Panache and Style

I just came across a book being read by Sen. Ed Angara about how the future would be like, in terms of "Art" in the workspace. How will "designs" affect our way of life. What caught my attention was what the good senator underlined and it goes like this…

"The wealth of nations and the well-being of individuals now depend on having artist in the room. In a world enriched by abundance but disrupted by the automation and outsourcing of while-collar works, everyone, regardless of profession, must cultivate an artistic sensibility. We may not all be Dali or Degas, but today we must all be designers."

As a designer myself, I also agree that in the future, panache and style - from the littlest of things to the tallest of buildings will be all around us.

Transformers, Yippeee!

For a guy like me who grew up in the 80s watching Transformers on TV, i bet the upcoming movie makes us ecstatic about how a live-action film would be as interesting. I think this movie is a box office potential  as it is such a decidedly unique thing to make a movie about giant robots based from the popular toy franchise, has such a huge budget, massive action sequences and especially that this movie has brands of approval of Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay at the lens.

But this blog is not about the movie - naah! Its all about plus baby. I'd like to share to you the wallpapers I enjoyed creating (in Macromedia Fireworks) from the production shots I got from the movie itself. I only created a 1024 x 768 pixel wallpaper and you may be able to download the zip files. Simpy click here to redirect you to my server and Voila!

Mosaic Art on-the-fly

 When was the last time you planned to make a quick visit at a photoshop and have your photos printed - or better yet, passed by a specialty photo store and see that Photo Mosaic on the wall, inviting you to have yours printed too. (for a fee.)

Well, I just found a great site where you can create a Photo Mosaic on-the-fly and "Flickrize" your pix. Cool and Free pa… say!!! And if you're just like me, you want to see it right now and forget about this blah, blah, blah. One last note though, make it a close up (doesn't look good on a wide angle.)

Click here and enjoy to your heart's content. Oh by the way, do show me your Photo Mosaic when you're done, ok?!

No need to stand 15 feet away!

I’m hiring ASP.net Programmers. 4 needed

I have a project that kicks-off by June 2007. I am in need of ASP.net programmers for a datacenter here. This is an on-site project (Manila-based.) Here's the Job post.

I am looking for web developers who have high level of sophisticated coding skill and also extensive knowledge on compliance with accessibility, CSS2.0, W3C and XHTML1.0 standards. Applicant with knowledge in Web2.0 is an advantage but not required.

Responsibilities

• Integration of layered PSD and PNG files (slice and dice the images into an HTML page layout). (An advantage but not necessary.)

• Develop entire sites or modules and integrate within a proprietary CMS (with components written in PHP, ASP .net and ASP classic and create and integrate these within a MySQL database).

Requirements

• Knowledge of compliance with Accessibility, XHTML1.0, CSS2.0, W3C. Web2.0 knowledge, an advantage.

• Knowledge with cross-browser compatibility (Firefox, NN, IE, Opera, Safari)
• The applicant must be flexible, possess a strong sense of professionalism and have a desire to work in a fast-paced, multi cultural environment
• The successful candidate must possess curiosity, dedication, aesthetic sense, be innovative, have close attention to detail and genuine pride in their work.
• Enthusiastic, committed team players will be highly valued!

So if you feel this is you and like to grow with us, leave a comment in this blog so I can let you know where to submit your resume.

I’m Not Dead Yet

Yup. I'm not dead yet. Not sick nor incognito. There are major developments in my work that kept me going like the "energizer bunny." Especially with the knowledge that Web2.0 is creating quite a buzz in the Internet realm. I am ecstatic that I have found my niche market - introducing Web2.0 in the Philippines and got some nice comments about my work using XHTML1.0, CSS2.0 and Web2.0. 

Here's a sample. Just deployed the Adams Beach Resort website using XHTML, CSS and Web2.0 Beta. The website is quite playful as you can move the pictures around. No Macromedia Flash was used which is search engine-friendly. 

Now, with the new technologies in my pixel playground,  there will be major developments - so watch for it. 

Impresario1 website has launched

I was finally able to launch the Impresario website.  This website is created differently from the ones we previously developed. Using CSS (cascading style sheets) is something I have not done in the past and this is my first successful CSS launched.

What I enjoy about using CSS

For a start, this website [ impresario ] uses NO TABLES, just pure <DIV> tags. The results were astounding! The pages load faster. If you want to learn why the page loads faster, you can visit my knowledgebase page and it explains why.

Kudos

This blog provider (i.ph) is one truly exemplary provider and I'm finding this blogsite is a heap of treasure. Making this my primary social site comes to mind and would be residing here for good. I have not tried signing up with any other blogsite coz this one comes with a a lot of features which are undeniably great. Yun nga lang, I hit a snag doing some previous adjustments while adding some bells and whistles to the site. These are: 
1. limitations to the html tags;
2. the absence of embedding Flash, Youtube and Flickr [read more about this from my previous blog entry]

But just as it has weaknesses, I.PH has its strengths as well.
1. No annoying ads, no popups and -unders, no adsense, - though if you really want to spoil it, any techie can be able to do that;
2. the use of other significant tags to accentuate your site;
3. pull-out any external image from another server (just as I've done here with the i.ph logo above)

In a nutshell, the weight is more on the upside. I still would like to get my hands dirty when it comes to dabbling into hardcore programming to accentuate this site. As the web evolves [like most recent is the use of PNG images] there will be more challenges ahead, more experiments to make.

Oh by the way, if you really want to make some bucku bucks and use Adwords to your site, I suggest you open a web account with us at [ impresario ] and [ internet solstice ] and learn how you can use this medium to your advantage.

where: user_id=your account at flickr

VOILA! You can now enjoy a slideshow without using up your precious space from your blogsite. Enjoy!

Getting Your Hands Dirty

Blogs have been hyped as a great tool for increasing page ranks (specially if you have a company you wish to promote) without acquiring expensive tools to have your site indexed well. Blogs are also well known as "push button publishing" - simple enough for any person without knowledge in HTML or CSS to post anything. But for those who do like to customize their blogsites would dabble with HTML, Javascript and CSS like me.

So any entry with a Flash object, Youtube video or Flickr would only come up blank. But mind you though that I'm not sour-graping, and my support goes to i.ph and calliope techies, who are working to come up with solutions and provide better product, services and support.

Good thing though the <table> tag is accepted as shown with the light blue background from above.

Sleep Deprived

Wow! I've been working straight for a week now, barely having a 3-hour sleep per day - thanks to 2 balots a night, a liter of coke a day and ION energy drink to push down the balot(s), I was able to pull through. After juggling work and baby-sitting last week, I was able to get into the nitty-gritty, hardcore programming this week and finish up the version 1.2 of a swedish website. Occupational hazard of being a Web Kaizen Developer.

I was forced to do this kind of schedule since our yaya left for the weekend last week and has not returned yet (some day-off) Good thing she text/SMS me today that she is well now and reporting back to work tomorrow. SIGH!

I will just take a 2-hour break for now and take a stroll, use these cramped (and scrawny) legs, make it to good use. I've been couped-up in my soho for so long. Be back again to touch up the Filipiniana Sweden website a bit more.

Hey! What's happening outside???

Unnecessary Exposure

Here is some story I contributed to the Rich Dad community way back in 2002 …

A husband and wife were preparing to go out for dinner.  As she got out of the shower, he stepped in.  The doorbell rang.  After a quick discussion about who should answer, she wrapped a towel tightly around herself, and went downstairs.   It was the neighbor Bill.  He was taken aback for a moment and then spoke up.   As he took a handful of money out of his pocket he said "I'll give you $800 if you will drop your towel".  She thought for a few moments, and then dropped the towel on the floor.  He studied the situation for a few minutes, handed her the money and left.  She grabbed her towel, closed the door, and excitedly ran back upstairs.  

Her husband called over the shower door "Who was that?" "It was Bill from next door" she replied.  The husband responded "That's good.   Did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?"

Business application: Good communication about credit and risk is vital to a partnership or you risk unnecessary exposure.