Wednesday, January 18, 2012

the SOPA and PIPA double entendre

One of the biggest things that I've taken for granted [and I'm sure a lot of people have] is how easily information is made available to us. One click through Google, and a lot of information is within our fingertips, all at the expense of a good internet connection.

However, just today, Google and Wikipedia have, in their own way, showed their hand with regards to two pending U.S. bills being proposed. The Stop Online Piracy Act, and the Protect Intelectual Property Act, are being pushed by the U.S. Senate with noble intents, to put things kindly, but would negatively impact the ease of access to information enjoyed by millions, if not billions around the world.

What are these two bills, anyway? Let's go one by one.

The Stop Online Piracy Act:


The Protect Intellectual Property Act:


It has the noblest of aims, which is to protect US Intellectual property from being stolen and being used for interests that would negatively impact the U.S. However, it encompasses more than that. Inevitably, these bills would heavily restrict the information made available to consumers [regular people]. If it aims for free speech and innovation, then it definitely is conflicted. You can read about the potential repercussions of the bills here.

This reminds me of how the Chinese government moderates the internet traffic, sites and usage of their users. Is Big Brother far behind? 

Do take note that while these are United States bills, it would affect everyone, even those not on US soil, as the regulation pertains to the Internet itself. So, it would be best to be educated as early as now. 

See Google and the Wikimedia foundation's response to these pieces of legislation:






Monday, January 02, 2012

I miss writing.

It has been months upon months since I last wrote anything not work related and/or stress induced. It seems that my work has swallowed every bit of free time that I have for the past year or so. I've gone week after week of handling agents either as an L2 or a Team Manager. It's the first time I've contemplated about where all the time has gone to, where everyone else has gone to, and why I'm still here in the same job I've had for the past 5 and a half years.

This may jump from one topic to another for no reason or so, but please bear with it. These are things that come at a moment's notice in my head, and I just want to get them off and have them written down before they fade once again to obscurity. 

What was 2011 to me? At work, it was what it was for a call center environment. It was a mix of heartbreak and triumph, stories of so many crammed into one. The pressure to perform at the highest of levels on a regular basis and to be expected of greatness, even at times when one is broken, or is unprepared. I don't know. It only occured to me during my Christmas post that I've gone through ten different teams, and three different roles during this year alone, which to some may be more than their entire stay at a company. I've of course handled agents as an L2, my calling card for the past 2 and a half years or so, mixed in by a couple of months handling a team as a Team Manager, and last but not the least, a week as a trainer sometime last October. I feel like I've been the utility guy being called in to plug holes wherever needed. I could not complain, though, as it has been a growing experience for me to go through the various roles that I've been called upon. It's just that I'm filled with heartbreak every time I have to move, just as I am on the verge of settling in, getting comfortable, and feeling at home. I've been here for 5+ years but this year has been tougher for me than most in terms of dealing with changes. 

Personally, I'm okay. I have a good relationship with my dad. I still live in a messy house where shoes, slippers, clothes and the like are everywhere and only me and my dad know how to decipher the mess. I've been incident free in the sense that I've not been involved in a crime, or have not been witness to any. I haven't been robbed, mugged, kidnapped, side swiped, snatched upon, or any of that for this year. I'm thankful that, despite the seeming prevalence of these incidents, I've been safe for the entire year. 

On a friend level, it sure seems like I've lost a lot while gaining/re-establishing ties with new people. I am sorry for not keeping in touch with everyone, and I hope that no one feels left out because of me. I have just been consumed with everything else, and the neverending deadlines that seemingly have been imposed on what needs to be done. I've built great friendships only to lose traction once they are out of my immediate vicinity. This is one of the things I am sorry for, not only because I've lost track of everyone but because I feel like I've let everyone down. I hope to resolve it and make the time for the best of friends who've been with me for a long time. I have a lot of making up to do, but the year is still early. 

As far as relationships go, it's been two years and 7 months that I've had a girlfriend. It has been a lot of fun, though its not all rainbows and green lights. There has been a lot of challenges, with time, with understanding each other and a lot of other things, but as with anything, adjustments are necessary to make things work. My family absolutely loves her, and almost everyone has given their nod of approval towards her. It was the first time I've travelled with her to her hometown during her week-long vacation last May. It was eventful, and I'm glad to finally meet her family. It was, for me, something that I can take away from the entire year of experiences. 

What's in store for 2012? I don't know really, but I resolve to return two of my previous hobbies: reading and writing. I intend to read more again, something that brought me to various cities while sitting down, and opened me to more possibilities. I intend to write more in my blog again. I'm not sure why I've gone away from these stress/tension relieving activities that I used to love so much. Other than that, I'll just have to fly along and go where my feet take me and make the most of whatever's in front of me.