Going mobile

I have been usin my iPhone for close to a year now and I can say that I have been attached to it a lot that I ended up using it more than my lappy (sorry!)

So finally I had the chance to stunble upon this cool app -- blog booster that allows me to blog from my phone! How cool is that?! Now I shoukd not have an excuse for not being able to blog more often!

Though I have to warn you right now that since I am using a touchscreen type of phone ( touchscreen phone users you know you are guilty with this as well), my grammar or spelling will be horrible. I know I should proofread before posting but I also know that when I get excited, I hit publish immediately! So pardon me for that!

Hopefully with this app in my phone, I can blog more and let out my thoughts!

Another Re-post: Dressing yourself up in GOLD

Girls and boys love accessorizing.

It could be a fancy cap, a necklace, a mobile phone or any item that can make you stand out of your group and be noticed.

Usually, our accessories can vary - it can be very high end (which can be for long term use) or a bargain (since fashion does change over the season and at times, just months, we just 'go with the flow').

As for me, I love jewelry (necklaces, earrings and bracelets). I do have to admit that my knees go weak for G-O-L-D!! My husband and I would always pass by the jewelry shops in the mall to check if there's anything I might fancy or if they have new collections out.

We go to the shops so often that we have been friends with the shop attendants (hint: doing so, they can give you good! good! discounts being a 'regular').

While browsing through the internet, I saw these pictures that designers and people do to incorporate Gold in their things!

Vivienne Tam's Design for HP

Blackberry withGivodori Via Veneto

Sony Ericsson's Mocha Gold

Michelle Yeoh's design for Vertu

More pictures can be seen on this link.

Now isn't that something? =/

*images from Arabianbusiness.com

Re-post: Real Women, Real Bodies

I have pulled this out from an old blog that I have maintained. I have written this piece September 2009

How comfortable are you about your body?

I know I'm not --- but I try (",)

Image by Art Comments via Flickr

Why?

I guess it's because of those size-zero models who sashay along the runaway, showing off their neck and rib bones, slipping into those uber beautiful dresses which makes you think how can a dress like that fit an 'average girl' like me?

However I stumbled into this article while browsing through Facebook:

and saw her picture:-

Lizzie Miller

The model's name is Lizzie Miller. According to the article, Lizzie was considered big that she cannot even model plus-size lines! Imagine that!

This photo made me realise that we all have the same problem... love handles, big thighs, flabby tummy, stretch marks and the list can go on... but like what they say, 'Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder'.

Hope to see more of this!!!

Do you want to read the article? click here!

*photos courtesy of Flickr and Dailymail

Odesk: Helping companies get their work done and freelancers be paid for a job well done!

The internet has been one of the major and successful invention by mankind. It has served its purpose and more. The internet was initially used for research until it has now evolved into this social communication tool that allows you to connect with your friends and loved ones all over the world, be informed about the current situation of countries that are a thousand miles away from where you are and a lot more. 

The internet has also been a means of creating income for people by freelancing over the web or by monetizing on their blogs. 

Odesk was founded in 2003 by Odysseas Tsatalos and Stratis Karamanlakis. 

 

 

 

 

Look and Feel

Being a part of Odesk myself, the user interface of the website is very straightforward. It tells you the notifications or messages you receive from potential employers or from Odesk itself. It also shows you the pending transactions you might have, the teams you are in if you are currently doing a project.

It is easy to browse through the available projects as it is sorted depending on the categories they fall in.

If you feel like you are missing out on something in Odesk, you can always go on the right hand side of the page where they offer assistance in case you have questions about the website, the terms of payment, the work diary, etc.

 

Protection for Jobseekers

It is a mandate for all freelancing websites to make sure that their contractors are legit and will pay the jobseekers proper compensation. Of course, this is sometimes being waived when the applicant agrees to the 'one-time payment' clause which prompts jobseekers when the project is not on an hourly basis.

Apart from this clause, Odesk (I believe) investigates the validity of the project by setting criterias on considering projects to be posted on their website. Even if you have already submitted your bid on the project, they send notifications that the project is cancelled because it did not meet Odesk's requirements (Internet Police huh!).

Over-all, Odesk continues to be a tool bridging contractors and online freelancers.  

 

images courtesy of:- 

http://www.clipartof.com

http://stealwp.com

Change is good

I have just seen the latest news flash about President Mubarak stepping down and handing over his duties to the military. 

After almost 20 days of protests, the Egyptians have gotten what they wanted - for their President to step down. As I read through the tweets in Twitter, you can sense the jubilation for Egyptians and other nationalities that the unrest is now over. The people were heard (finally) and the country now faces a new chapter, a new beginning. 

We all like new beginnings, a fresh start which is why I guess we always look forward for the New Year because it gives us a clean slate.

Now that the people of Egypt have proven that they can be united for one purpose, I hope they also use the same 'urge' to rebuild their country. In an economist's point of view, the country has lost a lot in terms of its financial standing however this can work on their advantage or disadvantage - it depends on how foreign and local investors would see how things will go in the coming days.  

I am positive that Egypt can rise up and be one as a nation - they were able to join forces regardless of background, financial standing, etc what more in re-building their nation?

(image from Best Picture Gallery)

Updates! Updates! Updates!

A lot has happen when the year was about to end and when it started!

First off, we have moved houses which is why I was not able to dish out or post about anything for the past few weeks... Come to think of it, this is something new because for the first time, it's not my fault! (Aha!)

We just had the internet connection hooked up and is actually still on the trial phase because unfortunately, there would still be days when the connection would be very slow (I was told we have an 8 mpbs connection -- so why is it still slow???) ... though there would times that it will be very fast (very weird actually).

Second, people in Dubai or you can say the whole of UAE are still in a gloomy mood. Though reports were made that the country has already shrugged off the dust made by the previous recession, there are still a lot of work to be done which could mean companies going for mergers to save themselves or the worst part? closing down the business completely.

This is very sad because a lot of people have not seen this coming hence they were not able to save anything for the rainy days... a lot of people have either fled the country looking for work opportunities in another country or they stay with a 50% cut back from their previous salary.

Third, I could not believe when I say this photo and article about Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Well, I didn't know that Ryan and Scarjo have seperated ways?! I am not sure why I did not picked that up... (was I busy shopping for post-Christmas gift presents that's why I did not know about this?!).

According to this article, after two years of being together, Scarjo have decided to end their marriage. I am not sure if Ryan agreed to this set up but it seems he went to Sandra (his co-star in the Proposal) for some moral support.

Ryan and Sandra (photo taken from wonderwall) 

Eventually the moral support became something else... or could it be just the reporters trying to sensationalise a beautiful friendship? 

Well, I do hope that Ryan gets to heal his wounds by himself and not by dating another woman! 

That's it for now!! 

Ta!

Christmas in the UAE

This is my 6th year of spending Christmas in the UAE.

I always have this vision in my head that spending Christmas back home will definitely make me feel homesick and I will eventually find it hard to bring myself back here in the UAE to work. So to avoid that feeling, I always end up deciding not to go home.

It is not so bad really.

I mean, the malls now have Christmas trees, Santa Claus (even the elves!) and the whole shebang. I guess this is a way to thank the expatriates who have made their country where it is now. A nice gesture indeed... I am not sure if they were the first Gulf country to do it but to welcome other people's beliefs and traditions (especially) can be a big step.

The government and the leaders in this country are trying to make the tourists including the expatriates feel 'at home'. Indeed, for some (like me), the UAE has become our second home - a country hopeful that big things come in small packages :)

Merry Christmas everybody!!

What the NBI can learn from watching CSI TV Shows

This week have been mixed emotions for the people in the Philippines who have supported either the Webbs or the Vizcondes. 

Last Tuesday, Hubert Webb and 6 others were acquitted for the murder of the Vizconde family. I first saw the breaking news in my Twitter account and had to stop for a while. The news actually brought chills in me. 

This murder trial has caused a lot of anguish to all the parties involved. 

Hubert Webb, Antonio “Tony Boy” Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada and Pyke Fernandez were robbed of the chance to chase their dreams. They were just starting to get to know the real world when they have been convicted. 

The families of the accused, most especially the parents, were shattered because instead of seeing their sons climb the corporate ladder or serve the people, they have to endure the visiting hours in prison so they can get a glimpse of them, talk to them and hold them. 

For Mr. Lauro Vizconde who lost his chance to see his daughters earn their degree, get married and have kids. To hold his wife for the longest time and spend the rest of their lives together. 

With the latest development on the case, the accused were freed. Tears were exchanged - some because of bitterness on the way things have turned out and for others, joy because for the first time in 10 years, they will get to spend Christmas and New Year with their family member. 

***

I feel sorry for Mr. Vizconde because probably as he was picking up the pieces again in his life with the support of his extended family and then someone suddenly breaks the pieced mirror when he learned that the accused are now free men and him? Still without a family. 

***

According to reports, since the evidence is already tampered and the star witness has gone hiding, chances on retrieving information that could lead to the real killers will be futile. I really hope that the NBI tries to at least get some ideas on how the CSI tv shows do their crime lab investigation. True enough, we do not have the equipment because probably, we do not have the budget but that is no excuse. We should at least try and be at par with investigative equipment that can aid us in solving a crime. 

In Philstar's news report, Vizconde suspects can still be charged in 6 months however once the case reached its 20th year, reopening of the case cannot be done as per the law.  

*** 

For Hubert and the rest of the 6 acquitted, I hope that they will be able to return to their normal life or at least adapt to our fast-paced world. 

A lot of things have changed. 

Internet was not a popular commodity during that time and so is the iPad and the rest of the Apple family. 

***

I just cannot believe!

How busy I was?

I have not updated my blog for the longest time! Imagine about two holidays have already passed and I still have the Eid Mubarak post as my welcome blog! Eeekkk!!

A lot of things have happened over the past few months.

• The Blackberry RIM service was not suspended which was a relief to all BB users
• The iPhone 4 was a hit when it was launched with Etisalat and Du going gaga over the sales (which eventually led to the acceptable price of the gadget... hint: some retailers would really go out of their way to mark the price up for almost 100%)
• Seeing that the Blackberry is still in demand through the young and old alike, Etisalat has made a special offer for their BB-wannabes. More selling happened. 
• Eid Al Adha was a hit. A lot of people were so happy that it fell on a weekend. 
• Because of the much-needed break provided during Eid Al Adha, people forgot that there was still another reason to celebrate - Islamic New Year. Another nice long weekend happening here in the UAE though not everybody was given the opportunity to do so but a break is always welcomed.

On other news...

• The Philippines have been busy pestering the President with his love life that he is now love-less (Thanks to the Press)
• James Yap and Kris Aquino are now friends
• The Morong 43 are now freed (as per the president but then again, the judge handling the case has the final say)
• Wikileaks founder is now in Europe waiting... because they do not know what to charge him but as per the latest update there was a sexual case against the Wikileaks founder
• The unexpected engagement between Kate Middleton and Prince William
• More news about what Kate will wear on the wedding

I don't think I have covered it all but I am pretty sure I was able to highlight the important stuff that has happened over the past months (I still cannot believe I have not blogged - what happen to me?!)

from http://www.sgfl.org.uk/englishandliteracy/primary/guidedwriting

Eid Mubarak to you all!!