Livin La TechnoVida Loca

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Espanyol?
Que Horror?!
Si, Senyor!

Ang link nga diya, a bel ko sa aqueng stats. Mi anang Espanyol, ing-translate tana ang aqueng Technobiography. Tulad dya anang a bel nga blog:

Technobiography Espanyol

- Indio Edong

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GULAN-TXT

Ikaw ba'y lubos na nagulat o nagulantang sa natanggap mong text? Kung gayon, ikaw ay na-"GULAN-TXT!"

Heto ang halimbawa, tru tu layp istori ni Ka Edong ...

Naka-idlip na ako sa CRV ni RJ papuntang Subic para sa aming outing. Nasa NLEX na kami nang biglang nanginig ang cellphone sa aking bulsa. May mga hinihintay akong mga text kaya't kahit di pa lubos na gising, binunot ko ang cellphone.

Automatic ang aking mga daliri sa pag-bukas ng mga txt message. Two years of training 'yan, kala niyo ba?! Kahit naka-pikit, kahit nag-da-drayb, kahit natutulog, (pwera kung natutulog habang nag-da-drayb) kabisado ng daliri ko kung paano buksan ang txt message.

Kaya't heto, pagka-dilat ko ng mata ko, ito ang bumulaga sa akin:

"HRD DEATH F UR DAD. M FAM CON DOLES W UR FAM"

* insert ... GULAN-TXT MOMENT! ... *

Linsyak, huwat da huwat??!!

Sabay *kamot* ng namumula kong mata. Ano daw!?! Basa ulit ...

"HRD DEATH F UR DAD. M FAM CON DOLES W UR FAM"

Napa-isip ako:

Q: Sino naman itong mokong na nag-te-text ng condolences sa akin sa umagang kay ganda katulad nito?! (Sabay tingin ulit sa message para basahin kung saan galing)
A: Nanay ko

* insert .... Gulang-txt moment .... *

Basa ulit, pangatlong beses ... 'di malaman kung maiiyak, matatawa, maiinis, o ipag-sasabay sabay ang iyak-tawa-inis ....

Dial ako agad sa babaeng nag-aruga sa akin mula sa aking pagka-bata.

Anak: Ma! Ano ba naman itong tinext ninyo sa akin???!!! Mis-sent ang condolences text ninyo!
Mama: Ay, siren? (Ganun ba?)
Anak: Be very careful tuwing nag-se-send kayo ng condolences! Muntik na akong atakihin ng puso!
Mama: Ay, siren? In-send ko manaya'd sika? (Sa iyo ko pala na-send?) Sorry, anako ...
Anak: (Kunot pa rin ang nuo, pinapagalitan ang sariling nanay) Sa susunod, ma, ingatan niyo text ninyo. Mas-mabuti pa na tumawag kayo imbis na mag-text ng condolences ninyo ...
Mama: On, anako. Sorry la, sorry la ....
Anak: Ho siya .... (dumeretso konti ang kilay, medyo lumamig na ang ulo) .... nala 'yo may text ko, amay good news ko? (Nakuha niyo ba ang text ko, yung good news ko?)
Mama: On, anako. Nan-reply ak la (Nag-reply na ako).
Anak: (Nagtataka) Huh? Anggapoy nalak (Wala akong natanggap) ...

Elsewhere on planet earth, may lalaking nagdadalamhati sa pag-panaw ng kanyang Ama. Nang maka-tanggap siya ng text mula sa aking mother dear:

"HRD D GD NWS! CONGRTS!"

* insert .... GULAN-TXT MOMENT! ... *

- Ka ka .... Ka Edong

Read: Textiquette, Blag i-Spamd!
Abangan: Entrap-txt!

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Telebabad - ang pagbabalik!

Codigo of Telco numbers

I overheard our two manangs at the student canteen talking about PLDT's P10 calls. Manang was telling a story of making telebabad with so many friends being billed only P10 P9.90 P9.09 per call (adds up to P9.999 including VAT). All NDD calls to PLDT phones and Smart network cellphones are billed on P10 flat rate no matter how long the call is. That's PLDT's P10 per call unlimited for you.

Wide-eyed, Manang was telling us (nakipag-kwentuhan na ako, eh) about how she made the mistake of tele-babad-ing with a Globe subscriber. Umabot daw ng P300 ang phone call niyang 'yun! Hahaha!

Kami naman sa bahay, we got our NDD and PLDT vibe service activated last week. It was simple, only a phone call to the 171, a service request, tapos give an ID *number*. No application forms or application forms or fax letters or anything.

I've been using the PLDT flat rate service this past week. But there were times when I would dial my wife's Smart number but she could not hear my voice. This has happened around 4 times already. The cynic in me would tell me that PLDT is doing this intentionally to generate more calls. But that's just my schizophrenic self. Unless somebody else can tell of the same experience, I'll give PLDT the benefit of the doubt.

Tutal, the other times I called, okay naman ang connection. The PLDT flat-rate service is better than the congested Sun unlimited calls, better than the former service of Globe that will no longer be continued, better than the crappy 258 service of Smart that makes you wait forever before an unlimited call is made.

So far, this PLDT P10 flat-rate service is the one that fits my needs. If only I can lug along my PLDT landline when I go to school....

Read: Todo na ito! Call/Text rates are falling
Search Technobiography: 24/7 CTU
Search Google: pldt flat rate P10 calls
Visit: PLDT

Ka Edong
hang-over after thesis defense

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I-Exchanged, I Recycled

Here's an e-mail I sent to Digital Tour, a Tech TV show on Studio 23 shown on Sundays, 10:15pm. I sent this to them back in February hoping to land a 1-minute spot in their show. Since they haven't replied, I might as well recycle this e-mail I sent to Digital Tour...

Hi Digital Tour crew,

Last Sunday, I saw your first run of "I-Exchange". I thought, "Hmmm.... This is something I'd be interested in doing." ;-) . I started imagining what I'd look like in front of the TV camera. It was a horrific image and I'll spare you the gory details. But, hey ... that's just me ... meron naman siguro akong konting bahid ng telegenic-ness. hehehe.

I'd like to share with Digital Tour viewers a hobby that has been keeping me sane while taking a very toxic course at school. I'm into blogging. I could talk about getting started with blogging, but Iya covered that part last year. Instead, I hope to share a few sites that would get your viewers even more interested in blogging. Let me share with you some blogs that I look up to; blogs that make me strive to improve my craft in this blogging hobby.

First, for laughs, I'd like to share Kwentong Tambay by Jay "BatJay" David. This hilarious OFW Engineer in Singapore packs a knockout article everytime. He puts together a mix of digitally enhanced funny photos and ROTFL (rolling on the floor, laughing) articles that never fail to tickle the Pinoy funny bone. No wonder this blog has a huuuuuge following.

Second, for inspiration, I share bizdrivenlife.net by Wilson Ng. This is a blog written by a business man based in Cebu and owner of one of the biggest computer suppliers in Cebu. In this blog, he writes about how one can manage one's self in the workplace, in the technology field and life in general. When I read his blog, I never fail to pick up insights which we don't see everyday in other blogs.

Lastly, for passing time and blog hopping, I'd like to share pinoyblog.com, the emerging Pinoy blogger's portal and tambayan ng blogging Pinoys. Pinoyblog was created by Abe Olandres and blogging icon Sassy Girl. If you already have a blog, this where you should post links so that other more pinoys would read your blog. If you're blog hopping and looking for interesting articles to read, pinoyblog is where you'll find a whole assortment of blogs. Anything from politics, religion, art, pets, love or what have you, you'll find all sorts of articles here, from budding bloggers and from veteran bloggers like BatJay and Wilson.

I'd love to talk more about blogging but I'm sure I'll have limited time. I hope you'll find interest in the three sites I've exchanged. If you're an upstart blogger or one who's thinking of blogging, I hope the three blogs will somehow show you what your blog could be like.

Mabu-hey!

Edwin "ka edong"
16Feb

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Kuya B's Prodigal SIM

My brother-in-law, Kuya B, and his wife are into cellphone load wholesaling and retailing. Last weekend, they both told me about their headache. Their Globe distributor SIM was malfunctioning for more than 36 hours already. They called the Globe hotline more than 20 times.

They were pissed because all their retailers couldn't sell load because of their malfunctioning SIM. The usual response at the hotline was "check after 24-hours", "Technical group is working on it" etc. etc. etc.

On top of that, they say it's been soooo hard contacting the hotline. "Mabuti pa ang Smart, after ilang rings lang, may sasagot na. Sa Globe, ring ng ring tapos minsan magiging busy pa!"

Finally, the SIM got back it's loading powers after more than 36 gruelling hours. "Na-stress ako, 'di ako nakatulog ng maayos ng dalawang gabi!"

Those 36 hours might have been trivial for the call center or the technical group. But, hey guys, hope you understand the implication of those 36 hours. That means that the distribution business was 36-hours offline and that their retailers were considering transferring to another distributor. That's bad business for the retailers, the distributors and that's bad business for Globe.

Ka Edong

Read: All that Matters, All that SIMs, Bote! Dyaryo! SIM!, Bumibili ng Sirang SIM (Part II)
Search Technobiography: SIMs

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Pope Tribute at Lupe

The billboards on Guadalupe were stripped down to pay tribute to the Pope. What usually is a towering display of commercial billboards now has a solo message saying:

We love you, Pope!

Pope John Paul II
1920-2005
We will miss you!
-Cafe Lupe

I could imagine the billboard's management is losing thousands of pesos per day by putting up this tribute in lieu of commercial mega-billboards.

I say my prayers for the Pope, that's my tribute.

Ka Edong

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Sign of the Monkey

I was at Subic Bay yesterday at Nabasan beach. When we reached our cottage, we saw a lady taking photos with her camera phone. Another man had a banana in his hand. The subject of the kodak moment: Monkeys!

Just when the banana man was about to throw another banana at the group of wild monkeys, I hollered (in the roundest voice I could possibly muster): "Hoy! Bawal 'yan!" (Sabay lunok ... malaking tao pala si banana man).

The man was about to feed the monkeys right in front of a humongous sign saying "Feeding of Monkeys Strictly Prohibited". A few strides away, another sign _explains_ the reasons why the wild monkeys should not be fed. Human food may be harmful for monkeys, humans should protect the monkeys' natural defense of avoiding humans, feeding may encourage monkeys to loot beach-goers belongings etc.

Maya and I were among around ten round-eyed pamangkins witnessing the confrontation. Maya added (in the roundest voice she could possibly muster): "Tinatanong nung mga bata kung bakit daw kayo nag-papakain, eh ang linaw linaw na nakasulat na pinag-babawal yan."

In a faint whimper, banana man answered: "Eh ... nakaka-awa, eh...." Stupid excuse, banana man.

Heto sagot ko: "Ilang taon na 'yang mga unggoy dito, buhay pa rin sila. Ang mga ibang unggoy dito (sabay irap), gurang na pero hindi pa rin maka-intindi ng paunawa!"

Sabay lunok ulit! Sinabi ko ba iyon o inisip ko lang? Whew! Buti napigilan ko sarili ko! I would have loved to shout it out, if only I had thought of it more quickly ... and if banana man wasn't so big.

Here's my suggestion for Subic Bay. Make a sign that says:

Sa mga unggoy: Hwag kayong tumanggap ng pagkain mula sa tao. Makaka-sama ito sa inyo.

Pag-pasensyahan niyo na ang mga taong 'di maka-intindi ng paunawa.

- Ka Tarzan

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Blog Shorts

In the thick of the sleepless nights and never-ending thesis writing, the tired zombie stops and checks if all sanity is indeed lost.

Blogging shorts:

Blogging on Friendster
Twilight zone job application
Link history gone ... for-evah!

Blogging on Friendster

Got a link from a good friend, Chris Lagman. He put up a blog via Friendster ('di ko na mahanap yung link).

The Friendster phenomenon picked up on the blogging phenomenon!

Blogging keeps getting bigger... and so does my good friend.

Piiiiisssss, bratha! ;-)

Read: Friendster Blogs User Manual

Twilight zone job application

I'm on the last stretch of my masters degree. I've been _thinking_ about sending out application letters to telcos and international organizations to explore employment.

And then I receive this in my Inbox:

Dear Edwin,

We have received your application for the position of Digitel Resume Database
dated Apr 7 2005 through JobStreet.com. Thank you for the interest shown in our company.

We will be reviewing your qualifications against the requirements for this position. We will contact you soon if you are part of our shortlist or if there is an update on the status of your application.

Please check your e-mail regularly for any correspondence regarding your application.

We hope that you will have a productive day ahead!

Yours sincerely,
Digitel LEC Recruitment Team

Initial thoughts:

What the...?! What is this, a one year old application that was delivered just yesterday?
What the...?! Who is sending out job applications in my behalf?! Is my wife *that* eager for me to get a job?
What the...?! Did somebody hack into my online job application account?
What the...?! Hindi pa ako guma-graduate, ni-re-recruit na ako?! (grin)
What the...?! Ano ito, bagong service ng Jobstreet.com?! Iisipin mo pa lang, mag-aaply na siya para sa iyo?!

(enter Twilight zone theme....) Too noo noo noo, Noo noo noo noo, Noo noo noo noo..... (fade out ...)

Read: Who the h** wants my Gmail?

Link history gone ... for-evah!

My Referring Web Pages list by truefresco.org seems to have reset. (See bottom of right sidebar). Sayang. Naka-document pa naman dun kung gaano ka raming links ang nakukuha ko from various places on the web and blogosphere.

My biggest referrers are Google, Philippine Blog Awards (arnd 800+ hits), PinoyTechScene, Bizdrivenlife.net, Airwind ... sino pa ba .... ?

Sayang, wala na yung mga ebidensya ko... I like watching those link stats. Now it's back to zero.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now it's back to thesis writing ....

Ka Edong

To blog after ten million years: Monkey signs, Kuya B's Prodigal SIM

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Gulp This! Get Google Gulp here ...

Nyahahaha! ;-) Who wants a Google Gulp Invite? I have only three to give. Anybody interested just place a comment on this post. You can claim your Google Gulp at the nearest 7-11 convenience store.

Quench your thirst for knowledge.

At Google our mission is to organize the world's information and make it useful and accessible to our users. But any piece of information's usefulness derives, to a depressing degree, from the cognitive ability of the user who's using it. That's why we're pleased to announce Google Gulp (BETA)™ with Auto-Drink™ (LIMITED RELEASE), a line of "smart drinks" designed to maximize your surfing efficiency by making you more intelligent, and less thirsty.

Read more about Google Gulp ...

Smile!

Ka Edong

Search Technobiography: Gmail, Google
Visit: Coredump

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