Sideblog v3.4: Tags and Excerpts
Bit by bit, sidebugs are squashed. Just recently, was testing if Sideblog can co-exist with Ultimate Tag Warrior Plugin and it did. Now you can side-blog and at the same time tag.
And one of the most requested feature, the ability to post an excerpt, is also added. Just use the %excerpt% tag for sideblog. The default length of the excerpt is 15 words. It can be increased by using the %excerpt_<number_here>% tag like %excerpt_20%.
I would like to thank those who reported the bugs. Just keep them coming so that I can fix them whenever I find time.
Enjoy!
Google Checkout Not Really a PayPal Killer - Yet
I was excited when read about Google Checkout in SEO Philippines Yahoo Groups. The prospect of being able to accept online payments (donations?) on my site securely is too much. But further reading the FAQ stops me.
At this time, only merchants with a U.S. address and bank account can process transactions through Google Checkout. We look forward to offering more options in the future.
Just like PayPal, Checkout is only available to US residents with US bank accounts. Although I can still signup for me to be able to purchase goods online but then again I don’t. I just love buying things which I can actually hold, smell or check for defects.
I just hope Checkout will be avaible to Philippine residents in the future and ahead of PayPal, then it will be PayPal killer for us here.
Update: Abe cleared in the SEO Philippines forum that still no way for Phil. residents to signup for Checkout unless the credit card used is a US issued one.
Better Tech Support from Globelines Broadband
I don’t know how good PLDT MyDSL’s tech support but Globelines Broadband wins me. I was without internet connection for two weeks due to non-payment of the telephone bill. And when it finally reconnected, the internet connection did not went with it.
The all-knowing-tech-guy in me pushed me to reconfigure the modem, accepting all the defaults - I saw the guy who installed the modem did that. Two days later, still no connection but the lights in the modem/router tells me it sees the server. I know the problem is at my end.
Defeated by the modem, I called for help. Dialled globelines 24 hour tech support. On the first day, they suggest I try restarting the modem half-hour later. That was 10 PM and I totally forgot and fell asleep. Second day, the guy at the other end suggested to send a technician. Problem is that no one is home during the day and scheduling it two days later just won’t do. I have things to do online.
For the last resort, I told him if he could stay on the line a bit longer and if can just direct me on configuring the modem once again. He agreed. So frame after frame, he dictates the values needed by the modem. When we’re done, my connection is up. Kudos to somebody name Jay over at Globelines tech support for Visayas/Mindanao area.
For now, I’m totally satisfied with how Globelines handle their customers. I can’t go on blame Globelines for my connection woes. It was totally my fault. Connection is working ok before my phone line was disconnected.
NexentaOS in a Partition
My internet connection at home has not been restored. My broadband provider reports that they are in a process of upgrading their system for free speed boost. That’s good to hear, but bad for me at the moment.
So, for lack of anything to do, I pulled out that NexentaOS install cd I managed to download fews days before my connection went down. I was excited.
The install boot screen was impressive. Problem was there’s now way that I know, and capable, of installing it in a separate partition. The partition manager suggests to erase the whole hard drive. Manual partition was even very unfriendly. I have to deal with cylinders. I’ve toasted a hard drive doing this before and I won’t risk my notebook’s hard drive at this moment.
But I’m itching to try a Solaris-derived OS. I’ll see if I can have it installed in a Pentium 2 PC I have lying around the house.
When is Right Time to Leave Job
When is the right time to leave your job? At first I thought I will be happy programming and getting paid for it at the same time. But things are different now. I feel like I’m not happy working in an environment that prevents you from thinking freely at the very least.
I’ve been programming for quite sometime. And I found that I’m productive if I’m in a comfortable environment. My code reflects that of my surroundings. Put me in a chaotic environment and what you get is chaotic code. And lately, that is the case.
I’ve been programming for quite sometime that I am comfortable using my own tools. I’m comfortable writing in my own style. As most programmers, we take pride in our code. We are judged by the quality of our code and on how we wrote it.
I don’t know if other programmers will agree but I abhor uniformity. It’s boring. Sure code reuse is cool but we do in a way that are distinguishable from others.
I enjoy coding, learning new ways of solving problems. What pisses me off are those things that are entirely unrelated to my work and it’s quality holding me back.
Back to my question. When is the right time to leave job? If going to work is no longer considered enjoyable, is that a good gauge for leaving?
Find the homecoming and prom dresses that fits you
Back Online
Now that internet is again up at home (it was disconnected for non-payment), I could work on much delayed personal and not-so personal projects. No more TV tonight.
Messé Iloilo
Messé is definitely worth a try if you are looking for excellent pasta and european cuisine in Iloilo City. I love their Pasta Marinara. France prefer their Carbonara. Messé is in Tabucan, Mandurriao.
NexentaOS
Stumbled upon NexentaOS earlier today. It’s basically GNU tools running on top of OpenSolaris kernel. Screenshots shows Ubuntu but with opensolaris. It’s on Alpha and I can’t wait for the stable version.
Sidebugs
Fixing some bugs in Sideblog and other conflicts with some popular plugin.
IT Outsourcing in Iloilo
Iloilo just held it’s first IT Week last week. As usual a theme was provided. In this case it was: “Iloilo has IT”. I haven’t had the chance to check out the event at SM City Iloilo. I heard it was quite a success. They have schools and IT businesses invited (ours wasn’t - I wonder why).
I can say that Iloilo is making inroads to outsourcing world. Outsourcing companies are taking a look at Iloilo not just a source of IT workforce but also a place to put up shop. The company I work was put up last december and now, after six months, two new similar shops are starting their operations here. Good for the city. Now if only the power problems will be addressed.