Archive for March, 2008

Knock, Knock… Ken Lee, Who?

warlock| March 28, 2008 10:05 am

It’s been a while since my last post here so I thought I just share with you something to make you laugh… Who ever said that the recent Bb. Pilipinas Q&A booboo by Janina San Miguel is the worst TV moment in recent history?

Please welcome, Valentina Hasan, singing “Ken Lee” in her audition at “Music Idol”, Bulgaria’s version of the American Idol.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgL2MKfWTo[/youtube]

For achieving such “fame” during the auditions, Music Idol invited Valentina Hasan to perform “Ken Lee” to a live audience to give her a chance to redeem herself, or at least once again provide “entertainment”…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT18LZItBLA[/youtube]

Everybody now… I Ken Lee…. tilibu dubu duchoo…

Share this laughing trip to your friends!

XBox Live Yields A Gorgeous Baby Girl

faith| March 26, 2008 9:46 pm

Whoever said that playing games online is counterproductive may have to reassess that statement.  It turns out that playing XBox online can lead to more than just fun.  Stacy and Mike met over XBox Live playing Rainbow Six Lockdown.  Initially, both gamers hated each other.  Over time, Stacy (from Georgia) and Mike (from New York) decided to meet  and discovered that  they don’t actually hate each other.

They fell in love and have been together ever since.  The relationship finally bore fruit on Sept. 27, 2007 when Victoria Marie Figueroa was born. Isn’t she just adorable?  Now, if only XBox can assure me a baby girl as cute as that . . .

Customize Your Workstation With Formaspace

faith| 7:01 am

Our company transferred a few years ago to a new floor within the building to get more space due to expanding operations and personnel. I thought this would be an improvement over our previous workstations. Unfortunately, the design just made it more difficult for me to organize my files and my desktop PC. It can be frustrating when the designer has no idea how organization is very important for us desk job workers. I believe workstations should be designed by employees rather than architects or designers.

One company that makes customized technical furniture is Formaspace. What is special about Formaspace is that their furnitures are not only durable and flexible, but also task-specific. You can either make your own design online with their special application or you can discuss your requirements with a design consultant so that the final product will be built exactly to suit your needs. Formaspace is currently the industry leader in the design and supply of workbenches, Lab Furniture, and workstations. There is also no need to worry about the cost since they offer factory direct prices. Clients include Apple Computer, Dell, Boston University, John Hopkins University, the CIA, and the FBI. With a client portfolio like that, need I say more?

Demi Moore Reveals Beauty Secret

faith| 6:29 am

Finally, 45-year old Demi Moore reveals the secret to her youthful beauty — leeches. Urgh!! How far would you go to look gorgeous?

In a recent interview with David Letterman, the sexy and flawless actress disclosed how she recently went to Australia for a body cleansing which included “leech therapy.” Moore said that the medicinal leeches were first placed on her belly button and was allowed to bite her to let enzymes from their saliva get into your bloodstream. These enzymes detoxify the body.

At present, leech therapy or Hirudotherapy is used by surgeons in reconstructive surgery — usually for attachment of severed body parts such as fingers, ears, nose, or scalp. Leeches are used to reattach veins of severed body parts after the surgeon has connected the tissue and arteries. Arteries are easier for doctors to reattach since they are thick-walled while severed veins are more difficult since it is easily congested and can become stagnant. The active ingredient in the salivary secretion of leeches is called Hirudin, an anti-coagulant that prevents blood clotting. Medicinal leeches are also being used for pain relief of osteoarthritis and rheumatism because their saliva likewise contains anesthetics.

So far, all my internet research shows no proof that leeches can detoxify the body — the early Egyptians did use them to remove bad blood. I also know that leech saliva is used in some eye creams for dark eye circles. But several women who tried the eye cream said it was a total waste of money. Will you let leeches suck your blood to look like Demi? As for me, I rather doubt it — not even if the therapy is done by someone who looks like Ashton.

Clean and Green is In

faith| March 24, 2008 4:41 pm

After discovering that the earth’s ozone layer has already been compromised, it still took several years before environmentalists were able to instill in every human being’s skull that we are killing the planet. Now, everything is being watched from emissions to endangered animals. However, what is more alarming is the current rate that humans are accumulating trash that will stay trash until the 21st century discovers a way to turn these into fuel or spare parts. At the rate we are going, in a couple more years, there will be more non-biodegradable material on the planet than there are people.

To avert this impending disaster, sorting and recycling has now become a practice. Unfortunately, this is a practice required only by most developed countries on their citizens. In most third world countries, restaurants still use plastic cups and styropor as food containers. Hopefully, they will catch on soon and manufacturers will at least produce recyclable materials instead.

It is a relief, though, to see that there now exists an industry that specializes in recycling. Making it a money-making activity will mean an increase in recycling among consumers and manufacturers. Technology has developed a recyclable plastic that is now commonly used in manufacturing called High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE). It is used for snack food packaging, cereal box liners, non -carbonated drink bottles, margarine tubs, and many other items you see in your cupboards. There are now several companies that purchase Scrap HDPE which will be used for recycling. The value of the scrap HDPE will depend on how well it has been sorted and cleaned. Some are sold loose while others pack them in bundles or even grind them into flakes. It is reassuring to know that this is now a full blown industry where there are distributors and sources. If people know that money can be made from sorting trash, there will be more efforts to make it a practice and a system.

As consumers, it is our duty to contribute in this worldwide effort to clean the planet. Nothing is required much from us — purchase earth-friendly products and sort your trash. Keeping the earth clean and green starts there.

Tips for Colds and Cough

faith| 4:11 pm

During my 4-day vacation because of the Lenten season, I caught a bad case of cold and cough.  I have been looking forward to the long weekend and ended up sleeping in bed most of the time with most of my taste buds useless.  I am feeling better now despite the continuously weird weather.  For those suffering the same fate, here’s how I managed to get better faster (though I’m uncertain if I should’ve made a slower recovery so I didn’t have to go to the office today).

1.  Take lots of citrus juice and water.  Taking lots of fluid will minimize stuffy nose and sinusitis. Even if you have to blow your nose every 10 minutes, it still leads to faster recovery.  It is also good to eat citrus fruits.

2.  Increase dosage of Vitamin C to 1000 mg.  Although there is no scientific basis for this, some say it is therapeutic.

3.  Rub liniment on your chest and back regularly.  Again, no doctor will support this.  However, when I put on Yee Tin Oil (Chinese herbal liniment), I don’t get dry cough (which is a killer for sound sleep) and my nose doesn’t get clogged.  All the yucky fluid in my nose and lungs are excreted — this is the objective of getting better instead of letting it dry up in your lungs.

4.  Stop acting like your sick.  If you act like you’re sick and lie around more than you should, you will really get more sick.  It is better to move around but avoid doing strenuous tasks.

As for the problem with the taste buds, I have no idea how to cure that.  Everything I eat taste like cardboard.  Even eating food with stronger flavors taste weird. I guess I will just have to wait this one out.  Hope your Easter was not as sickly as mine.

Be a Winner at BreakTheVault

faith| March 20, 2008 10:47 pm

Are you the type of person with the Midas Touch? I have a friend who never fails to win prizes in raffles and contests. Sometimes I find it unbelievable considering that I am quite the opposite. In my entire lifetime, I have never won a grand prize and probably won only twice on minor prizes. Some say it’s all in the mind. The trick is to believe without a doubt that you will win. And since I have always believed that I was unlucky with these stuff, maybe that is the reason that I actually don’t win. But I do remember that on those few times that I won, I was very happy — I was in the best mood.

I realized that maybe I can test out the positive thinking theory and join some online contests. A good site I found that offers online contests is BreakTheVault.com. There are several free online contests where members can join in solving the game. The first to solve the game wins the prize on that specific contest. Every Monday, BreakTheVault will launch a new game. For each succeeding day, a clue will be released to help contestants solve the puzzle. This will go on until the game is solved. The amount of the cash prize or the value of the prize will depend on the difficulty of the game. The only requirement is that you are over 18 years old and you are a US resident. So, if you have a knack for solving puzzles, this may be a fun way to make money. The current ongoing contest offers a cash prize of $200. Visit the site and see if you have the skill to earn easy cash.

Trouble-Shooting Your Life

faith| March 15, 2008 12:55 am

Wouldn’t it be great if life had a manual you can check whenever something is not working right? Something like a trouble-shooting guide provided by the manufacturer. Making decisions in life has always been difficult for me. The “Follow Your Heart” technique doesn’t work. Prayers seem to take too long. “Honesty is the best policy” is ineffective too. These adages don’t work in real life. Life isn’t that simple. Sometimes lies are necessary. Other times, being selfish and practical will do the job. Right this moment, I’m at crossroads in my life. I wonder if I can just breeze through it without having to decide anything. I think I just want to sleep and wake up with everything already fixed.

How do you think life works? What do we all want? I watched this movie once that said, “we all just try hard not to be lonely.” That’s the negative side to it I guess. Flipping it around, maybe it means we just want to be happy. But most of us have no idea what that really means. Is it really possible to find that coveted “contentment” or “bliss?” Some people think becoming rich will make them happy. Others think it’s accomplishing something important. Then again, some believe that “love is the answer.”

Here’s what I think. We all came into this life with a purpose. The challenge is to find out what that is as we go through the journey and accomplish it. But in order to achieve that goal, we will go through several roller coaster rides. Mistakes will be an essential part of it because it is the best way to learn. What we need to do is be prepared for the ride. Put on your seatbelts, hold on tight, pray, and trust that you will get to your destination someday. And of course, don’t forget to laugh, cry, scream and enjoy the ride with the person beside you and those chosen to take the ride with you.

Promote Your Blog at Buzzfuse

faith| March 12, 2008 8:24 am

As you all know, I am currently exerting all efforts to increase traffic in my blog. I recently registered at Buzzfuse.com in hopes to get more people to read my blog. Buzzfuse will do the work for you. All you have to do is register and add your favorite post. And voila, you get to market your post throughout the web for free.

At Buzzfuse.com, you can send your post to all your contacts plus you can get additional readers with your post promoted in the site. This works, not only for blogs, but also for your favorite photo, music, or any other website you want marketed throughout the internet. I am hoping this endeavor will increase readers in my blog and improve my PageRank. A higher PageRank translates to more opportunities for income and more visibility in the blogosphere. I highly recommend Buzzfuse to bloggers and web site owners in the worldwide web.

Use Buzzfuse* to easily rate, review, and share this item

Magna Steyr Unveils the Alpin at Geneva

faith| 7:46 am

Austrian car builder, Magna Steyr, presented its newest automobile innovation at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show — the Alpin. It is the next in its series of Magna Innovation Lightweight Auto (MILA) series which is designed to function as a utility or recreational vehicle for off-road use.

The Alpin’s wheels are positioned out at the corners with high ground clearance which makes it prepared for both light rail runnings or low-speed rock climbing. What makes the Alpin unique is its ability to handle 45-degree inclines. Even with its tall profile, the all-wheel-drive Alpin has a low center of gravity attributed to its mid-engine layout. It accepts either a small hybrid powerplant or a CNG-fuel supercharged engine.

To reduce weight, the Alpin’s frame consists of straight sections made of composite materials and is designed to be assembled from modules. It likewise features a unique 3+1 seating and a panoramic glass roof. This is the future of all-terrain vehicles which seemed to come straight out of a Bond movie.

Apogee Offers Competitive Market Solutions

faith| March 11, 2008 2:22 pm

With the advent of ecommerce, online marketing has been one of the most sought after services in the internet. Millions of websites are now in search of marketing solutions in order to compete with competitors. It is no wonder that online marketing companies are cropping up more frequently.

One of the leaders in the industry is Apogee Search, a division of Leads Customers Growth, LLC. Since 2001, the Texas firm has been known for internet innovation and expertise. Their major objective – to make money for its clients.

It is a well-known fact that an important factor in online marketing is search engine optimization (SEO). It is first necessary that customers find your site. When a customer searches for a specific product, it is imperative that your web site is on top of the list. Apogee’s SEO in Dallas has a full-time team of skilled SEO experts that focus on understanding your company, your competitors, and your business needs to formulate an effective online marketing strategy designed specifically for your web site.

Apogee likewise offers resources and articles that are valuable for online business such as search engine marketing malpractice and pay per click. Whatever online business you are in, Apogee can provide all the tools necessary for your success.

The American Idol Magnet

faith| 11:53 am

As season 7 of American Idol progresses, I am glued again to watching pop star wannabes belt out their songs weekly and of course, await Simon Cowell’s interesting critique. Never, in TV history, has there been another character like Simon. He elicits the most unusual responses from me. Sometimes he makes me laugh, other times he leaves me shocked with my breath held for seconds. He is uncouth and abrasive – a refreshing person to listen to amidst the pretentious atmosphere surrounding the entertainment industry. And he especially delivers more comprehensible comments than Paula Abdul’s blabber. More than the singing prowess of contestants, it is Simon that draws me to watch the show.

My favorite contender for the 2008 season, and I’m sure for many other followers, is the 17-year old David Archuleta. Though he didn’t do so well in last week’s performance, he is still the best among all the contenders. I love his rendition of Imagine. Hopefully, he will come up with something just as good this week. So far, he is the singer to beat.

CouponChief Can Make Easter Fit Your Budget

faith| March 10, 2008 11:13 pm

Easter is only a few weeks away. It has been tradition to organize an Easter Egg Hunt for kids (and even adults) as relatives and family enjoy the holiday together. But I usually put codes on the eggs that corresponds to a specific prize. Being an internet addict, I usually opt for internet shopping to buy the prizes for this event. I find that I usually save more if I do my shopping via the internet. I use online shopping coupons to help me save a few bucks and get good deals on my purchases.

My best resource for coupons and deals is CouponChief. CouponChief has over thousands of promo codes, direct links to discounts and printable coupons available to consumers. I get such good deals on my purchases that the site has become my first option when buying online.

For this coming Easter, I plan to get adidas coupon codes and Gap coupon codes to buy my prizes. I’m hoping to get at least percentage discounts and free shipping for these purchases. Considering current gas prices, even free shipping will save me a lot, not to mention the convenience of doing my shopping in the comfort of my own home.

For those who haven’t tried online shopping, this may be your chance to try it. I guarantee that you will get savings you would not normally get from going out and buying your items in the mall.

Amatokin: Can it be the Fountain of Youth?

faith| March 9, 2008 3:54 pm

As early as 2006, rumors on a new revolutionary anti-aging product named Amatokin has been circulating. According to press releases, Amatokin was discovered 62 miles north of St. Petersburg, Russia (really now?). The original research was aiming to improve and heal the skin of burn victims by harnessing the power of stem cells. Most of you remember that stem cell research has been the focus of debate for years. Many questioned the use of stem cells from a fertilized human egg to aid several research on several incurable diseases. Now, they claim that the human skin is the largest repository of stem cells and Amatokin will stimulate these cells to divide and regenerate faster. Wow! If all these were true, it could be the discovery of the century. Maybe that is how they justify the steep price tagged to Amatokin. A 30 ml tube cost a whopping US$190. Mothers may start selling off their youngest kid just to afford them.

I surfed the net looking for serious reviews on the product. But like other products like Stri-Vectin SD, reviews are varied. Some say it delivers, others say nay. What am I left with then? Does it work only on some skin types? Or did the negative reviews come from manufacturers or marketers of competitors? Or maybe those who say it did wonders were in denial and will not admit that they wasted precious money? It is confusing. I always get these kind of reviews on high-priced products. The same thing happened when I researched on Creme de la Mer. Some say it is a miracle, others say hype. One of our VPs had a sister who got into an accident and suffered burns all over her face. The doctor recommended La Mer and it cost about US$125 per ounce. According to them it worked — they bought several ounces (wouldn’t mind being that loaded).

The only way to find out is to buy it yourself and test it. That means risking almost US$200 just to find out if it is a miracle or not. As I am not yet sure I am ready to take out my wallet for this, I will continue to search for reviews, hoping something credible will come out. But if I do become brave enough to test it, rest assured I will give everyone an honest review.

Black Friday is My Official Shopping Holiday

faith| March 8, 2008 8:02 am

The one day of the year that I know God created to make me happy is Black Friday. On Thanksgiving night, I would sleep excitedly dreaming about all the goodies I would get the next day at half the regular price. Black Friday is my Christmas shopping day — the day I break my shopping piggy bank and run to stores as early as 5 am.

I’ve already developed a regular procedure that I follow every year to make the most out of Black Friday. Before November, I’ve already completed my Christmas shopping list. Then I visit blackfriday.info to find out which stores offer the best deals. I go through my shopping list and search through the site’s numerous store listings and compare the discounts and promos that they offer. Last year, I got a good deal with my sons’ video games at Circuit City. The benefit I get from blackfriday.info is that I know which I can purchase online and those I need to go line up for. With the item prices available at a glance, I am able to decide immediately whether to push buying an item or change it to something more affordable. Blackfriday.info improves my shopping efficiency a hundred percent. I even get email alerts from the site informing me of new black friday ads that have been posted. It’s like having a shopping assistant online.

Black Friday is a shopaholic’s dream day. But it can be a chaotic and frustrating day if not planned properly. Just remember to make your list, plan properly, and prepare to get your credit card swiped again and again and again.

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