Some interesting things I'd to offer after learning about some recent tech news and new US legislation being drafted in Congress...

• Sony Music had a terrible PR smear after their attempts to hijack consumers' computers were exposed.
• The Philips company announced the new patent submission of theirs that would make it impossible for TV viewers to fast-forward through commercials on DVR devices, or to even change the channel when commercials begin during live viewing.
• The RIAA attempts to sue a mother, but failed. So instead, the RIAA decides to sue her 13 year old daughter! Thankfully, the US court rejected the case.
• A US senator rejects & returns a video iPod that was donated to him by a nonpartisan group called IPac. Does it have to do with the fact that Senator Conrad Burns has accepted campaign donations by TV/Movie/Music industry leaders, including Disney and the RIAA?
• And finally, a new proposed draft in Congress, with its vague language, may make it possible for organizations such as the RIAA to sue companies and people who even ATTEMPT to communicate technology or means of technology that COULD result in piracy. Translation: If you own a MP3 device, a CD album, and a CD-ROM, you possibly could be sued and thrown into prison because you have in your possession, the technology, the means, and the ability to pirate!

The bright spot about this recent proposed law is that it is only in its draft stage, and it isn't the highest priority for the law makers right now. There is still time to write, call, and urge our local congress men/women to either improve and fine tune the wording of the law, or to do a full rejection of it. Either case, we still have time to act for those who can vote.

Royal Philips Electronics (Philips), maker of televisions, DVD players, and other home consumer products have recently filed a patent for a possible future device that would force TV viewers to watch commercials.  Yes you read that correctly.  Philips is proposing the idea that a hardware device can be implemented on your television, or set-top cable box, that would not allow a viewer to change the channel once commercials begin to play.  This possible device would also prevent you from using devices like digital-video recorders to fast-forward through those commercials, thus guaranteeing to the TV advertisers that they are getting the most bang out of their buck.  Can you say "anti-TiVo"?

However, don't worry TV viewers, according to the rest of the patent doc, for a small monthly fee, you would be able to unlock this feature.  I guess this would be helpful for anyone who actually wants to channel surf or maybe check up on the latest Sox score, but hey that's me.  I personally can't wait for the next technology device that will force TV viewers to stay seated on their couches when commercials appear...who really needs to use that toilet?  Do that while the show is on...

I don't think I need to point out how blatant and a clear smack in the face this is to the common consumer.  Even though Philips know that consumers probably wouldn't be happy with this kind of technology, the company thinks simply letting us know that such a product could come out would make it all better.  Personally, I've found this bit of news upsetting and disturbing.

Honestly, how are companies like Philips and Sony think they're going to convince people to switch over to the latest digital technology when the abilities and uses for such devices become ever more restrictive?  How are you going to convince my parents to ever switch to even a HDTV set?! The price sure isn't helping!

For further info on this story, please go ahead and take a look at the following news stories and links.

• CNET article
• MSNBC article

So the last couple of months I've found myself becoming more and more "addicted" to a particular show on the Sci-Fi Channel.  I never expected that I would come to enjoy watching a show which was, back in the 1970's, a gold-standard to test whether you were truly geeky or not.  Sure, you may like watching Star Wars, or Star Trek, but those old standards had gone mainstream, and only the real nerds/geeks would watch "Battlestar Galatica."  Well, things have changed, and yes Battlestar has also gone mainstream, but I was surprised at how quickly I became a fan to the show.

As I was driving back home yesterday, I started chewing over a a piece of dialogue from the show.

 The night before a major attack on the enemy base.  Lee Adama has doubts on his ability to lead the mission.

Lee Adama: So you’re worried too.

Commander Adama: About what?

Lee Adama: Sometimes it feels like the whole ship thinks...Starbuck...would do better.

Commander Adama: I don’t.

Lee Adama: How can you be so sure?

Commander Adama: Because you’re my son.

I remember when I listened to that last line for the first time...man that hit something within me.  I wonder how many men in our day and age would give anything if they could just hear something like that from their own fathers?  To have a father that expresses his love for his son through actions AND words.  A father who believes in his son, not because of anything he had done, but because he is his father's son and that is reason enough.

Unfortunately, it seems like we live in a society & culture that place a heavy emphasis on the opposite.  Who you are is define by what you do, how you talk, what you wear, own, drive, etc.  Sometimes it seems even amongst fellow followers of Jesus, we place a strong emphasis on what we do, how we do it, and why we should do it.  This is the opposite from what I understand from the scriptures.

The challenge for us followers, is no longer how to obtain and maintain the persona of manhood (for the sisters, womanhood), but how to honor and please our Father in light of who He already says we are.  Our identity in Him is sealed, it is now about learning how to express that in ways that bring a smile to His face, just like how Jesus did at the start of His ministry:  "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."  That itself, is a life-long journey of discovery I suspect, but sounds a lot more fun than the old way.

 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
^{~2 Corinthians 6:18~}

It seems like every year when WTC rolls around, the sicknesses always abound.

Personally, I HATE getting sick, just like everyone else does. However, I have a more personal disdain for it because when I was a child, I ALWAYS got sick within the first week of the school year. Which in turn always meant my mom sending off a letter to my teacher asking him/her to not let me participate in recess! Obviously, that totally was not cool, but what could a 6-year-old kid do?

I think as a result of this kind of childhood, I probably worry more about getting sick than most people. Adding to the fact that I don't have as much natural insulation as most people, I've taken an interest in learning about how to prevent disease or how to treat it.

• Aleve: Cold & Sinus is probably the best cold medicines that I could ever recommend. My sister was the one who pointed this medicine out to me and how well it worked for her whenever she had cold/fly symptoms. It works for 10-12 hours, and doesn't have any real side effects, unless you don't have a cold at all. So make sure you're really sick and not just tired because you didn't get enough sleep.

• I've become a real fan of OJ and occasionally do get those ultra-vitamin-C packed drinks for lunch. On an interesting note, turns out vitamin C is produced in the bodies of almost every species on this planet except humans and a few other animals. Thus, this means you can get your vitamin C from almost plant and animal you eat! Though, for meat it's preferred if the meat was raw as vitamin C breaks down when heated.

• Last year I had a lot of complications with my throat & sinuses as I kept getting sick and infections in the throat. My doctor eventually decided to give me a shot of immunoglobulin to help booster up my immune system and it worked! Turns out immunoglobulin is the protein that the immune system uses to create antibodies in our bodies. Since the shot gave my body a major dose of these proteins, my immune system had more build materials to work with, and thus create more antibodies in my system, making me more resistent to getting sick. It definitely was welcomed as last year I literally was getting sick every 2-3 weeks during the winter. Yay immunoglobulin!

• Earlier in the season, my best friend comes over to my place to have some dinner. Something that I wasn't aware of was the fact that my friend had just gotten the flu vaccine via nasal spray. Unlike the needle injections, the the nasal sprays carry a barely-living flu virus, which does cause the recipient to be "sick" for 24 hours. This naturally means the recipient is contagious and can infect others... So in the end, I got a flu vaccine...man the things you get by proxy... first turtles...

• Gargling is your friend. Couple of months ago I heard about this article that stated that if a person just gargled plain water every day, that person would have a 33% lesser chance of catching a cold than a non-gargler. Kinda goes along with the tip to also brush your tongue to get rid of those bad smells and gunk that sometimes builds on that flapper.

Finally of course, getting more sleep would help. Though I'm not the best follower of that advise. Don't know, ever since senior high days, and especially during my college days, going to bed before 1am is just difficult. I can't fall asleep! The only times that has happened has been when I've gone a straight couple of days with barely 5 hrs. of sleep each day. Ah well.

Laughter is one of the best remedies though.

It has been almost a week since WTC'06 and a time of reflection and developing (haha) is kicking in with all that had happened during those 3 days. What I've learned as a YM worker is that usually the counselors don't have many opportunities to sit and drink deep of the oasis set before the students. More often than not, we find ourselves taking brief moments to kneel down, lap some water with our hands, and continue on for that day. Personally, the best part of each day for me is in the morning when the counselors meet up to pray; Enoch would read a passage(usually from the Psalms) as we meditate on His words. A rare moment of quiet that allow us to settle ourselves, dig our feet into the ground, and start up a new day!

While we were waiting for the first of the buses to arrive, I was able to take a few moments to sit down and be able to read some passages. I somehow ended up in Psalm 89 and my eyes eventually focused on these few verses:

Blessed(happy) are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.

For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.

If there was one thing that I got from this passage was the importance of whether I own Him. Is He the treasure of life? Those who can ever truly acclaim God, are those who have received Him. They are the ones who possess a strength that is not their own and a glory that isn't about them. These are the kinds of people who are happy in Him, and b/c they have Him, they will walk in His Light and rejoice.

That was a brief moment of lapping water with my hands and it made those days of listening, ministering, praying, and crying all the more sweeter and lighter. God is very good, and it was definitely a joy to see how He worked amongst the teens during that weekend. He is a priceless treasure!

Came back last night from WTC'06 and kinda tired as expected, though it was most appreciated when the parents cooked dinner for us last night. That was awfully nice of them as they do this for the counselors every WTC/STC, and it was good food!

Chewing on some thoughts, esp. after seeing how God was working during the Prayse fire. Will share later when I get the chance. However, my camera doesn't need much chewing, and so as usual, some pics from WTC'06.

Lots of silly moments!

Good time to bond (or unbond) with the teens & counselors!

DISCLAIMER:  I usually don't write about computer industry news, but I've been pushed over the edge by some recent happenings & by the surprise of those whom I've informed.  Please read carefully and I hope you will see the possible impact that this will have.

PS:  This annoyance for me started with the latest Switchfoot CD & after reading this article.

So it seems if you own any of these:       

And if you own one of these:    

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE MP3s OF YOUR OWN PURCHASED MUSIC AND PUT THEM INTO YOUR iPOD/MP3 player.

Article 1

Article 2

Or at least that's what the RIAA(Recording Industry Association of America) hopes will eventually happen if they have their way.  Apparently the music industry, being motivated by fear and greed, are going to great lengths to argue that whatever music you buy from them doesn't really belong to you.

Even if you bought the CD, took it home, played that favorite song a gazillion times, you have no rights over that music because, according to them, you don't own the copyrights.  You're simply borrowing it for however long that CD is still usable (and even that's becoming debatable).

So imagine this.  Lets say I bought a watermelon.  I bring it home, and since there's so much of it, there's no way I can finish it only at home.  I naturally cut it into pieces and put them in containers so I can take them to work and eat.  Unfortunately, I then receive a notice from the manager of the grocery store, informing me that it is unlawful for me to carry my watermelons slices in my plastic containers b/c it would violate their copyrights over my watermelon.  If I want to eat watermelon at work, well, I better have big hands, because plastic containers are a no no.

I know that probably won't ever happen, and yes a CD and a watermelon are two totally different things.  What I am saying is that a consumer has a right over the things that he or she buys.  If the consumer wants to treat the product carefully or foolishly is really up to oneself.  If an individual wants to listen to his/her CDs, I don't believe it is the RIAA's jurisdiction to infringe upon what a consumer will do with the music CD that he or she has paid cold hard cash for!

Now please don't misunderstand me.  I am not promoting piracy or illegally downloading MP3s or distributing your own purchased music to others.  I think it is unfortunately because of those sordid acts that is why the RIAA fear any sort of tech. innovation dealing with music.  However, I do believe the RIAA and record companies like Sony BMG have crossed the line too many times in their sad efforts to control something that doesn't belong to them...the consumer.

The only reason they can get away with any of this is because they're counting on consumer ignorance about their dealings.  With one hand they offer a drink, with the other they hide poison.

It's just wrong.