jijo.free.net.ph

Internet... on the Bus

Federico Sevilla III — 2008-10-04T19:34:33Z

There are many things I've enjoyed and continue to enjoy during this "USA 2008" vacation, and my first time in the east coast, but there's one geeky thing that I really must write about: Internet on the Bolt Bus (and the Chinatown Bus but that didn't work as nicely). The bandwidth is good, with downloads up to around 1.3Mbps, and the latency is a very comfortable 160ms at the hop right after the WiFi router. We're cruising on the highway en route to New York from Philadelphia, and the connection past the WiFi router is generally stable with only occasional blips. I'm not absolutely sure about what technology they use, but the IP address is owned by Sprint and they have a 3G service, so maybe this is 3G? Uploads are restricted to about 196Kbps, which looks eerily familiar. Globe's 3.5G service has awful upload speeds, too. The bus also has power outlets on each seat to complete the nerdy experience. Thankfully many people here commute and have their computers and other nice gadgets. This would probably be scary in Manila. When you think about it, though, this 2 hour bus ride costs $10 one way. Cheap compared to the Amtrak, but if you charged that amount Makati to Laguna I guess you could throw in free WiFi, too. (Blog entry written while on the bus, by the way.)

Moving

Federico Sevilla III — 2007-11-20T21:24:07Z

This blog will remain here indefinitely to provide previously-posted content. New content shall no longer be posted here, though. Please check out the FS3 Blogs for posts from me and the rest of Team FS3.

The Global Project Manager

Federico Sevilla III — 2006-06-13T12:48:32Z

Classes began last week for The Global Project Manager, a nine-module diploma program offered by the Ateneo Graduate School of Business Center for Continuing Education in conjunction with the Philippine-chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI). I've enrolled myself in the full diploma program, which runs until the end of September, and am working towards getting certified as a Project Management Professional at the end of the program. Last week we completed the first module, an introduction to project management facilitated by Dr. Kenneth Smith, PMP. The intensive four-day eight-hour-a-day module brought us quickly through the basics of project management including key concepts like the Work Breakdown Structure, Critical Path method, and Earned Value. We did a lot of practical work as teams, which brought us closer to actual project management experience than just sitting through a class listening to a lecturer. The experience was gruelling, especially since I had to juggle school and work with a painful 9am - 5pm class schedule impacting three working days, but I made significant steps on the journey towards project management excellence, and look forward to the more detailed modules coming up as part of the program.

Globe Visibility on Debian GNU/Linux

Federico Sevilla III — 2006-04-12T15:45:23Z

Globe Telecoms recently launched their unlimited Internet offering called Visibility. Commercially it's offered as part of a number of plans, including a PhP2,500/month plan that comes with unlimited 3.5G/EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi in Wiz hotspots and dial-up, or a PhP1,700/month plan for unlimited 3.5G/EDGE/GPRS. This basically provides Internet access anywhere in the country, although neither Globe Visibility nor PLDT WeRoam work in areas without cell coverage or in areas with GSM-only coverage using cell sites connected to their infrastructure using VSAT. The latter is rare, and usually means really far flung areas. [...]

Not Just Jazz: Dancing with Body, Soul and Mind

Anton Sevilla — 2006-01-21T12:54:22Z

Dance! The word points to something so vibrant, it is tepid when merely said but not exclaimed. Dance is the eruption of the body into movement that surges from the wellspring of the soul. This is Douglas Nierras' genius, a genius he has cultivated and shared through the Powerdance Company for decades. On December 28 and 29 of 2005, Nierras promised something different. Not Just Jazz, a different way of doing dance, in both form and content. The most apparent difference was in form: This concert was crafted entirely out of the intricate magic of Black Light Theatre. Black lights are UV lamps that do not illuminate things directly, but selectively cause flourescent colours to glow. Through a clever manipulation of costumes and accessories, the dancers were able to deceive the eye with grace heightened by illusion, defy gravity with invisible hands, vanish into the darkness only to re-emerge from thin air. The effect has no better word for it but magic. [ ... ]