Just had the most wonderful weekend doing nothing but eat. Yeah, I know there’ll be repercussions. Like?

The new jeans I bought over the net is a tad too tight. I always order the same size and this time it’s somehow tighter. Either the jeans QC is not stringent and consistent or I’m getting fat.

What am I talking about? I am NOT getting fat….. I am fat.

Let’s face it. The downside about fulltime blogging is how out of touch I am from real people. I socialize nowadays over the net. The up side about net socialization is, nobody can see you. The down side? The motivation to keep one in tip top shape is pretty non-evident. Back in my working days, we always had this healthy competition among fellow colleagues (lady colleagues) to look our best.

Now?

Without friendly competition, I’m just not motivated anymore. I have no qualms about walloping half the damn butter cake without the remotest sense of guilt. It’s starting to freak me out how I am not bothered. Dang, I’m more concerned about how my blog looks more than how I look.

Honestly, this has got to stop. Today I want a change. I swear I am going to cut down a few dress sizes. Thanks to the HBO movie “The Devil Wears Prada” I watched over the weekend.

Quote from the movie..

“…..size 2 is the new 0 and the size 2 is a new 4, ….. size 6 is size 14….”

OK I get it. I swear I’m going to lay off reading 100% technology/internet/SEO blogs. I’m going to devote 50% to fashion blogs from now on. Blek.

*sponsored*

I usually try catching my holiday break during end of the year because that is the time where the long holidays are. But, since my husband is now working on project basis, that means he does not have the luxury of having fixed holidays. He can only take his break when his project is over. This arrangement is screaming disruption to our holiday plans. But then there is not much we can do about it when we are out to earn a living.

We had initially planned to visit Petra in Jordan and Egypt. I had been to both places previously before my marriage but my husband has yet. Hubby and I usually get good travel deals if we purchase our travel booking early during those travel fair. The only problem now is the unpredictability of my husband’s project dateline. In view of that, I now does my holiday planning online and look out for last minute deal offered by Holiday Hypermarket.

I will be honest here because the fact is, husband and I cannot exactly afford luxurious over the top holidays. We usually check out cheap flights to Egypt and other last minute travel deal from Holiday Hypermarket. This online UK based travel site is easy to navigate and has millions of travel deals to suit my budget.

Me inside the felucca on the Nile way back in 1994. lol

Google is at it again. You know what? I am now immune. When my 3+ years Blogger blog is reduced to PR0, my indignation had gave way to indifference. Fellow comrades in the blogosphere who suffered the same fate are plentiful. So, I don’t exactly have the bragging rights how special I was being singled out by Google. Dang, I thought I’m the chosen one…

It’s a bright and sunny day, don’t worry be happy. What is happier than a person with no worries? When your PR hit 0, you have officially reach blogging nirvana. *pops a bottle of champagne*

By the way, I sure hope those hypocrites who declare they will not monetize their blogs anymore and beg for mercy from Google will stop talking. Hello? If you are not thinking of monetizing your blogs and from this day forth, solely blog for humanity and love of blogging, why the heck should you be concern about your PR? Jeez. Aren’t your passion for blogging and readers enough? (business blogs are exempted from my wrath)

Blogger Snoskred is holding a competition over at her blog to celebrate her pagerank drop. She is spreading a little love around so do check it out. By the way, I know this is not going to last forever, so, take out your popcorn or whatever and seize the moment and watch Google share drop. You don’t want to miss the fun.

Got back from Costa’s blog and once again he’s into something new. Ad exchange.

I’ve been thinking, for the regular semi-recreational blogs, paying to advertise our blog is out of the question. Semi-recreational blogs? Half personal half monetized with a little healthy dose of paid posts or ads. In other words, bloggers who won’t exactly make it to the rich and famous list through blogging. In view of our considerably meagre blog earnings, paying to advertise our blog just isn’t viable.

So, what prospect does the regular semi-personal blog holds in their quest to whore for a little exposure? The usual, join some networking site to make some friends and now, get into those free advertising exchange program like Entrecard. You can see the widget on my right column on top of ‘Free Ad Exchange.’

What’s the catch? Honest, I don’t really care as long as it is nice, legal (it is, right?) and FREE. From the blogger stand point, it is good networking getting other blogs to pimp your site. And of course vice versa. The only initial anxiety I had about signing up was to think what happens if nobody wants to put their ad on my blog?

Come to think of it, apart from a wounded ego, nothing. Zit. I’ll still live.

For the regular bloggers who don’t fancy paying for advertising, just sign up. It is never easy for little guys to survive in this competitive blogosphere. A little healthy back scratching does everybody some good.

Firstly, I would like to thank Costa for introducing me to Stumbleupon. I had to be the biggest hypocrite when it comes to social network site. I ‘ve been telling people to join but I’ve yet took time to look at its mechanics. Well, until yesterday when I looked at my stats. Honest, I don’t even care about my blog stats. I’m never ambitious.

I noticed a sudden surge of traffic and it’s no accident. Costa had StumbleUpon me.

I just joined the last hour and I’m loving it. I StumbleUpon another site talking about RFIDs. This is not a technology site so, please excuse my ignorance. The fact is, I was just having a conversation with my husband few days ago regarding RFIDs. Forgive me when I tell you after years of marriage, our topic do get a little stale. It’s now either bloggings, surfings or technology. The first 2 is my turf but the last one is something I just obliged him. Honestly, I’ve no freaking idea what my hubby is talking most of the time.

In the US, RFID is widely used. Here in Malaysia, we’re still far far behind. In case anyone is more blur than me, RFID tags are those tags you find in products or clothes when you go shopping. When you try to pass through the detector, it will sound an alarm showing you had yet pay for your stuffs. My hubby had been fixated by the RFID technology for years. I do admit he’s a bit down because his little RFID pet project is not getting much reception from the people in this country. Well, not yet I assume.

Anyway we were talking about the alarming crime rate in this country of late. Children are abducted, raped and abused. It must be a frightening scenario for any parents. Even children who tagged along with their parents in public places are not exempted from the danger. It was then we talked about RFID technology and its prospect.

Well, husband and I did come to a conclusion it is viable using RFID for parents to keep track of their children. Of course RFID only works within certain range. It’s not a tracking device. There is a limited range. Say if I make a RFID bracelet for the child to wear, wouldn’t it be better if an alarm will sound when the child move out of range? At least parents in malls or playground will be alerted if their child move within a certain range from them.

Honest, I’ve been thinking is there a possibility of turning it into a business prospect?

Allow me to indulge in a little wonderment. I had always an obsession with niche objects. I love the jukebox, pin-ball machine and slot machine. Yes, slot machine or better known locally as ‘tiger machine‘ which presence grace every casinos in the world.

As with niche object, the thing that never fail to make me wonder is, where on earth do people get those? Honest, these niche objects are not exactly stuff you can find in your local mall. I guess I found my answer and can now put to rest a few of my wonderment.

Ace Distributing makes the best slot machine games since 1975. This company in Nevada has been selling, buying, trading and repairing slot machine for the past 30 over years. I guess if I ever want games and slot machine for my own personal amusement I know where to look.

**This blog would like to thank its sponsor, Ace Distributing for enabling this written opinion**

The truth is you can’t. Not if you’re playing somebody’s game.

My blogging guru Costa wrote an interesting piece. I always enjoy Costa’s blog and I felt compelled to add my little 2 cents.

Firstly, when you play somebody’s game, you are forcing yourself into submission to play by the rules of the game. Let’s say Soccer. The winning soccer team is the one that put more balls behind the net. Easy. It would have been had it not stated in the soccer rulebook you have to do it by foot or head. That is the condition.

I cant’ get onto the field and start throwing balls with my hands. I’ll be fouled. I can find another game that I can make good use of my hands and feet but then it won’t be soccer. In all honesty, I can start a whole new ball game and call it hand and feet soccer. I can. But then getting the advertisers and fans to buy it will be another thing.

If I’m into the soccer thing to make money, a winning team, advertisers and fans who are willing to buy the tickets are a factor. They are a factor because this is where the money is. Not from the game itself, but from these people who are part of the soccer system. Rules and all.

Advertisers have no qualms throwing in millions to the winning team, or even players. They know soccer is the best loved game in the world. Advertisers don’t care if the team uses back hand tactics to win the game… as long as they win and they get their money’s worth. The team players can go on steroids for all they care… as long as they don’t get caught.

No offense to ball lovers, let’s say Google invented the game of soccer and the rules, how do you get on the field and play your game without adhering to Google’s rule?

There are two kind of advertisers here. One, they want publicity generated from the massive popularity of the game. Two, advertisers who are illegal pundits that resort to game fixing to win.

Most link buying advertisers are illegal pundits that try to get better of the system by hook or by crook. The interesting part is, they are trying to manipulate the rules and system but they never have the intention of replacing or overthrowing the current rulebook. In other words, these people do not want to do away the system… they want in. But just manipulate it to their advantage.

To me, that is pretty clear. These advertisers are still pretty damn obsess with the system therefore the Google hold continues.

To hell with these advertisers? But, but that’s where the money is… for the regular monetized blogs. Damn.

Writing my previous post about wealth, I really thought to myself, “How much is enough?”

I’m saying it because it is always better to draw a line somewhere. A line that defines clearly anything over the line is just pure greed and despair. I know, everyone has different perception of wealth. There is no written guide book that effectively measure wealth in value for each individual. Everyone is left to their own device and wisdom to make that call.

Like I say, human wisdom and conscience is never a good indicator. Why? A person’s conscience is influenced by the external factor and social norm. If buying a pirated DVD is a socially accepted practice not viewed with the same level of contempt as stealing, anyone will not hesitate to buy pirated movies without any feeling of wrong doing. Society dictates alot about the conscience of an individual. The same goes for adultery and vice. If it’s socially acceptable, rest assured it will be consciencely acceptable.

It is time like these, I depend on my faith. The bible is the best standard I can adhere to. Yeah, it sounds so cliche.. but then that is the truth. Human standard are not infallible. It was never meant to be infallible because human are just not perfect. How can perfect perception arise from a not perfect being?

I know, the way I’m talking alot of people would say, “doesn’t that make Christianity a crutch?” Yeah, if it makes me a better person call it whatever.

To be honest, anyone wanting to get to the ‘enough money‘ stage is not hard. Just get a job and adhere to some personal financial guidelines, you will be fine. The fact is, most if not all do not relish the idea of dwelling in the ‘enough money’ stage. Nobody dislike money. Wealth though is not the key to everything but, it is enough for many to know wealth meant freedom.

There are plenty of financial books out there but one thing is for certain. Nobody can amass wealth and breakthrough the énough money’ stage by working for people. That is a fact. It is no secret but starting your own business is a step riddled with fear. I guess that is why many do not dare to venture out of their comfort zone.

While starting a new business from scratch is the usual route people take, but, there are shortcuts like just buying over an existing business. According to Richard Parker, the rule #7 of buying a business is the fact, there are more bad owners than bad businesses. The crucial element is not the business itself, it is the person running it.

Of course knowing how to run and buy a business is an art form. Who is Richard Parker? He is the Entrepreneurship faculty member of Trump University. Yes, Donald Trump University. The special How to Buy a Business report consisting of the 10 golden rule of buying a business is available for free download to give you an overview of Richard Parker’s pointers. Like I say, this report is an overview just touching the tip of the iceberg. If you think the report makes sense, there is now a comprehensive home study course available.

Not at all if it’s at the front or behind the decimal point. When in the middle? A hell lot. 4,000 is way different from 40,000. The New Straits Time were quick to report there were about 4,000 people who took part in the commemorative march organized by BERSIH on November 10, 2007. The march was an appeal to our Agung to intervene and ensure our electoral process is fair and square. Something any country who proudly call themselves ‘Democratic’ would have done in the first place.

The permit for the peaceful rally was denied and nobody was surprised. In all honesty, I was pissed about the hard stance taken by our Prime Minister who went on paper to say anyone who join the rally is a direct challenge to him and will be severely dealt with if caught. If our PM’s words were meant as a kind of deterrent, I daresay it was a total failure. Reading his words just made thousands more determine than ever. What arrogance. Since when in a democratic country a PM cannot be challenged? He must had somehow mixed it up with Communism.

4,000? Yeah right. What more confidence do any ordinary citizen has when the government can’t even count. Put another zero there please. By the way, judging by how our mainstream media is reporting, thank God I’ve not bought any newspaper for the past year.