"Newspapers and traditional media will need to adapt in order to survive in 2007. We will likely see interesting new advertising models emerge in 2007, with video ads and sponsored podcasts taking hold as big media attempt to amortize these new communication mediums."

- entireweb newsletter, 2 Jan 2007.

One of my favorite subjects in college is DEVC 80. If I remember it right, the course description is Mass Media and the Society (my apologies to sir Lester for not remembering the correct course desc). It's basically a subject on mass communication, how it affects public opinion, the right way of doing journalism (responsible journalism/ethics), etc. It is somewhat a diversion from the focused field of Development Communication - a branch of comm targeting mainly smaller groups of people/communities. I particularly like and enjoyed DEVC 80 because it has raised issues on the ethics and social responsibility of media practitioners. Trips to the Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) are a bliss to any communication student who wish to know the sweet and foul aspects of mainstream media. I remember being so engrossed in all the complexities of mass communication. It seemed like our class could go on and on tirelessly discussing the issues of privacy, accountability, publicity, etc.

But things have changed ever since I came out of the university 2 years ago. My perspectives have changed as well as the face of today's media. Based from the predictions of Entireweb (which I think can speak of the whole online media, in general), the Internet is the new mass media. It has its own issues and struggles. It has posed a lot of problems with regards to the way of doing journalism, but we cannot discount the fact that it has ushered the most variety of opinions across the globe. It is able to boast of a larger reach of audience. News comes by the minute, truly up-to-date broad podcasting. The downside of course is that, news became more manipulated - what with user-focused/generated content being the trend of today. Advertising emerges with a different look. Funny how I struggled with the pressures of that TV production course in college, not knowing I'd simply be dealing with PPC and adsense now.

With all the advances in technology and its impact on mass media, i think this is a call for universities and communication schools/institutions to include/give weight to the new paradigm of media. That was in 2004, but little did we discuss on the impact of the Internet on public opinion (what's the wonder? haven't heard of Digg then. Lolz). Opening the minds of the young generation to the attributes of online communication - how it can benefit and how it can abuse, would result to a discriminating/better informed (and hopefully responsible) set of media practitioners in the future. Though it may sound too ideal, this move may introduce a new trend in online journalism.

When did I ever start deciding to decide?

No other time in my life has brought me the tough feeling of being in charge of my own course than today. When you’re young and 19, you’ve got all the excuses in the world to skip classes, kiss in public, and defy the rules hounding a teenager. A part of me misses that thrill of testing my boundaries and see if I get caught. But now in my 20’s, it’s like having less purchasing power to afford deviating from what is right. Now feels like I have my life in my very own hands. Even if I hide the foul, there are no parents to be afraid of (well at least, I won’t get myself into the mommy tongue-lashing-lambasting drama anymore). They’d probably be upset with my lack of sound judgment but they would just likely say, “Okay, that’s what you’ve made out of your life, darling. Face the consequences.”

That is what’s scary about being an adult. You have to be in charge, and accountable all of a sudden. Whatever happens to you is simply a result of your own choices. No one’s gonna tell you what should be, you just decide on what you think is what’s best. Come to think of it, sometimes life is easier lived with rules. Being in this phase of life makes me want to be brave when actually, I’m not. I begin to wonder why some good choices exist, yet the seemingly bad ones are more significant. Time gets wasted weighing which one yields the more tolerable consequence. And you doubt all the time. You doubt whether you’re capable of looking after yourself.  

 It’s scary when you find out you can do what you once thought to be dangerous or risky, then it gives a more in-depth lesson than what you’ve ever heard from older people. Now you begin to believe that you’re parents were serious when they said that most of your life, you’d be on your own in this journey…that there will come a point in your life when you’ll start being concerned about what you’ll be tomorrow. You get worried not on making plans but on your ability to make it happen. You get confused why the hell you’d have to choose not between right or wrong, but between two goods. You problematize over the desire to kiss a guy because you’re overly figuring out if you want to get tied down.

You have to decide, every single moment of the day. Adulthood means having to choose on your own now – thinking you’ve got wisdom when in reality, it’s just fear. But it leaves you not much of a choice, actually.

 

Do you know that there have been quite a number of times when I wanted to say 'yes' already?... only that you have to mention something about your ex... like the time you shared toothbrushes! Aside from the idea being totally eeky (you're not supposed to share personal thingies like this, honey), it gives me a certain itch when I face that reality that you had several-and-double-digit past relationships. It's like some allergy has grown fond of me it won't go away even if I try to shake it off every time you mention ex girlfriend # 32 (or whoever in the long list of yours).

You see, I've always been the first girlfriend. The first love of them all. Lucky them, poor me. You think it's great being the first girlfriend, huh? Oh you can't imagine the struggle of having to teach them to accept the fact that you met someone nice before them. Sure you get the very best treatment from your man, but they'd usually go insecure about certain issues - usually just the petty ones. Now, I'm on the other side of the fence. This might be how my ex felt when he had to put up with the fact that there was a guy before him - regardless if the former is less charming than him.

I never imagined it's this difficult. At the start, I thought it's no big deal coz I tell myself it's gonna be such a waste of emotion to give in to things that'll just destroy you. And yes, I've been to a serious relationship. I've forgotten the little parts but definitely not the best ones. Still I'm over them all. Not that I doubt your words of assurance that all those are closed books already (mahilig ka pla magbasa. Dami mo books eh!), but I would lie if I'd say I don't get affected. It is in my perfect knowledge that I cannot change your past, thing is it kinda makes me ask the question, "What is there for me to give pa?", aside from my undeniable good looks and admirable level of wit. Joke. Joke. Joke.

At one point it makes me suspicious that you're simply driving me jealous. And it seems to be working very well. So on with your waiting. Add in 10 more years to this crazy courtship thing. 

I thought I can do without it... but my friends, and some bloggers out there have posted their late new year's resolutions and/or goals for 2007. So i guess, it won't qualify as 'pasaway' if i'd give my share.

Because it makes more sense to set goals rather than resolutions (since changing for the better becomes more motivating when you're trying to achieve something), I decided just like last year to go for goals. I'm sure this thing's gonna mold me into a better person in the process.

So here goes...

1. Learn and Love SEO

That means I'll be faithful to my daily reading of SEO newsletters/bloglists. I'd do what it takes to improve my craft, and hopefully that results into better/more quality work output (kahit na 3x a day ako magbreak sa office hehehe!)

2. Allow myself to be used more for service

This year, they got me into the Music Ministry of the Singles For Christ, and Teodora (defending the authentic woman), and of course Gawad Kalinga. I've been petix and on vacation mode for service for the past few months. I kindof got exhausted last December. But this time, I'm aiming to increase God's usage of me. What with the perfect schedule (and the good-looking guy I serve alongside with haha!), I don't have reasons no to do it.

3. Read the Sabbath daily.

I think I'm better at losing track of the daily devotional readings than remembering the reason why I bought this in the first place.

4. Get my mom health insurance/pension

I have yet to know the details of such pre-need commodities. Mom sure does need it. Dad gets his own the moment he retires naman. If anyone can suggest a good/reliable insurance service, and the best scheme for this, pls let me know.

5. Be kind to my savings account

That means saving more, (and not attempting to withdraw any amount thereof) hehehe! I'm thinking of doubling the amount it has now.

6. Give more. Be more generous

Not only with money, but most importantly with love.

7. Go to the regular Sunday mass with him.

Family attends the regular Sunday mass every week with me. But this mokong would sometimes miss it. Given the fact that we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain... that'll be the goal.

8. Plan out the scheme to get into business.

I don't exactly know how to go about this but I've been talking to friends/college batch mates  regarding the dream to put up something. I hope we get to level 2 this year.

So there, I can't make it 10 haha! Have I turned more complacent this year? Nah, I guess I'm starting to realize that little by little I'm losing time na din. So better stick with one goal at a time. That'll be more realistic.

God bless me, and God bless us all. 

For days I am being inspired by Alison Krauss' "In the Palm of Your Hand". And just like perfect coincidence, it's our Bread for the day. It says there that as Jesus did, we too must simply put our lives into the hands of God... and surely He'll give our life back to us.

Most of the time, we succumb to thinking that if we surrender our all to God we might lose the life we comfortably used to have. I must admit that many times, I'd rather go on with what I want rather than thinking if it's for the best. Good thing, God would always intervene, meet me there, and teach how things are gonna be much, much more okay, only if I would trust in Him.

And so wherever this road leads, with all its aches and trials, the most important thing is to have that heart that's willing to put one's own life into His loving hands.

 
I'd rather be in the palm of Your hand
Though rich or poor I may be
Faith can see right through the circumstance
Sees the forest in spite of the trees
Your grace provides for me

But if I trust the One who died for me
Who shed His blood to set me free
If I live my life to trust in You
Your grace will see me through

I was lurking around yUPieLBi.com Forums (Crying Shoulder), and found this mushy-to-the-max-thread: You know you're in love when...

 

#9: ...when you break your own rules.

- nuf said.

 

Read more here

I was supposed to link-spam build for this awesome Australia travel and accommodation portal, when this latest buzz in SEO propped up from the man, and the geek.

"Personalized search shows different search results to different people based on their history and their interests. Not only does this increase the relevance of the search results, but also it makes the search results harder to spam."

SEOs have argued that this innovation in search results generation would negatively impact traditional optimization methods (since basis of ranking would be altered in personalized searches).

In my point of view, I must say that:

• YES - it's gonna weaken some black hatters out there.

• YES - there'll be less income opportunities for spammers, therefore less count of their specie (though I used to be one, hehe!)

• NO - it won't completely discount good, traditional SEO.

I still think traditional SEO is good and reliable. In this context that means, powerhouse, quality on-page optimization. If search results and rankings would differ as much as personalized searches vary, then it all boils down to the recommendation to create quality, useful content. Doing this may not necessarily guarantee a 100% relevance for all personalized searches, but if people would be convinced that your site is coming up with fresh, well-grounded/written content, you can still expect a significant number of searchers to value your site. In other words, it'll be less likely that they'll gonna exclude you in their search history page.

If personalized search disables one to play around search engine algorithms (at least on Google), then the mantra would be:

If you can't beat 'em, then join 'em!

After all, content is still king.