List of word press plugins I use in my site

Posted: 19th November 2009 by Jacky Yong in Silly me
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This is not THE ULTIMATE must-have wp plugin list for everyone. Neither is this a TOP TEN most popular list. This is just a list for me to remind myself, in case my site needs to be re-installed for some reason. (But wait a minute, if I need to re-install my site, I wouldn’t be able to access this list in the first place! There, I just hit myself in the foot!) Let’s hope Google cache is able to cache my post in case the unexpected happens! =P

Here is the list in order of importance.

WordPress Automatic Upgrade
http://techie-buzz.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-automatic-upgrade-12-release.html
WordPress Database Backup
http://www.ilfilosofo.com/blog/wp-db-backup
WP Security Scan
http://semperfiwebdesign.com/plugins/wp-security-scan/
Feed reading Blogroll
http://www.weinschenker.name/plugin-feed-reading-blogroll/
Popularity Contest
http://alexking.org/projects/wordpress
Google XML Sitemaps
http://www.arnebrachhold.de/redir/sitemap-home/
All in One SEO Pack
http://semperfiwebdesign.com/
Others
Akismet
http://akismet.com/
Random Blogroll
http://www.goldfries.com/
Random Posts
http://rmarsh.com/plugins/random-posts/
Post-Plugin Library
Does nothing by itself but supplies common code for the Similar Posts, Recent Posts, Random Posts, and Recent Comments plugins.
http://rmarsh.com/plugins/post-plugin-library/

1) WordPress Automatic Upgrade

Most used plugin of them all. Better get used to the very frequent wordpress updates. Unlike the Microsoft world, the open source world updates itself very fast. This is a bad thing if you don’t have this plugin. Manual update of your site sucks!

http://techie-buzz.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-automatic-upgrade-12-release.html

2) WordPress Database Backup

I set the database backup to be sent to my mailbox every week. Although I have never had the need to restore the database before (touch wood), I don’t really intend to. But perhaps it would be wise to do a BCP run, just in case. Aiyaa …. wait till I’m free lar. 🙁

http://www.ilfilosofo.com/blog/wp-db-backup

3. WP Security Scan

This is one of those plugins that you set one time and you forget about it. But nevertheless, its importance can never be overstressed. It’s kinda like the anti-virus software for your wordpress!

http://semperfiwebdesign.com/plugins/wp-security-scan/

4. Feed reading Blogroll

This was how I got in touch back with my friends. I need this to see what my friends are up to. Facebook update is getting tiresome nowadays; it’s only filled with mindless updates about how my long-lost childhood friend needs help to fight off a dragon or a mafia gang in Cuba. Blogrolls are different. I know that they are real updates, and that they really made the effort to share their life with us. Well, except for that cute Korean babe site that I also have in my blogroll. *Ahem* 😀

http://www.weinschenker.name/plugin-feed-reading-blogroll/

5. Google XML Sitemaps

Again this is another site that you tend to forget about, but its importance can never be underestimated. Google is the largest search engine in the web world, and it makes sense if your site is visible to Google, if you intend to be searched. Set it one time, and you just let it run!

http://www.arnebrachhold.de/redir/sitemap-home/

6. Popularity Contest

This is how I know that people love my post about my Altis and also my other older post about how to insert a Youtube movie in your Friendster account. I wonder why they love it so much. Nowadays I rarely use Friendster, and I think the steps are long outdated. Kinda biased, maybe I should reset the count already.

http://alexking.org/projects/wordpress

7. All in One SEO Pack

I don’t know if this should be in this list. I already have the Google XML sitemap installed, so should I still install this? I use this is a plugin because a lot of other wordpress bloggers use it. Is it redundant? I don’t know, but so far my posts shows in Google fairly quickly. Could be the Google sitemap at work or this one.

http://semperfiwebdesign.com/

Honourable mentions

1. Akismet

This should not be in Honourable mentions, it should instead be in one of the top in my list. It saves me a lot of the spam comments that I suffered while still using Drupal. Ever since I was in WordPress, it’s been smooth sailing all the way! The reason Akismet is in this list is because it is installed in WordPress by default!

http://akismet.com/

2. Random Blogroll

I used this before I used the Feed Reading Blogroll. Served me well for a while. But the lack of updates turns me off after a while.

http://www.goldfries.com/

3. Random Posts

Only used in the left column. I think this is not really visible. People who goes to my site rarely want to bump into an article by chance. They normally have something to search.

http://rmarsh.com/plugins/random-posts/

4. Post-Plugin Library

Does nothing by itself but supplies common code for the Similar Posts, Recent Posts, Random Posts, and Recent Comments plugins.

http://rmarsh.com/plugins/post-plugin-library/

So there you have it. My list of plugins in my site. What plugins do you have in your site?

I support Ong Tee Keat!

Posted: 19th November 2009 by Jacky Yong in Current Affairs
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I am so happy when I saw the news today. Chew Mei Fen got the boot from the MCA council! PADAN DIA PUNYA MUKA!! I fully support this move. Her recent spat with Ong shows that she is no longer in-sync with the party’s objective. Anyone who is either with Ong, or against Ong. Yeah, yeah, Ong said that this has got nothing to do with her move to have an extra EGM on 28 Nov, but even the blind knows what his agenda is. But in any case, I still support him. His style might be dictatorian, but that is how China grew to be so big in the first place!

People, I urge you NOT to be pitiful to MF Chew. As Soi Lek  mentioned yesterday, MF Chew is indeed very “talented“. She is the only one among 7 million chinese in Malaysia who got a portfolio in the ministry even though she lost her constitution. (Chua, you forgot about Koh Tsu Koon 😀 )  MF Chew deserves it, and if she knows better, she had better resign from all her post in MCA. Nobody wants a loser in the party.

Looks like MCA is regaining back its shine after all. Let’s hope this stays

Serdang Jam, why does it happen?

Posted: 8th November 2009 by Jacky Yong in Cars, Current Affairs
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There are a few reason the notorious jam happens. One does not need to be a highway engineer to figure that out. The poor people in Serdang gets no fucking exit in the MEX, while Damansara / PJ gets 7 highways (Federal, LDP, Kesas, Sprint, NKVE, Penchala, NPE)! What, people in Serdang not worthy of the attention of the Malaysian Highway Authority? The jam in Serdang has been going on for aeons! I remember the condition was already very bad during my brother’s graduation, back in 1999. All because of the lousy exchange in front of South City Plaza / Mines area. Heck, there wasn’t even South City Plaza at that time! And at one point, the authorities had one chance to make things right when they upgraded the Balakong interchange in front of Mines. But being their fucking usual “tidak-apa” attitude, everyday minum kopi makan roti, they chose to ignore the worsening condition of traffic going into Balakong from MRR2 and Serdang. Fuck you, the MP of Serdang at that time Datuk Yap Pian Hon! Oh I forgot, you are from MCA, and you’re supposed to shut the fuck up when the corrupt UMNO goons says so.

Then there is the condition of the wet market in the centre of town. It’s been there since the town was established and frankly it has way expired! MPSJ promised to move the fucking market elsewhere. That was even before I moved to stay in Seri Kembangan. Nothing much changed since.

The booming city where I stay isn’t helping the situation. Apart from Jusco, there is now a coming Giant and an entertainment hub at The Atmosphere. It’s right next to a tolled LDP, so people who wants to go to KL without paying the exorbitantly priced highway toll have no choice but to go through Serdang town. Even if they want to pay toll, the exchange going to LDP / Cyberjaya in front of The Atmosphere gets jammed up every morning and evening. A big turn off!

So the people staying here cannot do nothing but just endure this, day in and day out.  X-(

Elvis and Melissa Wedding

Posted: 5th November 2009 by Jacky Yong in Photography
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It was my wife Mei Fen who suggested me to help out Elvis. It was again another rather last-minute notice, only about 2 weeks. The unique thing about this project is that the bride and groom stay very near each other. Near is really rather an understatement. More like “virtually next door”. They both stay in Taman Nusaputra in Puchong, and get this, in the same street, in the same row! Their house are just a few houses apart!

So near!

See the open gate at the left? That's where Melissa stays. See the red and white tent on the right of the picture? That's where Elvis stays!

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Boo to you Datin Chew Mei Fen!

Posted: 3rd November 2009 by Jacky Yong in Current Affairs
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YUCK!! The mere mention of that name brings a bad taste to my mouth! That name has never sound good to me after she lost to Tony Pua in the last general election. It only means one thing; that she cannot be trusted to do things. And her latest remarks in the media sealed her demise.

Everybody by now should already know about the ruckus that is hitting MCA. Her first statement that deserves my boo is her announcement that a fresh election be carried out to elect a new president and vice president for MCA. Okay, I know she is not the only one making that decision, but I hated that decision anyway. To me, I don’t care what is happening inside that stupid MCA, but I still feel for both Chua and especially Ong. I salute Ong’s brave resolve to his stand. I believe that he is a man of his words, and it is hard to find faults with him. The other guy, Datuk Liow, despite his goody-two-shoe looks and soft-spoken demeanour, is no better than the other corrupt government officials. His wife was “alleged” to have received a half-a-million ringgit Toyota Alphard VeilFire from a contractor who just won a project from Datuk Liow. Who stands to benefit when a fresh re-election is called? Datuk Liow of course. And who is supporting him? Our beloved Datin, the subject of this post of course.

The second Boo came from her other remark about a certain potong commercial that she feels is sexist. Ehh hello Datin, since when potong lanciao is derogatory against women? The most is that it qualifies as hamsap (but even that is a long shot). How does it offend you lar Datin? You mean you know how it feels to kena potong is it? She even has the balls (ehh, really?) to call for all women to boycott the company. Please lar Datin, you live in Malaysia, but the rest of us live on Earth. Please grow up and follow the development of the rest of part of the world. If you cannot accept that kind of mild sexist joke, you should just go back and live in the forest.

Some random ramblings

Posted: 20th October 2009 by Jacky Yong in Computers
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Remember my Wira that I have converted to NGV over a year ago? Yes, over a year ago. I keep a record of how much I have traveled and the amount that I refueled so that I can gauge how much I have used and how much I saved compared to using petrol. I wanted to know when I will get a return of investment on the NGV kit that costs me RM 3200. Guess what? It has returned two days ago! From now on, every refueling that we do is an income! How cool is that?

But then again, it is rather unfair to do this kind of calculation. One must remember that since I have converted the Wira to NGV, we made a conscious effort to drive the Wira more often that the Altis. If I have not converted to NGV, all our trips to Sagil would have been on the Altis instead.

Yesterday and today I am off. I need to clear more than 10 days of annual leaves, and they will be burned if I did not finish them by the end of this year. So yesterday I drove all the way to Canon Service Centre at Peremba Square to have my sensor and lens cleaned. I must say, that they really did a great job at it. It was completed in less than the promised 30 minutes. And everything was as good as new! The only thing annoying about the place was that they did not display their latest camera equipments in their showroom. They only have office equipments. Kinda disappointing. But it’s a blessing in disguise; the poison on display would have killed me instantly! =P

Saw this guy with a 40D and a 50D, and a myriads of L lenses there too. He was having his equipment checked, overheard his conversation with the Canon guy that his 580EX II tend to overexpose. Damn, seems this is not an isolated case, some of my friends have their 580EX overexposing every shots too!

How to add Lomography using Photoshop

Posted: 17th October 2009 by Jacky Yong in Photography
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Disclaimer: This is just my noobi-ish experience trying to come up with my own workflow to create this effect. This is by no mean complete and final. Its sole purpose is to remind myself how I do it again, in case I want to reproduce it again. However you are welcomed to copy and try the steps for yourself.

Open the image in photoshop. You may fix any flaws in the pictures if you want (colour balance, skin smoothenings, exposures) but that is not entirely necessary. The colours will be shifted considerably anyway in the later stages, and vignetting can be added in the later stage that will definitely skew the overall brightness of the picture. So I’ll leave the picture as it is.

We will be working on layers a lot. The advantage will be obvious once you copy and layer other pictures to the lomo layer. More of that in detail later. Read the rest of this entry »

Mun Yew and Regine wedding – an autopsy

Posted: 10th October 2009 by Jacky Yong in Photography
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Regine engaged my service 2 weeks before her wedding! I was rather surprised that she would risk her that until the very last minute! Nevertheless, I was also free that day, and so I took on the challenge.

As with almost all my assignments, I always scout for the place before I go to the actual day, especially if the place is in Klang Valley. And what I found out was that the place was really quite small. It was not a bad thing, creative pictures can be produced if you break out of the norm.

I have always worked alone. The drawback is that I can almost always get the shots from the bride’s side. I have always communicated this to my clients before they commit to my service. However this time is a bit different. Two other photographer friends were colleagues with Regine as well. Ivan Ng was a newbie photographer, while Chee Fai is experienced, but wants to learn as well. I admire their spirit of tagging along to learn up. That was how I learned the trade also.

Listening to the phone, talking to her sisters, having her hair set and her pictures taken, all at once

Listening to the phone, talking to her sisters, having her hair set and her pictures taken, all at once

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How to drive in Malaysia

Posted: 5th October 2009 by Jacky Yong in Computers
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The below is a representation of how one should NOT do in Malaysia, but for reasons quite unknown, has become a standard for everyone to adhere to while driving in Malaysia. Foreigners driving on Malaysian road, you will find this guide very informative!

1.  Turn on those hazard lights in the rain and in the fog to remind other drivers that you are there. Turning on your headlights just ain’t enough. You need to be constantly be reminded that it is dangerous driving in this condition with the “tick-tock-tick-tock” sound coming from the indicator lights. It also soothes your sense of insecurities.

2. On the contrary with the above, DO NOT turn on your hazard lights when you stationary on the road shoulder. If you do that, people will think that it is raining heavily or really foggy.

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Hew and Annie Wedding

Posted: 28th September 2009 by Jacky Yong in Photography
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This was more of a favour for an old friend rather than a paid assignment. My friendship with Annie span more than 8 years, and it was under rather unusual circumstances that got so close to her and her family, particularly her sister. So when she requested for my assistance to be her wedding photographer, I couldn’t resist.

My work as her photographer started even before her actual wedding day. She wanted me to prepare a slideshow to be played during her wedding dinner. It was supposed to be a secret. She explained to me that it meant a lot to her, and she specifically requested to play Jacky Cheung’s song, 有个人. She wanted to mean that in every stage of her life, there are friends, families and relatives who were there for her, and those people were the ones who helped shaped who she is now. And by making this slideshow, she is showing gratitude  for them.

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