MANILA, Philippines — I love the New Year because it means that I can finally let go of the past year's baggage and start on a clean slate. A new year also means excitement for fresh discoveries and never before ventured tasks and challenges. If you're a techie or just want to be one, here's my suggestions for Top 10 things to do in 2011. Level it up and keep on learning! :)

1. Explore a new gadget. The bad thing with gadgets is that they easily get outdated, the good thing is that we're assured of better versions each time.One thing for sure, 2011 is going to be another revolutionary time for the industry. I am still getting comfortable with my 2010 Christmas gift, the Apple iPad 64gb, and I hear already that there's a new IPad coming up. Oh well....

2. Donate your techno garbage. If you're blessed with high-tech thingamajigs, why not give some of it back to the less fortunate, unless what you really want to do is build a museum. There's always some remote classroom or poor teenage kid who'd want to get their hands on the old Pentium lappy or Nokia 3210 of yore. Another option is to join the recycling program of major malls like Ayala and SM.

3. Learn a geeky skill. Something I've put on my list of resolutions this year is to figure out WordPress coding by reading how-to's in codex. org. It must have been the offshoot of hearing all those experts utter geekspeak in WordCamp.Start small by mastering the buttons in your digicam or tinkering with the numerous apps in your smartphone. You're on your way to geekery in no time.

4. Launch a blog. Even though it's already 2011, it's not too late to start. You can still make money if you specialize in uncommon niches like real estate, DIY, computer tablets, android phones etc. And the good thing with being a blogger these days is that you get invited to events, review products and score freebies.

5. Be a Facebook, Twitter or Youtube superstar. Supposing you  didn't make it big in blogging, there's still plenty of room for domination via the social media. And the good thing with sites like Youtube, you can be an overnight sensation. Just don't do something notorious like falling off the train tracks or romping around in your birthday suit in Boracay.

( to be continued...)