Certified Blogaholic

As technology continues to develop, our way of living likewise moved in directions we never even imagined decades ago. The worldwide web has found a way to connect almost every human being in the planet which created possibilities and opportunities like never before. We can do everyday tasks from the comfort of our own home with just a computer and an internet connection. Since data transfer can be implemented from one end of the globe to the other almost instantaneously, communication, banking, and sales have changed face. And there is no turning back.

With the economic recession still hounding almost every progressive country in the world, many have found ways to adapt and survive with the help of technology. Businesses are looking for ways to lower cost and people have discovered a way to battle rising unemployment head on. If there are no jobs available locally, why not find one in other parts of the world? It is exactly this type of scenario that is making online jobs thrive. Though online job opportunities have been around for a while, no one considered it a viable and stable source of income years ago. The risk of getting duped or scammed was high and the opportunities available were mostly limited to those involved in web development or programming.

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This season’s American Idol just went weird tonight. Ryan Seacrest first placed Matt Giraud and Kris Allen on one side and Danny Gokey with Allison Iraheta on another. Then he asked Adam Lambert where he felt he belonged based on last night’s performance. Adam chose to be with Danny and Allison, but he made the wrong choice. Apparently, he belonged to Kris and Matt’s side which is the bottom 3. What?!!

Kris and Adam at the bottom 3 was way off. Of the 5 remaining contenders, it was Allison and Matt who were frequently at the bottom. Now, for the first time, Kris and Adam are down there. Simon did say Danny is a strong contender because of the sympathy factor. It would be a big disappointment if he wins over Adam who is the most original and consistent of all contenders — that is an objective opinion considering I really don’t enjoy rock music. Danny, on the other hand, remained stagnant all throughout. I have heard nothing amazing from him for weeks. As a matter of fact, I don’t even remember the songs that he sang. The most memorable for me were Adam’s Tracks of My Tears and Mad World. Kris was unforgettable in Ain’t No Sunshine.

Anyway, next week, it’s going to be rock and roll. If Simon is right, it could be Allison who will be packing next. But Kris will have to raise his performance a notch higher, else, the red-head teen can bump him off in this genre.

After more than a year of wall climbing in their school gym and several tournaments, my son has now decided to do the real adventure, actual mountain climbing. I am hesitant at first considering the many dangers I felt a 14-year old may not be ready for yet. But with a lot of coercion from his coach and team mates, I had to give in.

Here goes the hard part again, shopping for Mountain Climbing Gear for my son. I had to read up and search the internet on all the necessities my son would bring. Of course, the first advise was to travel light. I don’t want my son lagging behind during their hikes and getting left behind because I almost threw in the kitchen sink inside his packs.

I already got him the Petzl harness months ago and it proved to be really durable. I’m certain it will still hold well — a really worthwhile purchase considering the price. His coach told him, it was essential to get him a pack that was big enough but sturdy enough to hold the essentials. I didn’t have to search long because I knew I had to get the best and bought him a North Face pack bigger than the one he uses for school. After getting him decent clothes to protect him from the weather, his coach told me he would take care of the heavier things.

My son is set to go on his first adventure in a few weeks, this nagging fear in my stomach keeps increasing daily. He tells me stories about experiences of his friends who have made the climb, but I still don’t feel reassured. Well, they say a mother has to learn to let go at a certain point. I am learning.

The unemployed has now reached over 5 million and there seems to be no signs of let up. Even those who did not feel endangered because of their skills are part of the list. While welfare provides temporary relief, the need to find a replacement is necessary. But with so few jobs out there, people are scrambling to get any type of job to survive.

With the difficulty in finding jobs, many have resorted to unorthodox ways of landing one. Active pursuit includes attending networking events, blogging, and making television ads. Yes, many are now selling themselves through advertisements like commercial products. Many believe it is the only way to stand out among the millions currently in search of new employment.

Now, there are television shows that allow job seekers to record 30-second commercials to market themselves to prospective employers. The show likewise includes tips on landing that elusive job. The advantage of these ads is that employers need not actively seek out their prospects, they see it directly while watching the show.

Nevertheless, it does not guarantee that the right employer will luckily be watching the ad. As such, it is only another measure that many have included along with the traditional job search.

While the economic crisis seems to have brought out the ingenuity in so many people, the big question still remains. How much longer can we weather the storm?

How would coffee connoisseurs distinguish the best in the world? Which would fare better? Price or taste? While coffee enthusiasts have various criteria when it comes to taste, price would be an easier measure since the most expensive coffee cost about US$300-US$600 per pound. If you watched the 2007 film “The Bucket List,” you know what coffee beans I am talking about – it’s the coffee beans that Jack Nicholson’s character was munching on.

Kopi Luwak is not only considered the most expensive coffee in the world, but also the strangest. These are coffee berries defecated by the Asian Palm Civet, a jungle cat native to countries such as Indonesia (known as Luwak), the Philippines (known as Alamid or Musang), and East Timor (known as Laku). The luwak’s normal diet consists of insects, small mammals and reptiles, nestling of birds, fruits, and coffee berries. However, the luwak only ingests the ripe coffee berries in the forest. This is the premise that surrounds the reputation of Kopi Luwak. The luwak only chooses superior beans which cannot be surpassed by the normal harvest of coffee where some are not quite ripe or some are overripe. The outer flesh is digested while the inner bean remains intact and defecated. These are collected and washed before being roasted lightly. According to experts, the enzymes in the luwak’s digestive tract somehow penetrate the beans and add flavor as it breaks down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste.

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Friday morning trading in Wall Street was chaotic. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped by more than 330 points. If it drops by 1,100 points before 2 pm, the New York Stock Exchange will activate “circuit breakers” that will temporarily shutdown the market to minimize losses. This is something that hasn’t been done since 1997. Before it opened, Dow futures had dropped 550 points which already triggered a trading halt in stock futures contracts to slow the decline.

Stock markets worldwide already plummeted Friday with oil prices taking a nose dive to the lowest levels in more than a year. Even the more stable gold prices fell sharply. Amid fears that worldwide financial markets are declining, many fear that governments and banks are not capable of resolving the deepening global recession.

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Despite the $700 billion bail-out plan by the government, the financial crisis is still not showing signs of slowing down. Many people are still losing jobs, the stock market has been unstable, and everyone is still jittery. But most people don’t just leave everything to fate. Do something about it.

Cyberspace has become my best resource for extra income. And it has yet to fail me. Now, I discovered another online opportunity that I am taking advantage of. Ciao was recently acquired by Microsoft — an online community supported by multi-million members who review millions of products over the web. Members review products and rate reviews to determine how helpful the review will be to consumers. Aside from doing reviews, members are likewise given an opportunity to showcase their creative writing skills and other tips they can share with other members.

Ciao pays its members for each published review and provides bonuses whenever another member reads and provides a positive rating for the review. They also pay for every review that you read and rate. For a limited time, Ciao is giving $1 for each new standard product review, 1 Cent for each reading of the review by other members, and 3 Cents for every positive rating given by other members. You may think this is a small amount. But considering how easy it is to make a review of a product you are familiar with, it’s very easy to make 50 reviews in a week. There are members who have already made hundreds of dollars in Ciao. Unlike other get-paid-to (GPT) sites, you don’t have to grab opportunities, compete with other members, or wait all day to make money. I already made $10 in 2 days with just a few hours dedicated to the site. You also make a dollar for each member that you refer and a 50% commission on your referral’s earning for the first 6 months of his membership. Your earnings are sent through PayPal a few weeks after a requested cash out.

Join Ciao and find out how you can make money and augment your income now.

Beyonce had to stuff herself and gain 20 pounds when she took the part of Etta James in the movie Cadillac Records. I was trying to look for a good pic of Beyonce in the movie to see how far she went. The closest pic I got didn’t look bad. She still looked voluptuous and sexy . . . darn it!

According to the sexy singer, gaining weight was so much fun (really?). The irritating part was having to lose it when she landed a role in the psychological thriller Obsessed. She had to go on a strict diet — no junk food, no chips, no candy and nothing fried. No wonder it was hard. Still, she managed to lose it to prepare for the role.

Beyonce also claims she is done being a pop star. Her goal is to be an icon like Diana Ross. It’s a tough act to follow. But with the way her career is moving at the moment, it is a possibility.

The blogosphere is getting bigger and bigger lately as more and more people discover the opportunities open to bloggers worldwide. I get jittery sometimes that there may not be enough opportunities to go around for everyone. As a matter of fact, opportunities at major get-paid-to-blog sites have now come few and far in between. If there were any, the competition is harsh. A slow internet connection will not stand a chance among the hungry bloggers out there.

Fortunately, like most business environments, the blog advertising industry not only has more publishers, get-paid-to-blog sites are also growing. More entrepreneurs are venturing into the business of matching advertisers with bloggers or publishers. The latest newbie in the field is iHype.com and already has good-paying advertisers.

iHype functions similarly to other GPT sites for blog advertising. A blog can subscribe to opportunities that it qualifies to which depends on Page Rank and the Alexa Rating. Upon subscription to an opportunity, the blogger has 7 days to complete the task and payment will be completed upon approval of the task. IHype shows a lot of potential at the onset and hopefully will be a reliable source of oppotunities for bloggers. Go check it out and take advantage of the continuous growth in the blogosphere.

Blogging started as a hobby for Dr. Arnold Kim. His blog, MacRumors.com, features gossip and facts about Apple. Although it was a time-consuming hobby, he kept at it while earning his medical degree. He completed his medical degree and began to diagnose kidney problems for patients. With his website attracting 4.4 million people and 40 million views per month, he decided to hang up his stethoscope this month and become a problogger full time. According to Quantcast, it has become the one of the most popular technology website to date.

Now that he has decided to focus his attention on his blog, Dr. Kim believes the potential to earn more from his endeavor will grow further. As with all other people who are unaware of a blog’s potential, his colleagues could not comprehend how he could make more money from blogging than pursuing his medical profession. He sums it all up in two words, “build traffic.” In the internet, traffic equals power, which in turn translates to money.

Dr. Kim started blogging about Steve Jobs’ company in 2000 writing about rumors on future Apple products he collects around the web. Being a secretive company, Apple has become the object of speculation and interest over the years. With a computer science degree from the Columbia University, his skills in programming and technology has added value to the blog and made visitors keep coming back for more. He also knew that everyone wants to know in advance what Steve Jobs is up to. If the midnight vigil during the market release of the IPhone 3G is any indication, Dr. Kim has indeed found a niche that was worth more than the degree he is giving up.

MacRumors ranks No. 2 on a list of the “25 most valuable blogs,” just behind Gawker Media and ahead of The Huffington Post, PerezHilton.com, and TechCrunch. Among those on the list, 2 tech-oriented blogs, Ars Technica and PaidContent, were sold earlier this year for alleged sums in excess of $25 million. Ars Technica has over 3 million visitors per month while PaidContent and its associate blogs reach approximately half a million people. Considering that MacRumors attracts a far bigger audience, valuations indicate that he has a gold mine in his hands. That is one piece of real estate that no crisis can topple.

Initially, he hesitated to make it a full-time job since he enjoyed medicine and had invested almost $200,000 for his education. However, when he saw the figures, it had become an easy decision to make.

When asked how he figures out the rumors from the real thing, he claims that its all a gut feel. He is aware that most of the images of future Apple products in the web are fakes. He does enjoy this fun part where he sometimes posts suspicious images with hints on their authenticity.

At the moment, he is planning to go beyond the horizons of MacRumors. He is currently cooperating in a spinoff Web site, Touch Arcade, that tracks the new games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Though he keeps mum about his other expansion plans, one thing is certain — he plans to go where no blogger has gone before.

It seems the blog advertising industry is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Another newbie in the blog advertising scheme has entered the industry hoping to connect more bloggers with advertisers in the internet. Unlike some of the older get-paid-to-blog sites, BloggersReview already has a decent amount of advertiser support and I already found a few opportunities in the panel. Though most of them are still unavailable to me, I intend to prove my skills and get a chance to qualify for these tasks.

The platform is not that different from other similar sites other than the layout and design. However, you get a chance to set your review price but will still be allowed to make reviews for opportunities that offer a lower value. I set mine a bit higher than usual considering that only 65% of the total pay will be paid with the balance set as a fee to BloggersReview. Though it can be discouraging for some, it still works for me since I have a pretty clear picture of the income-sharing with the disclosure. Some sites probably even get more as fees without the knowledge of the blogger since the net amount for payment is the only one displayed in the task panel.

Upon approval of your blog, you get to write your first review on the site at a minimal fee of $5. This is not bad with other sites making the requested initial post almost a pre-requisite to getting other opportunities without payment. There are still minimal advertisers compared to the a few other get-paid-to-blog sites, but it’s even better than the others I have joined who had zip advertisers for the past 2 months already.

To all the bloggers out there, add BloggersReview to your portfolio and get paid blogging for products and services. The potential is definitely worth the time and effort since it will only continue to increase your earnings and facilitate in the continuous growth of the industry.

Have you had enough of YouTube? Maybe it’s time to find something fresh — a video upload site that provides equal opportunities to all its members. Don’t let your video get buried beneath bigwig videos. It’s time to find a new website that isn’t overcrowded with litter. Join Viddiction.com and get a better chance of showing your video to the world.

At Viddiction, you earn cash for videos that get high viewership that ranges between $50-$500. Earning cash is easy. Join Viddiction, click “Regular Monthly Competition” prior to upload, and send your video to friends and family. Each click on the email sent means a Popularity Point. Get the highest Popularity Points in a month and you win cash sent directly to your Paypal account.

Promotion of your video will not be limited to emails. You can post it on your blog, message boards, or word of mouth. Each click on your video means a viewer and additional points for you. You can even bribe friends to pass on your video to get more viewers. Aside from the popularity contest, you also get a chance to earn more through referrals. Refer a friend to Viddiction and at the end of the month, the most number of referral wins.

I’m glad that YouTube now has a legitimate competitor that will give more value to its members. Join now and encourage your friends to become part of the community. Your video deserves more than obscurity.

There are currently numerous get-paid-to-blog sites in cyberspace. I have joined the best ones so far and I am making so much more additional income than I anticipated. However, there are dry periods that make me worry sometimes. Although new gpt sites crop up, some of them are not at par with the rest or hardly have any advertisers to support them. Meanwhile, there are more and more bloggers trying to earn income from blog marketing opportunities that crop up. Will advertisers and gpt sites be able to keep up? Or is there enough room for all the bloggers who want to make more income?

I believe the opportunities will always be there for those who are diligent enough to take them. I Just joined a new gpt site that provides bloggers extra income to post on their blog. Snapbomb is fairly new in the business but they have already earned the support of several advertisers. I am part of some sites that have been in the industry for a year or two, yet advertisers seem to shy away from them. With Snapbomb, I have an opportunity at the onset. Here is another site that may provide a lot of potential earnings for bloggers like me.

There are a lot of bloggers out there but I believe not all of them can achieve the quality of ads that most blogs like mine can deliver. With another site like Snapbomb, I can almost here the sound of the cash register ringing and imagine all the green bucks coming into my Paypal account. If your blog has the quality and reliability, try Snapbomb and widen your horizons.

There are a multitude of online earning opportunities in cyberspace. Aside from blog marketing, there are affiliate marketing and website ads. Then there are those where you get paid to write surveys. The difficulty with writing surveys is that there are so many scams out there. You are even lucky if you just find one that will keep on spamming your email. There are those who ask for registration fees and many have been victimized by these scammers. As such, it is important to be vigilant and cautious with these kinds of programs or opportunities.

Nevertheless, there are those who legitimately pay people for their opinion like GetPaidToTry.com. I recently joined and got myself a bonus $20 in less than 30 minutes. All I did was sign up and complete the first task. I was wary though while I was doing it because of the number of times I had to give out my email address. I understand that for marketing purposes, I would indeed get emails. However, I just hope they don’t send me too much.

After signing up and accomplishing my first task, I am now ready to get my regular surveys and earn more bucks from the internet. Can you believe it? I am making decent income from the blog. But it doesn’t hurt to earn more. Maybe contributing my opinion on the web will not just be part of a marketing scheme. It could actually serve to improve cyberspace or even products that we use on an everyday basis. I get even paid by telling others about GetPaidToTry. Why don’t you give it a shot?

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With the continuous increase in computer literacy worldwide and the internet draws in more people, Izea capitalized on the technology, bringing advertising to new levels. While advertising on print and the airwaves remains the most popular choice for advertising, there is no doubt that advertisers are now seeing the potential of blog marketing. Besides being relatively inexpensive, it manages to be effective with the blogosphere expanding significantly on a daily basis. These means that blogging is becoming a worldwide phenomenon that encourages people to read and write via the internet.

Why is the blogosphere expanding? Other than the continued increase of internet surfers worldwide, blogs sometimes prove more informative than your local newspaper. As a matter of fact, news and reports are more updated in blogs than it is in print. You get the news in real time, while it will likely be a day late in print. And the truth is, the internet is now more accessible to more people rather than television or radio. Every progressive company now provides its employees with computers and access to the internet. By the time you reach home to watch the news, you’ve already read it in cyberspace. Read the rest of this entry »