Software Engineers Should Head to Google for Top Dollar

Google Paying Top Dollar For Software Engineers (via redOrbit)

Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online A new report by Glassdoor shows that Google is forking out some big bucks for software engineers in 2012. Glassdoor said that Google is throwing down mad cash, boasting the highest average base salary for software engineers among the top technology…

Salesforce Brings You Dreamforce 2012, The Cloud Computing Event of the Year!

The event will mark Dreamforce’s 10^th year and is going to welcome more than 70,000 registered attendees who will witness the Social Enterprise. It will be held at the Moscone Convention Center which is located in the area of Howard Street/3rd Street/4th Street. A lot of activities are scheduled so all of the buildings – North, South, and West - will be used. Howard Street will be closed to traffic and tented over. The event will take place on September 18-21 and you can register at www.dreamforce.com. For the best part? Go over www.dreamforce.com/freedf for free Keynote and Expo. 

Grammy award winner, Red Hot Chili Peppers, is set to rock the event at Dreamforce Gala, an outdoor concert in San Francisco’s Civic Center.

Learn about the latest trends, applications and happenings in the world of cloud computing with Dreamforce. Gain more knowledge with our power line-up of keynote speakers including Sir Richard Branson, General Colin Powell, Jeff Immelt, Angela Ahrendts and Tony Robbins.

Marc Benioff, the founder and CEO of  Salesforce, will lead the keynotes to share and inspire everybody on how to become a master marketer like himself. He knows how to throw this big event so prepare for a once in a lifetime experience in the cloud computing industry.

He has this to say about Dreamforce 2012: “Our 10th annual Dreamforce will be the largest vendor-led enterprise technology event ever. Salesforce.com will unveil the latest innovations that will allow attendees to transform into social enterprises and connect with customers, partners and employees like never before to drive growth.”

A little about Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com is the enterprise cloud computing company that is leading the shift to the Social Enterprise. Our trusted cloud platform and apps—including our flagship CRM solution—help employees collaborate easily and connect with customers like never before.

Founded in 1999, salesforce.com is the enterprise cloud computing leader. Using salesforce.com’s social and mobile cloud technologies, companies can connect with customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways. Based on salesforce.com's real-time, multitenant architecture, the company's platform and apps give customers the tools to create a social front office and revolutionize the way they sell, service, market, collaborate, work, and innovate.

• Grow your business with the world’s #1 sales app, Salesforce Sales Cloud
• Deliver amazing customer service with the award-winning Salesforce Service Cloud
• Listen, engage, advertise, and measure social media marketing with the Salesforce Marketing Cloud
• Achieve breakthrough collaboration and productivity with Salesforce Chatter
• Align, motivate and drive performance with Salesforce Rypple
• Build social and mobile cloud apps on the Salesforce Platform and extend success with the world’s leading enterprise app marketplace, the AppExchange

Are you excited to attend but can’t make it to the convention? Don’t worry, we are going to provide a comprehensive review including links to additional useful information for Dreamforce 2012 on our future issues. Stay tuned and keep on computing in the cloud!

Be a fan on http://www.facebook.com/dreamforce
Follow @dreamforce on Twitter

***My first fiverr gig order that did not push through.

Uncertainty for Happiness

The reality that you are going to lose her anytime makes you value her even more. It makes you more appreciative of every second of your time together. It makes the bond stronger, the respect higher and the relationship more valuable. You learn to give more and take less. You learn to appreciate the little things. The bit of time that she can spare, the small efforts, the little touches, the look in her eyes, that killer smile, the soft laughter, the subconscious gestures. And sometimes, the over-attention that results from her jealousy. You adjust to her quirks, gripes and unconventional principles. You accept her mistakes, her personality, attitude and beliefs that are generally different from yours.

When you learn to live by uncertainties? You will be fully content. You will yearn for nothing more. Except to be able to have time with each other again. To be in her presence. To celebrate her existence. Then, you will be completely happy. As I am.

360 Spins: A Fun Way to Blog

Drag your mouse around the image to get a 360 degree view of the photos.



Want to create something like this?



Or like this...



An engaging way to showcase your products





Or yourself, if you want to





You can download the YouSpin app in iTunes.Have fun!

The 8 Thank You Series2

As I am slowly adjusting to the *homebased routine, there are still days when I miss having specific targets set out for me. However, I just need to discipline myself so that I can get things done within the day, employed or not. While pondering how to go about setting self-discipline, I got thankful for:

1. MarkeMan's post on the RH Bill which conveyed points I feel strongly about too (really mulling on writing something about it too but reluctant still)

2. bananas that I eat grudgingly because I don't like them but they are such good sources of pottasium

3. my sinusitis attacks which always remind me to avoid too much pollution and eat fruits daily

4. the delicious aroma of Pancit Canton which gets me through the tough days and the bad days, as well

5. the more valuable relationships I have now compared to my much younger days

6. the therapeutic effect that blogging has provided for me especially these days

7. Photobucket where I get almost all images here and made my blogging life extra convenient

8. the simple bed I can lay my back on whenever it gets too stiff from running through the chores of daily living

**images are from their respective owners and not mine

Small Goals for an Awesome Week

Less is more. This is an ongoing philosophy by Zen Habits and I totally agree to it. However, there are just times that I can't help but be overwhelmed with everything that I think I need to do that I tend to lose focus. I get too worried about so many things causing me to sleep late and then get up late. In the process, it leads to lesser productivity in the day. So now, I want to list down small goals and I am going to stick to them bit by bit. By taking small steps at a time, we avoid feeling overwhelmed and instead, finish tasks on time. Here goes my first weekly list:

1. Create an Odesk.com profile - start tomorrow, finish by Friday

2. Declutter my room - tackle my cabinet first - finish within this week

3. Do 3 sets of 10 sit-ups a day - start tonight

4. Declutter my 3 active emails - start with the first tonight and finish 2 more tomorrow

5. Be more serious about meditation - start with 5 minutes every night of this week

I'll start with this 5 goals first and see if I can stick to accomplishing all of them this week. Then, I'll post 5 more next week based on my projects. 

Here's hoping for the best! Cheers!

Another 7-Eleven Store to Open in Capitol Site, Cebu

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/jvcabacus/P1060596.jpg

As I usually pass the Capitol area, I noticed that a former beauty parlor in the corner of the street going to the NBI office and Capitol Site has been moved and replacing it now is a new 7-Eleven Store. I felt another excitement as this second one is more accessible to me, compared to the one located in Escario.

I've learned from Manila Times that this is just a small part of the pie as the management is planning to aggressively expand in Cebu this year. 

To quote:

Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the licensee of global convenience store chain 7-Eleven, will open more than 30 stores in Cebu by the end of the year, the first time it will aggressively expand outside Luzon.

“This is the first time that PSC will go out of Luzon. Given that half of the Philippines live outside of Luzon, however, we believe that now is the right time, given the maturity of the industry, the growth of the economy and the evolution of the company’s capabilities,” said Jose Victor Paterno, PSC president and chief executive officer.
“The reason why we don’t just roll out branches outside Luzon is because we are just learning,” he added.

He also stressed that the PSC is expanding despite economic challenges because they believe in the long-term and that this is also a way to drive their organization forward.

As for me, I'd like to think that developments such as these is brought about by a better trust of the business sector to our government that it is doing its work properly. 

Congratulations in advance, 7-Eleven. Cheers on gracing the Cebu shores!

The 8 Thank You Series

As I wake up each day alive and kicking, I always appreciate the little things that make life worth living. So today will mark the series of posts that will show how grateful I am for the simplest to the weirdest things in being human.

I am thankful for:

1. my Adidas shoes that inspires me to jog

2. not having full time work because I can lie down any time of the day

3. my freelance gig which lets me overcome writer's block

4. the fact that I have no stable income which is making me strive to be a better writer

5. the Chicken Soup book that *they gave me because it encourages me to make healthier choices

6. the credit card bill that I receive with dread each month that forces me to re-align my finances

7. the fluctuating mutual fund market which keeps me excited to check the FAMI site everyday

8. the blurry shots that I get from my 7MP digicam which reminds me to be very still when shooting pics

***more 8TYs next time. winks!

Poetry: Empty, Nothing

As quick as the spread of fire, the temper rises

Hot, reckless, frantic - burning all in its wake

It envelops every bit of my reason, my being, my soul

Til it consumes respect, contentment, happiness and Love

Then all of me is wiped out

Reduced to ashes, 
to emptiness, 
to nothingness.

Work Harder by Melanie T. Lim (SunStar Cebu)

As I reflected on my past career at ST and how I miss them doing hectic tasks, I became even more grateful for the opportunities handed to me there. So I'm sharing another eye-opener article from Melanie T. Lim, which I can highly relate to. Like her, I do believe that when you plant good seeds even if you're not bearing the fruit today, there will certainly be a better harvest tomorrow. 

Here's the complete post as it appeared on SunStar Cebu.

Lim: Work harder

By Melanie Lim

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Melanie T. Lim

Wide Awake

It’s Labor Day and instead of thinking about higher wages, why not think about working har-der? Sure.

The capitalist system is not perfect.

I’m not saying that there are no abusive employers.

But where there are none, there are also abusive employees.

I have had the unique opportunity to live in a socialist state and have experienced first-hand the lackadaisical attitudes of employees guaranteed tenure.

No system is perfect. But at the end of the day, I have to say that the capitalist set-up wins despite its imperfections because under the capitalist state, there is greater motivation to work, as greater rewards are possible for those who work more.

I am familiar with the old ways of doing things.

Former generations tended to look upon laborers as cogs in machines. My generation of employers, however, is bending backwards to look upon employees as partners in progress.

I have both been an employer and employee. My greatest fault as an employee has always been insubordination. But I’ve never been accused of not working hard enough. In fact, I have always done more than what I was paid to do—-including speaking my mind when I was probably not supposed to.

As an employer, I find that most employees do not do more than what is required of their jobs. They don’t go the extra mile.

It’s not about how much you are paid. It’s about how much you care about the job.
While I have always appreciated just compensation, that’s never been a factor in my performance. Even with poor pay or no pay at all, I put in 1,000 percent of myself.

That’s how I spot the gem upon the stones—-the employee who takes the initiative to suggest how to make things better, how to do things faster, how to simplify procedures and achieve greater productivity and efficiency. This employee cares about the company.

The employee, on the other hand, who chooses to keep quiet so as not to rock the boat with ideas and suggestions, which may not sit well with her employers, cares only about her job. As an employer, I appreciate the employee who goes out on a limb for the company.

The employee who is willing to learn new things and tasks, the employee who is open to accepting greater responsibility, the employee who understands that her job is not simply to get the task at hand done but to make things easier and better for everyone—-the customers, the boss, the team, the company.

But what do we find in our labor force? Laborers who are constantly late and absent due to a multitude of reasons so flimsy they should be fired on the spot. Dishonesty in forms you would never dream of.
A lack of responsibility on the job. And an appalling sense of indifference as to whether or not the company they work for actually survives or prospers.

You want a raise? For a change, try improving your performance on the job.

Try caring a little bit more for the long-term survival and success of the company you work for. Try factoring in competition, pilferage, obsolescence, economic slowdown, non-performing assets.

At any rate, if you don’t feel justly rewarded for your efforts, you will find your rewards in the after-life.

That’s certainly what I’m hoping for.

-END-

Goodbye to My Beloved Colleagues

"Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow."

- Act II, Scene 2 from Romeo and Juliet

Thank you for the awesome shirt everyone. Tag dyes-dyes inyo amot no? *grin*

 The Awesome Table

The Beesong Achievers Club

The Virgin Team 

except for Trestan (and naughty, sensual Elle?)

The "Man Boobs" Team

The Aged Group (except for Jerika)

The Gul-its Group (Jona should have been here)

**Since I'm missing you all, I'm currently pretending to be still working in my table with everyone of you around. What a great day to be alive and kicking. Happy working everyone!

Extra Income Opportunities Online (Part 1)

While looking for extra income opportunities online, I stumbled across these money-making portals:

fiverr.com

Got a unique talent that you can offer to others who also happens to have unique needs? Then this website is for you. Post your special, one-of-a-kind service which may include typing 88 WPM or making your dancing-and-singing demo video, and when somebody just needs exactly those kinds of services, then a quick buck is coming your way.

The Quest for Greener Pastures

***Here's an essay that got me 2K (unedited):
                          

The attraction of greener pastures abroad once so consumed me that I finally decided to give it a try. What with a sea-faring father and a number of uncles and aunties who are OFWs themselves, it seemed natural for friends and family members that I should be working outside of the country as well. In fact, they have prodded me on to apply abroad even while I was still in college because it is a sure way to earn big compared to the meager income that is typical of an average employee in the Philippines. As proof, I have enjoyed their “pasalubongs” and dollar souvenirs whenever they went home while I was growing up. My father was able to send us to good schools, bought us “stateside” stuff, and generally made the whole family’s welfare better because his income was in dollars. However, deep inside of me is a dread that I find hard to explain because I know how difficult it is to be away from the familiar surroundings of which I am accustomed. I know how hard it is to adjust to a different culture, to deal with various types of people and to move with a different working environment. I can’t help feeling wary of having to be alone because I know it is so hard without any friends to share feelings with, without family to help me with problems and without anybody to turn to especially when sickness strikes.

Everything is in Cebu - My City, My SM

So, what makes the Queen City of the South different? What are the reasons behind every Cebuano’s pride for their native home? And what are the highlights that local and foreign visitors should expect? With a pout, I asked myself these questions while thinking what to include to my entry for the My City, My SM contest.

Missing You Badib

 for Jibb Relmond 

(May 29, 1984-January 16, 2009)

Death. That is the only way out. As I stare at the walls of my confinement day and night, I realize that only death will really free me. Day and night I would stop, sit still, and stare; then stop, and sit still, and stare again at the walls, and then I would look out as far as my vision permits and would longingly wish to touch the banana leaves which I can see right outside my room. When I first came in, the walls had been purely white; now, there are yellowish patches on every corner, proof that it has been a very long while since I was able to venture outside. Well really, when was the last time I saw the cornfields outside? My, I couldn’t even remember the year, but perhaps it has been 3 or 4 years ago since my parents decided to place me in this cell. But I remember that first day clearly. It was typically hot, and I was brought in through a hired taxi from the city to our province- right before our house’s gate. During the ride which lasted for 3 hours more or less, I can’t remember much what, or how I felt, except being relieved that I am finally going home. That was when I got out of a rehab facility. Right after I was released, a family consensus has been agreed that I should be put in a cell: alone, with a big lock right outside the grills which was especially installed right behind my door. It is supposedly for my safety and well-being. Well, who would trust a young 21-year old like me (who makes decisions like a 15-year old), to be on the streets again after 6 months of drug rehabilitation? Even I, myself, do not trust my own will any more. I know I badly need help and everyone from my family and friends couldn’t have been much helpful. They had sacrificed a lot; my mother especially, has spent countless hours talking and begging me to change. They already sent me to the psychiatrist; they had held prayer vigils, and long hours of watching me while I lay sleeping just to ensure that I don’t go out into the night where temptations are lurking. Sending me to a rehabilitation program has been their last hope; only to be agonized yet again, from an unsuccessful outcome. Thus, my day would start by staring at the white walls, until midday. After lunch, I would again stare at the other corner of my room, and wait for any intervention which would hopefully break the monotony of my endless hours. 

Jeepney Etiquette 101 (JE 101)

Taking off from Lumbak123’s first four guides for a better jeepney riding experience: 

5. Avoid Talking Loudly

 Now, that confined space is not your living room, right? All sorts of people are in it- some are worried about their children’s daily school allowance; some are daydreaming into Winterland; some wants to maximise their reading time there; and some even use  commuting time to catch on lost sleep. So, please, if you had to talk, keep it to yourselves. 

6. Don’t Date

Yes we know it. You are really into her and both of you can’t stop ogling at each other. But in a PUJ, really? There are mostly young people (I’d say mostly, because there are also times I’ve seen oldies do this too), who usually treat the jeep as the place where they can show tender loving eww este, care for each other which results to encroaching other passenger’s rightful space. Next time, please wait for you to get to wherever you are going and show your manhood there. As they say, patience is a virtue especially when you commute. If you can’t wait, then go take a cab! 

7. Spit Properly

The urge to spit is not really unavoidable (especially the phlemy type) so how do you make it proper at the least? Well, you should start by covering your mouth first, of course. Then make sure that your head is fully outside the jeep’s window and, wait! –f or the right TIMING, which is highly crucial. Before parting with that rich warm spit, wait till the jeep is slowing down or if possible, on a full stop. Why? Because a running jeepney means going fast with air, so you run the risk of spewing some of the saliva to passengers beside you! Cripes!

8. Don’t Bring Shit, Literally

Oh, this one’s gross. You took a longer time to bathe because you are excited for a date night after work. You put on your awesome outfit, squirted more perfume than usual and head on to work. When you rode the jeepney, all was bright and shiny especially that it’s payday. The driver picked up more passengers, and one came with a cow’s,or a dog’s, or a carabao’s SHIT on his slippers. So the whole jeep stunk with that unawesome smell and so did your day. 

HAPPY PAYDAY, EVERYONE!

***You thank the gods when you finally took off from that jeep when you notice the office still smelled with that SHIT. Then you check your awesome yellow shoes, and alas, there it was! A tinnie-tiny piece of dirt-shirt stuck in the sole of your shoe. What would you do? 

Feel free to comment below. *winks!* 

WHEN LOVE DIES

by

 (Melanie T. Lim-SunStar Cebu)

SOMETIMES, love dies. And there is no easy explanation for it.

Some of us see it coming. Some of us don’t. But most of us try not to see it at all. Because it is easier to pretend that all is well rather than admit that your dreams have been shattered and you are left only with the broken pieces of your heart.

It hurts to imagine the person we love with someone else. It hurts to no longer be the object of his affections. It hurts to no longer be the centre of his universe. It hurts to no longer be wanted. It hurts to be discarded, replaced and dumped unceremoniously like an old rag that has outlived its usefulness.

The Budget Series v.2 Spending Money on Weekends

Ever since I’ve lived a more frugal lifestyle, I prefer to stay at home during weekends washing the laundry and watching TV. However, there are times when I need to buy some essentials and hence, some trips to the mall. So here’s a list of what I usually do to have some of my own fun there without having to spend:

-      Window shop for sparkling, awesome shoes. This would result into daydreaming though, as I imagine what would it feel like when I could have worn those cool pair of Pumas, or Nikes, or Adidas. But the next day, just like bad dreams, I usually forget about them.

-       I really like visiting bookstores so I would also sometimes sneak a peek into National Bookstore or Booksale and I would feast my eyes on the latest bestsellers they put on display. I’ll never ever get tired of discovering books, so it’s a big WOW for me.

-      When I still have time to spare, I would also check out fitness shops to browse through various equipment that are available. I would sometimes lift weights there and check out the latest prices of bench presses because I’ve long been planning to purchase one. I still do not have the budget though, so I just content myself by knowing its latest price.

-       I watch films at the mall, as well. There’s a company incentive of one movie ticket whenever an employee gets perfect attendance for the month. So when I already have the ticket, I would wait for an awesome movie before spending it. Although it was given for free, I want to maximize its value fully so that’s why the wait.

-      To wrap this up, I’d just like to stress here that whenever I decide to buy something new for myself like a pair of jeans, or shoes or shirts, I would first look up their prices then plan on when to pay for it. Say for example, I’d really cannot hold buying a new shirt any more, I would then calculate my expenses and check if I can spare a certain amount for it the next payday. When I can, then I’d go and purchase it after I received the money. In this way, I avoid using my credit card and getting into debt.

Hope some of you will find the above list useful. Happy malling!

SIMPLY AWESOME!

The Budget Series v.3 How to Dodge Money Borrowers

There will always be a time when a colleague, a family member or any acquaintance would ask to borrow money from us. And as much as we want to refuse them, and how ever limited the cash we carry, we still loan them money. But why risk of not being able to get repayment from our hard earned money? Why do we still acquiesce to their request despite having the gut feeling that they will not be able to repay on time? Or worse, they would give us annoying reasons of not being able to pay the amount- a situation which I’ve often been in. For me, it all boils down to conscience. As typical God-fearing Pinoys, kindness is ingrained to us that we usually find it hard not to help the needy. So how can we dodge money borrowers without being disrespectful and still have our conscience intact, somehow? I’d say somehow because we are still really going to feel guilty about some of these ways:

1.    Explain in a calm manner how you, yourself is making ends meet. Let the would-be borrower understand that if you only have the spare cash to lend him, then you would gladly give it to him even.

2.    Tell the borrower that you have immediate family members that you are helping every month. Explain that they are also going through a rough time and so, as much as you want to help him, you are also going to feel helpless for your family.

3.    Tell the borrower that you have just purchased something expensive. Have you had known that he will ask you for money, you would have foregone the purchase.

4.    This is related to no. 3. You have to buy or pay for something that is essential like the tuition fee of your brother or the insurance of your mother.

5.    Or, you can say you are knee-deep in debt yourself and mention a credit card company that you had been delivering your salary to. This usually works for me. *winks!*

If these facts will not apply to your situation, then you can just directly say that you are really, really going through a tough time and that you need to save for the rainy days. Tell the would-be borrower that as much as you would like to lend money to him, you are also taking care of your finances and that you really have nothing to give. Then, you can also offer other ways to help depending on both of your situation.

These tips are not that very awesome, but I hope these may come in handy in the future. :=)

The Budget Series v.1 Setting a Daily Allowance

For us common employees who have fixed income, setting aside a fixed amount for daily expenses is a must. However, being “fixed” makes it all the more difficult to budget. And yes, the ever increasing prices of basic commodities and everything else makes this task all the more overwhelming. So the key here is determination, discipline, and dedication. To help you out, I’d like to share how I came up with my daily allowance:

Daily Fare to work – P16

Lunch – this is free from the company I’m working so I’m lucky!

Afternoon Snacks –P8 minimum

Dinner – P25 minimum

Total – 49

For the sake of convenience, I rounded it off to P50 per day. 

Now this amount maybe unbelievable to some, as it was for me the first time I drew up this budget plan. But I started one step at a time and there were days I was able to hit the 50 budget mark, and there were days I wasn’t. Also, there were days that I didn’t have to spend all the P50 allocation (if I had free dinners, for ex.). So I didn’t become discouraged of sticking to the budget. There’s no point of being harsh to myself so whenever I get to overspend, I would also repay it by spending less the next day. The secret is to make the budget a daily habit. Well at first, it will really feel like a big sacrifice like what I felt before. But when I fell into the same pattern of spending every day, it felt like just normal for me to spend the same amount over and over. And that’s when I made it a habit, not a sacrifice. 

Next on my budget series will be how I spend money during weekends.