Phivos' News

Time for a dive

2008-07-30T16:55:00.003+02:00

Stop it! Stop that working therapy - for a while.

Alright! But...

This city isn't mine anymore. Friends never come back. What the new occupants have chosen as a life, wasn't in my then dreams. Not to mention the tooth my ex just tore me off!

I think I have to go. Let the sea-water do its job!

Moonchild on hold

2007-08-30T07:00:00.000+02:00

Due to my everlasting enthusiasm for playing with new toys, Phivos calling Moonchild, my greek blog, is blocked for some time! Posts since early August, don't come online.

I'll try to find the time to repair this and bring it it back alive.

Technorati Tags: blog, greek blog, phivos, φοίβος, Moonchild

9 Minutes of Fame

2007-02-28T16:18:00.000+01:00

You try to be the first to hit the site. You win, your blog gets on the front page of 9 minutes, for... 9 minutes.

Andy at the time, gave more! Anyway!

Technorati Tags: blog, phivos, 9 minutes of fame, web 2.0

Hello!

2007-02-26T19:08:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPhone

Blogger Beta...

2006-12-20T19:29:00.001+01:00

...is not beta any more!

Technorati Tags: blog, Blogger, beta

The Internet Governance Forum

2006-10-31T13:25:00.001+01:00

It is held in Athens, from 30 October to 2 November, 2006.

The UN General Assembly, back in December 2001, endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Two phases were scheduled.

The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.

The objective of the second phase was to put Plan of Action, decided during the first phase, into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the produced documents.

In a suite with the World Summit on the Information Society came the The Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Its main purpose will be to discuss a wide range of issues related to Internet Governance, and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to the international community. The working and function of the Forum will be multilateral, multi-stakeholder democratic and transparent.

So, here we talk about Internet Governance. Governance! It's in the name of it. Does the Internet need a Governance? Has ever been such a matter of a discussion, some sort of meditation, before concluding there's need for Governance? Or it's just the automated way of figuring out things, that led reflect? As much I could search, I found nothing about such a prior discourse!

This is why, to me, when it comes to an Internet Governance Forum, it doesn't even make sense, such a Forum.

Internet has been born free and grows up less and less controlable. It is not surprising to see governments trying to take control over the Internet. It has always been this way with every expression media.

However, I'm confident that the freedom of speech cannot be banned. For the simple reason that technology works for it. Open networks are coming really fast. New wireless technologies will connect people with each other, letting out the need to pass through traditional ISPs. We're heading towards underground uncontrollable networks. Helped by the emerging technologies.

And, since these technologies mean money for the Big Companies, to stop them, one should have to stop capitalism, first!

Tags: phivos, Athens, internet, World Summit on the Information Society, WSIS, The Internet Governance Forum, IGF

We're not closed!

2006-10-19T07:04:00.000+02:00

If I don't post here since quite long, is because the blogging tool I use for this blog (ecto), isn't updated for using the Blogger Beta.

Here's what the developer says:

There's a lot of stuff happening at Blogger side. They're switching to a new version of their blogging system with a new API. I don't know what they're doing to the old servers, but I'm getting a lot of error reports. All I can do is work on ecto3 so it is compatible with the new Blogger version. But again, I only have so much time I can spend on ecto3.

Till that time and the release of ecto3, this blog stays in the freezer. However, all my other blogs and sites are open. You can find some of them at the sidebar. Look for my latest posts, under the "Other Phivos' Posts" Header.

I'll be back here, as soon as Adriaan finishes working on the new version.

Firefox on Mac, as good as on Windows?

2006-08-24T00:46:00.000+02:00

Post in Greek Language

A lot of people switching from Windows to the Mac, take with them their trusty browser Firefox. We discuss on My Big Fat Greek Mac, about the Macintosh version of the browser and put it face to face with the native Safari browser.

Is finally Firefox on the Mac, as good as it's Windows version? Find out reading Firefox & Safari

Tags: phivos, Mac, Firefox, Safari

Photoshop can be a harmful tool!

2006-08-17T11:18:00.000+02:00

It happens sometimes, I have to introduce Photoshop to people that have, almost never in their lives, touched a computer.

By the end of the first training day, they come up with some "retouched" photos, most of them showing cloned clouds or birds over skies, using the rubber stamp tool. All agree their masterpieces won't fool a child, pull their photos to the trashcan and leave the classroom loughing happily.

None of these photos has ever been as bad as this one!

But this one was manipulated by a professional photographer, trying to put a little more drama to the scene. I don't find shockin, what he did. Photographers show us their point of view, even if they manipulate their photos, in exactly the same way reporters have always transmit their point of view, manipulating their texts! We are conscious of that.

What I find shocking, is that the guy didn't see any problem in his photo! I'm sure he didn't see it. It is not possible to release such a photo, being concious of all the consequences - this is the end of a career - if one has previously seen this. The professional photographer's eye, just didn't see any trouble!

I won't come again with the good old days, where the reporters knew how to use their tools, etc. But, after the shutter priority, after the autofocus, after the intelligent light mettering, don't you think, dear photoreporter, you should put just a little bit of brains into your work?

Adobe should sue this guy for slandering Photoshop and its abilities!

The photo comes from one of the sites that published it. It belongs to Reuters.

Tags: phivos, Photoshop, Beirut photo, Reuters, professional photographer

Switched to the New Blogger

2006-08-16T12:16:00.000+02:00

All Phivos' Blogger blogs are switched to the New (Beta) Blogger publishing scheme. Not without some light injuries. I'll work to put them back in order.

If visiting, you notice some malfunction or other niceties, please be kind to report here.

As about the New Blogger, we'll talk about, soon.

Tags: blog, Blogger, Google, greek blog, phivos

This Week on Phivos' Planet

2006-08-12T15:56:00.000+02:00

Make Extra Money With A Blog
By Alan Liew

...start earning advertising revenue from your blog. This can be a great source of revenue!

Read Make Extra Money With A Blog, in the Phivos' Planet Home Page.

Tags: advertising, blog, blog money, money, phivos

Για τη Χρύσα

2006-08-03T11:08:00.000+02:00

στη μνήμη του μπαρμπα-Γιάννη

Read Για τη Χρύσα posted on Phivos calling Moonchild

Tags: Greece, greek music, music, phivos

Νερό απ'την Ισπανία!

2006-08-02T18:15:00.000+02:00

Ολες οι χώρες της Μεσογείου κατάλαβαν την αξία αυτής της ιδέας και άρχισαν ερευνητικά προγράμματα.

Read Νερό απ'την Ισπανία, posted on Για την Ελλαδα ρε Γαμώτο!

Tags: Greece, phivos

Windows Vista Speech Recognition

2006-08-02T13:06:00.000+02:00

The forthcoming Windows Vista OS (forthcoming, yes, indeed), is announced to support speech recognition! You know, that thing that you talk to the machine and the system recognizes your words and types the text on the screen!
Microsoft organized a demo, for this genius feature! Watch the video:

Isn't it amazing? Now, windows users will be able to get their texts into the machine 10 times slower than by typing! Wow!

Just to remind you, all Macs since 1992 can do this kind of work, perfectly, even in nin english languages. I, personally use this for years for creating my teaching documents in french!

Yes, you're right. Macs are more expensive! As all work-tools are!

Technorati Tags: Mac, Microsoft, phivos, Windows Vista, speech recognition

Blogathon 2006

2006-07-29T16:42:00.000+02:00

There it goes, the 2006 Edition of Blogathon.

You don't know what it is? Well, this is the finest opportunity to me, to send you find out yourself.

Yes, once again this year, Jenny and Dana, will blog around the clock. Where, how, why, go over Weblog Design Studios, it's all there!

And go for it!

Technorati Tags: blog, Blogathon, phivos, web

phivos.net, the blog of the month

2006-07-24T23:09:00.000+02:00

It's always a pleasure when people recognize you! Your work or your way of thinking or just you, for what you are. Especially this, has become rare in out days. So when somebody says that much good about you, even if you are a fervent opposer to institutional honors (you named me), you can't do but humbly appreciate the gesture!

Ovi Magazine is an online Magazine from Finland. A full-featured one. You should follow it.
The last issue just flew online. And guess what? Your host is granted the blog of the month, title!

What to ask more? Isn't life nice ?

Technorati Tags: blog, phivos

Technorati gets a new face

2006-07-24T15:33:00.000+02:00

A few minutes ago Tecnorati launched a new template for their site. It's true the old one was, to my taste, a little confusing.

The new style gives some more general interest services pulled out of the tag database, such as sports or tech.

There is much more personal info on the cover page, like your favorites or your first 3 blogs etc.

Is it better than the old one? Time will tell. I wish they have improved the reliability of the engine behind the scenes. As I have quite often mention, not all tags are scanned correctly, not all pings are heard, not all links are found!

However, Technorati still keeps the frond of the stage. And I like it!

Technorati Tags: blog, phivos, Technorati, web 2.0

Moonchild arrived home!

2006-07-21T03:39:00.000+02:00

You may have noticed these last days some disorder on "Phivos calling Moonchild". It's because I was about to relocate it. I just finished. Now it has it's own url.

Attention, greek language only, blog!

Technorati Tags: blog, greek blog, phivos

This Week on Phivos' Planet

2006-07-20T19:58:00.000+02:00

How To Lose Weight Quickly and Safely
By Joseph Mullen

“I eat like a bird, why do I gain weight?” When someone says that, I ask them "What kind or a bird a sparrow or a vulture”?

Read How To Lose Weight Quickly and Safely, in the Phivos' Planet Home Page.

Technorati Tags: phivos, lose weight

Google to ban Greek language ads?

2006-07-17T15:47:00.000+02:00

Greek AdWord advertisers aim greek public through their ads. It is obvious, the ads must be in greek language and published on greek language sites/blogs.

Google algorithms don't analyze correctly the utf-8 encoding, giving mostly japanese ads. Not of much help for all of us, on the ad field.

The workaround has been a line of javascript (unknown - to me - the author to credit). Not touching Google's code, just showing Google robots the way to the greek language, this script could be considered as a bug fix to Googles code.

Hundreds of webmasters implemented in their pages, this piece of code. And everything worked as supposed to.

All, till a few weeks ago. Suddenly, all of these sites noticed, Google stopped sending greek language ads, putting the usual generic interest - "not relevant ad found" - announcements.

The sites stopped receiving income, the advertisers lost their promoting tool and Google their commission!

To this moment, no official Google statement. We're all just investigating the fact, looking for possible causes of the trouble.

It is known that Google works on a new Greek Ad Unit in Dublin and that last week, they announced AdSense for search. A first step to the complete AdSense integration.

In the meanwhile, pennies fall on the ground!

Technorati Tags: AdSense, Google, greek, greek language, phivos, Google Ads, web

Madame Figaro pays homage to Phivos!

2006-07-13T11:18:00.000+02:00

Φοίβος

Ο άνθρωπος που θα γινόταν Βασιλιάς

Aν μπορούσε ο σύγχρονος μαζικός πολιτισμός της Eλλάδας να συμπτυχθεί σε δύο συλλαβές, αυτές θα σχημάτιζαν τη λέξη «Φοίβος».

Dixit Madame Figaro (the greek edition).

Sorry, no link! Search for yourself... Or find some info on the phivos.net home page.

Technorati Tags: Greece, phivos, Ελλάδα, Φοίβος

Never touch your Blogger blog's title

2006-07-11T21:13:00.000+02:00

Blogger names the permalinks of your posts after the title you give. That's good. What is no good, in the way they have implemented this feature is that the permalink is not permanent. That means, if you decide to change the title of your blog, Blogger changes the name of the permalink, too.

If you change the title right after the first publish, it wouldn't be of great harm. But if you change id some weeks, even months later, every incoming link to your posts, will be lost.

That's exactly what happened to a blogger I know. He went a little too fast, after someone challenged him and changed all the titles of his blog, adding ordering numbers to them. 300+ posts changed permalinks and have definitely lost their incoming links. And the blog all of its rankings.

Obviously, each post is considered as a new post, triggering all automated actions associated with, such as pinging servers!

No good dear Blogger, No good!

Technorati Tags: blog, Blogger, permalink, phivos

I'm bored of your stupidness!

2006-07-11T17:20:00.000+02:00

It's been one year from the London underground bombing day. A few days ago.

I don't want to discuss this event, too serious a matter, to say anything about it in just a few lines.

What amazes me in times like this or like the 9-11 incident, is that there will always be some people, to describe how themselves or someone of their surrounding, escaped by almost nothing, from the disaster.

One of the classic schemes: "I woke up late that morning and I missed the fatal train! So, I'm here, alive and well to tell you this unique story!"

I'm really bored! Bored to death. Life keeps on because of a series of coincidences. Coincidence is life's greatest banality! Nothing can be somehow pre-decided!

If I manage to cross the street is because I moved myself at the right moment! A few milliseconds later, I should be run down by the passing bus. It's just a simple coincidence that all my internal mechanisms functioned correctly at this very moment and I finally arrived en face! Should I get interviewed for that by a TV Station?

Well, you woke up late enough to miss the train. But, it could be the next train to have the bomb! What would you tell your local TV ?

Technorati Tags: phivos, Φοίβος

My new eyeglasses

2006-07-06T14:19:00.000+02:00

I just received my new eyeglasses, I ordered last week, from the internet.

With the latest 3D SuperHoloScan® plasma screen incorporated. They figure an index of -35 in IR Night Vision and an special anti-UV coating. A PSP dedicated HD video and an optical 7.1 surround sound input together with a ShockSense® Drive will turn my summer evenings into a really unforgettable entertainment!

I can't wait till the day I'll get to the beautiful Aegean islands for testing their underwater capabilities. They are guaranteed for 200m deep.

Write me for more info.

Technorati Tags: phivos, summer

This week on Phivos' Planet

2006-07-05T15:19:00.000+02:00

Inflatable Boats: An Overview
By Kristy Annely

Summer is here. Holidays in the Greek Islands is an never to forget experience. Maybe this year you should finally get this little boat you always dreamed of and take it with you on the beach. Or a little bigger, to take some friends with.

A quick explanatory article gives you the first clues. Read about Inflatable Boats, in the Phivos' Planet Home Page.

Technorati Tags: Greece, Greek Islands, mediterranean, phivos, inflatable boats, sea, tourism