I have encountered more than one philosopher and a bunch of writers who said that man has carved the world into his image, or something to that effect.

These self-described thinkers argue that man and his tools, his technologies, his ideas, and his inventions have changed the world, turning it into something that fits his designs and satisfies his every whim and desire.

Were those vast oceans keeping islands and continents too far from each other? Man built ships and bridges, and for the heck of it, invented planes too. Were those tropical paradises too hot and humid for comfort? Man made airconditioners.

Get the drift?

Today, man, with his computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and the always-on and omnipresent Internet, thinks he controls the world. Pretty soon, he says to himself, he will gain control over the ocean depths and the outer space.

Just when he is so smug, so sure of himself, along comes Sandy, followed by a host of other excessively frighteningly powerful and destructive typhoons. And last week, it was the country's turn to be reminded just as roughly and abruptly.

Typhoon Pablo swathed a deadly path across the archipelago's southern parts, leaving behind some 300 dead and about the same number of people missing, with most of them heartbreakingly presumed dead.

Yes, man rules the world. He is in total control, so he thinks. Until the next typhoon comes and shows him who's the boss.

Fastest Lumia 920 to China

Nokia has inked a deal with China's and the world's largest mobile operator, China Mobile, to launch the Lumia 920T, a TD-CDMA version of the Finnish phonemaker's flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the world's largest smartphone market.

China Mobile's partnership with Nokia has created the need for the new version of the Lumia 920. Although the handset would have components similar to other versions of itself, the Lumia 920T will come with a faster GPU.

Well, Apple might be the biggest thing in the smartphone market, but Nokia has got something that the Cupertino company does not have and which it covets so much — a contract with China Mobile.

Virginia Frowns at Texting While Driving

A legislation in Virginia seeks to ban texting while driving, something that is supported by traffic safety advocates in the state and elsewhere.

Data from the Virginia Transportation Department revealed more than 63 deaths were recorded in the state during the first 10 months of the year in which the driver was between the ages of 18 to 30 and was texting before the car crash.

In Metro Manila and other parts of the country I have visited, I also have seen people texting while driving. Heck, I saw people riding motorcycles and bicycles while — yes, you heard it right — texting at the same time.

I guess only common sense can keep people from texting while driving (or walking). Doesn't it make you sad knowing common sense isn't so common at all?

That's all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.