Wednesday, July 14 at dawn, Typhoon Basyang unexpectedly passed by Metro Manila with a gusty wind of 120 kph. It knocked our Smartbro antenna out of commission.

I immediately called technical support but alas, it will take seven days before the repairmen is able to visit.

I am a remote worker and I am not going to survive seven days  without Internet connection.

Luckily, we still have the old Smartbro Plug-it USB lying around. But using can be quite expensive. They charge 20 pesos per hour. Whereas, if I use the antenna, I would only be paying 999 pesos for a whole month.

Good thing they have the UNLISURF promo. With it you can have unlimited internet surfing time for five days. To avail:

1. Load your Smartbro Plug-it with 215 pesos.
2. Using your Smartbro Plug-it, text UNLISURF 200 to 2200.
3. Enjoy unlimited surfing for five days.

UNLISURF actually costs only 200 pesos. But Smart deducts 1 peso for texting. So that means you must have an extra load to be able to avail of UNLISURF. Or else Smart will deduct 1 peso and then you will be left with 199 peso load and then Smartbro will return an error saying “Not enough load”.

The quality of Smartbro Plug-it internet connection is not as good as their service that uses the antenna.  But this will have to do until the repairmen arrive.
 
 
You made it as far as Facebook so I presume that at one point you will be interested in making your own website. And if you are making your own website there is an important design principle that you should know.

It is called “Leading the Eye”.

When a person lands on a web page they first scan it. They unconsciously get a sense of its overall structure.  If they find nothing interesting, they leave. Or if they really find the interesting article that they want to read, they will stay. But even if they stay, they will still unconsciously scan the web page and get a sense of the overall structure.

You can control how your web visitor’s eye move through the page.  It is easy. Just take a look at the web page you created. Pay attention to where your eyes first land and were it goes next.  If it is not what you intended, adjust your web page layout.

Let me show you some example:

1. Visit this article, Fort San Pedro: The Oldest Fort in the Philippines by CherishedTravel.net

When you first arrive at the page the first thing that your eyes gets drawn into - is the title of the website, Cherished Travel. And then your eyes will linger on the title of the article written in blue. And then you are drawn to the ads on the side. If you find an interesting ad, then that will be good for the website owner. And only after these three actions will you explore the rest of the page to find the archives, the rest of the navigation, and the links.

This layout is not an accident. The actions you just did is exactly what the website owners want you to do.

2.  Visit this website: http://meandthecomputer.blogspot.com

When you first arrive on the page you first notice the graphic header. And then your eyes move to the translation buttons on the side. After that your eyes move to the first article.

3. Now visit this article from the same blog : http://meandthecomputer.blogspot.com/2009/09/notebook-vs-laptop.html

Your eyes first see the graphic header and then your eyes gets drawn to the ad in embedded in the article. After that you will read the rest of the article if it is really what you are looking for.

Summary

When you make a web page try to design it in a way that you can predict what they will do. This will help you communicate the message that you want to share. Or get the result that you intend.
 
 
I admit I have one strength which is also my weakness.  Maybe you are just like me.  When you decide to learn something you don't stop until you have accomplished it.  You will do this even if this is the only thing you do for several weeks.

Unfortunately, everything always changes around us. And there will always be something new to study. 

However, when we are in study mode, it means we are not producing.  And we can get stuck in this mode and never be able to do something productive. 

The truth is the natural way to gain knowledge and hone skills is by learning by doing.  This is the right way and the most effective way.

Next time you are stuck in study mode maybe you check yourself if this is just another way of you procastinating.
 
 
I have just read today that air pollution in hongkong has reached an all time high. According to AFP, the pollution index reading has reached 174.  It matches the highest reading which was recorded in 2000.

When the index exceeds 101, "persons with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities", the local health department said.

What have we been doing to our planet?

In Manila, I am reminded of  a different problem.  When I am in the vicinity of Manila Bay and the wind is blowing towards land, I really have to cover my nose.  Because the Bay smells like a dead fish. 

I am sorry Tourism Department. I know we are trying to attract foreign tourist and all but that is just the hard truth.  Manila Bay smells like a dead fish and the water is as black as a stinking canal.

Infact, when there is a typhoon and the waves get really big, they wash tons and tons of trash back towards the shore.

There used to be a time when poets would write about the beautiful sunset in Manila bay.  Now you can still see the lovely sunset but also  you can't help notice the ugly black water.

I wonder what are sons and daughters would inherit. Maybe by the time they grow up all they will have are seas that no longer flow.

And w hat about our grandchildren?
 
 
I used to work where it took me two hours to reach the office and another two hours to go back home.  Yep. I had to do four hours of travel time everyday.  So much wasted hours that I could have used more productively.

Do you ever experience being almost late for work and you couldn't find a ride?  On top of that after you do catch a ride you then get stuck in traffic.

These are two reasons why a lot of office workers are worn out before their day has even started.

This is also why condominiums and high rise apartments are becoming more popular.  Because most of these buildings are constructed very close to the offices.

Imagine yourself just walking when you are going to work.  And with just a few steps more you will reach a supermarket, your favorite cinema, and malls.

Pretty cool isn't it.
 
 
It is the 'Ber' months. And that means it will soon be Christmas, the season of giving. Unfortunately, the season of taking has also started.

Yesterday I was to attend the Sunday service at Greenbelt before noon time. I arrived at a commotion. All the shops were closing, there were a lot of people outside. They were texting and calling their friends and families. Some were asking the guards what happened – that would include me.

Apparently, there has been a shootout at Greenbelt 5,.a newly constructed building in Greenbelt. Six men wearing bomb disposal uniforms robbed a Rolex store.

What is surprising is that they did it in broad daylight and on a Sunday when the malls would be busiest.

One robber died.

Just the other day, I saw on the news father and son were gunned down. Robbers who rode motorcycles followed them after they withdrew money from an ATM machine.

Crime rate, especially robberies always seem to rise during these season. High stake robberies always seem to rise near election period (that would be may 10 next year).

And so let me usher you to the Season of Giving - and Taking.

Stay safe, survive.