the JamLegend fever

I heard of it first from my best friend. It was one fine day at Plurk when she started raving about JamLegend. I didn't take note of it until she posted that she had extra invites. I asked for one, aaand... a few days hours after joining, I got hooked. I even bought a cheapo USB keyboard I can attach to my laptop just for this purpose.

JamLegend is like Guitar Hero, only ten times better. It's accessible to practically anyone: all you need is a reliable net connection, a trusty keyboard and good speakers. It is easily another reason to spend (waste?) more time online. It is free, but since it's still on private beta stage, membership is by invitation only (I still have 2 invites). JamLegend features songs from new artists, and the list gets updated every now and then.

As for me, I'm stuck with 3 songs that I have yet to master. I still can't play past the Easy level. First time I tried Mulholland in Medium, I got booed. Oh well.

Playing on Jam Mode
(picture from Dellwood)

There are programs similar to this game that can be played offline (e.g. Frets on Fire), but what I like about JamLegend is the ranking system and the possibility of challenging your friends to a duel or a showdown. It's Guitar Hero meets MMO meets Web 2.0.

(And I almost got myself a DS Lite last month just so I can play Guitar Hero: On Tour.)

SEMCON 2008: I was there

Yeah, I was there at the Search Engine Marketing Conference in the Hotel Intercontinental along with my teammates last September 9 and 10. It was something spur-of-the-moment, and I'm really glad for the opportunity.

Listening to the industry experts was not entirely the fun part of the experience (for me, at least). The enthusiasm of people who breathe and live internet marketing was CONTAGIOUS. For some inexplicable reason, I seem to have rekindled my interest for SEM and my job. And that's a good thing.

Anyway, I don't intend to recount the sessions* here, just wanna mention my favorite parts:

• Emil Avancena on Domaining: Domain Monetization
  
• Wolfgang Jaegel on Social Media
• overflowing milk tea :P
  

*Go to PinkSEO for live updates during the conference.

so far, so good

I knew the days were bound to get better. That, or I must have unknowingly swallowed a positive pill somewhere, somehow. I'm not sure until when this positive streak will last, but to anticipate the end is indirectly being a pessimist, no? So, I'll just focus on all the good, and enjoy it while it lasts, period.

With that being said, I'm glad to share that I've pushed through with the planned purchase I mentioned on my previous post.

I now have my own "super camera" (as I'd like to call my brother's), an Olympus E-520. I'm aware that owning one doesn't guarantee a ticket to kickass photography, but that will not stop me from dreaming. I still have a lot to learn and practice. My first shots were blah, to say the least. I have to keep reminding myself not to point and shoot. Haha.

I can't wait to spend the weekend with it! I just have to get some work done tonight. Yay!

hello, September

The -ber months are here! I already heard my first Christmas song at the mall yesterday. I plan to shop early for gifts to avoid the Christmas rush--something I've been telling myself for the past few years, always failing to do just exactly that, and end up cramming until Christmas Eve. Maybe I should start with a list first. A list I would actually stick to. :D

I've been looking forward to this month, too, for the following reasons:

1. Gossip Girl Season 2! I know some of you might have seen the premiere already, but I won't be downloading the episode until I get home tonight. CAN'T. WAIT.
   
2. A planned semi-major purchase, and I'm 80%-decided to push through with it. Hmm.
3. My cousin's wedding :)

Life's been good to me on August; I know the days will just keep getting better. Cheers to September!