I wonder....

Sometimes, when I plow through  development technical papers, it plays around in my head:

Do we have this feeling that helping a community or a country is so damn hard - because the information and to-do list is damn hard to understand? 

I've nothing against "intelligent" sentences and blabla blublu.  I know we have to sound formal to be respectable, but...

Maybe, just maybe, especially for development work, if we can communicate simply and direct to the point,

• Maybe people will understand the country's problems better.
• When they understand, maybe it's easier to feel hope that a lot can be done. 
• When people feel hope, maybe it will be easier to band people together and they will work better together towards common goals.  
• Maybe it's easier to commit to helping out your community when you feel connected to what you read or saw.

Most of the time, I marvel at how the seemingly impossible ways for a country to progress can still happen. But then, what if more can be done?  What if it was just a matter of how you share information, problems and solutions to common folk?




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Want to Stalk Santa as he Works this Christmas? Use Google Earth!

The coolest christmas guy - Col. Harry Shoup

A misprinted Call-Santa number in 1955 somehow prompted this guy's surveillance org to watch Santa's whereabouts.

Watch Santa on the 24th as he zooms through the globe to deliver gifts for the kiddies all over the world, using Google Earth of course.

Tracking starts 3 hours from now (I am GMT+8), so download your free Google Earth plug-in now. As in now, so you're good to stalk immediately as Santa takes off.

This christmas stalky business is brought to us by NORAD . Norad uses 4 hi-tech systems to track Santa - radar, sastellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets.  Read more on how they track Santa. and why.  Thanks, Norad!

Happy Christmas to all who like this holiday :-))


Christmas geeko tip I picked up from Renz of http://seonotesfromanewbie.blogspot.com/ .


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Geek fix - Tron 1982

Having my geek fix since the boys are out.

Am watching Tron, the 1982 version from Youtube.  Yeah, I wanna be ready just in case I decide to watch the 2010 version.



The musical scoring is weird, weirder than any 1980's movie.  The others elements of the movie, like crappy story and okay backlighting effects, I don't mind so much since the movie is old anyways.  I guess it was great  25 yrs ago.

Now I'm moving on to my nerd fix.  Have this book about the life of Stephen Hawking.  Great read.  I don't pretend to know so much about these things.  I just want to try and learn a bit, looks pretty interesting.   Will tell you about it next time if you like.  (Leave a comment to remind me.)

*End of line.* 


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Conversation between mom and web-savvy 10 year old

Mom:  Hey, let's enrol in a web design course in the summer!
10 yr old : (unsure)
Mom:  We can be classmates!
10 yr old : (unsure)
Mom :  You can do my homework! 
10 yr old:     >.<


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Security Issue with Google Website Optimizer

Whut???  Google website optimizer has a bug, according to an email sent by GWO.

For those who are testing their pages and did not receive the notice, I'm copy-pasting the letter below.

Also:  It's my 100th post!  Though I would've wanted the 100th post on a happier note, first things first.


- - -

Dear Website Optimizer user,


We are writing to inform you of a potential security issue with Website Optimizer. By exploiting a vulnerability in the Website Optimizer Control Script, an attacker might be able to execute malicious code on your site using a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack. This attack can only take place if a website or browser has already been compromised by a separate attack. While the immediate probability of this attack is low, we urge you to take action to protect your site.

We have fixed the bug, and all new experiments are not susceptible. However, any experiments you are currently running need to be updated to fix the bug on your site. Additionally, if you have any Website Optimizer scripts from paused or stopped experiments created before December 3, 2010, you will need to remove or update that code as well.

There are two ways to update your code. You can either stop current experiments, remove the old scripts, and create a new experiment, or you can update the code on your site directly. We strongly recommend creating a new experiment as it is the simpler method.

Creating a New Experiment

Stop any currently running Website Optimizer experiments

Remove all the Website Optimizer scripts from your site

Create a new experiment as normal. New experiments are not vulnerable.

Updating the Website Optimizer Control Script Directly



Locate the Control Script on your site. It looks like this:

A/B Test Control Script







Multivariate Test Control Script







Locate the following in the Control Script: return c.substring(...

Modify the following line as shown:

BEFORE: return c.substring(i+n.length+1,j<0?c.length:j)

FIXED: return escape(c.substring(i+n.length+1,j<0?c.length:j))

Make sure to include the final closing parenthesis “)”

Fixed A/B Control Script







Fixed Multivariate Control Script







Note that the k=XXXXXXXXX line in the above Control Script examples is a placeholder.

Your experiment will continue as normal after you’ve made this update. There’s no need to pause or restart the experiment.

We’re committed to keeping Website Optimizer secure, and we’re deeply sorry for this issue. We will continue to work hard to prevent future vulnerabilities.



Sincerely,

Trevor
Google Website Optimizer Team


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Christmas Decor for Geeks

We are a geeky family.  My boys and I love anything webby, nerdy culture icon-y, etc.  One of our favorite shows is the Big Bang Theory.

As the christmas season neared we watched this christmas episode from Big Bang Theory where Sheldon wanted a mini-bust of Newton to decorate the christmas tree because Newton's birthday is December 25 whereas Jesus was born in the summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqiiCOFR0Y8
(no embedding allowed, boo.)  I particularly liked the Leibniz should go at the top of the tree joke.

And my boys wanted Newton on the christmas tree too.

Being a geeko supporter of the sciences, I had to give in to their request.  And since it seems I wouldn't find a Newton mini-bust,  I improvised by decoupage-ing a christmas ball with a newton pic.  And here it is:

And yes, he went up the top of the tree.  Although I respect Leibniz as the first dude to do the calculus, my son said putting other respected people up the tree when Dec. 25 isn't their birthday is just wrong.

Hope everyone's having fun this season.

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On Internet Service Providers - What ISP do you use?

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) breathe life into the career (maybe even the personal life) of the online worker.  Without an internet connection, you just can't work.  No contacts, no communications, no spadework (for us who enter websites from across the globes).  Without a proper ISP, we  cannot earn a living.

When I started online work,  I decided to subscribe, not to the basic plan, but to the faster plan, even if it was more expensive and I wasn't earning  yet.  Since it was going to be for work, might as well be equipped for it.  Not to mention I have the patience of a 2 yr old for loading over the net, I might end up chucking out my PC out the window even if it was the net that was quite slow.

That was in 2007.  We got the 1.2Mbps plan from a Quezon City ISP. Services were fine and uneventful then.  Now in 2010, when the little broadband dongles say they deliver up to 3Mbps, I still had the 1.2Mbps until October 2010 (and still paying double the basic plan).  It was only this November that the ISP called and said they were upgrading my speed to 1.5 Mbps and subtracting PhP200 from the subscription cost.

I noticed though, that :

• Around June this year, my connection always dies around 2PM and stays that way for 2-3 hours.  You can imagine how distraught I can get because I don't get to do any work, and had to extend to the work hours until beyond midnight.
• I noticed this September?  October? upto now (this very moment) the lights in my modem always has the hiccups and dies and resurrects every so often, sometimes every 5 minutes, every 15 minutes, etc.
• And yes, the phone included in the service is ALWAYS dead.  Causing another inconvenience to call cellphones instead of the land line service.  Hmp.  (Yes, my phone is dead right now.)

I have learned to ignore this since it's happening frequently, and I thought maybe it's just my area, etc.  Now I find out an online contact with the same ISP has the same net and phone problem.  My son's classmate also told him they have the same situation at home.  

What is happening?  

I have shared this concern with the counter person while paying bills, she just told me to file a complaint to services so that line men can come over.  Oh, what she told me exactly was TO CALL and file a complaint.  I find that funny because I just said the line was dead.  Yes, I can call using the cell but it's still funny to make me call.

I can always change ISPs, but my sons agree this damn blasted service is still the most reliable for their gaming needs compared to other ISPs. So yes, I am a hostage of my own ISP.  Boo.


How about you? What ISP do you use and is it reliable and quick for surfing, gaming and web maintenance?


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Online Writing for Development Issues, Causes

I've been putting together in my head the best practices of writing for development issues these past few weeks.  Of course, the usability principles are the same. It's just that those I've been seeing are writing in the pyramid style.  Inverted pyramid writing is easier to use for online readers (where the most important topics go at the top and is mentioned first).  Headlines I usually see are just events, dates and personality-centered.  I've seen these too much I can easily go on auto-shut off when I see any more.

If we are to be honest, in terms of usability, a headline saying "(Insert name of org official here) attends (insert name of conference here)"  is useless information for an interested development worker. I think even the person mentioned won't read that article either. 

I just wonder really how much of a use it is for readers (even colleagues, yes) to find out the top official went to this or that. These conferences gather the best think tanks in the world, I'm sure tons of  interesting/ relevant resolutions or recommendations are done in these workshops and conferences. Why not focus on new resolutions/ recommendations so that development people immediately get an idea what happened, then just conveniently insert the official attended this or that?

And I'm sure, our top officials, down to earth great leaders they are, are embarrassed (or sick) of seeing their names over and over in lame headlines.  I think they would really appreciate their names alongside with a highly relevant development resolution in a headline. 


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Black Hat SEO doesn't Work. (Yes, stating the obvious.)

So I just saw this ad for online workers looking for "Black Hat SEO"

Of course, the client wanted to be on top of the Google search results.  It was a strange request, to use questionable means to be no. 1 at the list.  If this were true, the person needed to be explained to that black hat techniques are easily monitored AND penalized.  That is, Google bans you and all the efforts you did to cheat will lead to your page not being indexed at all.

The strange thing is, because of the big budget allotted, online workers were actually bidding to do the project.

Tsk tsk. As an online worker, isn't it a given that you should be looking out for a client's best interests?  By taking care of a client, and providing legitimate advice and expertise, the big budget projects will follow you around later.  

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Pilipinas Kay Ganda Website Disaster Could Have Been Totally Avoided

I had the usual reaction over the new Department of Tourism campaign, about using a slogan that is not immediately recognizable to its target audience, blablabla, and that was the end of it.

My hair stood on its end though when I heard the news that the Pilipinas kay Ganda website URL, beautifulpilipinas.com, would lead to a porn site if you change one letter in the URL.

I was wondering why this mishap happened. Ok fine, I admit I'm indignant about it.

For us web developers who are also concerned about Usability and Search Engine Optimization, I believe URLs should be carefully chosen.  It represents yourself, organization, and in this case, your country.  New website names should be chosen :

1)  to immediately tell what the site is about
2)  for ease of use of the target users
3)  for easy finding of search engines or SEO

1)  Immediately tell what the site is about


I encourage anybody who wants to set up any webpage, whether a free blogspot account or a paid domain to carefully think over and list a bunch URLs.  Your URL or website name should clearly state what your website is all about.  For beautifulpilipinas, fine.  That passed that step.

2)  My next consideration, for usability:

• Is your chosen name easy to remember?  
• Is it short or at least an acceptable length?
• Did you put in dashes, underscores or numbers that might confuse your searchers?  Note that these are fine, as long as kept to a minimum and easy to remember.
• Are you using spellings that might confuse your searchers?
• Are there synonyms, same words with different meaning, that might confuse your users?

And the last 2 points is where things went awry.  Pilipinas, that stands for a country, can also stand for persons, the Pilipina. Westernize the words. Filipinas is also used to stand for our country, and course our women are more popularly called Filipina here and in other countries.

3.  Optimize for Search Engines  

To optimize your URL for search engines, it is as simple as following steps 1 and 2. But there are other things your web-developer should do in this step, and that could have avoided the disaster of the tourism website.

For the web developers-marketers part, we practice a standard procedure of searching out the potential URLs that can be used where we find:

-  related keywords being searched

-  how many searches have been done for the searched keywords in the past month or year

-  etc. etc.

This way, you can advice the client what may happen when using a particular URL, and let the client choose what suits the purpose.

Some people would prefer using the barely searched keyword, and is willing to take on the challenge of  getting people to visit. If people pick it up, then only you will be identified with that keyword.  Other people prefer to be safer, and will pick names with keywords already being searched.  

With this step alone, you will quickly see there are no searches for beautifulpilipinas.  Free advice:  Since the Philippines' tourism has been around for sometime you can think up and search for more words that people are actually using now when they want to visit or vacation in the Philippines.  Then you can think more of what words can be used for your taglines, etc.

Now search for beautifulfilipinas and you will see the obvious.  Lots of searches, and other keywords with searches are "beautiful filipina", "beautiful filipina women", and "dating filipina".  By now, even if you cannot imagine these could lead to a porn site, you will at least get that the country's synonym stands for its women as well.  And it is easy to read, what is being pertained to here is another kind of tourism industry that is not so wholesome as the Department of Tourism would prefer.
- -

Looking at it another way, the real winner in this situation is the website owner of  beautifulfilipinas.com because, by applying these simple steps mentioned above, now an entire country is looking at their homepage.  Lucky bastards.

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Filipino Inventions at QC Circle Nov.15-21, 2010

 Filipino Inventions and Inventors deserve the recognition so I want to go to this.  I have work even on holidays for now, so I hope to go this week-end.  I just want to show my appreciation and I really think it's our patriotic duty to let others know about this.

Love our own.  It's about time we had something like this. Visit Quezon City Circle this Nov.15-21 and show your support.  Please forward this info to those who get suppliers for construction, agriculture, health and wellness, transport, safety devices, energy sources and miscellaneous items. 

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Another Kind of Online Marketing

Starting this week, I'm off to a different kind of online marketing adventure.

It's my first time to merge online marketing principles, with social development writing.

Same marketing principles, just a different kind of audience with different values leading to a different conversion.

I'm sure the psychology of using the website will be the same.  People are people.  They use the internet the same way.  

I will just need to adjust to the learning curve quickly and efficiently.

Exciting! :-))  Kileggs.

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Withdraw Xoom at SM or BDO - Part 2

Withdrawing Xoom at BDO or SM business centers is okay if you are prepared and have the complete information and documents. 

As promised in the Part 1 of this post, here is how you can claim your Xoom salaries or remittance through SM or BDO.

Note:  SM and BDO uses the same Remittance Form and the procedures are the same too.

You will need the following:
1.  Most important - the Xoom Number that your sender got when the money was sent.
2.  The amount sent and what currency.
3.  Optional:  The secret word if your sender indicated any when the money was sent.
4.  2 government issued IDs like Passport, Driver's license, SSS, GSIS, etc.  If you only have one, fine, bring it still.  Some branches are considerate.  But the policy is followed to the letter by some BDO and SM branches and are picky with seeing 2 IDs.

Usability and Customer Conversion Note: 
I can understand SM and BDO are being protective of your money, but it's inconsiderate because not all Filipinos have 1 legal ID to begin with.  So looking for 2 IDs makes it rather difficult to withdraw the remittance, when they have the Xoom number and secret word anyways.  It is a drawback to you, dear SM or BDO because you may lose precious remittance dollar$ and customers, when the sender finds out their family back here cannot withdraw the money they sent!  They will quickly change money remittance centers the next payday, so that it's convenient for their family to receive the money.  I'm just saying...

5.  Your sender's information overseas and your information

• Complete Name (Tell your sender to write in the same name as the one in your legal IDs)
• Your sender's and your address
• Your sender's and your tel. no.  I think SM-BDO wants a land line number indicated as well.

6.  Lots of patience

7.  Bring a book, PSP or gadget so you can wait in peace.

To claim your Xoom remittance:


Make sure you have asked your sender the number, secret word, name indicated, address and phone number overseas.

Go to SM or BDO.  If you will claim late in the afternoon or early evening, ask the branch up to what time they accept Xoom transactions.  Some have a cut-off because it takes some time to process.

Ask for the remittance form and fill it up completely.  Your sender's info will also be written down so I hope you followed the first step before coming over to BDO-SM.

Give the form and your IDs.

Wait for 15-30 minutes.  Sometimes it takes 45 minutes to an hour.  Yeah.  Quite ridiculous in this day and age of instant messaging and almost instantaneous email.

In my experience,  SM Business Centers are quite quick.  BDO branches I've been to are quite zzzzzzzzzz....  except for BDO in Robinson's Galleria which surprised me because they were quicker than the SM Business Centers even.  (Note that I withdraw in US Dollars, so there's a lot of hullaballoo in requesting for dollars and eats up more time)

If your sender sent you money in Philippine Pesos, I recommend getting your remittance at a Cebuana Lhuillier branch instead.  They are super quick, almost no waiting time.  And they are not so strict with IDs and the sender's information.  You can definitely claim with only one ID.

So there.  I thought all along BDO and SM were okay but as I tediously write this down, I just realized it was quite cumbersome.  But still, you might need this info so best be prepared.  I have been using Xoom 2x/month for 2 1/2 years so I can claim my remittance at SM or BDO even while asleep.  The quickest way to get your money is to have everything prepared before you go there.

Since Xoom is okay anyways, you can still ask your sender or client to send you your fees through Xoom, just in Philippine Pesos, and claim at Cebuana  Lhuillier so that the process is quick and convenient for you.


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Super Pleased with Union Bank EON

I am super happy with my Union Bank EON.

• Total deductions, minimal (and from Paypal, not Union Bank).
• Time to make funds available : Quicker

The total fee deducted from my pay is just P50 for the Paypal request to transfer to Union Bank.  I used to transfer Paypal to my China Bank account, but it frustrated me that they deducted around P200-plus for accepting Paypal.  And this is deducted every time, so people who need to make weekly transfers because they need to are penalized the most.

As for time to receive the money, I do transactions on Wednesday mornings and money is usually in by late Friday evening.  When I was still using China Bank, the money came in by Monday the following week.

Yup, I'm a happy customer.

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Resorts World Casino Philippines

Resorts World Manila is a 6-star resort with hotel, casino, mall and the grandest string of entertainment programs located across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, in Manila.

For our balikbayans, OFW friends (the overseas kind, this time) and Filipino families, the resort is a one-stop entertainment haven that can accommodate travelers and locals.

Me and my friend Renz of Pinay Mommy A Dreamer won some slot machine funds last night and had a lot of fun at the Resort World Casino.

Slot Machines Galore

At the casino, you won't get bored with the assorted entertainment and the gambling. Of course, there were the gaming tables, but we were only interested in the slot machines.  And there were A LOT of slot machines, with different kinds of ways to win.

I felt like a kid on a field day at Time Zone.

Iffy to Try the Slot Machines?  It's fun and easy

The casino uses strip cards instead of the traditional tokens (the card is also the Membship Card, btw).  You just insert the card in the slot to play (yes, slot machine is still an appropriate word regardless the new currency). Then you key in your PIN, choose your bet and the stakes and you're playing.

Bets at the slot machine start at P1. The minimum bet for other machines are P20, P30, P50, P100.

Renz was so good at figuring out the instructions based on the drawings on the machine.  I've never had problems with figuring out  instructions from graphics, but my mind was addled last night.  So if you're good at understanding illustrations, figure out which games appeal to you first and think if you can win better with the object of the game.

There were also digital roulette tables where you still get to play with people, just that the service is digitized.  Lowest bets there start at P10.

Availing of Winnings

Then if you think you've won enough, you can avail of your winnings at the Resorts World ATMs scattered around the casino. Fun, diba $_$  Or if you like to redeem some beautiful items at the counter, you may choose to do so.  See, I told you it's just like Time Zone, but with better perks.


Sorry I can't tell you about the gaming tables, they are not my thing. I don't play even the regular, non-betting games among friends and family.

But we had so much fun with the little amount we played with.  We won some, we lost some.  Our funds lasted until 12AM.  We went home tired, with zero funds in our card, but happy.

Kudos also to the kind staff of Resorts World.  Whatever we needed, we were assisted graciously by security, service people, kitchen staff, etc.  Yes, now that I think about it, we asked so many people for instructions and we were always accommodated nicely.

Yep, Resorts World Casino is a great place to go to and have fun.


How to Get There

Resorts World Manila is at Newport Boulevard, Newport City Cybertourism Zone, Pasay, Manila Philippines

Here is the Resorts World Manila map (PDF file).
-  Instructions how to get to Resorts World Manila
-  Schedules of Shuttle Service to Resorts World Manila 

For inquiries, call the hotline:  63-2-836-6333 or 63-2-908-8833
or visit their website  http://www.rwmanila.com



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Withdrawing Xoom in the Philippines through BDO and SM Business Center Part 1

I have been withdrawing Xoom at BDO and SM for the last 2 years and I can say the service is very reliable.

Recently, I have ended my online services with a client who pays with Xoom. So last week, it was my last time to withdraw Xoom. I did so at the SM Business Center and the teller requested for a second ID. I said I only had my SSS ID, my license and passport are not available, but I did have a Xoom password. I was allowed to withdraw the remittance, and the teller said they were just accommodating my request but it will be the last time they will allow me to withdraw with just one ID. I nodded, knowing full well that it was to be my last until another Xoom client comes along.

As I waited, I reflected that yes, Xoom and I had a good roll. In mid-2008, as a newbie freelance online worker, there were lots of times BDO's or SM's connection with Xoom were offline. But on hindsight, I realize I have not had trouble with offline connections since late 2009 and 2010.

Also, if you are withdrawing in Philippine Pesos, I found out that withdrawals through Cebuana Lhuillier took just minutes. I expressed my surprise and the Lhuillier staff said that they had a more direct access somehow with Xoom, that is why they were faster. SM and BDO have a lot of online clearances to verify an amount to be sent, thus I always had to wait a long time.


Next: How to Withdraw your Xoom Money from BDO or SM Business Center



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Tips for Applying for an Online Job

I am helping my friend apply for an online job, and she sent me the ad so I can give her pointers.

Looking for - Social Networking Specialist

Bla bla

Bla Bla bla

Bla bla bla bla bla

Please do not send me your resume, because it is not related to what I'm looking for.

Lol.

Yes, please.

When applying, please do not attach your resumes.  It is funny and some might even find it irritating (which will cost you the chance to be chosen).  I have had lawyers send me 3 page details of their legal education.  And I was looking for a website assistant. Hello?... Connect?

Usually, for online jobs, I just write a short warm letter saying I'm interested and a brief outline of why I'm qualified for the job.  Then I just include in bullets below:

-  Related work experience, if any.

-  Related education, if any.

For newbies, if you have no experience

-  Stuff that you know how to do on the net.  Facebook, Tweet, etc.

And for goodness' sake, cut the business English that makes your potential client zzzzzzzzzzz.... Filipinos are really bad at this, to be honest.... I have seen lengthy  resumes written in phrases that make my eyes glass over.

Not to be arrogant, but I can honestly say I have a high batting average with application letters (either for jobs or projects).  Most of the time, when I write an application letter, I at least get an interview or the job itself.  What I just write are simple sentences that show I am human, honest and reliable.

I hope you get the online freelance job you are applying for. :-))

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Life Short Cuts

This was posted by one of my plurk friends a gazillion years ago.  It flashed into my head as a perfect analogy for a lot of online workers, especially those being looked down on because you don't dress up in morning in your stockings and heels.

A vacationing businessman asked a fisherman how long it took to catch fish.
Fisherman: Oh, a few hours.
Businessman: Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?
Fisherman: With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs.
Businessman: But what do you do with the rest of your time?
Fisherman: I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs...

Businessman: Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable.

• You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. 
• You can then sell the extra fish you catch. 
• With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. 
• With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats. 
• Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. 
• Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. 
• You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise.

Fisherman: But how long will all this take?
Businessman: Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard.
Fisherman: And then what, señor?
Businessman: Why, that's the best part! When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.
Fisherman: Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?
Businessman: Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want.


Amen.

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For Online Retailers: Ready, Get Set, Go Pre-Halloween Black Friday Mode!

Online retailers are on Black Friday mode even before halloween this year, according to a Consumer Reports article on Yahoo.  The report says some online retailers have already super slashed prices and generously added the free shipping treat for the early Christmas shoppers.

It's about how many weeks to thanksgiving, five?...  At this rate, someday we'll have black Friday sales as early as February.

Just giving you the heads-up that your competitors already have their hands in customers' Christmas Funds as early as now.

And what are you waiting for?  Shoo, time to strategize (if you still don't have any) and implement your Christmas sales programs ;-)


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Sighted: Home Office Designs

Sunrise view from my bedroom window

Can't tell it's hard to get a shot with the grills and screen, eh?

Online workers work at home all day, it would be ideal to have a nice spot in the house where you feel relaxed, beautiful and totally motivated to work. I hope you take some time to spruce up your home office.

I am totally intending to move my home office to my bedroom.  My rule has always been, no computers or TVs in the bedroom.  It is stressful to have those electronic thingys where you rest.  The brain won't be able to tell whether it's time to work or to rest.

But then, my bedroom has a view of the San Mateo hills and plateau.  It is a majestic view and very inspiring.  (If not for the ugly, AND red window grills that the owner has put on the windows.  Yes, there is also the aluminum screen. Sigh, but that is beyond my control and I digress.)  Yes, those hills are alive.  In the morning, it is totally beautiful with the sunrise.  And as evening rolls in, when I have the time I just sit there and not open the lights.  It is just as breath-taking, to see the snazzy orange sky during sunset.  A bit later, teeny lights on the hills wake up as the sky turns pitch black.

So now I am thinking what would be a nice look for my online work office.  I am devoting the whole wall with the windows to the home office.  Wonder what nice thing can be done besides the long work table and shelves by the wall...

Found this page for home office designs and there are thousands of pictures to get inspiration from. I'm still looking for an idea with big windows in front of the workstation.

And this blog rocks because it has pictures of home offices of real people .  Looks like I'll be getting ideas from this blog more than the designer pages.

From:  houzz.com

I'm having one or two of these shelves made.  My room design taste is very simple.

I want things to be utilatarian and no space for clutter (because I'm makalat).

Maybe I like it because it reminds me of the cubbyholes where I put my lunchbox in in kindergarten.

And of course, the work area, something like this.

From http://home.officesnapshots.com/2010/03/09/the-perfect-minesweeper-setup/

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Where to Buy Musical Instruments in Manila - Quiapo, Philippines

Summary:


If you are looking for musical instruments and accessories, visit Evangelista Street in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines for a smorgasbord of musical equipment. I think the prices are lower too.

Just came in from my little field trip in Quiapo.  My teen son is totally into music.  His birthday is coming up and I wanted to see what musical instruments were there in Quiapo.  I wanted to get him something related to his music, but wasn't able to get one today.  

I counted how many years he has been totally interested in music.  It has been 5 years since he went home and asked for a guitar.  When he bought him one, it turned out he already knew how to play.   We had no idea where he picked it up.

A year later, same thing with the keyboard.  He just knew how, we just had to get him the instrument.  He has shown his diligence in studying music pieces all by himself.  He watches how to do a song in YouTube and practices repeatedly everyday.  He is a far cry from how I had been with piano.  I had a teacher and I resented that the teacher had to eat up my Saturdays with boring piano lessons.  (Saturday shows are:  Thundercats, Fraggle Rock, Dungeons and Dragons the Animation, Rainbow Brite and my favoritest Shirt Tales, so yeah, I pretty much hated the lessons.)  I loved playing piano pieces everyday, but totally slept through the lessons and drillszzzzzzz....

So if you want high quality musical instruments and items and you want to get it for lower prices, you can try scouting around in Evangelista St. in Quiapo and ask around for prices.  I was in a rush so I didn't get to ask around for the prices of different instruments. I just asked around for the item I was looking for. Depending on your interest in this post, I can go back and note items for you.  But for now let's discuss

How to get to Evangelista Street, Quiapo

I took the FX to Quiapo (the Quezon Avenue - Espana Boulevard route). At the end of Espana Boulevard still coast along toward the curved road going left.  Your transportation will go through an underpass and 

• When you get up to the main road Quezon Boulevard, you will immediately see signs to the right saying Raon.  
• Get down and walk a little heading to the direction where you came from.  You won't reach the Quiapo Church, but if you reach the Church that is okay, you'll still easily get to Evangelista.  
• Today I got down 2 streets before the Church, G. Puyat.  If you enter another street from Quezon Boulevard, it's alright.  
• Just walk through the street a bit and the first adjacent busy street you will see is Evangelista.
• If you got down at Qiuapo Church, just go to the side of the Church and see the first parallel street beside the Church.  That is Evangelista Street as well.  
•  You will  know it's Evangelista when you see that most shops are electronics stores, motor stores, music lighting stores, speakers stores and sporting goods and music Stores.

There are about 4 Music and Sporting Goods stores near each other from where I emerged from in Gil Puyat.  There might be more but I did not trek Evangelista St. on both ends.

Musical Stores and Sporting Goods usually share a shop.  So if you see trophies outside a store, take a peek if there are guitars hanging inside.  You  have come to the right place then.

I did not see keyboards or pianos, but what I did see today are lots of guitars, drum sets, violins, saxophones, and other smaller percussion instruments.  Of course you can get the other accessories of the instruments there, like guitar strings and picks, amplifiers, drum sticks, cymbals, etc. etc.

Same thing with sports equipment.  If you need lots of trophies, score sheets, etc. for your sports fest;  or if you need exercise equipment, you will find them in Evangelista. I bought a sleeping bag there for my son. The price is about half? or 2/3 the price of a sleeping bag with same specs from sporting goods stalls in the mall.

If you are nearer to Quezon City and don't want to go to Manila, you may also look for musical instruments in Sta. Mesa.


If you have kids who are totally into music for a long time and you know they will do this for a long time, visit Evangelista Street in Quiapo and be surprised at the price differences in music stores that you can find in malls.



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Time to Listen to your Consumers

Summary:
Thanks to the internet, consumers can now rightfully participate in the marketing - and even improvement -  of a product.   Talk to your customers and listen to them.  By building relationships, you will be the one to be turned to for advice (and products! translating to later sales. *blink Dollar$ here*)  Below are some tips how to make it easy for you.

Last night, I have been reading some parts of "Age of Engage" by Denise Shiffman.  It talks about how online and offline marketing has changed (for the better, I think) because now, consumers have a say in how items or ideas are marketed to them.  In the past, with TV and printed media, a consumer has no control over the marketing tools and ideas shoved at them.  These days, thanks to the internet, and the power vested upon by consumers with social networking tools and other handy apps, consumers can rightfully participate in the marketing - and even improvement - of a product.

I am amazed at how Ms. Shiffman has put into words the social context that I, as an online marketer, breathe and live everyday. I totally appreciate how much consumers have the power these days to make or break a product with their comments and reviews.  As a consumer myself, I love that when I need something, I only have to ask Google if there are people who have been talking about that product or place.  I just look at what they have to say.  Always, I am comforted with the guidance before I seek out that product.  As a copywriter, should I even say a product review is a goldmine of inspiration for copy that sells? When I find a review on a product I have to write about, I feel like I've won the lottery.  Reviews are absolutely priceless.

A lot of the net-savvy companies have realized that these days, marketing products and ideas is a 2-way street.  If you are just starting to realize this and want to improve your relations with your customers,  here are some ideas to help you get started how to engage your customers:

•  Use social networking tools to reach out to customers.  These days, companies usually do blogs, email newsletters, Twitter, Facebook, forum participation, social bookmarking, etc.  You don't have to do all of these.  You can just pick one or two you or your staff can do consistently well.  Let people know you want to have conversations with them.
• Yes, let your staff blog or tweet or network your business.  Clients love seeing the people behind the business.  It warms them up and builds loyalty for your product or business.  You can issue some basic, fair guidelines for your employees since they will be speaking in behalf of the company.  But let them speak out their own passions about your business.  You might be surprised with how well the public will take to it.
• Be honest and show who you really are.   People want to know you and your company.  They can spot a fake a mile away.  So if you're a nice person, go.  If you think you are not that nice, let your staff do it for you. lol.  But seriously, for all of us, some people like us and some don't.  There will always be an audience for the real you.  So just be there and be you.
•  Please do not flood your readers with offers.  They are not interested in your products (At least, not yet).  Instead write helpful tips about your industry that they want to learn about.  Then when they need something, they will remember you.  Patience is a virtue and a customer magnet.
• Where to start?  Tip on what kind of engagement to start with:  I dare say the email newsletter is the most personal marketing for a person.  First, they have already agreed that you send them mail.  That's a biggie.  You just have to nurture the relationship.  They know you sent them something made specially for them. Studies have shown that people are often hesitant to Unsubscribe to newsletters they signed up for, even if they do not read the newsletter anymore.  It is strange, but many people are attached to newsletters.  Then of course, blogs abnd forums are a great way to inform people.  You can easily establish yourself as an expert with those formats.  In the US, tweeting about companies has caught on, and Facebook shoutouts have caught on too.  See what is most comfortable for you and use it consistently.
• And of course, listen to your consumer.  As I said it's 2-way now.  Responses are expected from you.  Out of all your followers, only 10-20% will bother to leave comments (the others will just read on) so if anyone does bother to talk to you, respond back.  Treat these comments as treasure.  Most likely, these comments indicate what the other 90% readers think about your your company or products.  (Don't even get me started on companies I encountered who detest criticisms or questions on their products.)  On criticisms on your product or business, be glad someone took the initiative to point it out to you.  It may feel bad, but think of it like having spinach caught between your teeth.  You're better off if someone points this out.  Besides the embarrassment, for business it'll cost you profit if you don't listen.)

If you are interested to learn more about how to build relationships with your clients, Denise Shiffman's Age of Engage will give you a great headstart on putting all this in perspective. Please buy from my Amazon store if you want the book. Shameless plug, yes. But that's me.




















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Sighted: "Evolution of the Geek"

Who would've thought geek would have its own time to be cool?

What kind of Geek are you?  (Doubleclick to see in its original size.)
Thanks to uber Book Geek Hecman for the sighting.

Do visit Flowtown, the Source of this graphic.  

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Why Do You Blog?

• I blog because I take pleasure in writing about things that interest me.  
• I also blog as a souvenir (that's for my parenting blog and Tumblr).
• I'd like to earn in Adsense too (I  haven't yet even if my blogs are years-old because I do not network).  Paid blog reviews are also fine by me.

Interestingly, blogging incidence has declined in other countries, but here in the PH, blogging is more alive than ever.  Why?

I noticed that there is this almost-mania about Philippine blogs being equal to freebies and events.  That is so strange.

I guess being invited to corporate events because of your blog is the new cool. 

1.  One of our blogger friends introduced herself as a blogger, then her new acquaintance asked "So, you have lots of events to attend and freebies then?"

2.  Saw in Plurk recurrently :  People asking how to be invited to events.

3.  Then I passed by this blog that had ONLY announcements of events and new products.  Obviously fishing for invites and freebies.

4.  Recently, there was this brouhaha about blogger events as a possible venue for corruption.  Although money was not directly involved, freebies and gift certificates were. But still, corruption is still corruption, cash or none.

Argh.  It's an online disease.

Me, I like events to get out of my dinky spot under the rock, once in a while.  My colleague takes me to her events.  I'm always the plus-one.  But after that, I blog about the event even if I just tagged along.  Freebies, I don't mind getting them, I don't mind if I don't.  

I don't mind getting paid for blogs (See an old article - On Paid Blog Posts) and getting perks.  So if you were able to scandalize ME about your corrupting ways, then shame on you.

How about you, blogger reader, why do you blog?


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Talaandig Day 2010 and Tribal Wedding

Went to the mountains to witness one of my besties from work get married to a datu. It's been a while since a datu got married in their tribe so it was a very special day for the Talaandigs.  Their wedding day also coincided with the day of the tribe so the atmosphere was really festive.

(Note for researchers who want to copy the pictures:  Please respect the Talaandig Tribe and use their pictures prudently.  They have their own rules about these things that I would not want to intrude on.)

Entrance marker to the Talaandig Ancestral Land.

Crowd was waiting...

I love that most of the tribe were wearing their beautiful dresses.

Program in the morning.

1001 Artworks Exhibit at noon before the wedding. 

Total number of artworks they got was 2000-plus since the nanays in the tribe also flexed their creative muscles. Media used on the canvasses are paint made from clay soil from their land and oil.

 Wood  and clay sculptures

A wall post in the tribal hall depicting the tribal members. 

There are more posts like this in the tribal hall. I think these are made of clay as well.

Painting of Talaandig warrior.

 Painting of Talaandig couple dancing

Another beautiful painting.  There are lots more.

By now, you may have noticed that the Talaandig tribe take their art and culture seriously. I was surprised at how each native REALLY looked at each artwork for a long time before moving on to the next. 

Wedding of Datu Anilaw and Lorie 

My friend Lorie works in an NGO advocating for Indigenous People's Rights.  Anilaw visited their office one day and the rest is literally history.

Start of the wedding. Groom waited at another house. 

They had their own pre-wedding rituals there. 

Then they marched on to the main hall where the bride and the tribe were waiting.

 Groom's march.

  Negotiation of the Dowry.

Money for dowry. Each family member contributes a coin. 

The bride's party also gave coins... Interestingly enough, the total from both parties randomly tied at the same amount (traditionally the groom's party's money should be greater... something indicative about equal standing there, I guess...) 10 chickens were also sacrificed but no one took pictures of that. And the chicken blood was brushed over the money.

 Blessing of the couple.  

Commitment of both families (in this case, the whole tribe) to support them and their family.

 First meal together, courtesy of the sacrificed chikons.

 Ladies of the tribe danced in the hall to seal the deal.

 First dance. I cried at this part. heehee.

 Everybody dance. 

Dances were usually inspired by the animals found in Mt. Kitanlad. I learned of the bird dance and monkey dance. I was with the bride so no dancing for me. I'm so kj.

 Tribal Disco after. 

Music courtesy of local resident artist-musician-poet Waway. Their music that night had reggae and rock beats.  The concert rocked on 'til 4am.

Mt. Kitanlad

We chanced upon several ladies in native dress. This lady is the daughter of a datu.

 Intricate beading on the dresses. 

I think they embellish their own dresses and headdresses.

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Geeky Love Joke

Boy: Is you're name Google?

Girl: No.  Why would my name be Google?

Boy: Because you are everything i'm searching for :) 

harharhar... Cheesy, but I like.  Snatched from my son's status on Facebook.  lolz. 



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Want to be an Ideas Leader? Share! Share! Share!

The other day, my teammate was asking why oh why some net people are just stingy with their knowledge. 

One person had this problem re: SEO, and was asking for help what to do.  This person had the "Experts" in his/ her friends list, so my teammate was expecting that these active proponents will answer the question posted.  But sorry to hear, those self-proclaimed experts did not even bother to answer this call for help.  These people ask a lot in terms of fees from companies so they can teach techniques regarding the internet.   And yet, they won't even help out a fellow online worker.  (And my teammate swears the stuff they teach for an exorbitant fee is not even updated.  LOLzzz)

When I started studying the best net practices 3 years ago, one of the first points I picked up as truly important is :  To succeed online, be useful to other people. Help others out as much as you can, and you will find your online experience very enjoyable and fulfilling.

This is what I see from my favorite net gurus.  They live what they preach.  The Ideas Leaders I truly admire are always friendly and ever open to share their knowledge.  They accept friend requests on Facebook, so I get updated on the newest stuff on the net that otherwise I would have found out about next year.  They also respond to questions in private messages and their walls.  They share what they know, and this sharing comes back to them tenfold.  They are truly recognized in the field as leaders.

Anyway, the ending of the story is, my teammate was exasperated with the lack of interest to help from these people.  Being the usual generous-hearted person she is, she answered all the questions and gave more tips how to handle the problem.

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Web Geeks PH Meetup Hosted by Ubertor

Renz and I attended the Web Geeks PH Meetup at the Fort last Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010.

I am thrilled to finally be out and about, from my perennial location Under the Rock.  I am happy I went, I met these bunch of enthusiastic and great people who are as into the Net as I am. I like that the interests and specializations in the Net of the people I met there are diverse.  There were Software Developers, Web Designers, students, online social networkers, etc etc.

For that night, the topics talked about are the importance of Social Networking to your Business and the benefits of using Agile in projects.  Great talks, very interesting.

I look forward to exchanging ideas and working with them in the future.

Thanks heaps to John Arce, the Web Geek regulars and the Ubertor people for this event.



Upcoming Events : Roofcamp and Web Dev Con

ROOF CAMP:  Saturday, October 23 · 6:00pm - 9:30pm

 Roofcamp is a venue for future looking, maverick, and fearless individuals, sharing and distilling ideas from concept to reality.

Speakers :

Scott Henderson @espressojunky
CTO, Bookmans/auctionsalacarte.com

Ibba Bernardo @ibba
Founder and Big Chief, E-Motion Animation
Chairman of BuhayKo.org

FUELED BY BEER 

DevCon :  Saturday, November 13 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Program:

• Registration
• Opening Remarks
• Lightning Talks
• Birds of a Feather (BOF)
• Raffle
• Geekup
• Closing

Speakers @ Lightning Talks:
(To be announced soon!)

Venue:

OTD Offices, 14th Floor, Picadilly Star

4th Avenue corner 27th Street, Fort Bonifacio Global City

Taguig, Philippines

*If any of you want to go, leave me a message.  Let's go together.


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Building Others Online, Neglecting Your Own Online Persona

I find it really strange that a lot of professional marketers are successful in building up their clients' online personas, but neglect to build up their own nicely.

I'm guilty of this.  My excuse is always, after building up others' sites, when I'm done for the day, I'm tired.

But really, it's because I'm such an introvert person deep down. (hahaha good one.)  What I mean is, I am extroverted and sociable where required.  But left on my own, I am an obnoxious island.

How about you, SEO-ers and e-marketers, I hope you are faring better than I am...   Have you been good to yourself and marketing yourself properly?



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