Today it's official, out with the old in with the new. I'm done using blogger as a host to my blog and now moving to Wordpress. You might ask, why?
1. Wordpress gives me more control and customization
2. Wordpress is more professional
3. Wordpress doesn't mess up my Domain Name URL forwarding
4. Google can be scary with all their privacy policies.
5. Wordpress makes it easy for others to comment. No need for an account!
What does this mean to you.
You can access the site by going to baligena.com and all the content has been transfered there. This will be the last post on this server so if you ended here at this page go to baligena.com.
Showing posts with label article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label article. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
You're a Business, The employed and self-employed
You probably heard it before "I enjoy being my own boss because I make my own rules and I have freedom". A very general description because you're free from WHAT? You may not have a person as a boss but that role is switched to your customers, they're your boss. You may have this false feeling of freedom but you’re bound to customer complaints, returns, paperwork and so on. It’s cool to walk around and say "I'm my own boss, I make my own rules" to your friends. But depending on the situation having your own business isn't the best idea. Being your own boss is still having a job but your responsibility is different, and many sacrifices are required to be successful.
I'm a business no matter what. If I'm an employee or employer whatever it is I'm still the owner of myself and the money I make. When I work I give my best and want to be compensated accordingly. If this can't be done, my business (myself) will switch different markets (job). When this market(job) is not cutting it then I should venture in new territories(self-employed).
There's always a flip side to the coin, a yin and a yang, risks and rewards and depending on the situation we find ourselves in we need to make the decisions for what is best. I'm all for starting your own business and it is my ultimate goal. I won't do it because I'm lazy of responsibility or work, but because my job just isn't cutting it anymore.
I'm a business no matter what. If I'm an employee or employer whatever it is I'm still the owner of myself and the money I make. When I work I give my best and want to be compensated accordingly. If this can't be done, my business (myself) will switch different markets (job). When this market(job) is not cutting it then I should venture in new territories(self-employed).
There's always a flip side to the coin, a yin and a yang, risks and rewards and depending on the situation we find ourselves in we need to make the decisions for what is best. I'm all for starting your own business and it is my ultimate goal. I won't do it because I'm lazy of responsibility or work, but because my job just isn't cutting it anymore.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Adventure into Electronics
I'm a programmer and don't know anything about electricity, circuits and things in that family. Recently I decide to start programing microcontrollers in order to build these cool physical gadgets I see in the interwebs so I bought me an Arduino to get started but stood looking at it like a deer starring at headlights because I didn't know where to start.
Next I bought Make: Electronics book to get me started. One major difference between building software and circuits is that one cost money. In order to build your circuits you need to buy parts and I went out today to Radio Shack and dropped $45.00 on these simple items. Slowing but surly I'm desensitizing to this technology. I'm not sure where this may lead but it looks promising.
Friday, April 20, 2012
I'm not IT bitch
The one thing that makes me cringe is when someones asks me if I'm IT or should do IT. Many miss use this term because they're ignorant.
I agree with Linus Torvalds and this is what he said:"Oh, the absolute *last* thing I want to do is be seen as a support person. No way.
But I’m simply not really organized enough to be a good MIS person. And frankly, I lack the interest. I find the low-level details of how computers work really interesting, but if I had to care about user problems and people forgetting their passwords or messing up their backups, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d probably turn to drugs and alcohol to dull the pain".
source
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Programmer Hiring
When I started programming I kept hearing recruiters are clueless and don't know what they're doing. I recently ran into one who made me take a test at geekinterview.com
First I'm not a geek just because I'm a programmer. By definition I'm NOT a person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
Second, the questions were wrong like saying PHP is a programming language when in its a scripting language, some were dumb like who is father of PHP, who cares! How does knowing this make your software any better, some question were deprecated and finally bad practices and obfuscated. Overall silly!
Now I wonder what kind of developers they have employed. Recruits don't understand that programming isn't a multiple choice test and not necessary what you know but what you can discover. Without the internet I'm a worst programmer because I use it like an extension of my memory. I don't try to memorize every single function in a language because I'm not going to use them all and I can build my own if I have to.
First I'm not a geek just because I'm a programmer. By definition I'm NOT a person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
Second, the questions were wrong like saying PHP is a programming language when in its a scripting language, some were dumb like who is father of PHP, who cares! How does knowing this make your software any better, some question were deprecated and finally bad practices and obfuscated. Overall silly!
Now I wonder what kind of developers they have employed. Recruits don't understand that programming isn't a multiple choice test and not necessary what you know but what you can discover. Without the internet I'm a worst programmer because I use it like an extension of my memory. I don't try to memorize every single function in a language because I'm not going to use them all and I can build my own if I have to.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Too many Options
Options are great but at times it can be a burden. As a programmer we have all kinds of goodies such as open source tools and languages. We have the option to choose whatever but it can lead to indecision, over thinking and incompleteness.
Did you ever start a project or idea but not finish it because another option appeared? When younger we normally had 2 or 3 games for our SEGA and we played those games so many times we could easily sing the songs. Now I have many games its a sacrifice to finish one.
Less options makes life simpler. Imagine if you had 5 toothbrush to choose from. How frustrating every morning would be and you'll probably end up using only one anyways.
Don't confuse less options with laziness to achieve them. I can but don't because I choose not to. Because the harder you work the more options you get.
Simplicity is what I strive for, not how cool looking or complex my code is. If it gets the job done why will I put an unprofitable twist to it?
Did you ever start a project or idea but not finish it because another option appeared? When younger we normally had 2 or 3 games for our SEGA and we played those games so many times we could easily sing the songs. Now I have many games its a sacrifice to finish one.
Less options makes life simpler. Imagine if you had 5 toothbrush to choose from. How frustrating every morning would be and you'll probably end up using only one anyways.
Don't confuse less options with laziness to achieve them. I can but don't because I choose not to. Because the harder you work the more options you get.
Simplicity is what I strive for, not how cool looking or complex my code is. If it gets the job done why will I put an unprofitable twist to it?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Finish Strong
When in middle school I ran track and one of the things my coach taught was to pace yourself. But as rebel I had to learn the hard way. I tried to run a full sprint in the beginning of a 400 meter race and lost all my speed 3/4 of the way. It felt wonderful being in first most of the race but all of that went away when I almost finished last. It was a good start, but what's the point if the finish is horrible.
This analogy can relate to any goal. You may start off slow but if your pace is good you will finish on top. Slow but steady wins the race. Show me someone who is consistent and I'll show you a successful person. Lesson learned!
This analogy can relate to any goal. You may start off slow but if your pace is good you will finish on top. Slow but steady wins the race. Show me someone who is consistent and I'll show you a successful person. Lesson learned!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Lazy programmer? Not really!
Influenced by an article, I wrote about how programmers are lazy people, but I take it back because it's completely far from the truth. It's true that no one likes repetitive tasks but they also don't have the desire or willingness to learn how to get rid of it, but programmers do.
We are consistently learning, building, and putting in the effort to be more efficient. Our desire to free up time puts out a lazy illusion which sometimes fools even ourselves(I'm a victim).
First and foremost programming isn't easy and it takes a lot of effort. We want to automate not because we are lazy but efficient. We are always trying to see how much we can get done in the least amount of time. Would you call yourself lazy because you drive to work instead of walking. No! because walking would take 5 hours instead of 30 minutes to arrive. Never did I build a program so I can just do nothing but free my time to do something else. So stop calling yourself lazy, it doesn't make look cool.
We are consistently learning, building, and putting in the effort to be more efficient. Our desire to free up time puts out a lazy illusion which sometimes fools even ourselves(I'm a victim).
First and foremost programming isn't easy and it takes a lot of effort. We want to automate not because we are lazy but efficient. We are always trying to see how much we can get done in the least amount of time. Would you call yourself lazy because you drive to work instead of walking. No! because walking would take 5 hours instead of 30 minutes to arrive. Never did I build a program so I can just do nothing but free my time to do something else. So stop calling yourself lazy, it doesn't make look cool.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Post PC era, Really?
Recently there's been a lot of people talking about how the post PC era is upon us because of all these smart phones and tablets. Let me tell you secret, it's not true but I'll let you be the judge.
Would you trade up your keyboard for an on screen one? Would you trade power and speed for convenience? Would you trade Skyrim for Angry Birds?
If you said yes to those questions you probably use your computer like a Television, passively. Surfing the net, snooping other people lives on facebook and that's it. And yes! Post PC era has arrived for you because you never belong with a PC anyways. For someone to think that a tablet will make a PC obsolete is ridiculous. This is all propaganda for you and I to be another victims to advertising.
How can a tablet ever beat a PC in programming, special effects and gaming. Tablets were supposed to come before PC but we decided to skip it. When I first got an iPod Touch I used it a lot for downloading games and apps but now the only apps I use is Twitter, email, notes and calculator because everything else is really not that important.
Would you trade up your keyboard for an on screen one? Would you trade power and speed for convenience? Would you trade Skyrim for Angry Birds?
If you said yes to those questions you probably use your computer like a Television, passively. Surfing the net, snooping other people lives on facebook and that's it. And yes! Post PC era has arrived for you because you never belong with a PC anyways. For someone to think that a tablet will make a PC obsolete is ridiculous. This is all propaganda for you and I to be another victims to advertising.
How can a tablet ever beat a PC in programming, special effects and gaming. Tablets were supposed to come before PC but we decided to skip it. When I first got an iPod Touch I used it a lot for downloading games and apps but now the only apps I use is Twitter, email, notes and calculator because everything else is really not that important.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Hit the road Dogma
Steve Jobs said it the best "Don't go out living other people dogma". In business, programming, sports and life people want to force their opinion on you wishing they had what you have and then telling what you should do. Oh if only I had your age, lack of money, computer, size of your head, number of toes.
When someone finds out that I'm a programmer they say "oh that makes a lot of money, you should work for blah blah blah". Why? What if I want to keep programming interesting and fun, not make into a dreading job.
People will hate on someone who finds satisfaction in things where the majority won't. If a millionaire lives a simple life or if a young professional athlete is not living a party life and has a strong religion(Tim Tebow) their must be something wrong with them.
Let my neighbor do his thang and I'll do my thang. I have my style, my vision, my perfection, my imperfections and if I have to change I will but not because of dogma.
When someone finds out that I'm a programmer they say "oh that makes a lot of money, you should work for blah blah blah". Why? What if I want to keep programming interesting and fun, not make into a dreading job.
People will hate on someone who finds satisfaction in things where the majority won't. If a millionaire lives a simple life or if a young professional athlete is not living a party life and has a strong religion(Tim Tebow) their must be something wrong with them.
Let my neighbor do his thang and I'll do my thang. I have my style, my vision, my perfection, my imperfections and if I have to change I will but not because of dogma.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Forgetting how to Program
As a programmer it's impossible to remember everything you learn. I saw this as being bad but today I see it as being good. Programs, languages, technology change and involve, and if you're not consistently learning you're being left behind and if you're remembering everything you are also being left behind.
Recently PHP had a new update with new syntax and deprecated old ones. Just like your memory, in with the new out with the old. Why hold on to all that useless code or memory? This is why I don't believe in computer science degrees. What you learned 5 years ago may not be relevant today. I would rather hire someone who consistently learns everyday for the past 2 years compared to someone who has a computer science degree 10 years ago.
Program everyday like you eat everyday, have your daily dose of it. Don't try to learn everything. At 9, when I started using a computer I didn't try to learn everything about it. I learned what I needed and that was how to play games. Today I'm not going to try to learn every language like its the end of the world but learn what is needed and it will lead to huge gains in the future without me noticing.
Recently PHP had a new update with new syntax and deprecated old ones. Just like your memory, in with the new out with the old. Why hold on to all that useless code or memory? This is why I don't believe in computer science degrees. What you learned 5 years ago may not be relevant today. I would rather hire someone who consistently learns everyday for the past 2 years compared to someone who has a computer science degree 10 years ago.
Program everyday like you eat everyday, have your daily dose of it. Don't try to learn everything. At 9, when I started using a computer I didn't try to learn everything about it. I learned what I needed and that was how to play games. Today I'm not going to try to learn every language like its the end of the world but learn what is needed and it will lead to huge gains in the future without me noticing.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Internet Beauty: Location
Its one of the beauties of the Internet, freedom from location. We all should strive to create a business or a source of income independent on location. They're places in this world where its more expensive than others to live which also correlate with the average income someone makes. What if you can live at a location that the cost of living is the lowest but get paid in a location where its the highest, Internet is the answer.
You can live in Europe and have a job in America, you're not restricted to buildings and offices, you can travel the "Universe". This is freedom! We should strive for freedom to be where you want to be, when you want it and how you want it.
Now we cannot always get what we want like there's no perfect line of code, but we can get really close. Just to have the ability to imagine the possibilities is enough to make you excited to make into reality. You see, I don't quite have this freedom yet but its a work in progress.
You can live in Europe and have a job in America, you're not restricted to buildings and offices, you can travel the "Universe". This is freedom! We should strive for freedom to be where you want to be, when you want it and how you want it.
Now we cannot always get what we want like there's no perfect line of code, but we can get really close. Just to have the ability to imagine the possibilities is enough to make you excited to make into reality. You see, I don't quite have this freedom yet but its a work in progress.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Smart is the New Rich
"Smart is the New Rich" a trending phrase with a book and even a CNN show name after it but it's a load bullshit. This implies that at one point the "Dumb was the Rich" or the "Smart was the Poor"!
Last time I check smart people like Edison Ford, Bill Gates, Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs are not poor and they are old as dirt if not already dead. So this statement saying smart is the "new way" to be rich is only for the fools that believed otherwise. Success comes with hard work and the ability to consistently learn, improve your skills and become "smarter".
Show me someone who was dumb and became rich. Wait... Those who win the lottery, it doesn't take much brain power to pick 8 random numbers. But give them a couple of years before they end up in a worst position.
Last time I check smart people like Edison Ford, Bill Gates, Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs are not poor and they are old as dirt if not already dead. So this statement saying smart is the "new way" to be rich is only for the fools that believed otherwise. Success comes with hard work and the ability to consistently learn, improve your skills and become "smarter".
Show me someone who was dumb and became rich. Wait... Those who win the lottery, it doesn't take much brain power to pick 8 random numbers. But give them a couple of years before they end up in a worst position.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Don't look at the results
Don't look at the results, look at the direction.
It's easy to get discouraged when the results are not what you expect it to be. In reality much of the result will come much time after. You may forget what you went through to be where you are today. A farmer cannot plant today and harvest tomorrow. Depending on what he is planting it may take to 7 years to see the fruits of his labor. Not to mention the contingency such as drought, freezing, storm and so on that can keep him from seeing his fruits even longer. But as long he keeps planting one thing is certain "there's a chance"
It's easy to get discouraged when the results are not what you expect it to be. In reality much of the result will come much time after. You may forget what you went through to be where you are today. A farmer cannot plant today and harvest tomorrow. Depending on what he is planting it may take to 7 years to see the fruits of his labor. Not to mention the contingency such as drought, freezing, storm and so on that can keep him from seeing his fruits even longer. But as long he keeps planting one thing is certain "there's a chance"
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Developing Software
If you want to develop a kick ass software that is salable create an awesome almost impossible project. Let me explain.
You see many of the software we use today was created to solve a problem. It wasn't created because someone taught this would be nice and cool to have. Look at Weta Digital an Oscar winning visual effect company responsible for Lord of the Rings trilogy and Avatar. They created MASSIVE and CityBot because the work they needed in their movies. Another example is 37signals Basecamp which gave birth to Ruby on Rails. There's so many others as well.
I'm a firm believer in solving your problem first and maybe someone else may benefit it from it or not. But if they don't at least you solved your problem.
You see many of the software we use today was created to solve a problem. It wasn't created because someone taught this would be nice and cool to have. Look at Weta Digital an Oscar winning visual effect company responsible for Lord of the Rings trilogy and Avatar. They created MASSIVE and CityBot because the work they needed in their movies. Another example is 37signals Basecamp which gave birth to Ruby on Rails. There's so many others as well.
I'm a firm believer in solving your problem first and maybe someone else may benefit it from it or not. But if they don't at least you solved your problem.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Learn how to program thru examples
Learning how the program is like riding a bike. You cannot fully learn it without applying it. After learning various languages I noticed that not everything the languages contains is useful, at least for me at this time. I found this by building my own useful programs or dissecting one. I need examples!
I have found no use for interfaces, I have study it but i have yet to see it in a necessary program. You can learn all kinds of theories but if you dont apply it to real life situations, its a waste just like formal education, half of the crap you learn in school you never use. They teach you things that you "might" use giving you a general knowledge.
I have found no use for interfaces, I have study it but i have yet to see it in a necessary program. You can learn all kinds of theories but if you dont apply it to real life situations, its a waste just like formal education, half of the crap you learn in school you never use. They teach you things that you "might" use giving you a general knowledge.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Learn other programming languages
The first programming language I started learning was PHP then came javascript, python and c++. What I'm amazed is how much better understanding about a language when you study other ones. In reality programming languages are the same the only difference is syntax and couple different features here and there.
You'll enjoy learning a new language while refreshing general programming skills such as functions, loops, class, switch, if statements as so on. The other benefit is a common technique used in c++ might not be common in other languages. And now you have learned it and you can implement it into your language of choice.
OOP is quite new in PHP compared to c++. The reason PHP added this feature was because OOP made c++ very powerful and easy to maintain, and why not have the same for PHP.
You'll enjoy learning a new language while refreshing general programming skills such as functions, loops, class, switch, if statements as so on. The other benefit is a common technique used in c++ might not be common in other languages. And now you have learned it and you can implement it into your language of choice.
OOP is quite new in PHP compared to c++. The reason PHP added this feature was because OOP made c++ very powerful and easy to maintain, and why not have the same for PHP.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Test someone smartness
We are in an unique time in the world that we can easily test if someone is smart or dumb. All you have to ask them who they support as a republican candidate. If they say anything other than Ron Paul their stupid. Now this is a given but you can also probe them to confirm it. Here how I did it to someone today.
Me: so you support Mitt Romney
lady: yes
Me: did you know he would sign the NDAA
lady: (no response)
Me: Do you know what the NDAA is?
Lady: no
Me: (I exampled it)
Lady: this is already happening
Me: its not a reason to support it, I support Ron Paul
Lady: yeah he appeals to young people like you
Me: he is about the constitution and what are founders believed in
(after she saw she couldn't argue intellectually with me)
Lady: Ron Paul is too old, he doesn't have a image of a president
Me: So to be a president you need to look like it
Lady: yes
Me: if you're not a white male you cannot be president
Lady: (silence)
Me: we should not vote for a president just because he looks like he fits the job description but what he believes in and his past record.
This small conversation show how of an idiot this lady is. She didn't know why she supported Mitt Romney other than he “looks” like he could be a president. Unfortunately there's many others like her.
Me: so you support Mitt Romney
lady: yes
Me: did you know he would sign the NDAA
lady: (no response)
Me: Do you know what the NDAA is?
Lady: no
Me: (I exampled it)
Lady: this is already happening
Me: its not a reason to support it, I support Ron Paul
Lady: yeah he appeals to young people like you
Me: he is about the constitution and what are founders believed in
(after she saw she couldn't argue intellectually with me)
Lady: Ron Paul is too old, he doesn't have a image of a president
Me: So to be a president you need to look like it
Lady: yes
Me: if you're not a white male you cannot be president
Lady: (silence)
Me: we should not vote for a president just because he looks like he fits the job description but what he believes in and his past record.
This small conversation show how of an idiot this lady is. She didn't know why she supported Mitt Romney other than he “looks” like he could be a president. Unfortunately there's many others like her.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The cream always rise to the top
Don't let the fear of not posting because what you are writing is not perceived as high quality. Quality is in the eye of the beholder. Because at the end of the day you cannot please everyone.
Of course there's fine line between complete crap and low quality. But low quality shouldn't give you paralysis of analysis. Some will be good some will be bad and “the cream will rise to the top” or in other words “the best comes out ahead”
Things change, motivation alters and direction redirects. If what you're doing today changes don't get all worried because you steered away from your original idea. Its all about getting it moving and everything will add together.
Look at Apple, initially they were called Apple Computers but later changed their name to Apple because they decided they weren't going to only focus on computers but other technologies as well. Business and people need to learn how to adjust, become flexible and take advantage of an opportunity when it becomes available.
Of course there's fine line between complete crap and low quality. But low quality shouldn't give you paralysis of analysis. Some will be good some will be bad and “the cream will rise to the top” or in other words “the best comes out ahead”
Things change, motivation alters and direction redirects. If what you're doing today changes don't get all worried because you steered away from your original idea. Its all about getting it moving and everything will add together.
Look at Apple, initially they were called Apple Computers but later changed their name to Apple because they decided they weren't going to only focus on computers but other technologies as well. Business and people need to learn how to adjust, become flexible and take advantage of an opportunity when it becomes available.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Godaddy Goodbye
Baligena.com has transferred its domain name out of Godaddy.
Haha whats up with the discount until 12/29/11 Godaddy. I hate when companies act as if they're above their customers and when the shit hits the fan they come back apologizing, expecting everything to be alright. But its too late to apologize and if Godaddy is having a hard time understanding, below is a video that will help.
Baligena is now with namecheap.com because it's being mention alot from internet advocates such as techcrunch, hacker news and reddit. Also they are also apposed to SOPA and I their current slogan. Exercise your right. Yes, you're damn right I'm going to exercise it. They also have good prices.
I invite you to join me.
Click here for step by step instructions on how I did it.
Haha whats up with the discount until 12/29/11 Godaddy. I hate when companies act as if they're above their customers and when the shit hits the fan they come back apologizing, expecting everything to be alright. But its too late to apologize and if Godaddy is having a hard time understanding, below is a video that will help.
Baligena is now with namecheap.com because it's being mention alot from internet advocates such as techcrunch, hacker news and reddit. Also they are also apposed to SOPA and I their current slogan. Exercise your right. Yes, you're damn right I'm going to exercise it. They also have good prices.
I invite you to join me.
Click here for step by step instructions on how I did it.
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