Putting Your Free Time to Good Use

Yahoo News Philippines Hacked

2011-05-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

When I opened a Yahoo! News Headline today that says "Tons of dead fish found in Batangas" I was taken to a page that says

alert("Hacked By d4rkb1t!")

If some Internet junkie with lots of time to burn can manage to hack Yahoo! News, I wonder if my Yahoo! email account is safe from being meddled. How safe are our private conversations on email servers? Can I trust my passwords and other VERY important data aren't thrown out over the Internet ready for an Internet junkie to take advantage of?

Good Friday and our Family Tradition

2011-04-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

It's Good Friday today, and where I live Good Friday is big. The usual city life has to be halted to give way for prayer, moments of silence, and spiritual reflection. But like any other tradition, the remembrance of Good Friday in the Philippines is slowly buckling to change: no longer will you see empty streets or rows and rows of closed shops during Good Friday like the way it was a couple of decades ago.

Clearly the times are changing; the traditions are slowly fading. But until Good Friday remains a special day of the year for our family, we (together with my 3 siblings) will continue to move heaven and earth to go home where we came from every Good Friday of the year.

The Temporary Role of Wikileaks

2011-02-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

We have seen the damages and the repairs that Wikileaks' revelations have caused to governments and their people. We have witnessed ties break, leaders tried… Pandora's Box has been opened in the most syndicated way. And so the question is thrown: is the world better off with Wikileaks?

I think temporarily the world is better off with Wikileaks. Putting everything into perspective, we can count by our fingers the leaders that have been true to their word inside and outside meeting halls. It's time our leaders learn that we won't take any more of their lies and their "secret" dealings with other leaders on either side of the table. We have our eyes on you.

That said, time has to come that we, the citizens, and our leaders has to install the trust back to ourselves, to other people, to society. This is not utopia; this is simply a society that's tired of the deceit, bickering, and the lies and wants a way out: a more honest and understanding society for all.

In that time Wikileaks is not needed, and like any other phenomenon, it will die a natural death.

But for the moment, if our leaders can't give us transparent governments, then we have to step up to the plate to make things better for ourselves. Change is difficult. The evils that Wikileaks is causing at the moment are only the fruits of the deceit and the lies that some of our leaders have sown. Wikileaks is not the perpetrator; some of our leaders are. Wikileaks is a mere catalyst of change; we have to realize this. If not Wikileaks, then there will be someone, something out there that will assume the role. And I'm sure it will be greeted with the same protest and the same support that Wikileaks is receiving at the moment.

Unless trust to ourselves, to our people, and to society is restored, we, the people, with the help of Wikileaks or not, has to police the ranks of our leaders and ourselves!

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

(Edmund Burke)

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole

2010-08-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

This September, Warner Brothers Pictures is releasing the Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. An adaptation of Kathryn Lasky’s New York Times bestseller book and directed by Zack Snyder; it’s going to be another blockbuster for the whole family.

The movie is about a young owl enthralled about his father’s bedtime story. He vowed that someday, he’ll meet his heroes the Guardians from Ga’Hoole, and when his jealous brother put them in harm’s way, looks like he’s dream would come sooner than later. The young Soren has to take courage to find Ga’Hoole, flying to great heights and over long distance, just to save the other owls from the enemy.

The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is a story to watch with the whole family. It’ll teach kids about courage and determination to beat the odds no matter what it takes.

For more movie trailers, head to Superfundo.cc.

Superfundo Movie Trailer List

2010-07-16T02:28:00.000-07:00

I got some time to kill earlier, which I spent, you guessed it… browsing the Web for anything good to see. For some reason I feel like searching for The Proposal movie trailer when I came across Superfundo! The collection of movie trailers they got is superb. If you’re looking for the latest DVD out to buy or the next movie to go see with your you know who, visit Superfundo to start.

Anyway, you guys, what's your favorite scene from the movie? I particularly lost it when Sandra Bullock did her chant in the woods. I cracked!

Trapped by Venus Flytrap

2010-06-09T03:03:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to own a Venus Flytrap. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a picture from a friend’s friend on Facebook hundreds of angelic (or devilish, depending on who you ask) Venus Flytraps in small plastic pots for sale. And the seller has his garden only in the next city! So I ordered two delivered to a friend’s office located in the same city as the seller’s (now an online friend) garden. Now I’m trapped with my Venus Flytraps. I can’t stop staring at “Venus” and “Flytrap” (yes, very creative names, I know). The excitement I get just staring at the traps is just the way how I imagined it would be when I was a kid. Wow! I’m hooked.

Funny thing about it is that, I think, I got a big bonus with my purchase. I think this tiny baby plant growing under Flytrap is another carnivorous plant sold in the garden where I bought my flytraps from. I think it’s a Drosera capensis – Sundew for you and me. I can’t confirm it though until the plant grows a little bigger. So stick around and find out with me if the baby plant turns out to be a Sundew. I’ll keep you posted.

Thank you to Volker who sold me my new pets.

Quick Spring Cleaning Tips

2010-06-05T03:07:00.000-07:00

At long last, spring is just around the corner: the tulips are ready to sprout, the birds are eager to chirp, but is your house ready for the spring and summer affairs? Certainly you don't want the winter blues to linger in the living room air for an afternoon tea party. Or worse, your nitpick-mother-in-law finds your overflowing laundry down your garage. It's time for spring cleaning.

But a lot of people feel intimidated by just the thought of digging in the pile of laundry, chipping the layer of mildew, arranging the winter shopping hoard, or decluttering the room. Thank god your house is not as messy as the picture I painted, right? But if it is, don't worry. I have a quick spring cleaning tips for you.

1. Organize the activity on paper

For lucky few, randomly choosing where to start tackling the winter blues around the house will work. But for most of you, getting your spring cleaning activity organized on paper will help you tackle the task in a systematic manner taking away the dread and the feeling of hopelessness as to when are you going to see the light shine from the window behind the junk pile. So go around the house and write down on paper where you want to start cleaning, and write down under it the tools and the concoctions you need for a sparkling finish. You want to start cleaning from the rooms outward to the living room and the porch if you have one.

2. Open up for the spring

There's something about the spring sun shining and the breeze blowing that encourages--even energizes--you to move and work it. So open the windows, roll up the blinds, and tie the curtains to let the sunshine and the fresh spring breeze in the room you're cleaning about. This way you'll also avoid the buildup of cleaning product fumes and dust that can be harmful.

3. Tackle the pile

This spring cleaning tip is for the hoarder in you. If you've managed to collect a pile of bargain during the winter, the best thing to do is to have 3 big cardboard boxes labeled DONATE, TOSS, and HOLD IT. Although, if you can manage, just use 2 boxes: DONATE and TOSS. This is very important: have another person you trust who doesn't have personal attachment to your hoard and ask the person to go around the room with you and let him or her choose which box to put your hoards in. You can't do it alone.

4. Tackle the dirt and grime

Now that you've cleared the room and felt the warm sunshine from the window, it's time to tackle the dirt and the grime for a sparkling finish. Clean the ceiling and the walls next with warm soapy water finished with plain water. Next, vacuum the floors; use warm soapy water on stubborn floor stains also. To give your wood furniture the shine it deserves, use beeswax wood polish instead of synthetic polish that can harm its natural wood finish. And armed with cleaning gloves, scrubs, and cheap vodka, clean your bathroom by hand including the toilet bowl and the tub. Hey, the cheap vodka is not for drinking, it's for cleaning the grime on your tiles.

5. Give green cleaning products a go

The reason I told you to use cheap vodka is because it's nontoxic (if not drank) and it's biodegradable. This is the time to take care of your health and the environment so use green cleaning products in your spring cleaning. There are plenty you can find online or from your favorite department store, so be sure to check them out.

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a dreadful, hopeless undertaking because it's not. Just organize your act and get to it. You can even devote few hours each day for spring cleaning or devote an entire weekend for it. And I also encourage you to make spring cleaning a whole family affair by making it fun with your ingenuity, too.

Glasses for Spring and Summer

2010-04-24T02:23:00.000-07:00

Spring break isn't over yet, it's not too late to shop for sun or eyeglasses for spring. Because there's something about sunglasses that makes people look even hotter, it's the number one accessory you can't go without in spring and summer. And you can't exactly read the find print in your summer vacation brochure without your eyeglasses, right? So shopping for sun or eyeglasses for spring and summer is, indeed, both chic and practical.

Gucci, Prada, Bolle, Costa del Mar, and Ray-Ban sunglasses never get old for spring and summer. They're retro and sporty that goes with your beach outfit – also remember, it's never too early to plan for the summer getaway. It gets even better because shopping for sun or eyeglasses has never been this easy; you can shop online any time you want. In fact, online shopping for eye wears is even better than strolling down window shops – everything from function to fashion is right at your finger tips!

Alex Crisses, Insight Venture Partners Young Mind

2010-04-24T02:11:00.000-07:00

Although young, Alex Crisses Insight Venture Partners carries a full resume worth the investment strategist role in no less than Insight Venture Partners. He's one of the company's principal strategists looking after investments on infrastructure software and Internet. Why did he earn such respect at a young age? Because Alex Crisses Insight Venture Partners is an achiever!

The guy received University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business' highest honor when he graduated in 2002 for BS Economics. Among Alex' other achievements in Wharton include tennis varsity (4-year player), selected Mortar Board National Honor Society, member Golden Key International Honor Society, Wharton Ambassador, etc. Alex Crisses Insight Venture Partners is also a recipient of George F. Baker Scholarship award graduating with distinguished academic performance in no less than Harvard Business School for his MBA.

Most importantly, Alex Crisses is active in giving back to the community, particularly to the New York Police Department. He chairs the only non-profit organization that raises money for New York policemen. So, not only does he have a heavy IQ at young age, he has a big heart too.

Jerry Murdock: Man of the Week

2010-04-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Philanthropist, investment strategists, political scientist, and author, Jerry Murdock is our man of the week.

As an investment strategist at Insight Venture Partners, the leading venture capitalist for new and emerging Internet and software companies, Jerry Murdock directed the investments on several listed companies such as Fuze Box, Inc., DivX, Inc., DriveCam, Beatport, Quest Software, and many others. Despite his busy life in Insight Venture Partners, Jerry Murdock has not neglected his role in uplifting societies and discoveries in social and physical sciences. He’s a Board of Trustees member for both The Santa Fe Institute and the Aspen Institute working side by side other brilliant minds in physical and social sciences like former U.S. Secretary Madeline Albright.

Jerry Murdock is not only helping individual companies accumulate wealth, he’s also helping spread new developments in sciences to the marginalized and emerging societies. That’s why he deserves the Man of the Week mention here.

Fresh Spring Flowers at the Door

2010-04-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Half-way through spring and you don’t have fresh spring flowering bulbs to pick since you’re not that of a green thumb to begin with? Don’t worry because you can always have some delivered right at your doorstep from 1800Flowers.

If there’s one most welcomed and anticipated season, it’s the spring. Festivals after festivals are celebrated from March through May – it’s a petty to miss the events. Even the Spring Festivals are taken care of by 1800Flowers by giving its avid shoppers events updates on its Twitter page. So, head to your Twitter account to meet other Spring Festival fans to update about your schedules and to talk about, of course, flowers besides car pooling.

Partnering with SAS, 1800Flowers is in the best position to take care of your flower needs for spring, now more than ever. In fact, this online flower shop boast of the highest repeat buyer stats among other flower shops in the United States. So you know you get what your money’s worth from the flower shop of the stars.

The Life of One Sailor

2010-03-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

As I was researching about the lives of merchant marine sailors, I ran across this one blog, a true-to-life account of one sailor who’ve lived and worked at sea for, I guess, years. At first I was reading the entry because I had to. Then the amateur photos taken by our sailor, Marty, enamored me and had me scrolling down the page. The photos told a story by themselves so I kept on browsing till I reached the end and quickly hit the Home button to start reading the article itself.

Marty’s account of his life at sea is no less than captivating – even if you shoved the idea of being a sailor to your brain’s recesses the day were born. And might I tell you that Marty doesn’t just take photos (which I burrowed one here), he can paint too. But what struck me the most about Marty’s account was when he told about the taunts that the sailors make on the unregulated VHF over the Mediterranean. I never knew that my sailor kababayans (countrymen) were famous for being called monkeys out there – a taunt that we’re all too familiar wherever we go in the world. Amusing and, ermm…! a little personal at the same time.

I won’t speak further about Marty’s story here because it’s not mine to tell. I’ll let Marty tell you firsthand about the life of one merchant marine sailor – his life. Please head to Live and Work on a Container Ship.

Thank you Marty for your wonderful account!

Flowers for All Occasions from 1800flowers

2010-02-24T23:36:00.000-08:00

For discerning flower shoppers like Martha Stewart or the White House Chief Floral Designer, it’s countable by fingers the number of florists who can perfect floral arrangement for all occasions. Luckily, one of these few genuinely gifted florists, 1800flowers, resides on the Internet – you can even shop for flowers on its Facebook page.

Because of this convenience, there’s no more reason you can’t send a thoughtful card complimented with a perfect congratulatory 1800flowers bouquet. Your newly promoted boss will surely appreciate the gesture. But what if the event calls for a different kind of floral arrangement? I remembered my aunt once upset over the death of her close neighbor in New Jersey. I could almost hear her hold back the tears when we spoke over Skype because she couldn’t attend to her funeral. I said “why don’t you send a funeral spray from 1800flowers since you’re facing the computer right now.” She did straight from her living room in L.A., and within few hours her beloved neighbor’s son called her up to say thank you; she emailed me the following day.

Such an instance like this makes you thank the Internet and the diligent hands that weave beautiful flower arrangements 24/7 ready to perk up a person regardless of the event.

Aspen Institute’s Jerry Murdock

2010-02-24T22:18:00.000-08:00

Together with former U.S. secretary Madeleine Albright, political analyst David Gergen and other brilliant minds in science, politics, business, and economics, Jerry Murdock serves as The Aspen Institutes Board of Trustees. Jerry graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Political Science, and he founded the Aspen Technology Group and co-founded The Aspen Institute’s Roundtable on Information Technologies. Jerry Murdock is also a Board of Trustees member of the Santa Fe Institute and a managing director and co-founder of the Insight Venture Partners.

As managing director, Jerry Murdock spearheaded the company’s investment strategy, and he’s also in charge of the company’s several portfolio investments. Currently, Jerry directs the company’s investments on CallWave Inc., Quest Software, Beatport, DriveCam, and Dorado Software, Inc. Because of his extensive experience in founding organizations and managing businesses, he’s become one of the great contributors to The Aspen Institute’s mission.

Odds and Ends about Andrew Wilshire

2010-02-24T17:17:00.000-08:00

When commodities business people and precious metal investors speak about Andrew Wilshire, you’ll often hear them talk about how he grew his business from an unassuming online Investment Newsletter in 1997 to a multimillion company. However, did you know that Andrew Wilshire is more than just and investment tycoon? The man is also a professional golfer, fisher, and an official boat enthusiast.

Living in the beautiful, sunny Florida, it’s not surprising that Andrew Wilshire develops his love of outdoor sports, and he’s been at it since his college days. Apparently the man believes in the motto “work hard and play hard,” and it may even be one of the reasons he’s successful. If Andrew is not in his office advising people about the next best investment opportunity, he’s probably out on the course hitting the 18th or speeding through the Florida marsh.

Flowers after Super Bowl Sunday Celebration

2010-02-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

Still reeling from the nostalgic New Orleans Saints victory celebration? You better snap out of it fast because your girlfriend is waiting for another kind celebration with you this coming Sunday. You don’t want to be caught empty handed this Valentine’s Day without flowers and chocolates when you knock on your girlfriend’s door – it could spell disaster to you!

There’s just no excuse not to give bright red, sweet smelling roses to her because you can even have them hand delivered in a beautiful keepsake vase from online flower shops such as 1800flowers.com, MSNBC’s most trusted florist on the Internet. So don’t use the Super Bowl’s victory party if you don’t have flowers for the important women in your life come Valentine’s Day. You read it from here first; now you know what to do.

1800flowers Saves the Day

2010-02-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

This Valentine’s Day, be creative for your girlfriend’s red roses by combining the thrilling romance or her favorite Twilight Saga and the whirlwind effect of your happy love affair. If she can’t wait for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse release on June 30, the least you can do is to give her a Hallmark poster of the movie with special Twilight Saga chocolates and blood-red roses you can get from 1800flowers.com.

There’s a reason MSNBC raved about the Internet’s number one flower shop – it’s because 1800flowers will surprise your love ones and not you with extra charges out of the blue. Come Valentine’s Day, save yourself the trouble of coming up with the perfect blood-red roses for your girlfriend because the Twilight Flowers Poster Bundle is ready to be shipped to her front door. Don't worry about attracting vampires to her because you can't find one prickly thorn in this bundle. Your girlfriend is very safe.

Super Bowl Sunday Flowers

2010-02-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

Few hours to Super Bowl Sunday, it’s not just the super fans that are busy scribbling their best team yells; advertisers are hot on their heels coming up with the catchiest Super Bowl commercials too. Who could forget the talking roses in a box ad that beat other Super Bowl commercials to the pulp? How about the twin dudes wanting to buy flowers but can’t because their cute, cloned faces finally turned around to bit their behinds.

Who could have the next slamming commercials for the XLIV Super Bowl Sunday? It’s yet another reason to tune your eyes and ears to the TV aside from the beer, popcorn, and good old football ruckus with the whole gang coming over to watch the game.

Help Haiti

2010-01-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

Many days after the disastrous quake hit Haiti, it seems like the work has just truly began. Haitians need your help now more than ever: food, medicine, shelter, and prayers. When an opportunity calls to help, please don’t hesitate to extend whatever help you can. Impact Your World has a list of ways you can donate your time and money to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Heed the call. Help Haiti now: Impact Your World.

Warm Italian Hospitality Meets Lake Lugano Paradise at Parco San Marco

2010-01-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

Nestled in premier Lake Lugano vacation parkland, the Hotel Parco San Marco sits in a 30,000 square meters of paradise on the eastern end of Lake Lugano. The hotel boasts of its 82 guests suites each with panoramic Lake Lugano, the mountain side, or the forest views complete with fully equipped kitchen and living room with Italian décor. However, when you have all the outdoor activities, spa services, and the sights to see in Lake Lugano, who needs all these room amenities?

Parco San Marco is also a premier Italian spa hotel destination in northern Italy. In fact, the sound mind, sound body mantra of the hotel is perfected at best in the San Marco spa complete with whirlpool, sauna, steam bath, and a solarium with choices of aroma and massage and beauty therapy. And a stroll in the sub-tropical gardens, a quiet time in the Buddha Pavilion, or a late afternoon walk along Lake Lugano can surely soothe a tired soul. Even the children are taken care of by Parco San Marco with its Bamibini Club activities and fun-filled, kid-friendly swimming pools. The dads can also brush up their swing in the many well-manicured gulf and country club in Lugano; Lake Como gulf enthusiasts even visit the place just to play gulf.

The tranquil and the laidback environment in Lake Lugano made it a place to visit in Italy. The place is inspiring and relaxing enough that there are no crimes reported happened in the region ever.

Early Flowers Way before Spring

2010-01-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

Spring may be months away, but you don’t have to wait until the first tulip bud blossoms to get your indoor flower. There are plenty of green thumbed people at 1-800 Flowers working all year round to make available almost all the flowers you want in your sun room.

In fact, in January you can call 1-800 Flowers to deliver on your doorstep a limited offer of Juniper bonsai tree to grace your decoration for the month’s celebrations. If you are into Fung Sui, a money tree on top of your coffee table will not just liven up the room, it will make the room auspicious too.

There’s really no reason why you can’t have your favorite indoor flower even if you don’t possess a green thumb to grow them. There are plenty of resources online you can tap like 1-800 Flowers, which delivers your order fresh from the garden and into your living room.

Choosing the Right Eyeglasses

2010-01-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

Since it’s the New Year, I thought about injecting some tip to make you look good in 2010. Let’s start off with how to choose the right eyeglasses.

In general, the frame of your eyeglasses should be opposite to the shape of your face. So if your face is round, you would want a rectangular frame to offset your round feature. You’re lucky if you have oval face because almost all frames fit you. When it comes to the size, people with large face are advised to get larger frame, and smaller frame fits well with people with smaller face also.

Choose your eyeglasses well because this one accessory can make or break your entire get up when you go out the house. If you choose to shop for your eye wear online, choose a shop that has the most extensive choices such as Eyeglasses.com so that you can really find that one perfect eye wear.

Why Andrew Wilshire Encourage Investment in Precious Metal

2010-01-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

When the interest rate is down and the price of oil still on shaky ground, Andrew Wilshire advise people to investment their money on precious metals (yeah, jewelries count as good investment). To protect your family against future full-outs, investing your money on tangible assets such as gold and silver has been a good choice since the society learned the art of investing.

Andrew Wilshire has been a strong advocate of precious metals investment; he has even formed the Worth Bullion Group investment firm to help retail investors get the right information and venue to invest on precious metals. Before Worth Bullion Group, investments on precious metals are pretty much left to the select few only. What Andrew Wilshire did leveled the playing field so that everybody with some amount of money are now able to investment on precious metals – not just the few who have tentacles in Wall Street.

American Career Group – Helping Businesses Hire the Right People

2010-01-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

Key to business success is hiring the right people to execute the plans and the visions of the business seamlessly and seeing it through completion phase after phase. That’s why large businesses devote an entire department just to review candidates for positions’ applications. What about small businesses who do not have the resources to devote an entire staffing department? That’s when a reputable staffing company like American Career Group can come to the rescue.

A good staffing company is one that consolidates a huge amount of talented individuals from around the country looking for a fitting job vacancy to fill. Not only will a staffing company must lay all the resumes it has for you, it must have reviewed all these resumes to give you only the strongest candidates in the bunch. American Career Group have satellite offices in 10 major cities in the United States so that wherever you are in the country, finding the right people to work for you should be easy.

Do not let limited resources compromise your business by hiring inept people to work for you. There are hundreds of able staffing companies like American Career Group who can help you hire the right people, so be sure to take advantage of their services.

Sak Narwal: True-blue Fisher

2010-01-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

A true-blue fisher is not just one who knows where to find and reel in the biggest catch of the day, but one that has real passion for fishing and protecting the oceans and rivers for future fishers to enjoy the game. Sak Narwal epitomize a real fisher because he’s not just a believer in “catch and release,” he’s also a professional ichthyologist trained to study and protect fishes.

Sak Narwal is active in educating other fishers on how to protect oceans and rivers in order to protect their favorite past time in return. Sak does not just catch fish he also studies them to document about changes in habitat and changes in the overall health of the game fishing industry.

Sak Narwal is a businessman by profession, and a true-blue fisher by hobby. He knows how to work hard for the money and fish hard for fun.

Carl Srgo on Internet Reputation Protection

2009-11-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

The Internet has become a platform for campaigns of all sorts including online reputation destruction by one unhappy acquaintance. According to Carl Srgo, a leading expert in Internet reputation protection, the number one thing you have to do to protect your online reputation is to secure your name. How? Register a domain in your name before your detractors beat you to it.

Carl Srgo warns people that taking a defamatory content off the Web, let alone banning a domain name, is next to impossible. So before your detractors can bulldoze your reputation in a domain name spelled in your OWN name, claim the domain first before anybody else does.

Protect your online reputation by all means because it only takes one damaging article to ruin you and your business on the Web. When it comes to online reputation, an ounce of protection is still better than a pound of cure if you ask Carl Srgo.

December Flower for the Season

2009-11-16T18:47:00.000-08:00

The wind is crisp and Santa is making rounds in the mall; the Holiday Season is just around the corner. Aside from twinkling Christmas lights, gifts, mistletoe, and angel-topped Christmas tree, the season’s decoration will not be complete without the captivating December flowers or poinsettias. Its star shaped, bright red, velvety leaves just can’t be absent in a Christmas window or a comforting fireplace.

But if you’re not a Martha Stewart-like person, then you probably have not grown your own poinsettias ready for the season. Don’t let long your schedule and busy life hamper your Christmas decorating, however. You can shop your December flowers online and have them delivered on the day of your decorating. In fact, the number one online flower shop, 1800flowers, are giving away 1800Flowers coupon for some of their famous Holiday arrangement.

By completing the Christmas symbols, you’re letting everybody know that you’re thankful for all the blessings that you received this year. And don’t forget to take some time to wrap a gift for your love ones and send a holiday spirit to your friends, too.

Happy Holidays . . .

Sweet Gifts for the Holidays

2009-11-16T18:21:00.000-08:00

The gift-giving season is near and everybody is searching for a unique gift to give to his or her love ones and friends. With a little time and tons of imagination, you too can find an aptly themed gift idea to give away this Christmas. And hey . . . you can’t go wrong when you target the person’s sweetest spot: everyone’s sweet tooth!

Delight your friends and love ones with gift baskets of sweet cinnamon sugar caramel apple, sweet peppermint cookies, holiday chocolates, pretzels, fruits and wine, and of course, one of the season symbols – gingerbread man! Don’t worry if you don’t know how to put together a stunning gift basket fit for the season; let the professionals do it for you. For instance, 1800flowers have plenty 1800flowers gift baskets for Christmas you can choose from to delight your friends’ and love ones’ sweet tooth.

Bring a sweet smile to important people in your life this Christmas. Indulge them with delightful Christmas food and candy baskets to feast on together with you or their love ones.

Build Your Career with NES Employment Solutions

2009-10-29T01:28:00.000-07:00

Like all successful people say, get a job that your heart desires of doing and you'll never have to work for the rest of your life. And believe it or not, finding that dream job could be easy if you can partner with a leading staffing service such as the NES Employment Solutions.

A good staffing service company, whether online or offline, is one that has special agreements with employers, recruiters, and other staffing companies to match jobseekers with their pool of job opportunities across the country. Like NES Employment Solutions wherein jobseekers' resumes are matched to the right job opening, you can rest your mind knowing that your skills will not go to waste.

The large network NES established throughout the United States allows them to offer their services for free. Your dream job quest doesn't have to cost you money because your potential employer will contact you once you make your resume available through NES Employment Solutions.

K-Designers: Building Houses, Building Dreams

2009-10-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

K-Designers, one of the country's leaders in home remodeling business, are not just building houses for profit, but are building dreams for the American people also. One of the company's leading goals is to be helpful in the society through charity donations and social events involvement.

K-Designers, through the initiative of the owner Larry Judson, are involved in Habitat for Humanity building houses in Seattle. It's one of the company's ways of sharing their expertise to help less privileged people own their dream houses. The company is also involved in the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Mercy Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Charles Borromeo School, and many others.

It's K-Designers vision to provide homeowners the house of their dreams while fulfilling their share to community development.

Eyeglasses, They’re More Than Just Fashion

2009-10-29T01:06:00.000-07:00

Eyeglasses have long transcended their original use of aiding vision to become fashion statements and, later, protection. There's really no more reason you should shun eyeglasses because they're no longer the typical geek fashion statement, they've become Hollywood fashion statements.

Fendi, Gucci, Armani are just some of the top names in fashion that are coming up with their own line of glasses. It's enough for you to find one perfect fitting eyeglasses: that is to say find the right frame, lenses, and brand you could go for.

Aside from being a fashion statement, glasses have also become eye protection. Look for reading eyeglasses or sunglasses that has ultra violet protection to prevent sun damage to your eyes. Wearing them does not only make you look good, it does good to protect your vision, too.

Andrew Wilshire: Investment Advice in a Shaky Economy

2009-10-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

In an economy where everything is volatile, it's not easy to find a safe haven for your money. That's when an experienced investment adviser like Andrew Wilshire can help. According to Andrew, in these times of economic uncertainty, gold and other precious metals are still the safest to put your money to. Precious metals have not seen a slowed demand ever, and the supply has yet to keep up.

Andrew Wilshire strongly believes that investing in precious metal such as gold, platinum, and silver is the wisest move you can make when all other forms of investment seems to fail. It's certainly safer than investing in any currency.

Andrew Wilshire is a self-made investor who likes to collect rare coins as a hobby and investment opportunity. He's offering his insights on investing and coin collecting through his blog and his newsletter to help people like you get the most out of your hard-earn money.

Amos Tamam: Living the American Dream

2009-10-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

Why many foreigners are looking forward to set foot in the United States . . . to take a shot at the "American Dream." And Amos Tamam epitomizes the endless possibilities afforded by the U.S. to its immigrants. From his roots in Tel Aviv, Amos came to the United States armed with a degree in electrical engineering and a sheer determination to live his American Dream.

He started out servicing taxicabs in a fleet garage in New York City to later become the CEO of Verifone Transportation Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Verifone Corporation. His credit card compatible taximeter invention brought him to success. Before Amos Tamam, taxicab users could only pay taxi fares through lose coins and spare cash ready in their pockets. Now, you could pay your taxi fare easily with your plastic money – thanks to Amos.

That's how Amos epitomizes the American Dream: with the right skills and relentless pursuit of success. People like Amos Tamam are keeping the American Dream alive.

A Stress-free Tour Dedicated to the Elderly

2009-09-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

If you're over 50 years old, it doesn't mean you have to forego your dreams of going into a vacation. Sure, planning a vacation can be stressful especially for an elderly. But YMT Vacations dedicated their work on helping the elderly to circle the globe minus the hassle of planning a vacation. From your transport accommodation right when you step outside your house to your destination, YMT Vacations will take care of them. All you have to do, really, is give them a call expressing your desire to travel the world and let them take care of the rest.

YMT Vacations has been helping the elderly travel for more than 40 years now. They get the best deals with airline, cruise, and motor coach tickets so that you don't have to worry about depleting your life savings before you get to your 13th destination country. In this day and age, age really doesn't matter even to surpass the stress involved in your tour around the world.

Why Does Sak Narwal Enjoy Catch and Release Fishing

2009-09-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

To some people, the joy of fishing comes only when they see their catch filleted, drizzled with olive oil, and seasoned ready to be eaten. But Sak Narwal isn't that cruel to his catch. Sak is not only an avid fisher but also an educated ichthyologist who loves to wrap his hands on that fishing pole to reel in an elusive snapper or sand shark. But perhaps because of his fondness of fishing, he doesn’t like eating his own catch. He studies them like what a fish scientist does and releases them back to preserve the stock.

Sak Narwal learned to love fishing at a very young age so that later when he became a successful businessman, he goes back to his other passion to release stress. Perhaps it's one of his secret to achieving success. Sak Narwal knows how to work hard and play hard at the same time.

Renew Your Faith with RENEW International

2009-09-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

If you're a devout Catholic, then you know that your number one obligation as a Christian is to never waver in your faith with Jesus Christ. But if you're busy and with all the temptations around you, it's very easy to lose track with where you are in your faith at the moment. That's why it's important to join groups like RENEW International who foster ties between you and your Savior.

RENEW International is a private association of devout Catholics who put their faith into action by helping other people, Christians and non-Christians alike, to renew their faith with God. They do it by holding functions, fund raising, and charitable events targeted toward nurturing Christian fellowship and helping the needy.

RENEW International has already helped over 25 million people across America and the world, and is continuing to help more. Who knows you'll finally find the answer to that gaping hole in your Christian life by joining their cause and be among people who hold steadfast belief in Christ like you. Remember that the Bible says "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure."

Building a Career with K-Designers

2009-09-09T05:52:00.000-07:00

What's the difference between a career and a job according to successful K-Designers people?

You may encounter several arguments about the difference between a career and a job, but it will all boil down two things: personal satisfaction or a paycheck source for bills payment. And quite frankly, if you really think hard about it, any of the two options work. However, if you can pay the bills, be personally satisfied with the job that you made, and have something extra to spend, you hit the jackpot.

Fulfilling careers are those that you're allowed to help people get what they want. Whether that's a marketing director for K-Designers or a spiritual guru, it doesn't matter. As long as you affect the lives of the people that you call "clients" in a positive way, career fulfillment is near. And a fulfilling career does not discriminate also. K-Designers creed of believing on all individuals regardless of faith, sex, background, looks, etc. is an epitome of a fulfilling career to which it is open to all who's the guts to seize.

Why You Should Stick to Coolheaded, Seasoned Strategist like Jeff Barcy

2009-09-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

When the housing market first showed signs of turbulence, the nerve and expertise of real estate investors and planners were put to acid test. This is the time when the bulls were separated from the calves. Jeff Barcy, with the extent of his experience and personal knowhow, stayed positive that the real estate market will bounce back – for him it's not a matter of how, but a matter of when.

Now that the olive tree branch starts to emerge after years of tumultuous housing market, looks like Jeff Barcy, yet again, has proven his authority over the industry. Those who stayed positive with him will surely reap the after-flood benefits. Jeff Barcy, in the midst of the slump in the housing market, managed to keep Ridgeback Partners Co. way above waters. And it's not long before these people make even more money with the housing market bounce.

At the Crossroad with Harley Swiftdeer Reagan

2009-09-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

Once, or even twice in people's life, they come to a crossroad where they need to decide which way to follow: left or right. Several terms are attached to this moment; some call it life crisis others call it spiritual awakening. Whatever term you want to label it, Harley Swiftdeer Reagan has mastered his at a very young age. And it is his life's work to share to people how to master the art of life through his talks, seminars, and through his daily example, too.

Harley Swiftdeer Reagan is a spiritual teacher helping people define the true meaning of their life. He has a unique way of helping people understand and master life in order to live it fully and happily. Therefore, if you think you are at the crossroad of your life right now, get hold of Harley Swiftdeer Reagan and maybe the choice that you have to make would come easier to you.

Who Says Eyeglasses is the Pinnacle of Geekdom?

2009-09-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that many people are giving up contacts for a more chic and stylish reading eyeglasses? With the choices of reading eyeglasses today, eyeglasses have surpassed the stigma long been attached to it. Among the ladies, Nicole Kidman, Kate Beckinsale, Anne Hathaway, and among the gentlemen, Johnny Depp, Josh Hartnett, and even Eminem are seen sporting eyeglasses to make a fashion statement.

Would you be willing to be left out with the trend? Of course not! You too can make your own eyeglasses fashion style. Look at the wide array of choices from Eyeglasses.com for example. From plastic to hypoallergenic metal frames, you're sure to find a perfect fit that exemplifies your fashion taste for you.

Therefore, if you're hurting your brain trying to find the perfect accessory to match your outfit, head to your favorite eye wear store to solve your problem. In no time, you too could be sporting eyeglasses that does not only help you see, but also help you deliver a fashion statement.

They Brought You Flowers Pa

2009-08-07T07:52:00.001-07:00

We lost our head of the family to cancer last Sunday, August 2, 2009. I thought my family was prepared for it, but I didn't expect the emotion that swept us as soon as we saw Papa lying in his casket surrounded by the flowers he received from the people who loved him. This is my first time to lose a very dear person to my life, and now I know that no one could ever really prepare for it. I know my family feels the same way too despite the smile and the light face we showed to the sympathizers. He's our father and we'll forever miss him – our lives will forever be changed now that Papa is not around.

In the midst of our grief, however, it's heartwarming to see the number of people who paid their last respect to Papa and consoled us in our anguish. The beauty and the scent of the flowers they brought for Papa soothe our soul … I never expected the calmness I got every time I take a moment to look at the flowers by my Papa's side. For this, I thank the people who came and showed support to our family. It would have been more difficult had you not shared to us how your lives were touched by Papa.

Pa, we know you're singing with the angels now and are happy with your Creator. We love you Pa, and we're proud to be your children.

Take a Bite at the Stimulus Package through K-Designers

2009-08-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

Who knew that the easiest way for you to take a bite at the Stimulus Package is to redesign your window with energy efficient K-Designers window materials? If you replace your old appliances or home building components like windows and doors to a more energy efficient one, Uncle Sam will give you an income tax cut. No matter how you look at it, it's a win-win solution for you. You get to replace your old windows or doors with a new one, and the government will reduce your income tax of up to 30 percent of the price of the material for it.

If you can't believe your eyes, call K-Designers and ask them how you could use government dollar to redesign your house. Not only can windows be energy efficient, you can make your K-Designers doors rack energy stars too. Don't pass this opportunity to inject new chic look to your home paid partly by Uncle Sam. It's a seldom opportunity and it's not available forever.

Sak Narwal: Hard Worker, Diehard Fisher

2009-08-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

When you ask a successful businessman about their secret to getting rich, almost all of them will sing in chorus the sentence "I work hard, and I play hard." Sak Narwal is no exemption. Sak knows how to work hard to rack up the money, and at the end of the day, he also knows how to play hard with his hobby – fishing.

When not in the office, you'll find Sak Narwal skimming the waters off Montauk to catch a wily shark or squelching in some Louisiana marsh to reel in an elusive redfish. Sak does not just catch fish for fun; he gets to know them better by becoming an ichthyologist too. Sak Narwal is a true symbol of a well-rounded businessman who does not just know how to fish money, but to fish real snappers he can hang on his wall too.

What's a Financial or Insurance Company without SRC Leads?

2009-08-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

A financial or an insurance company knows that without good leads their business will buckle under economic pressure. Then comes lead generation companies like SRC Leads whose main purpose is to gain useful leads a financial or an insurance company can actually use to do business.

When you're planning to purchase leads from a lead generation company, the first question you want to ask them is "How do you generate your lead?" Look for companies with good reputation and experience to employ questionnaire-based lead gathering and screening process. This will save you from wasting your time weeding the leads that you bought, thus saving you money which you could use for other purpose.

SRC Leads employ the best screening procedure to qualify leads before selling the list to their clients. The many repeat buyers they have are testament to their robust experience in the industry. So what's a financial or insurance company without SRC Leads? … the next to exit in the business.

How Amos Tamam Rose on the Ladder of Success

2009-08-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder who thought about connecting taxi meters to credit cards? Yes, it is Amos Tamam. When you're in Washington, New York, or Philadelphia, you don't have to bother stuffing bills in your wallet to pay for your taxi ride. You can use your credit card to pay the meter and even give a little extra to your kind cabbie. Amos Tamam sphere headed the technology development for this purpose.

People who are just prone to leaving valuables in taxis have reason to thank Amos Tamam, too. It's easier to trace the taxi cab number where you possibly left your portfolio by just going to your credit card transaction record for the day. With his contribution to the taxi industry in these three states and growing, Amos made it to the New York Times and to many other magazines in the country.

Put Your Parents on a Cruise with YMT Vacations

2009-08-07T07:11:00.000-07:00

For their 40th anniversary, it's never too late to let your parents experience the joy of cruising across the seven seas. Nothing can be more pleasing for parents than to feel that they are appreciated and taken care of by their children. And YMT Vacations can help you show this gratitude to them with their cruise packages for the elderly.

Planning a cruise for the elderly is especially delicate, but it's not impossible. You just have to find a travel agency such as YMT Vacations that specializes on taking elderly people on a travel of their lifetime. You want to check for the number of years of experience and testimonies of happy customers before you sign up for the cruise package for your 60-year-old parents.

YMT Vacations promised the experience to start right upon planning the cruise and will end when your parents are safely backed home to tell you about it.

Turn Off Your Office Computer from Home! No, you don’t have to ask Johnny from maintenance to do it for you

2009-07-29T02:36:00.000-07:00

I know this happens at least once to you. You had a very busy day at work, but alas, your shift is up and you can finally go home to rest in your soft, four post bed. You’re finally home, took a warm, relaxing shower, and slipped into your favorite PJ about to hit the sack when … suddenly that sinking feeling. Did you turnoff your computer before rushing to that elevator door earlier?

Whew! Now your entire hard-thought ad concept you’re going to sell to your boss the next morning is out for grabs by your idea-hungry colleagues. And you know you can’t trust your cubicle neighbor, Mike, right? What will you do? Would you rush back to your office in your PJ, or would you open your laptop and turn off your office PC remotely from home. Can you really do that? With TweetMyPC, yes you can.

You can now turn off any Windows run machine remotely using an open application: TweetMyPC. In order to do this, you need to install the open application on the machine that you want to remotely control. Then you need to associate your Twitter account to TweetMyPC so that turning your computer will just be as easy as sending a Tweet to it. (Twitter, is there anything else it can’t do?)

To turnoff a computer using TweetMyPC, just update your Twitter account with the word “Shutdown” and the computer on the receiving end would take the command and shuts down itself. Cool, huh. You could remotely execute a whole bunch of other commands to any PC with TweetMyPC such as hibernate, standby, lock, kill + the process ID, and even screenshot. The rest are pretty self explanatory, but what about screenshot?

Screenshot is a command you can remotely execute to make the receiving computer send its real time screenshot to you. How cool is that … not to mention very useful too! There are also a bunch of other ways you can remotely send the commands like via email, IM, and even SMS.

Now you don’t have to worry about making it to your office before Mike gets his hands on your office computer keyboard. You have beaten him in a flash with TweetMyPC. Now go ahead and take your well deserved beauty sleep.

Take Your Multitasking Skills to the Next Level

2009-07-08T00:39:00.001-07:00

First of all, let me apologize for the long hiatus on your source of useful tips to spend a free time wisely. I'm back now but don’t give a cold shoulder on me. I got you a very nifty tool to take your multitasking skills to the next level!

It's called Double Vision browser. Yes, it's another browser adding to the long list of browsers you have installed on your machine. But once you know what this one does, I'm sure you'd install this too.

Double Vision browser lets you watch YouTube videos or any other online videos while typing a memo on Word without switching back and forth between Word and the browser window. And no, you don’t need to resize the windows, use the maximized size for the two if you want.

Double Vision browser let's you set it into transparent mode so that you can see and work on other programs running while watching your video on Double Vision. Cool, huh? But what if your boss is fast coming to your workstation … shock and horror, quick, give me that close button. Hold on. In Double Vision browser, you can just hit CTRL+ESC button on your keyboard and the browser tucks itself away from your screen and even from your taskbar taking with it all the sight and sound of the video you're watching. Thanks Double Vision!

So guys, there you have it - my peace offering for not posting for so long in my beloved blog.

Get Your Pup from Reputable Happiness is Pets

2009-05-26T05:19:00.000-07:00

You can never go wrong when you give your child a puppy for his or her 5th birthday. But, before you make your child happy though, be sure that you’re not doing a disservice to the man’s best friend. When in Chicago, get your puppy only from reputable pet stores such as Happiness is Pets who guarantees that their puppies come from reputable breeders only. Another good reason to get a pup from Happiness is Pets is their 1 year warranty to all puppies bought from them only.

Having a dog can be expensive especially if they start to get sick from congenital defects, which often times do not manifest until the dog is about a year old or so. Even though it’s difficult to lose a beloved 4-legged member of the family, it’s a consolation, nonetheless, to know that you can have your pet replaced with a new one from Happiness is Pets during the 1 year warranty period. Take advantage of their 14-day free vet service from the day you purchase your pets from them, too. It’s a good way to catch early signs of defects as well as to get good advice on how to take care of your pet also.

Free In-home Consultation by K-Designers

2009-05-26T01:31:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for ways to give your house exterior a new look, try vinyl siding. Because it is vinyl, you can trust that your exterior is resistant to termite attacks, rot, and even fire. Vinyl siding is also the most flexible material when it comes to style; you can have anything from shake shingles, bricks, horizontal and vertical vinyl sidings, and even vinyl log if you like. K-Designers are giving free in-home consultation to homeowners who are not fully decided on which style to go for, or to homeowners who have no idea about vinyl design to begin with.

Although vinyl is cheaper compared to other exterior cladding material, it’s still an added investment to your home, which is perhaps the biggest investment in your life. Don’t trust just any company to remodel your home with vinyl siding or you could waste some good amount of money, or worse, you could even ruin your exterior. K-Designers is a trusted 30-year-old company in the business whose happy customers include Senator Charles Starr of Oregon.

The company provides extensive in-home consultation with their potential clients, no hidden obligations attached. Don’t worry if you have no idea about vinyl sidings, they can suggest a style and finish that’s perfect for your house during consultation. They look after your welfare and satisfaction so that they don’t even ask a single centavo down payment for any remodeling job. You pay them after the work is finished and you are 100% satisfied. The dedication and excellence of K-Designers is truly unparalleled in the country.

Frank Hanna: Practicing the Law of Attraction with God

2009-05-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

In essence, the law of attraction states that what you put out to the universe is what the universe will give back to you in manifold. Frank J. Hanna, a successful businessman, philanthropist, and life-coach, is teaching to live a worry-free life for several years now. According to him, prosperity and the blessings in life is hindered by seething resentment, envy, jealousy, and too much worry about things that weren’t even there to begin with.

Frank J. Hanna is a strong advocate of living a worry-free life by focusing on the good things that you have at the moment. Everybody have some things to be grateful about. It’s best to be thankful for these wonderful things and put out a positive spirit in life, and God will reciprocate the good faith you put on to Him and give you abundance that you could not imagine possible. If you want to receive blessings, you have to learn to be a blessing to others first. Money is empty if it’s not paired with goodness from the heart that sees happiness from extending help to people in need. God will bless you in manifold if you let yourself be used as a blessing to others.

Frank was already giving his time and resources to educating young children in God’s name even before he accumulated the wealth that he has now. He lived his life focusing on the good things that happened to him and to the people around him, and he kept his faith that someone grander than material wealth will take care of his needs. He got more than he bargained for when he became the CEO of his own company, Hanna Capital, LLC. You can live a prosperous life by attracting what’s good in life in God’s name also; following the footsteps of Frank J. Hanna.

Add Amenity and Value to Your Home with Shasta Pools

2009-05-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

There are two main reasons a homeowner would want to install Shasta Pools in their property: to add amenity, and to add value. When it comes to providing an amenity to your family and guests, a pool will never go out of style – go ask your 6-year old kid about it. A swimming pool never fails to relieve a child’s midday tantrums, and barbecuing by the pool side on a weekend is a great way to bond with the family too.

Another very good reason you would want a swimming pool is to add value to your property, although you need to exercise discretion on this one. Consider the average property value in your neighborhood, if the average is not that high, chances are a pool might not boost your property’s value by that much either. But, Shasta Pools provide stylish and purposeful pools and spas that attract home buyers right when they see one in your property. That's a big catch on its own.

Therefore, if you are looking for a home improvement idea, check out some swimming pool styles and designs that fit your budget and your yard. Find a contractor that understands every reason why you would want a pool and every detail that goes in building it - it’s always good to consult an expert when it comes to this added property investment. If you live in Arizona, chances are that you have one Shasta Pools store near you; take advantage of their free consultation to finally materialize your swimming pool ideas today.

Hop on a Tour this summer with YMT Vacations Tour Packages

2009-05-25T02:02:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming up, have you made your plans? What better way to spend the summer than to sit on a hammock under a palm tree somewhere in the Caribbean. If you fancy a lovely transatlantic cruise that stops in the Mediterranean to begin an Italian land tour, by all means book a reservation now. You deserve it! YMT vacations are giving you the chance to fulfill your dream retirement: to put on comfortable sneakers and travel the world with your loved one.

YMT vacations are the largest provider of well-discounted package tours for adults and seniors who love to travel the world on a budget. You don’t have to break into your 401K to enjoy the Tuscan sun, savor Creole cuisine, sights, and sounds, or go spelunking somewhere in New Zealand. Find a discount travel package from Your Man Tours vacations that suits your needs and tastes and pack up your bag. They well take care of everything else for you; your participation really is to book a package tour, pack your bags, and be present on the date of departure.

If you’re a thoughtful grandson who’s thinking of the best retirement gift you could give Grandpa, why don’t you put Grandpa on a 14-day motor coach tour to the Canadian Rockies instead. Don’t miss your chance to fulfill your granddad’s dream of attending the world-famous Rodeo Show at the Calgary home of the Stampede this year. Whether you’re 69 years old or 29 years old, it pays to visit YMT vacations on the Web and find out what’s the best thing to do this summer for yourself or to someone you love.

The Best Link Exchange Checker for Bloggers and Website Owners

2009-05-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

When I started to dabble my hand in blogging (that was not that long ago), I knew there’s a way to check who are linking to my blog. At first I only knew about Yahoo’s and Google’s way of checking link exchange. That is typing “link:URL of your blog” in Yahoo and typing “links:URL of your blog” in Google until I found out about SEOPro link exchange checker.

SEOPro is by far the easiest, quickest, and the most helpful link exchange checker I found. The best part is it’s free.

Now I not only have a way to check who’s linking to my blog, I also have a way of checking their page ranking, the links count, no follows, and the anchor text or banner they used to link to my blog. It’s very cool. I now feel I’m becoming more professional at blogging.

It’s really easy to use SEOPro: you type your URL on the search bar, check which linking site feature you want to see (PR, Links count, Nofollow, Anchor), then click “check my links.” In few seconds the sites or blogs that are linking to you are displayed including the sites important feature that you chose. At the bottom of the results list, you can find out whether the site linking to you deserves a thank you or not. Yes, SEOPro checks whether the link is active or not also. It’s really nifty.

Therefore if you own a site or a blog, it’s profitable for you to check SEOPro in your free time and see how your blog or site is accepted by your colleagues on the Web.

How Billy Got His Flowers

2009-05-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

One Sunday morning, Billy hastily head to the airport to catch his plane. Although a bit frantic, he was excited because he knows his flowers are waiting for him when he arrived at Boston. A quarter past 11 AM, Billy arrived at Logan Airport with enough time for the short commute to see the most important person in his life. But, that's where his luck ends. Somehow his mother's day flowers weren't there waiting for him. Now he's got nothing for her mother when he gets home.

Luckily he remembered a small flower shop just a few blocks away. With a smile he greeted the florist who’s talking with somebody on the phone and he ordered the nicest mothers day bouquet in the shop. "I'm sorry Sir, that was the mayor, he just bought all our flowers for his mother," said the florist. "What? I can't go home empty handed," Billy thought.

Then as if an angel came swooping from heaven to save him, he receives a call on his cell phone. "Honey, I called 1800flowers this morning and sent my future mother-in-law beautiful mothers day flowers with our names on the card with it. The bouquet should be there ahead of you; give her a hug for me. Take care!" "Whew! Why didn’t I think of that," Billy whispered with a sigh of relief to himself. All's well that ends well for this one lucky thoughtful son.

A Short Mother's Day Story

2009-05-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning with the warmth of the sun compellingly shooing my cold dew cover for the night. Only to be picked ever so gently by a young bipod-walking, longhaired, infant fondly called by her mother "Missy." I guess it's that day again when my master is given praise to her invaluable contribution to the world.

I still haven’t got all my red petals opened though. I'm only halfway finished blooming unlike my fellow flowers in my master's bed of roses. But, I guess my unassuming bud is the reason Missy chose me among my peers also. Luckily I put on my scent last night. I was elated when my master praised my sweet smell when Missy gave me to her and uttered the words 'happy mothers day'.

Although I would have loved to be around my peers longer, but the joy I saw in my master's face when she held me and eagerly inhaled all the scent I can give shooed my separation anxieties away. And, I didn’t mind my new abode also. Now, I'm in this fine crystal vessel together with my new friends. They look different than me, but I don't mind because they make me feel welcomed and loved. After all, I think I'm my master's most favorite since she artistically fashioned me at the middle of them all. I realized I just became the queen of all the mothers day flowers my master received in bundles today.

What Does the Taxicab Industry Has to Thank Amos Tamam

2009-05-09T00:20:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the days when you frantically dig in your wallet for a lose quarter to complete your taxicab meter bill in the Big Apple? That's not a good way to start a Monday in Wall Street, is it? Thanks to Amos Tamam, you can now whip out your trusty credit card to pay your taxicab bill in New York and Philadelphia.

Amos has been in the taxi business in New York since he arrived from his home town, Tel Aviv, in the early 1980s. He began as a taxicab serviceman repairing taxi meters then later on inventing ways to improve fleet management including improvement in fuel consumption. His biggest contribution, however, is his work in Verifone Corporation as CEO of Verifone Transportation Systems, Inc.

An electrical engineer from Tel Aviv University, Amos Tamam made possible the invention of technology that allows taxicab fleets to accept credit card payment. Complete with GPS system log, company owners are now confident about allowing their people to use their corporate cards to pay for cab rides, which is the most abused travel expense item in the past.

That's why taxicab drivers and riders and companies have a lot to thank Amos Tamam.

Frank Hanna: Doing Business with Conscience

2009-05-08T23:01:00.001-07:00

A successful businessman and an acclaimed philanthropist, Frank Hanna is not only teaching people how to make money, he is also teaching people how to use money to make them better human being and Christian. Frank Hanna is the CEO of Hanna Capital in Atlanta: an investment firm conducting business in the service of humanity.

As a philanthropist, Frank Hanna is involved in the formation of three Catholic schools in Atlanta, which earned him the Knighthood of the Grand Cross order given by Pope Benedict XVI himself. Because of his passion for education also, he was appointed co-chairman of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans during the Bush's administration.

To read more about the life that Sir Frank Hanna is leading, check out a copy of his book called What Your Money Means out on circulation just recently.

Mohammed Babangida Reaching the World through Music

2009-05-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

Mohammed Babangida epitomized the phrase music transcends all cultures. He's not only successful in business and in sports of Kings, Polo; he's also a music icon from Africa whose taste for jazz music is respected by musicians from all four corners of the globe. He's one of the few Africans who introduced African music to the world.

Because of his stature in business and in politics, Mohammed Babangida opens many opportunities for African jazz and blues music to percolate the western boom box. Why do you think famous artists like Beyonce now incorporate African rhythm in their music? That's because there's somebody like Mohammed Babangida whose notable work unifies all cultures through music.

How I Found Out About United American Insurance Company

2009-05-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

My mom received a letter from a long lost distant relative (now living in the U.S.) yesterday. The guy turns out to be Mom's uncle in her father's side and he is 65 years old. Aside from the usual hi's and hello's, the guy made sure that we know about his gratitude towards the American Health Insurance laws. It's not perfect, but it's certainly better than other countries'.

I went online to check about this Part D plan that he got from United American Insurance Company that he is so excited about. After reading about it, I too was excited about it even if I'm 26 years old living in the Philippines. Then I thought, I wonder how much Part D insurance eligible citizens in U.S. have one. If you are 65 years old or over or if you are eligible for a Part A Medicare, by all means check if you are fully covered by Part D Medicare also.

Because of my amazement, I went on to browse more about this insurance company and found a great opportunity for young, energetic, and properly motivated U.S. citizens to participate in the United American Insurance Company recruiting interview. The company is always searching and employing agents, sales/unit managers, branch directors, and director of agencies. Even if you're 26, you can help ensure that Part D eligible U.S. citizens get their cover also. You did not just help another individual; you earn considerable income out of it, too. That's why this author thinks that all legal-aged U.S. citizens check out United American Insurance Company in their free time.

Mother's Day Is Up, Remember To Get Something for Your Momma

2009-05-07T01:44:00.000-07:00

If you have a mother, then you are not exempted on this one. If you don’t have free time, make some because mothers day is just a couple of days away. You have to get something for your momma – flowers or chocolates? It doesn’t matter what it is as long as the thought that comes with it is pure.

I don’t know about you ladies, but we guys are always torn during mothers day. We just can't decide what to get Mom, is it flowers or chocolates. What about flower-shaped chocolates instead? If only we can afford that 14k white diamond earrings at Tiffany's, right? But, some of us just can't afford to spoil our mom with that much expensive mother's day gift.

As for me though, I know what to get Mom this Sunday. She would love to receive freshly picked, beautifully arranged flowers from her sometimes impish but benevolent son. And guys, why don’t you have your mothers day flowers delivered by 1800 Flowers on Sunday morning. This peace offering ritual of mine always works to get me a hug from Ma when I knock at the door for mother's day dinner regardless of my crime.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I saw. All I am I owe to my mother.

- George Washington

Backup Your Important Files Online

2009-05-04T04:27:00.001-07:00

When it comes to computer files, NASA scientists have this to say, "Have a backup for your backup." After all, you cannot afford to lose your wedding photo or your son's violin recital video files right? But, did you know that some recordable/rewritable DVDs last for only 2 years? You're lucky if the one you used to store your wedding video can last well to 20 years.

Don’t worry though. Employ the NASA scientists' technique to secure your file: use an online storage service.

I found this neat online storage site that allows you to store photos, videos, music, and document files safe forever. The best part, it's FREE. You don’t have to worry about updating your backup files regularly to avoid data loss due to natural storage media deterioration; you don’t even have to buy expensive external drive to store important documents. All you have to do is upload them on DriveHeadquarters and rest your mind because your files are tucked away for safekeeping. When you need them, download them in a flash!

And, I've never seen any FREE online storage service that's so easy to use: just drag and drop the files that you want to upload and that's it, it’s automatically saved on DiveHeadquarter's secured facility. To do this, you can download and install DriveHQ software on your machine; and you can use it like you have an extra drive in your machine.

To those of you looking for a FREE FTP service, DriveHeadquarters also has an easy to use and reliable FTP server with large enough space for pictures, videos, documents, or what have you. The site even host emails and more.

Therefore in your free time, make sure that you have a backup of your backup files. And, nothing can be better than online storage service to make sure you will never lose any important file, again.

Try These Nifty iPhone Apps

2009-04-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hey, you have an iPhone… now what? Although the device is firstly made for communication, it can do a lot of other stuff besides giving your mother-in-law a means of accessing you 24/7. And, you paid some hefty money for that iPhone so you better make the most out of it also.

In your free time, check out these nifty free iPhone applications. Yeah, I made sure that the list only includes free apps because I know you already dented your budget just to get your latest iPhone model.

The first on my free iPhone app list is the Twitterrific. Who doesn’t Twitter these days? No one! Unless you're a member of some twisted advocate group who wage war against the Internet, you probably like to "twit" your location to your friends. Twitterrific allows you to update your Twitter anywhere you are, easily – you might just escape another call from your mother-in-law if she knows your location at all times.

The second iPhone app you should check is the Evernote. Now, I don’t know about you but I used to love pen and paper until the stylus was invented. Evernote allows you to quickly scribble whatever it is that comes to mind – the next party venue perhaps? With this free iPhone app, there's no reason to forget your grocery list on the counter top too.

In economics, we're always taught to maximize use for everything; this does not exclude your iPhone. In your free time, check tons of other useful iPhone app you can download in a snap. I took the liberty to Google a full list for you and I hope you'll find what you're looking for here. Good luck!

Earn Money in Your Free Time: My Personal Experience and My Tips

2009-04-24T02:24:00.000-07:00

If you're like me who got a lot of free time to spare each day, then you might have Googled some work-at-home opportunities – or at least check out if they are true. And I say YES they are. Why do you think I got a lot of free time to spare? That's because I found ways to take control of my time by working at home few hours a day and earn fairly good amount of income out of it.

But, finding reputable and good-paying work-at-home jobs can be very frustrating especially if you're a neophyte. Trust me, been there, done that… but don’t worry, I'm willing to spill the beans about how I started so you too can try your luck finding a decent job you can do in your free time.

When I started looking for jobs I can do at home, I was lucky because I didn’t go at it alone. I had a very good friend to do it with me. The plan was to take freelance writing jobs online and the two of us can work on it. That's the beginning. Later on I took some projects of my own from Craigslist.org… yeah, who doesn't love Craigslist right? There you have it, my first tip.

Although you have to really weed legitimate offers from bogus ones, but a lot of online employers are still posting jobs on Craigslist. Depending on your skills, you can get jobs as simple as typing and data entry to more intricate jobs like freelance writing and online accounting. Employers on Craigslist are also looking for cartoonist, customer service representatives, CAD specialist, computer programmers, webmasters, and virtually any type of professionals who have a lot of time to spare.

Before you believe on the first online job that you see on Craigslist though, you have to learn to spot scammers. They are people who want nothing but to milk some money out of you. Look out for employers promising good opportunities after you have given some form of payment to be considered for the job. Applying for online jobs is basically the same as applying for in-office jobs. The game should end up with what you can offer as your skills and not what you can offer from your ailing credit card. You don’t have to pay anything to get good work-at-home job.

I still have a lot of tips I can give you, but I don’t want to consume your free time making you read my post. It's time for you to warm up and get started Googling your first online gig. I personally like to bid on Getafreelancer.com for legitimate work-at-home jobs I can do in my free time. If you're eager to hear more tips from me, shoot me an email; I'd be glad to help you out. Good luck!

Save Your Pocket, And Maybe Even the Planet

2009-04-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Earth Day and living consciously, the best that you can do in your free time is to save your pocket, and maybe even the planet too. I'm very sure you've heard it before, but some of you probably just can't walk the walk to change your light bulbs until you felt the pinch in this global financial crisis.

Did you know that you can save up to 30 percent of your energy cost when you use compact fluorescent bulbs than incandescent ones, and another 20 percent if you unplug all unused appliances in the house? Imagine cutting your electric bill by 50 percent from now on. Let's admit it; everybody can use the savings, big or small, wherever they can get it.

In your free time, march towards your nearest hardware store to invest on new fluorescent bulbs now. And, make it every person in your house business to unplug everything that gobbles up power. Do it for the first month and see the difference.

Now you know what to do after using that computer.

For more information on how you can get into the Earth Day spirit, go to Energystar.gov, BAN.org, and Wecansolveit.org. Together we can do it, but you and you alone can save your pocket. Make the right decision now.

Make Your Space a Little More Habitable

2009-04-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

Did you know that health-hazards could come left and right, up and down in your home and office? To start with, pathogens like to live in the kitchen, bathroom, dining table, bedroom, and yes, even on that keyboard you're pounding right now. But, there's one health-hazard that's not given much attention but can wreak havoc to your well being: electromagnetic field.

Electromagnetic field or EMF could come from many different sources. In fact, since you are reading this blog now, you are exposed to it. Wires that power up your gadgets, appliances, or even your bedside lamp emit EMF that could come between your body's harmonious intercellular communications. EMF from your bedside lamp could very well be the cause of your sleeping difficulty – prolonged exposure could even cause cancer.

In your free time, remove wires that are close to your bed, close to your work place, or to where your family frequently stays. But you can't eliminate your electrical gadgets let alone your bedside lamp right? Well, worry no more because there are EMF shield you can buy which you can wrap on your wires to prevent the EMF from escaping. You could also buy shields for your cell phones, Bluetooth, and other wireless devices; the easiest way to find these products is to search for them on the Web.

I found a site that is worth checking for if you want to know more about EMF and other household and office hazards. What I like about it is it's not the gloom-and-doom kind of website who does nothing but scare us for a minute. Instead, it provides solutions to the problems. Make good use of your free time and check out Livespace.com.au to start making your space a little more habitable now.

Try Your Green Thumb

2009-04-15T04:05:00.000-07:00

Spring has come; it's a pity to waste the season not to try something new. Michelle Obama started it and now everybody seems to want a garden in their backyard. Sales on seeds and gardening tools are on an all time high. If you have a free time, why not try your green thumb too.

Don’t be scared, gardening is not rocket science really. Just don’t be afraid to put dirt under your finger – there are even gloves to prevent that from happening. Oh yeah, you've never sown not a single tomato seed before right? Don’t worry, see the label at the back of your seed pack, you should find instructions on how to grow them. Ask your local gardening store clerk for useful tips also, they should know almost everything you want to know about growing your garden.

If you don’t have a backyard to grow your greens, don’t worry you can still try the first lady's new hobby. Head straight to Lowe's gardening department and get yourself pots which you can position on your patio or roof top. Parsley, tomato, cilantro, mint, and low-growing flowers are just some of the many greens that thrive well in a pot.

Don’t waste the season and try a new hobby now. After all, nothing can be tastier than freshly picked greens from your own garden. You can be eating healthy and saving some money at the same time, what else could be better?

Learning Grammar Doesn't Have to be Boring

2009-04-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, like I promise here's my first useful free time tip.

Since you're reading this blog, you probably like to follow blogs, Vlogs, YouTube videos, etc. and you probably like to leave comments on them. You don't want to sound like an idiot leaving grammatically confusing comment that invites other readers to become a little critical about it. Or, do you even know the difference between affect and effect?

In my free time, I'd like to sharpen my grammar some more. But, I don't want to go back to my high school days where my teachers are always successful in making learning grammar a boring ordeal. Luckily I found a different kind of grammar "guru" that is passionate about making learning grammar a fun exercise.

Listening to Grammar Girl is one of my pass time these days. She makes learning grammar fun; she definitely doesn't sound like your typical high school teacher whose lessons you seem to forget as soon as the bell rings. The best thing about it is you can download her podcast to brush up your grammar while tanning at the beach. How cool is that?

Check out Grammar Girl and start making profitable free time from now on. Grammar Girl even has a tip on how to leave useful comments that invokes the right kind of response from other readers and the author itself, check it out.

Heads-up! Your Author is on the Drawing Board

2009-04-11T18:53:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! I've got a Thomas E. moment just this morning that's why you're reading this post.

This blog is your next source of useful (profitable at best) tips to pass your free time, but like the title suggest, your author is still on the drawing board for now. I'll be coming up with new posts soon so be the first to read my first tip. See you then...