Monday, February 27, 2012

Let the camera wars begin: Nikon vs Canon



            People nowadays are very vain when it comes to their appearances and that’s why camera is invented. This machine can copy exactly what does its subject done by performing a shot with a flashed of a light. But today this machine prototype has been developed and finally it is on its way on their superb ability when it comes to taking not only good but best shots.


NIKON vs CANON





           Before cameras are just known for being a “one shot – one reload” process and the pictures it produce undergoes a very sensitive way to develop them. Many of some historic and one of a kind shots came from this era of camera but because of a high tech generation that we all live together now, cameras have been made simple yet very expensive and very dynamic.

            When it comes to performance and quality of cameras like SLR’s, Nikon and Canon leads all brand across the globe and seven seas. And today SLRs’ are made fewer and becoming endangered. As a matter of fact there are still some photographers like media men are still fond of using this kind of cameras for such reasons that it is very unique yet not edited. It is because DigiSLRs are made wherein you can see what you are trying to catch on your lenses and like SLRs’ it can be focused depending on how you took a shot.



Different varieties of NIKON 


       

            Nikon is very familiar for cameras that are making its way to popularity. Many of their models are not that expensive like Canon but can be considered as a good camera to deal with. On the other hand, Canon aside from its expensiveness, it proves such artifact perfection promised by the product when used like their latest and hottest model – Canon PowerShot.

            As for Canon’s slogan says “Delighting you always” seems very closed to expectations and almost wired up to their goals while Nikon considered to be a high quality camera build but can be sold at an average price depending on how latest and high the model is. On their external parts can also sell separately but if you were a very good photographer you will choose the best and long lasting. Then we move on to the internal parts wherein these two brands sets it all, Nikon’s parts are much cheaper and affordable than Canon when something happened that gone wrong. Canon’s parts are expensive like its price does but actually these two are very much alike when it comes to performance and durability depending on how often ones using it and handling it.


some kinds of CANON cameras



             So it’s up to you to decided and try both of them and see which one is better is it more expensive the better and much usable or the cheaper the price the stronger the performance is.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Fuel Price Check on South-East Asia: An Overview



Today, Southeast Asia is some of the most active area of offshore exploration in the world. The impetus behind this in recent decades can be largely attributed to three phenomena: technological innovations in the industry, political developments in Southeast Asia and the Middle east, and the emergence of Japan as a hot-spot for petroleum trade operations.

Oil and Natural Gas Prices

At this moment, Southeast Asia produces nearly 2 million barrels per day (as well as 500 million cub feet natural gas). However, the region's main oil producers, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, are planning for a future as oil importers as their oil output declines and domestic demand rises. As Indonesia became a net importer of oil, the country declared its own suspension from OPEC in 2008.
Here are some facts about major oil refiners in Southeast Asia.
SINGAPORE
Singapore is a key regional supply and trading center. Major refineries in Singapore are operated by global oil firms such as Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L).
Exxon Mobil's Singapore Refinery operates at two sites with a combined capacity of 605,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Shell's 500,000 bpd Bukom refinery is the largest Shell refinery in the world in terms of crude distillation capacity.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia has five active oil refineries with the single largest site belonging to Shell, holding a licensed capacity of 156,000 bpd.
But refineries owned by state oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas)PETR.UL dominate the refining business, operating three sites on the east and west coasts of the country's main peninsula.
Oil refining activity in Malaysia is licensed and controlled by Petronas, which has been vested with the country's oil and gas assets, and is marketed to both domestic and overseas buyers. Exports of oil and gas accounted for 43.3 percent of total exports to Japan in 2010.
THAILAND
Thailand has seven oil refineries with a combined refining capacity of 1.23 million bpd. State-controlled PTT PTT.BK has stakes in five of them, giving it about 36 percent of total refining capacity by equity holdings.
Thai Oil TOP.BK operates a complex refinery with capacity of 275,000 bpd. It is Thailand's biggest refiner with about 22 percent of the country's refining capacity. It also runs a paraxylene petrochemical plant, with annual capacity of 900,000 tones of diversified aromatics products.
INDONESIA
State oil firm Pertamina owns Cilacap refinery, which has a total capacity of 348,000 bpd.
Excluding the facilities of ExxonMobil and Shell in Singapore, Pertamina's Cilacap refinery is Southeast Asia's largest in terms of capacity.
Indonesia, Asia's largest gasoline buyer, does not have enough refineries to meet its fuel needs and relies on gasoline and diesel imports.
THE PHILIPPINES
Petron Corp (PCOR.PS), the country's top oil firm, operates a 180,000 bpd refinery in Bataan, northwest of Manila. Petron, with a market value of $3.2 billion and controlled by local conglomerate San Miguel Corp (SMC.PS), buys most of its crude from Saudi Arabia.

Petron Corporation: The largest oil refining in the Philippines


VIETNAM
Vietnam has one refinery, Dung Quat, owned by state oil monopoly Petrovietnam. It has capacity of 130,500 bpd.
Vietnam is aiming for fuel self-sufficiency by developing total annual refining capacity of 25 million to 30 million tones (about 600,000 bpd) by 2020.
Cheapest Petrol in Asia: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar
The survey of fuel prices at petrol stations, conducted in 172 countries and territories around the world, took place in mid-November, 2010, and provides a snapshot of global fuel prices. Not surprisingly, the cheapest petrol is in energy-rich countries, with Brunei offering the cheapest fuel in the region to its consumers, with petrol costing just $0.39 a litre, followed by Malaysia ($0.59), Indonesia ($0.79), Myanmar ($0.80), Pakistan ($0.86) and Vietnam ($0.88).

Most Expensive Petrol in Asia: Hong Kong, Tahiti, Nauru, Japan

The report includes surveys of some specific territories in addition to countries, and so while Mainland China offers petrol at $1.11, the survey found that the most expensive gasoline in Asia was in Hong Kong at $1.92 a litre, followed by Tahiti ($1.70), Nauru ($1.60), Japan ($1.60), South Korea ($1.52), New Zealand ($1.47), Singapore and Thailand ($1.41). The price of petrol in Taiwan was less than in mainland China - $1.00.




Petrol Prices for Other Countries in Asia

A number of other countries were surveyed and were found to have similar pricing, including Samoa ($1.03), Philippines ($1.05), Bhutan ($1.08), Bangladesh ($1.09), India and Cambodia ($1.15), Nepal ($1.18), Sri Lanka ($1.19), Laos ($1.26), Australia ($1.27) and East Timor ($1.40).


What Affects Fuel-Pricing


Actually, it matters about the supply and demand principle.
The marketplace forces of supply and demand determine the price of fuel. If demand grows or if a disruption in supply occurs, there will be upward pressure on prices. By the same token, if demand falls or there is an oversupply of product in the market, there will be downward pressure on prices.
Those principles apply at the service station level as well. If a retailer prices its gasoline too high, and without regard to competition, the retailer's customers may take their business to another station with lower prices. If a retailer loses enough volume, the retailer may then reduce prices in order to retain its customers.
Competition among retail outlets thus affects pricing. You may notice that sometimes there are price differences between two gasoline stations on a busy street corner and between those outlets and the only station on a long stretch of highway. More choices generally mean more competition for business.
And although retail outlets may sell gasoline carrying the brand of a major oil company, most dealerships are owned and operated by independent business people who are free to set the prices for their products and services.

Monday, February 20, 2012

A Crime in a Cyberspace: How the Philippine Law counters it



Do you still remember the widespread of the “ILOVEYOU” outbreak in the world wide cyberspace in 2005 was later estimated to have caused US $5.5 billion in damages? Even The Pentagon, CIA, the British Parliament, and most large corporations were forced to completely shut down their mail systems just to dodge this most virulent virus (as for  the world record) that completely destroying the database of a computer.

Cyber Crime: the silent killer


This ILOVEYOU was a computer worm that attacked tens of millions of Windows personal computers on and after 5 May 2000 local time in the Philippines when it started spreading as an email message with the subject line "ILOVEYOU" and the attachment "LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.txt.". The first file extension 'VBS' was most often hidden by default on Windows computers of the time, leading unwitting users to think it was a normal text file. Opening the attachment activated the Visual Basic script. The worm did damage on the local machine, overwriting image files, and sent a copy of itself to the first 50 addresses in the Windows Address Book used by Microsoft Outlook.

The virus was received in e-mail inboxes in Hong Kong on 4 May, 2000, with subject “I LOVE YOU” and an attachment “LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs.”. It erases or blurs the graphics and data in the computer and gets the contact addresses in the computer directory, and sends the same email to all contacts listed in that directory. Once received and opened in another computer, it replicates all that it did previously. The replication went on and on, sweeping all computers where the email was received and opened, from Hong Kong, to Europe, to the United States, infecting and damaging computers and networks of small and big companies, private and government institutions.

            To catch the culprit, An international manhunt was conducted; the investigators traced the origin of the virus to its creator, a programming student (Onel de Guzman) at the AMA Computer University in Manila.

new breed of danger


It happened that on 5 May 2000 two young Filipino computer named Reomel Ramores and Onel de Guzman became the target of a criminal investigation by the Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents. The NBI received a complaint from Sky Internet, a local Internet service provider (ISP). The ISP claimed that they have received numerous calls from European computer users, complaining that malware in the form of an "ILOVEYOU" worm was sent to their computers through the said ISP.
After several days of surveillance and investigation spearheaded by Darwin Bawasanta, systems development manager of Sky Internet, the NBI was able to trace a frequently appearing telephone number which turned out to be that of Ramores' apartment in Manila. His residence was searched by the NBI and Ramores was consequently arrested and placed on inquest investigation before the Department of Justice (DOJ). Onel de Guzman was likewise arrested in absentia. At that point, the NBI were at a loss as to what felony or crime to charge them with. There were some agents who suggested they might be charged with violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Device Regulation Act, a law designed mainly to penalise credit card fraud, the reason supposedly being that both used, if not stole, pre-paid Internet cards which enabled them to use several ISPs. Another school of thought within the NBI suggested Ramores and de Guzman could be charged with malicious mischief, a felony involving damage to property under the Philippines Revised Penal Code enacted in 1932. But the drawback with a charge of malicious mischief is that one of its elements, aside from damage to property, was intent to damage, and de Guzman and Igi Gando claimed during custodial investigation that de Guzman may have merely unwittingly released the worm.
To show intent, the NBI investigated AMA Computer College where de Guzman dropped out at the very end of his final year. They found that de Guzman was not only quite familiar with computer viruses but had in fact proposed to use one. For his undergraduate thesis, de Guzman proposed the implementation of a trojan to steal Internet login passwords. de Guzman proposed that users would finally be able to afford an Internet connection. The proposal was rejected by the College of Computer Studies board, prompting de Guzman to cancel his studies the day before graduation.
            When arrested (11 May 2000), the suspect apologized to the public and said he had no intention of causing such great harm. Government prosecutors filed cases against him, but even at the first stage, the indictment was dismissed as there was no law penalizing the act at the time (May 2000) in the Philippines.
            By this phenomenon,  it points to the need for a domestic law to address a particular criminal act, and international/bilateral legal instruments to give “no-safe haven” to cyber-criminals (or would-be cyber-terrorists).
The Philippine Congress subsequently passed a law that penalizes computer/cybercrimes, although it didnot cover cyber-terrorism.

"Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012"

Then the birth of Republic Act (RA) 8792, otherwise known as the “Electronic Commerce Act of 2000” was reenacted by the Philippine Congress. RA 8792 provides for the legal recognition and admissibility of electronic data messages, documents and signatures. This was signed into law on 14 June 2000. The salient features of the Act are as follows:

• Provides for the admissibility of electronic documents in court cases;

• Penalizes limited online crime, such as hacking, introduction of viruses and copyright violations of at least Php100,000 and a maximum commensurate to the damage incurred, and imprisonment of six
months to three years, among others;

• Promotes e-commerce in the country, particularly in business-to-business and business-to-consumer
transactions whereby business relations are enhanced and facilitated and consumers are able to find
and purchase products online;

• Aims to reduce graft and corruption in government as it lessens personal interaction between
government agents and private individuals.

RA 8792 is considered the landmark law in the history of the Philippines as a legitimate player in the global marketplace. It has placed the Philippines among the countries penalizing cybercrime. Likewise, the Supreme Court drafted the Rules on Electronic Evidence, which took effect on 1 August 2000, to emphasize the admissibility of evidence in electronic form, subject to its authenticity and reliability.

This restriction intends to safeguard against accepting evidence of doubtful character. We have also the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 (RA 8484) which regulates the issuance and use of access devices, prohibiting fraudulent acts committed and providing penalties and for other purposes; and, Philippine Central Bank Circular 240 dated 7 April 2000 regulating the electronic banking services of financial institutions.

While RA 8792 is already in place, it was found to have failed to address all forms of cybercrime that are enumerated in the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime of 2001, namely:

• Offences against confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems which
include illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, misuse of devices;
• Computer-related offences which include computer-related forgery and computer-related fraud;
• Content-related offences such as child pornography;
• Offences related to infringement of copyright and related rights.

Furthermore, enforcing the law with the use of the existing guidelines embodied in the Revised Penal Code, as amended, may not work for cybercrime. Unlike the traditional and terrestrial crimes which deal with corporeal evidence, cybercrime involves more electronic data which are intangible evidence. In order to cope with the daunting problem of cybercrime, the Department of Justice (DOJ) created the Task Force on E-Government, Cyber-security and Cybercrime in 2007 to deal with cyber-security issues in relation to legislation and investigation. It was created to pursue the e-government agenda, institutionalize a cyber-security regime and implement laws. The said task force worked closely with the Council of Europe, a private organization, and local experts composed of IT practitioners and other stakeholders.

Since there were no laws in the Philippines against writing malware at the time, both Ramores and de Guzman and Igi Gando were released with all charges dropped by state prosecutors.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Tablet Clash




Why Buy a Tablet?

Tablets are taking the computing world by storm. They are the latest trend that gives you internet capabilities, access to email, video chat and allows you to capture images and video while on the go. These multimedia devices are designed to be portable, with small dimensions and a lightweight design. They also give you control by navigating around the device using the touch screen display or stylus pen.

Whether you are a student, business professional or just love technology, tablets have something for everyone. The best devices offer a responsive touchscreen that quickly obeys your every command. You can take notes, send emails and create documents or slideshows anywhere, anytime. Using the built-in cameras, you can capture images at a moment’s notice or even communicate via video chat with anyone around the world.

Top 2 Tablets for 2012

#1 - Apple iPad 2

- The Apple iPad 2 is an impressive device with a large selection of features available for entertainment and business purposes. The iOS 4 operating system and the A5 chip make this device fast and hard to beat. The display is stunning and there is no lag time with the virtual keypad or opening programs and applications. 


#2 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1



- This tablet features the Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS and is thin and light. Though the device offers Adobe Flash, the response can be rather unimpressive with demanding content.

What to Look for Tablets?

When deciding which tablet is best for you, consider what you'll use it for. Several tablets offer more entertainment features with high screen resolution, video chat capabilities and strong graphics. Others include multitasking capabilities, long battery life and multiple inputs and ways of connecting to the internet. Our side-by-side comparison chart and objective reviews can help you find the tablet with the features you're looking for.

Below are the criteria used to rate these computing devices:

      Features
     In this section we look at the main functionality of each tablet. A music player, video chat capabilities, a camera, GPS and even a built-in e Reader are features you will find in several top products.

Hardware
     The hardware is an important part of your computing device, and it is essential you know what is available to you. When considering different tablets, you need to look at the processor and make sure it offers the speed you need. 

Display
   The display makes these computing devices unique compared to other computing devices. A responsive touch screen is a necessity, along with beautiful display resolution, particularly for viewing photos, movies or even playing games. Portability is paramount for a good tablet.


Friday, February 17, 2012

Kris Aquino: The Most Powerful Woman of the 21st Century



There's no doubt that when it comes to influence, idolism and respect, it was media where people rely on. Specifically, it was a big deal when it comes to celebrities. Well, politicians and musicians are exceptions but these people automatically made us move, gave us a remarkable impact that even changed our prespectives in life. It's obvious that viewers depend on who they usually see or hear in trimedia. See how powerful media is and being a slave on it? Well, we are all slaves; and the queen or king we hail is the most effective to influence the people. 


Kris Aquino


Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino also known as Kris Aquino gained prominence from her talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. Known as the Queen of All Media and Philippines' Queen of Talk, she is the youngest daughter of former Philippine senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, and sister of Benigno Aquino, III, the current President of the Philippines. Including her good family background, Kris Aquino gained respect actually through endorsing parties, products and services wherein her image appear to focus on her life being a mother and how she was so into it, a good neighborhood and true, prank and brief she is on whoever she is talking with even if it was the mass people. Plus factor of her endorsements is her youthful beauty where you can also see how tactless and fearless she was. In fact, she was also declared to be the YES! Magazine's Top 1 Endorser. Based on a study undertaken by Nielsen covering the period of January to June 2011, Kris endorsed 10 products so far this year, followed by John Lloyd Cruz with eight endorsements. 

"She" was truly the most powerful woman of the 21st century (in trhe Philippines). Why would she be? Kris has become a pop cultural icon, the over-all perception is that she is a personality that’s part of our culture, sociological. Kris has never been afraid to share her interior life, She has always been transparent and a very good example to all ages. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Grounds of Same-Sex Marriage



In the long listings of social issues and its legal challenges, same sex marriage rampages on the lime light. Though it is socially unacceptable, its occurrence has live in continuity that up to now has been a trending topic on the world wide discussion.

To define its meaning, same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or gender identity.

In the Philippines, the legality of same-sex marriage  is too far a reality to the homosexual relationships that have wanted to get married the same way as of with the heterosexual partners. The same sex relationship does not particularly required what sexuality should only be capable of expressing affection or love. 

Two men celebrate in New York following the passing of same sex marriage bill

Many denominations have differing views on homosexuality. The Roman Catholic Church is no different. While each Pope has had their individual opinions on same-sex relationships and marriage, the Vatican currently has a strong opinion on homosexuality. They are indeed against on this matter for the Creator made human in 2 opposing form, the masculine and the feminine. For them, they are meant to love each other for them to propagate with a new offspring as the end product. The same sex-marriage is intolerable because love is a matter of continuation of the lineage of two loving parties through give and take action process.
In the context on the constitution of the Philippines, homosexual relations between consenting adults in private are not a crime. Although sexual conduct or affection that occurs in public may be subject to the "grave scandal" prohibition in Article 200 of the Revised Penal Code. The universal age of consent is set at 12, but contacts with minors (under 18) are an offense if the minor consents to the act for money, gain or any other remuneration or as the result of an influence of any adult person.

Even on the military service, the Philippines announced that it was lifting its ban on allowing openly gay and bisexual men and women from enlisting and serving in the Philippine Armed Services on March 3, 2009.

However, in 2005 though it was persecuted the New People's Army of the Philippines conducted the country’s first same-sex marriage. However it was not recognized by the government. Within the government there has been some debate on the issue of same-sex unions. The Roman Catholic Church stands in fierce opposition to any such unions. As of 2010, the issue of same-sex marriage is not "under consideration" in the Philippines. The only thing under consideration is a possible ban on same-sex marriage, including refusal to recognize marriages performed overseas.


To combat the discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, here comes the new party list of the Congress, the Ang Ladlad. On 11 November 2009, the Philippine Commission on Elections(COMELEC) denied the Filipino LGBT political party Ang Ladlad's petition to be allowed to run in the May 2010 elections, on the grounds of "immorality". In the 2007 elections, Ang Ladlad was previously disqualified for failing to prove they had nationwide membership.
On 8 April 2010, the Supreme Court of the Philippines reversed the ruling of COMELEC and allowed Ang Ladlad to join the May 2010 elections.

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Problem Floods in the Philippines



The whole morning blooms in a good shape of weather as we’re attending a workshop seminar somewhere in Diliman, Quezon City last September 26, 2009 of my memory still serves me right. There’s no sign of heavy downfall that time until the clouds shed it rains instantly in the rest of the day. In addition, it is also accompanied by some deafening thunder shocks that interrupt us inside the lecturing hall. It even kills the electricity for an hour that results to our unexpected break in the middle of the afternoon.


Serious flooding in the Philippines caused by a tropical storm

My dormitory that time was in Sta. Mesa, Manila. After the seminar at around 7:00pm, we have decided to take a cab to bring us up on our home. It’s hard for us to take one because every time we say our destination is, drivers are refusing that time. We have wondered why. Until, finally one driver told us that they can no longer proceed on our area because it was already flooded from LRT-Pedro Gil station to Pureza Station which our only way back home. Instead of taking a cab, we took a Jeepney that brought us up only on Seattle road corner Ramon Magsaysay blvd. near LRT-Gilmore Station. It is still raining so heavily. Some streets and establishments were lights off. Thanks to the MERALCO light posts, the highway was still illuminated. We took LRT-Gilmore station. Fortunately, it was offering a free service for the convenience of their passengers. We ride the train with our bare foot, high-folded pants in a wet-look mode. How embarrassing that moment. On the top view, we have seen people that are stranded of the upper level of their buildings because of the almost 10-foot flood level along the R.Magsaysay Blvd. The worst part is located at the V. Mapa Station near SM Centerpoint. The lower ground floor of that mall was filled by flash floods even to the extent of reaching the second floor. Cars are clogging. Hundreds of people were trapped on the LRT-V. Mapa Station because of they have no option to go down. Most of them choose to spend their night there. Same situation goes on our final destination, Pureza Sation. There, we have no option but to take our journey way back home with a water level on our neck. It took us an hour upon reaching our dorm instead of 5 minutes’ walk when there is no intervention. Some residents had used the opportunity to earn income, they even made improvised boats so that the LRT commuters can crossed the roads without hassles. Fixed price were applied. I think it is ranging from 50php-100php. It is too much for us that’s we took the risky walk instead. Later, we got the news that the name of the typhoon was Ondoy and it leaves us an unforgettable experience.

Little girl looking down on flooded homes

That whole day of adventure was very tiring indeed caused by the anticipated floods that move in a flash. In the news, the economic region of Metro Manila and many adjoining provinces incurred damages to both infrastructure and agriculture. As of September 28, 2009, total damages from Ondoy were estimated at $100 million. Internet cafés, entertainment plazas, banks, food stores, building agencies, and stores were soaked with water and mud. Many people were warned of leptospirosis.

My story above is the typical experience of a Filipino during flash floods.

As the archipelago near the equator and a part of the pacific region were the tropical depressions are created, Philippines is experiencing 20 average typhoons annually. Some of them are leaving massive destruction for the infrastructure and crop fields of the country.

This is a life-long problem here in the Philippines. Flash floods are continuously ransacking the economy and yet the government doesn’t still have a solution.

I would suggest the upgrading of the water flood systems in Metro Manila so that the water floods can flow smoothly going to the rivers. Planting more trees in the urban areas is also necessary to avoid this phenomenon during the heavy rains. Also, the citizen should cooperate. Many of them are throwing their trash anywhere (rivers, canals and other drainage system). They must be warned for the hazardous effects of their doings.

All must be put in a proper so that we can avoid this occurrence totally.