Pinoy Blog Machine (Beta)

There are lots of special occasions in the coming months for this family of ours and it is customary to give the celebrant a gift as a token, no matter how small it is. After all, as the saying goes, it is the thought that counts.

As the designated person in the family to think of gifts to give, I sometimes do run out of ideas, especially when you've known the celebrant for so long. But, on the other hand, it helps as well that you do have an inkling of their interests in life.

Let's take my friend V, for example, who loves Italian food. An option is to give her one of those italian food gift baskets. The ones at Gourmet Gift Baskets are quite popular with their customers so I might just pick that one for my friend. Not only that, they've also got gift baskets for other occasions and themes which they can ship to any country via FedEx. Knowing about this eases my mind, which makes it whole lot easier now for me to shop for gifts for friends and family.

How many blogs do you visit and read?

When I first started this blog, I learned that you should reach out to fellow bloggers to gain new friends and of course, back links. At first, I only had a handful of blogs that I frequently visit but thanks to events such as blogger meet ups, these numbers started to grow.

I realized that visiting each of these blogs for anything new is a lot of work. Mind you, I don’t just drop by and do some link bait, I do read your blogs. ^_^ It’s not that I don’t want to visit their blogs but having to open 20+ blogs everyday is very time consuming. Also, it is not also the fact that they have new posts every time I visit so I looked for an alternative way to check their blogs for updates without visiting each blog one at a time.

Then came RSS (Really Simple Syndication).

What is RSS?

RSS is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it. (Source)

You need to have a feed reader such as Google Reader in order to use RSS. Basically, I can read all of your blogs without having to visit of your blog individually. Take a look at this screen shot of Google Reader.

As you can see, I have over fifty new blog entries to read spanning from different blogs. As long as I’m subscribed to a blog’s feed, all of that blog’s new posts will show up in my Google Reader.

How to use RSS?

To be able to use RSS, you need two things:

1. A blog’s feed
2. A feed reader

Where can I find a blog’s feed?

Some blogs have pictures (feed buttons) that link to their blog’s feed. The default picture looks like an orange box with a “volume” looking symbol such as this.
Clicking on this picture will show my feeds.

Help! I can’t find that feed picture!

Other blogger’s use different pictures (feed buttons) to link to their RSS feeds.

PinoyBlogero has a customized feed button. (Karlo, allow me to hotlink your feed button ahah)

This is Wely’s feed button.

Sometimes, other bloggers forget to put a link to their RSS feeds that’s why you can’t find them. However, there’s a way through this. You can let the feed reader’s find them for you. Currently, I’m using google reader and all I do is to write the blog’s url or address and it will do the rest.

I hope you now know how powerful feed readers are! Feel the power surging to your body! Bwahaha! Enjoy using feed readers!

**I got my dsl back! Hooray!

Gah! So many things to do but so little time! My life right now is one massive balancing act. I've got so many projects that are in the works right now, plus I'm trying to cram in as many articles for those occasional paying opportunities. Oh, and yes, I am still a full-time mother and wife. That's a whole lot to juggle especially when you've got chores to do as well.

I wish I could say I was Wonder Woman or some heroine of that sort so that I can accomplish more in a day. But frankly, I do feel there really isn't enough time to do all these things. :(

Alright, got to get back to work. Precious time is wasted with these ramblings! :P

The minimum criteria for the assessment process have been revised. This will apply to all applications received by the COTRB office from 1 August 2007 onwards.

In particular, the English language criteria has been amended to accept only the IELTS examination by way of an English language test (the OET is no longer accepted), and more detailed information is now provided about circumstances in which the requirement for completion of the IELTS examination will be waived.

Please click on the following link to go to the Assessment Criteria page of the website for full details of the minimum criteria that must be met in order for an applicant to be eligible for skilled migration and to practice in Australia.

The difference now is that they won’t be accepting certificates from your schools attesting that English was the medium of instruction used during your study. Also, they did accept applications before from graduates of non-WFOT accredited schools, but who have had relevant and extensive working experience. It used to be enough for them. Obviously, they are implementing stricter rules in the assessment process, trying to keep up with other international accrediting bodies.

The only good thing with the COTRB is that there is no written exam involved. Once you’ve passed the desktop audit where they evaluate your credentials, all you need to do next is show how competent you are as an occupational therapist in the practice audit part. It’ll be all downhill from there.

You can download the revised information leaflet from COTRB here.

The SAMAHAN finally expressed their sympathy on the aftermath of Mr. Enriquez' unjust sanction for the nine students who violated the student code of conduct for ID's. The photos above says "Let us light a candle in sympathy to the 9 Ateneo students who became victims of unjust sanction and public humiliation".

About two weeks ago, the Ateneo Community noticed the presence of a "WANTED" poster in the Office of the Student Affairs Bulletin Board. Contained in this poster are the photos and IDs of 9 students who violated the school's policy on IDs.

As far as I know, when someone violates a rule stated in the student's handbook, the person guilty of such violation shall be given proper sanctions. Sanctions for certain violations vary depending on its weight. Such things shall be determined by the OSA Director or by the Disciplinary Board. Example of these sanctions are public apology, community service, suspension and expulsion. Not once that I have heard of a rule saying that the school will publicly humiliate students who will violate the rules stated in the student's handbook.

Never in their life did these students wished to be placed in a "WANTED" poster. Never did the parents of these students imagined treating their sons and daughters as criminals. Never did they imagined that the very school they respect will give this unjust treatment.

I share the same sentiments with those students who suffered this unjust treatment. If they have violated school rules, then give them the proper sanction they deserve. They don't deserve to be treated like criminals and be humiliated in public. What these students need is justice which was taken from them by person/s involved in the Ateneo Administration.





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I have been dying to do some personal shopping for quite some time now. Ever since Erin came into our lives, I haven't had the chance to buy things for myself in the leisurely pace that I would want to. Not only that, I also need to take into consideration our budget since we are now a family of three.

Online vouchers such as those found on WebbyPlanet can come handy when I want to save up on my purchases and still get the best deal from it. They offer a lot of coupons from various merchants, which is great because it gives me loads of choices. :)

Remember that trip back home to Manila I was raving about in an earlier post? Well, I took a peek at our countdown ticker (see footer) and discovered that as of today we have exactly nine months to go before that much-awaited trip. It's getting nearer by the minute!

Any time soon, J and I must start booking flights to Manila and flights to Australia as well. As I have mentioned before, J will be heading back home to Oz a month earlier than Erin and I will. I am hoping to convince my mom to come along with us on our flight back to Sydney because I know Erin will be quite a handful and it will be very difficult to travel with just the two of us in the airplane. Besides, she might want to visit her friend up in Queensland and avail one of those cheap Cairns flights. She might be able to enjoy her holidays in Australia this time around because Erin's all grown up now. :)

And since we always book our flights online, maybe we can do it on DialAFlight this time as they offer cheap flights and hotel accomodations. We could probably save heaps of money and still get to enjoy our holidays.

Kalasag, Ang taunang aklat ng Ateneo de Davao University, is now accepting applications for Awitenista 2008 Production Staff. Be part of Ateneo's biggest music happening.

Application forms are available at the Kalasag Office. PDF copy can be downloaded here.




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