Google Forms

Before the development of Web 2.0 technology that allowed user-based modifications, people need to know HTML coding, CSS, JavaScript, Perl, CGI programming and other web-based programming languages to effectively design and maintain a website. It is either you learn these languages or you hire a website designer. You will also need a dedicated server to store and manage the data on your website.

One way of making a website more interactive is to include forms on your website. You can collect information from visitors or customers through these forms. Forms can now easily be created within just few minutes even if you do not have any knowledge of programming and markup languages. You do not even need to pay for a dedicated server to store the data that you will collect in your website. Here is an example of a form that I created with the help of Google Docs: YPEC sign-up form.

Google forms can easily be created by following these steps:

STEP 1: Create a Google account. Sign-in to your account and click Google Docs.

STEP 2: Create new form by choosing "form" from the drop-down menu as shown in the illustration below.

STEP 3: Customize your form by typing the appropriate titles or questions in the text boxes.

STEP 4: Choose a theme from the available background options. Choose the most appropriate for your site. For example, you can choose the "garden" theme if you have a gardening or landscape design website.

STEP 5: Save the settings and generate the codes. Copy and paste the codes on the appropriate page of your website or blogsite.

Note: Every time a visitor fill-up the form on your website, the information will be automatically stored in your Google Docs account in Excel format, such as the Excel file shown in the illustration below.

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Freelance Online Jobs

More than a year and half passed since I last wrote an entry for this blog. I have been quite busy with work. Well, I actually had to juggle several works, from HTML encoding to website managing, from copy writing to copy-editing, from search engine optimization to email marketing. Although many were only part time and short-term contracts, I sometimes had to work more than twelve hours a day when projects and deadlines piled up. I also had (and still have) one full time work. Since I was retrenched from my regular job two years ago, most of the opportunities that followed were online freelance jobs. With the separation pay that I received from being retrenched, I was able to buy a laptop computer and was also able to have an internet connection. The first freelance job that I did was article writing for only two dollars per 550-word article. Although the pay was very low, I had to do it because I could not afford to lose income and let my family go hungry.

Some significant improvements happened since my first freelance work. I can now afford to rent a house and I am currently applying for a rent-to-own house. I was able to buy several brand new appliances and gadgets. I can now afford the subscription fees for a land line telephone and cable TV. I am now able to pay for my wife's college education. On top of all these, there are still some money left for savings. Although my current income is still not big enough to be considered lucrative, I now have some degree of financial freedom and time freedom. I do not anymore need to commute to work or worry about what to wear at work. I can now spend more quality time with my family.

If you are currently unemployed and desire a better-paying but less stressful job, there are several online freelance jobs that you can try. Even if you simply want to augment your income, you can rely on some online freelance opportunities. Although at first you might find it difficult to find the right home-based job that you want, you can always find a job opportunity that is appropriate for your skills. Many of the online opportunities do not require specific working hours and formal qualifications. As long as you can do specific works, you have a chance of being contracted. On the other hand, you must be careful in choosing clients because there are many online scammers.

I have listed here some some websites that can help you find online freelance opportunities. I am recommending these sites because I use them all when searching for freelance projects.

Odesk.com -- This is an excellent and reliable site for freelancers. You can find a wide range of work opportunities here, from writing to computer programming, from transcribing to marketing. You need to create an account and take several qualifying tests to qualify. You will also need to download a software that will monitor your work. Most of the clients have verified payment method and you can also take several projects at a time.

Craigslist.com -- Opportunities listed in this site are grouped by locations and categories. There are categories for buy-and-sell opportunities but there are also categories for job opportunities. You do not need to create an account or take qualifying exams to apply to the job opportunities listed in here. However, you must be careful when applying because there are many bogus opportunities listed in here.

Writers.ph -- This site offers academic writing projects. The pay is usually per page and higher than other types of writing projects but you need to bid on a project. You also need to first take a qualifying exam and create an account.

Essays.ph -- This site mainly hires Filipino writers. The pay rate is based on Philippine standards. You first need to submit an online application to be considered part of the pool of writers.

AcademiaResearch.com -- This is another site that offers academic writing opportunities, from simple reports to thesis writing. You first need to apply online and submit a sample academic writing to become part of the writers' pool. The pay is relatively high, especially for projects that have shorter deadlines.

Elance.com -- Programmers, web designers, writers, marketers and consultants will be able to find good freelance opportunities in this site at negotiable fees. You must need to create an account and submit bids to be considered.

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Sock and Awe

He might be considered as a "lame duck" president but US President George W. Bush still knows how to duck. He was agile enough to dodge the two succeeding shoe projectile hurled by the Iraqi journalist, Durgham Zaidi, last December 14 during a press conference. Although the president has maintained his composure and even joked about the matter, he was obviously shocked by the incident.

Although the show-throwing did not injure the chief executive, it was an assault on his dignity. It was a form of insult and protest that expressed the sentiments of the people of the Middle East. Clearly, many are not in favor of Bush's war policies in Iraq. These include many Americans. One proof of this is the recent popularity of a newly built website, Sock and Awe. The name is a pun of the US military campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime, "Shock and Awe."

The website, "Sock and Awe" (http://www.sockandawe.com), is an idea of Alex Tew of Britain. According to him, about 1.4 million people have already succeeded in knocking Bush on the face with the virtual shoes. The Shockwave game is simple enough. You simply have to hit the ducking president behind a rostrum and achieve the highest possible score within 30 seconds.

If you want to give it a try, you can visit the site: http://www.sockandawe.com.

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Removing the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification

Are you using a pirated version of Windows or have you unknowingly purchased an unlicensed version? Well Microsoft Corporation is already filthy rich. It will not make big difference. In fact, many programmers are trying to combat the monopoly of this gigantic corporation. You can find many alternative "open source" software applications and operating systems. Most of these software applications and operating systems are still not at par with Microsoft products but they are good alternatives if you are already pissed off with the unreliable and exploitative products of Microsoft.

However, for most of us who are still at the mercy of Microsoft, we have to put up with the profiteering schemes of this juggernaut. One of the strategies to maintain profit is the Windows validation. If you are connected to the Internet, you will occasionally be prompted to download updates. If you choose to update, your Windows operating system will be subjected to validation process. If your operating system is unable to pass, three sets of irritating notifications will pop up. One notification is a permanent balloon located above task bar. Another notification will occasionally pop up as a smaller balloon above the task bar clock. The third notification will appear every time you start your computer. This notification looks something like the picture below:



In most cases, the reason for this is that your software is a pirated version. On the other hand, this might also be caused by changing the product key to software-generated key. In other cases, there is simply no apparent reason.

You do not really need to panic, you will still be able to use your computer. However, you will be unable to update Internet Explorer and Media Player. You will also be unable to customize most of your settings such as the Wallpaper. The permanent notification is also very irritating.

You can remove the notifications by following the simple steps stated below:



1. If you have only just installed Windows Genuine Advantage notifications, simply using the system restore function will remove the program. Then refuse to accept the WGA update next time Windows updates... Otherwise, proceed as detailed below. (NOTE: If you try these steps while you are in "Safe Mode," step #8 is unnecessary).

2. First Try the Following:

3. - Open a CMD Line Window by Clicking on Start ==>Run ==> type CMD and Press OK.

4. - Change Directory into the System32 Folder (Like Cd c:\Windows\System32)

5. - Open a notepad Window and type the following lines:

6. taskkill -IM wgatray.exe

7. del wgatray.exe

8. del wgalogon.dll

9. - Highlight and copy to the Clipboard the three lines above

10. - now Paste the the contents of the Clipboard to the CMD Window

11. This should kill the wgatray.exe Process from the Taskbar and imediately delete both files wgatray.exe and wgalogon.dll without the need to to go through all steps bellow.

12. If that does not work, then continue and follow the steps bellow

13. Open System32 by either A or B of the following methods:
o a) Click "Start", "Run", then type-in "System32". Click "Okay".
o b) Find System32 manually by clicking "Start" > "My Computer" > "(X:)" (Replacing "X" with the drive letter of the host of Windows) > "Windows" > "System32".

14. In "System32", go to "Tools" > "Folder options" > click on the tab, "View" > Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types". Now you can begin...

15. Check to make sure the window that comes up has a full screen of various files. The files are in alphabetical order, which makes it easier to locate the specific file.

16. Find "WgaLogon.dll" and rename it "WgaLogon.dll.bak".

17. Create an empty copy of WgaLogon.dll:

o Right click on a blank space in System32 and select "New" > "Text Document".
o Leave the text document empty and label it "WgaLogon.dll". Press Enter (on your keyboard).
You may get a warning from the above step that says, "If you change a file name extension, the file may become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it?". Click "Yes" on this warning.

18. Be ready to complete the next two steps very quickly! Find "WgaTray.exe" in "System32" and delete it. You will then have 5 seconds to find "WgaTray.exe" in the Task Manager (the next step). NOTE: If you remove the files mentioned above while you are in "Safe Mode," step #8 is unnecessary.

19. Immediately open Task Manager. You can do this by pressing the Ctrl, Shift, and Esc keys simultaneously, pressing the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys simultaneously, or right clicking the Taskbar and selecting "Task Manager". Click on the process tab and click end process when "WgaTray.exe" is selected.

Note: If you take longer, do NOT panic! All that will happen is that "WgaTray.exe" will keep reapearing in the processes list (i.e. you won't be able to delete it as required). To remove the notifications after this, return to system32. You will find two files:"WgaLogon.dll.bak" (the one you renamed) and an Application Extension (0KB) called "WgaLogon.dll". Delete the Application Extension, rename "WgaLogon.dll.bak" to "WgaLogon.dll" and repeat the steps from the fifth one onwards (at a greater speed!!).

20. Restart your computer once you have finished. All the notification messages should be gone.

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