tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134590072024-03-07T19:28:00.416-04:00Human Upgrade: merge metal with flesh[<b>will work for bandwidth</b> - the confessions of a bandwidth-deprived information-junkie]Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-69233900827015701052010-04-26T17:38:00.003-04:002010-04-26T17:42:03.127-04:00Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Release<div align="center">Change is coming:<br /><a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">http://www.ubuntu.com/</a><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.ubuntu.com/files/countdown/display2.js"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-43362534371113730272010-04-12T15:43:00.001-04:002010-04-16T11:28:06.786-04:00The Drosera-Crystal Project<a href="http://sites.google.com/site/jevinramjattan/">http://sites.google.com/site/jevinramjattan/</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sites.google.com/site/jevinramjattan/_/rsrc/1271078487853/home/octopus.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 191px;" src="http://sites.google.com/site/jevinramjattan/_/rsrc/1271078487853/home/octopus.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>I have had this website for quite a while now, however I only recently [Today], made it a bit prettier, more organised & more useful.<br /><br />Feel free to browse through the pages and discover many fun & interesting details about me.<br /><br />There are many download-able documents & attachments which support my story.<br /><br />Hire me! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/jevinramjattan/">Discover Jevin K. Ramjattan</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-68561401946274834962010-04-06T09:45:00.000-04:002010-04-06T09:46:37.904-04:00The Ultimate Job: Runaway Bride & Groom<span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">VOTE HERE:</span> <a href="http://www.runawaybrideandgroom.com/ultimatejob/user/profile/769">http://www.runawaybrideandgroom.com/ultimatejob/user/profile/769</a><br /><br />To celebrate the launch of Ireland’s most exciting destination wedding and honeymoon website, The Irish Times have teamed up with Runaway Bride and Groom to find the right candidate to do 6 months of research… researching the most romantic and ultimate wedding and honeymoon venues around the world - with their partner. <p> They are looking for the right person (Me and Maïté) to research and test out the most romantic and ultimate wedding and honeymoon destinations all over the world and then report back with our verdict to our boss, 4,000 miles away.<br /></p>Maïté and I think we're the ones for this job [considering we're now seeking employment]!! <span>This is our application video:<br /><br /><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/47Lw3NA_uSQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/47Lw3NA_uSQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="364" width="445"></embed></object><br /><br />Please RATE our video the highest possible to increase our visibility & VOTE for us so that we can win!!! Thank you.</span> <div id="watch-category"><span><br />Category:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/videos?c=19">Travel & Events</a> </div> <div id="watch-tags"><span>Tags:</span> <div> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The%20Ultimate%20Job&search=tag">The Ultimate Job</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Runaway%20Bride%20%26%20Groom&search=tag">Runaway Bride & Groom</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Wedding&search=tag">Wedding</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ireland&search=tag">Ireland</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jevin&search=tag">Jevin</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ma%C3%AFt%C3%A9&search=tag">Maïté</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Maite&search=tag">Maite</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bouysse&search=tag">Bouysse</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ramjattan&search=tag">Ramjattan</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=eurojev&search=tag">eurojev</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bride&search=tag">Bride</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Groom&search=tag">Groom</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Trinidad&search=tag">Trinidad</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=France&search=tag">France</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Caribbean&search=tag">Caribbean</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Dundalk&search=tag">Dundalk</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Dublin&search=tag">Dublin</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ceremony&search=tag">Ceremony</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wedding%20location&search=tag">wedding location</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=love&search=tag">love</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=couple&search=tag">couple</a><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-36069676148256001902008-04-08T09:06:00.003-04:002008-04-08T09:17:45.181-04:00Superfast Internet [10,000 times faster]: The bandwidth saga continues"THE internet could soon be made obsolete. The scientists who pioneered it have now built a lightning-fast replacement capable of downloading entire feature films within seconds. At speeds about 10,000 times faster than a typical broadband connection..." [<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article3689881.ece">source</a>]<br /><br />What would you use it for?<br /><br />Of course there are uses for high bandwidth [such as improved video-conferencing capabilities], but Entertainment remains the primary usage of internet currently. And of course, bandwidth is like money, no matter how much you give people, they will always want more.<br /><br />However, the reason internet has not progressed to faster speeds at a faster rate is because there are ideas for usage of it, but no realization of these ideas due to the strict restrictions on<br />online-content-sharing and -delivery. Consumers want things free, but there are restrictions on what content can be delivered for free, and how it can be delivered. By content, I refer to movies, music, and other entertainment forms that are enabled by increased-bandwidth. And when it comes to these media, there always exists the battle of license, copyright, piracy.<br /><br />Unless the music and film industries come together amongst themselves and set standards and procedures to enable and drive such IT innovations [as increased bandwidth, and media delivery services], these inventions will never be of use. The construct needs to be reformed, and instead of increased-bandwidth enabling increased-content-provision, content providers need to enable increased-bandwidth. IT customers [including music and movie industry leaders] need to push and drive IT, by providing the appropriate standardization enablers.<br /><br />[Concepts derived from Mochella, David (2003). Customer-Driven IT: How users are shaping technology industry growth, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts, USA].<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-53630426886855142462008-03-21T12:16:00.002-04:002008-03-21T12:20:54.153-04:00Definition of a SystemConsider what Edison wrote about his invention of a system of electric lighting, i love this phrasing and it is a perfect definition. It shows how inventors of those days spoke with words and not only formulas and numbers, it shows the literary artist inside every technical thinker:<br /><br />"It was not only necessary that the lamps should give light and the dynamos generate current, but the lamps must be adapted to the current of the dynamos, and the dynamos must be constructed to give the character of current required by the lamps, and likewise all parts of the system must be constructed with reference to all other parts, since, in one sense, all the parts form one machine, and the connections between the parts being electrical instead of mechanical. Like any other machine the failure of one part to cooperate properly with the other part disorganizes the whole and renders it inoperative for the purpose intended." [<a href="http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/1985/2/1985_2_18.shtml">source</a><a href="http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/1985/2/1985_2_18.shtml">: Thomas Edison</a>].<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-49243842955334860812007-11-08T06:47:00.000-04:002007-11-18T18:01:30.685-04:00Evolution [Stagnation] of Operating SystemsThe Windows Vista debate is at large and over discussed and probably expired, but i will still attempt to add my two cents.<br /><br />Send to menu:<br />By using the <b>Send To</b> command, you can quickly send a file to different locations including a floppy disk, your desktop, another person using e-mail, or the My Documents folder. The SendTo folder contains the shortcuts for the destinations that are displayed on the <b>Send To</b> menu. Every user on the computer has a SendTo folder and can customize its contents. <br /><br />I understand <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310270">if you want to customize your "send to menu"</a>, simply go to the "sendTo folder". Now windows vista has a feature in the start menu that adds shortcuts to frequently used programs to the main start menu. Why is it then, that shortcuts to frequently used folders cannot be automatically added to the sendTo folder and thus the send to menu?<br /><br />They claim to be advancing so much, but most of this advancement is focused on the core system, and not on increasing or innovating the Interface to be more futuristic and provide more utility or functionality. This is the true purpose of information technology and the innovation and technology industry. There are so many simple additions that can be created, yet they choose not to implement them because we are conformed and dependent on the software and accept whatever it is they give us.<br /><br />I will not go into a detailed discussion or argument of linux versus windows, but this is the reason open source is so much more "open" to innovation and promotes development - since if i wanted this to be done in linux, i could simply create and code it and submit it for approval.<br /><br />Our rate of advancement is not fast enough, the human race today should be in a far richer technology status than it is currently.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-22730581249905678812007-07-22T00:02:00.000-04:002007-07-22T00:21:26.576-04:00We're all super-stupid-users [PEBHAC]Man [and woman] is a self-conscious but self-centered and narcissistic race. We do things without thought of other people, with only our own perspectives in mind, we think within the box, we see only what we want to see, we use whatever knowledge we have to demean other people and gain power over them.<br /><br />OK: this may not be true for all of mankind [women included], but we must all admit that each and every one of us has experienced some feeling like this before. It doesn’t have to be portrayed as arrogance, aggression or any definite mal-emotion, but may be apparent subtly as a thought or a simple change in the tone of voice, but it’s there nonetheless.<br /><br />We often hear about IT people [system administrators and helpdesk personnel] hammering their heads on the wall at a customer who put a coffee cup on the CD tray thinking it was a cup-holder, or the other customer who can’t turn on their PC, only to find out that there is no electricity in the area. IT “professionals” tend to lash out at customers subtly with secret jokes such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id10t">ID-10-T</a> errors, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEBKAC">PEBKAC</a>; and aggressively sometimes by yelling at customers, degrading them, etc. [in the professional world this is probably done more subtly than aggressively, but the thought is there nonetheless: that the customer is stupid.]<o:p><br /><br /></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">The fact that an IT person knows more about an IT topic more than a user does, may make that person a stupid user, but it doesn’t make that user a stupid person.</span><o:p><br /><br /></o:p>If for instance an IT person is put to learn a language, not programming but linguistic; say French for example. Linguistics is not logical but maybe more creative and has rules that make no sense to IT people, and cannot be learnt by the manner of thinking associated with programming. That IT person, who was a super user in his/her realm, is now a stupid user in another [the French teacher now becomes the super user - empowered].<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>This all came about as I started to learn French. Now, I don’t lash out at customers, but if my sister asks an IT question that just makes me want to yell “stupid!”, I’d just really think, “why is it that some people can’t see the logic and the greatness of design of the application and just figure it out on their own like I do”.<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>This is what blinds IT people and designers. They forget the H part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-computer_interaction">HCID</a> [Human-Computer Interaction/Interface Design]. Problem doesn’t exist between keyboard and chair [PEBKAC], it exists between human and computer [<span style="font-weight: bold;">PEBHAC</span>: I just made that up! Remember I coined the term!]. What lies between the human and computer, for those who don’t know, is the interface. We design based on what we think is usable to us, but we need to design for people [humans] who don’t think like us and who are actually going to use the interface/product – that’s what determines good design – weather an average [or below average] person/user can use it immediately without reading the instructions.<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>Anyway, I strayed from my point, steering back: My sister [Sanya T. Ramjattan] ranked first [1<sup>st</sup>] in the Caribbean in French – so you can say she’s a “French super user”, she started to teach me French, but then started to ‘cuss’ me for my utter stupidity for the language. I must admit I made some mistakes [mostly with pronunciation – which is what got me: I see something and I read it a certain way in English, but its pronounced completely differently in French – how illogical!!!], but I was doing pretty alright. My point is: she had a similar reaction to a stupid user in her field as an IT person would have in their field. The same goes for when I was teaching her to drive, I raised my voice a little at her when she made a mistake rather than explain what she should do [our roles switched here - she now became powerless, and I, the super user]. It's all human nature.<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>The world is filled with talented people; we wouldn’t have been the dominant race if there weren’t talent. [Off-topic: I know there are some serious ID10Ts out there, but they appear stupid mostly because they don’t apply themselves or they aren’t applying themselves in the right fields.] Everyone has their own niche. We just need to realize that everyone [including ourselves] is a super-stupid user [that is: a super user in some fields, but a stupid user in some others].<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>When next you think about reprimanding a customer for not understanding something in your line of work, think outside the box, put yourself in their shoes, view various angles and perspectives, and offer helpful explanations and advice, train them, most of all remain HUMBLE. And if all else fails, bang your head on the wall and yell PEBKAC.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-83987303491704296042007-07-09T10:32:00.000-04:002007-07-09T10:40:34.088-04:00101 year old gets bandwidth; 21 year old suffers.<p class="MsoNormal">Take a read of this: <span class="topstory"><a href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070705T190000-0500_125021_OBS_____Y_O__TECHO__GETS_FREE_LIFETIME_HIGH_SPEED_INTERNET_ACCESS.asp">101-y-o 'techo' gets free lifetime high-speed Internet access</a>. It’s enraging! It’s unfair! I need this more than him, why can’t I have it! Ok but seriously, I have nothing against senior citizens, but <st1:place st="on">Trinidad</st1:place> needs to implement more of these social perks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="topstory"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="topstory">In the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> students and senior citizens are treated like gods! They have benefits everywhere: better loans, free internet, cheaper housing, cheaper magazine subscriptions, discounted tickets at movie theaters, <a href="http://www.studentuniverse.com">airlines</a>, museums, and a lot more.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="topstory"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="topstory">In this country the only thing that students get is free entry to <a href="http://www.zen.tt">Zen</a> on Wednesdays; I guess now we know where our priorities lie.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I suppose I’ll have to wait till I’m 102 in this country to get some bandwidth.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-21397856588706582682007-07-05T23:38:00.000-04:002007-07-05T23:52:06.475-04:00Sacrifice<p class="MsoNormal">So, The electricity was cut today for over three hours, forcing me to forfeit my weekly viewing of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey%27s_Anatomy"> Grey’s Anatomy</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s another technological or infrastructural downfall of this “sweet T&T” country of mine. If electricity isn’t cut at least once a month in this nation, then something just has to be wrong. The sole company [<a href="http://www.ttec.co.tt/">T&TEC</a>] that manages and supplies electricity for our country certainly is not capable of doing its job. Do you ever see <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Manhattan</st1:place></st1:City> loosing power unless as a result of some natural disaster? But of course we can’t compare apples and oranges [<st1:city st="on">Manhattan</st1:City> and <st1:place st="on">Trinidad</st1:place>]. I realized today that this country is the simple life, and these little [or major] quirks – like power going down for hours, low bandwidth, and the worst customer service – are the price [sacrifice] we pay for the simple life. Welcome to the <st1:place st="on">Caribbean</st1:place>, savvy!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ok that was my rant, now back to the point: so, having nothing to do in the dark, I decided to retire to bed. After 30 minutes of rolling and tossing, I heard the click of my stereo coming on, power was restored! And instead of “great, goodnight”, the only words that came to my mind were: “must…………check………….e-mail…………”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And here I am; sacrificing sleep for connectivity. I think I have a problem.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hi, my name is Jevin, and I’m a weboholic.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">--<br />Internet & Information Junkie</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-61863456107806143172007-05-16T23:18:00.000-04:002007-05-17T00:10:05.578-04:00Salary Upsize = Decreased Downtime<span style="font-size:78%;">["Service"? What's that? Is that even a word in the Trini dictionary?]</span><br /><br />I have always complained about service in Trinidad. The fact is, service in Trinidad, as compared to many first [and even second] world countries, is way below the standards that it should be at. In layman's terms, one might even say: it sucks!<br /><br />The moment I lay feet on this island, as I stepped off that plane, after spending a year in New York, I was immediately drenched in the poor service of this country, and still am up to this day.<br /><br />My initial assumption was that Trinidadians were poorly versed in customer service and care, and that companies should invest more in such training for their staff. Everyone knows that the key to success in any business is great customer service, so companies should not have a hard time finding justification to invest in it.<br /><br />I have been on such a customer service course, and it has proven to be a wonderfully great big waste of my precious time, since the key points are already embedded in human nature and thought to us all by our mothers and grandmothers ["say please...."]. These are ideas and concepts and methods of quality service that we all already know how to do but that we don't implement.<br /><br />So tonight it hit me: the true secret to great customer service is not education but motivation.<br /><br />Let me explain: I worked late tonight since one of my web servers suddenly crashed [:S .. nightmare!] and I needed to get a particular "customer's" website back online. The motivation that drove me to do such a thing was the mere fact that I'd <span style="font-weight: bold;">learn</span> new technical concepts in the process. Now in Trinidad, learning is not a popular motivator.<br /><br />Take for instance my [<a href="http://tstt.co.tt">TSTT</a>] internet line which has been down for the past two weeks and been disconnected as such, almost like clockwork, every two months. They claim that people are stealing their copper lines [don't ask me why they do this strange things in this country]. Luckily I have my other phone line to use to get online [it's still an inconvenience though]. So, i was thinking: why is it that these tech at TSTT don't just plug in a wire and fix my problem!<br /><br />Ok it may not always be that simple, but truly, in all of my IT jobs, a lot of the customer related problems have a very simple fix - plug in a wire, press a button, type in some commands, etc. So why is it they don't just do that? Because in Trinidad we value our time, when it's lunch, we take lunch, when it's home time, we go home - promptly.<br /><br />So now you ask: why is it that the staff of first world countries don't mind going the extra mile, don't mind working through lunch or having lunch at their desks, or leaving later or arriving earlier? Simple! Because they get paid! YES, Trinidadian employers do not pay! And for those employers reading this blog - if you don't believe me check the statistics. Pay is the leading motivator for a lot of people [except me of course - I'm not money hungry :)]. In Trinidad, employers tend to pay as low as possible, do not pay over time as much as it is avoidable, they stretch the hours as much as possible, and take advantage of the youth[since they are inexperienced].<br /><br />American job advertisements even post the full annual salary for any job position they are recruiting for; yet in Trinidad it remains a tight secret until the very last moment of the entire process. Check the newspapers, you might be lucky to see one of the embassies advertising, and they post the actual annual salaries.<br /><br />With that said, please remember that caring customer communication is genuine, timely, specific, and sincere.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-6561756219474406752007-04-29T16:39:00.000-04:002007-05-01T12:01:03.637-04:00Robbed, Beaten & Jailed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxAfRTsVNhGg_94WXbFIh5Z7L3aGAKFdjD3_K-RX1ESYzEclGjgWMW1E9OhQKRM4sCA4OMFW5ynG8Sfk4wg3RTGK5vgOWOq5vFXvzTJk7jCu3oIatb7zwTRUw8PkdZiuZBCcz/s1600-h/Copy+of+100_3040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxAfRTsVNhGg_94WXbFIh5Z7L3aGAKFdjD3_K-RX1ESYzEclGjgWMW1E9OhQKRM4sCA4OMFW5ynG8Sfk4wg3RTGK5vgOWOq5vFXvzTJk7jCu3oIatb7zwTRUw8PkdZiuZBCcz/s200/Copy+of+100_3040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058959117170208146" border="1" /></a>Ok, so finally it happened to me! I was robbed. You can't call yourself a true Trinidadian unless you've been robbed at least once!<br /><br />On returning home Friday night after a party, the maxi [taxi] we were traveling in was hijacked. A couple, another guy [who was crying throughout the incident], my friend, and I were all robbed and beaten [although I think my friend and I were beaten the most] at gun point along the eastern main road.<br /><br />After getting into the maxi [which was full at Curepe junction] the maxi-driver later stopped to pick up three [3] extra passengers who sat on the floor - they were the robbers. Somewhere along the line, they got up, pointed the gun and told us to empty our pockets. Music was blasting loud in the maxi so no one outside could hear our shouts; we assume the maxi-driver was in on the robbery. After emptying our pockets of everything [including my watch, wallet - equipped with all cards: id, drivers, permit, rituals and subway cards; my shoes, chap stick and two power mints, my peircings, and my list of things to do tomorrow] and constantly beating our faces with the gun-butt, my friend and I were dumped in a drain that we later found out was in <a href="http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=10639193&x=-61331520&amp;amp;amp;amp;z=16&l=0&m=a&v=2">Bon Aire East - Arouca</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpWKXol0KczD-vkfW9VrsW9FLSvdKjl1440vuU4KfncbZgqJVez2Ba4V08_VWSRzw94jLrWXqtP9txbxQC3O9yctwWdvvwim_9ONxsr5TK3yy_43oBhTCLLDl-hI9kKLOei19/s1600-h/Pokeball.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpWKXol0KczD-vkfW9VrsW9FLSvdKjl1440vuU4KfncbZgqJVez2Ba4V08_VWSRzw94jLrWXqtP9txbxQC3O9yctwWdvvwim_9ONxsr5TK3yy_43oBhTCLLDl-hI9kKLOei19/s200/Pokeball.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058975824592989602" border="0" /></a><br />Lucky to have been alive and close to home. Hey at least we now have stories to tell our grandchildren. Don't you think my eye looks similar to a <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Apokeball&ie=utf-8&amp;amp;amp;amp;oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">pokeball</a> [see picture].<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Technological viewpoints & solutions:</span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Face - Self Healing: </span>there's some faint desire in my mind right now to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine_%28comics%29">Wolverine</a>, an X-men character who possesses a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healing_factor" title="Healing factor">healing factor</a> that allows him to recover from virtually any wound. This is far from far-fetched as proven by <a href="http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2001/05/43975">nanotechnology and human integration research</a>.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Property Retrieval: </span>A Simple installation of an <a href="http://www.komotv.com/news/4594356.html">RFID tag</a> in cellphones or setting up a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_tracking">GPS tracking</a> network in Trinidad could aid stupendously in property retrieval after robbery or even suspect apprehension. Of course Trinidad is not GPS ready or at least it's still in the infancy stages of it. One example is <a href="http://support.accutracking.com/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=1">AccuTracking</a>, a low cost online GPS tracking service using your cell phone to track the current location of your mobile clients.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suspect Apprehension: </span>Well ATM cameras are there for a reason, but in Trinidad they are just for show and tell. After checking with the <a href="http://www.republictt.com/">bank</a>, I was told that one of my accounts were accessed [with minimal monetary loss]. Upon request of a printout of the details, I was told that I had to wait one week. Upon further request for access to or retreival of the surveillance [for police use], I was told it was a long and drawn out process, I had to get an affidavit of some sort form the court, and I had to pay a fee of $300. Now the technology is there - video surveillance - but no one wants to use it to apprehend the suspects. The police are lazy to investigate, the bank staff are lazy to get the tapes, and this country is just a waste of time and life. No wonder there is a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_drain">brain drain</a>" in this country.<br /></li></ol>I guess there are more important things than "<a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/2007/04/trincity-wired.html">bandwidth for all</a>" that this government needs to pay attention to; like crime. It's a pity though that they're looking into neither issue. I know it was partly my fault to be traveling at an unsafe hour, but you can't really call this a democratic country if you can't walk freely at nights or at anytime for that matter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTruzmwtn_Pcei2392l7DicYVaZMMZrIGxk6K_Cph72FWGv8RCFoNFUHfEoavvwa52WflHwUvYXICG6tRVNu-5BOhcrCV0_WvFm8iBAHeci1u3shKOOtd9jridtEkr-h80oa9/s1600-h/jailedBlowfish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTruzmwtn_Pcei2392l7DicYVaZMMZrIGxk6K_Cph72FWGv8RCFoNFUHfEoavvwa52WflHwUvYXICG6tRVNu-5BOhcrCV0_WvFm8iBAHeci1u3shKOOtd9jridtEkr-h80oa9/s200/jailedBlowfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059007766264769970" border="0" /></a><br />I live in a <a href="http://www.google.tt/search?q=trinidad+crime&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">crime-powered country</a> and I have <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/2006/11/will-work-for-bandwidth.html">no bandwidth</a> to occupy myself with while I stay <a href="http://chrootssh.sourceforge.net/index.php">chroot-jailed</a> in my own home.<br />:S<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-87339648101322392932007-04-18T20:33:00.000-04:002007-04-18T20:40:08.537-04:00hotspotsLooking for wi-fi hotspots in Trinidad? Check out my <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2rpucc">wi-fi hotspot google map</a>. [The access may or may not be free.] This may not be a complete mapping of access points, since only some locations are currently known. Keep checking for updates.<br /><br />Enjoy.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-15096591789312982202007-04-18T09:24:00.000-04:002007-04-20T12:35:43.195-04:00[Muzik] Pirates of the CaribbeanI love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avril_Lavigne">Avril Lavigne</a>, so I rushed on down to the CD store yesterday to buy her newly released album. It's been so long that I've bought an original CD [with LimeWire around an all] that I forgot how expensive they've become. But I decided to dish out the whopping TT$140.00 just because it's Avril.<br /><br />I don't know why music is so expensive in Trinidad!!! Is it because of taxes? [I think it cost TT$121 and after tax it was TT$140]. I remember the last time I bought an original it cost TT$120 flat. but still...<br /><br />When I checked on amazon, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Damn-Thing-Avril-Lavigne/dp/B000NA1OXY/sr=8-1/qid=1172181676?ie=UTF8&s=music">the same album cost</a> US$11.99 + about US$3.00 shipping: that's about TT$95 if ordered online in the US and TT$75 if you buy it at a US store [while down here, we pay almost double the price!].<br /><br />It's no wonder people steal and pirate music now-a-days. :S<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-7370914709380348822007-04-15T15:51:00.000-04:002007-04-15T16:47:48.374-04:00Trincity Wired!So, last night i saw this woman sitting in Trincity mall vigorously typing away at her laptop in the food court [near the cinemas]. At first i hesitated, but couldn't resist, i approached her, and asked if there was free wireless internet access available in this mall.<br /><br />She promptly replied [in her "Scottish-like" accent]: "yes, there are a few networks you can get on to, but the one that I'm on is free".<br /><br />I then had a flash back to the last two weeks when i saw some men on a ladder, mounting a wireless linksys router.<br /><br />I don't know who is providing this access [maybe it is <a href="http://www.hcltt.com/">HCL</a>] or if it is really free.<br /><br />I guess Trinidad is becoming more "accessible", soon we'll be seeing "free wireless access for the borough of port of spain" or "free wireless access for the entire country of Trinidad"! I'd like to see that. It's not quite impossible:<br /><a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070222/NEWS01/702220330">House backs free Web for all</a><br /><a href="http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6066475.html">Rhode Island embarks on statewide wireless network</a><br /><br />But then again, that's the states, this is Trinidad.<br /><br />Then there's the security issue, not wireless/encryption security, but physical security - Trincity mall i known to be quite an unsafe mall - in terms of [vehicle] theft, etc. Unless i see an increased patrol of security guards at that mall [i see about one guard posted on the new wing and one on the old wing], I don't think you'll see me sitting down in the middle of the food court using a laptop - for fear of the loss of my data, my laptop or my life.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-84152189803956347882007-04-04T23:17:00.000-04:002007-04-05T00:32:54.434-04:00Too many Tools; Too many FoolsIt's true - everyone nowadays wants to establish a web-presence... to gain cyber-celebrity status. I too have jumped on [or at least barely managed to hang on to] this speeding bandwagon. After all it's human nature to want to be noticed.<br /><br />Currently, it doesn't require you to be a rocket scientist [or more appropriately a <a href="http://www.google.tt/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=hbI&q=define%3Aguru&btnG=Search">code guru</a>] to set up your web presence. there are a multitude of tools that aid you, don't even require you to setup a hosting account, and are completely free.<br /><br />So I've decided to follow the tech hype and setup a <a href="http://www.ning.com/">NING!</a> It's the only online service where you can create, customize, and share your own Social Network for free in seconds. This, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/technology/03social.html?ex=1330578000&en=f718f182170673a4&ei=5088">they say</a>, is a star example of modern web 2.0 application development. It allows for a lot of flexibility, with it's vivid templates, support for the addition of gadgets and other small quirks.<br /><br />With the amount of tools popping up everyday, I'm running out of ideas for websites. Most of them don't even require that you know an ounce of HTML or other coding/markup languages, simply click next...next...next. <br /><br />Although convenient, it tends to grow and nurture a nation of fools and incompetent... well for lack of a better phrase: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEBKAC">PEBKACs</a>. I Google, therefore I am.<br /><br />Here are some of those that I've gotten started so far, each using a different tool [for variety]:<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com">Human Upgrade</a> - my first "site" created using <a href="http://www.blogger.com">Google's Blogspot</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants">Vangoh Vagrants</a> - not really a site, but it does allow for a lot of "sitely" things: discussions, photo sharing etc. Created using <a href="http://www.flickr.com">Flickr</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://askjevin.googlepages.com">Ask Jevin</a> - yes like askjeevs, but for love [under construction] This tool is powerful as well. Created using <a href="http://www.googlepages.com">Google Pages</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://extrav.ning.com">Explorer's Travelogue</a> - inspired by the movie "the beach". Created using <a href="http://www.ning.com">Ning</a></li><br /></ul><br />There's more to come, let just hope cyberspace is capable, or we'll have to start building <a href="http://www.google.com/jobs/lunar_job.html">server rooms on the moon</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-25015958290521718522007-03-14T00:35:00.000-04:002007-03-14T01:22:55.201-04:00Email UpdatesSo, that <a href="http://www2.clustrmaps.com/counter/maps.php?url=http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com" target="_blank">minuscule percentage</a> of the unimaginably vast population of the cyberworld who actually read and follow <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/">my blog</a> can now <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/#subscriptions">subscribe to email updates</a> from this blog. I used a <a href="http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.asp?p=693646&rl=1" target="_blank">tutorial</a> and a cool tool known as <a href="http://www.feedburner.com/">FeedBurner</a> to set it up. <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/#subscriptions">Subscribe now</a>. Enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.feedburner.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/powered_by_fb.gif" alt="Powered by FeedBurner" style="border: 0pt none ;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-81576963989425395222007-01-24T23:20:00.000-04:002007-01-25T00:33:25.600-04:00Trinidad Introduces Machine Readable PassportsWell, my country is once again trying [profusely] to keep up to speed with technology.<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">"The Immigration Division of the Ministry of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago will be implementing on January 24, 2007 a new </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000051/005128.htm">Machine Readable Passport and Integrated Border Management System</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">."</span><br /><br /></span>I saw this in an advertisement in the local paper; released by the Ministry of National Security [who did a good job at hiding this information deep within their <a href="http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.tt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=5">website</a> - at least it's built with <a href="http://mambo-foundation.org/">mambo</a>].<br /><br />I was not sure of what technology they are using; At first i thought it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode">barcode</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID">RFID concepts</a> [see also: <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/2006/02/humanity-vs-technology.html">RFID tricks</a>]. I know a while back the US wanted to release <a href="http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,67333,00.html">RFID passports</a>, but there was a big controversy on privacy. I think some countries actually use them [or so i read in the <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.sg/experience/oct2006/images/CoverStory.pdf">cover story</a> of a <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.sg/experience/oct2006/">Singapore magazine</a>].<br /><br />Anyway, i did some digging into exactly what MRP was; and at <a href="http://travel.state.gov/index.html">Travel.State.Gov</a> they gave a <a href="http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#mrp">definition</a>. Basically MRP is just a simple, stupid line of data: now that takes all the <a href="http://www.rfidtoys.net/index.asp">RFID fun</a> out of it.<br /><br />:(<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-59414550325065774412006-12-01T10:49:00.000-04:002006-12-01T11:23:03.474-04:00The Coffee Pot with an IP AddressA while ago i attended an <a href="http://www.icann.org/">ICANN</a> meeting; among the wide range of topics the presenter spoke of, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0">Web 2.0</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life">Second Life</a> to <a href="http://www.twitchspeed.com/site/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.htm">Digital Native</a> [all of which caught my attention], the one that applied most to this blog was the IP enabled light bulbs.<br /><br />After digging a bit, I found an article entitled "<a href="http://www.edn.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA60952&1=1">Embedded TCP/IP: a smorgasbord of options</a>"<br /><br />It is true: most new appliances today are coming with the capability of connecting to the internet [via the TCP/IP protocol] from refrigerators to coffee pots to light bulb sockets, thus bringing ubiquitous computing closer to reality [or at least practicality].<br /><br />Ah, when will the day come when I get one of those <a href="http://www.powerlinecommunications.net/smarthomes.htm">smart fridges</a> that reorder beers when the stock is low...<br /><br />In trinidad?...that may be a while. I'll wait.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-66484572957953350812006-11-29T17:17:00.000-04:002006-11-29T17:53:32.673-04:00Technology in Trinidad [again]So, today was supposedly my <a href="http://certification.comptia.org/a/default.aspx">Comptia A+ Certification Operating Systems Technology Exam</a> at <a href="http://www.sbcstnt.com/">SBCS</a>. When i arrived, though, i received a call stating that the online system [that i was supposed to use to sit my exam] was down.<br /><br />Now, I don't know if the problem lay on SBCS's side or Comptia's, I am <span style="font-weight: bold;">not </span>insinuating that SBCS's is at fault, nor am i complaining about their quality of service [the staff at the testing center were actually quite pleasant, helpful and apologetic with regards to the situation].<br /><br />I'm just awing at the irony of the situation: "I'm going to 'write' an exam on how to fix computers, and the system that I'm going to write the exam on is down."<br /><br />For all i know it could have been a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEBKAC">pebkac</a> error! I was very much tempted to jump in, troubleshoot, fix the damn thing for myself, and do my exam...but i thought it wont be my place...and i may be escorted off the campus.<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-1164643179174642832006-11-27T11:48:00.000-04:002006-11-27T11:59:39.196-04:00will work for bandwidthWell. My modem is intermittently working, with static on the line and fluctuating bandwidth with a range of a whopping 28.8 kbps to the astonishing speeds of 6.2 kbps!<br /><br />Believe me i've tried to get DSL, but due to <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/2006/08/my-house-on-google-maps.html" target="_blank">my location</a>, the quality would be significantly degraded.<br /><br />You know those t-shirts that say "<a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/stickers/36b7/" target="_blank">will work for bandwidth</a>" - i feel exactly like that. Anyone out there hiring?<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-1163682859551113132006-11-16T08:38:00.000-04:002006-11-27T19:18:36.046-04:00Satellite Speed Internet [sounds yummy]"The town of Rindge, N.H., is just 70 miles from Boston, but to telephone and cable companies it might as well be at the end of the earth. Many of the towns 5,500 residents cannot get broadband Internet access from the providers in the area, Verizon and Pine Tree Cable, even though communities nearby have had the service for years." - [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/technology/14satellite.html?_r=1&oref=slogin" target="_blank">With a Dish, Broadband Goes Rural by Ken Belson</a>]<br /><br />I don’t want to say that I live in the bush, but, I live in the bush. I guess I should stop bickering, now that I see: this country is not the only one that suffers the woes of technology inaccessibility and broadband starvation [yes, this has become the <a href="http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/rev7p.html" target="_blank">8th Plague of Revelation</a>]. But at least other countries with the same plight are trying, with solutions like <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/technology/14satellite.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">broadband satellite</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication" target="_blank">broadband over power line</a>, to get connected. <br /><br />I see, in some way, we are getting there, with companies like LISA, <a href = "http://www.greendot.com.ph/" target= "_blank">Greendot</a>, and <a href = "http://www.tstt3g.co.tt/" target="_blank">TSTT [EVDO]</a>, who are starting to offer wireless broadband solutions. But these solutions, as helpful as they may be, are still limited in this country due to the landscape [mountains hinder communication - physically, not metaphorically]. <br /><br />We’re expanding, but not fast enough. Broadband companies have to up their game, or they may be left behind by those major satellite companies, like <a href="http://www.wildblue.com/" target="_blank">Wild Blue</a>.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!--<br />google_ad_client = "pub-2200816556143557";<br />google_ad_width = 234;<br />google_ad_height = 60;<br />google_ad_format = "234x60_as";<br />google_ad_type = "text";<br />google_ad_channel = "";<br />//--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript"<br /> src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-1161954071034922982006-10-27T08:58:00.000-04:002006-10-27T10:13:19.603-04:00How to Please Your I.T. Department01. When you call us to have your computer moved, be sure to leave it buried under half a ton of postcards, baby pictures, stuffed animals, dried flowers, bowling trophies and children's art. We don't have a life, and we find it deeply moving to catch a fleeting glimpse of yours.<br /><br />02. Don't write anything down. Ever. We can play back the error messages from here.<br /><br />03. When an I.T. person says he's coming right over, go for coffee. That way you won't be there when we need your password. It's nothing for us to remember 700 screen saver passwords.<br /><br />04. When you call the help desk, state what you want, not what's keeping you from getting it. We don't need to know that you can't get into your mail because your computer won't power on at all.<br /><br />05. When I.T. support sends you an E-Mail with high importance, delete it at once. We're just testing.<br /><br />06. When an I.T. person is eating lunch at his desk, walk right in and spill your guts right out. We exist only to serve.<br /><br />07. Send urgent email all in uppercase. The mail server picks it up and flags it as a rush delivery.<br /><br />08. When the photocopier doesn't work, call computer support. There's electronics in it.<br /><br />09. When something's wrong with your home PC, dump it on an I.T. person's chair with no name, no phone number and no description of the problem. We love a puzzle.<br /><br />10. When an I.T. person tells you that computer screens don't have cartridges in them, argue. We love a good argument.<br /><br />11. When an I.T. person tells you that he'll be there shortly, reply in a scathing tone of voice: "And just how many weeks do you mean by shortly?" That motivates us.<br /><br />12. When the printer won't print, re-send the job at least 20 times. Print jobs frequently get sucked into black holes.<br /><br />13. When the printer still won't print after 20 tries, send the job to all 68 printers in the company. One of them is bound to work.<br /><br />14. Don't learn the proper term for anything technical. We know exactly what you mean by "My thingy blew up".<br /><br />15. Don't use on-line help. On-line help is for wimps.<br /><br />[<a href="http://www.lotsofjokes.com/cat_233.htm" target="_blank">source</a>]<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-1161790983057789132006-10-25T10:05:00.002-04:002009-07-14T11:11:27.177-04:00Flood MitigationI recently saw an <a href="http://jevin.ramjattan.googlepages.com/nidco.jpg" target="_blank">advertisement</a> [<a href="http://www.geocities.com/jevin_ramjattan/files/nidco.jpg" target="_blank">request for tender</a>] in the newspaper for <a href="http://www.google.tt/search?q=define%3Aflood+mitigation&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official" target="_blank">flood mitigation</a> proposals. [It's a wonder that they finally acknowledged this as an actual issue.]<br /><br />Ironically, a few days later, I noticed an <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10360-intelligent-sensors-watch-for-impending-floods.html" target="_blank">article</a> on <a href="http://www.newscientisttech.com/home.ns" target="_blank">NewScientistTech</a> entitled: <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10360-intelligent-sensors-watch-for-impending-floods.html" target="_blank"><em>Intelligent sensors watch for impending floods</em></a>. Essentially, the article is about a "grid" of smart river sensors that monitor water depth and flow to predict impending flooding; this is to be installed in a UK river.<br /><br />This is just one cabin of the <a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com/2006/06/ubiquitous-computing.html" target="_blank">ubiquitous computing</a> bandwagon that <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=trinidad&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.426353,59.941406&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=9&ll=10.463505,-61.259766&spn=1.218082,1.873169&t=k" target="_blank">Trinidad</a> should be jumping on in order to advance to a first world society status. Of course they will never find the justification for such projects. Honestly, I believe we have the ambition - the ideas - the thoughts - but what this country lacks it the need to act on these ideas in a timely fashion. I see the government proposing a lot of new projects [<a href="http://www.fastforward.tt/" target="_blank">fastforward</a>], but these projects take years to be completed, some are never even initiated - but the ideas are there.<br /><br />First of all, before we even think of implementing a technological solution such as this <a href="http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn10360" target="_blank">"smart river"</a>, the first logical solution would be to clean up the drains/rivers, start <a href="http://www.tntisland.com/wasterecycle.html" target="_blank">recycling our garbage</a>, and enforce litter laws - hell! You get charged in New York City for allowing your dog to take a dump on the street [<a href="http://www-us.flickr.com/photos/pijus/49366879/" target="_blank">Law 1</a>; <a href="http://images.worldofstock.com/slides/MES1637.jpg" target="_blank">Law 2</a>; <a href="http://www.geocities.com/jevin_ramjattan/files/doglaw.jpg" target="_blank">Law 3</a>]!<div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-1159901371543806442006-10-03T10:05:00.000-04:002006-10-24T22:29:32.173-04:00NextfestOh My God! I've spent one year in <a href="http://www.nycvisit.com/" target="_blank">New York</a> [<a href="http://www.google.tt/url?q=http://maps.google.com/maps%3Foi%3Dmap%26q%3DNew%2BYork,%2BNY&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title&sig=__CUj-WK1Yv2DKjxQDA2JhYi2Sh3I=" target="_blank">map</a>] – covetously craving for the immense amount of technology shows [<a href="http://www.nextfest.net/" target="_blank">Nextfest</a>] and technology conventions [<a href="http://conferences.oreillynet.com/os2006/">OSCON</a>; <a href="http://www.defcon.org/" target="_blank">DEFCON</a>] and technology gods [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googleplex" target="_blank">Googleplex</a>; <a href="http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/inside_google/">Inside Google Headquarters</a>] that were held/situated in <a href="http://www.visitcalifornia.com/" target="_blank">California</a> and other places of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States" target="_blank">West Coast</a>.<br /><br />Now that I’ve left New York: ONLY NOW!!! Only now does <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/" target="_blank">wired magazine</a> decide to bring the <a href="http://www.nextfest.net/" target="_blank">wired nextfest</a> <small>[wired's vision of a new world's fair: a four-day festival of innovative products and technologies that are transforming our world.]</small> to New York City. <br /><br />Arrg life is against me! :'(<br /><p align="right"><small>-<a href="http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com">human upgrade</a>-</small></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13459007.post-1159790295695390592006-10-02T07:55:00.000-04:002006-10-02T08:01:08.713-04:00VidCasts: Dot TV<a href="http://www.fromtheshadows.tv" target="_blank">From The Shadows</a><br /><a href="http://www.twit.tv" target="_blank">This Week In Tech</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting" target="_blank">Wikipedia Podcasting</a><br /><a href="http://www.systm.org" target="_blank">Systm</a><br /><a href="http://www.thebroken.org" target="_blank">The Broken</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">--
Check out my other projects:
http://humanotechnology.blogspot.com
http://eurojev.blogspot.com
http://extrav.ning.com/
http://askjevin.googlepages.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vangoh-vagrants
http://www.flickr.com/groups/jpersonal/</div>Jevin K. Ramjattanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251756335840777132noreply@blogger.com0