Quick Bytes..

GRAPEVINE!

Hi guys! Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I’ve been very busy in my real life, lol! =) I have two BIG events coming up in my life this 2008, and I’ve been actively “laying down the foundation” for both events. One event is my medical board exam this August, and the other event is still secret. Hehe! Watch out for the formal announcement about it before February ends *wink* And before this current month ends, here’s a quick post about a great site I found. If you are strong woman who is independent and everything a modern woman should be, I highly recommend you go to Grapevine.com -- it’s a lifestyle website for women with sections on Style, Home & Family, and Travel and Entertainment. They even have a Boutique! =)

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According to the grrrrls who run the blog, their website is an “interactive and serialized story of 4 strong women who are professionally brilliant, captivatingly stylish, fiercely independent and role models for the female generation from 25 to 49 years old.” Neat huh?? The Grapevine Girls consist of Gabby, Liv, Shannon and Raqui. They “cannibalize” their lives to give their readers shopping tips, professional insights, love and fashion ideas. Hence their tagline “Style and Such for the Sophisticated Woman” =)

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The coolest thing in their website is the Grapevine Serial. It’s kind of a video diary (or webisodes) that the girls made to document their current project and what-nots. There are voice-overs, illustrations and animations to provide you with your daily entertainment dose. Personally I found each episode fun and interesting to watch. Not to mention, I learned lots of stuff! Especially about the most excellent food out there, hehe =) The best thing ever? You can be a Grapevine Girl yourself! Just sign up and be ready to embrace life!

my photo galleries -- go view! =)

happy marriage recipe =)

Everybody wants a happy marriage but few knew how to "cook" one. Hehe! Here's a happy marriage recipe I snagged from Chikai. Digest it and apply to your relationships! Not just marriages.. =)
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Ingredients:
1 cup consideration
1 cup courtesy
2 cupfuls flattery carefully concealed
1 gallon faith and trust in each other
2 cupfuls praise
1 small pinch of in-laws
1 reasonable budget, a generous dash of cooperation
3 teaspoon pure extract of "I’m sorry"
1 cup contentment
1 cup each confidence and encouragement
1 large or several small hobbies
1 cup blindness to the other’s faults
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Instructions:
Flavor with frequent portions of recreation and a dash of happy memories.  Stir well and remove any specks of jealousy, temper or criticism.  Sweeten well with generous portions of love and keep warm with a steady flame of devotion.  Never serve with cold shoulder.

when the dollar goes down, buy gold!

The US economy is said to be entering recession (with another alleged tech bubble on the horizon) and is very obvious in the downward turn of the US dollar's value. If you're a financially savvy person, now is the perfect time to invest in gold. In fact, stocks of gold mining companies (Lepanto, etc) have increased since the dollar became cheaper. However, gold investing is not a new concept.
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If you remember your World History, precious metals were used directly as currency in the olden times. To preserve their wealth, rich people hoard their gold. And so modern man stumbled on the idea that gold is an investment product. Today, gold can be bought in coin or ingot form. Ingots are generally gold ingots of pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape while coins have a currency value. So friend, wanna buy some gold? I have some for sale! In electronic form, that is =)

blue jeans fashion!

Brad Renfro and Heath Ledger are DEAD!

Last week I was stunned with the news that Brad Renfro died. The cause? Probably drug-related as he had drug problems for the past few years. The night before he died, Brad was drinking with friends, and was later overheard snoring. The next day, he was dead. And guess what? He was just 25, such a young age to die! I have always loved him in The Client and Apt Pupil but since he was out of the limelight for quite a while, his death was not that hard to bear. And yes, I'm usually this sentimental about dying! I was 25 early last year! Imagine if I died, I would not have felt what it is like to just BUM around o_O Anyway, more info about Brad Renfro's death HERE. The Associated Press and other news services got it all wrong -- they were preparing Britney Spears obituary (article HERE) but instead we now have two young promising actors dead. Life.. you really never know what's gonna happen!
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Obviously, the more shocking news (which constricted my heart!) was Heath Ledger's death TODAY! Yes, THE Heath Ledger of Brokeback Mountain fame! He was only 28, and his death was what prompted me to write this post. I was still recovering from Brad's death when this one hit me! Heath's death I couldn't believe coz he wasn't really into drugs and stuff. In fact, he has become quite mature ever since he had a baby girl (Matilda) with Michelle Williams. Unfortunately, the Aussie couple separated last September 2007. The last time I saw Heath (personalan na ah! hehe) was early this year in the trailer of The Dark Knight (a Batman movie) where he is the Joker. He was really good -- menacing, crazy, creepy, diabolical Joker -- he had it down pat! A very promising, talented actor he surely is. And now, he's dead?? *shakes head*
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The cause of his death, again, might be drug-related.  Heath was found in his bed, naked and face down, surrounded with prescription pills. Media outlets are reporting the pills found were sleeping pills. But his family said he was not the kind to take his own life so this must be an accidental death. Heath was sick with pneumonia so the drugs and pills he might have taken reacted adversely, causing his death. For now we don't know but an autopsy is scheduled tomorrow to rule out foul play. Heath was filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (that's his creepy character in the photo, hanging himself) when he died. I wonder who'll take his place in the movie now that he's dead. Lastly, I strongly feel something's amiss with Heath Ledger ever since he separated from Michelle Williams. He had been doing creepy, strange and depressing roles (a hard core drug addict in CANDY, psycho Joker in TDK, and now hanging himself in The Imaginarium). I wonder what's really wrong.. More info about his death HERE and HERE.

financing your business

We all dream of starting a business someday -- a restaurant, a printing shop, a boutique, a flower shop, etc. And most of you will agree that what hinders us from achieving this is the lack of money for start-Up financing. If you're not too scared of getting money over the internet, I suggest you check out the start up financing service offered by EZUnsecured.com =) They process loans quick, you'll have fast funding and receive excellent service at that. Again, for your StartUp financing needs, check out EZUnsecured.com ... Good luck!

buying a new vacuum cleaner?

You should try the new HEPA vacuum cleaners especially if there are those who suffer allergies in your home. These vacuum cleaners have been tested for particle emissions, as well as power, dependability, and ease of use. Brands such as Miele, Bosch, Electrolux and Sebo all make excellent HEPA vacuum cleaners so if you gave a favorite manufacturer among them, just go visit their sites. Sanitaire even has a pink one (pictured at right), oh yeah! Hehe!

secure your home now!

With all the home burglaries happening these days, it really pays if you secure your home. How? By installing the latest alarm system monitoring out there. It's not enough that you install a gadget, you should have it professionally monitored 24 hours a day. And SafeMart might be able to do that for you without lengthy contracts. Interested? Then follow the link! =)

looking for classy faucets?

Then Danze faucets might be for you! They have bath faucets, kitchen faucets and faucets for the entertainment areas. Danze has over 1,000 unique designs for you to choose from. They have everything from sleek to ornate to retro with a twist. For sure, there's a Danze faucet that would fit your personal style! My fave is the one pictured at left, love the sleek minimalist design! =)

Audemars Piguet watches

Brand not familiar to you? Well, that might be because it's a VERY high-end product. An Audemars Piguet watch typically has a 5-digit price tag, and that's in dollars my dears. Just imagine buying one $10000 watch, that's P400000 already! But to some of us, that's just loose change. Audemars Piguet is one of the oldest and most established Swiss watchmakers, the company was a partnership between Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet officially formed in 1889. The AP Offshore is easily the most noted part of their product line. Jay Z (pictured above, click to enlarge) and Arnold Schwarzenegger have limited edition watches under that line. Cool huh?? But for P400000, no thank you! LOL!

our LOVE calendar!

Presenting our 2008 CD calendar!! =) It's made up of our 2007 photos taken during our monthsaries and special events in our relationship. I printed these pics (click to enlarge) on photo paper and displayed them on a blank CD case. Voila! Instant love calendar! =) Want one? Just msg me!

credits: PClayer.com

 

ads via text messaging??

Actually I've been receiving advertisements via my phone for years now. But the text ads are just sent by Globe (my cellular carrier) about their latest services and promos. How would you feel if you'll receive text ads from a new restaurant or from a shop with storewide sale? Me? I'd love it! Imagine getting the first dibs on discounts and such, super duper great! =)
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ready for Valentines Day??

Less than a month to go and it’s another red-letter holiday! Well, not really an official holiday but with all the pomp and pageantry stores do during Valentines Day, you’d think we’re celebrating some momentous event. Hehe! Anyway, do you have a gift already for your loved one? This question especially goes out to all the boyfriends and husbands out there, lol =) If you haven’t yet, try shopping online! Online stores of Saks Fifth Avenue and Henry and June Lingerie offer huge discounts if you have electronic discount coupons. Last year I shopped online using coupon codes from CouponChief.com, and let me tell you, I saved a lot! It was almost like I had 50% of what paid go back to me, lol! This is one shopping secret I won’t regret telling you guys about. After all, online coupon codes don’t run out so no need for secrecy =)

BUSTED!

One movie theater customer was caught taping a newly released local movie using a hidden spy camera. If he were successful in his attempt, pirated VCDs and DVDs of that hit movie would be in the market right now. Thank god he was busted! Here’s a question for you: do you watch films outside movie theaters? If yes, do you legally rent movie DVDs or do you “borrow” the film online. Me? The latter is my answer! Hehe! Sshhh.. ;p
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hmmm, wines!

Last Christmas, we receive a lot of wine gifts from family friends and co-workers of my father. Not that I’m complaining coz our family loves wines! For most part of the month, you’d see wine in our fridge or pantry rather than softdrinks. As if I’d drink the latter, ughh! Anyhoo, our love for wine got me thinking of joining wine of the month clubs. These clubs send you a monthly wine pack for a fee. Usually the wines sent are hard-to-find and produced in small wineries. Hmm, maybe I’ll gift my parents with this come Christmas.. =)

The X-Files Movie!!!

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE! Or should I say the sequel to The X-Files Movie is out there?? Gosh! I can't believe that ten years after the first film and six years after the show went off the air, The X-Files finally returns to the big screen with Fox Mulder and Dana Scully! I'm sooo excited!!! =) The new movie doesn't have a formal title yet, and rumors about its plot say the movie will dump the long-running "mythology" plotline. Whaaattt?? Says Chris Carter, the show's creator, "We spent a lot of time on (the mythology) and wrapped up a lot of threads. We want a stand-alone movie, not a mythology conspiracy one." Hmm, I'm not sure if I like this development. I LOVE THE ALIENS ANGLE!!! =( For more details, read HERE. The picture at left is the first photo out of the movie's filming. This is HOT news!

laptop talk

Last December, a hand-me-down laptop (from my father to my brother then to me!) that I use was deemed “beyond repair” by the computer guys in a known computer shop in our city. The problem? The connection between the charger and the laptop went off and they said there are no more replacement products for it. Sniff! Otherwise, my laptop was okay. There was no other problems but unfortunately, without the charger, I couldn’t plug it so I can’t use it =( I began thinking what if there’s a charger for laptop batteries? Such that I won’t need to plug my laptop on electrical sockets and I will just rely on the charged batteries for me to be able to work? That would be so great! And I would be able to use my laptop again, sigh..

mag-exercise tayo tuwing umaga!

One of my resolutions for the year 2008 is to exercise. I plan to do jumping rope in the morning and jogging in the afternoon (maybe even use ellipticals). I really hope I'd stick to it. My metabolism is already slowing down (I'm 26!!!) and it doesn't help that my physical activity is just limited to house work and playing with our dogs. For most part of the day, I'm just sitting in front of the PC. Yikes! Anyway, here's an exercise survey from dNEERO. If you wanna earn extra money for going out on Valentines Day (gotta start early!), answer the survey I posted, post it in your own blog and earn $$$! Simple! =) dNEERO totally rocks!

does your store offer credit card payment?

Plastic money or credit card has become a necessity in our world. At first it was only professionals and those with stable jobs who got this modern money replacement. Then suddenly credit card companies campaigned aggressively which resulted to almost everybody having the little plastic item with magnetic strips. Almost every store you go to, whether small or big AND offline or online, offer Visa & Mastercard payment solutions, and all those other credit card companies.
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If you’re store don’t still accept credit cards, it’s about time it does. Surveys have pointed time and again that credit card accepting stores have higher sales, whether they are online or offline. APlusMerchant.com is one of those businesses that offer to process credit card payments like Visa and Mastercard for online websites, retail stores, hotels, bars, gas stations, anyone really, and even offshore merchant accounts. If you need an Internet credit card processor, try to visit their website.

travel health insurance

My father travels frequently all over the Philippines as part of his job. Sometime he does out of the country trips. With his frequent traveling, I sometimes wonder if his company got him a travel health insurance policy. After all, the company’s the one sending him on trips. Traveling is not really that risky but what if you get ill abroad? How would you find a doctor? Where would you find appropriate healthcare facility? Where would you seek advice? Did you know that HMO's, PPO's and Medicare typically do not cover you abroad? These are just a few reasons why you need a travel health insurance. If you’re a frequent traveler, you better ask your favorite insurance agent about it!

popcorn machines!!!

I’m addicted to popcorn, cotton candy, fish balls, scramble and all those “banned” childhood street food. I have happy memories of eating them despite being branded by my parents as “dirty” and “bawal”. Who cares, I’m a child with no vision of what it could really do! Hehe! Anyhoo, I stumbled on this site that sells these cool home theater popcorn machines! So cute to look at! I’d buy this in a flash but its high price prevents me. It sells for a freakin’ $680!! Definitely could not afford it!! LOL! o_O Anyway, this popcorn machine has a 6oz. E-Z Kleen stainless steel kettle, a heating deck, tempered glass windows and a removable kettle for easy cleaning. Pretty good stuff, even yummy - just expensive =) LOL

money matters stuff :p

Aside from love, I think that the most posted topic in this blog is money and business matters :p Yes, this is another money matters posts. And today, I'm gonna rant about employee payroll. We've been renovating our home for some time now and we employ two full-time carpenters here. Often, these two ask for cash loan, sort of a cash advance. And sometimes I get lost of how much they already "owe" us. Sure, they'd be working for us in the months ahead but still, I can't get this niggly feeling that they've "overdrawn" their "deposits" with us already.
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It's not that I'm being stingy (I'm not the one earning the pay money, lol) coz there are really times they badly need money. It's just that I wish there was a better way for me to track down their "loans". My mom's an accountant but she says let them remember the money they owe us. They're good persons, yadda, yadda... For most part, they are lucky that we let them borrow money. I’m sure other employers don’t give cash loans, and troubled employees resort to other means in getting money. In this time and age, the internet can be a source of money too. There are websites that offer payday loans like CheckIntoCash.com which has a very fast approval system. Go check them out!

I'm a Math Whiz!

At least in Grade 8 Math! LOL! If you're tired of the usual quizzes and surveys then exercise your Math muscles with this brainy test. Guaranteed to make your brain sweat! Ang hirap, grabehhh! Go try! ;-)
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You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

career talk!

Whatever your line of work is, you should think about how your career will go. I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities available for developing your skills and knowledge, and this will affect your career development. For example, in Medicine, being a doctor is not as simple as the title. There are many different career paths a licensed doctor might trod. He may go into specialization (OBGYNE, Pedia, IM, Surgery, etc) or may go into government service. He can also go into medical research or be a professor in a health-related school. But for sure, to be successful, a doctor (or whatever your profession is) must continually improve his skills and understanding. He needs to continue learning throughout his career. And there are many ways he can do this – he can attend seminars, symposiums, and lectures where he may earn credits. This is what we call CME or Continuing Medical Education. I’m sure there’s an equivalent career advancement exercise like this in your own profession. And if I were you, grab the chance to attend it and improve your skills!

be careful with your words

Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence. Most importantly the last sentence!
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There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
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The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. WHEN YOU SAY THINGS IN ANGER, THEY LEAVE A SCAR JUST LIKE THIS ONE. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, THE WOUND IS STILL THERE." A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
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"Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."
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GUYS, YOU ARE MY FRIENDS AND I AM HONORED!
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AND IF IN ANYWAY, I HAVE WRONGED U, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR LEAVING A HOLE...

Chicago..

A high school friend of mine (hi Jinx!) stayed in Chicago for six months. And she thoroughly enjoyed her experience! Whenever she adds photos of her Chicago outings in her Friendster profile, I would always view it. My fave picture was of a manmade lake near her apartment (see photo below). At first I thought it was taken from a Chicago college or even an Illinois college. Imagine, going to school in such a gorgeous place – definitely conducive to learning! See how happy Jinky and her friends are, lol!
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If you are interested in going to college in Chicago, go check out Westwood College – they have four campus locations in the Chicago, namely DuPage campus, Chicago Loop campus, O'Hare Airport campus and River Oaks campus. Students can choose from several degree programs within four advanced institutes: Institute of Design, Institute of Technology, Institute of Business and Institute of Criminal Justice. And for recreation, students can enjoy outdoor stuff like hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking. Love it! =)

FREE ebook from Jonathan Leger!!!

If you don't know who he is, it only means one thing -- you're not on the internet to earn money via Google Adsense! Hehe! Jonathan Leger is an internet marketing expert and he just released a FREE ebook entitled "Search Engine Myths Exposed!" After the Google PageRank storm last year, I was scratching my head why my PR3 and PR2 sites all dropped to PR0. Experts says its because of the paid links in my blog and Google is penalizing me. I felt that "Google knows all and sees all" =( But Jonathan (in his ebook) refuted this and other Google myths (yeah, I know there are other search engines aside from Google but do they really matter?? lol). I had a blast reading his ebook and I learned a lot. If you want to make money off Google Adsense (by building content-rich blogs and niche sites), you should read "Search Engine Myths Exposed!" =) As I said it's FREE and you can download it HERE (signup needed). This is FRESH guys! Released just 3 days ago! =)
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attention RUGBY fanatics!

If you’re looking for a comprehensive website about Europe's premier international rugby tournament (that’s the six nations championship!) then you’ve come to the right blog post! Presenting the RBS 6 Nations website! They provide a wide-ranging list of tournament news, fixtures and results. They also offer interactive games and podcasts for six nations fans. You want to see the rugby dream team? It’s here! By the way, the six nations is composed of the countries of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
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For those unfamiliar with rugby, this is the game that originated American and Canadian football. Rugby football, often just "rugby", may refer to a number of sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in England, United Kingdom. Rugby league and rugby union are the only two sports referred to as "rugby" today. In the U.K, an old saying goes "football is a gentleman's game played by thugs and rugby is a game for thugs played by gentlemen".

what's in your name??

Another tag from Chikai! Feel free to snag it! All you have to do is spell your name per letter and add their corresponding meanings (see bottom part of post). Here’s mine:
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M - Makes dating fun!
E - deeply in love with his/her gf/bf
L - BEST SMILE - I'm sure lots of guys will agree, hahaha!
I - Loves to laugh
S - Lives life for fun
S - Lives life for fun
A - Gorgeous - damn right!!! *wink*
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S - Lives life for fun
O - Has one of the best personalities ever
L - BEST SMILE
I - Loves to laugh
T - Great kisser
O - Has one of the best personalities ever
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Name Meaning Here: 

A: Gorgeous
B: Loves people
C: Really easy to fall in love with
D: Is great in bed
E: deeply in love with his/her gf/bf
F: People wild and crazy adore you
G: Never let people tell you what to do
H:Freakin’ beautiful eyes
I: Loves to laugh
J: Makes people laugh
K: Really silly
L: BEST SMILE
M: Makes dating fun
N: Sexy
O: Has one of the best personalities ever
P: Popular with all types of people
Q: A hypocrite
R: Good bf/gf
S: Lives life for fun
T: Great kisser
U: Gets blamed for everything
V: Not judgmental
W: Very broad minded
X: Never let people tell you what to do
Y: Loved by everyone
Z: Lives life for fun

lose weight by surgery!

I’ve posted several times in this blog about losing weight surgically by Lap Band. If you missed it, here’s a recap: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure is unlike other weight loss surgery procedures in that it is less invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less.
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It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Or you can follow this link of lap band Surgarland, Texas where the bariatric surgeons with most experience in Lap Band are found. Good luck!

KADA reunion - New Year's Eve!

My December was full of reunions! And because I wasn't on any hospital duty (unlike the past two years, huhu!), I was present in all of my friends and former classmates' parties. Last December 31, New Year's Eve, we had lunch in Charo's house with my high school barkada. Great food, great friends, great time! =) We also had fun playing with Charo's daughter, Lianne (the cute kid in the pics). Just click the thumbnails for larger view. Happy viewing! Sorry for the blurry pics, all taken by camera phones in less than stellar lighting conditions. Charmus! Hehe!
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online casino anyone?

I find it funny that there are online slots on the internet now. Awhile back I was blogging about the current popularity of online poker, and now, I'm hearing about virtual slot machines! Talk about life (gambling life, more so) moving online, hehe! There are even online casinos that style themselves as “vegas casinos” as their sites are more glamorous than other gambling sites. Is it a sign of our times?? One of these so-called “vegas casinos” is 32Vegas.com and they offer lots of casino games for your online pleasure. Go check them out!

US election primaries

I really like watching the current US presidential primaries happening in key cities of America these days (Iowa, New Hampshire, etc). I love their idea of just fielding two candidates of opposing ideologies (no middle ground here) to run for the presidential race. But first, before the final two are selected, the presidential hopefuls will run against people from their own party, i.e. for Democrats its largely Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. This part is the PRIMARY, and only selected states are chosen to vote. In Iowa, Obama won while in New Hampshire, Clinton won (reportedly because she cried and got the voters' sympathy, lol). The US presidential election will be on November and I hope by that time, the US economy will be back in full swing! I earn dollars online and it really sucks that $1 is only P40 now! Apparently it's not because our peso is getting stronger but because the US economy is experiencing recession. Tsk!

:: bet365 ::

The football season is nearing its end! Have you found your favorite team already? If you believe in your team so much, would you like to engage in a bit of football betting? Hehe! If you like, you can use bet365.com's online betting facilities. That way, you won't have to through the hassle of talking to bet handlers. You can do your betting at the comforts of your home. Aside from football betting (and other real-life sports), bet365.com also offers online gambling, an interactive games section and a dedicated online poker playing area. They even have this one wallet system so that you can enjoy the benefits of all their services through one manageable account. The website comes in 15 languages and the website is very user-friendly. Do visit the site but a word of warning: bet365.com can be addicting, very addicting! So friend, bet only what you can afford to lose. Happy gaming!

wedding flowers!

In four months, a high school friend of mine (hi Cha!) will walk down the aisle. Preparations for her wedding are underway and mostly done in frantic pace. Just 4 months to go, goodness! I got the chance to view the styles and themes she wanted and I love the flower arrangements she chose! One of them is pictured at left. Flowers are an important part of any wedding. Though sometimes, couples scrimp on it because of its high price. But if they buy wholesale flowers, they could really save a lot. FiftyFlowers.com is one online shop that provides weddings with premium roses, calla lilies, rose petals, gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, peonies and many other flowers and greens. The flowers are delivered at a below wholesale cost and with minimum of fuss. Go check them out! =)

optimize you site!

When I say "optimize", I mean Search Engine Optimization. If you want your blog or website to get traffic from search engines (Google, Yahoo, Ask, etc), then you should optimize it so that search engines can easily analyze its content. Nowadays, those who are serious about their sites to grow, are getting an SEO expert or SEO specialist to have their websites optimized for search. Sure, you spend money but think of the targeted traffic you'll get from the search engines! Hopefully that will translate to sales and ad clicks = higher earnings! Anyway, to start you off, here's an SEO company that you might be interested in: TrafiCare.com -- go check them out!

party survey!

Let's party people!!! =)

Cat6 whattt??

If you're not a tech person, then chances are you'd think that Cat6 is a type of cat-- you know, that feline furry animal. Hehe! But no, Cat6 is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards. Cat6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet). Neat huh?? =) Anyhoo, I won't be needing this product, I just read about it on a tech blog. Thought I'd just share it with you all!

high-style rehab

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Along with these, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more!

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Along with these, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more!

Live happier this 2008!

Most people think that if they have enough money to buy all they want, they’ll be happier with their life. But, that’s not the way it really goes in real life. You’ll find that at the end of the line, after you amassed your “wealth”, there is no one to share it with. Or worse, your body is not good enough for you to enjoy your money. Money won’t make you happier, it will make your life easier – and there’s a big difference between the two! If you want to live a happier life this 2008, focus on “body mind spirit” – be healthy, be smart, be in touch with your soul! Be healthy is easier said than done since you have to undo all the unhealthy habits you’ve been practicing for years. So –-
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Let’s just start with the mind-be smart thing! After graduating from college, most of us didn’t go for higher education anymore (masteral, short-course diplomas, etc). Often, we just deal with work stuff and sometimes, with repetition, our mind stagnates. For 2008, why not try to join programs aimed for self improvement or personal development? Who knows, you might gain a new talent and look at yourself with a new perspective. At the very least, your brain will be happy with the stimuli you gave it. Ergo, you’d be a happier person! =) As for the spirit, it doesn’t have to be religious. Do what your soul tells you to do. For me, meditation just right after waking up and going to sleep. It restores my spirit and helps me remember my place in the universe. WowZa!

gotta exercise!

One of my resolutions for the year 2008 is to exercise. I plan to do jumping rope in the morning and jogging in the afternoon. I really hope I'd stick to it. My metabolism is already slowing down (I'm 26!!!) and it doesn't help that my physical activity is just limited to house work and playing with our dogs. For most part of the day, I'm just sitting in front of the PC. Yikes! Anyway, here's an exercise survey from dNEERO. If you wanna earn extra money for going out on Valentines Day (gotta start early! lol), answer the survey I posted below, post it in your own blog and earn $$$! Simple! =) dNEERO totally rocks!

what's a payday loan?

A payday loan or payday advance is a small, unsecured short-term loan ranging from $100 to $1,000 (depending on the state) offered by a payday lender. Payday loans are typically used as a cash advance until your next payday. It will help cover unexpected expenses that come up between paydays and will solve temporary cash-flow problems without bouncing a check or incurring late payment penalties. Unlike banks and other financial institutions, getting a loan from a reputable payday lender is easy; there is no credit check or waiting period. All you need is a photo ID, a current bank statement and proof of income. And that’s it! You receive the money you badly need until the next payday rolls around. So, if you’re one of those in need of a quick fix without the hassle, try to get a payday loan!

BIHMI batch 2 interns XMAS 2007!

Click the thumbnails for a larger view! Yup, separate pictures yan, it's not a collage. Hehe! Sorry this took so long to upload. Enjoy the pics & see you all soon! =)

get hearing protection now!

Noise pollution is rising dramatically especially in urban cities. The source of most noise worldwide is transportation systems, principally motor vehicle noise, but also including aircraft noise and rail noise. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can results in noise pollution in the residential area. Other sources are office equipment, factory machinery, construction work, appliances, power tools, lighting hum and audio entertainment systems. For most of us, it has been a way of life. And this not good coz it will eventually lead to hearing loss and other health problems! According to studies, unwanted noise can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, and other harmful effects. Stress and hypertension are the leading causes of today’s health problems, whereas tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attacks.
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Noise reduction , therefore, is a must! But that’s a very lofty ideal. Unless new vehicles and machines with quieter engines are made, it will be hard to reduce noise. So what’s your next best tactic? Use hearing protection aids! That way, you will be able to block the stressful noise pollution that surrounds your day-to-day life. You can use noise reduction headphones or ear plugs like the ones made by SONOMAX (pictured at right). For those interested, that’s a Sonomax's SonoCustom custom-fit, custom calibrated, expansion earpiece. It is a highly efficient gatekeeper between sounds and eardrums. With its multi-purpose capabilities, it can shut the gate on harmful sounds like workplace noise and can also welcome sounds like music and voices with perfect fidelity while eliminating the associated risk of noise induced hearing loss. It effectively blocks hazardous noise, yet still allows you to hear conversations and warning signals. Way kewl!!! =)

what is fibromyalgia?

Lately I've been having muscle pains for no reason (i.e. I did not engage in strenous activities, etc). With my doctor's mind going to overdrive, I began thinking of the "exotic disease" I might have. One of them is fibromyalgia. Actually it's not that exotic, lol! So, what is it? Read on to find out! And yes, this is the Health Matters post for January. The first for the year 2008!
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. Fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men. Previously, fibromyalgia was known by other names such as fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism and tension myalgias.
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According to Mayo Clinic, although the intensity of your symptoms may vary, they'll probably never disappear completely. It may be reassuring to know that fibromyalgia isn't progressive or life-threatening. Treatments and self-care steps can improve fibromyalgia symptoms and your general health. For more information, consult your favorite doctor =)

wanna play piano?

When I was 10 years old, my parents enrolled me to learn piano with a private tutor. I found it really fun, you know, being able to “create” music with your fingers and all. But after a few months, my interest dwindled and I turned to swimming. Still, I always loved hearing piano music =) So imagine my surprise when I learned that my boyfriend (back when he was still a friend)  plays the piano! And he was quite good, performing yearly recitals and all. He was even the one who played their high school graduation song on the piano. That rekindled my interest about everything piano. I began scouring the web for free piano lessons & piano chords and I was not disappointed with what I got. I tried to play again, this time using our organ, but let’s just say -- like dancing, piano playing is not for me! LOL!

my 2008 resolutions

Below are my resolutions for 2008. Help me stick to it! LOL!
1. Go jogging every morning for 30-45min
2. Stop procastinating in everything!!!
3. Be serious with the medical board review
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PragmaSys

Does your company need SFTP and other server needs? The PragmaSys may just be the company for you! They allow mid to large enterprises to cost-effectively deploy, maintain, and enforce transparent communications security throughout their network for strong protection against common network security risks. With hacker and malicious attacks rampant everywhere, it pays to secure your company’s communication backbone. If you’re interested to protect your company’s network, check PragmaSys.com out!

UPMin BS Bio Christmas Get-Together 2007

Click the thumbnails for a larger view! Yup, separate pictures yan, it's not a collage. Hehe! Sorry this took so long to upload guys! As if naman marami ang pictures tapos blurred pa jud. Way ayu ang maniniyot, hehe =) And do email your pictures to the egroup so I can make one album for it all ha. Thanks and see you all soon! Sa binyag ng anak ni Edi and Joyce? Or right after giving birth? Hehe!

lake for sale!

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Wanna own this gorgeous piece of Georgia land for sale? Yes, lake included! This property is named "Juliette Mill Lake" and is located in Jasper County, Georgia. There is over 1 mile of frontage on the beautiful Ocmulgee River and Juliette Mill Lake in this property. You want quiet and solitude? You'll have it here! You want meadows, fields and mature native forest? It's all here! If you're interested, check out LandFlip.com -- they are showing this property by appointment only.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Miss me guys?? I've been very busy! As you all experienced, the Christmas season has been very hectic! Aside from that, I’ve been on a two week vacation with my family. I’ve neglected my four blogs and my “get paid to” blog tasks and opps. Tsk, bye-bye income! But now, I’m back with a vengeance, lol =)
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First off, we’re gonna talk about car loans. Unless you’re very rich, you don’t buy cars outright with cash. Always it’s through credit via auto loans and credit cards. But what if you have a history of bad credit and you badly need a car? Having a bad credit is like the kiss of death for those applying for car loans a few years back. But not anymore! And you can say your thanks to GetTheBestAutoLoan.com =)
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Most of the time car dealerships will offer you a loan upon purchasing your car, but they usually have higher interest rates; getting a loan from a third-party a smarter decision, and their website is one such their party. You can get your free auto loan quote from them, and guess what? They also have a car loan blog where they explore the various aspects of auto loan applications, tips, and tricks that everyone should know before applying for an auto loan.