Of Pens and Sieves

With the word play an obvious allusion to Harry Potter's pensieve (the smoky basin where Professor Dumbledore magically casts his silver-threaded memories for keeps), Of Pens and Sieves delves on a deeper and sometimes philosophical view of things one may find too melodramatic to have a take on. This new blog would be like a flower garden (complete with thorny roses, sweet-smelling dama de noches, and unwanted weeds) to my more serious thoughts - acute aspirations, emo-outbursts, sorry sighs, whimsical what-ifs, and from time-to-time, comic reliefs.

Like any garden, Of Pens and Sieves would need tendering, with the intention of acting as a therapeutic outlet as well. So please feel free to drop by, immerse yourself, or share your thoughts on/with mine (leave a comment if you wish).
Step inside my pensieve.

Excel Add-in Installer

Developer: Adajet
License: Free
OS: Windows All
Last Updated: Feb 23, 2007 11:15AM

Excel Add-in Installer, as the name suggests, is a simple yet effective tool to quickly install all your custom-made add-ins in Microsoft Excel without even running Excel. With the developer in mind, Excel Add-in Installer allows you to easily distribute and deploy your excel add-ins, saving you the hassle of personally having to instruct your often IT-challenged end-users on how to go about the lengthy installation from within Excel's clunky interface.

History:
As a side-project of my own while teaching myself VB6 programming, the idea for Excel Add-in Installer had sprung from the need to effortlessly distribute the often complex Excel macros I write to my users. This allowed me to concentrate on my work better and devoid me of the time to install the add-ins personally. After nine iterations (v1.0.9), I've come to rely much on this small utility whenever I rollout new stuff.

Key Features:

• Installs excel add-ins (.xll and .xla) without opening Excel
  
• Fast and simple 2-step installation -> Browse - Install
• With option to automatically start add-in on Excel startup
  
• Command-line utility for silent install/uninstall
  
• Integration with popular installer systems such as Inno Setup and NSIS
• Works with any version of Microsoft Excel
• Stand-alone executable (does not need to be installed)

Screenshots:

Main window

Command line help window

Disclaimer:
Excel Add-in Installer is completely FREE and contains no Adware, Spyware, Registration, Popups, Malware or other unwanted software.

I have not encountered any bugs yet since I only use it straightforwardly (had not undergone rigid testing). But since I'm just a self-taught programmer, I'm sure to hear a lot of feedback from more experienced users/testers. So feel free to buzz me for any new feature suggestion or bug you may encounter as this would also greatly help me learn the (programming) language better.

Download Excel Add-in installer (48kb)

I just can't get enough of empanada!

Any trip to Vigan, Ilocos Sur just won't be complete without feasting on crispy cholesterol-rich empanada!

Available in regular and special (with even more cholesterol thanks t0 an egg and vigan longganisa), these thin and crispy stuffed delights doused in sukang-iloco-with-lasona have always been the perfect answer to worn out turistas seeking refuge in Vigan's spanish colonial plaza, after running around Ilocos for a full day (Norte and Sur mind you).

Please, please... help yourself...

Back to Black

Way back when I first started working (which wasn't so long ago, mind you), I rewarded myself a mountain bike with my first pay. It was a full sized black 18-speeder with alloy rims, handles, and brake mechanisms, grip shifters, front and rear shock absorbers, and quick-release skewers for the seat and both front & rear wheels. You know, the works! It wasn't high-end stuff for the pros but it nevertheless cost me quite a bit at that time. It was a strikingly sleek-looking bike. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought the same when several months after, I came home and found it missing.

And so it was pure bliss when on an unusually hectic Sunday afternoon, I happened to chance myself upon that very same bike I set my eyes on 4 years ago. It was actually the blue version which I first saw and so I quickly looked for other colors. There wasn't any other but the attendant said they still had 1 more boxed up. I left the store not checking it out.

Total uneasiness got the better of me though and so I found myself back at the store in no time, eager to have a peek at the box. I could not believe what happened next. I call it fate, destiny at work.

It was black.

Call me corny or a sentimental freak. I don't care. But the emotion was really high, peaking when I finally mouthed "sige paki assemble na". Then finally, after what seemed like an eternity of endless waiting, there it stood, waiting to be ridden.

"Para akong batang binigyan ng candy."

Power Tripping!

Hurrah! A book for my birthday!

At least that's what this elegantly wrapped birthday gift appeared to me. Forgive my excitement over a book for I've been a repressed book lover due to its ever increasing cost. I made my best guess at the title underneath the signature wrap my girlfriend is starting to get famous for. Lemme see... I can only think of one right now. I thought it would please my girlfriend if I opened the gift with her around. You know... so she can see my reaction. So I set it down beside me and started driving.

Two blocks down the road and as I've failed that marshmallow test, I found myself unable to suppress the building suspense. With enough care to not tear the hand-made paper apart, I started unfolding from the edge. Wait, I recognize that color pattern! This IS the book! Hurriedly, I ripped the rest and behold...

The one book to rule them all... [evil laugh]

Finally, I've got my wanting hands on the book I've been wanting to dissect, law by law, and all 48 of them (i think an equally clinical book review is in the works)! The title alone intrigued me, better yet, mesmerized me, having first seen a copy at Powerbooks. I mean, come on. Who doesn't want to stand out, to gain respect, to bask in the spotlight, to be successfull, to relish in more victory, to play on people's fantasies, to wreck fear on the weak, to annihilate your enemies, to have ultimate power! [evil laugh again]

Sorry got carried away. Hehe...