Category: Life

Got the following in my mail today (yes, as one big image as well):

It seems like someone was able to create subdirectories on an open-source software site, to be used as a phishing haven. Upon clicking the link in the above picture (via an imagemap), a person is brought onto a clone of the Paypal site. I “logged in” with a non-existing email and password. I was then asked to fill in everything from my credit card info, to my banking information, address, and even my SIN number.

This is the second such Paypal-based phishing email I’ve received in as many months. Both were reported to Paypal.

Update: Paypal [the real one] wrote me back to inform that indeed what I received was a fraud, and blah blah blah…

GAHHH #$%#$%$# !!!!!

It’s been like this for days. At times, some sites absolutely refuse to resolve. You’re surfing, and suddenly… nothing. All the 5 sites you were simultaneously trying to load all give you DNS errors.

Then in games… BF2… Your connection suddenly drops after minutes of play. You go to go online to see if its a regular problem, but DNS errors on accessing Google.

The router (Linksys Wireless B) bears some of the blame. Resetting it fixes the problem… sometimes. But this is driving me NUTS!

Can you tell when I’m not working? I have a pretty irregular schedule, but judging by the graph below you might have a glimpse of which days I had off. It shows when I post entries here on this blog. The graph was made using OpenOffice.

Asian films get little coverage here in North America. I find it odd, because most of these films, esp. those produced by Korea as well as Hong Kong, and to a lesser extent Japan, release movies that rival Hollywood in every sense of the meaning.

I can only attribute it to North American ignorance – we, who turn a blind eye to anything outside our borders. The special effects and cinematography found in these titles, easily rival anything of Hollywood. One only has to look at titles like Tae Guk Gi [Korea] and Hero [China].

However, special effects alone do not make a movie. Plot is equally important. This is something that I feel Hollywood has failed to notice; and the reason for the demise of film in this country. It is also something that I believe Asian films excel in. The psychological thriller that I watched the other day; Antarctic Journey comes to mind, as does Oldboy.

Here in Canada, we’ve produced quite a few movies. But whereas Asian films have effects and plot; we rely solely on plot and do not have the budget for effects. We also seem to stick to movies that carry the loaded plot rivaling that of a hefty novel; oft negating light humour or immature titles (read: catering to teens). The result are some great movies [ie. Atanarjuat], but some which could have been greater with the aid of thematic diversity and/or financial support.

When will we see movies like “My Wife is a Gangster”, or the teen “Attack the Gas Station”, or “Initial D” [the Chinese live-action movie based on the anime/manga], or the awesome “Stereo Future” be produced here in Canada? Or France? Or the UK?

I’d argue that the best films today are not made in the USA; but in Korea. Japan has some excellent titles (Takeshi Kitano titles come to mind), as does Hong Kong/China (though I find there’s been a steady decline in quality productions in the last decade). But Korea seems to be dishing it out. Bollywood (India) is another big film producer, but it doesn’t seem to cater to Western tastes which is why I’ve excluded its presence.

I wonder how long this quality market will remain unknown to the rest of the world. Some Chinese hits have made it accross into the mainstream here (Kung Fu Hustle, Hero, Croutching Tiger Hidden Dragon); but I’ve yet to see any Korean ones make it through.

So me being myself, I decided to buy the entire Cowboy Bebop series. If you go through BestBuy or some other North American retailer, the set will cost you around $220. Prohibitively expensive; the kind of inexcusable price that promotes piracy. However, you can get the Japanese set for $36 at Japananimation.com. Comes with Japanese/English dubs and subs. That’s where I bought it.

Anywho, on the DVD itself, there was this pleasant note at the bottom:

It says: “All rights reserved. Unauthorized Copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, pblic performance and broadcasting prohibited.” [The typo on the word “public” is their own]

In other words, its illegal for me to lend this DVD, a DVD that I own and bought, to a friend. Fookin ridiculous. I’m glad the person in charge of writing that text doesn’t work for a publishing house – I sure wouldn’t want to be arrested because I lent a book to my sister. Or my mom.

I take it, by both the typo and the anal repetition of the affair [copying = reproduction, public performance = broadcasting], that this was made-up by some bloke on the spot. That said – how upsetting.

UPDATE: Oooohhh it gets better! Check this gem out! This is the back cover of the DVD product.

So – viewing this product in coaches, hotels, hospitals, oil rigs or schools is grounds for “civil action” and “criminal prosecution”. I’m also not allowed to exchange this DVD for another. Or edit it for fun on my computer. Again – book analogy. I’m not allowed to write in this book (edit); or exchange it with a friend for another. The fact that they go out of their way to prohibit its use in oil rigs and hospitals just seems heartless; though it seems odd that they went out of their way to make mention of it.

Were there too many people “illegally watching” this legal product on oil rigs? Wonder what kind of punishment one should get for airing this in a hospital room. Of course a hospital/school/institution/etc. wide broadcast is immoral; but such an activity is already prohibited under the fact that the DVD prohibits public viewing/broadcasting. They mean to block the personal viewing inside a room. Its like saying “oh we’re sorry, but you’re not allowed to read this book outloud in a hospital room.”

Media content industries sure get alot of leeway with copyright laws.