Found out late last week that StudioPress along with several other companies merged together to form Copyblogger Media LLC, which is a new consolidated company led by Copyblogger founder, Brian Clark. Asides from themes and plugins, this new company will offer online education and a suite of software tools for WordPress.

Here’s a few excerpts from the official announcement posted on the StudioPress blog:

We’re excited to announce that StudioPress and several other companies are coming together to form Copyblogger Media LLC. This is a new consolidated company led by Brian Clark, founder of Copyblogger.

I am one of the owners of this new company, while Nathan will remain as the lead developer of Genesis. We’re very excited about the development community which has surrounded Genesis, and there is so much to look forward to. Craig will continue to handle the business-side of StudioPress, while I will still remain an integral part of the entire project.

About Copyblogger Media, LLC

Joining Brian Clark and myself in this new venture as partners are Sean Jackson (creator of Scribe SEO), Tony Clark (co-creator of Teaching Sells, Third Tribe, and a new WordPress product called Premise), and Sonia Simone, Senior Editor of Copyblogger and co-founder of Third Tribe with Brian, Chris Brogan, and Darren Rowse.

As a full-fledged new media company, Copyblogger Media, LLC will have multiple lines of business, including online education and live events. But the thing that caught my attention was Brian’s vision for a suite of software tools, specifically for the WordPress space.

Read more about the Copyblogger Media LLC merger here.

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this when I first found out about it but as I continued reading the post, I realized that this move would not only be beneficial for the groups involved but also for the WordPress community. Why? Because the people involved in this merger are not only good at what they do, but they also offer good quality products and services that comply to WordPress standards. So I really believe that this development is a win-win situation for both the company and the WordPress community. I’m looking forward to the products and services that this company will be coming up with and offering us in the near future.

If you’re currently a client of StudioPress, you have nothing to worry about this recent development. Brian Gardner said that it’s business as usual, he and his original team aren’t going away and that this merger would only bring better products, services, updates and support to current StudioPress clients.

Btw, for StudioPress affiliates like me, please take note that the StudioPress Affiliate Program is no longer with E-junkie and has switched over to ShareASale. You have until Sept 30th to switch to the new program. Old affiliate links not updated after that date will not receive credit for affiliate sales. Please refer to this post for further information.

What do you guys think of this merger? What products or services would you like to see Copyblogger Media LLC come up with and offer to the WordPress community? Please share your thoughts.

Recruit.net is a network of multilingual job search engines that provide job listings in countries like Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA and Vietnam. It is operated by Recruit.net Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company. Recruit.net provide job hunters free and easy access to millions of job listings from different companies.

The company uses a proprietory search technology that crawls the Internet and looks for job listings from different sources like corporate web sites, recruitment agencies, job boards, newspapers, classifieds, etc. Recruit.net has added another country to its list as it launched its new Philippines-based job search engine last month.

Here’s the official announcement of Recruit.net’s Philippine job search engine launch as posted on their company blog.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new Philippines job search engine (www.recruitnet.ph) The site has over 25,000 job listings from hundreds of companies in the Philippines.

With approximately 24,000,000 internet users and only a 24% penetration of the total population, the Philippines is one of the largest and fastest growing markets in Asia.

The Philippines also boasts a highly competent and globally mobile work force that will benefit from the Recruit.net network of global job search engines.

Recruitnet.ph is a result of continued requests from our users to launch our service in the Philippines. So please please keep the feedback coming in.

As a Filipino. I’m happy with the Recruit.net’s move to open up and launch a Philippines job search engine because it provides my kababayans (fellow Filipinos) an opportunity to find more job openings/listings which would hopefully lead them to getting a job that would help them and their families.

You can check out Recruit.net’s new Philippines job search engine over at Recruitnet.ph.

The WordPress Foundation was officially announced yesterday with the launch of its official website. Started by Matt Mullenweg, the WordPress Foundation is a charitable organization founded to help and support Open Source. I found out about it late yesterday when Matt announced it on his blog. To get a better understanding of the WordPress Foundation, its purpose and what its about, here’s a little information I gathered from its official website.

What is the WordPress Foundation?

The WordPress Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Matt Mullenweg to further the mission of the WordPress open source project: to democratize publishing through Open Source, GPL software.

What is the purpose or goal of this foundation?

The point of the foundation is to ensure free access, in perpetuity, to the projects we support. People and businesses may come and go, so it is important to ensure that the source code for these projects will survive beyond the current contributor base, that we may create a stable platform for web publishing for generations to come. As part of this mission, the Foundation will be responsible for protecting the WordPress, WordCamp, and related trademarks. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the WordPress Foundation will also pursue a charter to educate the public about WordPress and related open source software.

We hope to gather broad community support to make sure we can continue to serve the public good through freely accessible software.

The WordPress Foundation was inspired by Free Software Foundation – the creator of the GNU GPL license we use and promote, the Open Source Applications Foundation, which creates Chandler and the Mozilla Foundation, making the web and email more accessible and built on open standards.

As a WordPress user and advocate and also as a supporter of Open Source, I’m very happy and excited about this development and I can’t wait for the other “interesting” things that will be coming to the foundation as Matt mentioned on his blog.

As a side note, the WordPress Foundation website runs on the developmental version of WordPress 3.0 and is using the new default WordPress theme – 2010.

Check out the new WordPress Foundation website!

If you remember earlier this year, the state of Queensland, Australia announced that they are looking for candidates to apply for the job as the caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef islands. Dubbed as the “Best Job in the World“, the person chosen to be the “island caretaker” was required to do the following: lazing in the sun, snorkelling, feeding the fish, cleaning the pool and post weekly entries and photo/video updates on a blog. For compensation, the “island caretaker” will be receiving $150,000 Australian dollars (US $105,000) for the 6-month tenure.

The Best Job in the World campaign attracted over 34,000 applicants from over 200 countries. After a preliminary round of the selection process, the initial number of candidates was cut down to 50, then a group of 16 finalists coming from 15 different countries were chosen. Yesterday, the winner was announced and the person chosen to be the “island caretaker” was British adventurer Ben Southall.

Here’s a video of the press conference and announcement of the Best Job in the World winner.

What a lucky guy! Imagine, being paid to go to the beach, go snorkelling and blog. I’m sure most of us dream about having a job like this, right? Although the job only lasts 6 months, its still the best job in the world especially for a blogger. For sure Ben will be having the time of his life. Congratulations Ben and looking forward to reading your blog entries. Have fun mate!

How about you guys? Ever dreamed about having a job like this? If not, what would be the best job in the world for you? Do you think Ben will get bored with his job after a few weeks? Please share your thoughts.

[image and video taken from the Daily Telegraph]

I’m taking another break from regular blogging to share about something that recently happened in the Philippines. This incident happened the day after Christmas at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City and involves Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. of Masui City, Lanao Del Sur, his bodyguards and his father Nasser Pangandaman Sr., who happens to be the Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary in the Philippines.

I first read about this when a friend posted about it on Plurk. I then followed the link and read the story from the blog of Bambee Dela Paz, daughter and sister of the persons who got mauled by Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr and his bodyguards. The following are excerpts from her blog post.

At around 1:30 PM today, at Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo City, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., Mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur, his father, Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and company, beat my defenseless 56-year-old dad and my 14-year-old brother to a pulp because of some stupid misunderstanding on the golf course.

My brother and I were playing golf at the South Course of Valley. We were on the 3rd hole, and we see two golf carts going past us, overtaking our flight, and setting up to tee off on the next hole. My dad goes up to them and asks them why they would do that, why they would overtake us without even asking for our permission…So we complained to the marshall. We play the 5th hole and walk towards the next hole, where there is a teehouse, and both the flights in front of us were there, talking with the marshall. The mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur talks with my dad. Things get heated up. Voices were raised…He attacks my father. His flightmates, maybe 2 or 3 of them, rush to his aid and beat up my father. My 56-year-old father. My younger brother and I could not just watch. We rushed to break the fight. My younger brother pleads to the mayor to please stop it. To not hurt my dad. To just stop. His words still ring through my head…”Sorry na po, sorry na po…tama na…tama na po…” With his hands in front of his chest in a praying position. PLEADING. The mayor socks him in the face. My brother defended himself. My dad is still on the ground getting clobbered. My brother is the same way. I try to stop the fight, but all I can do is stop one person. There were 4 or 5 of them attacking now.

Someone breaks up the fight. I thought it was all over. The mayor shouts to his caddy: “Hindi nila kami kilala! Sabihin mo nga sa kanila kung sino ako!” And believe me, I had no idea who this person was. But now I know. He’s the person who, with 4 other men, beat up my 56-year-old father and my 14-year-old brother.

We leave. We walk to the clubhouse to file a complaint. My brother asks for a doctor. My dad could barely walk. Their group comes to the clubhouse, sees my brother. Once again my brother pleads, says sorry, and is crying. He was CRYING, for crissakes. But no. The relentless mayor still punches him in the face, and then sees my dad and goes after my dad again. Him and his friend pull my dad to the ground, pulls at his feet, and steps on him like he’s dirt. I run to him and try to hold him back, holding him back by his shirt, while this other guy and this girl tries to stop me. She tells me to just stop it. I scream in her face “they’re beating my father up and you want me to stop?!” I pull at his shirt–I don’t let go. All I can see was my dad being trampled on. I didn’t even see my brother getting beat up.

To read Bambee’s full blog post, visit this link: The World Has Gone Crazy.

Like what Ade said, the world has always been crazy. This is not the first time I’ve heard about government officials or “public servants” who abuse their authority and trample on the rights of the citizens especially in the Philippines. Fortunately, no one was killed in this incident. In some cases, the victims get killed or just simply disappear. However, this incident is still a horrific and traumatic experience for the Dela Paz family. What makes this scary is that the Mayor and his bodyguards who were involved in this incident, weren’t in their constituency. imagine what they could’ve done if this would’ve happened in Masui City? I’m pretty sure it would’ve been uglier.

According to news reports, the Pangandaman’s are denying they started the fight and are planning to file counter charges of physical injuries and grave threats against the elder Dela Paz. The DAR Secretary is also consulting his lawyer about the possibility of filing a libel case against Dela Paz.

I hope witnesses would come forward and tell the truth. I hope that there will be no cover-up, no “palakasan”. no “kumpadre system” involved. I hope that the Dela Paz family gets justice and if the mayor and his cohorts are found guilty I hope they get punished for their deeds. Not only to teach them a lesson but also to remind other governemnt officials, that they are “public servants”, elected to serve the people and not to use and abuse their authority for their own interests.

Here’s a couple of videos of news reports regarding incident:

Related Blog Entries

• The World has Gone Crazy by Bambee de la Paz
• Updates and Thank Yous by Bambee de la Paz
• Repost of Bambee’s post at Filipino Voices
• Impunity and Golf By Caffeine Sparks
• DAR chief Pangandaman’s son, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. in Mauling Golfers in Antipolo by Noemi Dado
• Golf, Guns, & Goons : Philippine Golf Horror Story by Joel Chua
• Politicians Beat Up Defenseless Dad, 56, and Son, 14, Over Golf by Shari
• Mayor of Lanao Del Sur Mauls Father and Son by Village Idiot Savant
• DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and Son maul 56-year-old Golfer and 14-year old Kid by Neil Es2pido
• Irony to a Tee by Marck
• Mayor Beats Up 56 Year Old Man and 14 Year Old Boy by BA Racoma
• DAR Chief and Mayor of Masiu City Maul Helpless Dad and 14 yr old Son by Jepoy Bengero
• Politicians are the WORST. Stay away from them by Jen
• Entitlement by Ia Lucero
• A Dampener on the Season by Jonas Diego
• These Bastards Have To Pay by Gerry Alanguilan
• Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. (son of DAR Chief) in Mauling Golfers in Antipolo by Dine Racoma
• Crazy Politicians! by Lalaine
• When A Family Golf Game Turns Ugly by Dementia
• He Who Had Too Much Sense of Entitlement by Tess Termulo
• Mayor, You’ve Been A Bad Boy! by Mark Bravo
• Nasser Pangandaman Jr., mayor of Masiu, Lanao Del Sur: Golf Attack by Reyna Elena
• You’re Not Getting Away With This. byMarcelle
• Of Thuggery and Courtesy Resignations by Ding G. Gagelonia
• Politicians Maul Father & Son Over Golf by Regnard Raquedan
• Philippine Mayor Beats Up Helpless Old Man Over Golf by Flisha
• Asshole Politicians Beat Up Father and Son Over Golf by Mad Cow Blues
• Potpourri II: The widening gyre by Ephemere
• Mayor Pangandaman Beats Up 56 year old man and his 14 year old son by Karla Redor
• Philippine Mayor Beats Up Helpless Old Man Over Golf by Flisha
• We haven’t really gone anywhere by Alex Maximo
• Masui Mayor beats up 56-yr-old man and 14-yr-old boy – another reason to oppose term extensions, no elections and Cha-Cha by Jhay Rocas
• The “DVD” Side Of Philippine Politics by Feisty Momma
• The Golf Incident: The Trouble with Mirrors by Juned
• Ang Kapangahasan ng isang Pulitiko ngayong Kapaskuhan by Fjordan Allego
• Mayor and Bodyguards beat up 56 year-old man and 14 year old boy over GOLF by the_bumper_car
• Golfing with the Pangandaman…can hurt…(Repost of Bambee’s post) by lyn
• Bully Foolitician Nasser Pangandaman Jr. by Pedestrian Observer
• A Mindanaoan’s point of view on The Valley Golf Antipolo Controversy by Yolynne
• PANGANDAMNYOU: will GMA force Sec. Nasser Pangandaman to RESIGN? by Spanky
• Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. mauls golfers while father/Cabinet secretary just looks on by Tonyo Cruz
• Philippines: Uproar over mauling by mayor/son of Cabinet secretary by Global Voices
• Do Not Underestimate a Blogger: Bloggers Buzz Against the Injustice of a Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. by cmaotaku
• Impunity by Manuel Quezon III
• Piyudal by Alex Maximo
• Reports on DAR’s cheif son, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman’s Assult on Father & Son at Valley Golf & Country Club Antipolo by Brian Ong
• Blogs on Pangandaman by 1o95
• Mayor beats up 56-year-old man and 14-year-old boy… SHAME ON HIM. by cheesychuckie
• Of Golf, the Internet and Elites by Butch Dado
• Nasser Pangandaman Jr.: The Warlord of Masiu by Carlos Conde
• Pangandaman and son display bad behavior by Arpee Lazaro
• I really hate people in power by Jovi
• The Pangandaman family – Valley Golf incident in Quatar Lving
• Politicians, kings of the world??? by Blogbastic
• Support our Fellow Blogger Bambee dela Paz! by The Left Click
• On arrogance: This world *is* crazy, Bambee. We just have to fight the craziness the best we can and hope that we kick it’s ass. by Marcus
• Public servant power by Mon Casiple
• How NOT To Play ‘Spin Doctor’ on Blogs [The Pangandaman Golf-Mauling Incident] by Jozzua
• Arrogance on Naked Display by The Unlawyer
• Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. GOOFBall Bully of Philippine Golf by The Pedestrian Observer
• Arroyo’s peace adviser merely watched his son’s mauling spree by Ellen Tordesillas
• DAR chief apologizes for son’s involvement in Antipolo brawl by Mindanao Pilgrim
• Compilation of articles on FilipinoLinks

DIGG: Politician mauls 56 year old and 14 year old on golf course

If you also blogged about this and would want to have your post included in the list, just leave a comment with the post URL.

[ image by Joel Chua ]