A Reporter's Notebook

Fighting the devil named Global.exe

2009-03-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

Okay. If you are one of those who have internet access at home or in your office, you probably have encountered Global.exe, much more if you have not updated your anti-virus software.

Global.exe is one of the most demonic spyware ever built. So far, no effective antidote is available for the said virus other than installing the latest anti-virus or reformatting your computer. The more that we try to delete, the more it stays in the system.

Global.exe is like a jilted lover. We don't want to have something to do with it. We want it out of our lives. We throw it out to the junks and yet they will continue to haunt us. Popping up folders or notifications while we are busy with our daily internet tasks. It changes the dates on our pc, denies us administrative access, etc.

What should we do?

What I did was reformat my pc and install the current version of Norton Internet Security. Other than formatting my pc, I was not able to find any antidote that will keep Global.exe away from the systems.

My take at golf...

2008-11-19T02:13:00.000-08:00

I'm not a golfer. I don't play the game. But i know the sports - in and out. That's why i created http://www.asiagolfonline.com for golf enthusiasts and professionals.

The site features the latest golf news around asia, results of the latest tournament, and the best golf courses in the region.

If you are an avid golfer who is looking for the best source of anything golf in asia, visit www.asiagolfonline.com now!

Merry Christmas in Advance

2008-11-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

This is not to remind you of the gifts you didn't send last Christmas nor is this a memorandum that you should send one for me this year. I just want to tell you Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my heart. No other purpose. I don't even expect you to return the greetings.

Seldom do I get presents for Christmas. There were even times that I didn't get one at all. Perhaps my heart has grown numb and my mind has conditioned its on that it will not be receiving gifts for Christmas.

The spirit of Christmas, however, is not in the receiving but in the giving. That's how I see it now. Sourgraping, you might say, but I always end up the giver during the season. I give to my "inaanaks", I give to my parents, siblings, loved ones, neighbors, friends. And I never asked them to give me something in return.

But on the second thought, it is in giving that I find the real gifts for Christmas - my "inaanaks" give me reasons to be a good god father, my parents' gift has long been given since i was conceived, my siblings (despite the fights) gave me the gift of being a responsible brother, my loved ones the gift of love, my neighbors the gift of nightly laughters and guitar jammings, my friends the gift of friendship.

I may not have received gifts that can be bought but, with the things I mentioned above, I realize that i have been receiving gifts that come from the heart, gifts that cannot be measured by its mere price. Gifts that last a lifetime.

I bet my 50cents for Barrack Obama

2008-10-28T01:18:00.000-07:00

I received an invitation from the Press Office of the US Embassy the other day to join them in monitoring the US Presidential Elections on Nov. 5 (Nov. 4 in the US) with other media personalities and dignitaries.

Since I started working in the media, there never was a Presidential election that caught my interest except this fight between Democrat Barrack Obama and Republican John MacCain. I can't help but stick my butt on the couch every night watching CNN or BBC for the latest updates on the US Presidential Election.

While the two are up against each other, in heated debates or in the press, their being civil with each other remains evident - something that is not common between politicians here in the Philippines. But let's not talk about Philippine Politics. There's just too much reality shows on air other than those acted by politicos.

Obama has been leading in surveys but observers believed the trend could change come election day (although some states have already conducted advance voting). An expert said surveys do not really reflect the choice of the voter. Obama is black and, undeniably, there are Americans who are not ready to have a black President for the first time.

But I am betting my 50 cents for Obama. While I only knew of the person when he expressed his desire for a party nomination several months back, I can see that Obama has the making of a much better President compared to MacCain. Let's face it, MacCain is old and he will be succeeded by a controversy-laden Vice President. Now America must choose - a first Black President or a First Woman President.

It will be Obama. I might not be a seer, but I can feel the wind blowing on the face of that Black American Senator.

MySpace Music for US users only

2008-09-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

Good and bad news for techies.

The good news: The new MySpace Music will be launched today, with its deep catalog of new music being added to the site from all the major labels.

The bad news: Only U.S. users will be able to access and listen to the music of MySpace Music.

MySpace has tens of millions of users outside the U.S. and they (we) won't be able to access it. I hope Friendster or FaceBook will launch their own version of MySpace Music and make it available to worldwide users.

Interpol's laudable efforts

2008-09-19T01:03:00.000-07:00

Interpol's effort in identifying the bodies of the victims of Typhoon Frank, mostly passengers and crew of the capsized MV Princess of the Stars, is more than laudable. It should be considered heroic.

Shouldering all the expenses in putting up a P10-million mobile morgue and the cost of DNA testing for each retrieved body is a noble deed for a huge, international police organization. So far, the Interpol - Disaster Victims Identification team has already identified 164 bodies, 122 of which through the high-tech and much dependable DNA testing.

And their works have just begun, said Nimal Mahagamage, Interpol Incident Response Team Leader. "We will not stop until the last retrieved body is identified and sent to the family," he said.

A really laudable act although there a few who are questioning the motive of Interpol.

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Crimes of passion...

2008-08-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

A fit of jealousy can really turn a sane man into a criminal. That's what I learned after writing today's news. Two men from different areas in Cebu killed their wives after they learned that their wives have affairs with other men. (Read story at cebuonlinenews.com)

I must admit I used to be a jealous type of man. But that was before I got married. I had reasons to be jealous with my girlfriends before because I've had experience with unfaithful ones. When I got married, I decided to keep the trust in my heart and do away with jealousy.

I don't think it was jealousy that drove those two men to kill their wives. Maybe it was what we call man's pride. A man's pride is precious to him so that whoever comes to touch it will surely suffer a great blow.

iPhone-Codes.com.. a new blog for iPhones

2008-01-25T23:51:00.000-08:00

Recently launched iPhone-Codes.com, a blog intended to provide the latest news, buzz, and updates for iPhone owners. The blog is still new but I hope you will continue to check on the posts everyday so that you will know the different updates and upgrades for your iPhones.

Visit iPhone-Codes.com now!

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iPhone clone from China

2008-01-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

Asians who are eager to get their hands on Apple's iPhone should be extra careful when deciding to buy one. A lot of China-made iPhone clones are now flooding the stores in most Asian countries.

Click here to read an interesting post about iPhone Clones.

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Grand Theft Auto IV this Spring

2008-01-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

This is good news for those who have been replaying Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rockstar, the controversial video game publisher, will release the long-awaited fourth installment of its best-known, and most popular, video game, "Grand Theft Auto IV" on April 29.

"We are so excited to be releasing 'Grand Theft Auto IV,'" Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games, said in a statement. "We've pushed ourselves very hard to make something incredible, and hope the game sets a new benchmark for interactive entertainment."

The game will be available on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3, and Amazon.com is already accepting pre-orders. The rating for the latest "Grand Theft Auto" game is still being determined, according to Rockstar's Web site.

Contraceptives and Ovarian Cancer

2008-01-25T18:11:00.000-08:00

I have been discouraging my wife from using oral contraceptives due to the alleged side effects that comes with it (that's what I've been told before) even if we only have one child since we got married in 2004.

But a recent study conducted by the Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies of Ovarian Cancer showed that women who take oral contraceptives greatly reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer and the longer the woman takes the contraceptives, the greater the protection.

The use of oral contraceptives has long been connected with reductions in the incidence of ovarian cancer. The authors of the new study say their findings show that the Pill has already prevented 200,000 ovarian cancers and 100,000 deaths worldwide. Over the coming decades, use of the Pill will prevent some 30,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year, they contend.

"What's new here is that we have brought together all the people who have done epidemiological studies on ovarian cancer," said study co-author Dr. Valerie Beral, of Oxford University's Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit, in England. "This is pretty much what we know today."

"If women take the Pill, [ovarian] cancer is not their worry," Beral added.

Now, I'm having second thoughts on the issue of oral contraceptives. Is it really safe? I don't want my wife to suffer any side effects should I encourage her to take one. Or should we instead stick to our natural means of family planning?

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Waiting for iPhones

2008-01-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

AT&T, the exclusive carrier of Apple’s iPhones in the US, revealed they have registered around 2 million iPhone users last year and expects that the figure will increase this year.

Although iPhone hackers were quick to map out codes to unlock the iPhone in the US, AT&T officials said this did not affect sales for the year 2007. The carrier also said they are expecting huge sales this year with the introduction of iPhone in Asia.

Yes, iPhone will only be introduced in Asia this year but I have seen a couple iPhones already here, unlocked and usable. There are also iPhone clones from China that have become a hit in the Philippines although these clones don’t have the exact specs as that of iPhone.

If there’s one luxury that I would like to have this first quarter of the year, that would be the iPhone (well, it’s really a battle between the iPhone and a new Mac notebook). Any offer?

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Thieves install spy camera on ATMs

2008-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

Never thought Pinoy thieves could be this high tech!

Quezon City Police Director Sr. Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula has warned the public against ATM thieves' new modus operandi.

ATM thieves, these days, have gone high-tech as they install remote spying devices on automated teller machines (ATM) to get pin numbers and other information of ATM card holders.

Wow. That one is really scary. That's even scarier than credit card swipers in restaurants and hotels.

Gatdula advised ATM cardholders to be keen observers and report suspicious persons to authorities to preempt their illegal activities. How would we know? Di ba spy cam nga? Paano natin malalaman eh most spy cams are hidden cams?

He said that this latest scheme was brought to his attention after a large group from the banking sector called on the police to help in disseminating the warning to the people as this syndicated crime group has already victimized scores of ATM card holders.

Accoring to the reports, the syndicate mounts a "skimmer device" in front of an ATM card slot which looks like a normal ATM apparatus. The device is used to capture card number, PIN, and other information from the ATM.

The group, likewise, installs a wireless camera in position to view the ATM pin entries. The wireless camera was made to resemble a leaflet holder to make it inconspicuous.

Next time you use the ATM, be wary.

Wanna earn big bucks?

2008-01-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to announce that yet another article of mine has found its way to the pages of Reader's Digest Magazine this month (January 2007). A good start for the new year, I should say. I have two more story assignments for the magazine and the deadline for the stories is very tight. :)

My article this month carries the title "New Ways to Make a Bundle" click on that title if you want to read the full story online (you have to register though to view the full article).

Meanwhile, if you want to know the latest job vacancies in the Philippines, go to PhilippineJobs.ph. The site features hundreds of job vacancies in all fields. If you want to get a job this year or if you want to leave your current job for a better-paying work, visit the site now.

Lotto 6/49 ticket now at P20

2008-01-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

A not so good news to start the new year for lotto fanatics.

Starting today, don't be surprised if the lotto teller demands P20 for a 6/49 ticket you just purchased. The PCSO has finally imposed the 100 percent increase for the 6/49 ticket even as Malacañang has earlier stopped the Charity office from imposing the new rate.

William Medici, PCSO Central Visays Manager, said that with the increase of ticket price comes the increase in prizes. From the P8 million minimum prize, it will now be P16 million.

After announcing the price increase, Medici also revealed that the PCSO in the Visayas has achieved its sales target in 2007 with over P1 billion. With this I am wondering why they have to increase the ticket price to P20 when PCSO has gained magnanimous revenue from the P10 ticket price.

Ticket price for other lotto games will surely increase... mark my word.

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Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

Happy new year dear readers. I hope you started the year with complete fingers although the PNP has revealed that incidents of firecracker injuries have declined by almost 50% compared to the previous year.

Only in the Philippines. That's how I describe our way of celebrating the New Year. With firecrackers anywhere, even kids can light them up. I am hoping that in the next New Year's Eve celebration, the PNP will already impose the Firecracker Zone to ensure a much lesser incident of injuries.

My wish list for the year:

1. Good health (for everyone, including myself)
2. More wealth (for everyone, except politicians)
3. Stronger dollar (for the benefit of the OFWs and Adsense Publishers)
4. Stable economy (so GMA will have something to brag about)
5. End of killings (political, journalists, etc.)

What are your wishes for the year? Drop me a note.

Adios, Netscape!

2007-12-30T18:02:00.000-08:00

February 2008 marks the death of yet another Internet success-story that went kaput. The ever popular netscape navigator will be buried by its master AOL for reasons only the people behind AOL know. Probably, Netscape just can't compete with Internet Explorer and the now getting popular and safer browser Mozzila Firefox.

What's next? Yahoo? Maybe a bit far yet but I guess we're just counting few years.

The Blue Lady and the Angry Ghost (Hair-raising stories)

2007-10-31T03:04:00.000-07:00

It’s halloween and I would like to share to you some ghosts and other unhuman beings stories that I have gathered as a journalist. Most of the stories were a product of my investigative reporting for my college paper (hmmm, not really long ago).

The Blue Lady

This was the most popular ghost story that happened in my college campus. The Blue Lady (a clear distinction from the White Lady) was called so because she had been seen several times wearing a blue dress.

The story goes like this: While the whole class was pausing for the 6 o’clock Angelus, the Accounting teacher suddenly noticed a lady wearing an old blue dress entering the class. Since everyone was praying the Angelus, the teacher ignored the girl although she was at first a bit furious because the lady did not even look at her or greeted her as she entered the class room.

The teacher said the blue lady sat on chair on the corner of the room and was facing the wall. After the Angelus, the blue lady stood up and faced the door. The teacher was so shocked when she saw the girl leaving the room with her feet not touching the ground. She was floating, the teacher told me.

The teacher immediately informed the class about what she witnessed and almost a dozen students said they also noticed the girl.

The Angry Spirit

Another story in my campus was about the spirit of a female student who’s been scaring security guards at night, resulting to at least six security guards resigning from the school due to the incident with the angry spirit.

Based on my investigation and interview with one of the security guards who resigned, the spirit usually comes out at night at the sixth floor of the school. The sixth floor housed the engineering classes.

According to the security guard, it was already past 10 at night when he and his companion conducted their routine check on the classrooms to determine if the lights had been put off or if no students are left in the rooms.

On their way to the sixth floor, the guard said they noticed a lady wearing a white gown with long black hair that covered her face (sort of like the Sadako figure). Thinking that the lady was a student, the guard tried to approach her to ask why she was still in the campus.

“As I was almost near her, the lady suddenly raised her head and looked at me with extended hands. Her eyes were red and looked so angry. As she went near me, I noticed that her feet was not on the ground,” the guard told me during my interview.

The two guards screamed like young boys and ran down the stairs as quickly as they could. After a few days, the two security guards handed their resignation.

After researching and interviewing old teachers in my school, I learned that sometime in the late 70s, a bloody incident took place on the sixth floor of my school. According to my sources, it was already past 7 p.m. when a male engineering student had a heated argument with her girlfriend in one of the rooms located on the said floor.

The girl reportedly told her boyfriend that they could not go on with their relationship because her parents had already found out about it. The guy went furious. He loved the girl so much he said. The girl sobbed but told the guy that she had to follow what her parents told her. She wanted to end their relationship.

Without further saying a word, the girl turned her back on the guy and headed to the stairs. But the guy suddenly pulled out a knife from his bag and stabbed the girl several times. Seeing his lifeless girlfriend already in a pool of blood on the floor, the guy went to the stairs and jumped to his death.

Happy Hallooween Everyone!

PAL plane overshoots Butuan runway: Sleepy pilot?

2007-10-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

A Philippine Airline (PAL) plane with 148 passengers on board overshot the airport runway as it made its landing in Butuan City in Mindanao early this morning (Friday), but no one was reported injured in the incident.

PAL spokesman Rolando Estabillo said the PAL A-320 Airbus flight PR-475 may have sustained damage in the minor accident, but assured families of its passengers that no one was hurt.

"Malamang ma-delay ang pabalik sa Manila. Titingnan natin kung kailangang ma-cancel (The flight will be delayed in its return flight to Manila. We're still assessing if we should cancel the return flight to Manila)," Estabillo said in an interview.

He said the accident occurred at about 6:07 a.m., as the plane from Manila landed at the Butuan City airport. The plane, which left Manila at 5:05 a.m., overshot the airport's Runway 30.

My New Blog

2007-10-25T00:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, finally. I now have my own domain name with my new blog.

If you are interested please visit my new blog at:

www.marsmosqueda.com

:)

Barangay Elections Tidbits

2007-10-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

As the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections nears, allow me to share some tidbits that you might find funny or whatever. :)

- In Cebu City, a barangay captain seeking reelection was already several days on his campaign when he found out that he could not run for barangay captain because the certificate of candidacy (COC) he filed at the Comelec Office was for barangay Kagawad.

- Still in Cebu, several SK councilors also got the lesson of their lives when they found out that the COC they filed was for barangay councilor. A Comelec official said that should these candidates vying for SK council win, they still cannot sit as barangay councilors because they are still under age.

- In one barangay in Bohol, a candidate said he is ready to spend P50,000 for his campaign as barangay Councilor. With only P1,200 monthly honorarium that he will get if he wins in the election, he can only get P43,200 in 3 years. I wonder how he will recover his expenses in such a short term. :)

- It is also very common to see similar family names in one line up. A father is running for barangay chairman. His two sons are seeking council seats. His youngest daughter runs for SK chairman. His wife? He promised her she will get a barangay position when he becomes chairman.

Explosion that killed 11, hurt 70 only "accidental"

2007-10-24T00:27:00.000-07:00

And the tide suddenly changed.

Just minutes after an explosion rocked Glorietta 2 Mall last Friday, PNP Chief Avelino Razon hinted that the blast could be caused by an explosive or a bomb based on the intensity of the damage. He downplayed earlier theory that the explosion was triggered by a leaking LPG tank.

Around the same day, police experts also said they found traces of C-4, an explosive device issued only to military agencies. Razon's statement plus the claim of police investigators prompted Sen. Trillanes to conclude that the explosion was 'man-made' and masterminded by some government officials.

Everybody thought it was a bomb really.

Until last Tuesday when senior government officials Tuesday expressed “a high level of certainty” that the Friday explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City was an accident, although they clarified that a bomb attack had not been totally ruled out.

Razon said he briefed the National Security Council on an “accidental gas explosion” based on “facts at the scene.”

“But we’re not discounting the bomb blast theory,” he said.

Ano ba talaga kuya?

Here's hoping that US investigators could release their findings on the incident. And here's hoping in addition that the US findings will not contradict the findings of our investigators.

PNP Chief confirms explosion caused by bomb

2007-10-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon has confirmed that the explosion in Glorietta Mall 2 in Makati City was triggered by a bomb and not an LPG tank.

The other police offices in the country have also raised a red alert status following the announcement of Razon that it was a bomb explosion that ripped off Glorietta Mall, killing at least 6 and injuring 70 others.

Metro Manila in red alert after explosion kills 6, hurts 70

2007-10-19T00:33:00.000-07:00

Six persons have already been confirmed dead as of 3:45 p.m. Friday following an explosion at the Glorietta Mall in the busy business district of Makati. At least 70 persons have also been rushed to the hospital for various injuries following the explosion that could have been triggered by an LPG tank leak, although police have not confirmed any cause of the blast yet.

The areas around Glorietta 2 have already been closed off to traffic by the police for fear of secondary explosion that could hurt curious onlookers. The police have also cordoned the area for security purposes.

Bomb squad personnel and bomb sniffing dogs have also been fielded at the Gloritta Mall 2 to scour for possible traces of bomb as the National Capital Region Police Office has already declared a red alert in the entire Manila even as the cause of the explosion was yet to be confirmed.

I am just hoping that the explosion is triggered by an LPG tank and nothing else, because otherwise, it will be a big slap again to the economy of the Philippines considerint that the explosion took place in the country's financial capital.

I was at Glorietta 2 a couple of weeks ago with my wife and my son en route to Subic. It was crowded and very much alive. I am just hoping that the death toll will not increase even as reports show more bodies inside the establishment.

In Search For the Hidden Treasure

2007-06-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Rector Msgr. Cayetano Gelbolingo (middle, background) claims he didn't know that the workers tasked to renovate the adoration chapel of the church was already digging at the altar floor to search for buried treasures. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)