Monthly Archives: December 2010

Consolidate your online presence

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I know, I know, it’s not spring yet – well, at least here in the northern hemisphere – so you may not be so inclined to heed to my suggestion now. Bookmark this post then so you could dig it out when bears come out of hibernation.

If you are up for consolidating your online presence, then follow my lead.

1. Track your email addresses
A while back, I’ve asked how many email addresses do you have. After re-reading that post, I’m happy to report that I am now down to 4 email addresses from the original 7. But I also realised that I didn’t include my work email before so that would bring me back to 5. I think most people these days will have at least 2 – a personal and a work address.

2. Do a blog inventory
I’ll be the first to admit that I own more than one blog. I have this one (April Journeys) and also blog at Let’s Go Dancing (which I have neglected in recent days, quite frankly). Moreover, I also contribute to multi-authored blogs such as Spotted by Locals London and Sayote Republic. One of my goals for 2011 is to unite my 2 personal blogs into one so watch out for that one.

3. Link your social networks
The advent of social networking enabled us to communicate to the same or even more people through ‘new’ and different ways. Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are the most widely used amongst the ‘new’ ways. I highly recommend that you use the same email address for all your social networks so you could take advantage of the various analytics and metrics available on social network reach. If you are not at all into number crunching, then using the same email address to ‘anchor’ all your social networking accounts will make it easier to manage.

4. Build a single presence
Now that you’ve tracked all your email addresses, listed all your blogs and linked your social network profiles, wouldn’t it be nice to have a page somewhere where you could consolidate all these together like an electronic business card? You don’t need to create a new website. If you have one already, you may simply need to create new page linking all these together. Or you could take advantage of social aggregator services like UnHub, ProfileFly, SocialURL or about.me. Among the 4 mentioned, about.me provides the best visual presentation of yourself. Check out my page below to see an example.

about.me

My about.me page

So, what would doing all the above give you?

  • a single URL with all your online profiles that you could put in your paper business card
  • provide a single place for your followers and clients with information about you
  • a starting page where you could maintain your online presence

Whether or not I have inspired you to take action now or bookmark this post to your new year’s resolution list, I’m sure you will agree that having a single point to manage your online profiles will do you more good than bad. When you have done so, come back to this post and place a link to your consolidated URL as a comment.

As this will be my last post for 2010, I’d like to wish everyone the best for incoming year!!!

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Week’s tweets for 2010-12-26

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  • might pass on the Boxing Day tug-of-war this year. Too cold outside at -17! #
  • Before it gets too busy, let me wish you all the best of the holiday season! #MerryChristmas http://twitpic.com/3j4n0i #
  • Time for hot chocolate! (@ Aragons Of Church Street) [pic]: http://4sq.com/dRcqd5 #
  • Missed the connection to Ludlow for a mere minute. Train pulled away in front of us. (@ Newport Railway Station) http://4sq.com/i5BpD2 #
  • I'm at Earls Court Underground Station (224-236 Earls Court Rd, Kensington) http://4sq.com/fXYxNc #
  • If you haven't got one… RT @moneycouk: B&Q are selling real Christmas trees for 1p! #
  • The parcel I was waiting for has finally arrived so going for a detour to the office to pick it up. #
  • Train announcement wishing everyone a happy Christmas. Nice. (@ Streatham Hill Station) http://4sq.com/g90Kdf #
  • Brilliant! RT @LDN: A fantastic short film of London http://LDN.in/uxBJf1 (via @digitalurban) #
  • Survey: People can't live without high-speed Internet http://bit.ly/dRLAtC >> what gadget/tech can't you live without? #
  • thinks that there should be a schedule for locals to go on exclusive shopping time on Oxford Street. During this time, tourists are banned. #
  • has finished with work for the rest of the year. #
  • I'm at La Pampa Grill (60 Battersea Rise, London) http://4sq.com/fv7jYI #
  • Kings of Leon gig tonight at the O2 cancelled due to the fire this morning. #
  • Is that bec shops still closed? RT @AboutLondon: Top tip! RT @janasanchez: Oxford Street is desserted again. Good day to do xmas shopping #
  • I'm at Streatham Hill Station (Streatham, London) http://4sq.com/if9DuD #
  • Trains are running according to National Rail live departures info. #uksnow #
  • Missed the lunar eclipse. #
  • I'm at Surbiton Flyer http://4sq.com/hMGwM2 #
  • THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY http://t.co/bSf1E78 via @youtube >> this is excellent! #
  • Train delays to be expected. (@ Streatham Hill Station) http://4sq.com/fEO79H #
  • Morning all. Will brave the commute to work this morning. Updates as I go through my normal route. #
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Week’s tweets for 2010-12-19

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  • There's a new interface for #AndroidMarketplace No update prompt, I believe. It just updated itself automatically. #
  • Morning all. Woke up thinking it's Monday today. #
  • Congratulations to Kara and Artem for winning the Strictly glitter ball! #scd #
  • Not voting anymore! #scd #
  • Travesty! #scd #
  • AGREE! RT @cpetzny: It's gonna have to be Pamela and James. Their show dance was the only one that felt like it came from the soul. #scd #
  • Pamela and James: Now that was dancing! #scd #
  • Kara & Artem: Oooopsss, I think there were quite parts that went wrong in that routine. #scd #
  • Matt & Aliona: Hmmm…. that was more acrobatics than dancing. #scd #
  • #uksnow SW2 http://twitpic.com/3h3pmg #
  • Woke up to a London covered in snow. Again. Brrrrr. #
  • is now tucked into a warm bed. #
  • Love the chair massage during the pedicure. (@ The Nail Salon) http://4sq.com/cqMnGl #
  • Sun shining on snow-covered rooftops. Stunning. #
  • Just like that, SW London is blanketed in white! #
  • While we freeze in Britain RT @The_Real_JB: It's perfect here in Perth for a bike ride, enjoying the sunshine! http://twitpic.com/3gm0o4 #
  • Hack triggers blitz on passwords http://bbc.in/eyPejW >> anyone get an email from LinkedIn or Yahoo? #
  • Zuckerberg is Time person of 2010 http://bbc.in/hP7hp8 #
  • ? pyjamas … #justsaying #
  • Genius! RT @DIL23: REFRIGERATE!! REFRIGERATE!!! REFRIGERATE!!!! http://twitpic.com/3g93iz #
  • Coffee nightcap. (@ Le Méridien Piccadilly) http://4sq.com/6nbJhD #
  • Catching up with a friend. (@ Byron) http://4sq.com/aduxSF #
  • Could someone enlighten me as to why Question of Sport is not available on iPlayer? #
  • Stuck on what to give an #F1 fanatic? Check out http://unlap.co.uk. #
  • Will try it out later. RT @mashable: Multiple Gmail Accounts Just Got a Lot Easier to Manage – http://on.mash.to/hMuhNF #
  • My mobile signal at work is piss poor as there is an Orange cell tower on top of our building and I'm with Vodafone. #
  • I'm at DST House (DST House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton). http://4sq.com/dxyCMa #
  • Voyager near Solar System's edge http://bbc.in/dVHO5N >> This is quite amazing! #
  • Got the email from @TG_SecretSanta. No matches for me in the great #twittersecretsanta Feel a big L looming over me. *sighs* #
  • Not again. RT @BBCBreakfast: Snow likely to cause significant disruption on Thurs/Fri – check out http://bbc.in/17clA for details #uksnow #
  • RT @ZacharyLevi: Where does one go for fun in Melbourne? (I would be "one" in this scenario) #
  • can feel the beginnings of a headache. Ugh. #
  • Genius! RT @mashable: New Year’s Eve House Party Requires Foursquare Checkin to Get In – http://on.mash.to/gwgIo0 #
  • Yeay! #AngryBirds is @THEGADGETSHOW number 1 app! #gadgetshow #
  • Any suggestions for a FREE video editing software? I need to adjust the brightness and contrast of a video recording. #
  • Last full working week of 2010. (@ DST House) http://4sq.com/dxyCMa #
  • Waiting to dry my hair before I go to sleep. #
  • Could've had more harmonising, One Direction. #xfactor #
  • Seeing Cheryl Cole's advert reminded me that I bought hair colour and must do it tonight! #
  • Matt Cardle borrowed Eddie Jordan's trousers! #xfactor #F1 #
  • I find it annoying that people think that a great singer is the one who could hit and belt out high notes. #xfactor #
  • I prefer @robbiewilliams WITHOUT the rest of Take That, tbh. #xfactor #
  • It is fantastic for Matt Baker to be in the final of Strictly. You could see he really works hard at it! #scd #
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Week’s tweets for 2010-12-12

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  • My #AngryBirdsDay blog post here > http://t.co/RWnn1Qy #
  • Couldn't sleep so catching up on Strictly #scd Really, really enjoy watching Pamela & @strictlyjordan dance. I vote for them to win. #
  • I was there! Yeay! RT @eugenelum: #AngryBirdsDay Flash Mob http://t.co/qRqzcyZ via @demotix #angry birds #
  • My #AngryBirdsDay freebie watching over the eggs in the kitchen. #AngryBirds http://twitpic.com/3f3fvs #
  • had fun at the #AngryBirdsDay flash mob today. #
  • In terms of voice quality, Rebecca Ferguson can hold a candle to Christina Aguilera. #xfactor #
  • Getting ready to fling some birds… happy #AngryBirdsDay (@ Nag's Head w/ 5 others) http://4sq.com/bge27T #
  • Email from Baileys asks whether I'd like an evening with Robert Pattinson. Uh, NO. Thanks but no. Ewan McGregor or Johnny Depp, YES defo! #
  • I just signed up for The Great Twitter Secret Santa! @TG_SecretSanta #twittersecretsanta http://t.co/UJxSE1w #
  • is flinging birds under the duvet. #AngryBirds #
  • Sampras's tennis trophies stolen http://bbc.in/ftQjrI >> if thief tries to sell, he/she will surely be caught so what could the motive be? #
  • You must post a pic now since you tweeted that! RT @wisdomlondon: I look like Jedward. #
  • Almost got attacked by pesky pigeons. (@ Clapham Junction Railway Station) http://4sq.com/ipn35 #
  • Moreover, they referred to Katie Weassel as "when kangaroos go wild!" Cruel boys. #xfactor #
  • Some 7-8 boys on the train upon seeing Katie Weassel on the Metro paper: "She was eliminated from #xfactor because of her hair!" #
  • Just downloaded #AngryBirdsSeasons on my #Android @HTC Desire! #
  • Back to the grind tomorrow. Night tweeps! #
  • Using the wrong hashtag. Should be #gadgetshow Anyhow, could I get both instead of choosing one? #
  • If that camera wasn't a Casio, I'd want it. #thegadgetshow #
  • Nice hair styling @JasonBradbury. NOT. #thegadgetshow #
  • Chrimbo special on @THEGADGETSHOW http://bit.ly/aVUyzE #TheGadgetShow (via @GetGlue) #
  • Saw 2 excalibur swords today. One on the season finale of #Merlin The other on an episode of #Charmed #
  • asks friends, who changed their profile pic to a cartoon character, how did it stop or solve child abuse. #
  • P reckons David should be part of the holiday decor, too! http://twitpic.com/3dgbgp #
  • could get used to working short weeks. #
  • Off to get a Xmas tree! #
  • Glasgow & Edinburgh airports shut as fresh snow hits http://bbc.in/f1xxqz #uksnow #
  • Based on the sing-off alone, I'd choose Mary. #xfactor #
  • I couldn't make out the lyrics of what you're singing, Cher Lloyd. #xfactor #
  • Cheryl's annoyed her mini me might just get the chop from the #xfactor #
  • This performance by Mary is so much better than her Streisand cover last night. #xfactor #
  • Why is Cheryl Cole always saluting when she's introduced? #xfactor #
  • Wow. Big names on the #xfactor results show tonight – Glee cast and Black Eyed Peas. #
  • There's justice in the world. Ann Widdecombe is voted off Strictly! #scd #
  • Never have I heard such a loud applause for a couple being voted off! But bless the Widdecombe, she was a good sport. #scd #
  • Movie theme – Mad Max! RT @PaulKinvig: What the hell is Tess wearing – looks like the fifth member of Slayer! #
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First Angry Birds Day

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The days following the British Parliament voted in favour of increasing the university tuition fees and the violent student protests on the streets of London saw increased police presence in the capital. But this did not stop the brave men, women and children to express their own protest agenda – STOP THE MADNESS!

Angry Birds Day 2010 London

Stop the madness!

Yes, 11th of December 2010 marked the first anniversary of the hit mobile game Angry Birds by Rovio. There was a global call to organise meetups to celebrate this phenomenon and London had the most numerous response and (possibly) participation. Yours truly was one of them.

Several secret starting points around Covent Garden were emailed to the flash mob participants only hours before the protest march. When I got there, I was given an authentic Angry Bird slingshot plush toy that makes sounds like in the game. Some people were also designated to carry placards. We then convened towards the Christmas tree in Covent Garden where we froze – supposedly looking angry – and the Angry Birds music playing at full volume from our phones. Tourists and shoppers alike were nervously thinking “not another protest to ruin my shopping day!” But they soon realised it was a peaceful and an amusing display of madness.

Against warnings, our group marched on towards Trafalgar Square. As expected, there were plenty of police. Julien Fourgeaud, the organiser, told us that we would just march quietly with the Angry Birds music playing. Of course, the men and women in uniform saw that we wouldn’t cause any trouble at all. We all posed at the giant Christmas tree by Nelson’s Column to give out a mighty birthday cheer to Angry Birds. Also gave the tourists a chance to photograph us. The march moved on towards Westminster where the group stopped and posed at the Horseguards Parade and even at 10 Downing Street! It was shortly after that I quietly broke away from the mob. There was an after-party a 8 Northumberland, which I was unable to join as I had to do some Christmas shopping.

Back home, I saw all the tweets and photos posted not only of the first Angry Birds Day in London but also all over the world. It was great to be part of the madness and may it continue for a long time!

Here is the complete set of the photos I took.

Below are links to reports and blog posts by fellow protesters:

P.S. If you see more photos of the London Angry Birds Day protest, I’m the one wearing a mustard yellow coat!

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Legend of Arthur and Merlin

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Arthur and Merlin Legend

Being educated in the Philippines based on an American system, the study of the legend of Arthur was very limited. The words above were the only items that I knew about this medieval story. Moreover, the other sources for my knowledge on the subject had been Monty Python and the First Knight (starring Sean Connery and Richard Gere).

Now that I live in Britain, there are other facets that have been presented to me recently. This is mainly due to the hit BBC series, Merlin. But before the Arthurian purists get their swords and cast their evil spells on me, I would like to point out that I am not saying that the stories depicted in the Merlin episodes are the real thing. To me, the TV show is another interpretation of the legend. As there had been no proof of the real existence of Arthur nor Merlin, who’s to say that the storyline in this BBC drama is inaccurate?

Merlin

BBC's Merlin

Anyhow, perhaps the most surprising aspect to me is how Wales is the backdrop of this story. I recently discovered these YouTube videos (see links below) of the documentary made by the 2 leading actors of Merlin – Colin Morgan, who plays the young wizard and Bradley James, who plays the rather dashing Prince Arthur. After filming in Cardiff for the 1st season, they went on the journey across Wales to places where fact supposedly meets fiction. As a fan of the show – admittedly only from series one – I didn’t get to see it on the telly. The duo went to places like Mold where there’s a library housing the most number of books around the legend of Arthur, as well as Camlan where Arthur was believed to have fought his last battle.

I never really thought that the magic happened in Wales. However, the fact that there are dragons involved in the legend makes it more plausible that it came from Wales.

Even when there is still no known proof of the real existence of the characters behind to story, the fact that I learnt something new is quite refreshing.

Here are the links to the videos:

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