rebelpixel productions

Writing, writing, writing

Published in the early evening of April 28, 2006

Reading Zeldman’s latest entry “Hi, Mom!”, I recall the not too recent times when I was just trying to learn basic web design, when I would religiously go to zeldman.com everyday to learn on the technical and philosophical aspects of the practice.

Jeffrey Zeldman was like a god, and everyone eagerly looked forward to his daily reports. He was not just an advocate of web standards, he preached it like his life depended on it. But more importantly, he also discussed real world implications of the things he cared about.

Reading his thoughts was almost like drinking water, it didn’t take much effort to absorb it. He wrote with candor and wit that even if you barely agree with him, you’d still find yourself reading his weblog regularly. He simply wrote so well.

Looking back, I know his style of writing was one I always tried to emulate. Perhaps even to this day.

***

A List Apart hasn’t been as good as I remember, or maybe my standards for reading it has changed. More likely, the web and blogosphere and everything that comes with it, this whole thing we refer to as “web 2.0″ — is not what it used to be.

Recently, I’ve been reading on writing, and I mean writing effectively. I want to write in a way that makes others think, one that provokes them to respond. One very good ALA article on writing and content somehow says, in a nutshell: Write for a reason. Write often. Write tight. Make good friends. Find good enemies. Let the story unfold. Stand up, speak out. Be sexy. Use your archives. Relax!

9 Replies· 2006.04.28

Photos & Plugins

Published late at night of April 26, 2006

• I have a few albums of photos from our recent trip to Banio Kreek Farms in Silang, Cavite. This is the first time our training batch actually did something big, and we’ve been together for almost two years now. Yes it took us this long, so calling the activity a milestone is really an understatement.
• Another set of photos I recently uploaded were from iBlog2, the Second Philippine Blogging Summit.
• wp-recent-links has been updated to version 2.04. This update has a few nifty code changes that will make it function much more reliably. If you’ve been having problems with the plugin, you should grab this version.
• Comment Hilite, the plugin for highlighting noteworthy comments, has been updated to version 1.2 with a new function for counting the highlighted comments. This was provided by Ivan Sagalaev, one of the plugin’s growing number of users.
• Development on iPAP 1.0 is slowly coming on its own. I’ve been able to implement the changes I’ve long planned, and enhancing functionality. Hopefully in the next few weeks, I’ll be running a stable version on my photos section.

8 Replies· 2006.04.26

iBlog2 in pictures

Published in the wee hours of April 22, 2006

It was really nice to see how far Filipino bloggers have come, now on its Second Philippine Blogging Summit. I was able to take a few photos at the problogging panel, the only one I actually attended. I was there with Anne around lunchtime, and was chatting with Abe, Manuel, and Jayvee for most of the afternoon before the problogging talk. Throughout the afternoon, I ran into or saw these local blogging personalities: Mike Abundo, The J-Spotter, Clair, Amanda, Jonas Diego, Dean Alfar, and many others I couldn’t remember right now.

See you next year guys!

9 Replies· 2006.04.22

Inline Links Dilemma

Published late at night of April 20, 2006

Dougal’s recent decision to turn off automatic link posting has got me thinking: do readers really read the links I post? My recent links plugin used to be just a link sharing module displayed on my homepage, but recent developments has turned it into something very much similar to Kottke’s remaindered links, which in by no coincidence was the original inspiration for the plugin.

The daily post fixer plugin that Dougal used posted links inline with his normal weblog entries. This is the same as seen on kottke.org and here on rebelpixel productions. However, I don’t think Jason’s readers share the same profile as mine or Dougal’s, and aside from incoming search engine traffic, I think most of my readers belong to the techie, personal blogging demographic, with an interest in web design and photography.

It makes me wonder if inline recent links mixed with my regular blog entries provide a value to my subscriber base, or actually is detrimental to this weblog’s readability and accesibility. What do you think? I’d love to hear from my regular readers, yes, that’s all seven of you.

9 Replies· 2006.04.20

The Banio Kreek Preview

Published in the early evening of April 14, 2006

I’m feeling too lazy I can’t even upload the pictures, so just make do with this preview for now. Mamaya na yung iba.

4 Replies· 2006.04.14

Mini-Review: Lucky Number Slevin

Published in the early evening of April 13, 2006

Bruce Willis is still a seller. Paired with Josh Hartnett in this twist–filled crime movie, they are an exciting pair caught between rival crime groups trying to get the best of each other. Compared to other recent action movies, this one is entertaining enough for a weekend viewing.

For most of the movie, you will get the impression that the main star is Willis’s character, though the story actually revolves around “Slevin,” portrayed by Hartnett. You’d have to catch this one from start to finish, because you really have to see every twist and turn that carries the whole story. This film stars several big names other than Bruce Willis and Josh Hartnett, namely Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley.

Lucky Number Slevin is a worthy watch. I’d rate it at 4 of 5.

· 2006.04.13

Hane.PH!

Published at around evening time of April 11, 2006

Note: The service in question is Hane.PH!, with the URL www.hane.ph, which I find very catchy. From its homepage and title tags, its supposed to be a “Philippine business directory, built to build your business online.” Unfortunately, all it has right now is a homepage linked to sections that return an HTTP 404 status message, and a weblog that has been the point of conflict in this entry. Read on for more.

If you’ve been reading my blog since this morning, you would’ve noticed I’ve been engaged in active discussion in my previous entry, though a rather unintellectual one. Last night, I criticized the site Hane.PH! for attacking pinoy bloggers, suggesting that the Filipino blogosphere is filled with self–centered personalities. I take offense for such a baseless generalization. And even if the author had basis, to collectively label every pinoy weblog in a negative way is simply unacceptable.

If you’d take time to read the comments on my entry as well as his, I clearly stated the specific issues that should be addressed. Specifically, I mentioned two important issues: the generalization on pinoy bloggers, and his taking offense for everyone’s refusal to link to his still non–existent site. You can’t expect people to review a service based solely on hype and a promise, right?

Unfortunately, he has stooped down to personal attacks rather than discussing what I’ve pointed out. And on his recent entry, he has resorted to cursing to make himself feel better:

unbelievable.. very unbelievable.. you know what, youre right, no point having a discussion with someone who refuses to listen nor address the relevant issues.. as for me, i still have a website to finish to help Pinoy SMEs bring their businesses online.. too good to be true, i know, but i have done it before, and i am gonna do it again, Pinoy Style this time.. and no freakin f*ckin fortune teller like you who judge people (anti blogger) and their work (spam masquerading business directory) can stop me from doing what i love to help other business aspiring people around me by telling me your useless sh*ts and craps okay..? if you are going to criticize my work thru your stupid, nonsense blog, fine, for all i care alright..?

now move along, obviously you are just wasting my time and my godd*mn bandwith..

Sad. I take much offense in his tirade calling rebelpixel productions a “stupid, nonsense blog”, and I’m sure many others would disagree with his conclusion. It’s disappointing that in his supposed vision of putting Filipino SMEs online, he has to insult other people. If I were a small local company trying to establish my online presence, I’d think twice about putting my company’s name and fate in his hands. In fact, I’d rather build my own site, developed by local web developers, hosted by Filipino web hosting companies. I personally do not know this person, but based on his actions I know enough that I wouldn’t do business with him professionally. And based on his most recent comment, he certainly bought his way to pinoy blogging hell. I really think he just did.

30 Replies· 2006.04.11

Anti-blogger?

Published in the wee hours of April 11, 2006

Reading comments on Yuga’s blog, I came across an interesting site named “Hane.PH!”, predictably with the catchy hane.ph domain. The homepage appears to be a business directory of sorts, and the about page claims:

this will be the Philippines most used, most trusted, and most reliable Business Directory and this blog is where you get all the inside scoop of what is happening behind the scene.

A pretty good vision for an aspiring online service, no matter how raw it may seem right now. Unfortunately, the site’s author shows no respect for Filipino bloggers, as written on its weblog:

im having a time hard figuring out how to approach bloggers SPECIFICALLY PINOY bloggers to link me back or have a linkback exchange with Hane.PH!.. i feel more comfortable exchanging links with REAL businesses.. and unlike our american counterparts, if you actually read a pinoy’s blog it’ll give you the impression that they think they own the world.. i call that THE STARLET COMPLEX..

Disappointing. He claims he finds it hard to get a link from prominent pinoy bloggers, and manages to piss them off all at the same time. How can you expect a link when you don’t even have a working beta of your service up and running? You can’t get the Filipino blogosphere running gaga with hot air for publicity and a business plan that’s too good to be true. To add more insult, you take it against the Filipino blogosphere their failure to recognize your still soon to be released site. A site which right now seems to be destined to morph into a spam portal masquerading as a business directory. I just hope I’m wrong.

33 Replies· 2006.04.11

Believe Me I’m Sorry

Published in the wee hours of April 8, 2006

I’m sorry.

Things have been said that should’ve never been said, and in some way through those words we’ve hurt people we hold dearly, no matter how indirectly it may seem to be. And though things have been said and we may never turn back time to take them back, I’d say sorry just the same. It never was supposed to be this way, and never should be.

Actions never intended to mean something else, yet they hurt us just the same. Harsh words sharply cutting through us like knives, leaving hearts wounded so badly. Cruel words never meant in their literal context, ever. Yet none of this we ever intended to happen.

Believe me I’m sorry.

· 2006.04.08

Featured at Yugatech

Published around lunchtime of April 6, 2006

I’m featured at Yuga’s blog for his series on Filipino probloggers which will be part of his talk on the upcoming 2nd Philippine Blogging Summit, to be held on the 18th of this month. Now that’s a really bad picture. Hehe.

7 Replies· 2006.04.06

Alphabet blocks

Published in the late afternoon of April 3, 2006

Another photograph to take the place of what is supposed to be semi–regular writings and ramblings on life. Or nonsense.

11 Replies· 2006.04.03