:: MIS Insights ::

Most people relate the concept of shopping with clothes and malls. This morning, let me relate shopping with online purchases. As part of TechForge I.T. Solutions‘ brand protection scheme, I bought around 20 domains that sounded like our company name.

The last thing I want is typosquatters and cybersquatters damaging our reputation.

Wikipedia:

Typosquatting, also called URL hijacking, is a form of cybersquatting which relies on mistakes such as typographical errors made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser. Should a user accidentally enter an incorrect website address, they may be led to an alternative address owned by a cybersquatter.

Cybersquatting is registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad-faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else.

While TechForge isn’t really the most original of company names out there, this sounds like a good name for our first company.

Our primary website, TechForgeOnline.com will be up by December 25, 2006.

I just got back from my Davao business trip! What a productive expedition!

Day 1

Statistics. The plane ride from Manila to Davao lasted 1 hour 42 minutes, maxed out at 855 kilometers per hour with a peak at altitude of 37000 feet!

Upon landing, we checked in at the Grand Men Seng Hotel (GMS) where we were greeted by a breakfast buffet. After breakfast, we met local government officials to discuss the purpose of our visit. Cooperative, they were kind enough to provide us with transportation. An asset we utilized very well for the next 48 hours of our stay. We were able to tour the whole of Davao, performing feasibility studies for over 100 sites.

Lunch during the first daw was fishy. We ate at a roadside restaurant, Marina, where the highlight viand was a gigantic panga (Grilled Tuna Jaw). I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much tuna in one sitting in my whole life. Oishi desu.

The work-day ended at 9pm after dinner. Since I was already up by 2am, 17 hours of work left me with just enough strength to drag myself to bed when I got back to my room.

Day 2

Teams. There were four of us that went to Davao. Two representatives from India company and another two from November company . The group split into two. The first pair (Fred and Mel) wrapped up on the last few sites that needed validation, while the second pair (Jay and I) met up with the local Papa company to discuss the connectivity issues relevant to the success of the project.

Meeting went well over our lunch at Ahfat, one of the must-visit restaurants for Davao tourists. I had sweet and sour seafood soup, steamed fish and pata. The menu included crab, but since I’m allergic to crustaceans, I kept myself to the first three items on the list.

I also got to visit a souvenir shop where I got myself a malong and an ethnic polo. I would have wanted to get other stuff, but I had other more important stuff queued with my budget.

The team ended the day by having a round of drinks, sashimi and kinilaw at GMS’ pool side. I would have wanted to swim that night, but my tired body got the better of me.

Day 3

Ped Xing. Our site visits this day required a lot of pedestrian work. After two days of smorgasbord without any real exercise, I welcomed the long walk we had throughout the city proper. We walked the whole morning and got back to the hotel for lunch - just in time for our meeting with the local geodetic engineer head.

This afternoon, I finally got to swim! The pool was about 25m long and around 5 feet and 8 inches deep. After six years without swimming, I could say that I no longer have it. Man, I miss the swimming pool. I wish there were an affordable swimming place near my place [at Tandang Sora]. 2 hours and a badly wrinkled skin later, I had cramps and had to leave the swimming pool.

Dinner involved another buffet at GMS and a Christopher Reeve movie, “Somewhere in Time.” Sad movie, but a good one, nonetheless.

Day 4

Itineraries

0445 wake up
0545 reconnaisance at the hotel lobby
0600 departed gms
0615 arrival at airport
0700 airport mixed up my boarding pass with another person
0710 situation resolved
0750 departure of pal pr 810
0930 arrival at manila
1015 exited airport
1115 arrived at home, sweet home
1130 brunch [yes, i had no breakfast. don’t worry, i have lots of reserve]
1230 end of story

For those of you who have a hard time getting up from bed (waking up != getting up), let me share a trick I found somewhere (can’t remember, I think it was the Simpsons):

Water. Drink lots of water before you sleep. In this way, you’ll be forced to get up and drag yourself to the comfort room when you wake up.

I heard that Native Americans used to do this before the arrival of the chickens and the alarm clocks.

Try it. It works.

Thank you very much for the wonderful offer.

Unfortunately, complications with my other commitments have forced me to pass up on it. While I could try to do everything by working 18 hours per day, I don’t think that would be good for my health, the people I want to be with and the quality of work that I will be delivering.

As one results-oriented person talking to another, such setup is unacceptable. The risk of lackluster performance from a time-strapped person is something that must be avoided - not solved or worked around.

There are two Fernando Mendizabals in the world of IT, but there is only one Jr. I don’t want to break the tradition and ruin the name game.

As my father told me:

The IT community is such a small world. You’ll keep meeting the same people again and again here and there, sooner or later.

So, don’t burn bridges.

Otherwise, you better be a damn good swimmer.

Hopefully, things turn out for the good and we can get to talk about other opportunities six months down the road.

Thanks for being very supportive, I know I can do this because all of you believe in me.

I came across this in Slashdot:

Q: How many Python programmers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: That joke’s not funny.

For the longest time, I’ve always needed (not wanted) a Credit Card. However, without a certificate of employment or an income tax return data sheet, my previous applications for one never got approved.

Six months, four bank accounts with one Metrobank branch and one company later, I finally got a Metrobank VISA Credit Card.

I got my credit card in the mail yesterday. After which, several questions popped up in my head:

Q. What happens if someone uses my credit card illicitly and fraudulently, do I still have to pay for it?

Leo: Yes. Your Credit Card is your responsibility. Someone in company UC got his/her credit card stolen. Within 24 hours, the credit card registered 150,000 Pesos worth of transactions. Poor soul had to pay for it.

Q. What’s the difference between VISA and MasterCard?

Uswitch: Visa and MasterCard are both payment systems, not credit cards in themselves. They rely on providers to issue credit cards using their system.There are no significant differences between them. MasterCard and Visa are the names of the global companies who manage credit cards. They can both be used around the world.

In the end, it boils down to what kinds of systems establishments are using. If you’re going to a VISA-partial country, go get a VISA card. Otherwise…

Q. How will this affect my lifestyle?

Pipboy: [introspectively] Not much. Since I’m just going to use it mainly for online transactions and emergency situations. Part of owning a credit card is knowing the differenct between an Asset and a Liability. Some people, once they get hold (or get lent) money, they think that the money is theirs to spend at will. In that case, credit cards become a liability. However, if one will use it to further a cause that will provide a bigger return on investment, then that’s probably an Asset.

Q. Can I avoid interest if I pay right away?

MetroBank offers an Automatic Debit Arrangement:

The convenience of settling your Metrobank Credit Card bills without having to go to the bank, the ATM or making a call.

I still have to confirm how it works - automatic payment equals no interest. If it does, I’ll see if it’s worth enrolling my card to it - automatic payment equals no credit limit equals very dangerous.

However, if anyone knows the answer to my question above, I’d appreciate your experience and insight

After two weeks of deliberation, introspection and consultation, I’ve finally come up with a decision. At last I can finally sleep.

This is probably the most challenging decision I have ever faced in my life since I was made to choose between Rocky Road and Cookies and Cream when I was in grade school.

More details after the one-week non-disclosure agreement expires.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is God’s plan that prevails.”