Just the way it is...

I already have few comments received about my new layout's header not loading well. It only loads half of the entire header to be exact.

I was in denial when I first notice it the first time. Thought it was just a slow Internet connection that caused it but when I started hearing comments from few people, it was then I realize that hmm, maybe something's really wrong with it.

Yes, it acted up again this morning and even before I started writing this post. It saddens me to have even thought about it but with such blemish I don't think I can keep it to any extent at the expense of my viewer and readership. So in the event that you can't access this blog in the nearest future, it was then that I decided to redo it.

Ever wonder if these companies just Babelfished the slogans into another language.

13) When Parker Pen marketed a ball-point pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read, "It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you." The company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ad read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."

12) Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: "Nothing Sucks like an Electrolux."

11) Clairol introduced the "Mist Stick," a curling iron, into Germany only to find out that "mist" is slang for manure. Not too many people had use for the "Manure Stick."

10) Coors put its slogan, "Turn It Loose," into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer From Diarrhea."

9) Pepsi's "Come Alive With the Pepsi Generation" translated into "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back From the Grave" in Chinese.

8) When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the labels of what's inside, since many people can't read.

7) Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called Cue, the name of a notorious porno magazine.

6) I prefer to eliminate the 6th entry coz I find it inappropriate. You may click the link below if you wish to read it, though.

5) When American Airlines wanted to advertise its new leather first class seats in the Mexican market, it translated its "Fly In Leather" campaign literally, which meant "Fly Naked" (vuela en cuero) in Spanish.

4) An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw the Pope" (el Papa), the shirts read "I Saw the Potato" (la papa).

3) The Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign "Got Milk?" prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention the Spanish translation read "Are You Lactating?"

2) General Motors had a very famous fiasco in trying to market the Nova car in Central and South America. "No va" in Spanish means, "It Doesn't Go".

1) The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Kekoukela", meaning "Bite the Wax Tadpole" or "Female Horse Stuffed with Wax", depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "kokoukole", translating into "Happiness in the Mouth."

just to lighten up the mood...

source

It's been months since I was yearning to update my blog's layout here for the sole reason that I no longer find the last one appealing. For my convenience, I have bookmarked a generous page that does blog templates that are free for bloggers who don't have the ability to create their own customized layout like me. So from time to time I check the site to see if they have something new that may suit my blog's taste and last week I finally was able to pick one after a long way of patiently waiting. And though it's been up for a week already, I still want to introduce Isabela. Yep, that's my new blog layout's name. Very feminine, isn't it? And I'm very thankful first of all because it's free.

Its simplicity and manageable features are what attracts and made me decide to use it. As much as possible I don't want to use stuffy and too decorative template. Why? No offense meant to others but as far as I have learned it's one of the reasons why a page don't load fast. For me a fast loading website is essential. It don't only give your readers and visitors a chance to simply browse your page but it does help on letting them look around and read some interesting posts of yours as well... even the archived ones.

If not for a query I made to a certain marketing affiliate yesterday, I would have had not bothered checking my gmail account that’s honest- to- goodness has long been taken for granted by me. Thanks to my inquisitive mind. If not for it I would never be enlightened that I still have one more online account that is worth spending a little bit of my time.

Know what I have missed? Blogging opportunities that were long been knocking at my door. And there was not only one… there were few of them. Imagine how neglectful I was! But even so, I still did try to respond to those emails with optimism. I would be very glad if even one of them will take notice and would care to write me back.

However on the lighter side, this email also somehow made my “not so good” day yesterday. Here’s what it says:

Feb 20, 2009

Dear (my username),

Our editors recently reviewed your blog and have given it a 7.5 score out of (10) in the recreation category of Blogged.com.

This is quite an achievement!

We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style. After carefully reviewing these criteria, your site was given its 7.5 score.

We've also created Blogged.com score badges with your score prominently displayed. Simply visit your website's summary page on Blogged.com.




Please accept my congratulations on a blog well done!



Sincerely,

Amy Liu
Marketing Department
amy@blogged.com
http://www.blogged.com

To me this is such a heart warming evaluation. Again I could have had shared this long before if not for my sloppiness.

But I'm proud of this, really. Thanks Miss Amy for taking the time to review my blog. Looking forward to more of this. Hopefully a higher rating next time? :D

Less motivated but I am still able to carry on with life. Knowing how I failed to face and accept realities made me constantly shake up and feel so bad lately. God knows how I tried and keep on trying not to let my disappointments get in my way but it’s simply not just how I am. I get totally disoriented whenever something stirs me emotionally. It leaves me do nothing but to sit and stare at the screen all day. How I hate the thought of just closing the day with a frown.

I hope you guys have much more better days than I do.

I have been watching the news on TV about the recent tropical storm "Feria" to have hit some part of the country today particularly in Luzon and Visayas areas. Weather condition like this reminds me so much of what I have personally experienced in Cebu last year. Seeing a real tropical cyclone activity rushing through along with strong wind and heavy rain is such a horrifying calamity. See how these people tried to save this raft from drowning? With just several slaps of the curling big waves from the raging ocean this boat got drown in less time.


It took few months before they get to have this boat working again after the unfortunate incident. Early this evening I've just learned from a friend back there that tropical depression has been indeed surrounding the place. (Sigh!) I can only hope it won't result to damages as bad as it did last year.

Last night, I was supposed to blog about my younger brother's first visit to Manila. I started to write after he left the house but something must be seriously wrong with our power services. We went over a night without power for more than 2 hours. Shortly after it came back, I turned my PC on to get my postings done only to find out that my Internet connection also died along. So like the usual, I have waited. Though it came back but it can hardly open a page. To calm myself down, I opened a folder of songs and listened to them while I waited for my connection to stabilized but still to no avail. Waahhh! See how life can be so disappointing sometimes.

Anyway, all I just wanted was to wish my brother a safe trip. Last night he flew to Manila to meet his friend there. Both the place and the experience of riding a plane were his firsts so I was a bit anxious for him although I know my brother is a smart one, he's 29, LOL!. But even so, I still did back him up all the way through by sending him text messages telling him this and that and what to do while inside the airport. Around midnight and I was already asleep when he informed me that they already landed in Manila. I'm glad he made it safe... I hope this vacation grant is going to be a fantastic one for him.

Sure it's going to be!
Oh, and I'm looking forward for my 'pasalubong'. I wonder what could that be!

I didn't realize that it's already the 3rd Sunday of the month till I opened my Plurk account and read one common plurk for the day "Happy Fathers Day to all Dads!" Whew! That's how disconcerted my mind is lately. Anyway, I still don't want to miss this opportunity to send out my greetings...

To may late Papa whom I miss so much, to my late brother-in-law, Jimmy... somehow I have wished you didn't have to leave your little girls that soon, to the father of my kids...thanks for taking care of them, to my uncles and to the most important ‘dad’ of my life, JK for undoubtedly holding on to us through good and bad times. Thank you and Happy Father's Day to you all!

And of course, I'm sending out my greetings too to all fathers and soon to be dad around the world...

If you are to give your kids an entertainment article that last, consider this!

This three-wheel cart is designed to last and is suitable for kids from 3-14 years old so they won't outgrow it for a long time. It glides forward by simply moving your feet. With no petals, chain and batteries needed, ezy roller has a top speed of about 12 mph. The tubular steel frame and canvas seat are very solid and sturdy. And safety wise, it is way safer compared to any other wheeled articles like roller blades because it has built in handbrakes which I believe is the most important feature of this item, leaving the parents worry-free while letting their kids enjoy their playtime.

So where to get this cool stuff? Only at Posy Lane! At Posy Lane, Ezy Roller Cart is the most popular item to children. But not only that, they also offer unique and personalized gift items such as personalized children's plates, towel wraps, nap mat, toddler backpacks and a whole lot more. At Posy Lane you can shop gifts for your entire family. They also offer full embroidery and monogramming services at a best quality you can afford. So if you think of one of a kind and quality gift items, think of Posy Lane.

The first two here are from the ever so generous Lynn and the awards has some posting rules here. One of which is to pass it on to 15 newly discovered blogs but sad to say, I really don't have much new acquaintances for I get too lazy to hop lately :-( But still thanks to rule #1... hahaha!


No, but seriously I appreciate the gesture of kindness. These are wonderful awards. It's been quite a while since I last receive an award here so to me this really means a lot.

While this one's from a new and a year old mommy who just brought herself back to the online world. One of the first few blogging buddies of mine, Darly. Thank you, sis. I'm glad you made it your way back despite your busy mommy life now.

So, now it's my turn to spread and share and I wanna pass all three awards to Rocks, Lisa, G-Anne, Gles, Liza, Cecile, Ria, Amy and Lena. Take it away, ladies... naks!

Have a great brand new week, everyone!

It has been a long stressful and so overwhelming week. I did something I shouldn't have done and said something I shouldn't have said. Heard something... well I guess I'm suppose to hear and learned some lessons I ought to learn.

Though I know things will never be the same again, I am still looking forward to embracing myself back again. Not the relentless but the real, light-hearted 'me'.

Hmm.. working on that... Wish me luck!

Have a pleasant weekend to all!

Mood: Disturbed
It's 11:03 p.m. Just sitting here unloading her random thoughts.

I know it's late and I should be in bed but something's keeping me awake.

A guilt feeling? Perhaps!

I miss my dad. If he were here, I don't know what his reactions would be for everything that happens but I'm sure he would understand. We don't talk that much when he was still around but I know what's in his heart. I know when he agrees or not. I know he's watching over us, his family.

God, I need some enlightenment! You know how I truly feel...

a nurse, that is...

Although I hold no regrets to have completed my full college course some years ago, achieving what you wish to have become by heart for a profession is still a different fulfillment and is beyond compare. So every time I've gone to a hospital or any health institutions and come across or walk past with these people in white I just can't help but stare at them and say "I could have been one of them".

I know from within, I would love the profession and everything that has to do with it. I even do search websites and read some interesting articles about nurses and the nursing profession. And lately, I found out about this cool web magazine called SCRUBS - a nurse's guide to good living. This magazine features essential, delightful tips for nurses to stay healthy and young looking despite the stress a back-to-back, extra long shift may have cause them. I'm sure we all want to know why we shouldn’t let our make up sleeps with us during our bed time. What are those pampering ideas for nurses? Oh and don't forget that makeup tips that hold up. Scrubs have all these interesting topics every nurse's would like to know.

Anyway, back to me. Well, I know not all things happen the way we always wanted them to be. But it's never too late to dream nor too early to tell. I opt not to close my door for possible opportunities that may comes my way especially if it's something I'd love to do.

It's never too early to observe yet another remarkable event of the Philippine history. Thanks Lynn for reminding me about it.

HACKING according to dictionary is to skillfully modify a certain computer program. Why skillfully? Because it takes ability and expertise for a person to intrude into someone else's database. We ordinary internet users are very subjective about it. We think it's a crime. A detrimental activity to the IT security of big operating business companies, government agencies and other establishments. However, a tighter look at why such activity is being done may open our eyes to something new. I my self, even got surprised to this. There are beneficial reasons why hackers hack and understanding what these reasons are may help us realize that not all hackers are out there to commit a crime.

Ethical Hacking is dealing with the vulnerabilities of certain software thus, professional hackers makes it still useful by modifying instead of aggravating it. Anyone can become a real life professional hacker and get paid. Ethical Hacking is now a progressive career in the Information Technology Industry. Its fundamental role in IT Security is crucial that's why EC Council is here to help. They offer online courses in Security fundamentals, Ethical Hacking, Penetration Testing, Computer Forensics, Disaster Recovery and they certifies individual in various e-business and security skills.

That's how I am yesterday and today. Everyone in the house has to leave for some reasons so I am left all alone. Should I be glad? This is what I asked for after all. An undivided time for myself and my online chores. But why do I still feel disturbed? I can't seem to stay still. Can't keep my mind to one direction. Must there be something I have missed?

Still alone and pondering...