Wasapers.com and the Kwentong Barbero Podcast

Inspired by a video of Fritz Grobe & Stephen Voltz of EepyBird.com [sent by EJ’s dad - the culprit], here’s what we were up to outside 7-Eleven, Eastwood City Walk, Libis last night.

For Experiment #1, we used a 1.5 liter bottle of Diet Pepsi and 2 Mentos. The foot-high spurt left us very disapointed.

In Experiment #2, we used another 1.5 liters of Diet Pepsi - but 6 Mentos this time. The 5-6 foot high spurt left us satisfied enough for the night and got the attention of some polo barong clad security guards who didn’t know what to make of it.

The lack of lighting kinda sucks and the audio seems to be out of sync, but the geyser is obvious. Voice-over comments by Gato-Chrome & D.

Doing your homework pays off. Experiment #3 should be the charm - with help from some notes. However, if you wanna go over the edge about it, there’s also dry ice.

Disclaimer: Boys, girls, and retards - don’t try this at home! Go to a park or mall so that a lot of people can witness you blow your hand off - just in case. See what happened to Pepsi Girl.

Ever wonder how you create your own website without spending a single centavo? I do that all the time! I’m going to break this down into 2 or 3 parts or EJ might kill me for writing a very long article. (^_^)

Anyway, some of you may have products that you want to sell, or create your own blog. For those of you who are into web design, publishing a simple website or “site” should be easy enough for you already. However, for those who don’t know jack about designing a site, this can prove a bit difficult - at least at first. Good news for the latter group because there are a lot of “FREE” templates available on the internet! You can use and edit them to suit your taste. All you have to do is search Google or Yahoo! for “free templates” that will suit your needs and wants. Here are some sites that offer free templates:

1. http://www.Wordpress.com – you have to install this one on your webhost.
2. http://freesitetemplates.com/templates/browse/speed-demons/
3. http://www.4layouts.com/template.php
4. http://www.steves-templates.com/templates.html
5. http://www.templatesbox.com/templates.htm

I personally like No. 1 which is great for blogs. This site is actually using Wordpress, but with a growing list of customizations by EJ and Gato-Chrome to spice up the look. *wink* What’s different with Wordpress is that you have to install it on your webhost to use it.

“What???!! What the hell is a webhost and how do I install it???”

Ok, don’t panic. I’m gonna tell you how to do this in my next post. So, going back to the templates, another personal favorite is the fifth site. You’ll see what I mean if you compare all the other free templates.

“Okay, I now have a template. So what do I do with this?”

Use editing software like Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage 2003 and Adobe Photoshop. Most of the free templates that you download will come with a folder called “psd.” This is a file made using Adobe Photoshop. You will need these if you want to change the pictures or the text on the template. If you don’t have these programs, use their free 30-day trial versions. You can probably get these from www.download.com or www.9down.com. For Adobe Photoshop, I would suggest you use version 7 rather than CS2 because the former doesn’t use up as much memory as the latter. If you can’t find version 7 anywhere on the internet, don’t worry, I have a copy of it. HarharHar. I downloaded it before they removed the link on Adobe’s official site so just leave a comment and we can figure out how I can give you a copy, alright?

If you don’t know how to use these programs, don’t be afraid to play around with them. You’ll never get anything done if you’re scared to try things out. The idea is to make sure you have the original file safely stored on a separate folder. This way, even if you totally mess up the psd file, at least you can always revert to the original file. Here’s how to save the psd file in Adobe Photoshop:

1. Create a folder where you want to store your edited templates.
2. Click Save As and save it in the folder that you created. Use whatever name you like.
3. Next click on Save for Web. This will automatically create a folder called “images” and an index.html page. I would also suggest saving the images as jpeg rather than gif because jpeg is smaller in file size than gif.

Since this has gotten a bit long already, watch out for my next post around next week. Promise! (^_^)

***

Did you know that there’s no such thing as “softwares?” The plural and singular form of the word are the same [a mass noun] so be careful when you are in a job interview - never say “saftwares” or that’s already a “buzz!” or point against you.

I don’t want this to be my first post but I just couldn’t help it. I know I already posted this on the forum but I just can’t stop ranting about it. Anyway, two years ago I set up an online store which sells stuff for women. The idea is to have a sort of tiangge online. It also featured “cyberstall,” a term my sister and I coined for people who wanted to have their own website but doesn’t know how. What we did is to help them set up their sites, help them have their own URL and they pay us monthly for the space they are occupying. I made this last 2003 if I am not mistaken.

I did a lot of advertising for that site. Newspapers, forums (PEX, GT, St Berlin, Bembang, Mukamo etc. etc.), e-groups, text brigade and believe it or not, even flyers. It became well known probably because I sold my products cheap. There were times when I’d go to a building in Ayala with a gym bag full of goodies (and I have my mom driver to thank for it). There were even some who’d go to the extent of reserving their conference room for me. Most of my customers are from Ayala, Alabang and Las Pinas. It was fun. There came a time when I was already getting orders from Singapore, India, Saudi and France. I don’t know how they learned about the site though. And then of course I enrolled my thesis and that’s when I decided to stop that site for a while with the intent of rebuilding it once I have the time. My customers knew about this so, the business never really ended.

Two weeks ago, I decided to buy the domain name again. Unfortunately while I was trying to buy it, I got this horrible message that someone took it already. I typed the URL and lo and behold!!! There it was! My old domain name! The name that I put so much work into! The name that was associated with my name for 3 years already! And do you know what else? They are also doing the “cyberstall” thing. It was bad and I was so heartbroken. You might think I’m overreacting but what would you feel when you put so much effort doing something, and you see someone else is taking the credit?

I will wrench his head from his shoulders - I will smite him where he stands - HE WILL RUE THE VERY DAY HE STOLE MY KINGDOM AWAY FROM ME! - Prince Charming

Ok I didn’t do the first two sentences but I was thinking about it. I wrote that site’s owner a letter and here is their reply:

Hi!

We were surprised receiving your email. First of all, We didn’t think that
www.*********.com was being used because it was available when we registered
it last March 2006

We understand your frustration but we have, and is still spending a lot of
our resources building and launching the site. On top of that, we already
have pending clients waiting for the site to be launched.

Had we known that someone is already using it, We wouldn’t have bought it
and instead, would have a different name.

We hope you understand.

Sincerely,

*********.com ( To add insult to injury, they even signed their letter with the url…b@stards!)

What they didn’t answer was when I asked them why they are doing the same service.

Anyway, I decided that this is not the end of the world and wasapers is right, “If you build it, they will come.” What did I do? I built another site. And I’m on my way to building another for my yuppie dad. I’m building a lot actually. I guess what’s important is that I did not wallow in my own private hell and sulk. [Okay yeah I wallowed for a little but that’s healthy, you know?] Stealing my idea, and using *********’s name won’t stop me from doing what I like. I’m back…with a vengeance!! Bwahahahaha!!

I’m not going to mention the sites name anymore because I’m not that stupid.

Ok enough of this drama, watch out for my next post alright?

Yesterday. Woke up early and had breakfast in Eastwood, Libis with EJ and ryan_muah. Pagkatapos ay pumunta sa 2nd floor ng open-air parking para salubungin ang araw. New discovery namin:

• basyong bote ng C2 green tea + Johnny Walker Black Label = HAPPINESShh in PUBLIC!

My logic, “it’s never too early to be intoxicated!”

Waited for D to quit work for the day and then brought her & ryan_muah home. Thus, this story begins…

Went to LTO to renew the “drayber’s” license. Na what the fox moment ako dahil napaka obvious pa rin ng flaws ng LTO. From drug test to the fixers and the staff. Ahhh… madami pa rin sablay! Of course, this has been going on for a long time now - in case you didn’t know.

Try going to counter 1. If she denied an application form, palipas ka lang ng 15 minutes and then balikan mo. She would have totally forgotten what happened before. Ampfness!

Drug test? It was a breeze. Kahit pa ba intoxicated ka, ok lang! Hinahanap lang nila eh traces of MJ, shabu and cocaine. Kung high ka on ecstasy, LSD, cough syrup or even rugby… OK lang! 3C says that they only use a cheap ass small kit for the drug test. Demet, para lang kaming nasa esquinita ng Tondo.

To think na LTO gives accreditaion to these drug testing and health facilities… A small room with the most basic equiptment and people coming in and out as if they were just passing by. Wala ni isa ang naka nurse or doctors uniform para ma-differenciate mo ang patient sa attendant. The tiny room’s walls are filled with (fake?) plaques and (fake?) photocopied documents like business permits and some stating their qualifications as doctors or nurses. Pabor ‘to sa masa, pero mga bradz, ‘di kaya this is a little too much?

So yeah, it’s cheap and fast. Where does quality and security fall? Walang assurance na ang mga kumukuha ng licence eh negative sa droga! “Drugfree” or is it more like, “drugfee“?

I didn’t bother taking pictures as I was worried that it might cause a stir. After the so-called “drug test” we crossed the street and went back the LTO.

Right at the entrance, fixers swarm the area like flies as if everybody coming in has honey on their shoulders.

PhP 1,500 para pumasa ka?

Not all insults are said without a grain of truth in them. Parang jokes: they are half-meant. ‘Di mo pansin, pero ginagawa mo ‘din.

“Punahin ang ginagawa ng ibang tao.”

That includes me, syempre. Nasa labas tayo… Madaming tao.. Minsan may buguk na gagawa ng kung ano, o kahit wala, na biglang dadaan sa harap mo… Paglampas nya,

“Tingnan mo ‘yun… Blah blah blah…”

Funny, but it’s true. Dito bawal ang plastik. Ilabas ang tunay na pagkatao… Sa lalabas, makikigulo at aalamin kung anung klaseng ”ehem” meron ang “Masa” at ang “Elitista”. Ano ba talaga ang mga bagay na ‘di nila pinagkakasunduan? What’s the big difference between “Fa-Q kah, Bitz!” and “Foot ng hina mo!”

Sentido Común? Oist, Wasapers! Keep your headgear on - GC is here! Keep You guys posted.