Rex |

Things like this need to happen. We say goodbye to the old and hello to the new. First, allow me to mourn over my old friend.

I was really saddened when I knew that my loyal phone for the past 4 years is beyond repair. My good old Nokia 3200 has served me very well, especially with its LED flashlight which was of utmost use to me in countless occasions. There is none like it, especially with its personalized casing design which never failed to receive remarks.

My old Nokia 3200

I took this oblation photo myself and put it on the back cover.

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Popularity: 20% [?]

just got myself the Globe “Tattoo” wireless prepaid broadband kit. I finally convinced myself to shed out P1,895 after I realized I will save myself much trouble by just buying it. Smart only has GPRS signal itan my area so I need to give up on buying the Smart Bro Plug It.

The Globe Tatoo prepaid kit

The kit comes with the Huawei HSDPA USB stick, a Globe SIM card, a USB cord (if you need to hang the stick outside your window?), and a generic manual for the USB stick. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 64% [?]

Delsar is my second first name. The word comes from the names of my two grandfathers, Delbe and Cesar. So my full first name is “Rex Delsar”. However, people would usually just refer to me as Rex. It saves them two syllables.

Some people have mistaken Delsar to be my surname. Maybe it’s because I use “rexdelsar” for my email addresses. Well, I opted to use “rexdelsar” for my email and domain name because it’s so much easier for others to remember and spell than “rexdianala”.

“Delsar” is unique. Perhaps because of its strangeness and my curious handwriting, I have a number of certificates and conference IDs that spell it as Delsa or Delsan. It seems like they couldn’t make it out.

Indeed, I’ve long thought Delsar was so unique a name, no one else would even think it existed. Then one day, after trying it on a Google search, I learned Delsar is a surname in Australia and also a brand of fire extinguishers. Interesting!

Delsar. I myself find it an interesting name. I’m proud of it. There are so many people out there named Rex but no one else I know named Rex Delsar. More importantly, with that name, I carry the names of my two grandfathers; two men whose names are not easy to live up to. So it is also a challenge.

Popularity: 23% [?]

I’ve been flying around Google Earth the past week looking for 3D buildings. I was surprised there was quite many  compared to the last time I checked around last year. More Philippine 3D buildings that deserve to be included in Google Earth are lining up at the Google 3D Warehouse and I expect many to be added this year.

For the meantime, allow me to post those already incorporated in Google Earth. Please not I only included photorealistic buildings. Expect a flood of photos after the jump!

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Popularity: 100% [?]

Yet another case of a newspaper violating copyright. This time, Visayan Daily Headlines used my photo of Tribu Familia Sagrada on their Dinagyang issue without my permission! I really don’ understand why some media companies act this way. Where is credibility? Where is respect?

My photo used illegally by Visayan Daily Headlines

My photo posted in Flickr

I’m really getting tired of this. However, I will do my best not to get used to it. These newspapers have to stop copying photos from the internet and using it as if it was their own. They make a profit by selling these papers to readers and by selling advertising space but they cannot afford to take their own pictures?

If you really need to use a photo, it is respectful to do at least one of the following:

1. Pay the photographer usage rights;
2. Contact the photographer and simply ask permission;
3. Or just attribute the photo to the photographer.

In this case, Visayan Daily Headlines did none.

To Visayan Daily Headlines, isn’t my email address watermarked on my photo for your convenience? If you only asked for permission, I wouldn’t even charge you a centavo.

Where is credibility? Where is respect?

I’m not the only person whose copyright was violated by Visayan Daily Headlines in this issue. Check out the other blogs below:

• [Blogalicious] Visayan Daily Headlines violates photographers copyright
• [Exploreiloilo] Visayan Daily Headlines also copies photos off blogs without permission

Thanks Marc for informing me of this incident and for the photo of the newspaper.

Popularity: 30% [?]

ShoppingAds just suspended my account. I got this email from them an hour ago:

Dear Rex Delsar Dianala,

ShoppingAds is undergoing a revamping and in the process has redefined the requirements of quality and traffic volume for the publishers we work with. Due to this restructuring, we regret to inform you that we have had to deactivate your account moving forward. If you have remaining earnings in your account from your last payout. You needn’t worry- you WILL be paid on or after our next payout date, March 1st, 2009.

Thank you kindly for your cooperation, and good luck with your future marketing endeavors.

The ShoppingAds Team.

Nah, I’m not surprised and neither am I disappointed. In fact, I’m happy! Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 22% [?]

Another case of photos being ripped off the internet. I’m posting it here because the photo involved is mine. The culprit? Most likely someone from the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

I and some online friends ventured into the Iloilo Capitol one day to take pictures of the sleek building and the panoramic views from its balconies. I’ve done it before so the views were already familiar to me. However, one familiar sight bothered me. It was the sight of the Iloilo Governor’s poster on the lobby wall.

Governor Neil Tupas' poster in the Capitol

There was that state of déjà vu. I felt like I have seen the image in the background before. I felt that it was mine. But I wasn’t sure since it’s been about two years since I took a photo like that. Somebody else could have just taken a similar angle, who knows? Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 25% [?]

You could now view the maps generated at Google Map Maker in Google Maps through this ‘mapplet‘.

The mapplet appears to insert a layer of live Map Maker data into Google Maps. I don’t know why Google Maps didn’t simply include the Map Maker layer in their core application. Maybe they’re still testing it out. Nevertheless, this is a good development especially for those who need detailed maps of areas not previously available in Google Maps. The “Get Directions” function doesn’t seem to work yet, but it’s most likely going to get there.

Iloilo City in Google Maps with the Google Map Maker mapplet

Now let’s wait for Google to incorporate the Map Maker data in a Google Earth layer. That would be fun!

Popularity: 21% [?]

I won’t be going out this Sunday to take photos of Dinagyang. Perhaps I will never do so again.

For the past years, I always looked forward to the days of the Dinagyang festival. During the tribe performances, I would run along with my humble point-and-shoot camera, squeezing my way into the crowd to take photos of the Dinagyang warriors. I took hundreds of photographs. Finding good angles and getting the right timing was difficult, but every detail and gesture seemed worthy to capture. I posted my photos in the internet and they made their way in several websites. It was my way of promoting Dinagyang. The premier festival of my city and one of the best in the country.

I was proud of it because the thundering performances were indeed a spectacle. I promoted it because I know it brings significant income and prestige to my city.

That was then. This year, and in the succeeding years, it will be different for me. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 21% [?]

For His grace is sufficient all the way…

Popularity: 14% [?]

This is hilarious! World bids farewell to ‘Bush-isms’ – INQUIRER.net.

Popularity: 13% [?]