WordCamp! Here I come…

Posted by Alma on 18 Jul 2010 in Blogging, Internet, Technology | 0 comments

To those who know me, I have always been a blogger– I have never attended any blogging convention though, and circumstances before had prevented me from joining even local blogging conferences. But this time, I stumbled on WordCamp Philippines just in time.

This year’s WordCamp is going to be held at the College of St. Benilde.  I know, I might start kicking myself the moment I get there cause I am not exactly within the 24-29 age category.  I dread someone might think I am a parent of one of the participants.  LOL

So, ok registration is now open.  To those blogging enthusiasts as well as those who intend to network with the local blogging community, this is your chance!  Registration fee is only P700.  If you register before August 15, enjoy a discount of P200 and pay only P500 or $12.

Secure a seat today!  Oh, and did I forget to mention that Matt Mullenweg has confirmed and he is attending the event???

Top Blogging Tools I Use

Posted by Alma on 11 Jul 2010 in Blogging, Internet, Technology | 0 comments

I have been a blogger for quite some time now.  Writing is almost like breathing or lets just say I love doing what I do best.   Now, blogging has not really been financially rewarding for me, except for the fact that blogging has helped me hone my writing skills as well as my technical know-how in various blogging platforms.

So here is a quick rundown of the Top Blogging Tools that I use here as well as my other sites:

WORDPRESS.  WORDPRESS.  I cannot say it enough but I love WordPress!  And yes, this has little to do with intelligent and handsome Matt, but its because WordPress is probably the best blogging platforms today.  I started blogging with Blogspot almost 10 years ago.  I was unhappy with its hosting limitations so I decided to switch on Moveable Type, which was uber cool 9 years ago.  I can probably launch a site in less than 10 minutes.  I guess the pros can do it for 5 minutes, but since I am plagued with false modesty today, I reckon I can get a WordPress site up and running in 10 minutes.  Another thing that I love about WordPress is its versatility when it comes to customization and there are literally thousands of reliable plugins to make your blogging experience spiffy!

For hosting, I have an account with SwankWebStyle.  And for domain registration, I use local ploghost and GoDaddy.

MacBook and HP Pavilion p6240d.  In order to write and post my articles, I use my reliable Macbook for non work related tasks.  I also use my HP Pavilion to maintain and write my posts for my client’s websites which are running in WordPress.

For my internet connection at home, I use Globe Broadband which is the most reliable service in my area.  Although I had issues with Globe (as if I have not ranted enough already), I have nothing much to complain when it comes to speed.  I have 2 internet connections at home actually so my children’s PC has its own sole connection and I do not have to fight with them when we are sharing connections.  Imagine, we can now do FarmVille and Farm Town simultaneously!

For images, I use a Canon Digital Ixus 30.  This has been one of my recent upgrade since the loss of my reliable GE Digital Camera.  For photo editing, I just use Picasa since uploading in Facebook takes only a few clicks!  I also like carrying a spare micro SD card along with my mini tripod along with my digital camera.

I also use my trusty Nokia E72 to take photos.  Its been very handy and I tend to use the camera as well since it comes up with decent images for my blog.

Blogging has provided me company when the going gets rough.  I would like to believe that I have amused and even helped some people because of this love for blogging.  There is no chance that I will quit writing in the near future, so all of the tools that I have dearly invested in better be worth it!  :)

3rd Mindanao Blogger’s Summit in Cagayan de Oro

Posted by Alma on 16 Oct 2009 in Blogging, Internet | 5 comments

Cagayan de Oro is hosting this year’s 3rd Mindanao Blogger’s Summit.  Spearheaded by ChiQ Montes and the CDO Bloggers, this event will surely be a success.  If you are an active blogger in Mindanao, please don’t be so quick to say no!  You can still register and join the Summit on October 24, 2009, at Pearlmont Inn, LimKetKai Drive, Cagayan de Oro.

This year’s Summit will be emceed by Migs Hipolito.  Famous local blogger, Blogie Robillo as well as Avel Manansala, Aileen Apolo and Lyle Santos will all have their 30 minute to discuss their niche and blogging expertise.  They will also share their knowledge in earning money online and how to gain more traffic to their sites.

I know the venue is not that great, and it is NOT Mallberry Suites, but lets take– its  Pearlmont!  Its inexpensive and location wise, it is convenient.  So will I be attending the summit?  I have never attended any bloggers summit before, but suffice to say I am tempted… lets just see, aye?

Globe Reinstallation Woes

Posted by Alma on 30 Jun 2009 in Blogging, Internet | 4 comments

I have moved houses last weekend, and although I am happier for finding a house which was only a block away from my children’s school and this entails an increase in savings since the children won’t have to take the short tricycle drive to the school everyday now, my webwork was halted by absence of internet connection.

I was so excited about the move that I forgot to consider my DSL connection.  Moving not only meant moving furniture but also moving antennas and packing– again… darn, I am getting so good with packing and moving houses now. Moving also mean changing my mailing addresses and that mean changing billing addresses for my internet, landline as well as bank statements. Being a webworker, my life and work breathe along with the internet.  Without internet connection, my job is non-existent, and my work was for a week on hold until I get my antenna up.

I went to Globe Innove office the very next day I moved and requested for relocation as well as reinstallation request. Much to my dismay, the CSR who attended to me at the office told me that I needed to make the request at another branch and asked why, she said this was because the form was unavailable in their branch. Trying my best not to explode, I asked her if the other branch can send the form via email or by fax to their branch so I can complete the form there so they can perform the process. She looked at me like I came from outer space and when I started to look for another personnel to speak with. I asked her, “can you just check if my request is possible?” She reluctantly went to her colleague on the other table and the other girl said yes it is possible. I smiled back upon hearing this and then the girl who was attending to me hurled another stupid utterance: “Ah, Ma’am can you please come back later kay mag lunch pa ko…”

OMG

…Aaahhhhh…

Customer service truly suck here in the country! Hearing this reminded me of my experience with Banco de Oro and I had to strain myself from bursting.

Then my son started saying, “Mom are we eating at Pizza Hut?” Save by the bell… Instead of reasoning out with her, I instead I said, “ok, can you please make sure the form is here after 45 minutes? My kids and I will have lunch as well.”

After our lunch the forms were ready and I signed the request.

Now waiting for the serviceman to come around my address was another thing…

My 100th Entry

Posted by Alma on 29 May 2009 in Blogging, Internet | 2 comments

This is my 100th entry.

Thank you to those who have wandered, lurked, commented and visited my site for the past months.  To celebrate my 100th entry, I gave myself a present and has decided to try Darren Rowse‘s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog.  It cost me $20 and I paid for it using Paypal.  Call it an investment…  Let’s see how it goes then.

Darren Rowse’s fame in blogosphere is more than awesome– its phenomenal.  I mean, who doesn’t know Darren or at least have visited Problogger.net?  I have been a follower of Problogger for almost 5 years now.  I have Darren’s feed in my trusty Newsgator filed under Top Tech Blogs.  His blog among LifeHacker, TechCrunch, Gigaom and what else Gizmodo… 

I guess most bloggers have dreams of becoming the next Darren Rowse or our local version of Darren, Yugatech’s Abe Olandres and Connie Veneracion.  Both Connie and Abe both enjoy highpage ranking including earning dollars from their blogs.

It wouldn’t hurt to try and this time, I am in for the long haul.

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• 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook (johnchow.com)
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Crazy Little Finger

Posted by Alma on 10 Jan 2009 in Blogging, Internet | 0 comments

One of the challenges of having to work at home is the fact that children are around me all the time. The main room has 1 PC and a laptop, and I sometimes have to use the PC as it is connected to the internet. Sometimes, my son, who is three years old and my youngest daughter who is one, likes to play with the keyboard whenever I am not around to ward them off.

Boy, was I glad to find this from LifeHacker! Crazy Little Finger is a nifty program for Windows XP. It ables you to lock all the keys on the keyboard, except for the ones you need to use to exit the program. I love the fact that whenever certain keys are pressed, the PC will emit animal sounds and the screen will display a goat or a cow. Not only that, you can add your own images and music. Neat huh?