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Year-Ender Post: 2009 in Fritzparazzi Photos

Whew! This took too long. I’m sure there’s an easier way out there but I’m old school (i.e. a noob) so I rocked the hard way. If we’ve had interactions in the past year and if in those moments I was crazily snapping away like a loon, then most probably you’ll be in one of the 250 odd “fritzparazzi” photographs I used to come up with this vid. I was too tempted to use photos of other bloggers from most events because I later realized I was missing a month’s worth of pics off my archives, July 2009 to be exact, but thought better. This should do, I hoped.

So I start out with the Baconator and end with a snap of the lunar eclipse that happened on New Year’s Eve. Ok, that’s a lie. The ending’s totally different and I might end up getting killed for having that up LOL. Watch the vid already so you’ll know what I mean.

This one’s for you. For the company, the good times, your work, your craft, your dedication, and your passion. I hope that one day, I could at last measure up with the amount of efforts you have put in this endeavor, with or without Google AdSense.

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to a better year ahead of us all. And world peace.

Cheers!

Note: You may want to watch the full HD sized format of this vid straight off its youtube page. You’ll see the detail better that way.

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Action Despite Adversity for Climate Change

I’m stumped.

The urge to contribute in this year’s Blog Action Day is strong deep in my soul but having felt firsthand that I cannot by myself do anything to help my countrymen during one of the nation’s most trying times may have paralyzed my genius of a brain to function as needed. In an attempt to address a global call, I’ve been staring at a blank screen for hours on end. Melor and Parma devastating the country was no small chink on the proverbial national pride that the Filipino race, who is ironically lauded for snootily smiling at the intimidating face of adversity, can soon forget. Up north, they have just two days ago said that the roads are passable again. In nearby Pasig City, people still wade in knee-deep flood water that already started stinking. In hospitals, leptospirosis patients are being confined in growing numbers by the day. The devastation had been so great that some Filipinos continue tread on water pissed and shat on by rodents in order to work, sell things, or receive packed relief goods which, if a family of 6 is so lucky, can last them another day.

While globally, we dread of an impending climate change, locally we swim on stagnant water thick with the stench that had been a birthday celebration’s leftover food seeping from non-biodegradable plastic from six months ago. No, I’m not lobbying against elaborate merriments. Take that away (right, as if anyone can) and we’ll have nothing to look forward to. Nothing to draw our strength from. Let’s just be more… aware.

I strongly feel that anybody in the Philippines right now would agree to help and address the problem by contributing anything that’s within our capacity if only we can be assured that such efforts WILL yield VISIBLE RESULTS. Anything. Seguristas, that’s what we all are. Nothing wrong with that based on a simple logic: with limited resources, we all won’t go and waste them on something that’s not for long term. We, however, need something that will jump start the movement. A leader. Somebody who can think strategically yet act on instinct with a will power fueled by demand and, more importantly, socially sound morals. No, I’m not even referring to the highest seat in government. Don’t be silly, we all saw how clueless they were during the first few hours of Ondoy and Pepeng.

This person, the leader I’m referring to, is US. YOU, ME, THEM, US. It’s either we act or we lead, the choice is yours. You know you can do it. No more excuses.

Think about it. When Ondoy hit the countryside Friday, most of you may have been on the phone checking on your relatives, officemates, or friends who live in another side of town. When relief operations were put up, those who can gave their resources and those who are able, their services. In times of desperation, you forwarded a text to those who you think has access to devices and methods even if you only got those emergency contact numbers from twitter or facebook. Me in front of my desktop on higher ground, them on their mobile phones hoping to catch the faintest network signal (and trying to conserve battery power at the same time) in order to send a distress text, blogs/Internet authors putting up donation facilities, and countless others selflessly monitoring whatever is happening all over, all working, all acting. We had been each other’s eyes. The gesture had been so epic that it received praises from all over the world. Whodathunk that a third world country’s citizens can harness technology the way we did?

If only we can channel the same effort towards a grander cause.

To those who think that all we can do is “cure” rather than prevent, think again. As it is, we have all heard so much talk about Climate Change and how inventions and improvements are now more geared on producing eco-friendly contraptions and devices. So much had been said to the point that some may be led to think that the fate of the environment only rests on the hands of a few. As these tools are being perfected in production, we may just go on with out lives and wait OR we can do something to reduce our so called “carbon footprint.” No, “not breathing” isn’t the only way we can contribute, don’t be silly. How about carpooling, using less plastics, recycling, segregating waste, proper waste disposal, a regular car tuneup, re-using paper, and limiting the use of electricity. These things are doable. If each of us can influence our network to be mindful of our carbon footprint, and I can feel that that’s more possible than just probable, we can in our own way contribute and make a difference.

It’s either that or I unleash my powers to command a gathering storm to stay in the open sea where it can cause less devastations. I can also will earthquakes to reverberate outside the troposphere (and name it vacuumquake instead). Or paint a force field on the skies to protect us all from torrential rains and tsunamis.

Dig this, however. When I do that, only I will get the glory and I already have enough of that. I want us ALL to be heroes in saving the planet because, collectively, we also can. Just remember Ondoy. Remember Pepeng. Would you pass up on this chance? I didn’t think so, either. You’re just not the type.

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Read more Blog Action Day 2009 entries from fellow Filipinos via the extensive round-up at Blogger’s Kapihan.

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Uno Magazine October 2009 Issue: 21x Moar Awesome!

Other than the rare chance to see Ornusa Cadness going medieval in her pin ups, the words “FUCK OFF” in (big, bold,) upper case plastered on the front cover of a lifestyle mag (only strategically cloaked from public scrutiny, something I’ve never seen done my entire life), RJ Ledesma’s article on the great man that is Washington SyCip (I have a copy of his biography written by Butch Dalisay, written and dedicated to me by Wash /gloat), a full page compilation of the late Alexis Tioseco’s inspiring words, and feature articles on bombshells Aryn Cristobal and KC Santi, here are 21 more reasons why you should get a copy of Uno Magazine’s October 2009 issue (out now).

To see this jpeg is one thing but to read the captions for each featured blogger is a whole different matter/level of awe/bewilderment/LOL altogether. Brilliant, bloody brilliant! And I’m in there, one of the 21, somewhere (wink wink). If you want me to sign your copy, please draft me a message by filling out the fields in the “contact” link abov…. jez kideeng LOOOOOOOOOOL!!! As there are two Ornusa covers out this month, here’s Uno’s for your reference.
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Photos from the Philippine Blog Awards 2009 (PBA09)

Again, kudos to the organizers of the Philippine Blog Awards 2009. Despite your hectic lives, you have still managed to let this year’s event push through. Will update this post once I get the complete list of Officers and members who made PBAs 2009 possible.

Congratulations also go to the winners and the finalists in the national (saw what I did there? I just congratulated myself LOL), top ten posts of the year, bloggers’ choice, and special awards. My heartfelt thanks go out to the sponsors who still believed in the growing power of blogging as a medium.

As promised in my previous post, here are the photos I’ve taken during the PBAs. Note that I have added a new set below the main (flickr hosted). Scroll below to find out why.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I would have written this at the OVI site to describe what was in the album I’ve uploaded just so I can give the post-processing justice but the entire thing was too long. Since the text got truncated, I’m having it here instead.

Know what? I could have opted to not have these shots shown. I warn you, the ones in this batch are either out of focus, obstructed, ill framed, or overexposed. I got to thinking, however, that there MIGHT just be a way to save them… by rendering them “vintage.” Old photographs can be flawed yet, still, they can seldom be judged as worthless. Often, the aged feel will even command respect. After all, they still chronicle a moment or a fleeting instant that may never again be replicated.

I apologize in advance to the subject in these photos. I know, I also frown upon the blatant use of post-processing techniques, believe it or not. If I may, as my last excuse, claim, I am still coming to terms with the power of the camera I’m using. I will try to be better, I promise.

Old style is the new style. The flaws of the images suddenly seemed acceptable as compared to showing them SOOC.

With that out of the way, please navigate the flash animation below by clicking on the image that interests you. You may also view the full-sized upload at OVI by clicking on the green “>” sign beside the enlarged image after you click it.

Until the next PBAs!

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Gang Badoy’s Keynote at the PBAs 2009

While we were sat down and upon finding out that Gang Badoy was going to deliver the keynote during last night’s Philippine Blog Awards, I turned to Rico and Jayvee who were beside me and told them, “let’s be prepared, once again, to be awed and inspired.” It was my warning told in “jest” minus the mockery. Having heard Gang deliver her piece three times the past year made me look forward to hearing more from her. It was a privilege to listen to her again last night and “awed and inspired” could well be what everyone else felt soon after she left the stage after saying, “Keep on it. Welcome to the Philippines: One Blogging Nation. Mabuhay kayong lahat.” (EDIT: Gang’s speech in text form can be viewed from her site, in facebook, and at Jayvee’s site).

Here’s a vid cap of Gang’s keynote. I’m so sorry that I only managed to fish my cam out a minute into her speech. I’ll upload the photos I got from last night soon. Congratulations, PBA 2009 committee and to all the winners!

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Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs Crowned for 2009

As you would would observe from beauty pageants, past year’s winners are afforded time to walk the stage once more to bask in the glory of reminiscing the year that was as they reigned before the title is ultimately passed on to current titlists. I face-palmed when I spoke twice for both fritzified and Visit Sagada (sorry boys, but I did my best despite it sounding meh,. Please forgive me).

Enough about me and on to the reason for the season. Here are the winners of the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009:

1. Writing to Exhale
2. Patay Gutom
3. The Struggling Blogger
4. Zorlone
5. Father Blogger dot Com
6. Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0
7. Tales from the Mom Side
8. Adaphobic
9. Lakwatsero
10. Let’s Go Sago!

Notable are the words Janette Toral shared regarding what lessons and challenges she found notable from holding this year’s writing project.

As for the event, it’s fun as always to get to see familiar faces and meet now people. Thanks PAGCOR for having us and for the bet coupons. Food was great, BTW. Soup and desert FTW! ALSO, CAN I JUST SAY THAT WE WON IN BACCARAT?! Is this a sign that I should always make it a point to go to Casino Filipino every chance I get?! LOL There was this lady who was kind enough to help us newbs in the way of the casino (she scolded us for looking like we didn’t know shit LOL). In the end, we won! I’ll share with you how I got to learn Baccarat in another post.
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Important: Before Upgrading to Wordpress 2.8.2

Make sure that your installed and activated plugins have all been updated to their latest versions. Be absolutely certain that you do not have an encircled number beside the “Plugins” section of your Dashboard’s sidebar. Non-current plugins might give you the same disappointment I had a while ago when my Automatic Upgrade always got stuck in the “Installing the latest version” phase, consequently making my site show the “Maintenance Mode” sign of dread.

I remembered something I read about these plugins getting in the way of a smooth upgrade (from a similar predicament I had in the not so distant past). Good thing I did because after two failed attempts, I made the plugin upgrades on the 6 that were then pending, reran the upgrade, and, voila, WP 2.8.2!

If you get stuck like I did, apparently, WP’s upgrade facility has a built-in logic in place that will revert your blog to normal around 5 minutes after a failed attempt. When this happens, do as I did and upgrade those plugins, pronto, or manually install WordPress as the pros do it (which I can’t and won’t be arsed to do ever). In my POV, an automatic upgrade facility exists because it should make everybody else’s lives easier. It is there because it works. If it doesn’t work, something went wrong along the way and it may most probably be from the user’s end. If it isn’t, then the program is stupid. End of discussion.

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