Choosing the best recovery program

Choosing a drug rehab facility can be a challenge. For those who want the best recovery program for their loved ones, it’s important to consider factors such as the quality of living conditions for the patients, highly trained therapists, relaxed environment and especially aftercare services. Having a customized treatment program is also important since each patient has different background and needs. There are many reasons as to how one can resort to substance abuse and each person has different emotional and social needs. It’s essential that these needs are addressed during the drug rehab treatment program.

The problem of drug addiction usually starts in the family, factors such as lack of appreciation and attention from parents are just some of the reasons. Thus, it’s best to engage children in summer programs and family bonding activities to provide them the confidence and emotional/social skills necessary for coping up with life’s challenges. 

Using Windows 7 Starter Edition

Despite being met with positive reviews from critics, I’ve been hesitant about using Windows 7. My recent operating system has been Windows Vista on my laptop which died on me. I didn’t like Vista at all, it would take ages to boot and came with a lot of desktop accessories that eats up a lot of RAM.

52nd Annual Grammy Awards winners

The latest buzz last night was about the winners of this year’s Grammy awards. So the Internet was swamped with searches about who won this or that much coveted award. I bet those who were surfing for auto insurance quotes or updates about the upcoming elections took a break that night and kept themselves updated on reports about the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards night.

The Zac Brown Band got the Best New Artist award while Kings of Leon won Record of the Year (Use Somebody), best rock group performance and best rock song. Other winners during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards night were Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, AR Rahman among other artists.

Brrr…

A European friend once asked me to choose between living in a cold country or in the tropics. I told him it’s better to live in a warm country, I prefer weather to be bright and sunny always, except during the rainy season. He convinced me it would be difficult when the weather is hot since you need to have an AC or fan to cool yourself and you can’t do anything to keep from the heat if you’re out, while in a cold country, you just cover yourself to keep warm. Well, I guess it really depends on the willingness to adapt to the climate wherever you are, right?

Anyway, last night I chatted with my bro-in-law, who’s now based in Finland, and he told me they’re grounded in the house as the temperature was 20 degrees below zero all week. It was even cold inside their house as the insulation needed to be upgraded. Tsk…I pity those who have no homes and suffering from the biting cold. While some families are worrying about their furnace filters needing to be changed, there are those less fortunate ones living out in houses with poor or even no insulation.  

First automated elections in the country

Election Day will soon be here with only few more months to go and we can feel the tough competition among the candidates already rising. Last Friday was also the running of the field test for the first automated elections in the country. Unfortunately the machine failed to read 4 out of 10 valid ballots. That means a 40% failure rate. Ouch. Add to that was the difficulty in transmitting via Internet the results from the precinct to the municipal board of canvassers (MBOC). Duh… If only the process could be as simple as getting a free life insurance quote online, then people would not have doubts about the integrity of the first automated elections. Hmmm… Technology issues again, and this is no trivial matter as the future of the nation depends on this. 

Just how much is the Apple iPad?

Price is definitely one of the important concerns when a new product comes out. While some folks are browsing on insurance quotes or the latest travel promos, gadget lovers are busy searching right now for any information about the newest device from Apple, the iPad.

The product with 3G will be delivered in 90 days while the WiFi only version comes in 60 days. The current available price is US Dollars. Apple will be announcing its international pricing at a later date. The Wi-Fi models will be shipping in late March, while 3G models will be shipping in April. You can also sign up at the Apple website if you want to be notified when the iPad is available to order.

Tom Bihn bags for the Apple iPad

After seeing the much-rumoured tablet computer, dubbed as the iPad, launched by Apple yesterday, we’ll be expecting the coming up of all sorts of accessories for this device as well. The earliest products are the bags from Tom Bihn specifically designed for the iPad, the Ristretto messenger bag and the Cache foam padded sleeve. The designers sure had a good idea about what to expect from the iPad in terms of size and shape. Way to go Tom Bihn! You sure came up fast with an iPad accessory, it’s like getting an instant life insurance quote online or heating your favourite steak on the microwave. Having an optimistic foresight is the key.

Design project still ongoing

I will be flying back to Manila next week to continue the unfinished interior design projects of the two condo units. My schedule is kinda hectic these days as I’m preparing things here at home before leaving Dad to take care of some bills and other matters. There are still some pending tasks on my to-do list to finish and I also have to prepare the stuff I’m going to bring. Whew, I do need a Minka Aire ceiling fan to cool things down a bit. And I feel so sleepy and tired, I just want to rest a bit. Oh well… that’s life!

Apple iSlate tablet computer

This is how the rumored Apple iSlate tablet computer is supposed to look like:

Some sources say the iSlate will be announced on a scheduled Apple Press Event on January 27. Others are expecting the much-rumored device to be out within first half of this year. I wonder how it would affect sales on the iPhone and other smartphones when this one comes out.  Will gadget consumers choose a tablet computer over a smartphone?

Insurance policies for the faint of heart

My dad recently underwent a series of laboratory tests. This is part of the requirements for his scheduled checkup with the doc. I’m glad he’s not averse to blood tests and urine samples when it comes to health concerns.

I know some people who are afraid of needles and just the sight of them makes them dizzy or even hysterical. This could pose a problem to those who need to undergo medical exams for employment and other important purposes such as application for life insurance. Good thing, there are no exam life insurance policies for those who would like to apply for life insurance without going through medical exams and other laboratory tests.

Life on the road

I wonder how it would be to live in one of those motor homes. While most of us would consider home as a fixed permanent place built in a subdivision or one of those condo units in a high rise building, the idea of a mobile home seems practical especially if you’re always on the go and being on the road has become a lifestyle.

Wouldn’t it be nice to rent one of these mobile homes and tour around the US for a change?

Showbiz life

The challenge with being a celebrity is that you’ll be constantly under the public eye, your every move is watched and even the trivial details such as what you’re wearing becomes such a big deal to others particularly the fashion-minded people. The lady celebs are most often criticized about their looks and dressing style than their male counterparts.
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Which beauty product works best?

When it comes to facial washes, I have a preference for a certain brand of facial foam. I have been using it for more than a year already and my face is okay with it, it doesn’t result to dry skin unlike the others. I’ve actually tried some facial soap, baby liquid soap, and other brands but this one really works on my oily face.

Well, each person has different beauty needs. And what works for one might not be good for the other. Thus, when changing cosmetic brands or trying new beauty products, it’s best to buy in trial packs first so you can’t be forced to finish the whole bottle or jar without harming your skin. It’s the same with finding the best acne treatment products, you need to know which ones are suited for your type of skin. As the usual warning on the package of a beauty product states, “Discontinue use if product causes skin irritation or discomfort.”

I need to put more time on my sites

I’m quite disappointed with my Adsense earnings this month. I dunno why it’s not giving me the results I’ve wanted. Hmmm… I know I’m a lot to blame for that since I have been busy and neglected focusing on housekeeping of my sites. Even the contents are not regularly posted like before. A lot of topics to be posted are still on my list. Getting an seo software could help but I also need to spice up my sites with valuable content to increase traffic and attract regular readers. 

Increasing traffic to your website

Submitting to web directories proves to be a big help when it comes to search engine optimization or SEO. But this can be tedious and time-consuming especially if you have tons of tasks to catch up. If you’re a website owner or administrator looking for an easier method, here’s a tip - you can check out sites providing free web directory service. This saves a lot of time on doing an essential SEO task and what’s more, you get it for free.

Slim, lightweight, portable and power-packed computers

Slim is in! And this goes not only for those who are currently searching for the best diet aids to lose weight, it also means a lot to those who want portability and power when it comes to their netbooks and laptops.

For instance, there’s Acer Timeline with its less than an inch thick notebook computers and their “Light.as.can.be” tagline. Lenovo has its “smartbook” device which is not only slim but comes with a long-lasting battery and weighs just less than two pounds.

Yup, the trend is pushing towards slimmer and lighter portable laptops and netbooks. “I think what netbooks have done is really opened consumers’ eyes to the concept of mobility,” said Toshiba Corp. director of product marketing Philip Osako.

Tablet computers from Microsoft/HP, Dell and Apple

While Microsoft/HP and Dell demonstrated the features of their tablet computers at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas convention center, everybody’s also anticipating (and perhaps imagining) about what Apple has to offer. There have been varied talks about the iPhone company’s official launch of their tablet computer dubbed as the iSlate which is said to be announced in few weeks time. Let’s see how these new tablet computer products would match with each other – Microsoft/HP, Dell and Apple. Hmmm… these companies are really doing big on sales, yeah? I bet a lot of fresh graduates and tech experts are seeking employment opportunities in these companies. 

Travel industry affected by financial crisis

Due to the ongoing economic slump, airlines, hotels and most businesses involved in the travel industry suffer from having fewer sales. This is because people are now spending their hard-earned bucks for basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare and other important expenses. For families living on a tight budget, travel and other leisure activities can wait. Other options for fun and recreation can be enjoyed without having to travel out of town or going few kilometers further.
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Acer Aspire Timeline

Here’s the laptop I’m eyeing nowadays… Acer Aspire Timeline.

I’m not sure if it’s available here in the Philippines already so I might be purchasing this in Thailand, though I’m also not sure if it’s available there and I’m still waiting for my techie bro to do the research for me. Meanwhile I am just drooling over the specs. What I really like about it is its slim body and with only 1.6kg, that’s really a come on for those who want portability with powerful specs. 

Processor and chipset: Intel® Centrino® 2 / Centrino® processor technology
- Intel® Core™2 Duo ultra low voltage processor SU9400 or  Intel® Core™2 Solo ultra low voltage processor SU3500
- Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset
- Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 (dual-band quad-mode 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N) Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® network connection, or
- Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5150 Wi-Fi®/WiMAX™ dual-mode module

Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Memory: Dual-channel DDR3 SDRAM support, Up to 4 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, upgradeable to 8 GB using two soDIMM modules (requires 64 bit Operating System)
HDD: hard disk drive up to 320GB
Storage: 160/250/320/500 GB or larger hard disk drive or 80 GB SSD drive, 5-in-1 card reader, supporting Secure Digital™ (SD) Card, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick™ (MS), Memory Stick PRO™ (MS PRO), xD-Picture Card™ (xD)
Optical Media driver: 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive (except model 3810T)
Display:
-15.6″ HD 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, high-brightness (200-nit) Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio, Super-slim design (model 5810T)
-14″ HD 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, high-brightness (200-nit) Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio, Super-slim design (model 4810T)
- 13.3″ HD 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, high-brightness (200-nit) Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio, Super-slim design (model 3810T)
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Get out and get fit

“My biggest resolution for 2010 is to lose tons of weight.” This is what my friend emailed me and he plans to buy a mountain bike to make his fitness goal more fun as he keeps himself fit while enjoying biking around. Good idea indeed! Aside from having fitness equipment at home and exercising indoors, it’s also good to get out and enjoy nature while getting fit. Whether it’s a long walk or jog, seeing the beauty of the outdoors is a great stress-reliever as well. 

Any TV shows you don’t want to miss?

I’m not really a TV fan but sometimes if I’m not busy at home after dinner, you can see me killing time watching some soap operas or telenovelas. Some stories are the usual rich versus poor, couples with adopted children, some characters having amnesia or lovers being separated by the villains.

I know somebody who’s very much into DMII, and if she misses an episode of this telenovela, she’d readily get updates from those who have watched it. How about you, any TV shows you don’t want to miss?

Does sitting too close to TV damage your eyes?

“Don’t sit too close to the TV! It could damage your eyes!” This would be our usual warning when we see kids watching their favorite show while being seated so near the TV screen. So, what do experts say about this? According to a recent article from the Santa Monica Daily Press, it’s not so much the physical damage to eyes that parents should be concerned about, there are other health problems related to excessive TV watching for kids.

Luckily for many of us and our kids, sitting “too” close to the TV isn’t known to cause any human health issues. This myth prevails because back in the 1960s General Electric sold some new-fangled color TV sets that emitted excessive amounts of radiation — as much as 100,000 times more than federal health officials considered safe. GE quickly recalled and repaired the faulty TVs, but the stigma lingers to this day.    

But even though electronic emissions aren’t an issue with TVs made any time after 1968 (including today’s LCD and plasma flat screens), what about causing harm to one’s vision? Dr. Lee Duffner of the American Academy of Ophthalmology isn’t concerned, maintaining that watching television screens — close-up or otherwise — “won’t cause any physical damage to your eyes.” He adds, however, that a lot of TV watching can surely cause eye strain and fatigue, particularly for those sitting very close and/or watching from odd angles. But there is an easy cure for eye strain and fatigue: turning off the TV and getting some rest. With a good night’s sleep, tired eyes should quickly return to normal.

Debra Ronca, a contributor to the How Stuff Works website, argues that some parents might be putting the cart before the horse in blaming close-up TV watching for their child’s vision issues. “Sitting close to the television may not make a child nearsighted, but a child may sit close to the television because he or she is nearsighted and undiagnosed,” she reports. “If your child habitually sits too close to the television for comfort, get his or her eyes tested.”

Of course, excessive TV viewing by kids can cause health problems indirectly. According to the Nemours Foundation’s KidsHealth website, children who consistently watch TV more than four hours a day are more likely to be overweight, which in and of itself can bring about health problems later. Also, kids who watch a lot of TV are more likely to copy bad behavior they see on-screen and tend to “fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.” Nemours also finds that TV characters often depict risky behaviors (like smoking and drinking) and also tend to reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes.

There has also been much debate in recent years on the effects of TV viewing on infants. A 2007 Seattle Children’s Research Institute study found that for every hour per day infants spent watching baby DVDs and videos they learned six to eight fewer new vocabulary words than babies who never watched the videos. But a 2009 study by the Center on Media & Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston found no negative cognitive or other impacts whatsoever on those infants exposed to more television than less.

Don’t we all agree that too much TV can be harmful not just for kids but for adults as well?

Manila is waiting

Next month I will be back in Manila again to continue setting up my sister’s condo. The unit still needs to have some curtains and other furnishing. The option for having Roman shades or roll up blinds is out. They want curtains for their condo and that’s it. Another important thing to buy is the LCD TV which should preferably be a Samsung 32”. We already visited SM Appliance at the Mall of Asia last December and they had an ongoing sale that time for LCD TVs with discounts for spot cash and installment purchases including free installation and mounts.  Other items to be bought for the condo are wall paintings, lamps, carpets, kitchen utensils, décors and other home accessories.

Goodbye Santa, hello fairy godmother

Christmas may be over but I am still wishing for some gifts! Why so? I will be going on another trip again and some new gadgets would surely be helpful to make my travel more enjoyable and memorable. Hmmm… first off, I want a Canon digital camera to capture some of those unforgettable moments and scenic views, a lightweight notebook preferably Acer  Timeline 1801TZ for catching up with work while on the go, and a 160GB iPod for music-listening during boring trips! Whew… I might as well look out for some Black Friday online deals huh? Since Christmas is over, Santa might not be available to hear my wishes, so maybe my fairy godmother will wave her magic wand this time.

Home security while on travel

Going out of town for a holiday can be fun but can also pose security risks for your home. It would really be unfortunate if some robbers would break into a house when the owners are away. Thus, to have peace of mind while on travel, it’s best to have your house installed with home security systems unless you have somebody who’ll stay and watch your house while you’re away frolicking in the beach.

For instance, when our family traveled to Europe for more than a month’s vacation, we had my uncle take care of our house. Aside from our house, he also helped us with paying the bills and other concerns. Now, taking care of some household concerns can’t be handled by a security system though, thus it should be considered when planning for a long vacation.  

Healthcare issues

Life offers many challenges particularly with health issues as one advance in age. With most of us becoming busier than ever, one of our concerns usually revolves around health and fitness – exercise routine, choosing the best food supplement, body spas, or going on a diet.

But health issues can’t be addressed effectively when one has financial concerns as well, particularly with the sick and elderly who need the proper healthcare and medication the most. For those who are caught up between healthcare and other important life issues which involve money, they can rely on patient assistance programs to help them with the expenses. These programs provide wide selection of programs offering free or discounted prescription medicines for qualified whether he is a patient, caregiver, health care professional, hospital administrator or represent an advocate organization. 

Facebook newbie

What’s up with me these days? Oh well, aside from being busy with all the shopping and gift-wrapping (stayed up late until dawn wrapping gifts for our community’s Christmas party), I’m also caught up with my Facebook friends. I had fun connecting with past and new friends via Facebook, and I’m enjoying it, sometimes forgetting about the time as I browse through my friends’ profiles and reading updates about them. It’s like I’m lost in another world as I become witness to the lives of family, friends and acquaintances. Sigh.

So that’s it! These days, I’m not occupied with browsing the latest news or showbiz gossip or finding some information about cheap health insurance, but busy reading and commenting on my Facebook friends’ updates.

Word of the day: REPAIR

Few more days to go and it will be the much-awaited day of celebrating Christ’s birth. It’s good to be home, seeing the blinking festive lights on the Christmas tree and Belen. But I still have not done my Christmas shopping until now. Sigh.

Our bodies and spirits also needed to be “repaired” and rejuvenated so we can be healthier and live longer.

Online education

Education doesn’t stop when you graduate from college. Thus, most of us would still enroll in advanced courses that would help us develop to be better equipped in our career. Of course, work experience is also a good teacher but in this Information Age, it is essential to be updated with the latest trends in relation to one’s chosen career. For those who are working, however, there’s the dilemma of not having time for another academic endeavor especially if you have kids. Thus the option of getting an online degree is a good and convenient choice.

For instance, there’s Western Governors Online University, a fully accredited online university, which offers masters degree online program for courses in education, business, information technology and health profession. I’m sure busy parents and executives who need to pursue further studies can choose which course they prefer to upgrade their knowledge and skills. Having a masters degree or an advanced course on your resume gives you an edge over the others.

Braced

During one of my dental checkups, the dentist advised that I should wear braces to align my upper teeth as one of my jaws are already extracted and this caused some misalignment of my teeth. Well, I’m quite hesitant about that as I don’t like being braced and especially having some weird metal stuck to my teeth. But after reading about invisalign braces, I might consider being braced after all.
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