Aja Lapus

Category: Opinion

  • Not Worth the Ticket

    OK, OK. The fight was worth the 700-peso live moviecast ticket for them Filipino boxing fans because Manny Pacquiao won his third match against Erik Morales. But even with all the hype I encounter from them, I was a little disappointed I haven’t had to watch a longer fight. Good thing I wasn’t at all interested in watching live inside a movie house. I’d rather spend money for food and gadgetry, or a real film that costs just above a hundred pesos, than for a 10-minute movie costing almost a thousand. The trip to the movie house would even be much longer even when there’s not another car within the next kilometer!

    I am not blaming Morales for the loss. He did give Pacquiao some good punches. I just don’t like people making it such a big thing bragging all day flooding my mobile with SMS. I don’t need to hear it from you, I’ve watched the match live from cable television myself.

    OK, Pacquiao is a good boxer. And because of this, he became a good endorser. And, oh, he has fans [?] as a singer. Just don’t let him get to politics. Please. No more celebrity politicians, please.

    Pacquiao finished the match in three rounds. I’m starting to feel another wave of celebration waiting for his coming back home. But, I wouldn’t even consider him a hero. Will there be a Pacman day? Will all of this be worth it? Yes, he gives pride and unity to Filipinos. But much later after this fight, would there still be?

  • The Second Browser War Round 2

    Upgrade to Firefox 2 Now! Though Windows Internet Explorer 7 came out earlier than Mozilla Firefox 2 for about a couple of weeks, I could not help but to announce that my favorite Web browser just released its second major update. But do not forget Opera 9 as it offers a faster and lighter browser for someone who would just want to surf the Web.

    The browser wars have just stepped up to the next level. For now, here are some comparisons with my own opinions and rankings:

    Web Standards Compliance

    1. Firefox 2 and Opera 9

      Though Opera 9 has been the only browser on the Windows platform to pass the WaSP Acid2 test, Firefox 2 is the only browser to ever support JavaScript 1.7. Both have considerable support for Web standards on XHTML and CSS under most circumstances (as Acid2 tests for uncommonly used standards support).

    2. Internet Explorer 7

      They say that they have improved support for standards on Internet Explorer 7 but when I test sites that break on Internet Explorer 6, they still break on version 7. Besides, support for the proper XHTML media type, application/xhtml+xml, would cause Internet Explorer 7 (as well as earlier versions) to look for an external application that supports it.

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    Customizability

    1. Firefox 2

      With so many user-contributed addons, from Web development tools, custom toolbars and multimedia entertainment addons to usability, accessibility and Web services integration tools, the possibilities are endless.

    2. Internet Explorer 7

      The only thing that I think would work on Internet Explorer 7 is the ability to add custom toolbars which are usually from search engine and portal companies such as Google and Yahoo!

    3. Opera 9

      I really do not know how we could customize Opera though its suite of applications such as a good download manager, mail/newsgroups and BitTorrent clients all in a lightweight package contribute to its popularity.

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    Security

    1. Firefox 2 and Opera 9

      I haven’t researched much about the security differences of both these browsers, but I know since the majority of users are using Internet Explorer (with the automatic update to 7 on the start of November) they are more likely to be targetted that way. Both have good popup blockers and Firefox 2 has a phishing checker.

    2. Internet Explorer 7

      Still is the most widely used (or will be with automatic updates) browser and the most vulnerable to attacks. Though the integration with Windows has been cut off, support for ActiveX controls remains as an opt-in feature. It’s much better than Internet Explorer 6 though. It has a popup blocker and it has (currently) a better phishing checker than Firefox 2 has, according to some site. (I can’t seem to find the link right now, to be posted as an edit later.)

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    Page Load

    1. Firefox 2 and Opera 9

      Based on my experience, both of these browsers load pages faster than Internet Explorer 7 though I still haven’t compared them to one another.

    2. Internet Explorer 7

      Even with Internet Explorer 6, whenever I switch from Firefox to Internet Explorer (for Web page layout rendering), the latter would load a page slower. I think the phishing checker of Internet Explorer 7 made it worse as it always waits for it to finish (and it’s not that fast) before starting to load a page.

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    System Performance

    1. Opera 9

      Loads up on your system much faster than Firefox 2 though I still haven’t compared it to Internet Explorer 7 for they are both perceivably fast to load on my system.

    2. Internet Explorer 7

      Loads up faster than Firefox 2 though the Scobleizer says that it consumes more memory than Firefox 2 without even finishing to load the same pages Firefox 2 has. The Lifehacker also published another comparison.

    3. Firefox 2

      Loads for the longest time compared to the other two but the said reason for this is the different language used to render its chrome to provide support for its themes/skins. It also receives criticisms for high memory usage.

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    Interface

    1. Firefox 2

      Cleanest and simplest interface [but with elegant looking buttons] to get you started surfing right away. Just lacks the default new tab button to familiarize new users with tabbed browsing though it can be added with toolbar customization. It’s skinnable as well.

    2. Opera 9

      Feels very much like a standard Web browser interface [as with Firefox 2 and Internet Explorer 6] though some search boxes are more suitable for Web shoppers rather than the average Web surfer or Web developer. It also offers color schemes to suit every user’s taste.

    3. Internet Explorer 7

      Very compact, works without a menu bar, but just plain confusing with a very far stop and refresh button especially when you are used to Internet Explorer 6—users could be more familiar with Firefox 2 and/or Opera 9 this way.

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    Other Features

    1. Firefox 2 and Opera 9

      I could not seem to summarize them all, just take a look at the Mozilla Firefox 2 features page and the Opera 9 features page.

    2. Internet Explorer 7

      It features many things that makes it better compared to Internet Explorer 6 than to Firefox 2 and Opera 9 since both the latter browsers offer these features new to Internet Explorer 7. The complete list can be found on the Internet Explorer 7 features page.

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  • Mixed nuts

    Foreword

    Summer’s here; I have a lot of time to think. Now, compared to my usual post length, I’ve got you a longer one.

    Another day in my life

    Of course: my life’s story. I really can feel summer right now. No doubt. I’ve got tons of reasons to prove that:

    • Exhibit A: No water supply[1]
    • Exhibit B: Too damn hot outside
    • Exhibit C: It’s damn hot inside, too
    • Exhibit D: Second semester just ended
    • Exhibit E: Third semester[2] is starting 😆

    Summer: summer vacation or summer classes?

    I really am hoping for the former. Though I got a grade below the orginal intended passing grade, I wish it could be lowered to less than what I have. I have posted so many times about Phys 205, so I guess you know what I am talking about right now. *worried*

    First anniversary promo 😛

    As an online entity, I usually:

    1. Try to make friends
    2. Go with a flow; and
    3. Do whatever pleases me

    I see many people being hosted for free by other bloggers. Since I think I have superiority complex[3], I don’t like being the one hosted by another. Here’s what I want to do, then:

    Thinking about my domain’s anniversary this August, I was planning to buy an add-on domain to host bloggers since nobody would want a user.ajalapus.com address. But, I really do not know what people want as a domain name, so I am asking you. I decided to have a head start since I have a regular reader base of only less than ten that in time I hope I can have more responses than that.

    My rules and criteria:

    • criteria:
      • the domain should be:
        1. gender neutral; and
        2. appealing
      • it’s a plus if the domain:
        1. is something I could relate to
        2. is short; easy to remember; and
        3. comes with a .net extension[4]
    • rules:
      1. the domain should be available[5]

    Criteria and Rules updated 31 March 2006, 19:01

    Of course, I am not entirely sure if I can accomplish this. Money still governs the final decision.

    Now, if you have any ideas or suggestions, please respond below using the comment form. Thank you.

    New column

    With so much in mind, I think I’d like to open up a special category for just thoughts. So, just read after this entry, I have one I’d like you to respond to. 🙂

    Afterword

    I’ve just played TextTwist with my sister. I lost to “LUNACY” in the ninth round. Argh, I think I’ve become a deranged lunatic. 😈 Oh, my head hurts like hell!

    Footnotes:

    1. ^ No water supplyThe well in our village is undergoing maintenance and/or renovation. I really do not know the cause of it being made deeper, I just plainly concluded it is because of summer heat though a more complicated cause is more plausible.
    2. ^ Third semesterAs UST Engineering students would say: Third semester is another name for summer classes, for summer classes feels just like regular school days.
    3. ^ Superiority complexI think I actually have alternating superiority-inferiority complex — if such really exists — depending on the situation and the people involved.
    4. ^ .net domain extensionFor the domain will be a network of my friends and hostees.
    5. ^ Whois SearchCheck domain availability

  • Getting ready for Valentine’s

    I should have started thinking of something to do for the 14th weeks ago, but there has been so much work in school that each day went by without something planned. I really do not know if what I have already thought of just now is executable, but I think I should give it a try. Just wait, guys, I won’t be revealing anything just yet — my girlfriend may be reading this. I just hope my plan (or anything else I could do if it fails) will work. Cheer me up please. Oh crap, maybe I should be doing it myself, quoting someone from a Korean television series: Aja! (Go fight!)

    Btw, maybe you guys could suggest something I could do. Or better, what you’d like someone to do for you? I know it would really help. 🙂

    Now, here’s something I think I did for the sake of Valentine’s day. I just had an appointment this afternoon with my dentist. I came home smiling to my family wearing red elastics. Nothing really. You could laugh now. 😆

    I remember earlier this day, I came home from school via a different route. My ride usually travels through Roxas Boulevard but the 3rd annual Lovapalooza was being set up there. I think couples are starting to crowd there now. Oh, how I wish we could come. 🙁

    Ehehe … Never mind that. I’m happy still, after all, it is just a kiss. 😛

  • A Role Model

    Earlier tonight, I’ve finished watching GTO Live Action series my sister and I borrowed from our uncle. Even if I had already watched this whole series one day years ago, I, still, was really entertained by everything he did in those 12 episodes (spanning nine hours) of comedy and drama. I’ve even finished watching the GTO Live Action Drama Special — a special sequel to the series — and the GTO Live Action Movie, which is not connected to the series.

    I really do not know how he does it (or at least how he thinks about things) but I really am amazed on how he recovers from every trial prejudice and first impressions bring him. What makes me wonder more is that how he could be so right and so wrong at the same time (of course, with more emphasis on the right deeds). I don’t plan to be a teacher but Eikichi is one person I’d really look forward to be in the future, less the foul mouth and crudity. 😛

    Now, I really wish I could do to my girlfriend what he did to impress and make Miss Fuyutsuki fall in love with him … It was impressively pure of heart.

    GTL: Great Teacher Lapus — Doesn’t sound right, does it? 😆