Sapres Centauri: Perfectionist's Corner

Welcome to my first unofficial blog site

2006-07-24T00:46:00.000-04:00

This is my first official blog. It fairly bland right now. I'll be changing it up by adding in my own code and design when I have time, but I'm super-busy with work and school (yep, my course runs through the summer...). I'll also be adding pictures to the site once I find where I stored my backup files before I formatted my computer and when I find my digital camera (which has been missing for a few weeks now). Anyway, I hope you don't mind the anesthetics of it right now.

Skype - the next e-volution

2006-07-23T00:30:00.000-04:00

I have been hearing about VoIP for quite a while now; however the new phone-using-your-computer thing never really interested me much. I just could not see or was unable to imagine what all the fuss was about. When my family bought our first "real" computer in 1995 we had the phone hooked up to computer and could pick up calls using the computer. The computer could also record calls and leave appropriate messages and had many other features. Needless to say, when I heard about this new type of revolution that was hitting computers, my ignorance left me dumbfounded. How can phone-using-your-computer be a new phenomenon when it was obviously so last century?

If only I had examined the word VoIP a bit closer. V-o-IP: In essence, communicating your voice using your IP address. Alright, I am not going to sit here and lie - I had an idea of what VoIP stood for and the implications of the technology, but it still did not impress me much. Maybe I have been hearing too many Canadian radio-stations with their oft-played, and over done, Shania Twain song. On the other hand, it could be the simple fact that I was never really into using the telephone.

So anyway, I was browsing the Internet yesterday and came across Skype's webpage. I was immediately impressed by skype's simple, yet very sophisticated logo. Aside from that I was not impressed... "free calls between skype's members... as low as 9.5 cents to India." To India? Why India - who in the world knows what the regular calling rate to India is to compare skype's rate with? Needless to say, I was once again unimpressed.

Today, or Saturday I should say - it's past midnight - my sister's fiance mentioned something about Skype and I told him I was not impressed due to the fact that 1) I can already use instant messengers such as MSN or Yahoo for services and 2) they charge you to call landline and cellphones. He tried saying something, but I decided not to take note - I was not being rude, but I was sure that my facts were right (he was trying to tell me about the service) so of course I was not listening.

Well, after my sister and fiance left for home I decided to check out Skype's website again and lo-and-behold I had hit the jackpot. This would be the ultimate decision-making deal that would force my cursor to click the "DOWNLOAD" button: Free calls to land-line and cellphones anywhere within the US and Canada. Just to make sure I was not dreaming or merely being lured into some future "surprise" I quickly fired up a message to send to Skype to verify that the information posted on their website was correct - even after reading the FAQ, Knowledgebase, and other parts of the website. I selected the Free US/Canada calling as the topic - only to realize that my message would not be allowed because the answers were indeed located in the knowledgebase.

Well, after the skepticism faded I played around with Skype a bit - test called my cellphone, which turned out very well. The only downside was the fact that there was about a .224 second delay between my cellphone and computer headset.

Skype - I doubted for a while, but now I understand fully how this is the next wave in the communications e-volution. Where will this technology take me? Well, I hope to be using the "phone" for personal use more often - until the end of 2006 anyway (when the free landline and cellphone calling within the US/Canada are due to be nullified).

Call ordinary phones anywhere in the world from your computer for the price of a local call with SkypeOut. www.skype.com

"A farewell to Beirut"

2006-07-22T00:21:00.000-04:00

Read A Farewell to Beirut by www.theage.com.au if you have the patience. The most touching article I have ever read.

When is enough enough?

2006-07-21T23:37:00.000-04:00

Nations surrounding the eastern Indian Ocean finished off the year 2004 on a dismal note as a powerful earthquake triggered a massive tsunami to violently crash on shore. Indonesia bore most of the casualties with over 200 000 of its citizens, along with foreign tourists, drowned, washed out to sea, or buried under a massive onslaught of rubble. Aside from the 200 000 or so dead, millions more were injured or displaced. Could life in the disaster-stricken country be any worst? Well, to continue with the list of disasters, Indonesians would later succumb to a powerful earthquake that would claim another 5 400 life, injure 20 000, and leave another 200 000 homeless; The bird flu would later impact the region and just recently another Tsunami left hundreds more dead.

All these events and one starts to wonder: Why Indonesia?

The Glory of Summer

2006-07-21T15:44:00.001-04:00

Frolicking in the unexpected summer rain that invaded our campground, some were seeking shelter in their tents while others were prancing joyfully in the element that would cool them off from the oppressing summer heat of southwestern Ontario. Roasting marshmellows and telling stories by the campfire before deciding to lay ourselves to sleep in our many tents, it never dawned on me how this would be the official end of my life as I knew it.

I remember the heat, the freedom, and the laughter of our long summer nights. I remember the chatters and conversations as we decided where we were heading in life. I remember the care-free days of old when nothing really tied us down to the much talked about "real world." Those were the days of old, the days of the bold; Those are the days of 3 summers ago--the days that will remain embedded in a special place in my memory as time unfolds.

Justice dims as time passes by

2006-07-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

Another upsetting news in Cambodia, just as prosecutors were selected for the Khmer Rouge tribunal, due to start in the near future. Ta Mok, the Khmer Rouge military chief died yesterday, after slipping into a coma. Most people would say "good riddance," but the millions that suffered under his hands are not so joyful because the prospects of justice is dying by the second. Why it has taken 30-years to get the trial process started is beyond my comprehension. The trial needs to be started now, and justice must be delivered to the people before more high-ranking Khmer Rouge leaders pass away, essentially escaping the music.

For more about his death: Click here

Khmer Rouge Trial to commence

2006-07-19T20:53:00.000-04:00

After nearly 30 years since the Khmer Rouge brutally ruled over Cambodia, the Cambodian UN-sponsored trial of the genocide that took place is about to begin. Although the process will take some time to actually start, prosecutors have already been selected for the court hearings. Leaders of the Khmer Rouge have said to fled into hiding, but the saddest part is the fact that many of individuals who bore the most responsibility of the genocide of up to 2 million Cambodians have long passed away. Pol Pot, the infamous Khmer Rouge ruler during 1975-1979 died in his sleep in 1998.

The ex-King responded to trial by basically calling it a waste of money, when money could be spent elsewhere such as education, health care and for the poor. I understand fully why he would say such comments - his supporting role of the Khmer Rouge did not help the Cambodian situation of the 1970's. Why it has taken this long for the trial process to start could be due to the fact that Khmer Rouge elements still exist in the Cambodian government itself. It is a known fact that many government officials were once part of the Khmer Rouge, who merely switched sides when the Vietnamese invaded the country. To the King I say: giving the victims of Cambodia justice will help the country in the long-run. To avoid a slaughter of this proportion - to just forget about it and throw money elsewhere - is a murder in itself. Give the improverished people of Cambodia justice and the rest of society will flourish.

Another chapter in the Middle East

2006-07-19T19:00:00.000-04:00

War between Israel vs. Hezbollah militants rages on for the eighth consecutive day. Israel bombs more targets in Lebanon, while Hezbollah continues its firing of more Katyusha rockets at Israel's northern towns. While the insanity presses forward, I am quite dismayed at the United State's lack of response towards Israel's "disproportionate" aggression. It appears this conflict has a long history and the story seems to be that UN Resolution 1559 calls for "the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias." It appears that the Lebanese has failed in the resolution for fear of another civil war in the country if it were to try and disarm Hezbollah, which makes me question many things.

For one, Israel seems to be demanding Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, but I have yet to read any article which states Israel is willing to assist it's northern Neighbour with the task. Israel's GDP per capita stands at $24,500 (2005 est.), while Lebanon's is $6,200. Despite these figures, Israel is the United States largest recipient of foreign aid, accounting for more than 50% of all aid distributed by the United States. Billions of dollars are handed over to Israel by the US annually despite the fact that Israel appears to be the most prosperous nation in the region. What Israel should be doing with the aid they are receiving is to bolster and increase ties with its neighbours. Did Israel once offer Lebanon assistance to disarm Hezbollah by providing funding or resources (which Lebanon lacks greatly)? I don't know the answer, but I do know that if Israel weren't so conceited and self-serving as a nation, the region may just be more stable and friendly towards each other.

Do not misunderstand, I am not pointing any fingers nor am I suggesting that Israel is the sole reason why another crisis has unfolded in the region. There's an over-abundance of hostility in the region and the last thing another country should do is to take sides. All people in the Middle East must learn to set aside differences and live peacefully with one another. More affluent and resourceful societies should definately aid in the creation of peace.