Mac playin’

It’s a Saturday! I thought I would have lots of ‘me time’ today but I had to print some stuff due this afternoon. Ugh! Just when I thought it would be another relaxing weekend. I know most people would love to laze around during weekends at home and play around the computer. While there are loads of games for PCs available, MAC users can also check out download-mac-games.com where they can choose from a wide variety of mac games to download from action, adventure, kids, learning and other categories. Games such as Plant Tycoon, Fairy Tale, TV Manager and more are just few of the varied games available for download. I bet kids would love to play Kickin’ Soccer with its crowd-filled stadium background while playing soccer game virtually.

Song assignment

Daisy of the Blue Apron passed on to me some sort of assignment in response to an email from one of her readers interested in Christian music. A list of songs is given and here’s the request: “I just like to know if you personally like and recommend these songs for worshipping? Please rate from 1 to 5 — 1 being highest.”

My list below highlights some songs in blue, they are my personal favorites, but I don’t necessarily recommend them for worship because I guess people can’t relate to them that much. People usually can relate to popular and melodic songs with simple lyrics, these songs are usually best for worship. But then again, music is always subjective and what’s unappealing or complicated to one person may be totally amazing to another.

1.    Mighty To Save – not familiar with this song
2.    Tell The World – 2
3.    Glory - 2
4.    Salvation Is Here – 3
5.    One Way – 1
(more…)

Weekend anticipation

After last week’s non-stop rainy days, everybody’s back to their usual activities – Mom got engrossed with tidying up the garden and taking care of the plants, while Dad got busy again with tinkering around the house. The other day he got up on the roof to clear it up after the rainy days clogged up the gutter with leaves. Hmmm…maybe we could go shopping over at SM this weekend. I know Dad is looking forward to strolling around his favorite area in the mall, the hardware section! Mom and I usually browse around the different shops and boutiques while Dad would be content with just roaming around the DIY section. Well, he’s really keen on looking for whatever new gadgets and tools he can use for his projects, from the tiniest Tek screws to the more complicated Ingersoll Rand air tools and just about any hardware stuff you see. Me? I will finally be getting some ‘me time’ hopefully tomorrow after I meet my deadline tonight. Yey to that!

Heroes is back!

Finally, NBC’s Heroes Season 2 is here. So we see some changes in the lives of the ‘heroes’ four months from that final episode last season:

- Claire Bennet going to a new school with some guy getting interested in her (he turns out to be another flying hero too)
- her Dad Noah working in a different company
- a drunken and unkempt Nathan
- Hiro meeting a different Takezo Kenzei in 1671 Japan
- Suresh being offered to undertake a big research project by the Company
- Molly with her terrifying dreams
- police officer Matt promoted as NYPD detective
- Hiro’s Dad and Mama Petrelli got death threats

There are new characters too, the siblings Maya and Alejandro being pursued by the cops…and from what I saw, Maya has extraordinary powers which I’m clueless at this time. By the way, Claire didn’t get any pricey jewelry, cuddly stuffed toy or charming silk trees as an advanced birthday gift…she was given a brand new Nissan Rogue SUV! (Nissan is a major sponsor of NBC and they even have a Nissan Rogue giveaway on their premiere week.) 

Did I miss anything? Oh, the last scene showed a man locked up in chains inside a big container van, and guess who it was?

The magic number 118 118

Isn’t it that sometimes we needed information on services within our area and we turn to the web for the answers? Just like when I was looking for banks near my place where I could open a savings account or just needed information on some reliable upholstery repair services. In the UK, people can check out 118.com for their online directory enquiries. This is the web-based directory of the 118 118 service, providing access to information on people and services.

Whether by calling or texting 118 118 or accessing the 118.com website, people are provided the information they need on businesses, services and entertainment.

To invest or not to invest?

Aside from my freelance projects and training classes, I am also considering other income generating options, and investing in real estate is one of them. Recently, my Mom learned from a reliable source about a house and land for sale just within our subdivision - a small and simple looking house within 400 plus square meters of land beside the sea and about ten minutes walk from our house. The owner didn’t advertise it but confirmed its availability for sale when my Mom inquired about it on the phone.

Whether I find the property a good place to live in or not, it’s still a good investment considering its current selling price. There’s also the possibility of bigger increase in its property value since there is an ongoing negotiation about the construction of another establishment within our subdivision, plus the opening of the new airport which is just about 15 minutes ride from here. We’re still thinking if we’d go on with our investment plans for that property or not. 

Yes, they obsess about the Google page rank too!

With millions of websites being created by the minute, what are the possibilities that yours would be read by others, and how can your site pages reach out to the rest of the World Wide Web? We know website designers and administrators of bigger websites (particularly business and commerce) definitely want their site to reach a larger audience. Yes, they obsess about the Google page rank too. Thus they not only focus on quality content but also employ search engine optimization (seo) techniques.

One of these seo strategies is using an seo software such as Static Page Builder™ which is based on a recommendation from Google’s guidelines about “creating static copies of dynamic pages” to create easy accessibility and attract traffic to your site. By building loads of static pages, your site will be driving loads of content to the search engines thus increasing traffic to your site. Check out StaticPageBuilder.com to learn more about this search engine marketing software or you can avail of their free trial for 30 days with 10,000 free credits and see if it works for you. 

Checking my blog’s pulse

I used to include a Google page rank icon in my blog sidebar which automatically displays my blog’s current page rank upon loading the site. Personally, I consider Google’s page rank as a reliable way to determine my blog’s ranking in the World Wide Web.

The page rank checker icon is a sort of pulse oximeter for my blog, one of the many ways to check if my blog statistics are increasing, aside from Sitemeter, Technorati and other services. I would find myself checking on it regularly and sometimes even getting worried if it displays an N/A or 0 instead of the actual rank. I realized it was becoming a bad habit, worrying about my blog’s traffic and statistics, so I finally took it out.

Isn’t it better to focus on my blog’s content instead of obsessing about this numerical icon on my blog’s side bar? I don’t know if you have felt this way about your blogs too. 

Are you a wine enthusiast?

Whenever I visit homes, I tend to observe additional rooms or areas which are more than the basics since they make a statement about the owner of the house. Aside from the basic dining, sleeping and living rooms, additional areas such as a library, home office, playroom or a prayer room give an idea about the interests of the house owner. For instance, some houses showcase their owner’s wine collection in a mini bar or wine drinking area, making it obvious that the owner is a wine aficionado who loves to entertain and have nice conversation with friends while sipping wine.

For wine enthusiasts, their wine racks are carefully chosen since they display the owner’s favorite collection. There are many wine stores such as TheVineStore.com which offers all sorts of wine racks – metal, wood, wall mounted or hanging, specialty and commercial types. TheVineStore.com provides secure online shopping and nationwide shipping in the US. I like the Vertical Vineyard design (right photo) which can accommodate 9 bottles. It blends well with the wall, to give a false impression that the bottles are hanging on mid-air. It also provides the proper storage with the bottles lying down so the corks remain in contact with the wine since dry corks increase the possibility of wine spoiling. 

All about treadmills

If you’re planning to buy a treadmill for home use just like me, you might have many questions like, “What brand to buy?”, “Which treadmill type – manual or electronic?” or “What’s the best treadmill to fit my budget?” Here are some articles I found helpful while surfing about treadmills on the web:

Personally, I opt for an electronic treadmill than its manual counterpart though you have to brace yourself for the prices which range from $1000 to $3000 or even more. So that means I need to save up to have one in the future. Anyway, I will be checking out the sports stores anytime soon to get some idea on what treadmill to buy and the budget I need.

On power outages

Our local power utility company always surprises us every now and then with short intermittent power outages. I’m working on my laptop when suddenly the screen turns dim, and my Internet connection goes to sleep. Few minutes later, electricity is back again. It’s a crazy on and off power outage really and it’s not good for household appliances such as refrigerators. How about bigger offices and industries? The more they need to have backup generators to have continuous power supply especially in emergency situations. Generator Depot USA provides a wide range of diesel generators categorized into fuel type, brand or manufacturer and output power. Their site offers a guide to calculate the amount of wattage your future generator needs based on the appliances wattage you have at home or in the building where you plan to house the generator.

After the rain

Finally after those seemingly non-stop rainy days last week, the skies have cleared again and the sun made its presence felt once more. It’s nice to see the garden with the plants blooming prettily these days particularly these euphorbia flowers which never fail to add liveliness to its surroundings with its colorful blooms.

A golfer’s haven

The holiday season is almost here and some families are already planning for their next holiday destination. With so many places to visit and choose from, people looking for a nice peaceful getaway can have many options and one of them is Branson Missouri where they can check out Thousand Hills golf resort, a relaxing retreat for golf enthusiasts with its cabin and condominium accommodations. Thousand Hills also provide Branson Missouri real estate for those who would like to have their homes in this community. With their 18 hole golf course, GPS equipped golf carts and fully equipped golf shop, I bet my golfer bro-in-law would love to escape from cold Finland and spend some time in a golfer’s haven such as this. 

Treadmill blahs

After writing about my interest in treadmill desks, I got a comment from Jay Buster who has his own blog on, what else but, treadmill desks! Reading his blog inspires me to have my own too. It’s also interesting to read his goal of walking virtually (from his treadmill desk while at work) from NY to Chicago in one year using Google Earth to track his progress. Cool huh? Now I want to do that one too, but wait…I don’t even have a treadmill yet! LOL. So now I am considering buying a treadmill too, another item to add on my ‘To Buy’ list. I saw an electronic treadmill on sale at Sports House in Robinsons last month. I guess I will be visiting more sports stores this time, and veer away from the grocery a bit. *winks* 

Robbery at the Plaza!

We just bought a brand new vacuum cleaner and some gallons of paint one afternoon, kept them at the back of our van which was parked at the Bacolod Plaza, then we went to attend Mass at the nearby Cathedral.  Later when we were at Robinsons, Dad checked the rear of the vehicle only to be dismayed that the vacuum cleaner and the other things we just bought were gone! What a big disappointment indeed! The robbers did it while we were attending Mass right there at a public place. I don’t know how they managed to open the back door of the van, carry the big vacuum cleaner and those heavy gallons of paint without the others noticing them. The plaza is known for car robberies and it was so unfortunate that our van was not spared.

After that bad incident, we realized the importance of having car alarms installed on vehicles. It would keep those crooks away and they would at least be discouraged from carrying on further with their bad plans. I saw some car alarms at ElectraWarehouse.com, and something like the Absolute AL307 remote alarm with anti-hijacking could have scared those crooks had it been installed in our van. Car owners can browse over lots of car audio equipment and other accessories in this site too. Actually we have many plans for our van and if ever we have a budget we plan to install car speakers, stereo, alarm, and have its interiors washed and its paint cover waxed to make it look brand new. It has given us good service despite some maintenance every now and then. 

7 Things to do in Thailand

Having studied, worked and stayed in the Land of Smiles for many years and visiting it every now and then, here are some suggestions to add to your travel itinerary if ever you plan on making Thailand as your next holiday destination.

2. Eat exotic food

3. Visit the ruins

4. Go cruising along Chao Phraya

5. Shopping

6. Visit temples

7. Take lots of pictures!

Inspirational reading

I love reading books, but lately I haven’t been reading as often as I did before. These days, I try to squeeze reading few chapters of a book so I have something positive to feed my mind. The last book I read was ‘8 Secrets of the Truly Rich’ by Bo Sanchez and I learned a lot from it with regards to being wealthy and spiritual at the same time. I love reading inspirational books, they give me that much needed encouragement and life lessons. They provide insights that keep me on track when I seem to wander from my personal goals and dreams.

I also value spiritual reading, which I consider as food for my soul. Aside from reading the Bible, I also read books from spiritual authors and one of them is a small pocketbook which is a collection of writings from Mother Teresa. There’s also a new book ‘Come Be My Light’ which is a compilation of her writings and reflections, many of which were not made public yet. The writings were compiled by Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C. and the book was published to commemorate her tenth death anniversary. An ebook format is available at BookOnBoard.com for Adobe Reader 7, eReader and Microsoft Reader. More spiritual and inspirational digital ebooks are available at BookOnBoard.com where bookworms can browse over fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, history, classics, business, spiritual, self-help, romance and other categories.

What…a treadmill desk?!

I’m quite disappointed about not having time to do my exercise routine as planned in my health journal since I am always catching up on pending tasks. So this article from the Mayo clinic caught my attention, ‘Office exercise: How to burn calories while you work’. It offers suggestions like walking or biking to work or keeping exercise equipment in your work area, but I find the last one interesting: Try a treadmill desk. Huh?

It’s actually a specialized treadmill which allows you to work on your computer while walking on a treadmill also known as a walk-and-work approach. How cool is that? So that also means browsing the Net while walking briskly. According to the article, “Mayo Clinic researchers estimate that overweight office workers who replace sitting computer time with walking computer time by two to three hours a day could lose 44 to 66 pounds (20 to 30 kilograms) in a year.” Since, most of us work in front of our computers, sitting comfortably, letting our brains run around while our bellies are getting flabbier (ouch!), I believe this treadmill desk is a good idea.

Videoconferencing for your business

Business companies and organizations with branches and offices in different locations have many options to communicate with each other with the numerous high technology equipments and gadgets available nowadays. Telecommunication solutions play a big role, and video conferencing is one of them. Imagine talking in real time to your associates in Japan or discussing your latest business plans with a client in another state. This setup is made possible with video conference system solutions offered by companies such as LifeSize, an Austin TX based video communications company. They offer enterprise, education, public sector, healthcare and telepresence solutions with their video conferencing systems. Interested parties can also book for a demonstration of their services to learn more about what they offer. 

Keeping track of my personal finances

Being the family’s self-appointed treasurer, I handle contributions from my siblings (for our parents’ funds) as well as my own personal finances. How do I keep track of them? First I jot down my daily expenses on a notebook or any piece of paper while on the go to help remind me later when I compute the total expenses and input on my accounting software at the end of the day. The cash on hand (COH) should match with the balance as shown on the software, otherwise I calculate again and try to think of other expenses which I have overlooked.

Sometimes there are purchases without receipts which are difficult to track and they end up as unaccounted and I would rack my brains thinking where the money went. If the unaccounted is less than fifty pesos, I would not really give a big deal but if it’s more than that, say a hundred pesos more, then I start to worry and do my computations again. Ah, nothing beats the satisfaction I feel when my COH matches the account register balance in my computer. It’s one good reason for having a good night’s sleep.

Business suites for rent!

When you’re still starting out on a business, sometimes you need to rent office equipment and other services to help out with operational costs. Business owners can also avail of office space rentals, such as those provided by BusinesSuites.com in the US. They offer contemporary office space Austin Tx executive suites, fully furnished to give that professional impression to your clients. They also have services such as administrative support on a pay-per-use basis for businesses handling temporary projects or events.

BPI for me

Finally after searching where to open a savings account, I finally did at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) last Friday. Being one of my last two options, I am glad I chose BPI. Aside from having a branch close to where I live, their online banking is very important for me, and I am looking forward to activating it after I get my ATM card tomorrow. I also am comfortable about their service and satisfied at how their staff handled my questions. I hope this would be a start of a great banking experience for me.

On motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle driving poses more risks on the road since it doesn’t provide the cover and protection that other vehicles do. Last year, two irresponsible citizens went on a drag racing spree along Lacson Street and hit three vehicles and a motorcycle. The drivers were injured but the motorcycle driver died on the spot as he was thrown off. Most road accidents involving motorcycles sometimes happen because other bigger vehicles fail to notice them or they simply bully them on the road because of their smaller size. The aggrieved parties can always engage the services of personal injury lawyers to handle the legal difficulties of such accidents. More information about motorcycle accidents such as its causes, accident injuries, the persons responsible and other articles can be read from txinjurylawfirm.com, a Texan based law firm where an Austin injury lawyer can be contacted for cases such as vehicle accidents, construction accidents, workplace injury and retaliation, traumatic death, sexual injury and other legal matters.

Health journal updates Week 4 September 16-22

Continued from my Health Journal Week 3 updates.

So this week I will be focusing on my exercise schedule and seeing a doctor. God bless my plans!

Online electronics shopping

Another favorite shopping section for me in the mall, aside from the houseware department, is the electronics and appliances section. It’s nice to see new nifty gadgets and check out on the latest models in the electronics world. And since I use the Internet a lot, it’s nice to surf for more electronics products at home. Abt Electronics is one site where you can browse through lots of choices on TV, computers, digital cameras, DVD players, home theater equipment, refrigerators, air purifiers and other home and kitchen appliances. Even those little details such as PSP pouch & wrist straps, trash compactors accessories, screen protectors, and food grinder attachments. Shopping for electronics stuff is now made easy with online stores. 

Rainbows

I’ve always been fascinated with rainbows when I was a kid and even until now. Whenever I see one, I would excitedly tell others to see it too. It’s a colorful work of art in the sky lovingly made by the Creator’s hands. Seeing it gives me hope…that there will always be something beautiful to look forward to after the dark and stormy days.

Flood inside the house!

It’s been raining hard every day since last week. Our garden outside is happy, but our indoor rock garden is not. The sunken part is flooded with rainwater which seeped in from the ground and found its own level among the rocks. We always have this problem every time it rains. Mom has been mentioning about waterproofing as the main solution. I know we are not alone with this predicament. I also saw a bank’s basement car parking flooded with rainwater. What a great way to welcome clients eh.

In the US, construction teams and homeowners can get professional help from the experts at American Waterproofing, a leading waterproofing specialist serving buildings and homes within New York City. Residences looking for basement waterproofing, mold remediation and foundation cracks repair can avail of their services which use the latest technology and methods. Their website has loads of information on building and house leaks, molds, dampness and other problems, the causes and reasons for correction and why waterproofing is the best solution for a drier and cleaner home environment.

Grand YM chat conference

We really didn’t plan it but yesterday was a grand chat conference with my siblings on Yahoo! Messenger. It so happened that we were online that time - the Finland bunch with my big sis behind the laptop, the Prague connection with cutie sis typing while baby C is on her lap, the Thailand group with my photo-enthusiast SIL and techie bro chatting with us on separate computers and us here in Negros with yours truly chatting from my laptop while Dad also joined us on another computer. 

The Finland bunch sent us loads of pics and here is a nice photo of Anzel and R-jed in the playground.

Making money online with Andrew

Finding ways to monetize your blog can be challenging, particularly for starters like me. So it’s quite good to learn from what others are sharing. For instance, you can read online money making tips and advices at AndrewTalk.com, this is a relatively new blog so it would be interesting to see how the articles develop in time.

The blog offers recommendations on money-making sites particularly earning with affiliate links, how to increase your blog’s traffic, doing paid reviews, in-text advertising and other methods. You might want to try the tips listed in his article ‘Ways To Make Money With Your Blog‘ and his other money-making entries. You can also take a peek at his personal life or read articles about blogging. For somebody new to online money-making, I bookmarked this site for future readings. 

Flood

So the continuous heavy rains since last week actually brought floods to some areas here in Negros. And yes, as we have suspected, there was a typhoon indeed named ‘Goring’. It’s sad to hear of flooded areas in Bago City affecting 82 families which had to be evacuated or brought to the elementary school. In Valladolid, 108 families were affected as well as 60 families in San Enrique. Last Monday, our community friends also experienced flooded streets with water up to their knees at Robinsons and also in the Mandalagan area. Will these tragic flood occurrences be minimized if we plant more trees, save our forests or improve our public drainage system?