There’s nothing we can do to save the planet

All that green stuff you're buying?  Not working.  The things you do to reduce your carbon footprint?  Not working.  The organic food you're buying?  Not working.

Face it.  Nothing we do to save the planet will work.  The mere fact that humans intervene already have unseen consequences.  This is the butterfly effect in real time. Everything we do causes something to happen to something or some creature.  Can we see it?  No.  Can we understand it?  Doubtful.  Can we control it?  Impossible.

But does this mean everything's hopeless?  Of course not.  It simply means we should enjoy our lives and live each day as it were our last.  Enjoy the moments.  Breathe everything in.  Have fun.  Experience life to its fullest without any worries or thoughts to the f! uture generations.

Earth and life are both dynamic organisms.  They will evolve and adapt.  Plants evolve and adapt everyday that they're alive.  New bugs?  No problem.  Plants will develop new toxins on their own to control the bugs or start living with the bugs in harmony.  It will be the same for humans and the other animals out there on this planet.  Atmospheric oxygen content lowering and carbon dioxide going up?  No problem.  Future generations will find oxygen toxic to their bodies as carbon dioxide is to ours now.

Life adapts.  Life evolves.  The more you worry about tomorrow today the less you can and will actually be doing anything that will matter.  In fact, nothing you do will stop the future.  Will it?  Consider this a prime conclusion.

The Mentat

 

 

Scientist: Don't bother going green because there's nothing we can do to save the planet

via CrunchGear by Nicholas Deleon on 3/31/10

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

CityScape: Standing Guard

Why R2D2 will want to guard this branch of T.G.I.F., I do not know.  We never ventured inside to see if General Obi Wan Kenobi was inside or some other famous personality.  It's just amusing to see old faithful standing guard.  Made my day.  ;)

The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

CityScape: iThis and iThat... Why?

Seriously...  don't they have any other name to call the box?  What's next?  iMat?  iCarpet?  iCart?  iStove?  iTable?  That i no longer has the same meaning and connotation as it used to have.  What do you think?

The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

CityScape: Potpoulli

Isn't this supposed to be spelled potpourri?  Found this at the infamous 168 Shopping Center/Mall in the heart of Manila.  Where parking is complete hell and the crowds a nightmare.  How I ended up there is a story I do not care to recall and neither do I want to go back.  Unfortunately, my dearest was with me and she wants me to take her back there for more shopping adventures.  So I guess I don't have much of a choice but to recall the route.  Times like these, I wish I have inferior memory.

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Deposit Checks Using Your Phone [Redux]

In August 2009 I wrote about USAA offering their depositors the ability to use their iPhones to deposit checks from the comfort of their home or wherever they may be.  The technology allows people to be free of the tedious chore of going to their bank to cash their checks.  It also allows them to have more freedom to go further with their bank, business wise. A few days ago on Slashdot, the story re-emerged.  This time with more banks joining up on the offering for their customers.  The report doesn't say when the ability will be available to their customers but it will be soon.

Applications to do just that are already available for Apple's iPhone and other gadgets from USAA, a company that provides insurance and banking mainly for military veterans. Chase, Bank of America and Citibank are among the banks planning to release similar applications this year.

This is now happening thanks to government legislation and maturing technologies.  The specific technology to be used is called remote-deposit capture.

Here's how it works. When you take a picture of a check, a computer that receives the image looks for the amount, the check number and the digits on the bottom with information on the check writer's account number and the bank's routing number. A photo of the back of the check verifies that it's been signed by the recipient. A banking clearinghouse then routes the funds from the check writer's account to that of the recipient. That also prevents the same check from being deposited multiple times.

Of course, this is in the USA.  Where laws exist to enable the use of such technology.  What about the Philippines?  Do we have laws for this?  Existing or in the works?  I don't know.  Our politicians are more interested in turf fighting and primping themselves for mass adulation and self mortification right now.

The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Optimus Prime Truck mode

Brother drew this.

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Megatron Jet mode

Brother drew this.

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Bruttle

Ya my brother made a random alien for Ben.

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Submarine Dive

Brother drew this

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Team Kakashi

Team Kakashi

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

National Buntis Day... WTH?!

How many of you know there's that holiday here?  I didn't.  Apparently it's on every 10th of March.  I would have loved to have known this at that time so I could celebrate it with my staff.  You know, keeping with the mythos and all of being the Director of the company's Maternity Ward.

It's celebrated by volunteers who give mentoring sessions to pregnant women and to educate them on the benefits of breastfeeding over bottle feeding their babies.  Yes, I am a staunch advocate of breastfeeding.  My wife is, too.  All our kids were breastfed.  Two of them for over a year with one only for 6 months.  It's not for not wanting to but he just bites too damned hard and too often she always cr! ies with pain.  So she gave up after 6 months.

Come 2011, if the mythos endures, I will make sure I celebrate this day for and with my staff.

Here's the link to the original story, in case you're thinking I made this holiday up.  :D

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Disposable Toilet To Change the World...?

Found this on slashdot.  I guess it had to happen sometime.  What with the impending doom and gloom of the robocalypse coming along, threatening to take over almost everything we hold dear.

 

 

via Slashdot by samzenpus on 3/8/10

captn ecks writes "A biodegradable and self-sterilizing bag for people of the toilet-disenfranchised world (40% of humankind) to dispose of their bodily waste and turn it into safe fertilizer ! has been created by a Swedish entrepreneur. It's a dead simple and brilliant solution to a vexing problem. From the article: 'Once used, the bag can be knotted and buried, and a layer of urea crystals breaks down the waste into fertilizer, killing off disease-producing pathogens found in feces. The bag, called the Peepoo, is the brainchild of Anders Wilhelmson, an architect and professor in Stockholm. "Not only is it sanitary," said Mr. Wilhelmson, who has patented the bag, "they can reuse this to grow crops."'"

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Megatron

I said there was gonna be a Megatron and oh here it is! If you can't view the slide show of Naruto Shipuden that's ok.

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Naruto Shippuden (Naruto vs Sasuke)

Naruto ShippudenA slide show (mangga) of my brother it's his 1st. I was gonna post megatron but this was way better plus I never drew Megatron YET .

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Some More Maternity News

Early in the week I received an email from someone at work who has read my Eros blog posts and I just went ape with amazed bemusement.  I am certainly happy about hearing the news but also filled with incredulity.

Let me explain, I've written an FAQ about how my supposed powers work and yet, this story seems to defy all those.  Though, I have to admit, if they had used protection of some sort, I doubt this would have happened.  Not that I believe any of the things people think about my "godhood," mind you.  I know I still bleed.  It's just the evidence is kind of overwhelming.

This is still heartening in any case.  If I can bring happiness and bundles of joy to people, then let it be my own moment of happiness.  Just, please, stop touching me.  ;)

Below is a copy of the email message I received.  Unedited, except where indicated in translation, and anonymized to protect the person who wrote it.  I am happy for you, my friend.  Congratulations!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 04:57
Subject:  ???
To:

boss I read your team story and actually I have been hearing this sort off chismis ! (rumors) before. at first di ako na niniwala (at first I didn't believe) but after reading the 2nd story..i've realized that back when we were still in the 12 floor 6mons ago I always talk to you… Now my wife is 6 months…

May be its true….. at first di ako nanniniwala (at first I didn't believe). but my third baby is acctually not planed and siguro nga (and just maybe) seens ive been talking to you.. your energy transferred over channeld tohrough me to my wife…

so.. goodluck eros of the present time hehe

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

New Phone Allows Bosses To Snoop On Staff... creepy, no?

 

New Phone Allows Bosses To Snoop On Staff

via Slashdot by samzenpus on 3/10/10

tad001 writes "The Japanese phone giant KDDI has developed a way to track users movements in fine detail. It works by analyzing the movement of accelerometers, found in many handsets. Activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or even cleaning can be identified, the researchers say. The company plans to sell the service to clients such as managers, foremen, and employment a! gencies."

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Optimus Prime

Autobots transform and roll out! Is he nice? Stay tooned Megatron coming up next!

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Chowder!

Anyone know who's Chowder? Well my Chowder painting has fake colors coz I don't have the prper colors hehehe

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Honest Chain Mail Message

Honestly, people.  Please stop sending me chain mail.  I don't need it.  And I'm afraid if I start marking it as spam, your legitimate emails might also be sent to spam inadvertently, by virtue of google mail's spam filter efficiency.  So, please... stop the chain mail.  It's spam, not ham.

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

The Robocalypse is Coming!

Haven't I told you all I've seen this coming?  I think I did.  I know I did.  Check my archives...?  First they had robots that humans can control.  Machines that can be controlled with human thoughts.  Heck, even non-human thoughts.  Then we had replacement limbs that could be controlled by thoughts.

Of course, we now have machines that feed on biological material.  Now... now they have machines that can read your mind!  What's next?  Machines that will control a human mind by remote?  Heck... why not?  If these progresses beyond the realms of our control... Boom!  We'll become slaves to machines!

I tell you... as cool as machines and technology is (I'm a geek, ayt?) I still think scientists should think about the ramifications of whatever they're working on or doing.  ! Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done.

 

 

The Computer That Can Read Your Mind

via Slashdot by timothy on 3/3/10

magacious writes "Gtec has showcased a computer that can read your mind over at the CeBIT trade show in Germany. Designed primarily to help those who can't write or speak, the system makes use of a skul! l cap and wireless technology to transform brain waves into le! tters. It's the first patient-ready computer-brain interface, according to its Austrian makers. It takes around 30 seconds per letter for the computer to recognise what you're saying the first time you use it, according to Gtec, but this improves vastly with practice. '"One second per letter is very tough," Gtec's Engelbert Grunbacher said, adding users can usually easily get to five or 10 letters per minute. "You learn to be relaxed, focused. You improve."' It might look quite wacky (pictures here) and at €9,000 the system is not cheap, but it could help enhance the lives of many people who have a great deal to say but no real way of saying it."

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The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca