Blog Awards Challenge

TBAC 09: The Blogging Principles

2008-11-14T23:50:00.001-06:00

Democracy is alive and well in the blogosphere. Blogging has liberated our thoughts and opinions and provided us a platform to enjoy a great deal of freedom and independence. We write openly, not being prey to editorial intrusions. But absolute liberty has its wild side too: the rise of blog flaming, defamation, gossip, intrigues, unverified allegations and the liberal posting of ten thousand snapshots of one's pet cat can be, well, a little bit out of hand. On this issue, TBAC gives you, the blogger, another opportunity for fantasy to play The Power That Be.

TBAC CHALLENGE 09: BE A BLOG CHANCELLOR AND DRAFT THE BLOGGING BYLAWS.

Pen a charter containing 25 most creative, interesting, provocative, amusing suggestions/recommendations, guidelines, prescriptions, things to avoid (“Posting close up shots of your granny's purple gums a NO-NO”), things to be encouraged for blog citizens to consider. This Blog Charter may include justifications, arguments and validations as to why they should be widely acknowledge or accepted for the common blogging good.

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Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style you wish to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section of this post. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 14th of December to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 09: The Blogging Principles", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

Read the complete rules.

Blog Challenge 7 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 7 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You may now claim your distinction badges.

Blog Challenge 8 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 8: Teach me eroticism in school, please" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on December 15th.

See the TBAC 08 top 4 entries and vote for your favorites!

Blog Challenge 8 Entries -- vote for your favorite!

2008-11-14T23:46:00.002-06:00

The 8th Blog Awards Challenge "Teach me eroticism in school, please" produced thought-provoking and brilliant entries. The challenge in itself was very arousing as it involved 'sex education in the curriculum'.

The four final entries tackled TBAC 8 with ease and with contradistinct twists. Here they are, the four finalists, expecting for your votes! Please read the voting rules before casting your vote.
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Teach Me Eroticism in School, Please by Hit-or-Miss
If you have visited my blog a couple of months back, I wrote a post entitled My Thoughts on Unplanned Pregnancies. In the post, I mentioned the alarming increase of such population and the decreasing of age levels involved. I included some possible factors and one of which was lack of knowledge.

That being said, it takes us to the topic of sex education. Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior [1]. Basically, sex education's purpose is to educate people regarding sex, protection and its pros and cons.

When I was still in high school, you can pretty much say that I was taking BS Sex Ed. For nearly four years, I was constantly exposed to information regarding sex and everything that comes with it. I do not know with other people, but I seemed to digest every bit of knowledge being taught. Sex was (or still is?) considered a taboo, but deep inside, I had no problems to be constantly reminded of its pros and cons. Read more >>>

Teaching SECKS by notsovictor
At age five, I began to revel at how my various titas would balloon after marriage and, after nine months, would expel their spawn from within enlarged bellies.

I of course asked the inevitable question: Where the do all these babies come from?

In a spectacular display of ~~parenting skills~~ reverse psychology and their knack for evading awkward situations, my parents turned the question on me, with a very clever “What do you think?”

Eyebrows furrowed, I explained my hypothesis with reluctance: “After people get married . . . when they kiss a lot . . . the woman’s stomach gets bigger and then babies come out of the belly button?”

My parents neither confirmed nor corrected my theory. For thirteen years. They now merely assume that, as a high school graduate, I paid proper attention to my Biology classes and now know the ins and outs of fornication. For all they know, however, to this very day, I might still believe that babies are the products of liberally-applied flavored lipstick and overactive tongues. Read more >>>

teaching old dogs new tricks by PROSETITUTE
Amidst issues on overpopulation, high numbers of teenage pregnancy, and poverty, the immediate passage of a bill that would mandate the inclusion of a reproductive health education in the curricula of grade 5 to 4th year high school has never been this tempting.

It is for this reason that Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman brings to fore the controversial Sexuality Education, causing the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to stand firmer on its stance against the things they deem immoral.

TRACING THE ROOT
The conservative orientation of most Filipinos can be traced to the 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. During those times, they had spread their influence by introducing Christianity to the Filipinos.

The Spaniards may have succeeded but beliefs, like any other things, are subject to change. Though it takes time, traditional beliefs are challenged and later discarded.

A recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey concluded that 4 out of 5 adult Filipinos favor Sex Education in public schools- a lucid vindication that, as 2008 nears its closure, Pinoys are fast-becoming decisive, and are now smarter. Read more >>>

Nang Mangalabit si Nene... by RADYO MONITORYO
Sex. Bilang isang alipin ng radyo, madalang kong marinig ang salitang ito sa mga balita. Rape, oo pero sex, madalang. Kahit ang mga balitang tunkol sa prostitusyon o sex dens o live show, kadalasang hindi ginagamit ang salitang ito sa pagbabalita. Mangilan-ngilan lamang ang programang may tapang na pag-usapan ang mga bagay tungkol dito. Isa na rito ang programang Love Chat ng DZRH. Dito, deretchan ang usapan pero may censorship. Dahil kasama sa mga panuntunan ng Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), ang mga salitang hindi na kaaya-aya sa pandinig ay pinapalitan ng mga teknikal o siyentipikong termino. Ayon nga sa kanilang tagline...

May mga tanong na hindi pwedeng itanong kung kani-kanino lang...
May mga tanong na hindi pwedeng pag-usapan ng ganun-ganun lang...
May mga tanong na hindi basta-bastang binibigyan lang ng payo...
Ngayon pwede na... pwede lahat... Read more >>>

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If you want to vote, here are the guidelines:

* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.

* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.

* A voter is allowed to pick three best entries among the finalists.

* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.

* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.

Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here (please don't use the chatbox) with your best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.

Voting ends 14th December 2008.

Blog Challenge 08 deadline extended

2008-10-30T23:15:00.000-05:00

We are giving everyone two more weeks. We are extending the deadline for our Blog Challenge 08 to November 9, 2008 following requests from some of you.

Our Blog Challenge 08:

Is the Philippines not ready for “sex education” in the public school curriculum, just yet? Do you think the program will work in Catholic/Christian-dominated countries? What are your thoughts about sex education in schools? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program? Would you prefer to learn sex from Ma and Pa, or from Maam and Sir?

To first time visitors, read our previous post and join the challenge.

One more thing, you can still cast your votes for the Blog Challenge 07 finalists. Here.

Remember, the more entries you submit, the more chances you have to become part of our TBAC book project.

Ciao!

TBAC 7 second runner-up: Traditional Journalism VS BloggerMania

2008-10-14T23:31:00.000-05:00

Blog Awards Challenge 7 - 2nd runner-up (Achievement): Kwentong Miko and General Nonsense

Winning Entry Title: Traditional Journalism VS BloggerMania [original link]

Winning entry is reprinted below.
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LAKANDIWA
Magandang araw sa lahat, masugid na mambabasa
Isa pong Blogtalastasan, sinikap kong inihanda:
Ang Traditional na Media, noon pa man ay subok na,
Laban sa uso at bagong Blogging – ‘to ang ating paksa.

Sa Traditional na Media, mga bagay na kasama
Dyaryo, radio at magazine, pati TV ay ang bida.
Sa kabilang panig naman, sinasabing BloggerMania
Dahil sa murang internet, nararating din ang masa.

Pagdating sa journalism, ano ba ang naaangkop?
Blogs na likha ng Netizen, doon ba tayo tututok?
O manatili sa luma, tradisyunal na at subok?
Halina’t ating alamin, bawal ang aantok-antok.

TRADITIONAL
Mayroon pa bang uubra, sa pahayag na tradisyon.
Masusing pagbabalita, ganap na imbestigasyon,
Mahigpit na pagsusuri, paglakap ng impormasyon,
Totohanang paglalahad, sinusumpaang propesyon.

Ikaw ba ay makikinig, sa taong ‘di mo kilala
At ang kanyang sinasabi, pagbasehan mo ng pasya?
Sa reporter na kilala, reputasyon ay subok na,
Sa walang kredibilidad, tayo na ay dumistansya.

BLOGOSPHERE
Will you say that is credible… ang news na pinagbibili?
And blogs that are cheap and free, at the same time walang puri?
You got it the wrong way, my friend, regarding credibility
For Old Media ay bumenta, balita ay pinipili.

‘Coz reporters are bayaran, many can be easily bought
“Say good things about our product, I’ll give you more than your sahod,”
Unlike our concerned Netizens-> they worked, they wrote, they voiced, they stood,
Kahit walang bayad or “thanks”, they continue for the sake of Truth.

TRADITIONAL
Aba, wag kang magmalinis, ani mo’y walang napala,
Dahil din sa patalastas, ikaw rin ay kumikita,
Lahat ng sulok ng blogs mo, logo ng ibang kumpanya,
Laman ng latha mo, pili… Para sikat, magkakwarta.

‘Di tulad naming reporters, panganib ay sinusuong,
Kahit sa gitna ng g’yera, buong tapang na nandoon,
Di mapipigil, ilan mang death threats at kidnap for ransom,
Samantalang mga bloggers, kampante sa kanilang “room”.

BLOGOSPHERE
Which is reliable, ang nagtatanong o dumadanas?
As reporters ask their questions, ang oras ay lumilipas,
Writing, editing, at proofreading bago nila ilabas,
While the offender and victim posted blog, video, or podcast.

Why in your frontpage, always na lang balitang kumakaway,
Kung hindi famous na pulitiko, litrato ng bangkay,
Your news are sensationalized, all the time na lang may away,
While we bloggers, we post ‘bout almusal hanggang questions of LIFE.

TRADITIONAL
Bakit namin iimprenta tsismis ng kapitbahay nyo,
Kung meron namang tungkol sa Bwayang nahuli sa Damo?
Bakit ibo-broadcast ang bagong tirintas ng aso mo,
Hindi ba’t pasikip lamang, ‘yong basura sa publiko?

Kaming mga alagad at tagapaglingkod ng masa
Latha’y serbisyong totoo, sa kapuso’t kapamilya,
Magsiwalat ng mali, o maggawad ng gantimpala,
Iangat ang kamalayan, ito’y aming tanging nasa

BLOGOSPHERE
Duh! Sinong niloloko mo? Ratings lang ang iyong gusto.
Trail blazing news, you paused, then commercial ay ihahalo.
The wrongdoers, you blackmail first, if no pay, sumbong, xa talo,
Please spare me the bola, hindi poh ganyan ang serbisyo.

Hindi tulad namin, we write to express and not to impress,
May readers man o wala, we type away, we post regardless
Wala kaming target market. Figures and trends we don’t asses,
This is my outlet, my life, my self, my soul. Cursed man me or blessed. ^_^

TRADITIONAL
Pagkamakasarili, sa iyong latha nakikita,
Basta makapagsulat, walang paki sa mambabasa,
Kalapastangan sa pagkatha, brutal na balarila
Si Webster man o Quezon, parehas kang itatatwa.

BLOGOSPHERE
Gosh, personalan na to, niyayari pati style ko,
Function over form, this is more correct, di lang nauuso,
Superficial writing, yan lang naman ang panlalaban mo
Pero ‘bout contents, my dear, kaming readers naman ang talo

TRADITIONAL
Matabil na bata, sarili’y tignan bago mangutya.,
Usapin na walang kwenta, sa sulatin mo ay sadya

BLOGOSPHERE
Buong katotohan ng Life, may kwenta man o wala,
Bigay ko, at hindi benta, sa masa aking gawa

TRADITIONAL
Kay Cesar ay kay Cesar, balitang tunay, dapat lang - bayad

BLOGOSPHERE
True service comes from the heart. News, talks, videos - libre lang dapat

TRADITIONAL
Sa balita, kami’y sapat!

BLOGOSPHERE
But in Life, you are kulelat!

LAKANDIWA (Paghahatol)
Sandali lang, awat muna! Ako naman ang bibida.
Kayong dalawa’y tumahimik, sa sulok magpalamig muna
Makinig kayo sa hatol, alamin ang aming pasya,
Traditional ba or Blogging? Ano ba ang mas mabisa?

Traditional na balita, produkto ng korporasyon,
Sa pagganap ng serbisyo, alagad ay isang lupon,
Nakakapagduda ang lathain dahil bayad ang propesyon,
Pero nakikita, sining ay nalinang at puno ng aksyon

Ang blogging naman libre, lahat ay isinasali,
Tsismis man ‘to o totoo, malimit na pinipili,
Ang ibang gawa may kalidad, ang iba nama’y irresponsible,
Kahit ano nilalagay, masama man o mabuti

Sa simulang panunuri, mukhang Masa ang natalo
Kapos ang kalidad ng Blog, at lugi ang peryodiko
Pero di magpapabaya, mam’mahayag na totoo
Ang Passion, Skills at Talent, sa masa iseserbisyo.

At sa ating pagtatapos, kayo na lang ang maghusga,
Sa laban nitong dalawa, sino ang dapat magbida?
Dahil sa aking paningin, patas at walang duda,
Parehas silang may hina, at lakas na ibubuga!
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TBAC 7 first runner-up: Blindspots of Blogging

2008-10-14T23:28:00.000-05:00

Blog Awards Challenge 7 - 1st runner-up (Distinction): PROSETITUTE

Winning Entry Title: Blindspots of Blogging [original link]

Winning entry is reprinted below.
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In today's Web-driven arena of information, print journalism seems to be a fading name in the game.

The advent of blogging has undeniably shaken the foundations of traditional media by introducing new sources of information. It has challenged the radio scene with its podcast, the television with its vlog (video log), and, of course, the newspaper with its blog (web log). The internet has indeed drawn a new line of media, and, consequently, a new line of contention between blogging and the old media.

COMPROMISING CREDIBILITY

As the speed of technological advancement accelerates, with thousands of eager people signing up each day for their own accounts, credibility, for many, has become the hottest issue in blogging. Since the internet has afforded everyone the opportunity to create their own blogs, in websites like Blogger and Wordpress, most of the information posted in one's blog are unverified, and, therefore, unreliable.

A typical personal blog is maintained by an individual (that's why it's personal), and articles are mostly done single-handedly – from making the draft, gathering of information, and up to editing and online publishing. The blogger stands as the writer, editor, copyreader and publisher all at the same time. Yet, the power of blogs to publish at an unimaginable velocity has amazed the humankind, but it has unconsciously compromised the credibility of every article published.

On the other hand, newspapers are managed by a pool of professional and seasoned writers. Articles normally undergo a series of rigorous editing before making it to publication: information and details are double-checked for accuracy; sources should be valid and reliable; grammatical flaws are fixed; and all statements are balanced. These things are standard procedures followed by almost all newspaper companies, for them to produce a credible and fair issue.

HAZARDS OF ANONYMITY

From a legal viewpoint, blogging is devoid of any constitutional protection and rights because it’s difficult to determine how the law might actually apply. Print media's position in the Constitution, on the other hand, is quite well-placed.

A blogger housemaid could hide behind a screen name and defame the president by accusing her of corruption without the fear of facing legal charges. Since the Constitution doesn't enshrine blogging, there is no specific statute that would prove it unlawful. Thus, bloggers have all the freedom of speech in the world, and in their own wills and capacities they can abuse, overuse and misuse it anytime. While writers get sued, and even killed, for what they write, and just for doing their jobs.

THE PAST OF PRINT MEDIA AND THE FUTURE OF BLOGGING

Books have time and again shown us how newspapers made its mark in history.

During the Spanish rule, for instance, La Solidaridad and Kalayaan publications, both owned and managed by Filipino propagandists, had succeeded to spread their persistent clamor for change and further their dissidence among Filipinos despite perils of castigation by despotic Spaniard perpetrators.

Likewise, dictator Ferdinand Marcos had faced media's potent function in stirring up mass rebellion, thus, he ordered the immediate closure of all mass media under the Martial Law. Yet, the alternative press, including the Philippine Collegian and some other national dailies, lived up to their promise and did not fail the masses; they had gone underground and had operated in stealth to avoid detractors.

It is in this lucidity that we see the clear future of the blogosphere. Its power is unquestionable, but blogging should always remain as a personal tool for there is no possible way it can possess journalistic elements such as accountability, reliability, and fairness.

Truly, the ascending popularity of blogging could never completely shatter that fortified fortress that journalism has built for decades. Despite constant claims on its ethical decadence, the old media have proven its age-old worth. And always, it will find a way to uphold its cause.

Over the course of history, the press has always justified its existence-- and no blogging force could seriously change that.
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Challenge 7 winner: THE RELEVANCE OF OLD MEDIA AND CARLOS CONDE IS THAT THEY ARE IRRELEVANT

2008-10-14T23:22:00.000-05:00

Blog Awards Challenge 7 Winner (Excellence): The Philippine Daily Idiot

Winning Entry Title: THE RELEVANCE OF OLD MEDIA AND CARLOS CONDE IS THAT THEY ARE IRRELEVANT [Original Link]

Winning entry is reprinted below.
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A B S T R A C T

I am suddenly marshaled into answering these QUESTIONS at the Blog Awards Challenge blog. I'm hooked:

1. Is Old Media still relevant in the blogosphere?
2. Are there means to regain the glory of old journalism?
3. Is blogging light years away from being acceptable means for credible journalism? What are the alternatives and where do you think is the proper place of blogging in the grand scheme of media consumption in the 21st century?

OKEY, blogging is ascending and Old Media is supposedly taking a beating. BTW, Old Media is our shorthand for the traditional tri-media of print, radio and tv.

My conclusion: Scroll down.

FIRST QUESTION. So, is Old Media still relevant in the blogosphere?

Answer: A big It is.

FIRST OF ALL, in the unlikely event that I, self-important blogger, will be weaned from my daily cud of self-important Op-Ed pieces in the Philippine Star, I'd be sad.

I would miss thrashing Old Media.

FOR EXAMPLE, I've been asking no end: How the hell did Dr. Charles Chante become an Op-Ed page columnist at the Philippine Star?

With kindof due respect to the doctor, I am nevertheless shocked by his writing, which I could do by Googling and cut-and-pasting.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, I would terribly miss pseudo-meta-analyzing the news stories in Old Media.

HENCE, with no Charles Chante to thrash, without the source to bash and parody, with no media reference to footnote my thrashing fits, I'd be like being cast adrift at sea with no land in sight.

What would be the point of my existence now?

SO GET READY FOR THIS. I'm seeing daylight. The paradox is beginning to be clear: Old Media's relevance is that it is irrelevant. Get the idea.

(Ok, I'll give it to you. Old Media's pretense is the perfect foil for our free-wheeling blogosphere. Naks. What dya think?)

SECOND QUESTION: Are there means to regain the glory of old journalism?

Answer: Yes, by becoming relevant in ways other than the relevance of irrelevance.

All of Old Media is SELF-CONSCIOUS about the rap of irrelevance.

By putting up websites and hiring bloggers, the old doddering media has co-opted the blogosphere, and is thus relevant anew.

POT AND KETTLE

Those bloggers accusing Old Media of crap and lost glory are a case of the pot taking, well, potshots at the crappy kettle. Yawn.

You see, Google a keyword and hope you don't end up in a blogsite that's either half-crappy or well, just downright full of crap – like one pseudo-blog put up by a jilted lover out to spite her lover-priest.

To illustrate more: CARLOS CONDE'S MAKING A MOLEHILL OUT OF A MOUNTAIN

If I were this expletive-deleted Carlos Conde, and blogged that the Eraserheads reunion gig at the Fort was a sham, I'd still be able to lure with the right tags and keywords the thousands of netizens into buying my belittling of the Eraserheads.

IN OTHER WORDS, most of the blogosphere is bereft of self-censorship and editorial oversight. It's cold and violent and misleading out there unless Google directs you ASAP to the commonsensical blogs.

In that sense, Carlos Conde, complicating himself as a member of Old Media, inadvertently self-critiqued himself as a blogger, sortof, in an outstanding case of foot-in-the-mouth disease.

NONETHELESS:

1) The blogosphere is no doubt FREER than the supposed free Free Press, radio, and TV.

2) The blogosphere is more democratized than Old Media as it even empowers the common grammarless blogger.

3) It is unhindered by the need to have ads and commercial breaks.

4) It allows for the GENUINE conversation on issues among anonymous+unnamed+self-identified commenters+bloggers.

IRONY OF IRONIES
IT'S IRONIC and HYPOCRITICAL that people from the Old Media, those who have turned to blogging, like the notorious and caricaturized Eraserheads detractor Carlos Conde, decry the anonymity of commenters whose candor is brutal.

These Old-Media types are now nostalgic for the censorship and editorial oversight in Old Media.

I MEAN, I forgot to mention the reason for the hypocrisy there: Aren't the Old Media people adamant in protecting the ID of many of their story sources so that these sources can speak their minds freely?????

DOWNRIGHT HYPOCRITICAL AND IDIOTIC!

The keyword here is freedom. It is what the blogosphere is running on.

STILL, let's not go overboard

In spite of the transcendent nature of the blogosphere, the geopolitical reality means that we Filipinos are still tethered to the dynamics of the Third World.

THAT IS, the question How can Old Media regain old glory? is premature at best. To ask such a question assumes that the glory is lost and smacks of being out of touch with the 3D reality on the ground, and of too much internet surfing.

Glory lost? Where?

In the Third World where internet penetrance is third-worldish, Old Media is still king. It could be relevant if only for that reason.

The blogger is cut down to size. The netizen is just a citizen. The net is the fish net.

THIRD QUESTION/S: Is blogging light years away from being acceptable means for credible journalism? What are the alternatives and where do you think is the proper place of blogging in the grand scheme of media consumption in the 21st century?

The place is right here right now.
Bloggers doing credible journalism are just sooo now, man. (Maybe except Carlos Conde.)

Heard of TalkingPointsMemo.com?

In the US where internet is accessible, a lot of Old-Media outfits are downsizing in the face of blogs that do Old-Media journalism (like TalkingPointsMemo.com). This is aside from the websites of the Old Media.

PLUS, blogging quickens the reporting via the grammarless common tao performing real-time citizen's journalism that's less authoritative but never bogged down by editorial oversight and worry over ads and style and grammar and formats anathema to subheadings like the "NONETHELESS" subheading above, which is bleeding to the margin (or is it just my browser?).

FOR EXAMPLE, when the Eraserheads planned the reunion concert, bloggers blogged about it ahead of Old Media.

Now, if you will excuse me, before I even thrash Old Media, I need to read it. On a lazy Sunday, maybe the one shining relevance of newspapers is that they can withstand my short attention span. While I source the internet for quick bites of data, the newspapers and FHMs are for easing out and lying back for a long leisurely read on a lazy Sunday morning.

Good morning. Later, the thrashing.
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TBAC 08: Teach me eroticism in school, please

2008-09-27T17:28:00.008-05:00

According to a research paper by Landry DJ et al. on "Abstinence promotion and the provision of information about contraception in public school district sexuality education policies," more than two out of three public school districts in the U.S. have a policy to teach sex education. Eighty-six percent of the public school districts that have a policy to teach sex education require that abstinence be promoted. Past results showed evidence that comprehensive sex education programs that provide information about both abstinence and contraception can help delay the onset of sexual activity among teens, reduce their number of sexual partners and increase contraceptive use when they become sexually active (Dailard C, 2002, op. cit. and Kirby D, 2001, op. cit.)

We at TBAC thought about the efficacy of introducing sex education into school curriculums, especially in a Christian country like the Philippines. The Department of Education (DepEd) attempted to bring forward the program on "sex education", which was seen as a positive step by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. The plan was to integrate "sex education" to the general curriculum, beginning 5th grade, via subjects like Health, Filipino, Science, and Livelihood education. The objectives were to educate the young minds on the issue of overpopulation and raise awareness on the dangers of pre-marital sex, including "unwanted pregnancies".

But, everything went down the drain due to the strong defiance by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). In a country with around 85 percent Catholics, the CBCP believes that sex education into the public schools would encourage teenagers to undertake premarital sex rather than remain abstinent, and emphasizes that sex education is the parents’ responsibility, not the government’s.

Is the Philippines not ready for “sex education” in the public school curriculum, just yet? Do you think the program will work in Catholic/Christian-dominated countries? What are your thoughts about sex education in schools? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program? Would you prefer to learn sex from Ma and Pa, or from Maam and Sir?

We pose these questions to you for our Blog Award Challenge no. 8.

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Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style you wish to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section of this post. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 26th of October to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 08: Teach me eroticism in school, Please", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

Read the complete rules.

Join the Challenge and be part of "Book Me for TBAC".

Check it out!
Blog Challenge 6 Winners and Blog Challenge 7 Entries!

Book Me for TBAC

2008-09-23T20:17:00.000-05:00

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

The Blog Award Challenge was conceived with one goal in mind: The desire to encourage good writing and recognize distinctive voices floating in the overwhelming expanse of the blogosphere.

It is envisioned to be a convenient place for bloggers to discover each other, linked together by pleasure for well-penned entries that feature strong points of view, style, humor, arguments or sheer entertainment value.

We have taken notice of many recreational badges being bestowed on one another by bloggers who hope to increase links and respective site traffic. Similar tactics are employed through blog popularity polls where a blogger with the most number of loyal friends and voters are awarded the highest merits, while noteworthy blogs remain obscure. We pondered these discrepancies and we discovered several bloggers expressing the same sentiments.

Thus an idea popped: We will create an independent award-giving platform. The kind of award based on peer respect and not on popularity. The kind of award where quality writing takes the center stage and merits are bestowed free of phantom/anonymous voters and technical manipulation. The kind of award that strives to rise above the rampant amateurish blather that incubates rapidly in cyberspace.

We also made a conscious decision not to hand out cash prizes or similar expensive tokens because TBAC is not envisioned to be a money-making gambit for its founders (aside from the obvious fact that TBAC organizers are not swimming in cash or board members in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation): It all boils down to the love of writing. When we all started our blogs we were not motivated by money but the need to express our thoughts in a distinctive way. This is not to say that creation of blogs focused on moneymaking is not a good idea—earning money out of blogging is a good and easy enterprise, but our pursuit is finding and recognizing blog talents, earn the admiration and respect of like-minded bloggers, and not run a cash contest.

However there is one significant detail we haven't openly disclosed: Since the very moment of conception of The Blog Award Challenge we were already thinking of publishing a book*. Yes a book compiling the best written submissions in TBAC. We feel that this book project will be a worthwhile documentation of the pioneering bloggers whose creative talents outshine the flash of new technology. Besides, cash prizes are easily spent but being included in the TBAC book project is a tangible testament of talent that no passing technology and glitzy events can effectively capture.

( * Winning entries and selected finalists will be included in the book project. Published bloggers will be furnished free copies as a token for participation in the challenges. The above illustration/image is a visual rendering of the TBAC book project and do not necessarily represent the final design, layout and format of the book to be published.)

Check it out!

Blog Challenge 6 Winners and Blog Challenge 7 Entries!

C6 Winners and C7 Entries

2008-09-23T20:14:00.001-05:00

Blog Challenge 6 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 6 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.

Blog Challenge 7 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 7: Bloggermania: Challenging The Platforms Of Old Media" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on October 24th.

See the top 3 entries and vote for your favorites!

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Important!

Please come back for Challenge 8 to be posted soon.

Blog Challenge 07: Bloggermania: Challenging The Platforms Of Old Media

2008-08-22T09:01:00.006-05:00

Mainstream media is steadily assaulted with various accusations: from credibility issues, journalistic ethics, to foul practices, transparent biases and envelope journalism. It has come to a point that certain pundits have proposed the abolition of traditional media to give credence to blogging wave.

Challenge Number 07: Is traditional media still relevant in a blogging world? Conversely: Like Wikipedia, is blogging light years away from being acceptable means for credible journalism? Are there means to regain the glory of old journalism? What are the alternatives and where do you think is the proper place of blogging in the grand scheme of media consumption in the 21^stcentury?

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Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style s/he wishes to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section of this post. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 19th of September to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 07: Bloggermania, Challenging The Platforms Of Old Media", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

To read the complete rules, here.

Thank you for joining and enjoy the challenge!

Blog Challenge 5 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 5 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.

Blog Challenge 6 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 6: The Virtual Vice" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on September 6th.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!

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Important!

Please come back for Challenge 7 to be posted later.

C5 Winners and C6 Entries

2008-08-17T19:00:00.005-05:00

Blog Challenge 5 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 5 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.

Blog Challenge 6 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 6: The Virtual Vice" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on September 6th.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!

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Important!

Please come back for Challenge 7 to be posted later.

Blog Challenge 06: The Virtual Vice

2008-07-27T08:04:00.007-05:00

One advertising campaign has put it succinctly: People spend more time in chatrooms than bedrooms.

Our generation is progressively becoming more and more virtual; Even our friendships and relationships are defined by Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook. Twitter is increasingly substituting physical interactions and 'catching up' moments are better served online. We would rather "YM or GTalk" chat revelatory details about our lives than confide with offline friends.

Our Challenge Number Six: Did Cyberlife Kill Real Life Intimacy? Discuss.

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Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style s/he wishes to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 10th of August to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 06: The Virtual Vice", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

To read the complete rules, here.

Thank you for joining and enjoy the challenge!

Blog Challenge 4 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 4 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.
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Blog Challenge 5 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 5: Almighty For A Day (A Challenge of Hypotheticals)" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on August 8th.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!

C4 Winners and C5 Entries

2008-07-24T00:31:00.004-05:00

We have just posted the finalists for the 5th challenge!

Since this blog was officially launched 3 months ago, we have been receiving emails from readers showing interest of sponsoring the prizes for the winning entries. That option has been already laid on the table for further discussion. We will look into it and we will keep you all updated.

Thank you for the continued support!

Blog Challenge 4 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 4 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.
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Blog Challenge 5 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 5: Almighty For A Day (A Challenge of Hypotheticals)" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on August 8th.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!

Blog Challenge 6 will be up tomorrow!

Blog Challenge 5 Entries -- vote for your favorite!

2008-07-24T00:06:00.004-05:00

Thank you for submitting your entries for the "5th Blog Awards Challenge: Almighty For A Day". We would want to remind everyone about the number of words required for a post to enter the challenge.

Here are the 3 remaining entries. Please read the voting rules before casting your vote.
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In the Eyes of A Child by Zen Ventures
Given the insanity of wars, global strife, political, social and religious conflicts: How would you define or create an ideal world? What will be in it? Who will dwell in it? What will you borrow and what will you eliminate from all the current madness in the contemporary civilization we all breathe in?

I pondered on these words... and I can't help but mutter to myself...How the heck can anyone ever create an Ideal world?! An ideal world was created way before us but we defaced it, devoured it & plundered its’ riches and beauty with our erring ways. How then with our tumultuous nature be able to create an ideal world even in our heads ? I looked at my child’s eyes and there !!! The world she “sees” is the world I want to create. A perfect world devoid:

of Illusions – The Illusion of great power. Power that consumes so many a leaders’ hearts, they are blind to peace. Their hearts are so driven with greed and lust for dominance, they annihilate anyone in their path to get to their coveted prize: To Rule the entire World! This Illusion will be annihilated the same way this Wicked politicians annihilate their competitors. My world will only reflect honesty, humility and compassion. Read More >>>

The World in My Two Almighty Hands by wanawana
What do you think of the world today? Do you like what is happening with it? Typhoons, hurricanes, landslides, flashfloods, sinking ships, crashing planes, religious battles, corruption and the like are very rampant these days. Only two millennia have passed, but with what we are experiencing at these present times, the end already seemed to be just around the corner. If only there was a great miracle, it will be certain that the withering world and its inhabitants will be spared; if only I had the power to change anything, I will definitely go back the olden times and do everything just to make the world as ideal as it was on the first week it existed.

What if I really had the power? Prepare yourselves; for the very idealistic Joanna will let you live onto the “ideal world” she is about to create with the succeeding paragraphs. Read More >>>

Mama Don’t Preach by Disproving the Genius
My mom is corrupt.

For about a decade now, my ermats have worked for the Department of Social Welfare and Development, that’s DSWD for Christ’s sake. They are the ones who respond to those filthy government-hating squatters who, like puppies, come wagging their tails when storms flood their homes.

People hate you when you work for the devi—I mean, President or her associates. Everyone, including close friends, begin to lose trust, thinking that you are indeed working for The Devil. The typecast kills—erm, or maybe not.

The thing is, every time a typhoon hits Cavite, gazillions of goods (i.e. rice, noodles, canned stuff, etc.) need to be packed and delivered to poor people who are either homeless or drowning in accumulated urine, I mean rainwater. An oversupply of those goods always occurs. Since my mom is a Social Worker, she’s one of the few who does the packaging and delivery. And of course, she gets to bring home the extra sacks (yes, sackS—as in plural) of rice, noodles and canned sardines. [Not to mention the bond papers, yellow pads, and ball pens she brings home everyday.] Read More >>>

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If you want to vote, here are the guidelines:

* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.

* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.

* A voter is allowed to pick three best entries among the finalists.

* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.

* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.

Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here (please don't use the chatbox) with your three (3) best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.

Voting ends 8th August 2008.
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Blog Challenge 6 will be posted later!

Don't miss the Blog Awards Challenge 6. Join the challenge and be recognized!

Blog Challenge 05: Almighty For A Day

2008-06-22T05:00:00.009-05:00

Blog Challenge 05: Almighty For A Day (A Challenge of Hypotheticals)
Fantasy Football and fancy universes and games like The Sims, World Of Warcraft and Second Life have one thing in common: They appeal to our innate desire to play God and wield both our constructive and destructive tendencies into acceptable exercise. Taking inspiration in the hypothetical nature of these virtual worlds—and flirting a little with the Ms. Universe Trajectory with the nature of this Fifth Challenge—we pose these questions upon idealistic netizens of the blogosphere:

Given the insanity of wars, global strife, political, social and religious conflicts: How would you define or create an ideal world? What will be in it? Who will dwell in it? What will you borrow and what will you eliminate from all the current madness in the contemporary civilization we all breathe in?

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Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style s/he wishes to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 11th of July to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 05: Almighty For A Day", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

To read the complete rules, here.

Enjoy the challenge!
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Blog Challenge 3 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 3 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.
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Blog Challenge 4 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 4: Because YOU deserve a post" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on July 12th. Three major winners and 2 merit winners will be selected.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!
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Blog Challenge 04: Because YOU deserve a post

2008-06-03T22:11:00.006-05:00

Have you ever been intrigued by a writer's dedications? Pick up your favorite book and turn to the page where you read those few lines that sum up who the writer reckons are praiseworthy of honoring. The page speaks of a beautiful and timeless adoration of another being – mother, father, sister, brother, neighbor, girl in school, boy at the plaza.

You may not have authored a book. But you maintain a blog. Who do you think is deserving of a dedication? Who will you accredit a post to? There should be somebody out there who has done so much to inspire you or instill confidence in you.

Thus, this is the challenge where you come out publicly and proclaim your shameless love/desire/honor/fondness for someone. Blog about her or him (or them). Select your own approach and dedicate a post. Be creative in your writing. You’ll never know your dedication may catch a publisher’s eye and include it in a book.

Are you ready to embrace the passionate side of you? Blog now and submit your entries.

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Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style s/he wishes to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 20th of June to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 04: Because YOU deserve a post", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

To read the complete rules, here.

Thanks for joining and enjoy the challenge!

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Blog Challenge 2 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 2 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.

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Blog Challenge 3 Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 3: The Hazards Of Honesty" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on June 21st. Three major winners and 2 merit winners will be selected.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!
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Blog Challenge 3 Entries -- vote for your favorite!

2008-06-01T21:47:00.001-05:00

Thank you for submitting your entries for the "3rd Blog Awards Challenge: The Hazards Of Honesty". Here are the entries. Please read the voting rules at the bottom of this entry before casting your vote.
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Honesty Is Not an Internet Meme by indolentindio
Like almost everybody else on the blogosphere, we have chosen to hide our true identities from the rest of the world. Despite whatever issues we may have had with our parents, they were not cruel enough to give us the names we now write and draw under (they did, however, give us long and more cruel Catholic names.) We actually chose these aliases. Why do we do it? It’s funny you should ask, Blog Awards Challenge and random readers. Funny in the sense that it is timely because we are about to answer the question and not funny as in slipping on a banana peel.

Why would a grown man choose to hide behind an obscure reference to Philippine mythology or a punny take on a stock Filipino folklore character? >>continue reading

Anonymously by gypsyone
Why blog anonymously?
1. Being anonymous is a challenge for your readers. Are they really interested? They will try to find out beyond if they are.

2. But some readers prefer the fun of not knowing who this fucking helluva-genius-who -beat-me about this original helluva thought. So, they like and continue reading blogs of writers unknown to them, breeding animosity (ei, I hope I have the right words!) >>>continue reading

United as one, divided by zero by exsanguinatrix
I am thinking of a word that indicates the state of being anonymous. Anonymity. But I am thinking of 'anonymosity,' which is not a real word, but is more apt. Bloggers, or the denizens of the internet (or intarwebz to be precise), all revel in their/ our anonymosity in varying levels.

There is a trick here. The notion that being anonymous denotes dishonesty, that to hide one's identity is to be untruthful. The trick here is in thinking that a person's real nature is the person we can see, the person IRL. How completely asinine. >>>continue reading

ANONIMO by gatsulat
“Ako’y dumarami sa bawa’t kisap ng mata. Singbilis ng ulan na bumabagsak sa tigang na lupa. Mas makulit pa ako sa paulit-ulit na panaginip. Mas maingay pa ako sa sermon ng iyong mga magulang tuwing ika’y umuuwi ng madaling araw. Mas pinaniniwalaan pa ako kaysa sa Diyos at siyensya. Mas kontrobersyal pa ako kaysa kina Kris Aquino at Piolo Pascual. Mas mabilis pa akong umuunlad kaysa sa Pilipinas. Mas sinusunod pa ako kaysa sa ating mga batas. Mas matapang pa ako kaysa sa mga aktibistang palihim na pinapapatay ng unano. Mas pansin pa ang aking vandal sa pader sa may kanto kaysa sa billboard na mahahalay sa EDSA. >>>continue reading

The Masks Bloggers Wear by blogcebuworld
Did you ever wonder why Batman, Spiderman, Zorro and other superheroes wear masks? Superman does something with his hairstyle for people not to recognize him. Ninjas and robbers wear masks too. Some rallyists do wear masks. Naked campus runners put on something to cover their faces. They do not want their real identities revealed. Will it also be the same with blogging? Do you have to wear a mask?

The most common masks we wear in the blogosphere are: The Online Alias and the Online Persona. >>>continue reading

Ang pangalan ko ay Pen Palaboy by Pen Palaboy
Ako ay si Pen Palaboy. Hindi ko tunay na pangalan subalit mas kilala sa ganyang bansag. Ilang taon na din ang nakalilipas nong una kong bininyagan ang sarili sa ganyang tawag. >>>continue reading

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If you want to vote, these are the guidelines:

* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.

* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.

* One vote is tallied as 100 points. A voter is allowed to pick three best entries among the finalists.

* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.

* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.

Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here (please don't use the chatbox) with your three (3) best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.

Voting ends 20th June 2008.

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Blog Challenge 4 is now posted!

Don't miss the Blog Awards Challenge 4. Join the challenge and be recognized!

Blog Challenge 03: The Hazards Of Honesty

2008-05-15T01:20:00.003-05:00

MOST of us write online blanketed by anonymity. It gives us the confidence to say things we might think twice about saying in real life situations. Many brave bloggers write with identities out in the open—others create alter egos or cultivate a certain persona—yet someways edit our public thoughts and moderate our punches. Still some of us embellish the facts, amplify our writings for dramatic effect, or conveniently adopt the easy ways of ommission or selective disclosure. These tendencies bespeak our issues with Honesty.

Honesty has become a flexible word in a blogger's world as it is a dreaded word in real life: we have reservations about being all-too-honest.

Our THIRD BLOG CHALLENGE is:

Why blog anonymously? Why is it difficult to blog openly and honestly, and in the event when we become all-too honest in our writings, who is the person/s that we dread the most to discover and read our blog and why?

Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style s/he wishes to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 30th of May to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Awards Challenge No. 3: The Hazards Of Honesty", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. [Link to this challenge]

To read the complete rules, here.

Thanks for joining and enjoy the challenge!

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Blog Challenge 1 Winners!

Winners for the Blog Challenge 1 are now posted! Congratulations to the winners. You can now claim your distinction badges.

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Blog Challenge 2 Best Entries!

The finalists for the "Blog Awards Challenge 2: Blogging for Global Warming" are now up for voting.

The entries will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on May 30th. Three major winners and 2 merit winners will be selected.

See the entries and vote for your favorites!

******

Blog Challenge 2: Best Entries -- vote for your favorite!

2008-05-15T01:17:00.004-05:00

Thank you to all those who submitted their entries for the "2nd Blog Awards Challenge: Blogging for Global Warming". Here are the best entries. Please read the voting rules at the bottom of this entry.

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"Read...and push to start" by memoirs of KLITORIKA
I am blogging against global warming!

Yes mga kapatid, bukod sa gusto kong makasali sa BLOG AWARD CHALLENGE at manalo ng badge na maipagmamalaki ko nanaman sa mga masugid na taga subaybay ng blog na ito, may isa pang plus! Kung bakit ko gagawin ang entry na ito. >>continue reading

"Reality Check: [Red Alert] A Global WARNING about Global Warming" by Dream Big
Global warming is already causing damage in many parts of the United States. In 2002, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon endured their worst wildfire seasons ever. The same year, drought created severe dust storms in Montana, Colorado and Kansas, and floods caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Texas, Montana and North Dakota. Since the early 1950s, snow accumulation has declined 60 percent and winter seasons have shortened in some areas of the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington. >>continue reading

"Blogging for Global Warming" by My Blog
According to the NOAA Satellite and Information Service,the term "Global Warming"refers,without any implication or magnitude,to the observation that the atmosphere near the earth's surface is warming.

Thus,Global Warming in itself,is an indication of the constant,ever-changing nature of the Earth's surface.Why then,is Global Warming so important? >>continue reading

"What you Can do to Stop Global Warming?" by inquiring mind
I'm a great fan of global warming advocacy. So when a friend ask me to join this contest by blog award challenge, i didn't have second thought. I really like the idea though so here's my piece. I choose first to include global warming issues in every school curriculum, it's best to put this issues in the mind of the younger individuals so they better understand the future of global warming. >>continue reading

"The Challenge" by scribble with me
We are facing the greatest problem there is now. Day by day it is slowly trying to grasp our attention to take action. But we are distracted by unimportant things such as noneducational tv shows and indecent political scandals. By and by, we also try to ignore it but I know that you know it as well. You feel it even at night. >>continue reading

"Global Warming" by DILETANTE ESCRITOR
I have heard of global warming before not knowing what it really meant. I only had to care about myself and if I do not understand something, then I do not bother about it. But one time in our Biology class, our teacher required us to pass a reaction paper of a film called: An Inconvenient Truth. Obviously, I had to focus on the film for me to have something to pass. Then and there, the truth shocked me. How could I not care about this? What was I thinking? >>continue reading

"For A Greener Earth" by Blog From Cebu To The World
Most of us wish for a greener and cooler place to live in. Who would not want that? Who among us would just like to stay in a close building for a week without sunshine and without fresh air to breathe? Or who would like to go out in the streets in the crowded and polluted downtown?

Maybe some of us are in the habit of opening the windows every morning to meet the sunshine and smell the freshness of the early morning dew. For the last 20 years or so, you must have noticed the significant change in the climate. It is now warmer, and the surroundings seem to have lost the luster it once had. We wanted to buy that latest air-conditioner system because we can no longer take the heat. >>continue reading

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If you want to vote, these are the guidelines:

* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.

* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.

* One vote is tallied as 100 points. A voter is allowed to pick three best entries among the finalists.

* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.

* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.

Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here (please don't use the chatbox) with your three (3) best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.

Voting ends May 30th 2008.

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Blog Challenge 3 is now posted!

Don't miss the Blog Awards Challenge 3. Join the challenge and be recognized!

Blog Challenge 7 Entries -- vote for your favorite!

2008-05-01T19:17:00.001-05:00

Thank you for submitting your entries for the "7th Blog Awards Challenge: Bloggermania: Challenging The Platforms Of Old Media". We would want to remind everyone about the number of words required for a post to enter the challenge.

Here are the 3 final entries. Please read the voting rules before casting your vote/s.
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Traditional Journalism VS BloggerMania by Kwentong Miko and General Nonsense

LAKANDIWA

Magandang araw sa lahat, masugid na mambabasa
Isa pong Blogtalastasan, sinikap kong inihanda:
Ang Traditional na Media, noon pa man ay subok na,
Laban sa uso at bagong Blogging – ‘to ang ating paksa.

Sa Traditional na Media, mga bagay na kasama
Dyaryo, radio at magazine, pati TV ay ang bida.
Sa kabilang panig naman, sinasabing BloggerMania
Dahil sa murang internet, nararating din ang masa.

Pagdating sa journalism, ano ba ang naaangkop?
Blogs na likha ng Netizen, doon ba tayo tututok?
O manatili sa luma, tradisyunal na at subok?
Halina’t ating alamin, bawal ang aantok-antok.

TRADITIONAL
Mayroon pa bang uubra, sa pahayag na tradisyon.
Masusing pagbabalita, ganap na imbestigasyon,
Mahigpit na pagsusuri, paglakap ng impormasyon,
Totohanang paglalahad, sinusumpaang propesyon. Read more >>>

Blindspots of Blogging by PROSETITUTE
In today's Web-driven arena of information, print journalism seems to be a fading name in the game.

The advent of blogging has undeniably shaken the foundations of traditional media by introducing new sources of information. It has challenged the radio scene with its podcast, the television with its vlog (video log), and, of course, the newspaper with its blog (web log). The internet has indeed drawn a new line of media, and, consequently, a new line of contention between blogging and the old media. Read more >>>

THE RELEVANCE OF OLD MEDIA AND CARLOS CONDE IS THAT THEY ARE IRRELEVANT by the Philippine Daily Idiot
FIRST QUESTION. So, is Old Media still relevant in the blogosphere?

Answer: A big It is.

FIRST OF ALL, in the unlikely event that I, self-important blogger, will be weaned from my daily cud of self-important Op-Ed pieces in the Philippine Star, I'd be sad.

I would miss thrashing Old Media.

FOR EXAMPLE, I've been asking no end: How the hell did Dr. Charles Chante become an Op-Ed page columnist at the Philippine Star?

With kindof due respect to the doctor, I am nevertheless shocked by his writing, which I could do by Googling and cut-and-pasting.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, I would terribly miss pseudo-meta-analyzing the news stories in Old Media. Read more >>>

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If you want to vote, here are the guidelines:

* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.

* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.

* A voter is allowed to pick two entries among the finalists.

* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.

* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.

Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here (please don't use the chatbox) with your best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.

Voting ends October 24th 2008.
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Challenge 6 second runner-up: Pano Palitan ng Cyberlife ang Real Life

2008-05-01T19:11:00.001-05:00

Blog Awards Challenge 6 - 2nd runner-up (Achievement): Manic Manuals

Winning Entry Title: Pano Palitan ng Cyberlife ang Real Life [original link]

Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Pano Palitan ng Cyberlife ang Real Life By Miko The Architek (Mortal Enemy of Neo a.k.a. Mr. Anderson)

1.) Create Monstrous Identity.

Sa virtual world, you can make believe and fulfill your fantasies. Dito may tsansa na magpanggap na mayamang socialite ang isang katulong, or katulad ng nauuso - the other way around. Maging hunk na pinag-aagawan ng lahat by posting pictures ng iba, kahit sa totoong buhay, ikaw ang nawawalang Missing Link ni Darwin. Maging Silver Grand Knight of Deepest Hell Who Can Deal 99,999,999 Damage in One Blow, kahit lampayatot ka at may BolaPhobia (fear of any Ball Games).

Your anonymity multiplied by phony concern of other netizens (truth: they’re busy too with the creation of their identities) grants you GodLike powers to be who you want. Exploit it. =)

2.) Hook Up.

Internet = Connection. Kahit ang speed ng internet nyo ay mabagal pa sa lasing na kuhol, pagtyagaan mong mag-add ng friends, magpost ng blogs, at maglaro ng online games. Collect and connect with as many entities as you can. Who cares kung tatlo sa “friends” mo sa list ay iisang tao lang. O kaya ang isa doon ay tatay mo na nagpapanggap na babae (ng hindi mo alam).

The purpose is to never be alone, to get served and give service, to have someone listen to your aspirations, rants, or ramblings – to affirm your existence.

3.) Suave Scheduling.
Time and Resource Management is a tough issue. Kung si Bruce Wayne ka na pwedeng magpasunog ng dollars kay Butler Alfred para pausukan ang puno ng mangga, wala kang magiging problem. You can have your business by day, social life by noon, and nuke criminals at night. Pero kung nagrerent ka lang ng PC from your allowance at paminsang-minsang kupit, mas challenging yan.

Wag masyadong mag-alala, maraming Computer Café Owners na concern sa needs mo. Meron silang special promos like “8pm to 8am, 100 pesos Only”! At may discount pa kung isang grupo kayo na magre-rent (para wala ng tatayo sa upuan, magtoka na lang kung sino ang bibili ng merienda). Masuerte ang mga office workers with unlimited access of internet. Hindi ko na sasabihin kung bakit dahil my immediate supervisor read my blogs. =P

Remember, Online Status is the only thing that signifies you are alive in Virtual City. So cancel that date, practice polyphasic sleep, and experiment mixing coffee with Gatorade.

4) Learn, Love, Live!

Napakarami ng misteryo sa Universe, at nasa Cyberspace ang kasagutan ng mga ito. Bakit si Goofy ay nakakatayo/nakakapagsalita/may-damit at si Pluto ay asal hayop pa rin, parehas lang naman silang aso (ang sagot ba ay Breed Discrimination)? Nagkakaroon ba ng panaginip ang mga bulag? Kung ang corn oil ay gawa sa mais, at ang vegetable oil ay gawa sa gulay, saan gawa ang baby oil (in related issue, kung ang flea powder ay pamatay ng pulgas, para saan ang baby powder)?

Lahat ay masasagot ng internet. At suportado ito ng mga surveys at statistics (na gawa-gawa lang din naman, tulad ng supultorerong nagpapanggap na Expert ng Cryogenics). Who needs rummaging to smelling-rotting books under the drilling eyes of an unwed librarian having a hemorrhoidal attack? The entire world’s knowledge is at the comfort of your bedroom.

Or perhaps you are looking for the love of your life, your soulmate? Sa internet mo rin ito makikita. Lalaki ba ang hanap mo? O Babae? O Babaeng may lawit? All of them are there, all breed, shapes and sizes. You can access them with the tip of your finger, preferably with a webcam (and to some for a small fee). And for Heaven’s Sake, they are gorgeous. So bakit ako magpapakahirap manligaw sa kaklase ko na sya nga mismo hindi alam kung ano ang gusto nya..

Sa internet, pwede mong damitan ng kahit anong style ang avatar mo. Pwede mo itong bilhan ng kotse, pagawan ng bahay. Bilang siya, pwede kang mamuhay tulad ng isang pirata, isang robot, o isang amoeba. At kung makokombinsi mo ang sarili mo, at makumbinsi mo rin ang ibang tao, that you are having the greatest time of your life (or technically your avatar), who else to argue?

For these reasons, bakit ka magtyatyaga sa totoong buhay. With this Manual’s Simple Instructions, walang kahirap hirap na Maging Ikaw Ikaw, makonekta sa mga Taong Gusto Mo, at mamuhay ng Walang Hassle. Everything you want to have in life is right here in Cyberspace – The Ultimate Paradise.

Just don’t be bothered (or envious) about the Café Owners and Web Developers who are island hoping, with caring friends, while drinking champagne with their soulmate.
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Challenge 6 first runner-up: Did Cyberlife Kill Real Life Intimacy

2008-05-01T19:09:00.000-05:00

Blog Awards Challenge 6 - 1st runner-up (Distinction): A Determined Frame of Mind

Winning Entry Title: Did Cyberlife Kill Real Life Intimacy [original link]

Winning entry is reprinted below.
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You only have 24 hours in one day.

You wake up, fix your bed, take a shower, eat some breakfast, and then prepare to get out of the house, an activity that takes about two hours. Then you spend another hour or two to get to your place of work or school. You spend another eight hours in that place. The clock chimes 5 pm, hurrah since its dismissal time. You rush to the nearest fx or bus station, wait for your ride to come for around 30 minutes, and then spend another hour or two traveling in the traffic laden roads during the rush hour. Twelve hours already has already gone by. When you get home you try to freshen up a bit, open the TV to the evening news, cook dinner, eat dinner and take care of the dishes after, pack the stuff you need for the next day and try to prepare for bed. Roughly 3 hours. The entire day you interact with the people around you. Before you go to bed and get a full eight hour sleep you realize you have still have one hour to spare.

You sit there pondering what to do with your spare hour and remember that you still have to check your email when you get home because your friend from Australia may have replied to your message. Or to look up what your real life friend was talking about on Google.

If you’re using dial-up connecting can be quite a pain. Sometimes it takes half an hour or so just to get connected. Then of course, when you go online, you just don’t spend that online time to reply to your friend’s email. You also look that “thing” up on Google, then you find something related that also piques your interest, or a forum about it which has a very lively conversation going on and the next thing you know you already have an account because you can’t wait to have the access to reply .

The activity didn’t go past two hours. It still left you with seven hours to sleep fitfully.

Another day passed by and you open the pc again to check the updates and see others who have joined in the conversation. You see replies that actually show their support to your views and start responding to them. Over the course of the week the cycle continued and you found yourself talking more to these online companions over a wide array of topics, get introduced to other community forms over the internet like role playing game servers, or special interest sites. By and by, you spend longer hours over the internet. At first this only ate up your time for sleep but this also affected how you rushed off to work, your temperament by the time you got to work, and how much patience you dished out to the rest of your family members by the time you got home.

Conflicts arose and you find yourself telling your online friends about your thoughts instead of sharing them with people in the vicinity. It is more convenient and they understand your situation. If they didn’t, you can always shut them off. The activity consumes more of your time as the cycle continues to a downward spiral. You now end up spending more hours online than chilling with your family or your peers. No wonder some people think that those who are good with computers have no lives.

Ask me now the question- did cyber life kill real life intimacy? Real life intimacy defined as our interpersonal relationships in real life, I say no.

Internet is just like any other media form. Like the radio or the TV, it can be distracting, informative, entertaining and time consuming. The thing is, no matter how much it occupies our senses, at the end of the day it is still the user who dictates and mandates how he should spend his time. Yes, one’s cyber life can directly infringe on one’s real life responsibilities and cause friction with the user’s real life relationships indirectly, but that is not always the case. It is how this internet media is used that defines whether or not it would pose a bad impact on one’s life. For example, cyber communities can also be used as a means of support on how to enrich your real life relationships. By using time minders to limit the user’s time on the internet, joining cyber communities may not infringe on one’s real life. Moreover, it could be a source of advice on how to deal with your moody partner, overbearing boss or irritating sibling. It can keep you informed of the latest happenings, help you bring good conversation topics in your career seminar program or after work parties.

Totally ridding yourself of a cyber life is not the answer as the reaches of the Internet is expanding. It is up to us to deal and adapt with the changes in the environment we are living in. We have twenty four hours and it is up to us on how to fully maximize it without compromising other things. At the end of the day it is still the user who is in control and has the final say. So, if someone’s real life intimacy ends up dead do not blame “cyber life”.
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Challenge 6 winner: Vicious, As It May Seem

2008-05-01T19:02:00.000-05:00

Blog Awards Challenge 6 Winner (Excellence): The urban gurU

Winning Entry Title: Vicious, As It May Seem [Original Link]

Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Gula
It all started with mIRC (Internet Relay Chat). And I am blaming Khaled Mardam-Bey for my Internet addiction!

Honestly, I was a late bloomer. I started chatting thru mIRC in the year 2000, five years after Khaled created the software for Microsoft Windows. In my entire fourth year high school life, I was busy browsing mIRC chatrooms, looking for fellow Filipinos, annoying an aged American chatter, or scavenging rooms just to bully anyone until 2 o’clock in the morning.

I vividly remember an instance when I recognized a name in one local chatroom. The profile says: “dundz f 25.” Curious of whom she was, I asked her, “hi! asl please?”

Homaigood! I was startled. It was my English teacher! It was my English teacher who lives two blocks away from my house.

Cool...isn’t it? A teacher chatting with her student minutes before midnight? (Wait a minute! Now I know why I’m allowing my 6th grade students to bother me in YM in unholy hours! Gee...)

mIRC is like gluttony. It is an over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. I was over indulged to the point that I didn’t notice I was wasting my time.

Good thing I’m finally over with mIRC. I downloaded the program last year and tried to relive the good old chatting days. A few months ago, I caught myself deleting the program from my drive after realizing that I need to move on...

Luxuria
In 2001, I graduated in high school, interestingly in mIRC also. By the time I was in college, Yahoo! Messenger (YM) was a hit. My college years wouldn’t be complete without YM. It served as a meeting place for class reports, consolidating facts for a term paper, conveying holiday coursework, and so on. Indeed, it was very helpful in my academic life.

But time came when I religiously open my account to meet other people. I get their accounts from Yahoo! Groups, some from other social networking sites. Lechery became an issue. It was lechery in the sense that I am engrossed with sociological compulsions. I easily fell for those whom I met online. Subconsciously, I submitted myself to Dante’s criterion of “excessive love of others.” Besides, it became an excessive reason to stay online.

Ira
Friendster awed the world when it was launched in March 2002. Nevertheless, it was only in November 2003 when I joined the said Internet social networking service, months before TV Patrol had their primetime news about its phenomenal hit among Filipino netizens.

If I’m not mistaken, blogging in friendster started only in the year 2005, by this time, blogging became the outlet of my angst. I blogged about getting a 4.00 in my Biology class, posted a copy of the lyrics of my theme songs for the one my hypothalamus is crazy with, worst, I even ranted about losing my very first job thru my Friendster blog. Indeed, friendster was a witness on how I manifested a vehement denial of the truth. It became my tool in my inward expression of wrath.

Invidia
Having only one social networking account did not content me. In August 15, 2007, I created my Multiply account. I was so envious of my college friend/housemate who discreetly maintains a personal website thru Multiply.Multiply was overtly better than Friendster. I can post there my narcissistic pictures, attach the videos I love the most, upload the songs that had been running thru my head lately, easily review the last movie I watched or the book I’m trying to finish for the past 15 months, continue to blog about my rants and raves in life, and many more. The best part of this, you can easily filter those whom you want to have connections.

My Multiply is very private. I only connect to my friends, schoolmates, classmates, and some online acquaintances with it. It is not infested by any of my past/present/future students, unlike my Friendster account, which is undeniably spammed by messages from them.

Because of that envy, now I believe that I have a better page in Multiply than my friend.

Superbia
YouTube’s slogan “Broadcast Yourself,” is perfect for anyone who wanted to show his or her excessive love of him/herself.

Last March 30, I created a YouTube account just to upload the short films my students made as their project for my subject. Pride gave me the courage to create an account, and later uploaded their videos. It was not actually my work; it was their fruit of labor. It was a plain act of desire to be more important than others.

Avaritia
Chatting with a high school classmate thru YM opened me to the possibility of gaining extra income thru blogging. With her recommendations, I opened my Blogger account in March 8, 2008. It instantly became the outlet of my overflowing thoughts. I redirected the stress I am giving myself by writing them down. Hence, there are also moments when I purposely stress out myself, especially when I have nothing to write about.

Greedy as it may seem, but the very first reason for me to open a Blogger account was just for personal gain.

But hey! After five months of maintaining a Blogger account, I don’t even have a PayPal account up to this very moment, nor incorporate an AdSense widget on my page.

Acedia
I am blaming Plurk for my blogging hiatus. It had been exactly 35 days since my last post here at blogspot. Since I created a Plurk account last July 13, I had enrolled myself into a full time micro-blogging post-graduate degree. Being a portmanteau of ‘play’ and ‘work,’ Plurking ate most of my valuable time for the past four weeks.

Plurking is not only an outlet of attention deficit people, like me; but also it is a social networking service for attention deficit people, like me. Thru Plurk I’ve met a writer-columnist in a national newspaper, a magician-at-night-DJ-at-late-night, a New York film & music producer and publicist, a photographer, an accountant, a researcher, and other e-celebrities. In other words, geeks who have nothing else to do on a Sunday night (well, aside from blogging).

Despite the fun and excitement of meeting new acquaintances, I admit that I’ve lost track of my own time because of plurking. I am guilty of not doing my work beyond what is required of me. I am very unwilling to do my real work, lazy and indifferent to my real profession. Being a natural born procrastinator, I slept not earlier than 3am for the past 10 days just to finish four exams and Plurk most of the time.

Yes, I know, I am a sloth.

Gluttony. Lust. Wrath. Envy. Pride. Greed. Sloth.

In the end, we go back to the ultimate question whether cyberlife is successful in exterminating real life intimacy. My answer to this query, and basing it on my personal experiences in this ambiguous and ambivalent world of the World Wide Web —is definitely NO. It even led me into treasured real life intimacies —intimacies that are now just part of the memories of a melancholic guru.

Nevertheless, vicious, as it may seem, the cyber world still made me realize that the principles of temperance, chastity, patience, kindness, humility, charity, and diligence are more essential and imperative in this 'real' world full of uncertainties.
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Blog Challenge 1: I Blog Therefore I Am -- 10 best entries

2008-04-29T21:45:00.007-05:00

First, here's the link to Blog Awards Challenge 2.

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Thank you to all those who submitted their entries for the "1st Blog Awards Challenge: I Blog Therefore I Am".

The judges have finally chosen the 10 best entries. They rated each entry according to quality/content, writing style, point of view/insight/logic, and grammar skills.

The 10 finalists will now compete for blogger votes, which will count for 20% of the final score. Final tally of scores and results will be posted on May 11th. Three major winners and 2 merit winners will be selected from the 10 finalists. [read more]

If you want to vote, kindly read the rules below:

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* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.

* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.

* One vote is tallied as 100 points. A voter is allowed to pick three best entries among the finalists.

* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.

* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.
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Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here with your three (3) best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.

Here are the 10 Best Entries and their links (in no particular order):

I Am Therefore I Blog by Not So Victor
Likewise, I urge Ms. Fernandez to step down from her high horse, turn off her bigotry, and try to find some real live bloggers to talk to. Instead of judging away in her column. continue reading >>>

The answer to life, the universe, and everything... is blogging by Electronic Pulp
This morning, I finished half of a new feature story that I was planning on posting tonight. It was supposed to be about the characteristics of Jumpers (who are special human beings capable of doing special (what else?) things like jumping through space and landing anywhere in the world) compared to those of Bloggers. continue reading >>>

Reasons Why I Love Drowning into Blogging by Hulag
Off the net proved bootless ideas to my personal campaign against procrastination, thus I started to check life solutions in the Cyber Ocean and luckily discovered the blogosphere. I got intrigued by its collection of elastic self expressions and come-see-this-way opinions fighting for attention over a public space. continue reading >>>

i blog by mikelcleus
when state-sponsored repression--political, personal or otherwise--reaches unprecedented levels, the world wide web has become an avenue, a sort of last resort, to voice out, problematize, and process pesonal narratives, which, in turn, is part of a bigger meta-narrative of cultures. free blog hosting, like that of google's blogger, contributes to the mainstreaming of the politization of a greater mass of people. continue reading >>>

Blog: a nonsense business? by 2fourteen
My summer sunburn is agonizing! It’s stinging me as I write this blog entry. After spending two seconds of your lifetime reading the two sentences above, you ask yourself: WHO CARES? If you worship me as your idol or if you have a head-over-heels crush on me, I would understand if reading it excites you. continue reading >>>

I Blog Therefore I Am by Caustic Thoughts
Despite certain circumstances showing otherwise, the constitution says this is a free country where freedom of expression is allowed. I have a right to discuss, to debate and to have a say about the things that matter to me and that affect me. Blogging is as legitimate as gathering in the streets to bang on the palace gates and clamor for change. continue reading >>>

I Blog, You Blog. We All Blog. Why? by My Frakkin Blog
Why do we blog? Why do I blog? Why do YOU blog? It has been alluded that we only blog because we are lonely and out of touch with the real world and that we are slackers. Those are some pretty demeaning words...don’t you think? continue reading >>>

Blogging and Loving It by Pinoy Lotto Winner
Look around first and read the mess that's in here. Much like the mess in my room, right? This is my squatting place in cyberspace. The domain that replaced my moleskine journal. The reason why I'm sometimes not in the mood to go out. continue reading >>>

aNg LuWasA't hULo.. by cherrymae06
Aaminin ko. Nabuo ang kauna-unahan kong blog [noong 2006] dahil sa tinataglay kong kalungkutan nung mga panahong yun. Bagaman may pamilya at mga kaibigan naman akong malalapitan, hindi ko maipahayag ang tunay kong saloobin sa mga tao sa paligid ko dahil sa pangambang walang makikinig sa akin, sa takot na walang makakaunawa sa aking mga daing. continue reading >>>

I, Blogger: I Blog Therefore I Am by cheapsentibox
I keep a very similar list. That makes me a normal out-in-the-real-world BLOGGER. Planet earth or blogosphere – I am my own person. I choose to exist in two realms just because I can. I choose not to dwell on any one side of the world just because I can. And yes, it so happened that I also choose to explore and make the most of what my list of life has to offer – blogging included – just because I friggin’ can. continue reading >>>

To read all the entries, visit the first challenge page and check out the links provided in the comment section.

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Cast your votes now by leaving a comment here (please don't use the chatbox)! Voting ends May 10th 2008.

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Don't miss the Blog Awards Challenge 2: Blogging for Global Warming. Join the challenge and be recognized! Proceed here.

Blog Awards Challenge Number 02: Blogging for Global Warming

2008-04-27T01:41:00.006-05:00

Global warming is nothing new to anyone. News media are feasting on this continual increase in the average temperature of the Earth causing sea level to rise, extreme weather episodes, deficits in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, and species extinctions, just to name a few.

With the seriousness of the issue in recent years, Google had its share in combating global warming through its Global Warming Speakout. Children of all ages from more than 80 schools around the world participated in Google’s project to brainstorm strategies for combating global warming. Google picked the top 50 ideas and highlighted them in a full-page ad in USA Today. The top ideas are the following:

1. Include global warming/climate change in school curricula (as part of National Science Standards), so when the students are in charge they can make educated decisions.
2. Increase availability of low-interest Energy Efficient Mortgages to support homeowners who increase the energy efficiency of their homes.
3. Put light sensors in all office and school buildings so all lights go off when the rooms are empty.
4. Require that all products contributing to global warming be marked with a specific color (e.g., chemical pesticides could be marked with a red sticker for being extremely dangerous to the environment).
5. Use less paper; use the back of the paper to print on or write on; use recycled paper.
6. Plant more trees to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
7. Teach recycling techniques in classes and school-wide programs.
8. Make recycling mandatory in all public facilities, such as schools, parks and beaches.
9. Do public service announcements on TV featuring celebrities promoting carpooling, walking, riding bikes, using public transportation, conserving electricity and recycling.
10. Give grants and tax credits to companies that invest in alternative, sustainable, emission-free fuel technologies while ending such subsidies for fossil fuel production.
11. The media should conduct interviews of legislators to help the public become aware of their ability and willingness to help solve the problem.
12. Replace incandescence light bulbs with fluorescence light bulbs.
13. Restrict the use of chemical fertilizer in agriculture.
14. Provide incentives and policies to encourage car makers to make more fuel efficient cars.
15. Protect wetlands and preserve more open space.
16. Provide tax incentives for regular recyclers and car poolers.
17. Use solar panels in the construction of new homes and office buildings.
18. Substitute local community transportation fleets with hybrid vehicles.
19. Require that car dealers hand out fact sheets that inform car buyers about the pollution levels of different cars.
20. Send scientists to talk about global warming in schools. They can bring hands-on activities so students feel more involved.
21. Unplug all electronics from the wall when they're not in use.
22. Have another Global Warming Student Speakout in one year - to see if any of these ideas have been implemented.
23. Raise mandatory emissions standards for cars and other vehicles sold in the US.
24. Use solar power in the day and use electricity at night when needed.
25. Give tax rebates for using solar power.
26. Congress should ratify the Kyoto Agreement.
27. Establish off-shore wind farms - saves land space and produces reliable power.
28. Levy higher taxes on companies that pollute the air.
29. Wait until you have a lot of clothes to wash before using the washing machine.
30. Provide tax incentives for companies that create Hybrid cars. That will reduce the need for oil.
31. Schools and businesses should be fined for not having recycling bins available to the people on their premises.
32. The media should tell us about what is really going on with global warming. We don't think that we have all the information we need.
33. At the end of the weather forecast, report “CO2 emissions levels today…” or comparative average temperatures (i.e., this year's temperature as it compares to the past several years).
34. Lead by example and convert 50% of government vehicles to environmentally friendly cars by the year 2020.
35. Place recycling bins throughout the city wherever there is a trash can.
36. Require companies to limit the amount of packaging an item can have and it must be recyclable.
37. Block bills that cause more damage to the environment.
38. Media could reduce advertising costs for alternative energy products to inform and increase sales in these areas.
39. Keep your tires fully inflated to improve gas mileage.
40. Replace old appliances with Energy Star appliances.
41. Promote awareness of local recycling centers.
42. Require college and high school students to take a global warming class.
43. Give tax reductions to public transportation users.
44. Protect our oceans - prevent plankton in the ocean from dying.
45. People running for elections should use email, radio and other media to campaign and stop using so many paper signs and flyers that use up our natural resources and then get left out and become pollution.
46. Reuse newspapers as wrapping paper for gifts.
47. Enforce laws about littering.
48. Use less electricity; turn off the TV, read books, walk, run, bike, surf, play tennis.
49. Business should require employees to telecommute several days a week.
50. Provide scientists appropriate resources to help them research the future of energy and the freedom to explore innovative ideas.

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Blog Awards Challenge Number 2: Blogging for Global Warming

From the list of 50, select 5 to 10 ideas that you like best and elaborate on them. Cite concrete examples or personal experiences, if necessary, to support your contentions.

When explaining your picks, the blog post doesn’t have to be in "bullet" form. Tone up your creative skills, write differently when you tackle each issue.

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You and I must take the global warming issue seriously. With this challenge, we dedicate our blogs to highlighting the severity of the global ecological crises and what each and every citizen of this world can do about it.

Few reminders:
1. Minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,500 (Longer entries will only be considered upon judges discretion, or if it really upholds the caliber of excellence to merit consideration.)

2. You can write in either Filipino or English in any style s/he wishes to write (humorous, sentimental, romantic, argumentative etc).

3. Leave the exact link/URL of your entry (not the URL of your blog, but the entry) here at the comment section. NO entry link should be submitted in the Cbox/Tagboard.

4. You have until the 11th of May to submit your entries.

5. Entry links will not appear in the comment section until the deadline date to prevent idea theft.

6. Those who participated in the previous challenge can still join. [rule no.11]

7. Participants must place this line at the end of the post: "This is my entry to the Blog Awards Challenge No. 2: Blogging for Global Warming", with the corresponding backlink to this challenge. Link to this challenge is: http://www.theblogawardchallenge.com/2008/04/blog-awards-challenge-number-02.html

To read the complete rules, here.

Thanks for joining and enjoy the challenge!

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Blog Awards Challenge Number 01: UPDATES

The 10 best entries for the 1st blog challenge will be posted in a couple of days for peer voting. [more of the voting rules]

More info will come later.