Rusty Banana Forge

Finally got my Wordpress post to appear onto Multiply.  Aside from following the instructions found here, I also had to log onto my Wordpress dashboard to OPTIONS>POST-NOTIFICATION>SETTINGS
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I finally got around to setting up cross-posting between my Wordpress blog and Multiply blog.  If you’re interested how you can do it as well you can Google cross-posting or just check out the following link:
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O happy day!! Filipinos can now use Paypal’s services to receive remittances from abroad!

Update:

I checked out both BPI, Equitable, BDO, and Citibank.  None of them offer VISA Debit cards… which I think would be the most cost-effective way of withdrawing money from a Paypal account.

 UnionBank however, does.  Please consider them if you are interested in withdrawing from a Paypal account.  3 US$ per withdrawal and 350Php annually for the debit card. 20,000Php maximum daily withdrawal (which you can request UnionBank to increase)

Well WELL! The Paypal site now has the Philippines listed as a country that can SEND money via Paypal.Thanks to Char for bringing this to my attention. Now I can shop like crazy like she does.

Hopefully Paypal will allow us to receive payments in the near future. Do sign up at Paypal4PH and show you want Paypal for the Philippines!

But in the meantime, Xoom will have our market share.

Globe DSL recently had a promo allowing you to basically write off 1 year’s worth of phone bills if you subscribed to their DSL service..

I applied as soon as possible given the savings that would be generated (as well as the touted 512Kbps). I had previously used PT&T’s service : Greendot. Now for those of you considering Greendot vs. Globe. Here is my experience:

1. Greendot costs twice as much as Globe. (Around 1995Php vs 995Php).
2. Greendot has fewer subscribers allowing you quicker access to their technical support - as long as their tech support line isn’t busted.
3. Greendot has no time limit as to how long you can berate their technical support, Globe apparently does.
4. Greendot requires no phoneline and heads straight for your computer. But the cables will have to come from the poles outside your home.
5. Greendot has a more stable connection in terms of speed and connectivity, but unfortunately it only gives 256Kbps for the price of Globe’s 512. Globe’s DSL speeds can either jump really high or hit zero for no apparent reason. (And to think I’m near their Shaw Blvd. relay station too!) Let’s just say if you play an online RPG while on Globe - your partymates may end up fuming at your disconnections.
6. You pay Greendot at LBC or by ATM, Globe conveniently charges you from your phone bill .
7. Where I live Greendot uses PPPoE - a more up-to-date networking standard than Globe’s PPPoA.

Now regarding PPPoE and PPPoA: If you use a Linksys router like I do to network PCs at home… PPPoA just won’t work on it!! My new Globe connection only worked when directly plugged into the PC - bypassing the router. So imagine my frustration when I find out from Globe tech support (after waiting several painful minutes over the phone) that I need to have them switch the modem to use a static IP.

I’m not going to confuse you with all the terms, but let’s just say I had to shell out an additional 700PHP A MONTH for a static IP just so that my Linksys router can connect to the internet and network at the same time!!!!

I surfed to find an alternative solution to this problem. I discovered that I didn’t really need a static IP!!! I found this link. There is a post by bgorgees that worked for me. I am listing it here if anyone here in the Philippines ever needs help on that same problem… DON’T let Globe tell you that a static IP is the only way for their modem or your Linksys router to get through to the internet:

Step 1 - Physical setup

1. Turn off modem, router and computer.
2. Connect a computer in port 2 of the router.
3. Turn on the router but leave the modem off.
4. Turn on the computer.

Step 2 - Accessing the Setup Page

1. Using a computer hardwired in the router, launch Internet Explorer.
2. In the address bar, type “http://192.168.1.1″.
3. A login prompt will appear, leave the username blank and use “admin” for the password.

Step 3 - Setup MAC address clone by doing the following:

1. In the setup page, click the Mac Address Clone blue tab.
2. Enable the service.
3. Click Clone button.
4. Click Save settings.

Step 4 - Changing the LAN/Local IP address

1. In the “Setup” page, please look for a LAN or Local IP address and change its value to ” 10.10.10.1″
2. Click “Save settings” or “Apply” button.
3. Do not wait for the page to come back instead turn off router and computer.

Step 5 - Power cycle

1. Make sure that the modem, router and the computer is turned off.
2. Turn on the modem and wait 1 minute.
3. Turn on the router and wait 1 minute.
4. Turn on the computer and test for Internet connectivity.

Just had to post this. This 3D render of Song Hye Kyo (the Korean actress in Full House) looks real enough to fool your eyes and mind!

It’ll turn skeptics into believers. This is virtual 3D character modelling, texturing, lighting and rendering at its best! A new bar has been set!

UP Cursor is once again hosting the @rte Movement at the University of the Philippines Diliman. It’s all about the synergy between art and technology - and it’s a definite step in the direction of developing the next generation of artists’ appreciation and the public’s appreciation for digital art.

Last year I gave them a demonstration on Digital Painting - sponsored my Wacom (ATI). This year, I am a judge for The @rte Movement: Art & Technology United @rte Attack! contest.

The shortlisted entries show extremely varying degrees of creativity & competency, and it was not difficult to single out the few exceptional pieces.

I was given these as guidelines for judging:

Creativity and Originality: 40%
Relevance to the Theme: 30%
Visual Appeal: 20%
Overall Presentation: 10%

The fact that the theme is Art & Technology: “Boot-up. Connect. Converge” or “No Boundary. New Technology” doesn’t just mean the artist should make an artwork about technology. That’s 30% !!

I think there was either a mixup or something when one of the works looked like it belonged in The @rte Movement’s Digital Photography contest.

For those who made the shortlist, you may want to know that I only read the written explanations of the works after I gave my scores. I wanted to comprehend the artworks for myself based on the work I see, and I’m sure the public will too. Besides, I wanted to avoid being influenced by how good you the artist (or your writer friends) wrote the concept and instead focus on the theme and treatment.

During the course of the past few days, I have been setting up the wireless network between PCs for the studio. I invested in LinkSys adapters and a LinkSys wireless router (with speed booster). The user guides that came with the hardware touted a simple step-by-step setup. And as with most of these step-by-step hardware things go, in between steps something often goes wrong… or wasn’t made clear.

First the problem was I wasn’t getting any internet access from my modem when my router was connected. Because the “easy” step-by-step setup wouldn’t go forward from step 8. I eventually fixed that by going online and chatting with a LinkSys tech support agent, downloading and working a setup utility. The hardware got itself running well enough.

Next I had to connect 2 PCs to each other wirelessly. I got them working really quick — and even got them each to connect to the Internet. But I wanted to change the default ID on the network (a security measure). I tried to do so and somehow ended up losing that Internet connection (even when my router said I still had a connection.) On Windows, you see… all this help talk about “networks” and Network Wizards got me confused whether I was connecting to my local area network (LAN) or to the Internet.

Next I had my local network all connected and given a new ID only to find my Internet still not coming through from my router. Thinking my router was the problem, I did the easy step-by-step setups again (this time, it was able to push pass step 8.) That didn’t work. I called up customer service of my ISP, Greendot. The guys there couldn’t help me with any router issues. Not their responsibility nor do they know anything about routers. Then they kept explaining memorized route steps. They were telling me to use the New Connection Wizard to access the ISP, type in a username & pass, etc.

Well that didn’t work.

They never bothered to ask me whether I needed to type in a username & password to connect to the ISP in the first place. Which I don’t.

Hours later I called customer service again and got a lady to walk me through the process. She asked the right question and that solved the problem.