you', the ending scene sees a future where the rain continued with no end. The plants ultimately overgrow along the tall buildings and skyscrapers of the city<span> and soon dwarf the low houses and structures. The new landscape will be like an ocean with some concrete roads crawling up and down (after some road raising projects) and thick viny branches surrounding the tall buildings. It is a conglomerate of blue water, green plants and gray concrete with the blue and green dominating. And with the green comes the biodiversity, mostly bugs and crawling insects.</span></p>ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-69472230518639930642023-10-13T12:54:00.012+08:002023-10-18T11:32:14.029+08:00Log 03 - AI for World Peace<p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">I. First the Voice</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> AI Manny Pacquiao Is Covering Your Fave Songs</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.google.com/amp/s/complexphilippines.com/music/ai-manny-pacquiao-is-covering-your-favorite-songs/amp/</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">II. Then the Body</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">JAPANESE STARTUP BRINGS GUNDAM-LIKE TRANSFORMABLE MECH TO LIFE AND IT’S BUYABLE FOR $3 MILLION</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.yankodesign.com/2023/10/09/japanese-startup-brings-gundam-like-transformable-mech-to-life-and-its-buyable-for-3-million/</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">III. Then Supremacy</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I can imagine a future where an autonomous mech with 3D printing capability (akin to X-men's Mother Sentinel) is installed with an advanced AI and given a prompt such as:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i> Create an army of Manny Pacquiao-voiced gundam-like robots and have them deployed outside every household on earth and sing songs from the Top 10 billboard chart of the month.</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Maybe only with such extreme measures can we really achieve real and <a href="https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2021/06/22/philippines-crime-rate-manny-pacquiao/" target="_blank">long-lasting world peace</a>.</span></p><p><br /></p>ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-27829002129326351812023-10-07T23:29:00.001+08:002023-10-16T12:53:55.497+08:00Log 02 - Foundations of Ecopunk<p><b style="font-family: arial;">I. Bamboo Architecture and Technology</b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">https://reelpaper.com/blogs/reel-talk/how-fast-does-a-bamboo-grow</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant, shooting out of the ground at an astonishing four centimeters per second. At this rate, certain bamboo species can grow 91 centimeters (about 35 inches) in a single day."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Story prompt:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The future shows civilizations relying on hyperresilient properties of plants especially bamboo and other grass species. They use bamboo for their machinery and for various structures. Due to the impermance of these materials, it is necessary to have regular maintenance on all bamboo-built structures. Regular replacement is necessary. An endless supply of the material is necessary. Thus the establishment of bamboo plantations which uses all cutting edge techniques.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>II. Balangay Starfleet</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/nuitblanche/all-art-projects/details/2023/project/balangay-starfleet/</u></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Balangay are ancient boats of the Philippines. Artist Leeroy New reimagines them as a fleet of Filipino retro futuristic space vessels made of bamboo and discarded plastics. New imagines a speculative (or not-so-speculative) future where the Philippines becomes the destination of the world’s waste and where its population adapts to this new ecology of nature, technology and trash — but mostly trash. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>[Artist Leeroy New]</i> </span><span style="background-color: white;">grew to realize that these visions of a sleek futurism produced in the first worlds did not have his specific cultural and historical context in mind. Therefore, he created his own brand of speculative Filipino sci-fi driven by the belief that the sci-fi genre has great power in determining the technological innovations and attitudes of the future. New refers to the nature-centric or animist principles of Filipino precolonial mythology and histories to inform this alternate futuristic vision."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Story Prompt:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Following the prompt from I. people began constructing huge transport vehicles using Bamboo as the main material. Intercontinental airships with bamboo hulls and propellers. Uses wind power and spring load technology to store energy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Captains need to map the route, since the materials are semi-permanent, the journey should pass through bamboo plantations for resupply and maintenance runs.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>III. Forestry AI </b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2023-09-tree-hugging-ai-brazilian-amazon.amp</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #243f50;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sensors were installed on tree trunks which detects and recognize threats (sounds of chainsaw, axes etc). These sensors also relay the information to other sensors on the network which is also recieved by a central points which deploys the appropriate action.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sci-fi notes:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Central AI can be installed directly to the tree. The tree can directly assess if a threat is imminent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tree branches and roots (i.e. for balete trees) are also modified with nanotech mechanical attachments allowing the tree some movement capability.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The tree's central AI plus movement allows it to deal with threats in real time autonomously.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Future advancement on materials technology enables the tree to add more modifications using materials infinitely available to it, i.e. tree trunks, leaves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sensors are soundbased. Soon the trees were able to communicate by manipulating the flow of wind on the leaves and branches to emit certain sounds as a form of language. Treesongs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Story prompt:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Legends tell the story of the Great Balete Tree whom they call the Old Mother, the guardian of the forest and known as the Millenium Tree in the province of Aurora. Stories say that, when faced with threats to the forest and its inhabitants, the Old Mother will sing a lullaby heard all over the entire forest. The song summons the Rootwarriors of the Green, an army of tall trees with thick roots dangling on its branches. These roots are their weapons, able to move with the Old Mother's songs to subdue any threat to the forest and its creatures' peaceful habitation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The song was never heard for thousands of years. The natives also forgot where the Old Mother stands or if it still is alive or already destroyed the Iron Conquerors that pillaged the country many hundreds of years ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Origins:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Many thousands of years ago: The ancient technotribe of Aurora started their technocrafting tradition. Using a mix of available materials (some native like threads or fibers to something advanced like microchips), the weavers began decorating the great trees with all these materials. (Unaware of it, after years of this crafting tradition, the technotribe actually mechanized the trees.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The technotribal priests also began chanting songs to the tree. Inadvertently, the priests were actually creating a new programming code based on enchantments. Soon the code evolved into a self-learning language. And an AI was created naturally with songs as its main language.</span></p>ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-55067671661945265952023-09-30T19:06:00.003+08:002023-10-16T12:53:42.994+08:00Log 01 - Pilot<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Tactic 01</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b>Create blog post for whatever ideas you have this week, whatever plans you think of, whatever discoveries you find in the internet or elsewhere.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Christmas 2023 theme - Santa's Workshop</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b>Upcycle all the kids' toys into decors i.e. as if they are being made by the elves.<br />Dedicate one room as the Workshop. Make signs everywhere pointing to that room.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>NorthSide Art Collective</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b><i>https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551892225467&mibextid=ZbWKwL</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Newly opened art gallery that showcases steampunk art creations of Ram Mallari Jr.</span><br /></div>ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-76445688143859228422015-03-18T18:05:00.001+08:002015-03-29T14:44:37.350+08:00New Religions, Old Beliefs<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Part 3 of the Future Perfect series]</span></b><br />
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<i>In the year 3562, a group of archaeologists uncovered a tablet, believed to be a holy artifact, buried underneath the Avida Condominium Towers in Makatiland, a known place of religious worship in the Philippine Islands during the ancient times. The tablet has a Titanium casing and Gorilla glass screen explaining why it survived this long. They have dated the tablet to be about 1000 years old. </i><br />
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<i>When the archaeologists booted the device, they found data still intact. There are prayers to various ancient Gods, scriptures depicting ancient beliefs, gospels and other scriptures. The scriptures match with the ancient Religions during that time (circa 2500) like Technoism, Asian Cathalicism, and Microsoftism. The following are excerpts translated from its original English.</i><br />
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------------------------------- start data dump-------------------------------------------<br />
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<b>Data snip #45</b></div>
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<b>Clip title: A Prayer of Providence</b></div>
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Blessed be the God of the Internet<br />
Blessed be the Goddess of Real Estate<br />
Blessed be the God of Politics<br />
Blessed be the God of Malls<br />
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Listen, O God of Technosingularity.<br />
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In the Handle of the <b>Inventor </b>and of the Spliced and of the Divine Programming, /end.<br />
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Our <b>Inventor</b>, whose consciousness is uploaded in the cloud, Your handle be unused, Your password be unhacked, Your interface be rendered in our meatspace, Your logic be replicated, 3D printed from the exact source code.<br />
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Provide sufficient bandwidth for the day and delete our faulty codes... <i>[next lines incomprehensible]</i><br />
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<b>Data snip #08</b><br />
<b>Clip title: The 19,872 commandments </b><br />
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Commandment 98: Remember to keep the 59th line empty, for it is the <b>Inventor's </b>line and only his.<br />
Commandment 155: You will not use <b>Inventor's </b>handle in pure lowercase.<br />
Commandment 156: You will not use the <b>Inventor's </b>handle unbolded.<br />
Commandment 412: Remember to create an open circuit on the 59th mesh, for it is the <b>Inventor's </b>mesh and only his.<br />
Commandment 1,659: You shall wear and use only the accessories blessed and sanctioned by the <b>Inventor.</b><br />
Commandment 5,977: You shall listen only to divine music downloaded from His Divine Store.<br />
Commandment 8,516: You shall not desecrate His Divine Devices with illegal software.<br />
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<b>Data snip #99</b><br />
<b>Clip title: The Gospel according to Bill Jates</b><br />
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<b>Bill Chapter 8, Verse 2:</b><br />
I look at my blinking screen in awe. It alternated from white to blue in dizzying speeds. Then He spoke to me, "The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency."<br />
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<b>Data snip #109</b><br />
<b>Clip title: The First Emails of </b><b>Zukerberd </b><b>to the Haitians</b><br />
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<b>1 Zukerberd Chapter 2, Verse 5</b></div>
You made another application knowing that at some point the One Networking site would probably want to do something with jobs. This was pretty surprising to us, because you basically made something on the side that will end up competing with the One Networking site and that's pretty bad by itself. But putting ads up on the One Networking site to advertise it, especially for free, is just mean.<br />
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<i>-------------------------- end data dump ---------------------------------</i></div>
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<i>The archaeologists have concluded that the tablet's contents might be apocryphal. These are the scriptures that were not accepted as 'canonical' and hence not included in the current teachings of modern religions.</i></div>
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<i>Along with the tablet other divine artifacts were unearthed. An Apple watch, an iRosary and a rare Google Glass. Archaeologists are still excavating the site as of writing.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>- With reports from the Philippine Commission for Archeological, Historical and Hipster Studies</b></span></div>
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ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-17835377474995442952015-03-16T22:16:00.000+08:002015-03-18T16:49:20.419+08:00Chronicles of a Future Archeologist<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Part 2 of the Future Perfect series]</span></b><br />
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<b>From the journals of Pedro S. Palanca, PhD in Archeology and Ancient Antiquities.</b><br />
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I arrived at the coordinates 14°33'24"N 121°1'26"E with the sun already setting at the horizon. This might have been a religious ritual place or an astrological site. The positioning of the structures prove it so. As the sun sets, it shines along a long, wide clearing, bordered on its side by tall, slabs of stone and metal ruins.<br />
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<b>The year is 3231.</b><br />
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I marvel at the gigantic structures all around and wonder how the ancients are able to build these massive feats of architecture. Each structure might have stood two thousand meters up or even higher. Their width might have been half a kilometer on all sides. The corners are all perfect angles. The sides are perfect lines. On all sides, there are perfect patterns of repeating square holes, about 2 meters by 2 meters wide. Each with perfect lines and angles.<br />
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On some structures, these holes are covered by a thin clear material almost crystalline in form. For some, the holes are decorated by complex ornate patterns-- flowing, zigzaging, crisscrosssing each other.<br />
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From my ancient guidebook, I learn that they call these 'Skyscrapers'. It has been theorized that the ancients used them to clean the skies of the sins of the humans hence the name. During their ceremonial rituals, the guidebook says, the monks dressed in their finest, would fall in line in front of offertory cages on the onset of the sunrise. At anytime, about 20 monks can fit on these cages. They would get in these cages and the structure would bring them to the heavenly spaces or 'cubicles' to be purified of their sins and to contribute in the scraping of the skies. At sun's fall, the monk would return purified and duty accomplished. They would do this every single day as a form of religious devotion.<br />
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<b>This structure on my right is the tallest skyscraper. They call it the Pibikom Tower, most probably in honor of Pibikom, the ancient god of banking and finance.</b><br />
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In front of me lies an endless stretch of flat, black surface. It is about 20 meters wide and stretches beyond the horizon. I stand in awe at the perfect flatness made of hard and seemingly indestructible stone like volcanic glass. It is an amazing work of technology by such primitive people. It is on these endless fields where the ancients parade their monks on their way to their ceremonies.<br />
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According to the guidebook, monks alight on metallic carriages or 'buses' all link to each other via a ritual called 'traffic'. The carriages move ceremoniously to an orrery of sound, from low pitched hums to high pitched screams. The carriage move slowly in those rituals until they reach the corresponding skyscraper. They call these surfaces 'Highways', since they are the pathways that lead to the skies or the 'Highs'.<br />
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<b>The long highway stretching across my coordinate is called the Aiala Highway, named from Aiala, the goddess of lands, dwellings and real estate.</b><br />
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It's already dark and I need to get out of this place. The guidebook says the place is teeming with the spirits of the monks who died on their cubicles in the act of skyscraping.<br />
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On my next visits, I'm planning on exploring the secrets of the underground passages, the 'Underpass' and take a look at another technological masterpiece, the Emarti and how it met its horrific and disastrous death.<br />
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This is Pedro Palanca, PhD signing off for now.ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-73168335276827002302015-02-02T21:57:00.002+08:002015-03-18T16:48:57.321+08:00Tips for Time Travelers arriving at Manila 2015<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Part 1 of the Future Perfect series]</span></b><br />
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Good day Time Travelers and greetings from the year 4045!<br />
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This post will serve as a guide for all you tourist wanting to make the most of your visit in this very amazing point in our history. As such we have listed some tips on how to behave, to avoid being detected as a traveler from the future and to maximize your enjoyment of the tour.<br />
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Please read them carefully. If in doubt, please refer to the nearest PATT office in your area.<br />
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1. Don't ask help from other people to take a picture of you using your camera. They would instantly know you are not from this era. Take a picture of yourself instead (even if it may sound nonsense). They call it "selfish" or something to that effect.<br />
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2. Never eat you're food immediately. They have some sort of procedure here where they take an image of the food then upload the picture to a server somewhere. It is some sort of regulation here. You can only eat it once it is approved by the Department of Food Photographs. In your case, just pretend for a few minutes that you are taking pictures of your food and uploading it online.<br />
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3. When dining with another person, never talk to that person while looking at his/her eyes directly for more than 10 seconds. It is a sign of disrespect. Instead, every 5 seconds or so, look into your phone and pretend that you are typing something.<br />
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4. In relation to #3, when you are in the act of doing anything (like walking or buying flowers or buying a drink) make sure to document every 5 seconds what you are doing by typing it into your phone. It is another policy. Just to be safe, it is advisable to do this even when you are alone, in case their Department of Documentation is watching you. Example would be "Taking a drink", "Brushing my teeth", "Peeing" etc.<br />
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5. This year, Manila will be visited by a lot of well known personalities all over the world, like the Pope, the French President, the Dalai Lama, Rihanna etc. NEVER EVER LOOK INTO THEM DIRECTLY. Or you will be charged with contempt or attempted assassination or sacrilege or something else. Instead, use your phone to capture a video and then look at the phone screen instead.<br />
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6. The people in this year are highly opinionated in terms of government policies and political stands. If someone would ask you what is your take on something controversial, just tell them its the fault of the previous administration. You can even apply to end any argument in general. I.e. <i>"Why is it so dirty here?", "It's the fault of the previous cleaner's shift"</i>. Or <i>"Why is this fruit so sour?" "It's the fault of the delivery guy."</i> Don't worry, it is the countries' Official Stand on things.<br />
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7. If you happen to meet a local celebrity, it is customary to throw degrading insults at them and their family (like<i> "You're son is gay", or "You're a slut.") </i>They call it <i>vashing </i>in this culture. They would also offer salutatory insulting <i>vashes </i>at you which you should counter immediately until you both part ways.<br />
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8. Finally, if the worst case comes and you are discovered to be a time traveler just pretend you have a heart attack or any other sickness. They will let you go immediately. It has many precedents. It is foolproof.<br />
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Now, if you become confused by these complicated and nonsensical behavioural guidelines, you can always ask the interwebz for Mr. Google. From the very few documents we gathered, he seem to be a very wise go-to person and knows a lot about this time than anyone else. Just make sure to buy some of his products like Viagra or the rudimentary iPhone 6.<br />
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Next time we'll show you some of the best places to go to where you can find artifacts like CD's, DVD's or even look at the ancestor of our quantum luminal machines, those they call laptops. Or visit the mysterious "malls" back on their heydays. Or even go treasure hunting on their Tyangges and visit the mother dungeon itself, the Devizoria.<br />
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That's all for today's tips. Until next time. Enjoy your time out there traveler!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">This post is sponsored by the Philippine Authority for Temporal Tourism </span></b>ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-39576993167036043182015-01-25T11:58:00.001+08:002015-01-25T15:14:18.297+08:00Google failed me (among other things)<b>1. How Google failed me</b><br />
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Yesterday as I was walking home, I saw a graffiti stenciled on one of the walls along the sidewalk. It is an image of a child with text "Rescue Us". I've seen it some place else before. And I was intrigued by the image. Who created it? What is the artist fighting for? What cause?<br />
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I initially assumed it is something like a cause fighting child labor, or save the street children or the like. Noble causes that I could support.<br />
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So when I arrived home, I fired up my laptop and searched in vain for the image using various keywords.<br />
graffiti<br />
rescue us<br />
street art <br />
makati<br />
manila<br />
So on and so forth and the combinations thereof.<br />
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To no avail.<br />
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Then, just a whim, I opened my instagram and searched for the hashtag #rescueus. Many results were displayed. And to my surprise, there on the first page, the 12th image or so is the one I'm looking for.<br />
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So there, it was probably the first time Google failed. (Correction: It was the <a href="http://exdecay.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-x-hate-x-this-rise-of-conjunction-x.html">second</a>.) Instead, the power of social networking saved the day and showed me the light.<br />
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By the way, here's the image in question for reference.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ayFdj9ybMmy4r8Rw9uVOQlftZzRHO4IwQzR_djCOfeWeY58UMX5dpp6Tm90IKDL020DkhRwdoMImHJTzACX6xiIqG46xoDSB1OqrWKBqbVkdD4PCDeauiXmabWAjmrdxZgA4bEkjPi8/s1600/rescueus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ayFdj9ybMmy4r8Rw9uVOQlftZzRHO4IwQzR_djCOfeWeY58UMX5dpp6Tm90IKDL020DkhRwdoMImHJTzACX6xiIqG46xoDSB1OqrWKBqbVkdD4PCDeauiXmabWAjmrdxZgA4bEkjPi8/s1600/rescueus.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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#endrant<br />
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<b>2. Rescue Us</b><br />
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As I was looking at the account of the artist in Instagram, I thought of asking him what is his cause. So I checked the exact "Rescue Us" image in his posts and thought of commenting with my question.<br />
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But Lo and behold, someone already asked! Another IG user asked what is the meaning of the images. And the artist already answered.<br />
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To paraphrase, the artist said he just want to share his stencils because it is his passion.<br />
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...<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, graffiti has been used as a medium of expression and as a means of taking a stand. Look here for some <a href="https://suzeeinthecity.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/graffiti-for-a-social-cause-zeft-nazeer-nemo-and-mona-lisa-brigades/">Graffiti for a cause. </a> And who wouldn't know <a href="http://banksy.co.uk/">Banksy </a>whose street art usually come with loaded imagery as a sort of opinion piece of the artist. And to every one passing EDSA or any of the main thoroughfares in Manila everyday, who would miss the "CPP/NPA" graffiti on the walls (with deep black ink) even if albeit no aesthetic at all.<br />
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...<br />
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Going back to the "Rescue Us" post, I just thought it could have been a great vehicle for a good cause. As evident on the comments, many people have seen it and was curious of the meaning. It could have raised awareness of certain issues if that is the least it could contribute.<br />
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But then again, who am I to question the intent of the artist, right? As they say, Art for art's sake. <i> (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/397741-art-for-art-s-sake-is-an-empty-phrase-art-for">But who or what the hell is art?</a>)</i><br />
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For more amazing graffiti art in the streets of Manila, you can check out this Facebook page.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/StreetArtPhilippines">https://www.facebook.com/StreetArtPhilippines</a><br />
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And look! There's actually a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1445439132/manilenos-a-film-by-the-filipino-street-art-projec">Kickstarter </a>project! Here's the <a href="http://filipinostreetart.com/">site</a>.<br />
<br />ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-18696654191661894532014-11-30T14:36:00.000+08:002014-11-30T14:36:37.153+08:00Ultra Electro Nostalgic PowerI regret not watching the movie Blue Bustamante on its regular showing in the Cinema One Originals film festival last year or on any of its few re-runs this year so I was so glad they showed it again on the Teatrino at Promenade. I grew up watching A LOT of sentai and tokusatsu shows as a kid (of course I don't know they were called as such back then). Team shows like Bioman, Maskman, Jetman. Solos like Shaider, Machine Man, Mask Rider Black. Or the Ultraman series and Magmaman. Everyday, after school at 4 or 5 pm, I will sit down and be glued to the TV set for an hour or so (they used to show them back to back). I would absorb them all. Mind you, we only have a black and white TV set back then so I would only identify the characters when they shout their name. In class, I was very envious when my classmates talk vividly how Blue2, Red1 or anyone from the team looks like. For me the characters are just Grey1, DarkGrey2, LightGrey3 etc.<br />
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Anyways, if you are a fan, or even just a kid who grew up watching these shows, then Blue Bustamante is a movie for you. There were many callbacks to the old sentai shows like a character disappearing in the background with that sound effect (Saito...), or the sights of cardboard buildings serving as an arena of a big robot and kaiju deathmatch; or the crude but cool costumes of the team, the monsters and the henchman among others.<br />
<br />
But more than, it's a very funny and entertaining movie despite a supposedly very sad premise of that of an OFW father who needs to live apart from his family for a long time. The humor is mostly provided by Jun Sabayton who has quite a natural knack for comedy. (You can check more detailed reviews at <a href="http://pinoyrebyu.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/blue-bustamante-reviews/">Pinoy Rebyu</a>.)<br />
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And then there's the nostalgia. From the lead character's blue jeans jacket (of the tito from saudi fame), or the Family Computer (which I only got to play with courtesy of a neighbor who has one), Yanyan eating. "Blue Bustamante" used nostalgia effectively, providing instant relatability to the audience without even trying to.<br />
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A show that used nostalgia to this effect is the movie "Guardians of the Galaxy". This time, music is the nostalgic element used. Old songs were used in the background as an old Walkman served as a mcguffin. In the unbeliveably alien environment and setting, audience could immediately relate to the main character via the song he plays on his walkman which are actually all very good.<br />
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Another one I can think of is the episode "Wild Horses" from the anime "Cowboy Bebop". The setting is in a far future with a society very different from the present. This time the nostalgia comes in the form of an old relic, the Space Shuttle, calling back the beginnings of the Space Age. This is the same aura being portrayed in the comic book by Warren Ellis, "Orbiter".<br />
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Of course I wouldn't forget "Hugo", a homage to the films of old directed by someone who has a real passion for movies themselves. Add to that "The Wrestler", calling back the vintage independent wrestling circuit and "Pacific Rim" an action film about kaiju and mecha films of Japan.<br />
<br />
Anyways, nostalgia when used properly is a very powerful element. Just look at the latest Star Wars trailer. The first few scenes are already awesome by their look. UNTIL THAT JOHN WILLIAMS' THEME PLAY WHILE THE MILLENIUM FALCON FLIES!!! <br />
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That's it!!! Tune again next time for another episode of...<br />
[Play ending Credits]<br />
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<br />ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-10923539339327340432014-11-16T22:56:00.004+08:002014-11-17T19:47:20.029+08:00Project Proposal: Bullet-time rendering of the Ayala Triangle Christmas lights using Crowdsourced videos of the showThe Ayala Triangle Lights and Sound show is a yearly event, now on its fifth year, where about a million LED Christmas lights are arranged around the trees and posts in the garden and from 6:00 PM and every 30 minutes onward, the lights dance in sync with Christmas carols. More than 1000 people watch the show every day.<br />
<br />
I watched it earlier tonight and I noticed that maybe half of the people watching are also taking videos of the show using their mobile phones or video cams. Each captures in a unique location. That would mean at least 200 video captures of the same event at different locations. And that is just for one 10 minute segment. The show repeats every 30 minutes until 10:00 PM. We would actually have about 2,000 unique videos of the event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87UtVxz22hN28MACxLHCBNFZRqBqDmbp5qItmLYhyHAfDm9dgZ_ifkT89CSq9Qm2tAohjfQps6GrRbtSLUWC9bh0bar84UYtjMWdHoiI5soypwyAapeCeFvXYdNQYBvjGTQH1qSQVjuE/s1600/AyalaLights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87UtVxz22hN28MACxLHCBNFZRqBqDmbp5qItmLYhyHAfDm9dgZ_ifkT89CSq9Qm2tAohjfQps6GrRbtSLUWC9bh0bar84UYtjMWdHoiI5soypwyAapeCeFvXYdNQYBvjGTQH1qSQVjuE/s1600/AyalaLights.jpg" height="192" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Those video materials can in theory be used to create a bullet time rendering of the entire show.<br />
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<b>Bullet time</b> according to Wikipedia <i>"is a visual effect or visual impression of detaching the time and space of a camera(or viewer) from that of its visible subject"</i>. This effect, implemented most famously in the movie <i>"The Matrix"</i>, was achieved by firing multiple cameras in an array at the same time or sequentially. Frames caught at a single time are then arranged to create a slow-motion, orbiting effect like in the scene where Neo moves as fast as a bullet almost dodging it (hence its name.)<br />
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<br />
One would only need to do a few things to compile the videos. Stabilize the videos so that each capture would be fixed capture. Normalize the brightness and colors of all videos so that each image would have same tone with others. Normalize the resolution of the videos.<br />
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Once done, run an algorithm to analyse the location of the camera based on a baseline camera and the distances between reference points (also Christmas lights ). As reference for the timing, we will use the background sounds.<br />
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After all processing is done, we could, in theory, freeze the show at any given time then zoom our perspective to a hundred multiple viewpoints as if you are flying around and between the lights. Anyone can then enjoy the show from multiple vantage points like seeing in everyone's eyes. Now that would be a very different and amazing way to watch the show.ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-39290004056624693622014-11-10T22:06:00.001+08:002014-11-10T22:06:31.745+08:00Interesting Concepts Interspersed into Stellar ImageryInterstellar is a movie I just can't wrap my head around completely. It is film that I just can't sum up into a cohesive synopsis. So I won't attempt to. Instead I'll describe the aspects of it that I can more or less describe.<br />
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Probable spoilers ahead.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
Einstein's twin paradox would make for a very good dramatic story. One twin stays on Earth. The other twin travels on a spaceship zooming at speeds approaching the speed of light. Then after the other twin's journey to space, he travels back and meets the twin who stayed on Earth. The space twin gets does not get older, the Earth twin ages very much. Space twin is still on his twenties. Earth twin is on his sixties or even older.<br />
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Make it a story about a father and his much loved, spoiled daughter. Make it a story of abandonment, rejection, solitude. This concept alone would make a very touching movie. (An honest, typical drama in the backdrop of a scientific concept similar to movies like "Another Earth".)<br />
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The realization that 20 to 30 years have passed by on Earth. The daughter has aged, the father stayed young. The realization that the father missed a lot. Then the eventual reunion of the father and the daughter, now on her deathbed as an old woman, the father on the bedside.<br />
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***<br />
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The concept of gods as our highly advanced descendants have long been explored in many stories of fiction. Our future selves giving "tips", "clues" or breadcrumbs as to what path our present selves should take. I was immediately reminded of the movie "Contact". Who are the aliens who sent the blueprints to Earth? Could they be our future selves, discovering more advanced technology and sharing this knowledge to the primitive humans?<br />
<br />
In "2001:A Space Odyssey" a construct arrives at our most primitive ancestors, the apes, and gave them that gift of knowledge. That's the very needed boost for them to evolve. To become the creature that would give them that gift. Ouroborous. It is a very mind-boggling paradox just like Einstein's twins. <br />
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We could look back in our history and search for advanced technology; Pyramids, Stonehenge, Moai. Or look into old religions and their miracles, Noah's Ark, Buddha's Enlightenment, Christ's resurrection and like that weird-haired guy from History channel, we would proclaim "Aliens!". Or ancient astronauts. Or our children in the far future.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
Astronauts world-jumping in space on a special mission. I heard of the concept in the the Cartoon series Ulysses, where a group of space travelers journey in space for some important mission.<br />
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Step it up by adding wormholes into the mix. Instant teleport device to another universe. Sort of like "Sliders" but in space. Or Star Trek. Or Stargate.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
Finally, a mission to find a new home to Earth when the planet is diagnosed dying. Stories like "Space Battleship Yamato 2199", "Wall-E".<br />
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***<br />
<br />
All these and more are the concepts that Christopher Nolan juggled in his latest film, "Interstellar". All challenging concepts, not usually scene in mainstream cinema especially on blockbuster billed movies.<br />
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<br />
***<br />
<br />
Now let me tell you something about the scenes. A world covered with knee deep oceans and mountain-high waves. A world covered in snow with frozen clouds hanging in the atmosphere like stalactites. A spherical wormhole that reflects all space around it like a magical, heavenly mirror. A giant black hole swallowing light all around it forming a ring of light around a dark, round abscence.<br />
<br />
An amazing docking procedure with both the station and the capsule rotating in sync as they fall into the gravitational grasp of the black hole. A breathtaking view of the spaceship as it floats silently in space. An eternally recursive image of a bedroom as a 5-dimensional representation of our existential plane. And finally, a surprisingly funny robot transforming into rotating, speeding wheel almost instantaneously to save another crew.<br />
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Watching in IMAX is probably the best way to go.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
And more:<br />
- All our food soon becomes dust.<br />
- Governments just gave up on fighting and wars.<br />
- NASA is now defunct.<br />
- Higher education is unnecessary. People just need food.<br />
- Gravity as a means of communication.<br />
- And many more that flew over my head.ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-86278154419046220852014-11-07T20:45:00.000+08:002014-11-07T20:45:37.024+08:00Live Blogging the NLEX journey<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Liveblogging the NLEX journey</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Aboard a first north luzon bus with route Caloocan to San Simon. Sent from my iPhone. </span><br />
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At around <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:18 pm</a> we arrived at the NLEX tollgate. Gate N16. Steel ladders and metal gates guard our way in. Our bus driver transacts with the toll personnel. Exchange of money. And we're in. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:20 pm</a> </div>
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Speeding through the concrete road. Pass under a bridge. A black van overtakes on the right. I scratch my nose. A red car overtakes on the left. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:21 pm</a></div>
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I create another entry but time flips to...</div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:22 pm</a></div>
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Concrete roads roll on and on below the wheels of our bus. Countless vehicles pass by on the opposite lane. </div>
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On and on it goes. </div>
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On and on. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:24 pm</a></div>
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Concrete roads as before. Is there nothing else?</div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://5" x-apple-data-detectors-result="5" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:25 pm</a></div>
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Still concrete roads ahead. I look forward and see the rear lights pf the vehicles before us. Red like the angry eyes of the devil. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:26 pm</a></div>
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So there are trees lining the aide of the road. I didn't notice initially because of the darkness. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://7" x-apple-data-detectors-result="7" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:27 pm</a></div>
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Since when was the onboard movie playing? It's Hercules starring the Rock. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://8" x-apple-data-detectors-result="8" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:30 pm</a></div>
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We overtake a truck. Now a car. Then a van. We are speeding through. A pickup truck travels beside us for a moment. Then we overtake it. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9" x-apple-data-detectors-result="9" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:21 pm</a></div>
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We pass a billboard for Ganador Max. Whatever that is. </div>
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A few minutes after i started this live blog, i realize the futility of this endeavor. Am i to miss all the monotonous sights just to type them for whatever reason? And do I give justice to the amazingly plain concrete road by converting the view into a bunch of short unimaginative words? Does my reporting give any value to any reader? And if i feel these way during the liveblogging of a Massively uninteresting event, then what more for truly historical events like an eclipse or a boxing match or a very good massage?</div>
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Maybe livebloggers have other reasons why do it but for me i think i'm out. </div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://10" x-apple-data-detectors-result="10" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:40 pm</a></div>
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I stopped this live blog and enjoy the ugly view of roads and endless roads. </div>
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ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-11033396827881064182014-11-01T12:11:00.000+08:002014-11-01T12:11:04.962+08:00Pinoy Cinema Characters who don't need Halloween CostumesThought I'd do a short post about Halloween. So here it is.<br />
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Here's some characters in Philippine cinema who don't need costume on Halloween. Mind you, it's not because they are ugly or scary looking but because they have personified the horror creatures they are portraying.<br />
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<b>1. Nonong Bangkay, the personification of an undead or Death himself.</b><br />
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Alyas Bangkay is known for his portrayal of Kamatayan, or as a zombie on a lot of mostly comedy films including the Enteng Kabisote film series. Just one look at his appearance and you'll know why he is always offered to take such roles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fbYNomFocGsQNqMCPk0_8NllP3bFKKSL1vkMw1HtRGSFkyW40GzxdR7vjJTlc6Yz0_blzfYYnqb6iso_py4dWGR89ZgtDEAzDCDeRh9tygHfGDRUVQwQpg0FuWLL1AIildzwF4WqeEA/s1600/bankay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fbYNomFocGsQNqMCPk0_8NllP3bFKKSL1vkMw1HtRGSFkyW40GzxdR7vjJTlc6Yz0_blzfYYnqb6iso_py4dWGR89ZgtDEAzDCDeRh9tygHfGDRUVQwQpg0FuWLL1AIildzwF4WqeEA/s1600/bankay.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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He has been managing a beach resort owned by the town mayor for eight years now<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1388155/">http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1388155/</a><br />
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<b>2. Lilia Cuntapay, the scary and old white lady herself.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfikPXwlqkYvaB5Q2TW6SDmasTE4MuP46lR-XC3V4DZNLbwRnsfPcczq6yHXVcBX5OQ3SDIgdOJO2RPZWIJ_k1qDRd-Udh0Sj8DhAnof1pOw0D_JzPpmYGYNMf_-wp1-AFMqHU5TOEYC0/s1600/Lilia-Cuntapay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfikPXwlqkYvaB5Q2TW6SDmasTE4MuP46lR-XC3V4DZNLbwRnsfPcczq6yHXVcBX5OQ3SDIgdOJO2RPZWIJ_k1qDRd-Udh0Sj8DhAnof1pOw0D_JzPpmYGYNMf_-wp1-AFMqHU5TOEYC0/s1600/Lilia-Cuntapay.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
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She starred in countless horror films including the Shake, Rattle and Roll series. She is also the lead star in the indie film "Six Degress of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay" which is actually quite good and gathered a lot of awards.<br />
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At first look she's just you're typical grandmotherly grandmother.<br />
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Until she opens her eyes and mouth wide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMu9gsa_2PoZMBjHm0LiN6ee-Zx-K_ayF3FsYVkiSPxcAHaNOoGqvoYcd7oW3bFttFj3eT_I6jt6cHdEJGTQoCuQYpFO-1X2wvBgR0eKtVY6rEUF_mTm6AoZmFDvM4WreTyYX5pBpO54/s1600/interphoto_1322805208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMu9gsa_2PoZMBjHm0LiN6ee-Zx-K_ayF3FsYVkiSPxcAHaNOoGqvoYcd7oW3bFttFj3eT_I6jt6cHdEJGTQoCuQYpFO-1X2wvBgR0eKtVY6rEUF_mTm6AoZmFDvM4WreTyYX5pBpO54/s1600/interphoto_1322805208.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></div>
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She used to teach Primary School in Tuguegarao.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia_Cuntapay">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia_Cuntapay</a><br />
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<b>3. Palito (RIP), the embodiment of a living cadaver.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaoDE3roeidKulPQ-Q1_XOGgvFJNjvjQHDGXhYjOjLktRIDC-UAMN60utVe1oJPrAb7jtn3M8etdsnfiOh1ayVPI78w9dRsfF1y2CkEldI4QeHBoGok2WUnIzXLUXp_4Td87S-_aqogw/s1600/palito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaoDE3roeidKulPQ-Q1_XOGgvFJNjvjQHDGXhYjOjLktRIDC-UAMN60utVe1oJPrAb7jtn3M8etdsnfiOh1ayVPI78w9dRsfF1y2CkEldI4QeHBoGok2WUnIzXLUXp_4Td87S-_aqogw/s1600/palito.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Palito mostly played comedic roles as a walking dead person on many Filipino slapstick films. He also had lead roles in action films (believe it or not) as Rambuto (A pun on Rambo and "buto" or bone) and James Bone (not the porn character).<br />
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For his characters he usually just put cottons wads in his nostrils or just wrap a white cloth around his head.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGNKAClkhBVY3vk7sCQqHiyhpxMtkyeOKRREh5VTaQaxbOwCjwxa8YI38aZcgViHggBTKedPrkIHYEzHiQ3fk6BUxvNEhj9eFJ7WbRpBjkYJDEW83dR8x6QLMzZHU90V3hBpqoVI-xA8/s1600/palito2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGNKAClkhBVY3vk7sCQqHiyhpxMtkyeOKRREh5VTaQaxbOwCjwxa8YI38aZcgViHggBTKedPrkIHYEzHiQ3fk6BUxvNEhj9eFJ7WbRpBjkYJDEW83dR8x6QLMzZHU90V3hBpqoVI-xA8/s1600/palito2.jpg" /></a></div>
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He was a musician and used to play live in stage shows in a casino in Sta. Cruz, Manila.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palito">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palito</a>ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-31783861482112803352014-09-15T01:00:00.000+08:002014-09-15T01:00:00.982+08:00Approach as One: Technological Resonance and its Natural Progression to Singularity<div>
The fast paced outing of various technological giants will make your head spin. Here we have a new <a href="http://developer.android.com/preview/index.html">OS </a><a href="https://www.apple.com/ios/">version</a>, there we have a new <a href="http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxynoteedge/">screen </a>configuration, a new <a href="https://www.apple.com/watch/">device</a>, new functions. All in Gatling gun speeds. </div>
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With the quantity of new releases, one might wonder about the quality of the same. Apple's newest offering in particular, garnered a lot of noise from the tech republic. Many say Apple is just presenting things that have been done many years ago by other companies.</div>
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One might think that Apple has lost its sense of innovation and creativity that it has been brandishing ever since the companies creation. That the tables have actually turned 180 degrees. What used to be an icon of originality is now taking cues from the companies it once sued for stealing its product ideas. </div>
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<b>Recycling now a thing?</b></div>
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If we present the facts alone, it really seems like there is no real new idea presented by the iPhone giant this time. The idea of the Apple Watch has been existing way <a href="http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/gears/index.html">before</a>. Large screen phones are definitely around for a longer time. Same with health monitoring apps and NFC payments.</div>
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<div>
To be fair with Apple, they have always been good at marketing their products and making sure the users maximize their capabilities. Like it or not, these products will still sell to the public who loves easily understandable UX and cool and elegant designs on their gadgets. But that is beside the point.</div>
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The question is, has Apple really lost its magic? Has it lost its ability to create innovative and groundbreaking products that captures the worlds' imagination in a beat? Or more generally, are IT companies now just relying on obtaining the next product idea from the best thing the other company is offering in the market?</div>
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Is the lack of innovation and creativity becoming widespread on the corporate level nowadays?</div>
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<b>A Burst of Resonance?</b></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Let's take a step back. If you look at Apple's capability, it would seem that these latest technological offerings are really a breakthrough in terms of their products. Could it be that it just took them longer to achieve this level, maybe not because of lack of innovation but due to some limiting factor introduced by some "technological deity" somewhere? And could it be that this "technological deity" is simply rationing or guiding the advent of new technology to achieve a certain end goal?</span></div>
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No need to nail me into the cross for that statement though. Because there is no such "deity". There is no need to inject a supernatural entity into the development of a purely logical endeavor.</div>
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However, there is indeed some end to all of this innovation. Futurists call it the "Technological Singularity". Some define it as a hypothesis that states <i>"that accelerating progress in technologies will cause a runaway effect wherein artificial intelligence will exceed human intellectual capacity and control, thus radically changing or even ending civilization in an event called the singularity. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity">Wikipedia</a>)"</i><div>
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My conjecture though is that to reach this point, there is another milestone that should be achieved first. Call it "Technological Resonance". I'd like to think of it not as a specific point but more of a period or range. Technological Resonance in its broadest term is a period in the future wherein all technological innovations from every inventor everywhere no matter how independent they work from each other, would result to very, very similar end products at the same time. It is the period as if technological innovation is being driven independently of every other factor like market share, corporate rivalry or technological espionage.<br />
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It is possible that what we are witnessing is just the beginnings of the Resonance. Like how calculus was developed by two independent thinkers coincidentally at the same time period. (Actually, who knows if there others who developed it at the same time.)<br />
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<b>What drives it?</b><br />
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<b><br /></b> The scientific explanation of resonance would involve natural frequencies and the fact that just a small driving frequency would result to higher amplitude of the oscillation.<br />
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In the case of Technological Resonance, what I have are just theories on what could drive this resonance. First possible driving frequency is the market. Initially, the law of supply and demand could start the resonance, what the market buys, the big companies manufacture the supply and advertise the products which will increase the demand which will start the cycle again. I'm not quite warmed up on this theory though as we've seen some aggressive marketing on various technological inventions which did not take flight like the Google Glass or the Windows mobile OS.<br />
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I'd like to think that this driving force is more innate to human nature and to the real definition of technology itself. The most basic definition of technology is the development of tools to be used by humans. Technology is the way to improve what humans can do.</div>
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It would be more feasible to have the evolution of technology to follow the same path as that of human development, only difference is in the pacing. What human can do, they can do better and faster with technology. We can build houses faster, communicate more effectively, travel more efficiently live better with technology.<br />
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Hence, the evolution of technology will be guided by how humans behave in our society. Take the most basic human necessity or societal needs and technology will naturally wrap itself around those activities to make them more efficient. <br />
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Taking cue from Maslow's hierarchy of needs, new technology will be developed to cater to humanities' physiological, safety, belonging, esteem and self-actualization needs. Can we find a pattern? (Pop quiz: Which technology caters to our need to Belong? How about Safety?)</div>
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Technological resonance now becomes defined as the period in time wherein all technological innovations are all independently oriented towards providing for the most fundamental human needs. As such, in that period, technology would not be an alternative to living anymore. Technology would be another characteristic of life akin to Adaptation, Procreation and Growth.<br />
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(As an aside, if you need to change your basic life processes to adapt to a new technology, then it is not bound to last long. Technology should adapt and improve life, not the other way around.)<br />
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<b>Approaching Singularity, as One </b></div>
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If you think about it, Technological Resonance is a natural step towards singularity. Artificial intelligence will only achieve autonomy if it has full grasp of all human activity and processes. And the best way for that to happen is if humans become fully dependent on technology. During Resonance, all our Technological breakthroughs are on improving or even replacing human needs. That kind of symbiosis is the best way one learns from the other which is a very convenient shortcut to a learning AI. But more importantly it gives Technology some level of control to the human user.<br />
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Some futurists believe the Singularity will come in a hundred years time. And that if it does come, it will happen rapidly without warning. The "ending the civilization" part seems too extreme and grim but shouldn't be ignored.<br />
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Going back, Apple's supposedly 2 year backdated "innovation" would not seem like outdated at all. It might just be a spurt of the aforementioned Technological Resonance.<br />
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<b>In the end...</b><br />
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It's good that there are a lot of companies ejecting a lot of products into the market for human consumption. But the thing is, which companies develop which product does not really matter. In the end, every manufacturer works independently towards a common goal whether they are aware of it or not. That goal is to provide, improve or even replace the most fundamental human needs. What happens after that phase might be good or bad. But the good thing is we'll be approaching it as one.</div>
ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-75683581335202687422014-09-14T12:58:00.000+08:002014-09-14T12:59:32.570+08:00MRT: A horror storyFrom the imaginative minds behind "OTJ", "Rigodon" and "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles" comes the most terrifying movie based on a true story to be shown in Philippine cinemas.<br />
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More terrifying than all the movies in the Final Destination franchise combined.<br />
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More exciting and pulse-raising than Speed (first movie).<br />
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More emotional and heart-wrenching than Denzel Washington's performance in "Unstoppable".<br />
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You will scream at the real-life terror. You might faint with disbelief at the worst circumstances that await the characters. You will swear for the horrors of all things going all wrong all at the same time.<br />
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This summer, prepare to watch in terror as you think that it might actually happen anytime on any of your commutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk-5fLU1MpNFuCMYNEAr40PELlKRpFIJHpQZqfwqtBWUuBDN6rBcpLsuiTq043UrDnp0RXrXyTLqHnZuc-m6_Thhj22WOGdV5C2jKbvkIYaaTu2wT7tw_C4KJYVawVAbmqcW8N6lg9ac/s1600/MRT3-+Last+Trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk-5fLU1MpNFuCMYNEAr40PELlKRpFIJHpQZqfwqtBWUuBDN6rBcpLsuiTq043UrDnp0RXrXyTLqHnZuc-m6_Thhj22WOGdV5C2jKbvkIYaaTu2wT7tw_C4KJYVawVAbmqcW8N6lg9ac/s1600/MRT3-+Last+Trip.jpg" height="400" width="360" /></a></div>
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No one is safe. Even behind the yellow line.</div>
<br />ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-88872343077589891642014-07-20T18:05:00.000+08:002014-07-20T18:05:06.219+08:00I X Hate X This: The Rise of Conjunction XI've been seeing a lot of usage of the X symbol recently on websites, posters etc. I can't help but get annoyed with this new 'fad'. I mean I see titles like:<br />
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Artist X Musician<br />
Abstract concept 1 X Abstract concept 2 (i.e. Love X Art)<br />
Band X Location<br />
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What the hell does the "X" mean? "Versus"? "And"? "With"?, "In"? I don't really know. I think it's a hipster way of saying this not an ordinary combination of two things. This is an X of two things. X is a conjunction of two entities related or otherwise which makes the sum of the two separate entities appear much, much better.<br />
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As if one entity would magically get the redeeming traits of the other if the Conjunction X is used instead of say And or With or Versus.<br />
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When did this new trend even began?<br />
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X already means a lot of things, some even quite cool. X marks the spot for Pirates. X is a prize worth aiming for by inventors, scientists and engineers. X is a generation used to be thought of as cool and forward-looking (that is until generation Y came.) X is a gene that gives cool powers. X indicates an unknown/classified project. X are files referring to mysterious and unexplained events.<br />
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But Conjunction X is fairly new. I see this on events where a designer would partner with a comic book artist for a line of clothing with comic book characters printed. Or when a symphonic orchestra performs with a rock band. Or when a electronic band performs in a trendy restaurant.<br />
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Googling "X" does not return anything useful. I find a band named X, a manga titled X, the xprize etc. Googling "Conjunction X" is the same. I find the real mathematical and grammatical definition of conjunction and X as a cross-product of two vectors. Google fails me this time.<br />
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In any case, I think conjunction X is here to stay to symbolize something that materialized from the hipster generation of today, like YOLO, or selfies or expensive ice cream.<br />
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End X Rant<br />
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(Hey look! My username has an X!)ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-16504621836607543712014-06-28T15:33:00.000+08:002014-06-28T15:33:45.942+08:00God's eye viewNASA astronaut Reid Wiseman just posted a short clip in Vine of a lightning storm over Houston from the ISS point of view.<br />
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<iframe class="vine-embed" frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/MFzIvZBq6M7/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script><br />
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This reminded me of a small project run by a group in Germany called Blitzortung.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en">http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en</a><br />
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The project monitors all lightning strikes all around the world in real-time using a network of sensors in different locations in the globe.<br />
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You can see the lightning strikes as dots on the global map. Places with a lot dots would mean ther is most probably lightning storms occuring in the area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10d_8d5BC6xvcElK5tBEUsbg1zqfYJGXvAwnsZL2Kp_99WcZGv4g1elI-lGt_6d_j387tpWYlT5TXifbgbWZIJ1peqGd_WvSnUtDvSwjDpo5Xsr1gZXRkm8RbZN4sdg3ygqSAzg2B6Sk/s1600/LightningStrikes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10d_8d5BC6xvcElK5tBEUsbg1zqfYJGXvAwnsZL2Kp_99WcZGv4g1elI-lGt_6d_j387tpWYlT5TXifbgbWZIJ1peqGd_WvSnUtDvSwjDpo5Xsr1gZXRkm8RbZN4sdg3ygqSAzg2B6Sk/s1600/LightningStrikes.png" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another project simply named Earth, shows a real-time visualisation of the global wind map.<br />
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<a href="http://earth.nullschool.net/">http://earth.nullschool.net/</a><br />
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Here you can see the winds flowing, circling, spiraling probably following some unknown patterns or maybe just going on chaotic paths to noone knows where.<br />
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One would think some higher beings up above is really monitoring these things using far more advanced technology than ours. Or perhaps these beings are controling the flows, the strikes using their high-tech or magical powers to maintain some balance or to achieve some unfathomable goal.<br />
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To them everything looks deterministic, even calm. To us below everything looks far chaotic and destructive.<br />
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ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-8732725344928799792014-06-04T23:35:00.000+08:002014-06-04T23:35:02.847+08:00The Gravity of Just Being<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You don't know me. </div>
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But you will soon.</div>
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For I possess the most powerful weapon of all. </div>
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More powerful even than death.</div>
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More powerful than non-existence.</div>
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I give you the Just-Life Equation.</div>
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You will be under the state of Just-Living. </div>
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You will be just waking up everyday just to go to work just to eat just to go home and sleep and wake up again.</div>
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Then you'll just do the same thing over and over again.</div>
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You will just be living.</div>
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Like a clock just ticking.</div>
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Or a candle just melting away.</div>
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Or a river just flowing.</div>
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Endless. Aimless.</div>
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No goal or ambition.</div>
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No hopes or dreams.</div>
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Just living.</div>
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My name is Justexist.</div>
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Soon this world will be mine.</div>
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ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-56331403500261905902014-03-16T23:21:00.000+08:002014-03-16T23:21:15.665+08:00What Patok Jeeps and Awful Radio Remixes taught me about lifeBack in college, I used to commute from home to school and back. I regularly ride the 'patok jeeps' because they are accessible, cheap and fast. Patok jeeps are just like your typical jeepneys in the country-- with some modifications. If you see jeepneys with decorations all over their chassis, from inutile decorative antennas, to abstract paintings, to mottos devoid of meanings, to various attachments of statues of horses, eagles, what have you, Patok jeepneys are steroid-enhanced versions of those jeeps. They come with more decorations, more colorful paintings, disco lights to boot and its signature large loudspeakers playing disco-remixed music from the 80's and 90's.<br />
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Patokstep, the Pinoy version of dubstep, as I'd like to think of it. Take 'Sometimes When We Touch' by Dan Hill. Then add a generic bass drum heavy beat and some DJ muttering senseless words randomly like the one below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xDequoccANU" width="560"></iframe><br />
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And you get the Patokstep.<br />
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I found some remixes in youtube with this type of sound:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JV_XlAAVKp4" width="420"></iframe><br />
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It doesn't sound so bad actually. I knid of like it. It's the music they play during fiesta disco nights in the provinces. (Maybe that's why I like it, because of the nostalgia factor. Aw.)<br />
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There's another type of songs they play in these jeepneys. The Christmas remixes. They take a very famous novelty song from that year, give it a Patokstep remix then make it a medley with another Christmas song with Patokstep mix. Then add 1 or 2 more songs in the mix. You get the Mandatory Generic Christmas<br />
remix of the year. Like the one below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dqMf_GQQkOg" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Anyway, during my first rides on these jeepneys, listening to these music is unbearable, what with the very loud sound and the repetitive tunes. But days passed and I began to get comfortable with the songs. In the end I just learned to go with the rhythm (I don't really dance or jive to the music but I just learned to be at peace with it, the repetitions serving as a melodic meditation chants for me.)<br />
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So in the end, I realized that I did not notice the long journey, the traffic, the heat and smoke, as long as I tune in and meditate with the music.<br />
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What I'm saying is, life is full of noise. It's up to you if you want to hear them still as noise or transform them into wonderful music. I'm reminded of the movie 'Another Earth', where the main character tells an anecdote about an astronaut in space who keeps hearing a ticking sound but he can't find the source. It keeps on ticking when he is awake. Tick tick tick. And even when he sleeps. Tick tick tick. He seems to be losing his mind because of the sound. But then later he found that he can make this ticking sound serve as a background percussion of any song he imagines in his head. Sort of a Heavy Bass drum mix. Then he became at peace with sound because he can just hear nice music.<br />
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Back in college, in another jeepney ride, there was a father and his daughter. The daughter seemed agitated by all the travels and seems to be on the verge of crying. The father consoles him by saying 'Enjoyin mo lang anak' (Just enjoy [the ride] my child'. I find his advice very simple yet true.<br />
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It's a matter of enjoying what you have and looking at the positive side of your problems.<br />
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<br />ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-14714908251434134272014-01-14T19:38:00.001+08:002014-03-16T23:22:19.757+08:00Diamond-coated phones, forward thinking etc.First, iPhone had Gold mobile phones (or at least gold-tinted). Now Samsung is doing diamond phones. Quite a level up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.techgig.com/tech-news/editors-pick/Samsung-Galaxy-S5-may-have-diamond-coating-Report-20825?mailer_id=1747&utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=TG_batch&utm_campaign=digest_news_2013-12-21&email=prydex@gmail.com&activity_name=tgdailynews_2013-12-21&dt=&auto_login=cHJ5ZGV4QGdtYWlsLmNvbUAjJEAjJDY1ODQwNkAjJEAjJDEzODQ0NjIwNzQ=&src_type=autoLogin">Samsung Galaxy S5 may have diamond coating: Report</a><br />
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I did my thesis in a laboratory for plasma physics and its applications. One such application is the surface coating of a particular substrate using a plasma-enhanced deposition technology.<br />
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When family members asked what I am studying (They know I am studying to be a 'scientist') I try to explain my thesis in a very, very layman's terms.<br />
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'I create diamonds from some gases'. Because I can't explain to them the exact mechanism, that we need to have very low pressure vacuum at high voltages using rare inert gases at exact proportions using some fatal electrical contraptions.<br />
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And they think I'm a rockstar after my simple explanation. One cousin even asked for a diamond jewel.<br />
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Going back to Samsung's diamond coated phones.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDnsPb6UxWcVEARAn5Wng-NOnzARdP-2l_bXpEgOUtXuhSoFphvlr9aqfUa8QM7bPDeEMEHN3pGpQbINDpx-U0DeykvYSINmhMUYrUjiasR0ceKHcTlwuk0EgLseEQZBhFaznYZSl3iU/s1600/Vodafone-Diamond-Phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDnsPb6UxWcVEARAn5Wng-NOnzARdP-2l_bXpEgOUtXuhSoFphvlr9aqfUa8QM7bPDeEMEHN3pGpQbINDpx-U0DeykvYSINmhMUYrUjiasR0ceKHcTlwuk0EgLseEQZBhFaznYZSl3iU/s400/Vodafone-Diamond-Phone.jpg" height="155" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, just like 'rockstar'-rifying my thesis, the news that a phone will be coated with diamond is some form of rockstarification.<br />
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First, it's not really diamond.<br />
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It's almost diamond but not quite. They are coating it with carbon with molecular structure resembling that of diamond. And remember that diamond and graphite have the same composition (carbon) just different molecular structures. You know graphite, that lead in the pencil we use for writing.<br />
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At its worst, we can say Samsung is covering their phones with graphite-like material. They're just covering up the phone with pencil lead scratchings!<br />
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Not really. Heheh. What they are doing is kick-ass. Diamond-like carbons (DLC) are a breakthrough in material science. It's about as hard as natural diamond (which is the hardest mineral there is) but much easier to fabricate.<br />
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Natural diamonds form in extreme pressure and heat in thousands of hours. Volcanic levels extreme. Center of the Earth levels extreme.<br />
Diamond-like carbons can be formed in the lab in just a couple of days (as in my laboratories cases). In just around 100 degress celsius (boiling water temperature). So there's that.<br />
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I'm interested in how they are going to do this for mass production. It took our lab 24 hours even more just to coat a 1 inch by 1 inch surface with DLC. And We used a very complicated contraption of vacuum tubes, thick steel chambers a few gas tanks, a big vacuum pump and a lot of power supplies. The entire contraption costing hundreds of thousands of pesos.<br />
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They may have found ways to deposit DLC with low power, heat, pressure requirement and found some technique to shorten the deposition time. Which I'm interested in knowing. I'm sure after many years, the DLC-coating technology has advanced (I'm just not aware. Time to do some research.)<br />
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Anyways, it's just good to find out that some research topic you know back then to have no huge commercial application is gaining some momentum at present. It takes a great deal of forward thinking to realize the value of your research.<br />
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It's similar to how Physics Nobel prize laureates are actually scientists in their latter stages of life, because society only realize the value of their work many years after their publication. Great forward thinkers, those laureates are.ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-64623406222735320552013-11-20T20:42:00.001+08:002014-01-14T19:39:22.796+08:00Crisis Tech"Necessity is the mother of invention. When the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it."<br />
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In the aftermath of immensely destructive typhoon Yolanda, some suggestions, inventions, propositions have surfaced, all to mitigate, aid or prepare for future impending natural disasters.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.up.edu.ph/up-students-recycle-chargers-and-batteries-for-yolanda-survivors/">UP students recycle chargers and batteries for Yolanda survivors</a></b><br />
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Volunteer physics undergraduates from the University of the Philippines (UP) are turning old chargers and batteries into disposable energy sources that can be used by Super Typhoon Yolanda’s survivors.<br />
The recycled devices can charge a cellphone and give the user enough energy to send at least one text message.</blockquote>
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<b><a href="http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/336019/news/nation/pnoy-wants-dost-to-create-dependable-emergency-communications-system">PNoy wants DOST to create dependable emergency communications system</a></b><br />
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President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said he has asked the Department of Science and Technology to create an emergency communications system that is not dependent on cellular networks or external power sources.</blockquote>
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<a href="http://business.inquirer.net/152555/hospitals-must-be-disaster-proof-expert"><b>Hospitals must be disaster-proof—expert</b></a></div>
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“We should be designing our hospitals to be more resilient in the face of such natural disasters, especially disasters relating to rising sea levels. We can have hospitals that store and extract energy at the roof, as opposed to placing them at the basement. There are also certain materials that you can design and build hospitals with so they would more likely withstand earthquakes,” explained Gary Cohen, Health Care Without Harm president and founder.</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/20/13/survivors-transform-fridges-fishing-boats"><b>Survivors transform fridges into fishing boats</b></a><br />
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A fishing community in Tanauan, a small coastal town 20 kilometers south of Tacloban city in the Philippines have been going out to sea in boats made out of refrigerators after their vessels were destroyed by a killer typhoon.</blockquote>
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<b><a href="http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/11/20/1258874/tacloban-city-global-center-climate-change-proposed">Tacloban City as global center for climate change proposed</a> </b><br />
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A renowned urban planner on Wednesday told the national government that it should transform Tacloban City into a global center for climate change.</blockquote>
ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-61047367251152151902013-10-30T22:54:00.002+08:002013-10-31T19:12:34.166+08:00The City of the Living DeadIt's just a couple of days until All Saint's Day. Time to go to cemeteries to remember our departed loved ones. I checked Google to look at one cemetery here in Makati, the Manila South Cemetery. The graves form a grid with semblance to a real urban landscape.<br />
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Zooming out just makes the similarity more obvious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcjP0QCbtfIUuFqkZgJQa71gp2udAxUULrJ8gM9HB1wWu7AKw3clyRrwRuibELSqUBq5n0XL4tpCKJQoOmJVZho9E5vY7t__jlP2aYPE843Mhyphenhyphen11RtJRdHf-ARlhBHZJazVAkA72tFMw/s1600/Manila+South+Cemetery+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcjP0QCbtfIUuFqkZgJQa71gp2udAxUULrJ8gM9HB1wWu7AKw3clyRrwRuibELSqUBq5n0XL4tpCKJQoOmJVZho9E5vY7t__jlP2aYPE843Mhyphenhyphen11RtJRdHf-ARlhBHZJazVAkA72tFMw/s320/Manila+South+Cemetery+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Zoom out some more and you'll see houses and buildings look like magnified graves.<br />
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The city sure looks like a graveyard from up above.<br />
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Well, we're all just dead corpses scuttling around and about, getting busy dying, gradually rotting in this stinking graveyard called life. Happy Halloween!ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-78895232186838442052013-09-21T22:21:00.000+08:002013-09-21T22:21:05.076+08:00Quantified CorruptionA bunch of senseless rants follows.<br />
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***<br />
Corruptibility Coefficients<br />
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An amazing visualization tool to sort of understand the complex network of the pork barrel fund money flow.<br />
<a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/38526-visualizing-pork-barrel-scandal-ties">http://www.rappler.com/nation/38526-visualizing-pork-barrel-scandal-ties</a><br />
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Consider, they were able to derive the following values from their data for each of the politicians:<br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="3" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; max-width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e76229; color: white;"><th>Betweenness Centrality</th><th>Weighted Degree</th><th>Clustering Coefficient</th><th>Eigenvector Centrality</th><th>Closeness Centrality</th></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From here, can we derive another number, the Corruptibility Tendency Coefficients defined as:<br />
- a coefficient that indicates the possibility that the politician is taking the pork barrel funds for themselves and therefore tend to be corrupt. The closer this value to a certain threshold, the higher the possibility for corruption.<br />
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Let's call those thesholds, the Napoles Thresholds (like the Schwarzschild radius but these are more a social indicator than a universal constant.)<br />
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Political science theorist in collaboration with mathematicians, physicists can create theories.<br />
The Napoles investigation will be the experimental proof for the hypotheses.<br />
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From accounting data, these can be generated annually and analysed.<br />
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This will not serve as an evidence, merely an advanced warning system. A precaution and then a deterrent for politicians thinking of misusing these funds.<br />
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***<br />
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Deserved Corruption<br />
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I had an absurd idea way back that corruption should not be seen in a negative light. It is the degree of corruption and person that is doing it that should matter.<br />
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If a politician is doing great work to his people, he should be allowed a certain amount of kickbacks from the projects he is able to implement successfully. Like a 20,000 peso cellphone gift as kickback for a multi-million peso housing project that benefited a thousand homeless families. The politician deserved that cellphone didn't he. It should serve as an incentive, a motivation to do better on all his projects.<br />
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Compare corruption to the Yakult good bacteria. Bad if too many doses.<br />
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I said it was absurd, didn't I.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
The Science of Politics<br />
<br />
In our local government, the people running for govt positions during elections have established some kind of process, pointers, strategies for campaigning.<br />
- tips to cover the most areas during one motorcade.<br />
- a list of funerals, birthday parties, graduations which will be held during the campaign period (a list which is shared and distributed among running mates)<br />
- the correct size of shorts to wear to attract men's attention without losing too much dignity (yep, the female candidates do)<br />
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They boiled the entire campaign processes to a science. Or a business.<br />
Then;<br />
Profit = <span style="color: red;">Income </span>- ExpensesExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-55956596248307503832013-08-26T23:27:00.001+08:002013-08-27T19:38:22.853+08:00Streetlight AstronomyOn a clear and smokeless night, if you look outside from a high building it is easy to find the beautiful network of minuscule lights forming various constellation amidst the darkness.<br />
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I'm not referring to the stars twinkling in the night sky but rather on the street lamps lining up the highways, alleyways and city streets.<br />
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I have a useless hobby, only good if you have plenty of time on your hands and if you happened to be living on some high building with a nice unobstructed view of the cityscape. Like a good astronomer, I map constellations formed by the street lights and give names based on the patterns they formed.<br />
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It's easy to find a pattern, as most street lights line up a straight road, successive lamps would more or less form a straight line of small lights. What is a little tougher is finding patterns from lights from different streets maybe those a hundred or so meters away from each other.<br />
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It's nice to find a particular pattern and name them with what you want as if you are discovering some new star or celestial object. But since you discovered them you can give something cool, something you want for their names.<br />
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Below is an image what the Downtown hemisphere, the top left area is the Skway (not included in the image) and on the right side is the Osmena highway as seen on a vantage point on a building near the corner of Buendia Avenue and Osmena higway. This is sort of a star chart of the street, a Streetlight Chart if you wish ( and I am a streetlight astronomer).<br />
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I have labeled some of the constellations that I discovered (I'm not planning on labeling them all). The image is a crappy capture, low res. The actual view much more radiant, the lights are much more visible. Some of the constellations I found in real view can't be found in the image because some lights are displayed very faintly to distinguish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTlrdZy3wIxMnVMl6uCsniZuj4tZHoL8e5TOviiyoITA5oMfupxUa4SxvG_YbRGYUP68B8Ix0uN4M3epHEK2Sg22C-enXHgq0qlyOXMpK9jNe9rwQhR6AfoXjft5xManqeVCJ3DQXtdg/s1600/Streetlamp+Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTlrdZy3wIxMnVMl6uCsniZuj4tZHoL8e5TOviiyoITA5oMfupxUa4SxvG_YbRGYUP68B8Ix0uN4M3epHEK2Sg22C-enXHgq0qlyOXMpK9jNe9rwQhR6AfoXjft5xManqeVCJ3DQXtdg/s400/Streetlamp+Chart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And below are the enlarged versions of the labelled constellations.<br />
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It is interesting to realise that the lamps form a very different pattern aside from their geographical location. Though seemingly unrelated, a lamp on the corner of Batangas St. for example is actually connected to a streetlight somewhere in Libertad by an arbitrary pattern created by an observer above, just as the stars Betelgeuse and Aldebaran are actually connected by a pattern perceived by an observer millions of light years away them. Extreme pattern finding on its highest level.<br />
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Yeah, it's sort of a useless hobby as there is no real-life application of the streetlight chart whatsoever. Although similar to a star chart, the streetlight chart can serve as an alternative map, a location pointer only applicable if viewed on the exact place where the map is created. It can serve as a coded map, one only need to give names to the individual streetlights forming the constellations to be usable.<br />
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I'll meet you at the Daenerys star in the Laser Sword constellation. 3'oclock sharp.ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331349588079755275.post-31109594526423689742013-08-03T11:28:00.001+08:002013-08-03T19:53:15.521+08:00The Commercialization and Entertainmentization of Space<span style="color: #20124d;">Doing science for the sake of gaining knowledge itself is a mantra every scientist cannot deny. And the pursuit of knowledge is an end itself. Does this imply that any means to achieve this end is a valid means? The end justifies the means, that is the common saying.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">I began thinking about this after reading some articles about some space exploration/missions with added twists. Some major projects actually incorporate entertainment and commercialization to achieve the actual goal.</span><br />
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<h2>
<b>Welcome to the Big Brother Planet</b></h2>
Consider the MARS One Project.<br />
<a href="http://www.mars-one.com/en/mission/mission-and-vision%C2%A0">http://www.mars-one.com/en/mission/mission-and-vision </a><br />
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The project aims to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2023. The organization will be taking applications, who will undergo selection, training and finally will be sent to Mars at around year 2022.<br />
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Their website says:<br />
<i>Not unlike the televised events of the Olympic Games, Mars One intends to maintain an on-going, global media event, from astronaut selection to training, from lift-off to landing, to provide primary funding for this next giant leap for mankind.</i><br />
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Norbert Kraft, former Sr. Research Associate at NASA and Chief Medical Director for Mars One states, <i>“In my former work with NASA we established strict criteria for the selection and training of astronauts on long duration space flights. Gone are the days when bravery and the number of hours flying a supersonic jet were the top criteria. Now, we are more concerned with how well each astronaut works and lives with the others, in the long journey from Earth to Mars and for a lifetime of challenges ahead. Psychological stability, the ability to be at your best when things are at their worst is what Mars One is looking for. If you are the kind of person that everyone chooses to have on their island, then we want you to apply too.”</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>
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It's actually like Big Brother Mars edition. The global reality-TV media event is actually expected to be the major source of the funding for the entire project, which definitely costs a lot. Which means we will be seeing official Mars cereals, official Mars pajamas, official Mars beer etc on our TV not very long now.<br />
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<h2>
<b>Astronauts should have nice-smelling underarms</b></h2>
Another project is the Axe Apollo Space Academy.<br />
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One can sign up for the AXE Apollo Space Academy in their website . Users will be voting for the candidates online. The people with the most votes will advance to their National Challenge where the top-voted candidates will compete with other qualifiers in their country. The top recruits will advance to Global Space Camp, where the qualifiers will again compete for a chance to join the international crew and be sent to space.<br />
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This campaign was launched in January 2013 to promote the Axe Apollo deodorant brand. It came with a slew of TV commercials depicting an astronaut's awesome status, higher than firemen or lifeguards with their catch phrase 'Nothing beats an astronaut'.<br />
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<a href="https://www.axeapollo.com/">https://www.axeapollo.com/</a><br />
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<br />
<h2>
<b>Round trip tickets to space</b></h2>
Other companies offer a more direct approach to space travel.<br />
Virgin Galactic direct sells reservation for a seat in their spaceship bound to lower outer space.<br />
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Tickets are priced at US$250,000 (deposits are refundable).<br />
Many celebrities have already signed up, including Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, X-en director Bryan Singer, Paris Hilton among others.<br />
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<a href="http://www.virgingalactic.com/booking/">http://www.virgingalactic.com/booking/</a><br />
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<br />
The company Space XC is offering something similar. Their program also includes undergoing astronaut training prior to the actual space flight. The ticket prices range from 95,000 to 100,000 US Dollars. Their flight will reach 60 to 100 km altitude in space.<br />
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http://www.spacexc.com/en/bookings/<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<h2>
<b>Grounded</b></h2>
Of course these endeavors would gather a lot of criticisms, all great endeavors do. Space Tourism, in particular, were cited to speed up global warming and other environmental effects. There were also legal issue raised, like licensing et cetera.<br />
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Others say the very steep price of tickets is very impractical and will only be attainable by the wealthy. Some criticise that funding through sponsorship and advertisements is a very risky proposition.<br />
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These are all valid criticisms and are matters that should be discussed.<br />
<br />
What I'm particularly thinking about is the one question I posited in the beginning of this article. Does the end justify the means? Space Exploration and experimentation is the end itself, so is it okay if it is funded by a deodorant company, or by cereal ads etc?<br />
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Personally, it gives a bad taste in my mouth if I am a scientist doing science and funded by Axe for example. Note that I don't think it is about company interests/conflicts since a deodorant company clearly has no interest on whatever findings you might find in your space experiments (or is there? hmmm...)<br />
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Having said that, as a scientist, I think it may just feel wrong or awkward in the beginning but when you are already out there doing your experiments or walking in space, all those hesitations will disappear. You are in space! That's all that should matter. And if it is your dream, the ultimate vision of your end realized, then everything else will just feel trivial.ExDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285795740162362264noreply@blogger.com0