Monday, July 6, 2009
Comments Temporarily Disabled: Moving Blogger To WP
Commenting on this blog is temporarily disabled. I am on the process of transferring this blog to Wordpress.
Read More......
Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs - The Return of the Darth Vader
image by Phillip West
A pack of dark heavy clouds coming from the east corner of the sky coalesced with the radiant morning sun; until the whole light was covered by the hue of greed and indulgence. Fear enveloped humanity. Everything now was full of darkness and terror.
Slowly, the dark clouds opened up ushering the evil that has once again resurrected from the forgotten part of the vast universe after being vanquished by the Knights on their legendary battle. His black robe and fiery eyes signal the return of the man whose heart was enveloped by the “dark side”. From his eyes, people can clearly see vengeance and thirst for blood; the blood of those who defeated him. Signaling the annihilation of the select race that has thrown him in to a black hole centuries ago, he called out his Cro-Magnon-like minions and summoned them to sow seeds of terror and destruction.
“Bring to me all the Knights. Kill all those who will block your way!”
To this, his minions scattered in all directions of the earth killing innocent lives, destroying everything they could see until they could bring all the Knights to their master.
1. Writing to Exhale: Jan was tweeting, humming tweet tweet when two Cro-Magnon-like creatures appeared before his doorsteps ready to kill him with their deadly crooked swords and sharp fangs. True to his skills as a Knight, he immediately took his armored black helmet and wore his black leather jacket. As one of the monsters tried to strike it’s sword to Jan’s head, he “exhaled” on it hundreds of tweet messages. The monster fell on its knees because of the sheer volume of tweets and Jan instantaneously used his helmet to crush the monster. “@Jan_Geronimo: Right at your back!” A fellow twitter-buddy sent a tweet on his screen and Jan immediately jumped off the window and landed on his scooter. His donorcyle's engine roared running 20kph off the roads of Mindoro. As the monster ran furiously after him, Jan shifted gear and headed towards the ugly monster and hit it with his 20kph blinding speed. The second monster died and vanished. This knight then tweeted, “I’m all well. Two down, buddies! James Dean here.”
2. The Struggling Blogger: It was a lazy day for Roy who was still brainstorming for posts for his 13 blogs on his cozy sofa that blogging bought, while sipping his own version of steroids: coffee. A good idea suddenly popped up from this spiritual director for his post. But a slimy monster with 15 eyes, 5 hands and 3 feet jumped off the new sofa of this Knight. “I will kill you! Grr!” said the monster. Roy saw how dirty his new sofa now was and got so angry at the despicable sight. He rolled up his sleeves and took the stance of a true warrior. As the monster was ready to pop up one of its ugly bulging toxic eyes, Roy took his hot coffee and poured it over the monster. The monster was burned and screamed to death, and Roy took the opportunity to swat it with his “fully-loaded” mobile phone. “Not on my new sofa, you sucker!”
3. Zorlone: Doc Z was still enjoying his siesta, a sleeping beauty for three hours now. He thought he was only dreaming when a hot chick suddenly turned into an ugly creature. He was still half-naked when he saw that everything is real. The monster with his crooked sword chopped Doc Z’s water-bed into two flooding his room. He then jumped off his nearby CD player and immediately pushed the “play” button. “I will never dance again, guilty feet, got no rhythm.” To this, the monster was in trance and started to dance asking for the aircon to be turned on. Doc Z saw the opportunity to kill the beast and took his laptop; aimed his video cam and took his stethoscope that flashed a laser beam on the monster. Kaboom! “That is what you call a Ghostbuster scandal dude. Kawabangga!”
4. Dear Bloggery: She was out for a break having her vacation on La Luz, Batangas. But the radar of the dark entities was just so strong that they tracked this beauty sun-bathing at the beach front. “You’re hot dear, but Master told us to kill you.” Snow did not quip and just took off her shades to take a good look at the enemy. “You sure?” The monster showed its fangs and jumped off Snow, but she suddenly sprayed it with snow and the ugly creature froze to death. “Now, don’t ever bother my vacation.”
5. Tales From the Mom Side: Dee already knew that some of the Jedi Knights and Lady Warriors were attacked by the minions of Darth Vader courtesy of the endless blow-by-blow tweets of Jan. To this, she and her husband Luke readied themselves. Argg! “We have ugly visitors dear.” said Dee to her “cute” hubby. She readied her laptop with its stars and smiley stickers. When Luke opened the door, bullets and lasers coming off from her smiley and star stickers peppered their ugly visitors. “Don’t ever dare try to go near my laptop and its stickers. Right Luke?” “Aye, aye madam.”
6. Home Buddies: Near their neighborhood people were already screaming and running for their lives. Fedhz just kept still playing with her child. She paused for a while and prayed so hard that her family be spared from all these atrocities. Hours passed by and no monsters ever came near them. But outside a monster was reading a sign posted at Fedhz’s doorstep, “Home Buddy”. The monster was a couch potato. Poof!
7. Social Media Philippines: Rob also heard the news but he just kept his cool on his cubicle. He tried to compose a tweet just in case a monster suddenly attacks him. Kapoow! His officemates fell unconscious after ferocious Cro-Magnon-like creatures barraged at the opposite cubicle. He then immediately sent his tweet. “I am the one you are looking for.” he said. The monster marched forward and one of them wounded Rob on his left arm. Rob stood up and just rubbed off the flowing blood. He took off his shades and fired at them his laser beam like Cyclops. All of a sudden, a “padyak” rammed the other monster from the opposite side of the office killing it with the bladed “padyak wheel”. A familiar man then stood up and told Rob, “Believe me, I was the one who really tweets.” Oh Mr. Palengke in the house!
8. Dare to Speak: It was quite a surprise for Silver to see dark clouds all over her head on high noon. “This is not quite the same weather when I was in our little place Barrio Siete. Ininto man ni nga panahon.” she whispered while reminiscing here old roots. “Waaah!” Ugly creatures crushed her furniture and flowers in her garden. She ran for her dear life not knowing what to do. One monster got hold of her by the hand and not letting her go. “We will crush you and bring you to Darth Vader.” Kling! She suddenly knew what to do. “Hey, I will go with you if you could answer my questions.” The monsters scratched their heads and replied, “Seems a good idea. OK.” “Who is blah…blah…blah…When was the blah…blah….blah…What is the blah…blah…blah…” The monsters got so dizzy and fell unconscious not knowing what to answer with Silver’s unending quiz bee narrations. “Laki kasi sa gatas.” said Silver with a sheepish smile.
9. Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0: He was on his way to school sporting that funky outfit and hairstyle and a pro-camera dangling on his shoulder. Students suddenly screamed while others jumped off from the second floor of the school building. Chug…Chug…Chug… “Who are you?” Kelvin asked. “We are here to kill you!” Chak! Chak! Chak! Kelvin took pictures of the dark legions and got them blinded by his camera’s thundering flash. He immediately manipulated the pics off his laptop, tweak some stuffs and clicked “save”. In an instant, the monsters turned into miniature toys and screensavers.
10. Barrio Siete: The barrio council convened already on what to do and everyone is now ready with their bolos, talong, patola, kalabasa, okra and upo in hand. The barrio kapitana shouted, “Let us chorva the uglibesh monsters with our chenez weapons!” To this all the barangay tanods shouted in response, “Chorvahin sila!” An army of ugly creatures arrived and the skirmish commenced. Kapitan Reyz smashed the monsters with talong and patola while some of the tanods where wapakels in readying the cauldron. “Winers na attech. The monster pakbet is now ready mga chorvalors!” shouted the kapitana. And the feast started.
The remaining monsters went back to their Master badly wounded and feeling defeated.
“Master, those Knights and Warriors were just so strong. Our army was defeated.”
Darth Vader turned from his back from what he was busy doing in the computer and starred with great anger to his minions.
“Dimwits! Stop the crap! Go occupy those seats and now make your own lists of Top Ten Nominees. Let us all defeat those suckers in the remaining four voting weeks.”
“Yes boss! But could you teach us how to make a blog account?”
“Ask those Jedi Bloggers, you nutheads!”
Sponsors For This Blogging Adventure:
Absolute Traders
My Brute Cheats
Business Summaries
Fitness Advantage Club
Events and Corporate Video
http://www.eventsatwork.com/
Dominguez Marketing Communications
Red Mobile
Blog4Reviews.com
DISCLAIMER: All characters in this short epic battle are all fictional. Any resemblance of characters to real life are mere coincidence. Violent reactions, disputes on the storyline and characterizations should solely be expressed on the comment form.
Read More......
A pack of dark heavy clouds coming from the east corner of the sky coalesced with the radiant morning sun; until the whole light was covered by the hue of greed and indulgence. Fear enveloped humanity. Everything now was full of darkness and terror.
Slowly, the dark clouds opened up ushering the evil that has once again resurrected from the forgotten part of the vast universe after being vanquished by the Knights on their legendary battle. His black robe and fiery eyes signal the return of the man whose heart was enveloped by the “dark side”. From his eyes, people can clearly see vengeance and thirst for blood; the blood of those who defeated him. Signaling the annihilation of the select race that has thrown him in to a black hole centuries ago, he called out his Cro-Magnon-like minions and summoned them to sow seeds of terror and destruction.
“Bring to me all the Knights. Kill all those who will block your way!”
To this, his minions scattered in all directions of the earth killing innocent lives, destroying everything they could see until they could bring all the Knights to their master.
1. Writing to Exhale: Jan was tweeting, humming tweet tweet when two Cro-Magnon-like creatures appeared before his doorsteps ready to kill him with their deadly crooked swords and sharp fangs. True to his skills as a Knight, he immediately took his armored black helmet and wore his black leather jacket. As one of the monsters tried to strike it’s sword to Jan’s head, he “exhaled” on it hundreds of tweet messages. The monster fell on its knees because of the sheer volume of tweets and Jan instantaneously used his helmet to crush the monster. “@Jan_Geronimo: Right at your back!” A fellow twitter-buddy sent a tweet on his screen and Jan immediately jumped off the window and landed on his scooter. His donorcyle's engine roared running 20kph off the roads of Mindoro. As the monster ran furiously after him, Jan shifted gear and headed towards the ugly monster and hit it with his 20kph blinding speed. The second monster died and vanished. This knight then tweeted, “I’m all well. Two down, buddies! James Dean here.”
2. The Struggling Blogger: It was a lazy day for Roy who was still brainstorming for posts for his 13 blogs on his cozy sofa that blogging bought, while sipping his own version of steroids: coffee. A good idea suddenly popped up from this spiritual director for his post. But a slimy monster with 15 eyes, 5 hands and 3 feet jumped off the new sofa of this Knight. “I will kill you! Grr!” said the monster. Roy saw how dirty his new sofa now was and got so angry at the despicable sight. He rolled up his sleeves and took the stance of a true warrior. As the monster was ready to pop up one of its ugly bulging toxic eyes, Roy took his hot coffee and poured it over the monster. The monster was burned and screamed to death, and Roy took the opportunity to swat it with his “fully-loaded” mobile phone. “Not on my new sofa, you sucker!”
3. Zorlone: Doc Z was still enjoying his siesta, a sleeping beauty for three hours now. He thought he was only dreaming when a hot chick suddenly turned into an ugly creature. He was still half-naked when he saw that everything is real. The monster with his crooked sword chopped Doc Z’s water-bed into two flooding his room. He then jumped off his nearby CD player and immediately pushed the “play” button. “I will never dance again, guilty feet, got no rhythm.” To this, the monster was in trance and started to dance asking for the aircon to be turned on. Doc Z saw the opportunity to kill the beast and took his laptop; aimed his video cam and took his stethoscope that flashed a laser beam on the monster. Kaboom! “That is what you call a Ghostbuster scandal dude. Kawabangga!”
4. Dear Bloggery: She was out for a break having her vacation on La Luz, Batangas. But the radar of the dark entities was just so strong that they tracked this beauty sun-bathing at the beach front. “You’re hot dear, but Master told us to kill you.” Snow did not quip and just took off her shades to take a good look at the enemy. “You sure?” The monster showed its fangs and jumped off Snow, but she suddenly sprayed it with snow and the ugly creature froze to death. “Now, don’t ever bother my vacation.”
5. Tales From the Mom Side: Dee already knew that some of the Jedi Knights and Lady Warriors were attacked by the minions of Darth Vader courtesy of the endless blow-by-blow tweets of Jan. To this, she and her husband Luke readied themselves. Argg! “We have ugly visitors dear.” said Dee to her “cute” hubby. She readied her laptop with its stars and smiley stickers. When Luke opened the door, bullets and lasers coming off from her smiley and star stickers peppered their ugly visitors. “Don’t ever dare try to go near my laptop and its stickers. Right Luke?” “Aye, aye madam.”
6. Home Buddies: Near their neighborhood people were already screaming and running for their lives. Fedhz just kept still playing with her child. She paused for a while and prayed so hard that her family be spared from all these atrocities. Hours passed by and no monsters ever came near them. But outside a monster was reading a sign posted at Fedhz’s doorstep, “Home Buddy”. The monster was a couch potato. Poof!
7. Social Media Philippines: Rob also heard the news but he just kept his cool on his cubicle. He tried to compose a tweet just in case a monster suddenly attacks him. Kapoow! His officemates fell unconscious after ferocious Cro-Magnon-like creatures barraged at the opposite cubicle. He then immediately sent his tweet. “I am the one you are looking for.” he said. The monster marched forward and one of them wounded Rob on his left arm. Rob stood up and just rubbed off the flowing blood. He took off his shades and fired at them his laser beam like Cyclops. All of a sudden, a “padyak” rammed the other monster from the opposite side of the office killing it with the bladed “padyak wheel”. A familiar man then stood up and told Rob, “Believe me, I was the one who really tweets.” Oh Mr. Palengke in the house!
8. Dare to Speak: It was quite a surprise for Silver to see dark clouds all over her head on high noon. “This is not quite the same weather when I was in our little place Barrio Siete. Ininto man ni nga panahon.” she whispered while reminiscing here old roots. “Waaah!” Ugly creatures crushed her furniture and flowers in her garden. She ran for her dear life not knowing what to do. One monster got hold of her by the hand and not letting her go. “We will crush you and bring you to Darth Vader.” Kling! She suddenly knew what to do. “Hey, I will go with you if you could answer my questions.” The monsters scratched their heads and replied, “Seems a good idea. OK.” “Who is blah…blah…blah…When was the blah…blah….blah…What is the blah…blah…blah…” The monsters got so dizzy and fell unconscious not knowing what to answer with Silver’s unending quiz bee narrations. “Laki kasi sa gatas.” said Silver with a sheepish smile.
9. Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0: He was on his way to school sporting that funky outfit and hairstyle and a pro-camera dangling on his shoulder. Students suddenly screamed while others jumped off from the second floor of the school building. Chug…Chug…Chug… “Who are you?” Kelvin asked. “We are here to kill you!” Chak! Chak! Chak! Kelvin took pictures of the dark legions and got them blinded by his camera’s thundering flash. He immediately manipulated the pics off his laptop, tweak some stuffs and clicked “save”. In an instant, the monsters turned into miniature toys and screensavers.
10. Barrio Siete: The barrio council convened already on what to do and everyone is now ready with their bolos, talong, patola, kalabasa, okra and upo in hand. The barrio kapitana shouted, “Let us chorva the uglibesh monsters with our chenez weapons!” To this all the barangay tanods shouted in response, “Chorvahin sila!” An army of ugly creatures arrived and the skirmish commenced. Kapitan Reyz smashed the monsters with talong and patola while some of the tanods where wapakels in readying the cauldron. “Winers na attech. The monster pakbet is now ready mga chorvalors!” shouted the kapitana. And the feast started.
The remaining monsters went back to their Master badly wounded and feeling defeated.
“Master, those Knights and Warriors were just so strong. Our army was defeated.”
Darth Vader turned from his back from what he was busy doing in the computer and starred with great anger to his minions.
“Dimwits! Stop the crap! Go occupy those seats and now make your own lists of Top Ten Nominees. Let us all defeat those suckers in the remaining four voting weeks.”
“Yes boss! But could you teach us how to make a blog account?”
“Ask those Jedi Bloggers, you nutheads!”
Sponsors For This Blogging Adventure:
Absolute Traders
My Brute Cheats
Business Summaries
Fitness Advantage Club
Events and Corporate Video
http://www.eventsatwork.com/
Dominguez Marketing Communications
Red Mobile
Blog4Reviews.com
DISCLAIMER: All characters in this short epic battle are all fictional. Any resemblance of characters to real life are mere coincidence. Violent reactions, disputes on the storyline and characterizations should solely be expressed on the comment form.
Read More......
Friday, July 3, 2009
Chanting a Blogging Mantra for Rockstar Domains
image from art appropriation
Hum…Hum…Hum…
I am once again trying to invoke the power of the whole cosmos by reciting a new mantra that hopefully could override the basic sad fact that I am a total idiot when it comes to technicalities on blogging.
“I know how to tweak my blog.” Hum…
You got it right. Jan’s latest post announced that I am moving this blog to its new home on a wordpress self-hosted blog courtesy of very generous blogging buddies. And though Big Bro already announced it to the whole universe via his superb post that the “house blessing” would be “very very soon”, it may once again take me another weekend to get all things fixed and before you could see the whole new look of Ani-Mo!. If only my parents endowed me with a Bill-Gates-patterned genes, the moving out could have been a breeze.
My Thoughts on How to Choose a Rockstar Domain Name
“I am a tech-savvy blogging geek.” Hum….
I got lots of great suggestions on my previous post of what domain name to take with Elmotlumot.com topping the list and only a select but persevering blogging buddies pushing for me to sport Quickieblogger.com and Niluluhurangblogger.com. Now, I am wondering why no one ever affirmed my suggestion of taking Superveryhandsomeblogger.com? Old Zen master whispered to me: “just believe in yourself.” Hum…
Few important points on choosing a domain name that I considered. Since I am not the tech-savvy guy, I forgo of sharing technical stuffs here and end up looking like a Jay Leno trying to be like Oprah:
1. Your domain name should also be your blog site.
This may be elementary to some but a few fundamental items on this one are worth remembering especially for all those who are also planning to take their blogging to the next level. It is much easier for readers and people to remember a blog’s name than its url because readers focus much of their attention on the content of one’s blog (or comment form, for rabid commenters, ehehe) and not much on its url. Hey, one cannot comment on the url!
More often than not, first time readers and visitors get the imprint of your blog or site through its big bold blog title on your header and browse through your blog posts. And with the ultra sensitive url form and address structure, a missing letter, misspelled domain name or wrong domain name extension could usher your visitors and returning readers to another blog; to its owner’s delight.
Here are some examples:
Blog Name/Title----Domain name plus their extension
Writing to Exhale----www.writingtoexhale.com
The Struggling Blogger----www.thestrugglingblogger.com
Jaypee Online----www.jaypeeonline.net
Therefore, putting synchrony with your blog’s name and domain name could give convenience to your readers and visitors rather than giving them a maze to test their patience. Imagine if your blog has this setting: your blog name is The Struggling Blogger and its domain name plus extension is www.writingtoexhaleandinhale.net. Total blogging disaster!
2. A domain name describes your persona
One should never get a domain that he loathes, for blogging should bring us total control, confidence and harmony and not a conflict over what we do. It should be indicative of the personality of the blogger behind the blog. As uber blogger Jan told me on one of our many conversations on his long and vibrant comment forms: your blog is your resume. Our blogs tell us of who we are as the blog and the blogger is only one, unless of course you have a multiple blogging personality syndrome. Coherence between our blog's Yin and Yang gives and readers a sense of genuine identity and not some pretentious blogging expeditions and experiment on the blogosphere. It also unconsciously sends some personal trademark to all those who visits such a blog.
3. A domain name gives readers your sense of blogging style and branding
We may be blogging on different kinds of niche but in the end, the one who rises up is the one with great class and effective branding. And domain names work also to this effect. One great blog I could share here is that of the child protégé Dan Miranda who shares about self-improvement posts on his blog Command Your Time. His domain name which is basically is also his blog name automatically gives us the idea what this guy has to share and what kind of stuffs he is up to. Same with that of Jan’s Writing to Exhale and that of Problogger or Copyblogger and many more. That is why I think it is quite crucial for one who is going to start his blogging on a self-hosted blog to examine also what kind of blogging style and branding he/she wants to build over his/her blog before choosing a domain name.
Leaving Ani-mo! For Pinoysoundingboard
I may be reaping lots of traffic come the start of UAAP with the Ateneo clashing over arch-rival La Salle for having Ani-Mo! as my blog name. But after some brainstorming and focusing on those three stuffs to consider on choosing a domain name, I realized that my blog name (which is also the same in part on my present domain name on blogger) is not really that reflective of my take on things and my direction on blogging.
Though it could give maybe some setback on my ranking and present PR come my eventual evacuation, changing my blog name Ani-Mo! into Pinoysoundingboard has set clearer parameters for my blogging and has given me more focus on what direction to take. It also reflects my persona and the sense of brand I want to build over my blog. And more importantly, I have come to synchronize my blog name that of my domain name, which basically I failed to do in blogger.
Pinoysoundingboard.com therefore will be my wordpress self-hosted blog about commentaries on current events and blogging with a magazine-type wordpress theme.
I just hope that when I move out of blogger to house my blog on a new and more spacious home, I would not find myself chanting my mantra all day long all by myself. But first thing is to tweak all the stuffs that need to be fixed. Just so thankful that there are so many generous people who are set to help me out.
Hum… Hum....
Hum....
What were your considerations in choosing your blog name and domain name? How do you find my new blog name and its domain?
Read More......
Hum…Hum…Hum…
I am once again trying to invoke the power of the whole cosmos by reciting a new mantra that hopefully could override the basic sad fact that I am a total idiot when it comes to technicalities on blogging.
“I know how to tweak my blog.” Hum…
You got it right. Jan’s latest post announced that I am moving this blog to its new home on a wordpress self-hosted blog courtesy of very generous blogging buddies. And though Big Bro already announced it to the whole universe via his superb post that the “house blessing” would be “very very soon”, it may once again take me another weekend to get all things fixed and before you could see the whole new look of Ani-Mo!. If only my parents endowed me with a Bill-Gates-patterned genes, the moving out could have been a breeze.
My Thoughts on How to Choose a Rockstar Domain Name
“I am a tech-savvy blogging geek.” Hum….
I got lots of great suggestions on my previous post of what domain name to take with Elmotlumot.com topping the list and only a select but persevering blogging buddies pushing for me to sport Quickieblogger.com and Niluluhurangblogger.com. Now, I am wondering why no one ever affirmed my suggestion of taking Superveryhandsomeblogger.com? Old Zen master whispered to me: “just believe in yourself.” Hum…
Few important points on choosing a domain name that I considered. Since I am not the tech-savvy guy, I forgo of sharing technical stuffs here and end up looking like a Jay Leno trying to be like Oprah:
1. Your domain name should also be your blog site.
This may be elementary to some but a few fundamental items on this one are worth remembering especially for all those who are also planning to take their blogging to the next level. It is much easier for readers and people to remember a blog’s name than its url because readers focus much of their attention on the content of one’s blog (or comment form, for rabid commenters, ehehe) and not much on its url. Hey, one cannot comment on the url!
More often than not, first time readers and visitors get the imprint of your blog or site through its big bold blog title on your header and browse through your blog posts. And with the ultra sensitive url form and address structure, a missing letter, misspelled domain name or wrong domain name extension could usher your visitors and returning readers to another blog; to its owner’s delight.
Here are some examples:
Blog Name/Title----Domain name plus their extension
Writing to Exhale----www.writingtoexhale.com
The Struggling Blogger----www.thestrugglingblogger.com
Jaypee Online----www.jaypeeonline.net
Therefore, putting synchrony with your blog’s name and domain name could give convenience to your readers and visitors rather than giving them a maze to test their patience. Imagine if your blog has this setting: your blog name is The Struggling Blogger and its domain name plus extension is www.writingtoexhaleandinhale.net. Total blogging disaster!
2. A domain name describes your persona
One should never get a domain that he loathes, for blogging should bring us total control, confidence and harmony and not a conflict over what we do. It should be indicative of the personality of the blogger behind the blog. As uber blogger Jan told me on one of our many conversations on his long and vibrant comment forms: your blog is your resume. Our blogs tell us of who we are as the blog and the blogger is only one, unless of course you have a multiple blogging personality syndrome. Coherence between our blog's Yin and Yang gives and readers a sense of genuine identity and not some pretentious blogging expeditions and experiment on the blogosphere. It also unconsciously sends some personal trademark to all those who visits such a blog.
3. A domain name gives readers your sense of blogging style and branding
We may be blogging on different kinds of niche but in the end, the one who rises up is the one with great class and effective branding. And domain names work also to this effect. One great blog I could share here is that of the child protégé Dan Miranda who shares about self-improvement posts on his blog Command Your Time. His domain name which is basically is also his blog name automatically gives us the idea what this guy has to share and what kind of stuffs he is up to. Same with that of Jan’s Writing to Exhale and that of Problogger or Copyblogger and many more. That is why I think it is quite crucial for one who is going to start his blogging on a self-hosted blog to examine also what kind of blogging style and branding he/she wants to build over his/her blog before choosing a domain name.
Leaving Ani-mo! For Pinoysoundingboard
I may be reaping lots of traffic come the start of UAAP with the Ateneo clashing over arch-rival La Salle for having Ani-Mo! as my blog name. But after some brainstorming and focusing on those three stuffs to consider on choosing a domain name, I realized that my blog name (which is also the same in part on my present domain name on blogger) is not really that reflective of my take on things and my direction on blogging.
Though it could give maybe some setback on my ranking and present PR come my eventual evacuation, changing my blog name Ani-Mo! into Pinoysoundingboard has set clearer parameters for my blogging and has given me more focus on what direction to take. It also reflects my persona and the sense of brand I want to build over my blog. And more importantly, I have come to synchronize my blog name that of my domain name, which basically I failed to do in blogger.
Pinoysoundingboard.com therefore will be my wordpress self-hosted blog about commentaries on current events and blogging with a magazine-type wordpress theme.
I just hope that when I move out of blogger to house my blog on a new and more spacious home, I would not find myself chanting my mantra all day long all by myself. But first thing is to tweak all the stuffs that need to be fixed. Just so thankful that there are so many generous people who are set to help me out.
Hum… Hum....
Hum....
What were your considerations in choosing your blog name and domain name? How do you find my new blog name and its domain?
Read More......
Monday, June 29, 2009
AFP: Soldiers of Death
image by takomabibelot
203 victims of abduction; 1,010 victims of torture; 1,017 victims of extrajudicial killings; 201 victims of enforced disappearances.
These are the reported numbers of souls who suffered from the hands of the Philippine Military who should have been protecting our divine rights of freedom and liberty enshrined not only on our constitution but also in the basic humanity of each and everyone of us. These are the number of souls who had seen the glimpse of hell with most of them not able to see another daylight with their loved ones. And many more souls are still searching and crying out for the elusive justice to be rendered on perpetrators of such brutal display of arrogance and power.
This Is Not Something New
Fil-Am Melissa Roxas recounted yesterday during a press conference in Los Angeles how she was abducted and tortured of what she believed to be military agents in Tarlac on May 19. She was constantly being interrogated, beaten, asked to sign some documents and tried to suffocate her by pulling plastic bags over her head. When one of her tormentors told her that they are just mere “instruments of God” for rebels to return into the fold of law, she said that “that my God does not torture people”.
Roxas’ experience of walking into the valley of death is not something new at all; it is but just once again an affirmation of the lingering ill of a grave cancer in our country. The tumor that has once been sporadic instances of human rights abuses on remote barrios and villages has grown into a full-blown ferocious beast that devours our country and challenges our harmonious living under the banner of freedom and democracy as a nation.
Until today, those faceless people who were tortured and simply vanished in the middle of the night during the time of the dictator are still crying out for justice. Hundreds and thousands of them perished with hands on their backs and wounds of their hearts.
In 2007, UN Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killings Phillip Alston reported that the Philippines government is to be blamed for all these human rights abuses and atrocities.
A Government in Denial
With this latest issue of human rights abuse capturing the attention of all nations, the military has once again dismissed these allegations saying, “Nothing of that sort happened. We already asked all units in the area and we found that they have nothing to do with that.” Wow, this is like my classic version of lying in exchange of a fake gold ring. And other operatives of the government are calling Roxas’ story as “stage-managed.”
Remembered what the former Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales said on the Alston Report? He lambasted it with his usual gift of sarcasm and senselessness unheard of from a government official, calling it baseless, written with much bias against the government and full of unsubstantiated facts that tries to intervene on the sovereignty of our nation. He even called Phillip Alston nothing but a “muchacho” of the United Nations, so why believe him anyway. A rare virus from the jungles of Africa has surely gotten of the sanity of this old man. I am just so thankful that he is already out of the helm of raping Lady Justice with his sarcasm.
I am getting tired of this usual gobbledygook that all the spokespersons of this inutile government has to say to appease the clamor for accountability. I have so much already with the usual twisting of the arms of justice and a new sex scandal (Hayden Kho and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, wahahaha!) to divert our attention to constantly tune in to YouTube. The usual path of justice has to be taken to the next level and torturers, murderers and all their demi-gods should be thrown into the burning pit of damnation.
An Eye For An Eye, A Tooth For A Tooth!
Melissa Roxas through her US-based lawyer Atty. Arnedo Valera is going to file a case in the US Federal Court and seek damages against the Philippine government. They are also set to file a complaint in the US State Department and the United Nations. “I want the world to know what happened because the Philippine government and military should not get away with what they did to me,” she said.
If this case therefore progresses in the United States and gives Roxas the justices she is asking from the court, it will send a chilling effect on the present administration and the judicial system of our country. First, being an affirmation and condemnation of the obvious rampant human rights abuses that this government is primarily sponsoring; and in effect harboring fugitives and murderers on its fold and paycheck. When the federal court and the US State Department finds the Philippine government guilty over this particular human rights abuse, it will also drive a stronger US and international pressure to the government to act against human rights abuse. And second, this case could render our justice system and law enforcement agencies as nothing but kangaroo courts and rubber stamps. Then our government will have a dose of its medicine.
Roxas’ battle here could only affirm that our very own government could never protect its own people rather, even have all the means and chance to hurt the freedom and rights of its citizens. I am pretty sure that this is not the kind of nation that our founding Fathers and our martyrs died for and this is not the kind of nation that our heroes sacrificed their liberty for, unless you are reading a DepEd funded history book. I think that they sacrificed their lives for more people to live, and they offered their own liberty for the rights and freedom of the next generations to flourish; and of course for more bloggers to write without fear or hesitation and tweet to their hearts’ content.
Well, if these torturers and murderers think that they are “instruments of God”, then maybe they should check first who really the God on that side of the fence is.
Do you think that filing a case against the Philippine government in the US Federal Court, US State Department and the United Nations could solve the problem of human rights abuses in our country? Any suggested remedies to make all these torturers, murderers and demi-gods hold accountable?
Read More......
203 victims of abduction; 1,010 victims of torture; 1,017 victims of extrajudicial killings; 201 victims of enforced disappearances.
These are the reported numbers of souls who suffered from the hands of the Philippine Military who should have been protecting our divine rights of freedom and liberty enshrined not only on our constitution but also in the basic humanity of each and everyone of us. These are the number of souls who had seen the glimpse of hell with most of them not able to see another daylight with their loved ones. And many more souls are still searching and crying out for the elusive justice to be rendered on perpetrators of such brutal display of arrogance and power.
This Is Not Something New
Fil-Am Melissa Roxas recounted yesterday during a press conference in Los Angeles how she was abducted and tortured of what she believed to be military agents in Tarlac on May 19. She was constantly being interrogated, beaten, asked to sign some documents and tried to suffocate her by pulling plastic bags over her head. When one of her tormentors told her that they are just mere “instruments of God” for rebels to return into the fold of law, she said that “that my God does not torture people”.
Roxas’ experience of walking into the valley of death is not something new at all; it is but just once again an affirmation of the lingering ill of a grave cancer in our country. The tumor that has once been sporadic instances of human rights abuses on remote barrios and villages has grown into a full-blown ferocious beast that devours our country and challenges our harmonious living under the banner of freedom and democracy as a nation.
Until today, those faceless people who were tortured and simply vanished in the middle of the night during the time of the dictator are still crying out for justice. Hundreds and thousands of them perished with hands on their backs and wounds of their hearts.
In 2007, UN Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killings Phillip Alston reported that the Philippines government is to be blamed for all these human rights abuses and atrocities.
A Government in Denial
With this latest issue of human rights abuse capturing the attention of all nations, the military has once again dismissed these allegations saying, “Nothing of that sort happened. We already asked all units in the area and we found that they have nothing to do with that.” Wow, this is like my classic version of lying in exchange of a fake gold ring. And other operatives of the government are calling Roxas’ story as “stage-managed.”
Remembered what the former Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales said on the Alston Report? He lambasted it with his usual gift of sarcasm and senselessness unheard of from a government official, calling it baseless, written with much bias against the government and full of unsubstantiated facts that tries to intervene on the sovereignty of our nation. He even called Phillip Alston nothing but a “muchacho” of the United Nations, so why believe him anyway. A rare virus from the jungles of Africa has surely gotten of the sanity of this old man. I am just so thankful that he is already out of the helm of raping Lady Justice with his sarcasm.
I am getting tired of this usual gobbledygook that all the spokespersons of this inutile government has to say to appease the clamor for accountability. I have so much already with the usual twisting of the arms of justice and a new sex scandal (Hayden Kho and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, wahahaha!) to divert our attention to constantly tune in to YouTube. The usual path of justice has to be taken to the next level and torturers, murderers and all their demi-gods should be thrown into the burning pit of damnation.
An Eye For An Eye, A Tooth For A Tooth!
Melissa Roxas through her US-based lawyer Atty. Arnedo Valera is going to file a case in the US Federal Court and seek damages against the Philippine government. They are also set to file a complaint in the US State Department and the United Nations. “I want the world to know what happened because the Philippine government and military should not get away with what they did to me,” she said.
If this case therefore progresses in the United States and gives Roxas the justices she is asking from the court, it will send a chilling effect on the present administration and the judicial system of our country. First, being an affirmation and condemnation of the obvious rampant human rights abuses that this government is primarily sponsoring; and in effect harboring fugitives and murderers on its fold and paycheck. When the federal court and the US State Department finds the Philippine government guilty over this particular human rights abuse, it will also drive a stronger US and international pressure to the government to act against human rights abuse. And second, this case could render our justice system and law enforcement agencies as nothing but kangaroo courts and rubber stamps. Then our government will have a dose of its medicine.
Roxas’ battle here could only affirm that our very own government could never protect its own people rather, even have all the means and chance to hurt the freedom and rights of its citizens. I am pretty sure that this is not the kind of nation that our founding Fathers and our martyrs died for and this is not the kind of nation that our heroes sacrificed their liberty for, unless you are reading a DepEd funded history book. I think that they sacrificed their lives for more people to live, and they offered their own liberty for the rights and freedom of the next generations to flourish; and of course for more bloggers to write without fear or hesitation and tweet to their hearts’ content.
Well, if these torturers and murderers think that they are “instruments of God”, then maybe they should check first who really the God on that side of the fence is.
Do you think that filing a case against the Philippine government in the US Federal Court, US State Department and the United Nations could solve the problem of human rights abuses in our country? Any suggested remedies to make all these torturers, murderers and demi-gods hold accountable?
Read More......
Saturday, June 27, 2009
From Hate List to Wish List In Driving
This is a guest post by blogging buddy Doc Z of zorlone. Here he shares his observations, commentaries and frustrations on his daily travel on the streets of the congested Metro Manila.
Question: What are the things I hate to see on the road on my way to work?
Answer:
1. While backing up, motorcycles and jeepneys would rush behind me.
2. Pedestrians cross without looking left or right.
3. A jeepney would stop in a U – turn slot and let a passenger off the island!
4. The vehicle on my left lane would swerve in front of me to go to the right lane.
5. Smoke belchers.
6. Tricycle drivers giving me the evil eye after they try to steal my lane.
7. Too many one-way streets!
8. Jay walking.
9. Flashing headlights to signal that the car behind me wants to overtake.
10.Drivers rubbernecking!
Sundays and holidays are the best days to drive around Metro Manila. You’d be surprised to reach Makati from Malabon in less than forty minutes. Don’t ask me if it’s doable because it is. I didn’t say that just to brag. Of course, it’s a totally different story on a weekday. Oh, you get the idea.
Going to work with a smile
Yep, you read that right. I usually plug in my ipod earphones and turn the volume up while driving (#1 cause my car stereo doesn’t work and #2 the honking of horns is muffled on top of a loud alternative rock music).
The faces of the pedestrians all seem the same to me: Rushing to work, anxious, and dreadful to be late.
I wouldn’t want to be in their way or I’ll pointlessly get hit like a punching bag.
Driving seems so relaxing with music playing even if you snake your way through traffic. Ah… may the bravest driver take the lead! But, don’t force yourself when you are neck to neck with a jeepney, they are the bravest of them all, taxi drivers are just second (by my standards).
Beauty vs. Brawn
A carefully guarded secret in driving is that beauty trumps brawn. I learned this from a good “friend” of mine one traffic jammed night a long… long time ago.
We were going back to the hospital (where I parked my car, she was driving) when we had to cross a busy intersection. It was nighttime and her car had a really dark tint. A jeepney driver tried to cut her from the left. The light was green on our lane so, technically we had the right of way. This driver was adamant and made an attempt to get closer. She simply rolled down her window, showed her lovely beautiful goddess of a face, then the jeepney backed up. I saw this driver’s jaw fell embarrassingly open. (Let’s say, a swarm of flies would have been able to get in.) Then my friend stepped on the gas and headed our way.
Donorcycle
I was chatting with Jan Geronimo and Holly one time when we talked about “donorcyles.”
Apparently, Jan rides his motorcycle to work. It was Holly who coined the term donorcycle for us. Of course, a responsible driver like Jan only drives up to 20kph. I realized how right Holly was, knowing that there were a lot of comatosed patients from accidents that involve motorcycles from my emergency room rotation.
I just can’t help but think that these people had too much adrenaline pumping through their veins that they would ignore the danger of getting pinned while trying to overtake bigger vehicles on the wrong side of the road.
New York Taxi Driver
I had mixed reactions when I drove my US based Aunt one night from the airport when she visited years ago.
We were both hungry, tired, and sleepy (my trade mark) that night on EDSA when there was a seemingly endless stretch of traffic along Guadalupe up to Shaw Boulevard! I applied all the tricks I learned from my Aunt, then, twelve years of driving skills when she finally said, “Lor, if doctoring doesn’t work out for you - you can still be a cab driver in New York,” jokingly. We both laughed as we compared how different drivers here and in the US were. At least I didn’t fall asleep following the tail of some slow moving truck in front of me.
Peaceful disputes
Even with a lot of cutting lanes, swerving and power tripping, whatever you may call them, there were still a lot of disputes that didn’t end up into a full blown violent encounter among drivers. Hey, that was just me saying the obvious and quite happily, some foreigner agreed. Unfortunately, there are still some accidents out there, but it is still relatively safe to drive around the Metro. With or without these driving skills, people don’t get out of their cars and start shooting each other.
Question: What I would really want to see on the road while on my way to work?
Answer: A clear stretch of asphalt road to drive on.
What are the things that you hate to see on the road while driving? Have you also experienced troubles and disputes on the road? What would you really want to see on the road while you are on your way to work?
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Doc Z is the uber blogger and poet behind zorlone.blogspot.com. He is a medical doctor by profession and juggles between his time on his clinic attending patients are his fondness of playing badminton and blogging. His blog is also one of those widely nominated blogs on Ms. Janette Torral’s writing project, Top Ten Emerging Influential Blog of 2009. Check out his blog and if you are not yet done with your list, Zorlone could be the blog you are missing. Read More......
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