Living in the City

Earn 10% on Amazon Kindle Referrals - Including $39.99 on the Device Dear Amazon Associate: The Associates program is excited to announce that Associates can now earn 10% in referral fees on the Amazon Kindle wireless reading device and Kindle Edition books. What is Amazon Kindle? Amazon Kindle ( http://amazon.com/kindle ) is a revolutionary portable reader that wirelessly downloads books, newspapers, magazines and blogs to a crisp, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight. Kindle customers, no matter where they are in the U.S., can wirelessly shop the Kindle Store and download new content — all without a PC or a WiFi hot spot. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so there are no monthly wireless bills and no service commitments for customers. The Kindle Store contains over 90,000 books that can be purchased and delivered wirelessly to Kindle, each in less than a minute. Customers can choose from hundreds ...

I read Moonshadow's blog. Perhaps, we can help find Carol. Below, I am quoting Moonshadow's appeal to those living in Tucson, Arizona. In any case please find Carol's photo here . "This is my sister Carol, she lives in Tucson, AZ. Or at least she did the last time I talked to her. Over the years she's had some rough breaks, made some wrong turns taking her down some dark roads. But a couple of years ago she started turning that all around and was starting to get her head above water where she could breath again. I think all the oxygen might have been making her a little light headed.Then a few months ago in the midst of a new stressful job, the lady she was working for blew smoke in her face. I won't go into the details but sis couldn't remain at the job under the circumstances. I'm not real sure what all happened after that because her phone wasn't working right and she's never been the best about keeping touch. The apartment she was staying...

Does this image look like we have started earning from our blogs? I have added a couple of monetizing tools in my blogs. I just wanted to see how it goes. Is it true that you can earn some cash? How far can anyone go? Here's the story. Last September, I got some codes from auction ads, placed it on two or three of my sidebar panels. The first day was great. I saw the ads displayed. The next day, when I checked, the ads were gone. Greenhorn as I am in this blogging thing, I thought WTF happened? You see, I am seldom profane :-( Hello. Anybody home? Little did I know that I am not really supposed to see these ads. DUH! Next thing I knew, I had removed the codes. That was early September. Without any reason, I checked my account from auction ads last week. Surprise!!! My account said I had US$25. It was paid for the number of blog page impressions. :-) Bigggg Grinnn :) Lesson I learned. IT WORKS!!! Need I say more? Try AuctionAds

My radical gave this blog a very, very encouraging review. Which makes me want to do better. I am like a child getting a present, in case you didn't notice :-) Here's the review: This is a nice clean well laid out blog about the life and times of a Filipino woman (I may wrong - correct me if I am). The articles are well written with plenty of photos and graphics. The side bar is fairly full but well spaced out - I have mentioned in another review about centering the widgets in the side bar - this can often be done by simply entering the command prior to the widget or buttons script - you may also need the tag after the script. I like the clean uncluttered look of this blog. The articles are interesting and the graphics generally well placed. There are a couple of photos that have no white space between the picture and the text - depending on how the graphics have been inserted you can use CSS to place graphics or use HTML (the HTML code has been deprecated but is still functi...

I found this website which enumerates the Top 150 media and marketing blogs. I didn't have enough time to visit all 150 sites for lack of time. But I sure am glad that on the number 1 slot is copy blogger which is 1 of only two feeds I subscribe through my email. The other one is a Filipino compatriot, a lawyer turned professional blogger pinoycook. I only had time to list the top 15: 1. copyblogger 2. seth's blog 3. online marketing blog 4. shoe money 5. micro persuasion 6. search engine land 7. search engine watch 8. pronet advertising 9. marketing pilgrim 10.adverblog 11.adrants 12.duct tape marketing 13.Seo moz blog 14.search engine journal 15.psfk Also from the same site I found this link which enumerates its top 100 blogs based on unique links. (for the last 6 months). Again, I only had time to list the top 15. 1. engadget 2. gizmodo, the gadget guide 3. techcrunch 4. boing boing 5. huffington post 6. lifehacker 7. ars technica 8. wordpress.org 9. mashable, the social ne...

From: http://www.strategyanalytics.net "With processing technology becoming smaller, faster and cheaper, it is now possible to embed tiny computer chips into the most ordinary objects, providing these objects with the ability to sense their environments, to process information, to initiate action, and to communicate with other devices. Data interpretation, pattern recognition and reasoning technologies need to be used correctly, in order for these objects to behave intelligently. Embedded in the software and hardware design of network-enabled devices and Web-based services, this intelligence is becoming the key competitive differentiator for future products and services. As devices become smarter, and as services delivered become more personalized, the interconnected nature of large numbers of disparate computing and consumer devices within environments that are themselves learning about us, has created a notion of pervasive intelligence. In the future, each device that a user own...

How can scrap metal take over a city? Read this I am a proud resident of Marikina. Every year I enthusiastically wait for the celebration of Christmas in this city known for its warmth and courteous people. Marikeno's will celebrate the Yuletide season this year with gigantic robots dressed up with Santa's cap and adorned with colorful Christmas trimmings and buntings. The robots are scattered all around the city and some proudly displayed at the City Hall. Residents are having a grand time taking pictures of their children with the Christmas robots. Why the techno theme? From what I heard, Marikina City keeps a lot of old and unusable metal scrap and plastic discards in its warehouses. This year, instead of spending money to buy Christmas decor to adorn the city, officials decided to build Gundam like robot figures. Towering from one foot to 10 feet high the gigantic scrap metal figures were assembled to signify and cheer the Christmas holidays. Truly a unique idea, Marikin...

No dice as they say. I am not sure if announcing that I put up an amazon store through an earlier post was the reason why it was taken out of my blog. Deciding to try adsense early this week I got excited when the ads came out. But for a few hours :-( I guess. Because when I got back, nada - it's gone. Now I am in a dilemma. Was there something about their 'rules' I didn't understand or missed out or perhaps failed to understand? The terms of use were not exactly brief and uncomplicated in my opinion. It wasn't fine printed or anything but does anyone really read these things in its entirety. I wonder. Here I am looking for some cash. Just for the heck of it really. But hey, if things turn out alright, why not? I'd feel accomplished? Is that the right term? For the record, I have earned 35 cents since Monday :-) Like a child getting her first toy it was pure pleasure. Felt like I won big bucks. It's not the money, you see. I am not sure if I am making sense...

Something to ponder on today... I saw this blog. And I liked the message. Commenting I said: Hi there, Be truthful no matter how painful it could get. That is the ideal. But how many of us practice this? People in government particularly. Politicians who have the gall to twist the truth at every instance and still manage to look you straight in the eye. Ahhh, "honesty is hardly ever heard", goes the song... Nevertheless, I wish everyone honesty in their seemingly, ordinary daily lives. The author's response was: Thank you for your comment, lotusflower. Honesty may be a rarity in our world of smoke and mirrors, but I'm glad it struck a chord with you. Dishonesty stems from believing that a lie will impress others or bring unearned value, but for the most part a fraudulent person is finally trapped in his own dung. Personally, I like to sleep well each night knowing that the way I conduct myself each day is built on integrity and service. Mayb...

Cartoon by Dave Walker . Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons . Cheers!

I just did this early tonight, took a screenshot of my Amazon Store, cut and pasted it on my sidebar according to instructions. But alas, no amazon store in sight. Sigh. Well, I just need to be patient. It's like waiting for my chicken to hatch its first chick. Amazon has gotten me excited. My ice breaker, so to speak. Anything, as long as I sell something from the store. I am starting with books.

I got into this new blogging community. Well, to increase my online visibility, that's why. Initially, blogging was a means to drown my on and off depression. It kept me busy and productive in a way and I am succeeding I suppose. My new shot of adrenaline urges me to take it to the next level. Meaning - on a permanent basis, if things go well. The 'next level' means to make something out my blog/s. How on earth I'd accomplish that is another story. But that's my plan. For starters, I am trying to change the look of my blog. At the moment I could not afford to ask a professional to change my blog's design. To improve it aesthetically, you see. I am on my way. The sooner the better. Once I get something going, I promise I will give Ibanag In the City a blog makeover. Also as part of the change, I removed the widgets of unproductive communities (in terms of increasing my blog's audience or readers). I know content has also something to do with that and ...

Yes! Tonight at 10:54 P.M. local time, my amazon store is finally out here in my blog. Oh, wow. I am so excited. I think, finally I am going to start earning some moolah :-) So to all my blog catalog, my weblog, spicy, blogcave acquaintances and friends, please check it out. I am sure you will find something useful that you like. Enough to take out your credit cards and make the purchase NOW! Oh my God what happened? I edited the width and the height of the amazon widget and now it's missing again. Aarrgghh.. Sigh. But hey, Cheers!

I stumbled upon this web campaign here . After browsing through the site I thought what a great idea, something worth supporting - all the way. My take: 1. Filipinas are more than just mail-order brides. We are great wives to our husbands, mothers to our children, daughters to our parents, sisters to our siblings, girlfriends to our boyfriends, confidantes to our friends. 2. Filipinas are not only good domestic helpers. We are competent accountants, teachers, writers, lawyers, media practitioners, office workers, salespersons, factory workers, market vendors. 3. Filipinas are not only great caregivers but we are also terrific nurses, doctors, medical professionals, social workers, etc. 4. Filipinas are also capable call center workers, baristas, cooks, chefs, sometimes working and grinding the graveyard shift. 5. Filipinas also include self sacrificing OFW's and 'japayukis', striving overseas-based singers and band artists, fashion industry workers, ect. I believe all t...

Our local broadsheet yesterday reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging our government to "raise the excise tax on cigarettes, saying" our "measly tax was not helping the cause of fighting tobacco related diseases". Yes! Yes! Yes! According to the report our cigarette taxes are small compared to: Singapore - US$192.56 per 1,000 sticks Brunei - US$39.30 per 1,000 sticks Malaysia - US$23.29 per 1,000 sticks Philippines - US$2.42 up to 29.28 per 1,000 sticks More taxes, ergo more expensive cigarettes. Hopefully, less smokers. The real benefit from this move if ever, are the more substantive ones -- health. It far outweighs the hope that additional taxes from this industry will help boost our economy further. Sigh. But I am sure lobbyists are busy doing their thing again. Another sigh :-( But then again. Cheers!

This is long overdue. And I need to do this now. Megha meme-d me. I think to do this, I am supposed to enumerate 7 things you don't know about me and then tag 7 individuals to ask them to do the same. It's one way of promoting our blogs! I think this is my simplistic definition of the meme. So here goes: Seven (7) Things You Don't Know About Me 1. I used to consult my horoscope everyday. Yes, from the newspapers. At that time, my horoscope defined what happen with my day. Funny huh? 2. I used to work in the IT industry. Eight years were spent for a computer software company, largely selling software for IBM's big mainframe boxes. 3. A U.S company with regional office in Singapore, gave me an opportunity of a lifetime in 1992. They asked me to be their partner in selling software research services here in my country. And I did that for them for more than 5 years. 4. I had my first baby when I was 23 years old. As a mommy newbie I had a doubly difficult time because my...

Have you seen this ? She's a granny from Spain and Wow way to go!!! Cheers!

My one random act of peace - instead of confronting my youngest son on a seemingly overt aggressive behavior towards me last night, I coolly asked him if he had a bad day at work. He positively indicated that yes, it was another bad day in the office. Result: No arguments ensued :-) Now, it's your turn. Tell us if you had ONE today. Cheers!

I started a group at my spicy page called Spicy bloggers for peace. I have been thinking about these for weeks now and finally it is here. I initiated a group within Spicy to enlist fellow bloggers who would like to share their idea about promoting peace and harmony -- that is around the internet or perhaps in the real world. I call it 'random acts of peace'. Nothing fancy, nothing spectacular. Acts we consciously or unknowingly fail to do or, do, that promote better understanding and harmony, discourage discord, or help foster peace. Between us and our friends, neighbors, co-workers, business partners/acquaintances, family members, or wherever there is human contact or interaction. I hope to replicate this project in the other communities where I am also a member like Blog Catalog, My Bloglog, Blog Cave, Fuel My Blog?, Blogging to Fame, Others Online?(Their widget is missing from my blog today). I also intend to publish it online(with proper citation of course to the c...

Been there. Done that. What about you? Milk the unmilkable. Believe the unbelievable. Breathe the unbreathable. Refute the irrefutable. Regret the unregretable. Defend the indefensible. Alter the unalterable. Mark the unremarkable. Think the unthinkable. Read the unreadable. Fathom the unfathomable. Wash the unwashable. Market the unmarketable. Conquer the unconquerable. Work the unworkable. Write the unwritable. Right the unrightable. Like the unlikable. Agree with the disagreeable. Pity the pitiful. Abhor the horrible. Mind the unmindful. Love the unlovable. Forgive the unforgivable.

I am thinking of terminating my membership from this community because I don't think there's a benefit for me. And I guess they are not gaining anything from me neither :-( For one, I haven't met anyone through them. Pity me. No one's been interested in stopping by my blog/s here. Maybe we're incompatible :-( Sigh...

This policy is valid from 05 March 2008 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question....

My plan is to get screen shots of my favorite blogs and post each one of them into my own. Doing this out of my own effort makes me feel better. The will reinforces the action you see, so I do not forget. As I noted before, great design from a Filipino. Cheers!

I decided to add a new dimension to my blog title -- and that is to specifically mention the city where I live. Introducing, tadah Marikina City. I am so proud I live here, a place where citizens are of "mabubuting ugali". Translation, majority of people who live here are of good manners and good conduct. Yah! I think I got that right. And today I was screen shooting lots of things. My blog catalog, weblog, spicy, even my google page searches. Tinkering, tinkering. I was also just curious how people will find my blogs if they use google. And the screen shot here shows me how :-) I don't really know why I am smiling. Maybe I am amused?

This is how my spicy page looks. It was the first community I joined ever. And was I thankful. Somehow, after joining this community I started to get the 'hang of it', meaning blogging :-) Thanks Spicy.

There's a long stretch of holiday towards All Saints Day here in the Philippines. Ours is not much of a 'halloweeny' Halloween much like in the United States. People here spend their Halloween time mostly in memorial parks, cemeteries and columbariums. Local folks look forward to All Saints Day because it serves as day for reunions, where families gather together, eat and yes do some reflecting:-) At the memorial parks, they camp out, bring food and other goodies, sing sometimes -- feels like a fiesta. Catholic church authorities called on the faithful to tone down the festive mood. Instead, concentrate on remembering the dead. Minimize the party-like atmosphere to give way to a more appropriate subdued remembrance of the dearly departed. I am not sure if anyone heeded this call. For our family, it has been customary that an hour before midnight we light up white candles at our doorsteps. After that, we offer a little prayer for relatives who had passed on to the next life...