The Year That Was...2009: Hello 2010!

Time flies. I remember how everything just blew down on us like a whirlwind from the recession to the bailouts, from war and still more war, from ponzi schemes to the unbearable market losses, from the enormous unemployment rate to still a staggeringly high number of people still unemployed, 2009, came and stayed like a dark cloud without any silver lining.

A lot of people in the U.S. are still finding answers. A lot of people around the globe are still groping in the dark. Suffering and war have not eased up a bit. Chaos and indifference still loom everywhere. Add to that the ever growing fear of a catastrophic pig flu outbreak, and this world seemed like a sad place to be in.

Horrid as it is, media and the authorities tried their best to project a less daunting future for all of us, as if everything is under control and things will get better soon.

I don’t see anything promising at all for the near future. The war will remain. More war will brew in places unheard of. The global community will still be suffering and none of these scientific breakthroughs can even secure our future and assure us that a global pandemic resulting from new virus strains will always be preventable.

Global warming has supposedly showed it signs, when icebergs melted and were transported to warm waters near the Australian region. A global summit was called to protect the environment and ease the effects of global warming, yet, the people who were there couldn’t even agree on how to fairly distribute the global budget amongst participating nations.

Sometimes, it’s easier to think that this world is without hope. It’s more comforting to think that the end is near. Then you can rest on your laurels and say that the apocalypse is here. Let us just enjoy life, have fun, and not even try to correct what is wrong. We can also redirect all our energies, thinking that the end is near, to salvaging humankind by doing good for a Godly purpose.

It is exasperating to really try to grasp everything that’s happening around us. Will there be hope for our children and our children’s children? Will there be a world for them to enjoy and cherish?

I guess the answer to that is as black as night. None of us know what the future holds. We can only surmise that our best efforts addressed at making this world a better place will hold up and offer some hope for a savable future.

In a sense, we are all a contributor to whatever happens ahead. Every little thing adds up, thus, we should all be aware of the choices we make now.

Let us all look back, assess our course. Have we steered clear on our paths? Were there any major blunders that we could have prevented? Is there still time to correct the wrongs we’ve done?

Whatever this year has marked in our lives, 2009 won’t stay that long. The New Year 2010 is here. Let us embrace the New Year with an enthused spirit, a renewed courage, an enlightened faith and an unwavering resolve that whatever this year offers we will survive it with an unflinching spirit.

Happy 2010!

The Filipino Nation: In the Face of Tragedy

Typhoon ‘Ondoy’ struck the northern part of the Philippines and flooded most of the Metro Manila areas. Rainfall that didn’t fall for six months poured in just a matter of six hours causing loss of lives and devastation in the hard hit areas.

The initial death toll was at 73, and still rising as more and more bodies are pulled out from flooded regions. There’s countless number of victims who are still missing; and displaced families ran in thousands.

Is the country and its disaster preparedness agency ready enough to tackle the huge task of helping all who are directly affected by the tragedy? It might have been too much but the president promised that ‘it didn’t break’ the resolve of the nation.

It’s too early to tell because as I write this blog there’s a good portion of the region that is still under water and has no electricity and probably has no water resource safe enough for human consumption.

This is not the first time that heavy torrential rains brought about by a typhoon has drenched the countryside and flooded the region. In fact the number of casualties doesn’t even come as a surprise at all. Landslides and flooding have already claimed a many lives in the past.

In all these, the Filipino nation of course is uniting to help out those who are in dire need. Overseas workers are even extending support thru a relief drive. The global community is also helping through the Red Cross.

Was there anything that could have been done to lessen the damage of this recent disaster? Who knows? I’m sure the poorest of the poor who are probably among the casualties would have no choice but to live in uninhabitable areas, building shanties made of cardboard boxes, a makeshift of a floating abode with a luxurious view of the bay, yet was in all sense is and was a tragedy waiting to happen.

It was not uncommon to build a tent on top of a slightly covered sewer system and call it home. And when the downpour ravaged the land, these people had nowhere to run to seek refuge or at least stay out of harm’s way as the threat of the typhoon looms.

That’s the biggest tragedy! These people would have easily awashed with just the rising of the tide because they were in a place where they weren’t supposed to be.

Time and time again, tragedies have occurred in this poverty-stricken country and it’s always the poor who suffered. Did the leaders learn their lesson?

I doubt it. This is not the first time that the nation is bruised and left helpless with a tragic event, and certainly, this will not be the last. The country’s leaders need to be proactive to the obvious need of the poor, if things have to change. Until then, I, being a Filipino feel that I can only watch in horror as tragic events like this unfold.

On the lighter side, I believe that pain and suffering are the common strands that bind all of humanity. We all at some point in our lifetime have to deal with pain and suffering.

Pain and suffering makes us more humane every time, if only we see the silver lining.

For anyone who wishes to help, you can contact the International Red Cross hotline.

A Great Political Icon: Corazon C. Aquino (1933-2009)

The Filipino nation is mourning today the loss of a great leader and a beloved past Philippine president ‘Cory Aquino’. Cory died at 3:18 a.m. on August 1, 2009 (Philippine time) after she was diagnosed with colon cancer over a year ago.

Cory Aquino is notably remembered for changing the face of Philippine politics after ousting a former dictator-president Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 through a people’s revolt on the streets. She then became the first lady president of the Philippines.

She was an intelligent, courageous and a morally-conscious leader who openly waged a war against the ugliness that hounds the face of Philippine politics. After her reign as president, she continued to be an ambassadress for the masses.

The Filipino nation owe her a lot for all the lessons she has imparted being a true Filipino in spirit, defending and fighting for the cause of democracy and together with her husband, Ninoy Aquino, gave so much to us all--the Filipino nation.

She is a great hero, and she will be remembered as one.

The Monkey and the Turtle

Pay attention closely to this story. It may reflect something about how you take opportunities in life. The original author of this story is Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines.

Two friends, a monkey and a turtle decided to go strolling one day. As they were strolling around, they saw a banana tree filled with luscious ripe banana fruits. They were trying to figure out what to do with their find, and since the two were good friends they decided to divide the tree into two parts and each one will go home with his share.

The monkey then suggested to the turtle that they cut the tree into two halves—the top half and the lower half. The monkey opted to take the top half of the tree already sprouting with its harvest of ripe banana fruits. Meanwhile, the more laidback turtle agreed to take the bottom part that has the roots.

The monkey was doubly jovial about the fact that he has fruits that he can eat right away plus he gets a chance of getting more once he planted the tree, not realizing that without the roots the tree won’t grow.

They both went home happy and then planted their respective tree halves on the ground. They were both eager to see their plants grow. After a few days, the monkey’s tree died while the tree that the turtle planted grew and bloomed into a full fruit-bearing tree.

The Lesson:

Every once in a while life presents us with opportunities to make our lives better. Most of us though, choose ‘instant gratification’, thus, blinding us to the real value of the opportunity before our eyes. In the end, all we can do is sigh and wished we chose differently.

In most cases, good things come to those who wait.

I Beg To Differ:

If good things come to those who wait, what about those who die in the process of waiting?

Pacquiao vs. Hatton: KO at 2:59 of Round 2

Tonight’s boxing match between two great fighters in the boxing arena was sweet and short.

Like he normally does, Pacquiao was brilliant in his boxing techniques that led to a premature end of a match that was slated to go for twelve rounds. For all Hatton fanatics, it was a surprising and disappointing end after Pacquiao brutally pounded Hatton with his left and right hooks, at lightning-fast speed.

I have watched the pre-fight documentary, Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 which highlighted both fighters’ unique journey to prepare for tonight’s match. It was entertaining to listen to the exchange of words between two camps. It was obvious, that there was intent to psyche out each other. Hatton’s camp in fact claimed a sure win over Pacquiao, made visibly clear by Mayweather Sr.’s remarks. He was very dramatic over the certainty of their victory that he even made poetic rhymes to mock Pacquiao’s camp.

On the other hand, Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer knew better. He casually brushed aside the remarks by saying, “I have the best fighter.”

I couldn’t agree more. Pacquiao is the best pound for pound boxer not only in this era but probably throughout the history of boxing. Pacquiao from six years ago has annihilated boxing’s notable names: Barrera, Marquez, Morales, de la Hoya one by one.

Tonight’s performance by Pacquiao surely shut out doubts about how far Manny Pacquiao can go as a boxer. Pacquiao has evolved from a regular boxer-puncher to one who knows priceless techniques inside the ring, studying his opponent quite artistically as he throws his quick damaging punches.

I could go on and talk about how great Manny Pacquiao is as a boxer, but I wouldn’t even go there. The boxing match tonight said it all.

I am amused though, at hindsight, remembering Hatton’s trainer’s comments.

Talk is cheap. And for some, they can talk the talk, but can’t quite walk the walk.

What matters inside the ring is performance and results. Pacquiao delivered what was expected of him and more.

It couldn’t get any better than that.

Signs That Your Geek Meter Is Dangerously High

1. You are convinced that Bamboo, Apple & Blackberry don't come with leaves or stems.

2. You know that Iliad and Kindle are synonymous words.

3.You incorporate 'backup and recovery' as part of your daily chore.

4. You are so wired, you'd pass for a terrorist at security check points.

5. You are so unwired, you utilize HSDPA, 3G, UMA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and wait...what happened to infrared technology?

6. You read e-books on e-paper that uses e-ink. You even shop at e-book mall.

7. You are an advocate for paperless statements and electronic notifications.

8. You have subscribed to at least three of these: ITunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Dada, E-music & Grooveshark.

9. Your media player, weirdly is not the one provided by any of the above; instead you have the best media player there is...MediaMonkey.

10. Your main hobbies include 'coding' and 'troubleshooting'.

11. Your mobile apps include Yahoo Go, Avantgo, Wattpad, Nutsie and every free apps for the iPhone and for the G1 Android system.

12. You know that del.icio.us is delicious, indeed!

13. Your most valued asset is a list of the top 100 free resource online, be it books, music, software, tutorials...and you choose not to share it.

Francis M: Farewell

I recently learned that Francis Magalona recently passed away on March 6, 2009 due to complications of leukemia at the young age of 44. He is survived by his wife and eight children who surprisingly remained strong amid the great loss.

What can I say? Francis M. was an icon in the Filipino entertainment arena. His one famous rap song “Mga Kababayan Ko” left an indelible imprint in our memories after it has topped the music charts during the rap-song music era.

I really haven’t followed much of his recent music contributions, but I would just like to say that Francis M. was a great talent who carries himself with pizzazz and a sense of class.

Unlike other artists out there, he stands out because he is not only talented but he is also obviously intelligent. His persona always commands some serious respect. Don’t get me wrong though. He was a guy who loves to have fun and have a good laugh. In fact he was a regular at a noontime show “Eat Bulaga” for a long time.

He died at a young age, but from all he’s done, it would be fair to say that he has lived his life’s worth by doing what he enjoyed doing and imparting and sharing his talent to the Filipino nation.

If there’s any consolation in all of this, his life was a life lived with enthusiasm, talent, and enormous zest for life and humanity.

His songs and his legacy will be remembered in our hearts for a long time.

Lie To Me: My New TV Show Fave

I am recently glued to a new TV series entitled 'Lie To Me' starring Tim Roth as the lead character.

What I like about this show is, it is interesting and it offers the viewers some lessons in reading facial expressions and involuntary triggers from somebody's face to depict emotions of shame, fear, contempt, disgust, anger, pain, disbelief and many more.

Just having Tim Roth on the show is awesome and him being able to play a character who has an amazing skill of reading facial expressions is remarkable.

I am enjoying this show. Definitely.

And even if the show specifically warns the audience that it is a work of fiction, the show for some reason feels so real because of the profound subject--human emotions--as its core theme. Plus, showing clips of famous personalities and even dignitaries depicting the same emotion is really a good selling point to the audience as well.

If you haven't seen it, try watching it. Just be forewarned. You might be glued to this TV show, too.

American Idol: Top 13?

It is definitely a welcomed move. I would rather be entertained by thirteen great singers than a mere twelve great ones.

On the other hand, not one contestant has really separated himself or herself from the bunch by standing out with his/her performance. It's too early to tell, but just basing on the vocals, it is really not that promising.

Tatiana which could have been a good addition to the show for some drama, didn't make it and it is a little disappointing since she definitely can sing. But I agree with Simon. If she sang the same song three times already, what is she trying to say? I mean if you truly have the talent why not seize the moment and prove to the judges after you are given another opportunity to prove your worth, that indeed you deserve a spot in the top 13.

Tatiana! Girl, what were you thinking?

Yoga And Meditation: Essential Life Tool?

I am reminded that I just recently enrolled in yoga and meditation, and with which I have no prior experience or exposure to.

What is my goal?

My main goal is to be able to delimit the effects of today's stress using breathing exercises and control of the mind. Accordingly, it is said that if we are able to master this art then we can tap into a vast source of potential energy which could have positive effects on our lives.

I managed to gather some information which I am happy to share to anyone who maybe looking into practicing yoga and meditation.

What is yoga?

Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word "yug" which means "unity" or "oneness" and basically refers to the union of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.

The many benefits of Yoga include:

• relaxing the mind and body
  
• stretching and toning
  
• improving the body's flexibility
  
• helping breathing disorders
  
• improving heart conditions
  
• strengthening the spine
  
• easing back pain
  
• relieving stress or tiredness
  

. . . and more

What is meditation?

It is the mastery of controlling the mind. It is the perfect tool for developing positive emotional health and the key to success in life. The way to achieving this is through perfecting the ability to discipline and refine the mind, body and breath using psycho-physiological tools.

The many benefits of meditation include:

• calming the mind
  
• giving a sense of purpose
  
• balancing the left and right hemispheres of the brain
  
• giving perspective and clarity
  
• promoting confidence
  
• soothing the nervous system
  
• improving the memory
  
• improving the body's energy levels
  

This is a very interesting endeavor for me and I am hoping to enjoy the positive effects of this practice in my life.

In this chaotic world, it is essential for us to find a way to channel our negative emotions and mental stress so that we may be able to find a peaceful place within ourselves.

If yoga and meditation will help, then I'm up for it. How about you?

My Take On American Idol Judges: Does It Matter?

After about three good weeks of performance by the top thirty-six contestants, American Idol remained to be truly unpredictable, engaging, brilliant and entertaining by far compared to other TV reality shows.

What I like most about the show aside from seeing raw talent is Simon's ever accurate assessment of every performance. For someone who doesn't really sing, Cowell is unbelievably right on the money every time.

His comments are always painfully necessary to provide a dose of reality check to American Idol wannabes. Less of what Simon does now would be unforgivable. In all honesty, Simon is the one who is able to carry the show with his often brutally jaw-dropping comments to the contestants.

Randy is getting better at it, too. He is able now to say more sensible and truly honest weigh-in on every contestant's performance.

Kara? Cara? She is good as well. She is getting there but sometimes her tempo is off-beat with the other judges' comments. What I notice with her comments is her immediate foresight on how commercially viable a contestant is. This sometimes blinds her of how much talent is laid out on the table compared to the X-factor or the 'it' quality.

Was it necessary to have a fourth judge this year? I don't think it is necessary but a change of pace is always refreshing.

As with Paula, she is there for a reason. She is always the strong pillar upon which every badly shaken contestant can lean on after hearing the other three judges' harsh criticisms. She is the emotional, caring and appreciative aura needed to counter all the brutal energies exchanged after a lousy performance.

Always, Paula's presence is needed to soften each hard blow which some contestants aren't totally prepared for at times.

With the vibe and the atmosphere that the four judges provide now, American Idol has become ever more colorful. A great deal of compliments should go to Ryan Seacrest as well for being great at what he does--hosting.

I'm never short of wonderful expectations for this season's American Idol.

It's always a pleasure to watch this show.

For These Desperate Times: A Few Measures You Could Take

On spending:

1. Use coupons when you shop.

2. Never pay full price for an item.

3. Always prepare a list of things you need to buy before going shopping.

4. Go for what's on sale. Be ready to try other brands.

5. Stay away from mail-in ads and mail-in shopping mags.

On saving:

1. Live below your means.

2. Save at least 20% of your pre-tax earnings.

3. Limit use of credit cards and if you have to, always pay the full amount due each month.

4. Go on a budget and stick to it.

5. Shop less often; shop in bulk.

Earn a little extra on the side:

1. Get a little extra hour of job at snagajob.com.

2. You probably have some stuff you can sell at online sites like amazon.com, ebay.com, etsy.com, half.com.

3. Consider getting a home-based job or business that will cut costs.

4. Ever heard about dropshipping? If you like to do online business without the inventory, this may be a business for you.

5. Are you an authority on a subject? There's a lot of opportunities online, e.g., blogging that may give you a few bucks each month.

Meanwhile the other worthwhile things you can do:

1. Perform CPE (Continuing Professional Education) or get an A+ Certification. There's an ample resource of free study materials online that can help elevate your career.

2. Take care of your health by exercising and dieting. You'll save on medical bills.

3. Support a cause or volunteer for a group. Check out dosomething.org or freerice.org.

4. Spend more time bonding with the family. We could all use a good circle of support in these stressful times.

5. Enjoy the free things in life. Go back to nature and the bounty it offers.

Medical Prognosis...If You're A Pinoy Like Me!

antibody -- you're definitely against everyone

artery -- it is a structured study of fine paintings

benign -- this is what you become after you be eight

bowel -- includes and is limited to the letters A, E, I, O, U

Caesarean section -- a prominent region in Rome

cardiac arrest -- when you are caught stealing someone else's car

cardiology -- an in-depth study of the game of poker playing

critical but stable condition -- when you run out of allowance but you still have enough load in your cell phone for text messaging

critical mass -- the service that politicians attend prior to election day

CT Scan -- something that you do if your cat goes missing

dialysis -- an automated telemarketing strategy

DOA (dead on arrival) -- the state of your electronic gadget upon receipt when you get it from an online thrift store

dilate -- the ability to live longer

enema -- referring to someone who is not your friend

genes -- usually comes in pairs of blue denim

hemorrhagic pancreatitis -- a more sophisticated way of saying 'bangungot'

hemorrhoid -- nasty being from outer space

impotent -- means that you are distinguished

labor pain -- refers to all your work-related stress

lobotomy -- a very unimpressive way of referring to a medical procedure involving the brain; 'lobot' in my dialect actually means 'ass'

organ transplant -- a strategic relocation of your piano

paralyze -- coincidental lies

pathological -- having to do with the paths you take from home to work and vice versa

protein -- when you are in favor of the younger generation

red blood count -- typical if you are one of the descendants of Count Dracula

secretion -- the art of hiding secrets

terminal illness -- a sickness you acquire in one of these locations: airports, pier, train station

tumor -- when you need an extra pair

vital signs -- critical clues to how much your medical bill is gonna be

Spirited Discussion: Decluttering Your Life

Creating a space inside your home could be a daunting task especially if you are the incurable collector of anything and everything under the sun.

But if you ponder on these tips, you might be able to de-clutter your home as well as your life.

1. Get a hold of yourself.

Ask yourself, "Why the clutter?" when the obvious is that if you are organized you'll have more time to enjoy the other things in life. Battle it out with the inner packrat inside of you.

2. Now is the time.

Acknowledge that there will be a hundred tomorrows to come but if you keep on procrastinating, you may end up overwhelmed with the magnitude of the task that you are going to do and you'll end up not doing it, at all. Besides, after time has elapsed, you would have collected more clutter overtime.

3. More means less.

I'll give you a very concrete example. I have two iPods, five cell phones and let us just say about eight hundred other stuff and gadgets (computer stuff, wires, connectors, drives, back-up devices, network adapters and about every utility to enhance my computing life.) What's the real score? I spend more time figuring things out--i.e. troubleshooting (guess this is a better terminology), than actually enjoying the functionality of every device.

4. Less is always more.

Imagine a simple room with just the very basic purposeful amenities inside it. You'll see the actual room layout; appreciate the clean lines; see more of the subtle hues. You'll actually find yourself spending more time in that room, with pleasure and relaxation.

5. Make room for new things.

Out with the old! I always tell my siblings the same thing. Get rid of your old stuff so that you will invite new things to come in. I always tell them jokingly, "If you give away your cell phone, I might be tempted to give to you my smartphone."

If this is a little hard to practice, you can do it the other way. When you get something new, get rid of the old so that you don't accumulate unnecessary, out-of-style, outdated stuff that will eventually pile up as junk.

6. Segregate, now!

--Trash

--To-Go

--Treasure

See your stuff with two eyes. Ask yourself, "For here?" or "To go?". If the stuff is not good to keep 'for here' or not good enough 'to go' to other human beings, then it's trash. Yup, trash is not fit for human consumption!

7. Purging is rewarding to the soul.

Nothing is as refreshing and fulfilling as being able to cleanse your life of old unwanted stuff, be it old soiled material stuff or old nasty habits.

We all need a dose of self-cleaning on a periodic basis to loosen up some tight ends and probably overhaul some worn-out parts and oil up some rusty gears in our life. Periodic self-cleaning actually works with computers!

8. You are dust.

And to dust you shall return! If you are already accumulating too much dust now with the stuff that you have, isn't that clue enough that perhaps you are going to return to dust anytime (I hope not soon enough, knock on wood!).

It's your reality. It's my reality. A hundred years from now, we'll all sit side by side--none better than any other. Yup, you'll be dust. I'll be dust.

A single crap you have now, none you'll take. Duh?

9. Help the planet.

And when I say the planet, I mean the people in it. Do you actually know how many people sleep on the streets with no blankets, on mere cardboard boxes on a cold breezy night?

One time, at past 11 p.m. at a bar-b-q stand in Cebu, a mother was begging for food with a totally unclothed 2-year-old in her arms. The sight of it, crushed my inner being.

Meanwhile, here you were on a different corner of the planet in your warm, cozy bed covered with about fifty-two Swarovski crystal-encrusted blankets. Yup, 52 blankets! How could you?

10. Desperate measures for desperate times.

In this economy, help yourself. Love to shop? Shop in your closet, or in your drawer or in your cabinets. I'm sure you have stuff with tags still in it.

You might find something that you can sell to generate extra funds.

You might also find some old stuff that someone you know may still be able to use for free.

Pass on the savings.

11. If all else fails, reconsider tips 1 to 10!

12. You can still use tip # 11...

Safari 4.0 Beta: A New Browsing Experience

Just a few days ago, Apple launched its most recent contribution to the Internet with Safari 4.0 which is still in Beta and is available for download both for Mac and PC users.

I have to try it of course with my MacBook. I also downloaded the PC version in one of my Windows-based laptops.

This browser promises performance and convenience. I've been a fan of the tabbed browsing now available with Windows IE (the later versions). Of course, this new Internet browser provided by Apple delivers another breakthrough interface which is really appealing and functional.

What it does is it showcases an artistically presented windows that you can see all at once when you open the browser. The graphical presentation of the windows is aesthetically appealing and really convenient. It showcases at least twelve windows of the top web sites that you go to, less the guesswork. It automatically analyzes your browsing history and use that as a reference for all the windows presented for you to browse.

It's great to know that you can look onto your screen and be able right away to click on your favorite sites without opening another window or tab. You can also edit your preferences so that each window is an intelligent representation of the sites you visit often.

It's free, so if I were you, I'd be updating my browser right away and see how the software scores.

Apple really knows what it's doing. In this day and age, where time isn't a luxury anymore, useful tools to make our computing life more productive are really indispensable.

With this browser you'll be able to do more in less time. See for yourself.

Bugs? The browser itself has an easy to use icon for reporting errors.

IE? Chrome? Safari? The choice is yours!

Cool Stuff: Grooveshark Widget

I love music. Guess, all of us do.

It doesn't matter what kind of music you like, but we all can agree that music is the universal language of the heart.

Music can change your mood.

Music can inspire you.

Music can move you.

Music can connect you to your deepest core.

Music can give you that little push to do something extraordinary.

Music could be the fuel to fire up that passion inside you.

Whatever music is to you, is whatever music is to me. Hmmm...doesn't make sense at all!

Well, enjoy while you read my blogs. I have provided on the side my handpicked all-time favorite songs. Feel free to listen to them to your satisfaction.

If these choices don't really suite your rhythm, feel free to create one at grooveshark.com. Send me a link. Will ya?

Obsessed With Technology

I have brought this up in my past blogs that I am a total consumer of gadgets that can make my life convenient.

Of course, I installed a home network that allowed total wireless connectivity inside and around the house. I utilize a DSL connection, thus, speed really isn’t a factor to me anymore. Besides, I use Linksys’ Wireless-N router which provides great signal coverage within the network.

How do I use my network? First, wireless printing is really of paramount importance. I want to be able to print from any location within my home network from any attached device. My solution is simple. I got D-link's wireless print server and connected it to a Samsung CLX-3160FN color laser printer. This printer is awesome. Print quality is great. Printing speed is another bonus. And the long-term cost of printing is really very economical. Besides, this printer has multifunctions—it can be set to send fax; copy documents; scan documents in pdf or jpeg format directly to a usb removable drive; or simply print documents from any computer connected to the network. This printer literally sits and waits 24/7 to do printing jobs at my convenience. All I do, is put enough paper on the printer, and printing is done as needed. This convenience is really priceless. In my case, I don’t have to go downstairs every time I want to print something. I can just grab all the printouts at once, less the hassle.

The second most important function for my home network is my cellular phone service. Having no cell phone signal is really frustrating, but, with T-mobile’s hotspot-at-home service, I can easily use a hotspot-at-home enabled cell phone to connect to the network and be able to make calls using UMA technology—for free.

My home phone connection of course uses VOIP (voice over internet protocol) which is a cheaper service compared to regular telephone service. It is even much cheaper if the service is bundled with Internet and cable TV, and that’s what I have. It comes with a disadvantage though. When there is a power outage or let’s just say that there is no Internet signal, this phone doesn’t work at all, so it is still important to have some good communication back-up at hand—probably a push-to-talk-enabled cell phone which is already available in the market today.

To date, I am very satisfied with my service. I haven’t had any down time yet with my Internet service provider. Hopefully, I wouldn’t be calling the technical support department any time soon with regards to service issues.

The third important use for my wireless network is my AppleTV. For those of you who are not familiar with AppleTV, it is one great gadget delivered by Apple’s ingenuity. It connects to the television and is able to connect to your wireless network. It is actually capable of detecting your network’s wireless signal and it has one really cute remote that allows you easy alphanumeric entries for searches, password setup, network setup and screen manipulation. This device allows you to watch YouTube videos on your wide screen TV. This device can also easily access the iTunes store so you can buy or rent the latest movies, or TV series either in regular or HD format provided you have a valid apple store account. Downloading movies or videos is a breeze with this device. A similar gadget that is available in the market is Vudu and it can be set up to connect wirelessly to the network using a wireless kit. AppleTV is even able to connect to your iTunes library from your PC so you can watch them on your big screen TV instead of watching them from your computer’s screen.

The next use for my wireless network is my Wii connection. Checking news by region from around the world and browsing weather updates, or merely browsing the Wii-shop or probably connecting with other Miis can all easily happen in the palm of my hand using the Wii-mote in front of the TV.

The last but definitely not the least use for my wireless network is definitely the ability to connect my wireless enabled phones like the iPhone, Blackberry and the G1 to check some stats or browse the net or download some apps.

Wireless connectivity is really all about convenience in this digital age. If you do employ something that can potentially endanger sensitive or personal information and possibly expose you to the risk of identity theft, then be sure to also apply some security measures for the network. Linksys' wireless N router is not only efficient but it also provides an easy security setup to protect the network either in WEP or WAP sequence coding.

Does my obsession with technology end there? NO.

I am a music lover, too. I could be listening to music from my cellphone, from my laptop or from my iPod. The one thing I make sure of is to get the right mix of audio so that listening to music is always a pleasure. One of the great audio products available out there is Altec Lansing. Altec Lansing audio products have good audio quality reproduction. That I can attest to. What I do is I couple Altec Lansing’s inMotion iPod dock to Altec Lansing’s powered music system VS4121 that uses a sub woofer complete with treble and bass adjustments. The result is amazing music quality. I could easily groove my moves to Kanye West’s ‘Love Lockdown’ when it’s playing.

I told you, right from the start that it’s all about convenience. Exactly.

Well, there are days when I just want to relax on my bed and watch a good suspense-thriller movie on TV. How do I make sure that I am able to enjoy every moment of it? I use Seinheisser’s wireless headsets. I could turn up the volume to my ears without unduly distracting other people in the house who may be already enjoying a deep slumber.

And lastly, if I am not at home I am probably on the road. How do I make my road trips more enjoyable?

You can try these. Have a good supply of water and some munchies. Get Schlemmer Hammacher’s extra wide rear view mirrors for a complete view of your safety zones. Take your iPod. Make sure you don’t forget your iTrip FM transmitter. Play any of these artists’ albums—Robbie Williams, Kanye West, Faithless, or George Michael. Turn up the heated seat adjustment knob in your car’s console to a comfortable level.

And, don’t forget the GPS device. My recent favorite—Sony’s Nav-u NV94T. Features? Touch screen; high brightness; auto dimmer; wide 4.8” display; super suction cup; traffic information; pre-loaded map data; lane assist and clear instructions and best of all, this device allows Bluetooth connectivity to Bluetooth enabled devices for hands-free calling.

If you have the means, enjoy technology and the best it has to offer. Life is hard, why not make it easier? Plus, it maybe a little hard to keep abreast with the changes in technology.

My college professor once clearly illustrated this point to us. He said, “Picture yourself watching a very puzzling advertisement on TV. For a moment, you don’t get it. But as soon as you understand the picture, the picture fades away! That’s how fast-paced technology is evolving in this age.”

How Rich Are You?

Did you ever ask yourself this question? I did. Perhaps, you also did. I’m sure all of us at some point in our lives have asked the same question to ourselves. What interests me though, is the answer to the question.

Rich? Well, richness could come in many facets. It could be material, spiritual, tangible, intangible, real, imaginary.

For most of us though, richness, is just for the things we could hold in our hands that this world could offer; that is—the material things that surround us.

That’s true and kind of sad that people in this universe are but humane, thus, the sense of materialism in each one of us.

I am materialistic—very, indeed!

Bags? To this date, I probably have at least fifty, pricey ones. Shoes? I could wear a different one every day of the month. Paper stuff & pens? I have a feeling that one day I’d be able to scribble my whole life story with them, in several hues, in different textures. Eye make-up? I have every color for my every mood. Wallets? I could change wallets each week for the rest of the year without reusing one. Cell phones? I have two active numbers, but I have two Blackberrys, one Razor, two HTCs that are just sitting and waiting for their turn to get some air time. Laptops? A MacBook, a Vaio, two Toshiba portege, a Toshiba satellite, a Toshiba tablet PC, a Fujitsu tablet PC, an HP media edition laptop—in several operating systems. Perfumes? I have every scent to match every single person's desire.

Yup, that’s how horribly materialistic I am.

Do I think I am rich? No! And yes!

Materially speaking, I have enough to live comfortably than most people do, but, am I rich? No!

On the other hand, I have so much family and support surrounding me that I can truly say that I am rich…far more richer than most other people who have more material things in life than me.

I came from a family of seven children, born from really poor parents who have to toil the earth on a daily basis for sustenance. We were like chickens scratching the ground for food until the day I graduated from college.

Did I own a toy when I was a kid? No—not a single one that was bought from a store!

Did I have a rich and fulfilled childhood? Absolutely YES!

All the kids that grew up in my neighborhood, if only they were given the right venue and tools in life would have accomplished far greater things than what most of us have achieved today. Why? We were so rich with creativity, passion, imagination, curiosity, discovery and playfulness—we mastered the art of inventing a toy or game for every time of day, for each season of the year. Who would have thought the song “I’m singin’ in the rain!” would be such a fitting song for all of us who happily trekked the flooded sidewalks with our mud-splattering flip-flops as we lift our arms to the sky in praises for the raindrops falling from heaven.

Did we own the sky? No!

Did we own the rain? No!

Did we own the moment? No question about it!

Did we enjoy it? Absolutely! We were the richest kids on earth as far as we knew it. We never doubted it.

We lived in shacks and shanties that almost always let some rain drip through the holes in the roof on stormy nights waking us up from our deep slumber as the ruthless cold water seep through our priceless dwelling that we call home.

But every time it rains on a clear day, we rejoiced because we could feel life and all of its bounty. Nature’s grandeur provided us the richness that none of the money this world could buy.

Yes, we were just kids playing in mud puddles, swimming in dirty swamps, wading our way through the flooded grounds, soaking our worn-out clothes in the rain, singing songs of praises for the immense joy of childhood with innocence and gratefulness for all the beautiful things in life that abound us.

We probably were so poor, it was almost impossible to have three meals in a day.

We were so poor that we have to beg for salt from our neighbors so the corn grits that we ate will at least have some sumptuous flavor on our taste buds.

We were so poor we have to recycle our slippers until they are so worn out, our foot’s sole would kiss the ground through our flip-flops holes.

We were so poor we have to make sure a single pencil could last two school years’ worth of writing.

We were so poor that reusing, recycling, recreating, reinventing was a normal day to day chore for all of us.

Did we feel worried or deprived or short-changed? Never!

If I could paint the beauty of my childhood life the way it was, it would be a picturesque garden of blooming flowers and butterflies, with sunshine and rainbows filled with all kinds of hues and colors, with happy choir filling the air. Yes—it was paradise.

So what happened to that richness that so abound me and my childhood?

Childhood is a bliss. Adulthood is a curse!

Yeah, as you breeze through life you would think that you’d get wiser, thus, things should be much easier. False.

Life is an ever-growing battle. The older you get, the tougher the battle becomes. And everything else follows.

The eye-opener of course is your life itself as it is being recycled. More struggles. More victories. More defeats. More realization. More struggles…and the cycle never ends.

One day, you’ll wake up, surprised and amazed that you made it past through yesterday…after all the horror that happened.

The only thing that gets clearer though is you become more jaded!

Jaded? What a sad thing to say about your existence!

It is one thing to believe it, and another thing to acknowledge it. It is also another thing to acknowledge it and do something about it. (Not really. This is what believing it is all about).

Am I getting jaded? Really?

I am. The older I get, the more I know that life is not all rainbows and butterflies. In fact, there really are no rainbows anymore. And the butterflies, they all have disappeared as well due to global-warming.

Sad as it is, that’s the reality of life.

And with the passing of time, things don’t even come easier. Even with technology, it is still as complicated as it was.

Life is nothing but an opportunity for all of us to progress to a better human being than we probably were in our previous existence. Thus, the test gets harder, the struggle gets harsher.

If you deserve life and all that it has to offer whether in this world or another, you have to earn it. You have to work your way to achieve it.

Some of us gets rich in the process, and by rich I mean life in its totality—happiness, fulfillment, acceptance, wisdom, friends, family, strong spirit.

Some of us gets bruised in the process, and by bruised I mean a temporary feeling of defeat—yes, it’s temporary.

Some of us gets wounded in the process, and by wounded I mean a hopeless feeling of defeat—but yes, it is still temporary. Time heals all wounds. The hopeless feeling will end when the wound heals.

Some of us lose in the process, and by losing I mean acting on our hopeless feeling of defeat—and yes this loss is immense! This could lead us to destroy all that we labored so hard to accomplish in our lives.

So where are we? Tell me.

Some of us probably are taking some sleep aids so we can rest our heads at night.

Some of us probably are taking some anti-depressants or seeing a shrink.

Some of us probably are buried in some kind of vice—gambling, drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, shopping, over-eating, e-gaming, texting—anything that is overly desired.

Some of us probably are in rehab fighting our demons.

Some of us probably are in jail paying our dues.

Some of us probably are no longer with us after deciding that we have lost in the process.

Some of us probably are enjoying life, feeling fulfillment, surrounded by love—wanting nothing more than having more years to enjoy it.

Where am I? I will tell you.

I feel bruised in the process, that’s why I am writing this to pass the time and regain the strength to fight again.

What have I lost? A little hope that things could be better.

Do I still feel rich? You betcha!

I am a little jaded. There are things that I used to enjoy that I no longer enjoy as much like playing around with my electronic gadgets or boggling my mind with new discoveries. But I am a fighter.

Even if everything has collapsed within me, you will still see a strong facade. The spirit inside me molded over the years with richness won’t let me lose in the process.

Really? What’s the secret?

Simple. You win some. You lose some.

We learn to take the good out of every bad and make something out of it.

If life is so effing bad, take a look around you. There’s still sooo muuccchh effin’ good. ‘F’ as in fantastically good.

Waking up every day with a renewed spirit is a gift. Going through the day with a happy disposition, and enthusiasm is priceless. Making it through tough times with an unflinching spirit is empowering. Being able to lay your head at night and get a good night's sleep is a great accomplishment. Managing to paint a smile on your face, and carry your head up high is worth every noble man's dignity.

Looking around you, knowing that the people you love are happy and healthy is enough reason to be grateful. Knowing that the sun still shines, and the tides still turns high and low, and the planets are still aligned is a proof that there is a God watching over you, that really there is no cause for alarm or a reason for you to be immensely worried about tomorrow.

Knowing that the sky is still blue and flowers still bloom in spring and you can breathe the air for free and hear the chirping birds' melody is a magnificent reason to acknowledge how enriched your life is.

Do I have fears? Of course.

Are there things that are worrying me? Always!

Is life easy for me? No!

Is the day gonna be alright. No doubt about it!

Will I be sad at the day's end? Sometimes.

Does it bother me? Of course!

How do I cope? I try to enjoy the things that I still enjoy. Anything, even the little nonsense stuff that I do like painting my nails, putting on eye make-up, reading, listening to music, blogging, eating, or simply filling my body with at least 32 ounces of clean drinking water each day or coloring the gray hair in my head or driving across a beautiful landscape or chasing my daughters across the room or exchanging funny stories with my husband or something even as silly as blurting out a childish giggle. If I enjoy it, I'll treasure every moment doing it and for once forget about life's worries.

Yup, richness surrounds you. Richness surrounds us. Enriching ourselves is a matter that is totally up to you or up to me.

Just beware though.

Define the kind of rich you want to be.

And, just be sure you don’t get lost along the process.

As for me, anything that can enrich my existence is always a welcomed endeavor.

Getting the Boot!

For the last few months I've been immersed into a really challenging situation. I started working for a job that entails talking to all kinds of people and making sure that their problem is taken care of.

I will be lying to say that the job didn't suck. Of course it did. One important requirement aside from having a good background in technical knowhow was the need for you to have good acting skills and a thick skin to be able to withstand the torture of talking to unhappy and at times really nasty people whose only goal was to have their issues resolved, be it relevant to their service or not--for free.

When I started, I know that my harder challenge would be being able to cope with the emotional trauma. I consider myself more technically inclined than most people, because technology really fascinates me. But on the other side, I am truly an emotional person who can't ignore nasty remarks from people who are unfortunately trashy.

The only other thing is you are constantly put under the microscope and your performance is weighted against metrics. You are easily converted into a value in digits--and that's all that matters. If you meet the requirement, you'll probably live a longer stint with the company. If not, you are one pure undesirable statistics that needed to be weeded out for a much better graphical performance report, teamwise.

Today, I got a call from my agent saying that she had some news for me, saying that the company has decided to let go of me.

I was elated to hear the news, because I don't see any long term relationship with the company anyway. Customer service in its purest sense--sucks. And I am just not carved for the trade.

Along the way as I was giving myself the opportunity to succumb to the torture, and really see how far I can go. I realize that the job isn't even as rewarding as it promised. If I would have lasted a few more months--I probably would have seen a shrink just to be able to last every passing day.

Why suffer? Life is not about monetary accomplishments, instead life is a much bigger stage for bigger goals like doing what makes you happy and enjoying every moment of it. Life's greater passion is about being able to do the things that gives you a sense of belonging, fulfillment and an overall feeling of good sense.

If there was anything rewarding with going to work, it was the drive to the workplace which gave me a sense of quiet isolation, a feeling of serenity, an opportunity to connect to nature's beautiful landscape as I drive through the country roads. The destination wasn't that exciting. The workplace didn't even promote relationships with other peers. It's almost as if we were robots programmed to perform routines with the clock, almost surgically attached to our biological clock up to the last millisecond.

Was I happy when I got the news? Definitely. I can equate it to being on death row, then all of a sudden, the verdict was reversed--and I was free.

I am a good person and a smart one too, but I'm not good at playing a poker face. What you see is what you get.

Would I have done something differently to stay? No. I'm glad, that today I woke up and the nightmare is over.

For me life is meant to be enjoyed not just endured; savored not just survived; treasured not just tolerated.

In this hard economic times, don't feel helplessly enticed by the money trap. We all need finances to cope with the American life, but at the end of the day, the things that our hearts can hold, and not the things that we can see or touch is all that matters.

Look at you now. In a few years time, you'll save enough to afford a few luxuries in the modern world--like a regular visit to the shrink to treat your psychological disorder; and probably socialize with a bunch of other people in rehab to treat some overblown addiction like--ciggy; alcohol, drugs, food and more.

As for me, I'll keep enjoying raising my three beautiful daughters, making sure that no one will bully me again into thinking that I am nothing more than some red figures on the metrics stats that needed to be erased immediately.

I feel so fabulously frrrreeeeeeeeeeeee! And to all my peers, I wish you all the best!

Good riddance!