Just the way it is...

site admin is terribly in ...


till I find my way back here again =)

I didn't know that Paypal is now prescribing charges apart from their $5 withdrawal transaction fee. Last Monday, July 13 I received payment from an independent advertiser for the review I made for their website. I was a bit surprised because instead of $60 I only get $57.36. That prompted me to immediately check the transaction details and from there I found out that a certain fee amounted to $2.64 was being deducted from my earnings.

July 2, I received payment of $40 from the same advertiser. If you take a look at the screen shots below, the first payment was obviously intact while the recent is reduced. So I've been wondering what this is all about. I was thinking of contacting the sender to clarify the issue but I refrain to so do considering that the amount sent to Paypal was undeniably exact.

They have been featured on the news, being highlighted on some occasions, acclaimed by many for their unparalleled eye care service and unbeatable $ 8 Rx eyeglasses. Now they're back and this time with a wider selection of back to school high quality and stylish prescription eyeglasses for kids.

I know one dad who I'm sure would love to check this one out for his son. And sooner or later when I get to have my eyes checked, I may consider of looking for a pair too for myself so together we can give a big high five to Zenni Optical.

For the mean time, let's watch Zenni Optical on TV!!! and see what's the catch people were wondering about...

We, Filipinos are considered one of the most joyful and sociable people and it comes not as a surprise that we have a long list of festivals and celebrations all through out the year. Town fiesta in honor of patron saints is one of the most anticipated events of the Filipino calendar. For many years I've been missing celebrating this occasion with my family but not anymore this year.

Rain or shine the Fiesta celebration must go on come the next two weeks. Everybody here in town are now preparing for this big event. I see people decorating all over the town. Streamers were hanged on the streets. A place where most kids would love to be, the carnival where lots of fun rides has been set up and is now ready to give the kids a fantastic ride of their lives, LOL!

I grew up looking at how occasion like this strengthen the bond of our family. Aside from the food tasting marathon, the event wouldn't be complete without the drinking session for the boys and a separate circle for the girls, a table for the most played card game poker and of course the unlimited chit chatting with cousins and relatives. I can't wait to embrace again the feeling I have missed for being away for a long time.

I'm not a big fan of his. But shortly after the news confirmed his death, for whatever reasons I instantly caught myself drawn to his music especially the rarely heard ones. Through these songs (his ballad songs) I've learned that apart from his signature moves and styles there is still a lot more about the man himself.

Last night, from start to finish, my eyes were wide open and my entire attention stuck to every covered details, speeches and rendered songs at Michael Jackson's public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It is so sad to think that he’s no longer there to sing his songs for people… rather the people are now the ones who sing his songs for him.

To those who wanted yet have missed watching it last night, here are some of the most memorable moments of yesterday’s world’s biggest event.

Read through...

Event: Michael Jackson’s Public Memorial Service
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Tuesday, June 7, 2009 10:00 A.M. (CALIFORNIA TIME)
Wednesday, June 8, 2009 1:00 A.M. (PH TIME)

Related Posts:
Condemn the sin not the sinner
Bleach or Leocoderma
MJ's Patented Leaning Shoes

I am thanking the Amiable Amy for letting me participate this inspirational tag in memory of the one, Michael Jacson.

*Start Copy Here*

You do not have to be tagged to play along. The game is simple and so are the rules.

1. Copy from *Start Copy Here* through *End Copy Here*
2. Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post at each site you add.
3. Tag as many bloggers as you like so the list keeps on growing.
4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list.
5. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefit as the first ones in.

We Are The World Bloggers Master List:

1. Emila Yusof 2. The Other Side of Emila 3. Mariuca 4. Mariuca’s Perfume Gallery 5. Meow Diaries 11. Unlisted One 7. Spiff, the Spaceman 8. My Sweet Escape 9. Nota Nurul 10. Life’s Tapestry 11. Spontaneous Insignificancy 12. LadyJava 13. Miss Igorota 14. AnnyBoo 15. Yoon See 16. Jia’s Life 17. Nessa’s Mumblings 18. Also Mommy 19. The Walk of Life 20.Pretty Firefly 21. Untouchable EARTH 22. Baterya 23. Comedy Plus 24. Bain Cardin 25. Strawberry Milkshake 26. Turn-U-Off 27. Jom Heboh Di Sini 28. Notes by Marvic 29. Memoir Mez 30.Origena 31.Walking Newspaper 32. Nurul Aqilah 33. Bluedreamer 34. Breaking the Boundaries 35. Life According to Me 36. A Great Pleasure 37. Time Goes By 38. Kancing itu Butang 39. In my Kitchen 41. Fyzal’s Territory 40. Wiggy’s World 40. A Simple Life 41. A Taxi Ride 42. Single Life of Me 43. Little Bits of Info 44. Ode to Adrienne 45. KMP 46. Mommy’s Little Corner 47. Wondermom 48. Tom’s Place 4 Well Whatever 49. Empty Streets 50. Crafty Heart 51. Phat Wallet 52. AtheAthirahTaha 53. Phat Woman 54. Off The Top Of My Head 55. Simple Happy Life 56. Moore Blog Life 57. Twisted Sister 58. Fickleminded 59. Sweet Nothings 60. Fida Abbot 61.Business Matters 62.5577 Studio 63. Just the way it is... 64. You’re next!

~end copy here~

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...