The Pursuit of Internet Fame

Nowadays, there are only two reasons as to why people are into blogging business: FAME or MONEY. For money, it is kind of a long shot because to be able to attract sponsors for your blog, you have to have a decent number of unique hits. And if your content pretty much sucks and doesn't interest a majority of netizens, then you can kiss Internet fortune goodbye.

You can agree or disagree with me, but I really think that most bloggers blog in hopes of getting noticed. And at some point I think that that is okay. I mean why else are we on the Internet, seriously? What I don't like though are those who blog not because they have something to say or something to share, but because they want to be famous or because they want free shit.

I have to admit that I have attention-seeking tendencies. I think most bloggers do. Hell, I think most people do. But I can say with all honesty that I didn't start blogging to be famous, like so many people seem to be doing now. I have been blogging (privately) since 2005 and my love for writing led me to this. I started to blog back in college because I wanted to practice my writing skills and learn how to express my thoughts through written words (I used to not be very good at that). Later on, I continued to write because I realized that it is very fulfilling for me to see a documented journey of my life. It's fun to look back at older posts and see how much I've grown over time. Minsan natatawa nalang ako at how shallow my topics were way back 5 years ago!

Anyway, recently I have seen a spike in my blog hits with the post "On Loneliness" being the most viewed. I received personal emails from random people full of words of encouragement, telling me to not feel bad, that they feel the same way, or that things will get better. To be honest, it feels so good to know that these strangers take the extra time to write me a letter (effort!) w/o really expecting anything in return. I know that this might be very common for famous bloggers out there, but this is a first for me -- so I feel pressured because I felt like my blog has suddenly went public. I mean yeah, technically it is an open blog, but I always assume that only a handful of people read it. I never, never imagined that time will come that lots of people would actually be interested in it!

I think this level of pressure is harder for people who blog the way I blog, because I don’t have a skill or talent. I don’t post travel experiences, artwork, or photography; I don’t really do book and film reviews too. I just dump myself out there in word form, so I have nothing to hide behind. Anything goes. The hard part of this is when people start to notice you, they are not judging your work, they’re judging you. Thankfully I haven't encountered negative comments yet (considering my controversial RH Bill post), but I could only imagine myself when that time comes. Will I be affected? Will I just shrug it off? Depende siguro, hehe.

I guess for now I might have to be extra cautious about what I write. It is still gonna be me, but prolly less rants about how much my life sucks, lol (gotta save that for Twitter, eh?). And to those who just landed on my blog and don't know me personally, please be informed that my blog doesn't define who I am. I am much much more than this. :)

Pottermore: The Quest to Find the Magical Quill

I first heard about Pottermore last week but I haven't got the chance to join because I was too busy with school midterms until I totally forgot about it. Anyway, last night I finally got the chance to join and I am one of the lucky Muggles who are able to register early! Yey!

My username: NimbusPixie57

It's too bad that users cannot design their own usernames and can only choose from the five randomly selected names. I was so prepared pa naman to use "FiendfyreKat" hehehe. But still, being able to find the Magical Quill is so fulfilling that I am beyond happy for being one of the chosen few!

Potter-what?

To those who may have heard this just now, Pottermore is a website that offers the die-hard Harry Potter fan the opportunity to access the wizarding world digitally. Fans are divided if PotterMORE stands for a Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Experience or a Massive Online Reference Encyclopedia. Because I am a gamer, I prefer the first one -- but until I get my "welcome pack," I have yet to tell which is more appropriate (the Welcome email will not arrive until the Magical Quill challenge is over). The site will be open to the public in October but if you are a die-hard fan, I am sure you would want to get an early admission. :) The site was launched on the date of Harry's birthday, July 31 -- and will allow a rumored total of 1 million fans to get early access to the site by finding the magical quill on the site for seven days (until August 6).

According to J.K. Rowling, the site contains new material exploring and detailing the wizarding world. Rowling once said that her fans wanted way more backstory and details of her world than she could provide within the story. Interested in the finer rules of Quidditch? Require more wisdom when it comes to wands? Well, this apparently, is where answers may be found. Enough to get a fan excited right?! :)

Day 4 just ended last night so there are 3 days more to try to register to the site. Seven days is equivalent to seven books so the Day 5 clue will be about Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, and so forth.

Here are the previous clues that were taken from Books 1-4:

Day 1: How many breeds of owls were offered on the Eeylops Owl Emporium sign, then multiply this number by 49.

Day 2: What is the number of the chapter in which Professor McGonagall cancels the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff? Multiply this number by 42.

Day 3: In the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch Match, in Harry’s third year, how many points is Gryffindor leading by before Harry catches the Golden Snitch? Multiply this number by 35.

Day 4: How many students take part in the Triwizard Tournament during Harry’s fourth year? Multiply this number by 28.

Days 1-3 are harder than Days 4-7, but it is still best to have the appropriate book in handy when answering the clue. Once you solve the clue, add the answer at the end of the site: http://quill.pottermore.com/(answer) and you will be redirected to a page where the Magical Quill is hidden. Click the quill, and voila! The registration page will pop-up for you to enter your details. :)

Watch this video as J.K. Rowling announces Pottermore:



For help in finding the Magical Quill, click here.

Three more days to go! Goodluck!! :)

UPDATE:
Click here for additional info on validation emails and timings for the last two clues!

The Google+ Craze

At this point, most of you must already heard of  The Google+ Project and probably landed on my blog in hopes of getting an invite. But for some who are living under a rock, Google+ is the newest social networking platform that is believed to kill Facebook. As of this time of writing, it is currently under limited field trial and you can only get in if someone invites you to join their network via email.

Since its launching two weeks ago, Google+ has generated SO MUCH demand, with Google's social head Vic Gundotra even calling it "insane." People's interest spread like wildfire, forcing the company to close it's doors for new users periodically.

I gotta be honest, I also wanted to get an invite since day 1 so bad that I keep checking out technology blogs and trying to check if someone can score me one. It wasn't until last week when I finally got one from my previous boss and my smile was from ear to ear for hours! Haha. When I tweeted about it, boy I was bombarded with invite requests! Everyone wanted to join in on the bandwagon, some even told me "What's Google+? Add mo nga ko kung anuman yan." It made me laugh because why would someone want to be a part of something they don't even have an idea on what's it about.

I guess I just find it amusing that people normally aren't interested on being part of something new until they find out that not everybody can get in. It's like being in an elite group of people, the feeling of being special and having something that everybody is dying to have. I know this because when Google Wave was launched two years ago, it was immediately open to the public and nobody I personally know even signed up for it. A year after, it flopped.

Is this human nature? I honestly have no idea. I am a social media enthusiast for years now so I know that me wanting to be Google's beta tester is a given -- I just don't know about the others. But what I do know is that this marketing strategy made by the search engine giant is a very wise move indeed, well done Larry Page.

Okay fine, I know you are here for the invite. Please share this to your Facebook/Twitter then hit the comments below and leave your gmail address + your Facebook/Twitter profile link. Just don't forget to return the favor and add me to your circle okay? :)

Click here to add me on Google+.

Taking Personal Drama to the Internet

What is Internet Drama?

Internet drama, in my personal definition, refers to the irrational broadcasting of personal issues on the Interweb. Since the Internet has completely changed our modern life, our dependency with the web has impacted our ways to deal with personal issues. It doesn't matter if it's work, family or relationship problems -- as soon private grievances start to go public via Facebook or Twitter, things can automatically turn ugly in a snap.

Case in point: During a recent breakup, a distraught ex can do or say things on their Facebook walls that they'd never do face-to-face. They use harsh words, throw accusations out of misery, try to illicit jealousy, or seek revenge in a multitude of other ways. Mutual friends are abruptly excommunicated, and pictures are suddenly untagged from each other's albums. You might immediately change your relationship status to single and wait till your wall is bombarded with questions about the breakup -- aggravating the virtual salt that continue to rub into very real wounds.



While some people just can't help it, I think it's safe to say that most of us wants to avoid Internet drama and not stoop to online lows. If you are one of us, here are a few tips that may help whenever you're in the brink of announcing to the world that your ex is a pathetic psychopath:

1. Use the reverse psychology. If your ex just can't help it but publicize every little thing you guys went through, remember that there's no better comeback than a silent treatment. Let him talk, while you maintain your silence and continue to tweet positive things. Soon, your mutual friends will realize who is the biggest loser.

2. Take advantage of Facebook's security settings. It is there for a reason. Sick of someone who constantly complain about her misery? Hide their feeds so you won't see them anymore. Fighting with someone? Hide your wall or just completely block him/her. Do whatever it takes until you get that peace of mind you surely deserve.

3. Stop online stalking. This normally happens after a breakup, you track your ex's whereabouts, newly added friends, constant Twitter buddy, etc. You have to understand that stalking is a compulsive, unsatisfying behavior and will only leave you feeling emptier especially if your ex has clearly moved on before you. Instead of stalking, why not use your energy to reconnect with friends or find new hobbies and interests?

4. Resist publicizing EVERYTHING! Your closest friends already know who you're dating, your family is already aware of your financial issues, and your colleagues are very much aware how much your work sucks -- therefore, there's no need to trumpet them every chance you get. Just because you can share everything on Facebook and Twitter doesn't mean you should.

5. Have common sense. Facebook is a social networking tool, not an online diary. Therefore, being an open book to everyone and announcing to the world how much your ex-boyfriend hurt you is not gonna benefit anyone. Simple, vague comments are okay, but don't let the technology shadow your emotional intelligence. Online battles are for 3rd graders, and if your ex won't stop posting negative comments about you, simply unfriend him and pray that his sanity be restored soon.

Sharing too much information on the Internet can be messy and humiliating. No matter how bad the situation is, or no matter how much you want the other person to be humiliated, always remember that this public drama reflects poorly on you. Avoiding many of the soap operas that flare up on Facebook or Twitter does not only give you peace of mind, but will also project a sense of self-confidence and maturity that most Internet users lack.

Scams, Spam & Other Annoyances on Facebook

With over 600 million users, Facebook is undoubtedly the most viewed website worldwide. Because of this, it's no surprise that it has constantly been under heavy attack on spams and scams. I can't remember how many times I complained about some people who flood my walls and message box convincing me to "Click on this link to (insert an impossible idea here)."

What is a spam? Basically, a spam is the act of flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive that message. To apply in Facebook, a spam is an application that is designed specifically for spreading a message -- using events in the news to grab your attention and spread malicious links. In short, they exist to ANNOY people.

I personally feel that there are two main reasons for the spread of Facebook spams:
1. Users trust almost anything that they see on their news feeds.
2. Facebook's security measures are not tight.

Here are the most common Facebook spams & scams I have encountered so far:

"Click to See Who Viewed Your Profile." - I don't get why some people still get fooled by this. FYI: There are no applications out there that exist solely to alter the settings of Facebook. If you want the capability to know who views your profile, switch back to Friendster.





"Free Facebook Credits!" -Shortened URL's especially those offering freebies are 95% SCAM. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.


"Mafia Wars Freebies" - I used to play this game and I know you can get freebies by asking your friends to send you some. Again, do not fall the bait on freebies using shortened URL's -- unless you want a malware.


"Free iPad!" - Omg, I am super annoyed at this one because I have been bombarded by these links on my wall prompting me to restrict my wall to some people. I know we all love winning gadgets especially as good as an iPad, but come on guys -- the way the "promo" was presented is so informal and so dubious.


"See A Picture of Bin Laden Dead." - This is the latest spam going around and it quickly spread all over Facebooklandia mainly because this is a current event and the curiosity in us wants to see Bin Laden's pic. After it was reported how gruesome it looks, most people (myself included) of course wants to see it too! But don't you think that if there is a real picture out there, it will be posted as an actual pic and not as a malicious link?


While my pal Mark Zuckerberg (wag makelam, lol) is doing the best he could in keeping our favorite social networking site secure, I think it is also our responsibility to our Facebook friends to be extra careful on what we're posting as we are in a one big online community. Here are a few things to keep in mind about these spam/scam attacks:

1. Be aware of the applications that you authorize to post on your wall. Wait, you know where to find that right? :)
2. Do not trust shortened URL's. If the link is really worth checking out, best to ask the person who sent you that link first to verify if it's really a trusted site.
3. Lastly, if it came from a person who don't normally post links on your wall, and the message is sort of generic -- Eh alam na! Okay?

A good rule of thumb when using apps is to investigate the settings. If an app seems to require an inordinate amount of access to your profile and the brand or app maker isn’t well known, then the best practice is simply to avoid using the app.

I hope a good number of my Facebook friends get to read this, because all the examples I posted above are actual wall posts I found on my friends' profiles. I hope I didn't offend anybody, but if I do -- I'm sorry, this blog is intended to educate and not to bash people. :)

Happy Facebooking!