Let’s KEEP Net Neutrality, Neutral.

Getting to know Net Neurality.

Net Neutrality refers to the non-discriminatory nature of essential Internet components such as servers, ISPs and transmission ines. In the eyes of an idealized Internet, all users have the right to send and receive packets of information equally. The principle of net neutrality makes this possible.

Net neutrality in the context of the Web is somewhat new, but the concept of neutral, publicly accessible information and transfer of that information has been around since the earliest history. Basic public infrastructure, such as subways, buses, telephone companies, are not allowed to discriminate, restrict, or differentiate common access, and this is the core concept behind net neutrality as well.

Net Neutrality is the guiding concept behind everything that we get to do on the Web. Right now, there are no restrictions of any kind on access to content on the Web, no restrictions on downloads or uploads, and no restrictions on communication methods (email, chat, IM, etc.) Net neutrality is the assurance that access to the Web and its content will not be blocked, slowed down, or sped up depending on where that access is based or who owns the access points.

For an ordinary Web user net neutrality would mean the ability to to access the entire Web meaning any website, any video, any download, any email. We use the Web to communicate with others, go to school, do our jobs, and connect with people all over the world. Because of the freedom that governs the Web, this access is granted without any restrictions whatsoever.

Neutralization or Deneutralizing the net?

Internet is what it is today because of net neutrality. The unique prevalence and spread of it is because of it’s neutrality. New ideas, creativity, and breakthroughs have given us much experience and joy using the Internet today. Internet is something we not only need but we also enjoy every day of our lives. It started as a need for our quest for information or way to communicate but now Internet is not only that we get to build friendships, networks and it widens even our social life. I must say some find it weird that through the use of internet we get to meet people and build friendships with them take it from me if we will only be wise in using and we will take advantage of our very free access of the web it will give us more benefit that we thought possible.

Interaction is still interaction whether it is personal or cyber. What’s important is that we get to interact with one another. Our mind works, our emotion moves.

My stand in this issue is that as an internet user myself, I don’t wanna experience restriction in accessing different sites. It is important for a user to have self regulation instead. Be a disciplined user so that net neutrality is here to stay. I want experience all the next big thing in the internet or in the web without being limited to.

DISCLAIMER: This is posted ONLY for compliance in Technology and the Law subject requirements.

To Ban by Gulf Countries:

BlackBerry Messaging Services

Today, information is considered as one of the basic needs of people. It is evidenced by the consistent increase in the number of users of the internet, or the web for information accumulation and dissemination. The use of internet for information goes to show that this is already became part of our existence because it is more accurate, accessible and real-time delivery of information posted on the web.

No wonder the prevalence of different gadgets and electronics have increased through the years. Information war will be more and more apparent in the coming years. Regulating information dissemination in companies, organizations, schools will be more exigent --- different countries as well.

There is a recent regulation made by some of the countries regulating the information accumulation and dissemination in their territorial jurisdiction such as United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, India and UAE, particularly announced that they will ban e-mail, web browsing and messaging for the BlackBerry Smartphone.

BlackBerry is a line of mobile e-mail and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM) since 1996. BlackBerry functions as a Personal Digital Assistant with address book, calendar and to-do list capabilities. It also functions as a portable media player with support for music and video playback and camera picture and video capabilities. BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive Internet e-mail wherever mobile network service coverage is present, or through Wi-Fi connectivity. BlackBerry is mainly a messaging phone with the largest array of messaging features in a Smartphone today.

The preceding paragraph features what makes BlackBerry as an indispensable tool of today as described by one telecommunication analyst Simonian. But still impending banning of such devices to several countries citing national security concerns as the main reason. Also, issues of crime and terrorism have been raised. Without the ability to monitor data, the UAE would have to rely on RIM to hand over data for criminal investigations. That in their current form, certain BlackBerry services allow users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national-security concerns as pointed out by UAE’s Telecom Chief, Al-Ghanem. The method in which RIM handles BlackBerry data is the main concern of the ban because unlike most phones, BlackBerry data is encrypted and routed overseas through RIM’s network center in Canada. This has been a major point of contention for several nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India, because it means that these nations cannot monitor the encrypted data being sent. Some also believe the move is meant to give the UAE stronger control over the nation’s information flow, although the UAE’s Telecom Chief said that censorship played no part in the decision. According to The Wall Street Journal, the ban came after RIM rejected the idea of setting up a proxy server within the UAE.

The banning of BlackBerry messaging services in several independent states in my opinion is reasonable mainly because it is in the interest of National Security. It is a valid action of their government acting on their responsibility to their people.

These countries fear that BlackBerry could provide cover for militant activities and they have experienced attacks using mobile and satellite phones for coordination. These countries are only exercising inherent power for the interest of national security.

One may ask if it is it really the device which is the threat to national security or is it the one manages the information accumulated and being disseminated that can be a threat to national security --- as information passes from one device to another, such information are stored somewhere only in the case of BlackBerry it is not readable and that is what makes these country banned the device.

I believe that as independent state it is the right of the country to have access to information that they believe can be a threat to their national security. In the state’s exercise of accessing information which is considered private we have to know how far can the government intrude in the personal correspondence of a citizen?

But as a private citizen, I would like to exercise my right of privacy to communication. As it is embodied and recognized right in the Constitution in almost every country in the world. I hope that the citizens of such country would not be deprived in exercising such right for this is another form of restricting their personal freedom. I can’t speak on how exigent the structure, implementation and exercise of the basic human rights in such Gulf countries but I would like to believe that their government’s concern is more real than just another way of restricting some of their citizen’s rights.

The regulation in the use of BlackBerry Messaging Services depends on how an independent states restrict the presonal freedom of their citizens withing their jurisdiction and territory. The banning is only limited to the other services of BlackBerry particularly the e-mail messaging so those who have previously bought BlackBerry could still freely use the device for phone calls.

DISCLAIMER: This is posted ONLY for compliance in Technology and the Law subject requirements.

THE ROAD I TOOK♥

Of all the things I've been to, I always end up choosing the easier path, the not-so challenging ones but I just knew deep inside me that I wanted something BIG, I wanted more and I deserve more and now I'm living up with the challenge because I've been READY and UP for the challenge

when I have said that I AM.

Thinking about the little changes the past years, this poem just keep on sneaking in my thoughts then and now.. then because I NEED TO DECIDE and NOW I'm living it and everyday I am faced with TWO ROADS whenever I've had to chose something over the other, these two roads diverged in a yellow wood always comes to mind.

And I never thought that I'll be HERE NOW, the thing I've been putting off all these yearsss.

so I'm kinda hoping that

I FINALLY took the one less traveled by,

and that has made ALL the difference.

or at least it WILL or I'm hoping it'll BE.

I'll KEEP YOU POSTED.

=))

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

When we studied this poem back in high school, I never thought it will have an impact in every thing that I will decide on,

this poem is really worth thinking &&

remembering and well, need I say I LOVEEE ♥ it.

Hee.