C5 Under The Sun

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2010-12-03T06:40:00.002+08:00

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More Space!

2010-12-03T06:32:00.002+08:00

My computer's hard drive space is running low. The system often logs out. I notice that when system space is less than 1GB. I need a bigger space yet I want it separate. I want to have the 500gb hard drive soon!

Advantages Of LCDs Over CRTs

2010-05-31T21:40:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

Are you still using a CRT TV? We've thrown ours when I figured what was defective will cost more than we bought it for 2nd hand. Not literally threw but we sold it to a junk shop.

We decided to go for LCD instead since it's less harmful to the environment, less electricity consumption and the video is a lot better, and less heavier.

It would be great to have a 22 inch lcd tv but a friend just gave us a flat TV.

Saving On Printer Expenses

2010-05-01T21:06:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

We have had several printers over the years, though, just one printer at a time. The very first one was a laser printer. We needed the laser quality for the the print to be camera-ready before making a positive film as part of the pre-press production. Later, we sold the laser and bought an inkjet instead. Remanufactured printer cartridges were not yet available then so we buy every original cartridge and it costs a lot when you put them all together. Good thing, several years later, injectables and remanufactured cartridges became available. Now, there's even continuous ink.

Looking At The Bright Side

2010-04-25T15:23:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

We moved to a new place. It costs more than the former because the former was free....but it's quite far from hubby's workplace. Expenses come in the form of transportation cost and traveling time wastage.

In our new place, the house is small. Really small...but everything is within reach: market, schools, supermarket, mall, and best of all, hubby's work place is just walking distance away. He need not wake up at 4am to get to work at 6:30am. Now, 5am is his waking time. He used to come home at 6pm but now it's just a little before 5pm. He can do some carpentry when he gets home!

It used to be that we have to buy everything for the kitchen almost once in 2 days. Without the ref, I really can't buy much. Now it's ok...even if I forget something, just a few steps will bring me what I need.

The place is really small but we managed. Just imagine, at nights when we're asleep, only about 6sqft of the kitchen space remains as space. :) Still, the bright side overpowers the dark...and that's what really matters.

Habbo With Me

2009-07-02T06:40:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

Who among you are aware of Yoville? How about Pet Society? These are applications that are can be played by Facebook users. They have one thing in common: they both center on filling up your house with stuff. You earn then you have "money" to buy. Aside from that, you get to play with your friends and you get to know others too. Both are social media with the enjoyment of playing.

Two days ago I discovered Habbo. I actually clicked a banner while checking my mails. I saw this building in construction so I got the idea that it's a building game like Yoville. (Actually, I like Yoville better than Pet Society because the first is 3D and you can move around the 4 corners of your room while the latter is just 2D and just spans from left to right.)

With Habbo, it's more like Yoville but better and more challenging. It's still under beta and they're looking for beta testers. Come join me and get to know people who are Habbonians too. There are several games within the game too which are challengingly fun. If you get to be chosen to be one of the beta testers, you get to be part of those who makes building more fun. :)

Destress Yourself With The Feel Of Nature

2009-06-04T15:14:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

Getting stressed seems like second nature to human beings especially when pressured. Not many can handle stress so well that other people gets stressed even more seeing the unstressed person live life with a broad smile amidst the problems, trials and tests.

Perhaps it's a gift or the person has learned to reach that state of stresslessness. There are some things you can do physically, though, to help you pave the road to stresslessness.

Nothing is more relaxing than the feel of nature. Go out for a trip to a hill or a farm and feel the breeze caress your cheeks. If you can't do that because of work, then make your home feel like nature. Have a window frame with a picture of the beach with splashing waves or a garden full of colorful flowers. Change your computer wallpaper to something oceanic. Change your furniture to something rustic. Nature is felt with rustic furniture. You can even sleep on it. If you lack the funds, sell the old set so you can have additional for the new one.

Stressful living makes one old faster. Try to control your stress. Worry will never solve any problem.

My 9-Year Old Girl Has An Entrepreneur Spirit

2009-06-04T14:56:00.003+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

Classes started last Monday. A bit early than usual. Usually it starts after June 12, Philippines' Independence Day.

Anyway, during lunchtime today, when she came home for lunchbreak, she announced that one of her classmates envied her notebook tags. Each tag for each notebook has her name, grade and section, subject and teacher's name, printed on copy paper using Arial font, sized 18points. It was a simple but neat way to identify the notebook. I made it last night and gave it to my daughter.

In class, her classmate asked if she can have the same for 5 pesos (about 10 cents). My daughter bargained to make it 10 pesos as her mom would still encode everything and then have it printed. Her classmate agreed and my daughter came home happy and excited.

I said she's charging too much because it's very simple to do. She countered that her classmate agreed already and that I still have to type it. If her other classmates would want the same then the charge is just fine. Oh well, ok, she has a point. And I think her future's bright in entrepreneurship. :)

To Buy Or Not To Buy

2009-05-28T09:34:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

In today's economic struggle, the question is raised: Is it time or not time to buy real estate property?

If you don't have extra beyond what you need to spend daily, then it's not time, regardless of the price of the house...unless you'll have to pay years later, but there's nothing like that.

If you have extra, then it's a good time to invest on real estate. Those selling are doing so to survive also and most would have their prices lower than usual. At least for the non-developer units. Developer projects are subdivisions and units are for sale. Non-developer units are those owned previously and are being sold to another, or it may be brand new but was built for the purpose of selling it, one at a time.

It may be confusing looking for the right unit for you. Whether you're buying in cash or you have a housing loan, the capacity to pay is the bottomline. To have a better chance in finding what's right, it's best to search for a Real Property Management company to help you decide.

School Preparation

2009-05-28T09:16:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

It's Thursday. Coming Monday, the next school year begins. Hubby's employer is feeling the economic crisis so all employees were deducted 8 hours of work for the week. It may be temporary but it's still better than anyone will lose his or her job. Because of that, hubby now comes home earlier than usual.

With that early come-home schedule, he decided that we all go to buy the kids their school shoes. It will be our family bonding then. :) I still need to sew their uniforms. At least their skirts. I ordered the blouses.

*multitasking mode*

Scents And Odors

2009-05-28T08:37:00.002+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

My nose has a big problem but it is ok because if it isn't as it is now then something else will suffer.

I'm asthmatic. Some scents and odors give me attacks. The problem of my nose is the ability to smell slightly spoiled rice, for example. I have to look at it or touch it for me to discern that it is spoiled. My family sarcastically taunt me that my good-looking nose is no good because it can't smell!

On the other hand, if I was indeed able to smell like a dog, then I would be suffering more of asthma attacks! The other bad thing is, I also miss on leaking LPG.

But! Whenever I smell something, it's a very good indicator that the smell is at its worst. So if I tell you that you need a bath, I MEAN it. :D

Talk Perfume, I can stand alcohol. I use ethyl and that's just about it. Sitting beside someone wearing perfume can possibly give me attacks. I seldom wear any myself.

How To Sleep In The Middle Of Noise Pollution

2009-05-25T07:40:00.000+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

Last night our neighbors (we don't know them personally) had a blasting party till about 4am. Well, that's what my husband said--he was not able to sleep due to the videoke singing and since we are the next-door neighbor every sound is a pollution. It would be better if the singer can really sing but most would be wannabes. They love to sing but the song hates them.

At 3am I was awakened by my 9-year old daughter and said she could not sleep. I realized the neighbors were still breaking their vocal chords off. The other 2 kids (11 and 14) were in deep sleep. Since it was just 3am then I went back to sleep to maximize the remaining 1 1/2 hours before I should wake up.

During New Year's eve would be the noisiest time of the year here in the Philippines where people spend their hard-earned money buying firecrackers (not mere fireworks) to have a blast of the night especially when the clock strikes twelve. During that time we are just inside the house and for me, I sleep.

How do I do it? How can you do it?

(At this point, the neighbors just started to sing again. It's 7:55am.)

Train yourself to shut off certain sounds/noises and focus on what you'd like to hear.

Have you ever noticed when a coin drops on the street, almost everyone hears and directs his/her sight to where he/she thought it dropped? Why? Because we like the sound of money. We invite that sound in our brainwaves.

Have you been busy at work (eg., computer stuff at home) that you are so consumed that even if your attention has been called for that you seem to have not heard anything? Why? Because your attention is on something else. Your focus was on your work probably 90% of the time.

Sleeping is the same. I can actually sleep when I have just drank coffee.

The following physical actions can help too:

1. When you're in bed, try to roll your eyeballs up while closing your eyes, real slow. Do it a number of times.

2. While you're rolling your eyeballs up, inhale, and when you open your eyes, exhale.

3. Don't think of anything else. Don't worry, especially. It will only keep you awake. :D

Getting Slim By Eating More

2008-08-26T22:30:00.004+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

So many diet programs have been invented, put together, designed to supposedly shed off those unwanted pounds, love handles or permanent floaters around the waist.

As with any hard labor coupled with patience and perseverance, the desired weight and figure is attainable. But how many are able to achieve this? How many failed? How many stick to their supposed diet but ailing each day trying to get their attention back to the end result that finally that desired sexy body will be hers/his?

Some would do it for health reasons like countering obesity. Obesity is no joke. A child who is pampered with too much food (or perhaps too much junk) at a very early age and turned into a cute, squeezable live doll even before reaching 10 is in danger of a heart problem when he or she grows up as an adult. Remember, anything that is too much is dangerous.

If others do it for health reason, others lose weight for vanity especially if there is this special someone's attention that's wanted to get caught. The twin of vanity is ego. Anyone doing it for vanity is doing it for his or her own ego. It feels good to be admired, liked and adored.

Whatever the reason is, they all want the same result: slim and sexy.

How come, though, many fail? The eat-less diet or the no-food-after-your-last-meal-before-six diet (no intake after 6pm)?

What is done wrong?

There is a solution better than the weight watchers and the Jenny Craig diet!

I have a girl friend who had her married sister, together with the husband and 2 little boys, spend about a month with the rest of the family. My friend is basically overweight. What's surprising is, she is a light-eater (not the light that shines bright but light in terms of weight, ok?). Her nutritionist advised her to eat three times than what she normally eats but just could not. But when her sister's family came over, it's almost like party every day because of the two little boys. To her surprise, she lost weight even when she ate more. Her dad had the same experience. Her dad has the habit of not eating lunch nor dinner but when the visitors came, he had no choice but to eat and to his surprise, he lost weight!

The system must be correct! I must discover and unfold the mystery even more!

2008 Beijing Olympics Complete Medal Standing (Daily/Overall), Medalists, Videos, Photos, Sports, Fun Facts, Schedule, And All Time Standing Since 1920

2008-08-19T09:29:00.000+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

Living Healthy With Cinnamon

2008-08-01T08:49:00.001+08:00

by Cecile Cinco

It's been 4 days now that I've included cinnamon to my everyday meals and drinks. Basically, my reason was for detoxification as I learned that it is great for cleansing. I bought 100g of powdered cinnamon (for the first time, actually) and sprinkle lavishly on my morning oatmeal. It is so lavish that the oatmeal is fully covered. I also put a teaspoonful of cinnamon in my mug of coffee. I had to mix it well because the cinnamon actually floats.

For the first 2 days, I was unaware of the effect of detoxification. The main reason for buying cinnamon skipped my brains and I thought my frequent visit to the white house was because of something I ate that might have been contaminated with some bacteria because the odor was like I ate something contaminated with bacteria! It was just on the 3rd day that I realized that it was cinnamon that caused it.

Now I did a search on the health benefits of cinnamon and found more than I expected:

- anti-clotting actions
- anti-microbial activity
- blood sugar control
- scent boosts brain function
- calcium and fiber improve colon health and protect against heart disease
- a traditional warming remedy

More about cinnamon can be found here.

I also don't feel as hungry as I used to even with the little I eat.

Combat High Prices Of Vegetable By Making Your Own Garden Without Land Space

2008-07-09T09:34:00.001+08:00

For the rural areas, planting your own vegetables may not be a problem since they most likely have the land to till and grow as much as their space can accommodate.

For the urban areas, where most are covered with cement, it may be limited but it must not be a real problem. Container gardening is the solution.

Growing your vegetable in pots and empty plastic soda bottles like the 1.5-L or 2-L sizes, or 1-gal bottled water containers, some soil and your seedlings, and put them where sunrays can kiss them, water when needed, and you're done. All you have to do is wait for them to grow.

Someday when you find yourself growing your garden that your space is not enough, you can always use your rooftop or your fence or your wall (hanging vegetables). It's only a matter of imagination...and work after that, of course. :)

Or, you might want to try one of the upside-down tomato gardens I find so cute and decorative. If you have no idea how to setup your indoor herb garden, you won't be clueless. Before buying anything, though, you might want to see the kitchen and dining buying guide so you can decide intelligently.

At least when you plant your own, you can be sure of its cleanness. No pesticide and it's handled only by you.

Teaching Children To Survive

2008-07-08T08:49:00.002+08:00

Parents who lived a scarce life often tend to relieve their children of that experience even when they can't afford it. Is that good or bad?

Human nature tends to let us upgrade our standard of living. That is why even if our income increased, it is almost always not enough. We had more "needs" to buy. Sometimes we reason out that we've long desired such and such appliance, gadget, furniture, mobile phone, etc., when we usually still have the existing ones working. Sometimes we end up using the new stuff less times a year and it's just taking up space which could have been used for something else.

If you have more than enough money to throw away and enjoy, that's up to you, really. What I'm more concerned about is what we teach our children which will be the basic makeup of their lives years later.

It's easier to teach survival when you are experiencing it yourself and let your children do the same. Include them in your budget planning. Let the kids know what you have and what you don't have. Toys can wait. You can make them instead from recycled items. Teach them to be resourceful. Necessity is the mother of invention. When in need, our resourceful juices usually flow out as long as we put the necessary effort in thinking about it. Put vanity and pride as far away as possible. They won't feed your stomach. Be entrepreneurial. Look for needs of others you might be able to fulfill for some fee and let your children know how you did it. Words may be good teaching aid but actions are better.

If you're already rich, it is no excuse not to be able to teach your children. Remember, the poor can be rich (upgrade) and the rich can also be poor (downgrade). The wheel turns! If your kids are used to lavish living, they will have more difficulty adjusting than our poor family. Especially now that the price of gas is always rising drastically for the past 6 months (almost every week!), knowing survival techniques is a great tool to bring with you every day of your life.

What you teach your children while they are young will be an ingredient of their makeup in the future. You can teach them to fail or succeed. It's actually your choice.

Bloggers, Earn Money!

2008-06-12T09:32:00.002+08:00

The blogging world seems to be dominating the internet. It is a win-win situation for advertisers and bloggers alike. But since more and more bloggers are looking for monetizing opportunities, sometimes the well-known ad pools run out of opportunities, sometimes in just a few days or a few hours.

There should be more ad pools and one of them just surfaced. Actually they have been around for some time but since they were making their services better, it is only now that they are beginning to reach the whole blogging community.

While they haven't yet, be one of the early birds so you can grab opportunities that can add some dollars to your pocket.

Learning Languages The Easier And More Interesting Way

2008-06-12T09:03:00.003+08:00

When I was in high school, I had the interest of learning different languages. Since my childhood dream was to travel the world with 3 weeks max in each country (country-hopping), naturally, I would not want to be left out when it comes to knowing what they are talking about and be a victim of ignorance and scam. Every time I go to a bookstore, I would be scanning the dictionary and language section. I was able to buy about 20 dictionaries, I think. I have some of them still, which I handed over to my kids. The others, I donated to my parents' library. Since I was online since 1994, most of the information I get now is available at the movement of my fingers.

More than anything, I'd like to learn the Chinese characters. Within the Chinese community there are several languages that when spoken, they cannot understand each other, but when written, they understand each other. In fact, I tried to learn Kanji in 1992. I learned that it is a simple cross between Japanese and Chinese writing, so both Japanese and Chinese can understand it. More birds with one stone, eh? One more thing interesting with Kanji, or the same could be true with Japanese or Chinese characters, is that a simple character can be a part of a complex character--or a complex character's meaning can be decoded if you know the simple characters within. For example, a tree looks like a tree and when you put 3 of them in a triangle position (one on top of two more), you get the complex character of a forest. So, knowing what they mean makes it easier to memorize.

Here are some interesting sites to learn languages:

For Chinese, Spanish, or German...

- Progressing slow or fast, depending on how fast you learn
- Example sentence for many words
- Most frequent words are taught first
- Basic membership is free

Make Your Oatmeal Diet Interesting

2008-06-12T08:47:00.002+08:00

Making oatmeal your main diet dish especially in the morning has been proven successful in shedding off those love handles. The only problem is, it's bland.

Perk up your oatmeal by adding some raisins and nuts and you got an instant meal makeover! They're not only good to prevent colon cancer or hemorrhoids, they are also food for the brain.

To make a different oatmeal recipe too, you can include it in your pancakes. :)

Facebook Topples Them All

2008-06-12T08:08:00.003+08:00

I've been Facebook addict since a few weeks ago. Though I've joined several social networking sites, only Facebook was able to show me where my old friends are. That sure got me excited.

In addition, the many applications that can be added for fun and brain enhancement are just almost limitless (since I haven't used all yet). Just the fact I can play games with my friends without having to be online at the same time is just great.

If you're a blogger too, or if you have a website, you can include them in your profile and give those links some blog juice in addition to your friends knowing about them.

Unlike Friendster, you can't see the profile of a member unless you are confirmed a friend. To me that's just great. Although Friendster has that feature by choice, Facebook has more to offer.

Besides, as I've noticed, it is where I saw my old, old, old friends....not having seen them for more than 15 years, that's awesome! :)

I also like the photo adding feature. You can add 60 photos at a time per folder in one bulk. That really takes the hassle of choosing one by one. :)

$10,000 Can Be Yours

2008-06-12T07:15:00.005+08:00

If you won $10,000, what are you going to do with it? How do you plan to spend it? What will be your priorities in spending it?

Getting the attention of 14 years old and above, male and female, all around the earth: Here is your chance to win a hefty amount!

What do you need to do? Get out all your photographs and choose those that shows that model look! Want to work in Paris, Milan or New York? Got that modeling dream? Now is your chance and it's open not to a selected few...and judges are the people around the globe too! You think you got some followers? Now is the time to let them know about your plan to join!

What are you waiting for? Sign up now and show us that Look of the Year pose!
http://www.lookoftheyear.com

Pepsi Cleaned My Toilet!

2008-06-12T06:44:00.003+08:00

Coke was a wildfire at the height of its internet popularity that it can clean toilets in addition to removing rust, melting nails and teeth in a matter of hours.

Last Monday I brought home a 1.5-liter of Pepsi. I did not buy it but it was a leftover from a meeting I attended and it was still almost full.

My 2nd and 3rd girls are not fond of soda. My eldest drink some but not the dark ones like Pepsi or Coke. If we would buy soda, it would be either Sprite or 7-Up.

Anyway, since the bottle had been staying on the shelf for 2 days yesterday, I decided to pour it over the toilet bowl and test its cleaning power....It was amazing! As I was pouring, I can see the dirt getting washed off which usually takes a brush to do so. Since I was rinsing some laundry, I let it stay for about 5 minutes before actually scrubbing the toilet bowl. It was clean and I did not suffer from any chemical smell that could have triggered my asthma.

Hmmm....I think I'm going to change my toilet bowl cleaner! :)

Learning Is Not Limited To Nearby Schools

2008-06-05T09:17:00.003+08:00

For one reason or another, we may have been limited in learning when it was our time. I myself have been limited (financially) to take a college course but it did not stop me to learn something else. I wanted to make use of what I've learned ASAP so I took up technical courses like Radio Electronics, TV Electronics and Motor Rewinding. I also had the opportunity to be a scholar for Wordstar-dBASE III-Lotus123 computer literacy so I took it while I was studying TV Electronics. That was in 1985. From then on, I learned everything on my own, figuring out how future applications worked at that time.

So, back then, it wasn't easy. Now, with the technology at hand, all it needs is a click of the mouse and everything is within your fingers' reach.

With the internet at its cheapest, Online Training and Certification is a bliss. You can choose what Career Training path you will tread. Earn your online diplomas right in your own home. Then you can do something else within the same "class" and multitask within the same time schedule, hitting even more than two birds with one stone.

Don't Let TV Control You

2008-06-05T06:27:00.002+08:00

We had no TV for a long time. It was last in the list. When we did buy some 5 years ago, we just bought the cheapest and it's even from a surplus shop/store. That unit lasted 2 years. Since I figured the damage has something to do with the picture tube, we did not bother have it repaired. We just went on with life without TV. We've been used to it anyway.

After 5 years we have one again but it's just a TV tuner attached to the computer's mother board. Cool. We get to see the news and other stuff of interest that are usually non-fiction.

The kids have different taste. They like the fiction stuff. We gave in to cartoons with morals emphasized. There are not many...and little by little, other shows are being watched. No telenovelas....but once in a while they get to be seen.

Watching TV is not bad, per se, but it has to be controlled otherwise it will control you. It's a one-way feeding that captures your brains and even your whole being if not given prompt control. Too much TV makes you think less too...not good at all.

Travel Destinations: Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Ireland

2008-05-23T06:51:00.007+08:00

My childhood dream was to travel the whole world. It still is, now with my family instead of enjoying alone. We'd stay in each country for a maximum of 3 weeks. There's only one problem. Budget. Good thing there is the internet. At least scouting can be done online, especially for travel and accommodation options.

Ireland would be one place I'd like to go to. For starters, I'll consider Dublin, Shannon and Cork.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland. It (Ireland) is the third largest island in Europe and 20th in the world. The warmest recorded climate was at 33.3C and coldest at -19.1C. I can live with the warmest and even warmer than its warmest but I haven't experienced colder than 5C! So I guess it would be best to go there during summer or spring.

(Above: Dublin Castle)

Dublin is very rich in literary, theatrical and arts culture. The likes of William Buttler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker are just some of the literary figures that make Dublin proud. Famous for its Temple Bar and street performances, Dublin has housed performances by youthful U2, Madonna, Boyzone, Aerosmith, and iconic popstar Britney Spears before her decline.

Cork boasts of many architectural buildings from the medieval age. The Shandon Steeple's clock is locally known as The Four-Faced Liar as each clock face appears to have different times, according to Wikipedia. The City Hall which fronts the River Lee illuminates at night that seem to hypnotize the onlooker.

Shannon on the other hand has lots of trails and water to explore. It's easy to find since it...as you get off the plane.

Going to these places, it is easier to scout accommodation online. Just look for Ireland Hotels, Dublin Hotels, Shannon Hotels and Cork Hotels.

Philippine Storm Cosme Effects

2008-05-20T06:33:00.006+08:00

245M+ Products In One Place!

2008-05-09T12:03:00.002+08:00

Where ever you're buying your stuff online, I'm sure another source with 245 million plus products to shop from is not a bad idea. I tried to search myself. I'm actually in need of a 1GB RAM since I have only 512KB. I tried it and it showed me different stores to look into.

Another thing I also need is a digital camera. I do have my 2MP camera phone but I'd like to have at least 10MP so when I scale it down I get a small crisp picture. I need it for my real estate blog. Not only do I need still shots, I also need clear videos to take of the actual place so prospective buyers can see what it's really like even if they are at the other side of the globe at the moment.

This marketplace is really something. I think I will be spending much time looking into it. With lots to see, which can actually be browsed even by price (we all are looking for more for our money, aren't we?), I'm sure it's worth checking. Now we're not limited to just Ebay. :)

Overcoming The Fear Of Public Speaking

2008-05-09T11:49:00.003+08:00

Public speaking??? Yikes!!! I'd rather be quiet the whole meeting!

Last month, during our Women's Club, I was asked if there is something I can share and be May's resource person. I thought for awhile. My crafting is a bit complicated so that's quite out of the question. Blogging is not for them either since not all are interested. There is only one thing I can think of: handwriting analysis.

I know the subject well enough that I can teach someone how to analyze handwriting and know the personality of the writer. With over 15 years of research, study, and lots of proving, I can say that i'm average, compared to the personalities I know who lived their lives analyzing handwriting.

Since I'm scared of public speaking, and the idea was unanimously accepted, I thought, this is my chance to break that weakness. (Yeah, it shows in my handwriting too.)

I can't keep on hiding, I know, though I prefer to just stay behind the monitor. So I might as well take the first step of overcoming my fear of public speaking starting this coming Sunday. It's not really that public since my audience will be women in the Church I am affiliated with. There will be about 15-20 people....and I haven't started my lesson plan...

Marketing Offline Appeals To Your Local Market

2008-04-21T05:52:00.003+08:00

Us onliners got to accept that the offline world STILL and WILL exist for a far more longer period than we think. Otherwise, what will happen to the malls where most of the trade fairs are being held?

In this worsening economy people love to go to the malls just to release the stress. At least I can speak for what's happening here in the Philippines. Amidst this crisis, there are people who still buy something that's not even needed. They just want to feel they can buy something. Call it an itch or a tendency to impulse-buy. This happens relatively to the haves and have-nots. The difference is in what was bought. Still, the bottomline here is SOMEONE MADE A SALE and that someone did not have a display, that sale never existed.

Shopping online is great but shopping offline gives greater satisfaction. People love to see the real item before buying. If they don't intend to buy now, seeing an item over and over will later give them the subconsciousness to buy sooner than later.

I do sell real estate in our locality. Among my marketing peers, I am the only one among thousands who market online (for the mere fact that I'm an online addict, I like staying home, I've been with the internet since 1994, and I can multitask) because basically my target market is the world. Filipinos are scattered all over the world and they are the ones I usually reach.

Offline, the same developer need to have several mall exibits. This is one of the ways to garner credibility. Sales rallies are also scheduled. Their existence is known by these activities and more.

Trade fairs are also those that need displays. Their trade show displays are what attract prospects who can turn into buyers right then and there. These are usually situation in the middle of the hallway so they will need truss and banner stands as well. Offline, these are what makes the sale especially to people who need not buy but found himself or herself wanting to buy when even just passing by.

The Pros And Cons Of Having Too Many Blogs

2008-04-18T12:30:00.003+08:00

Depending on whose perspective, too many could mean more than 2 for some, more than 10 for others and above 30 for a handsome few.

It also depends on the load of the person maintaining the blogs. If blogging was just part time and just for the fun of it and it didn't matter whether they blog or not, then one blog is most likely enough and going more than one will be considered very stressful.

If, on the other hand, that's your source of living, then you wouldn't mind blogging the whole day. Or would you? It still depends. You may find blogging as a good source of income but you find it quite taxing to write your thoughts, then you'd be lining up the stressful road as well.

In my perspective, who want to stay at home while earning, and find writing quite fine (just don't make me give a speech!) I find blogging as important, exciting, fulfilling and pretty satisfying.

I started bloghopping sometime in November 2006. Started blogging sometime in February 2007 so it's be a year and almost 2 months that I've been actually blogging. Through that time I've accumulated about 15 blogs now. Is that too many or still few? For me that's quite more than a handful already, but why add some more? Today, actually, I'm thinking of adding another blog but the domain is no longer available.

Why do I add and add and add? Mainly, I see opportunity. Opportunity to earn from blogging without having to go out under the heat of the sun, spend for transportation cost, eat out, get tired far from my bed. I get exposed to different diseases and viruses that could easily knock me down. Asthma is prone to attack also when I get to undesirably inhale fumes and smog from the pollution that envelopes science and technology.

What are the pros and cons of having relatively too many blogs?

Pros:
- more sources of blogging income
- more space for literary outlet
- each blog can have its own niche
- easier to be 'known' in the blogging world giving you more opportunities to earn
- you get to build credibility
- you get to know more people around the world especially if you have niched blogs
- you get to practice and practice and practice your writing skills
- you get more confidence in handling writing assignments even offline
- you give all your blogs a backlink from all your other blogs (just make it a train so it would be one-way backlink)

Cons:
- more maintenance cost than having just one blog
- you tend to concentrate on some and neclect others
- blogging is time-hogger; if you don't control it, it controls you
- it's addicting

So far that's 9 against 4. I say maintaining many blogs is my way to go. :)

How about you?

Holding On To My Childhood Dream

2008-02-21T18:00:00.002+08:00

Working out of the country, my beloved Philippines, has never crossed my mind. Even in the midst of financial hardships, where the grass is greener looking over the fence, or so it seems, I've always held on to having all the members of the family in one roof in poverty than separate in material wealth.

But that doesn't stop me from going out of the country FOR LEISURE. Yes, my friends, I have a childhood dream and that is to country-hop all but for a maximum of three weeks per country. Just enough to enjoy the visit and see some friends I probably have met online.

Several are actually inviting me to go to Ireland; Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Galway. I know each place is unique and offers something interesting. I heard Dublin is vibrant with nightlife especially for tourists, especially that it's the most popular entrypoint for tourists.

Dubbed the European Capital of Culture in 2005, I was informed Cork began to be acknowledged internationally for its love for culture. The Midsummer Festival, Film Festival and Jazz Festival give credit for Cork's wide range of music, theatre (theater), film, art, and poetry. The picture is one of the many bays in County Cork.

Proud of its Victorian and Edwardian heritage and efforts to restore historical buildings, Belfast is attracting tourism with reason, especially if your budget is a bit limited. You can go farther and wider with the same funds you got as opposed to staying in Dublin. But then, of course, it's just plain different so as a tourist, you just have to consider those costly details.

Galway is the third largest city after Dublin and Cork. Eyre Square is the center of Galway (picture at the right). It looks relaxing just to spend time there.

With such plan to travel, it is just wise to plan also where to stay. If you're going ahead of me, and you don't have any place to stay yet, you should consider booking for Ireland Hotels, Dublin Hotels, Cork Hotels, Belfast Hotels, and Galway Hotels.

DSL Connection Could Be The Killer Of Offline Video Rentals

2008-02-17T22:52:00.004+08:00

We used to rent videos from a rental shop nearby. Nearby as in walking distance from where we live. They are all original videos but the latest available movies have been shown about 3 months earlier in the movie theaters.

For me, that's just fine. I'm not much of a movie addict. The last time I was in a movie house was in 1994. It was also in that year that I was introduced to the internet.

Prior to 1994, especially between 1992 and 1993, my boyfriend then (who is my husband now) and I comb the theaters almost every day to see all the good movies. There was no kid yet so there was nothing much to worry about.

In 1994, our firstborn said hello to the world. I resigned from employment to take care of her and going to the movie houses was no longer an option. It wasn't hard for me to take that. It was just a matter of mindset.

Since I was also introduced to the internet in that year, I had a wider exploration and more time in my hands to explore while at home.

Back to now. Last week, when there was no movie on the net to watch (that we haven't watched yet), I went to the ole rental shop to check what's available. To my surprise, it was closed down and I was informed that it had been closed down since 2 weeks prior. What happened???

Then I realized...looking at my own experience...that probably more and more households are applying for DSL (since it's avalable in my town at a cheaper rate). Since connection has been a lot faster than dialup, many are enjoying watching videos online.

From that, surfing got them to see most of the online sources to watch movies for free...even those that are yet coming soon.

It's just a thought...

Free Classifieds You Can Add To Your Toolbox

2008-02-14T02:22:00.003+08:00

Since the beginning of the internet's boom, information has been the blood that runs the veins from one IP to another.

I had the idea of listing everything business in my town but at the time my husband and I were collating information, people were not yet used to the internet so they were more aloof to the idea than accepting. Imagine, we were going from one business unit to another by walking while holding a Mac iBook so we can show them what's going to happen. Then we became busy with something else so the project stopped.

Now, there's a website that offers Free Classifieds. Either you can be the ad poster or you can be the user of information that had been posted.

It's quite relative to your location. For example, under San Francisco Classifieds, you can find the available real estate rentals or for sale, classifieds like what's for sale or what's wanted, job offers in different fields, personal ads, what's happening in the community, restaurants with reviews and maps and even pictures, and movies that run in each movie house with time record. You can also find such information with LA Classifieds, of course, with their own info.

You can do a search on Free Classified Ads or enter one or two yourself. It's free. :)

Arise And Shine

2007-12-03T08:43:00.000+08:00

I know it has been quite a long time before this post...and finally my fingers are strutting their way to strike the right key almost as natural and effortless as they can be. As fast as their boss thinks of what words to enter, each letter gets typed, the errors without escape, but as soon as realized, amost as a flash, the pinky slaps the backspace and the others enter the correct keys.

Yes, I am spontaneous, though I often forget the word 'spontaneous' and I try to always think, what's that word again? Yeah, that spontaneous. :D My brains sleep too, you know. :)

So, why did I finally thought of resurrecting this blog? Simple. I'm a problogger and it's payback time! :D

Actually, incubation period is over. After some finishing touches, this blog will be ready for monetization.

It's been planned for since the day it was conceived.

So it was written, so it shall be done. :)

Sound of Silence

2007-07-29T22:17:00.001+08:00

Today while I was riding a jeepney to my mom's to pick up my kids, 2 people rode. A man and a woman. After some 2 minutes of no communication, they started to talk...with their hands...

I admire the language. Both were "talking" and judging from the look of it they were trying to decide on something. Finally, they went off, down the jeepney, after the guy was "telling" the gal the direction where they should go.

It was one of my desires to know sign language. No, I don't have anyone to talk with but I thought just in case, then I'd know how to. Actually, that desire led me to teach my eldest the alphabet (at least) when she was young. At 2 years old, she can even teach you and form the letters in your hand.

It's a language that can go beyond colors.

John Lennon And Wilson Cinco Sings "(Just Like) Starting Over"

2007-07-13T12:36:00.000+08:00

Last night I had fun recording my husband while he was playing with his guitar and singing, while enjoying some brandy shots...

Here is the result:

When I uploaded it, I found the original by John Lennon...Not to be bias, but I'm pretty sure he did very well despite he hasn't touched his guitar in ages...

Faced With Another Challenge

2007-06-14T15:19:00.000+08:00

My friend Bea and I were chatting over YM a few hours earlier. Topic was PPP and how it is a great way to monetize from blogs. The secret is to have more blogs that serve PPP ads.

This particular blog is qualified for PPP Direct but not the marketplace as it is existing less than 3 months. So is my 365 Days of Poem Blogging. The question, though, is, can I blog ads in my poegging manner? Poegging every day is already a challenge in itself. Now I'm veered towards taking a greater challenge.

Should I?

Will I?

Can I?

If I can, then I will. If I will, then I should never run out of topics to poeg about.

Philippines: Thousands Breastfeed For Change

2007-06-05T21:34:00.000+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for CASH!!!

ADB Issues 5 Billion Pesos Of Bonds In The Philippines

2007-06-05T21:17:00.000+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for CASH!!!

New Technology Helps Diagnose Heart Disease Before It's Too Late

2007-06-05T21:00:00.001+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for Cash!!!

Breakthrough Video Game For Teens Helps Save Lives

2007-06-05T20:54:00.000+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for CASH!!!

Prince Has A New Perfume

2007-06-05T20:44:00.001+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for CASH!!!

Talk Of The Town: Daddy Brad

2007-06-05T20:32:00.001+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for CASH!

Up Close With Johnny Depp

2007-06-05T20:18:00.000+08:00

Watch the video...

and Mash for Cash!!!

Stars Shine At MTV Movie Awards

2007-06-05T20:03:00.000+08:00

Watch the movie

and Mash for CASH!

Mashing Technology Sends You Money!

2007-06-05T19:20:00.000+08:00

Start playing!

Then click the Mash button to embed this on your site!

Then start earning!

Discovery

2007-06-03T14:20:00.000+08:00

Many of you know I've been wanting to operate online through my phone (see previous post).

I got my MMS settings figured out. As well as my GPRS...through trial and error and logical reasoning.

I found out, I don't want to surf using my phone as it costs much (since the sites I go to are kinda heavy, which tends to slow down the process of loading, hence more time online).

But! I also found out I can send a short email to anyone using my phone via MMS and will not cost any! Or, if my textmail is long, it's supposed to be 25 centavos per Kb. The only drawback is, I can't figure out yet if you reply to my textmail, how I'm going to get it. My phone's email would be 639278467723@myglobe.com.ph.

At least, if it's not a hurried message but I'm away from my pc, and I memorize the email addy I want to send the message to, I can now txtmail (text-to-email via MMS).

I still have some tests to do...because in sending a test mail to myself and inquiring on the balance, and nothing was deducted, and I tried the 2nd time for the same txtmail which I forwarded to my email addy just the same, I spent P3.00

Maybe I should not do 2 consecutive sends...

Asus V80 and Globe Telecom

2007-05-25T09:20:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I did not leave my mobile phone without figuring out how to make its features GPRS, MMS, and WAP work. As I've blogged about it 2 posts behind, I've called up my carrier to ask for help how I can set my phone so I can use the internet, email and MMS but they only said it still is not supported! Argghhh...I bought the phone for those features plus the camera which are ALL important for my kind of work. Now they'll say it's not supported??? I asked when they are going to support it but of course, as expected, the call center agent can just say that I wait....

Ok. Given. What can I do? Think, think, think!

I went back to Globe's website. I pulled out several pdf files which are help files...instructions how to set up those feature on a specific brand and model. Conclusion: just like setting up an email client, there is a standard.

Being in a Sherlock mode, I studied them...figured the whys and the wheres and the hows. It took me awhile of trial and error. There's something wrong always...and there are just many combinations to figure out.

Finally, I was able to email to my yahoo mail, send MMS and surf myGlobe via GPRS. There's one thing more I got to test, the internet. I was almost there, but I ran out of load....at least I got the others to finally function! :)

Good Out Of Bad

2007-05-22T20:31:00.001+08:00

This morning I asked my 13-year old daughter to go to Meralco to pay our power bill and that she should hurry or our connection may be cut off in a little while.

She did follow but I think 5 times she came back forgetting something which accumulated to about 30 minutes!

The Meralco building is about 10 minutes commute from our house if traffic is light, which is normal.

Off she went.

She hasn't been gone 5 minutes and the disconnector arrived! I was trying to request that they (2 of them) spare me because I'm using the internet doing something important (read: blogging) and my daughter is already on her way...but to no avail.

At around 10am, I had no electricity. It was humid. Dark.

Having no computer, I turned to an assignment I must do. To design the 4-storey-with-penthouse Talitha Center as part of the project of the Talitha Foundation, for which I am in charge of (the Center, which is part of the Women Empowerment).

Got some bond paper. I was like an architect in pursuit of a design.

Finally I got the 4 floors detailed. 30 rooms in all. I'm now designing the details of the 4th room.

I got hungry. I halted my urge to unload my bladder. But I kept on drawing. Not that I'm good in drawing...all I need is to know how to draw circles and straight lines! It's the overall design that's being plotted. Where to put each room or what will occupy each room. Especially important is the emergency exit.

Time struck 4pm and no Meralco man in sight to bring back my connection. I called and was told that the order got out at 1pm. I should just wait.

Meanwhile, back to drawing...

5pm....had to cook...and since I was really famished...I ate as well...finally I had breakfast! (That was my dinner as well.)

At 5:30pm, he finally arrived! I am just thankful...at least he came first before my husband did!

If not for the lack of electricity, perhaps the design will stay a little longer in my head... :D

Moblogging

2007-05-21T12:14:00.000+08:00

It's got WAP and GPRS. Why can't Globe make it to work with their carrier?

It was only now that I thought of looking for ways to post to my blogs using my ASUS V80. My eyes hurt for having had too much reading (and too close to the monitor) just to look for the proper thing to do so I can post even if I'm away from my computer. I found it, but to my dismay, it is limited to certain carriers only! Argghh...when can it be availble to the Philippines? Specifically to Globe?

If you know how to, please let me know! I simply don't want to miss posting to my 365 Days of Poem Blogging since I can't assure myself to be online 365 days a year! :(

Breathless Killer

2007-05-18T05:43:00.000+08:00

Last night I retired early,
That was about eleven thirty;
I sprung up at around midnight,
Breathless Killer creeping to fight.

I ran out of ammo, life's at stake,
Good thing my mate's still awake;
He sped out to get what I need,
In time to tame the Killer indeed.

5:47am, May 18, 2007 PHT

Breathless Killer

2007-05-17T18:45:00.000+08:00

Breathless Killer
October 24, 2006
8:11pm (Philippine time)

Smoke, dust, foul odor, too much laughter,
Too hot, too cold, extreme weather;
Perfume, cologne, any powder,
Each triggers my breathless killer.

Fine, if I only have my partner,
Will just puff my handy silencer;
Goodbye for now, breathless killer,
You simply will surrender.

Many times I got no partner,
When I was attacked, no time to wander;
I hold my breath, panic is worser,
Until I calm my breathless killer.

At times 'twas tough to stop her,
Near death, I was a struggler;
Good thing I have my faithful Father,
When I no longer can, He always deliver.

BLOGGING

2007-05-17T17:01:00.000+08:00

Blogosphere is our domain,
Letting our hearts out without refrain;
Our modern public diary,
Giving ideas for all to see;
Google's Adcents tickle most,
In monetizing blogs we post;
Nothing beats the friends we earn,
Go! Blog! Go! It's everyone's turn.

C5's How To Solve The Problem

2007-05-16T20:42:00.000+08:00

It's official...and fully functional...I created another blog. But why again?? But why not??? It's my solution to Blogtoprofit problem...so it started with a problem...and I found the solution...and since I like solving problems rather than problemizing the solutions, I thought to go on with it! :)

C5's How To Solve The Problem will be a blog for problem-solving of all sorts. I don't promise solution to all, but I promise to post any problem (as decent as possible, in case it isn't) so that others can see, maybe they have the solution.

Blog To Profit

2007-05-16T09:38:00.000+08:00

Is it not wise to profit while doing something what most of us had been doing for some years now? Is it not just right? Wouldn't you want extra money to do something you love to do? I meant blogging.

Being in the Philippines, we are actually limited. There are a lot of blog-to-get-paid opportunities but most, if not all, would require Paypal. Paypal is open already in our dear beloved Philippines BUT only to pay, and not to receive payment. How sad.

So all from the Philippines, listen up. Don't stop looking, but don't pass this out as I've proven it already myself. Our best option at this time is Blog To Profit! It is open globally but you get your payment locally via bank or Western Union...Isn't that cool?

How do you sign up?
Go to http://blogtoprofit.com for all other countries or (accept payment via Paypal)
http://ph.blogtoprofit.com for Philippines only (payment by bank or Western Union).

You'll need my email address for the referral...they'll check on it.... that's cecile_cinco@yahoo.com.

The money you earn blogging will enhance your blogging/writing skills...and you cannot find that money scattered on the streets even if you walk all day...if you did, that's very rare...but this earning from blogging can be regular...depending on you.

Tips:
1. If you have your own domain, great.
2. If not, then don't bother to use Blogspot, Blogsome, Livejournal, Bravejournal, Multiply or i.ph (which is already getting full to the brim with BtoP ads) for Blogtoprofit for easier acceptance.
3. Use the following instead:

http://ii55.com
http://okayblog.net
http://tunapuff.net
http://villageblogger.com
http://blogthing.com
http://2pt.net
http://blogsavy.com
http://yourblog.in
http://blogsboom.com
http://upwith.net

Start now so you can immediately have it indexed by the search engines...submit it to Google right away! :)

Welcome!

2007-05-16T06:55:00.000+08:00

I'm creating another blog! I'd like to experiment. I'd like to take opportunities. I'd like to expand. I have my What's On My Mind but the space will soon fill up. So I'm saving the little space left for its retirement. Now another is born. Since I'd like share different sorts of ideas, I intentionally opened a blog that's got a wide selection of thoughts, still within the bounds of decency, of course. There's just a lot of indecent stuff out there, I don't have to meddle with it. It's a choice. It's a stand. It's me.

I can blog about almost anything. More like a jill-of-all-trades huh! :D

It would be hypocritical to say if I won't monetize from my blog. Of course, there's adsense which is a cousin of blogger and google. And there's blogtoprofit, which you can also monetize your blog with (I'll show you how). I'm in the Philippines, for which Paypal is not yet available as a receiver so it is blogtoprofit that I found suitable and reliable! :)

Who wouldn't want to be paid while blogging? I'm fairly new to monetizing from blogs but there are just a lot of us who is just like me, right? Among the millions blogging in whole wide world, the few who stand out are great...but the truth is, they are yet a few...we have a lot of opportunities to reach! If you haven't started a blog yet, I suggest you start now... It's addicting, I should say, so be careful! ;)

Fasten your mousepad, you'll be for a lot of surprises (I dislike monotony)...