It's been a while since my last entry.. I've been busy. Been burying my head and nose into books the past week.. having an exam tomorrow. It's been a while since I took my last paper. Studying isn't exactly fun, but it's kind-of a walk down memory lane.. kind-of like back to schooldays, you know.
And in doing my revision, I did something which I never ever thought I would do. I actually made use of my table! You see, I have this big work table, set up nicely in my room.. but for years, I haven't been using it the way a table ought to be used. It's stacked with trays of files, cds, forms, working stuff, etc.. there's also a vase of hand-made flowers, and some cute beautiful small figurines.. but here's the thing.. I have never sat down at the table before to do my work! That's right, for so many years, I have never done that. And because I have never done any work at the table, I even got rid of the chair couple of years back by deploying it to some other corner of the house.All along I would do almost everything - sleep, watch tv, write, read, study, work on my laptop, etc.. - on my bed. Sometimes lying down, other times leaning back, or even sprawled out all on the bed (like right now). Basically, my bed is basically my most favorite hangout at home.
Okay, let's leave the bed and get back to the table. Anyway, spending the past week sitting at the table mugging away has been quite a pleasant experience. In fact, I had a great time! I used to think my bed was the most comfy place to be in.. well, it was.. and still is, but problem was.. I always got so comfy on the bed that studying just didn't quite cut it for me.. so more often than not, I fell asleep instead, hahahah.. ;p
Well, I'm not quite sure if I was more efficient at the table than on the bed, but suffice it to say, my whole revision process was made less frustrating ('cos I dozed off less often) which in turn made me feel better about myself. In fact, I'm proud of myself.. :) No big deal definitely, but nonetheless, still proud.. heheh.. ;p
So you see, it took me so long finally realise that the bed is for sleeping.. and the table for studying. But hey, I also happen to know that there're still many uses for the bed and table.. do you?.. ;)
Oh, and did I mention while flipping the pages of my textbooks, I had a great time flipping the channels as well?.. :p
I attended a study meeting last nite and the speaker asked, "What is the reward for a job well-done?"
Ans: "More work!"
I didn't quite know whether to laugh or cry at the answer.. but.. well, well said.. and so true.
I bumped into a long-lost friend yesterday on the streets. It felt great to see him again after so long... 14 years, to be exact. Chris was my classmate from secondary school. But he quit our school in Secondary 2, 'cos the whole family migrated. I didn't know where to then.. today I found out that 14 years ago, they had relocated to Vancouver.
Chris went on to study at The Art Institute of Vancouver after completing high school.. and dived into "the world of culinary arts". Culinary arts? What's that? Cooking? More than that, said Chris. He did a Diploma in Hospitality & Restaurant Management, as well as an Advanced Diploma in... okay, I forgot.. but as far as I can remember, it was definitely related to the culinary arts.
We spent the whole evening chatting away, and honestly, it was very interesting to hear him talk about the different cuisines of the world, the art of making pastries, and his fun in the kitchen. He's currently employed as a chef at The Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, one of the finest I believe.. and I could sense his passion and love for what he's doing. He's enjoying himself there.. and still learning. He's currently back in town for holiday and to visit some relatives.. and "to check out the cuisines".
I had a very enjoyable afternoon learning about food, cooking, and Vancouver... and came back with a new appreciation for the culinary arts. Actually, as I'm writing this piece now.. I realise I'm merely rambling on.. there doesn't seem to be much substance in whatever I'm writing actually.. but I guess this is just my little way to commemorate a fine evening spent with a nice old friend.
I received a write-up from a good friend via email this afternoon. The article was titled "Listening With An Open Heart - Being A Good Listener". Beautiful, I thought.. as I read thru' the article. No, there wasn't anything fanciful about it.. no bombastic words, no flowery language, just plain o' English. But it was beautiful in its direct, simplistic style.. and yes, every word rang so true.
My first urge was to post it onto the blog to share with one and all.. but I couldn't, at least not without checking on the source. A quick check with my friend revealed that it was sent to her by another friend.. and so she had to check with the other friend to sniff out the source. I had to wait. Frustrating.
I hate to wait... and so I decided not to. Let me search the internet, I thought... and within seconds, I found it. It came from DailyOm.com. I experienced slight joy and slight anguish at the same time. Joy at having found the answer myself, anguish for not being able to copy and paste the whole article here in its entirety, since it belongs to another website. I can only provide the link here...
Still, DailyOm.com is a very nice website, with plenty of such useful articles. You can subscribe to their mailing list for a free dosage of their daily horoscope and articles. Check it out.. you might just like it. I did.
"Nothing is more important than peace. Nothing brings more happiness than peace. Peace is, the most basic starting point for the advancement of humankind." ~~ Daisaku Ikeda ~~
"Cherry, plum, peach or apricot blossom -- all, just as they are, are entities possessing their own unique qualities." ~~ Nichiren ~~
"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action." ~~ Mother Teresa ~~
"Non-violence is not a cover for cowardice, but it is the supreme virtue of the brave." ~~ Mahatma Gandhi ~~
"It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work for it." ~~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~~
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." ~~ Confucius ~~
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplance takes off against the wind, not with it." ~~ Henry Ford ~~
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up." ~~ Thomas Edison ~~
"Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught." ~~ George Savile ~~
"Study is not seen as a preparation for living, but rather study takes place while living, and living takes place in the midst of study. Study and actual living are seen as more than parallels; they inform one another intercontextually, throughout one's whole life." ~~ Tsunesaburo Makiguchi ~~
"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." ~~ Sydney J Harris ~~
"True happiness is not the absence of suffering, you cannot have day after day of clear skies. True happiness lies in building a self that stands dignified and indomitable like a great palace - on all days, even when it is raining, snowing or stormy." ~~ Daisaku Ikeda ~~
I've decided I don't wanna be writing about Google Cash, Affiliate programs, Google Adsense, HYIPs and Auto-surf programs all the time. There are more than enough sites and blogs around that are talking about all these and I'm definitely no expert here. So let's bring in more variety.. ;p
Well, buying property seems to be the "in' thing amongst my circle of friends these days. Nope, I don't have filthy rich friends, but I guess they're okay.. perhaps above average.. probably what one would term as yuppies. Just after Chinese New Year, my boss started actively looking at the classifieds, and calling up property agents to fix up viewing appointments. I had been with him to look at a couple.. and well, very interesting. :) The fad seems to have caught on, and suddenly, before I can cry "ouch", one of my closest girlfriends sprung up with the news that her boyfriend and her have bought a $900,000 condominium unit. Whoa... why haven't I heard her mention anything about looking at property in the first place?? Heh, I guess I can only attribute it to a woman's sudden whim or fancy. Afterall, buying property is pretty much like shopping, isn't it? Some women would do their research, compare prices, compare quality, then zoom in for the kill.. while others would simply adopt the "I see, I like, I buy" attitude.. swift and clean.. all in a day's work! Well, usually in less than a day.. ;p
Another piece of news from the grapevine.. another girlfriend and her husband have also recently bought a unit from a government-flat-turned-privatised-property with the hope of the development getting an en-bloc. Clever move for investment, I say.. the way I see it, chances are high. I would have comtemplated doing the same.
Yet another close friend and her girlfriend bought a private 1-bedroom unit recently, for investment purposes. They've plans to rent out the unit when it's ready, and with the property market poised for growth in the next few years, chances are high for capital appreciation. Already, industry analysts have predicted rental income to increase by some 5-6 percent in the 2nd half of the year. Another wise move, on paper at least, I say.
Well, seriously, what are the factors to consider when buying a property? I'm sure there are many many factors that would play a part but I'm no expert here, so my opinions are purely my own and not to be deemed in any way otherwise. For me, if it's private, it's definitely gotta be freehold. Location is very important too. If the property is for investment, it's gotta be located conveniently with good amenities and facilities within a stone's throw away. Bus stops, train station, a shopping mall with a good line of retail outlets, etc., would prove popular with potential buyers and tenants alike. Oh, and full-length windows overseeing a fantastic view would capture hearts too. But of course, what is deemed "fantastic view" in the eyes of one would differ in the eyes of another. Some people would love to have a home overlooking the sea, while others would love to have a bird's eye-view of the city lights and skyscrapers.
Perhaps one situation where amenities and even leasehold or freehold don't really matter is when the property is located in an exclusive high-class district. Note: high-class, not prime. Most times, these exclusive high-class districts are usually secluded, quiet areas with lots of landed property, where amenities are perhaps not exactly within walking distance, but wouldn't really matter anyway, 'cos the truly affluent ones (usually the rich, powerful and famous) living there drive and they would rather drive some distance for a mall or restaurant in exchange for some privacy and peace in their abodes.
Couple of weeks ago, I read in an online forum somewhere where there was an on-going discussion about property, how someone wrote that there's usually one "king" of all private developments in every area and how to go about sniffing this "king" out. Ahhh.. complicated stuff there, and that would be another topic for another day.. if that day ever comes.. ;p
I'll like to talk a little about the few current programs I'm still actively vested in. Well, actually not many left, just a miserable two programs that I'm still surfing on a daily basis. Surf20Cent has been around since late last year, I think. Well, I'm not sure of the exact date actually.. and it's not accredited on their website. Anyway, they've been kinda low-profie, but surprisingly, they're still standing proud and strong despite the storms that have hit the auto-surf industry the past few months. What is amazing is that they seem to be a mere bystander to all the hoo-haa. They adopted a wait-and-see attitude when E-Gold, their only payment processor, was having a bit of problems with the FBI. Thank goodness, E-Gold managed to escape unscathed, and thus, business for Surf20Cent carried on as per normal. They didn't introduce EMO as an additional payment processor (which on hindsight is a blessing in disguise) as did 12DP and other auto-surfs and neither were they affected when StormPay decided to play bully. What they've done during this time was to upgrade to a new server, and gave their website a fresh new look. Of course, they've had their fair share of problems as well.. bandwidth exceeded, cpanel attacks, cheating members, etc.. but payment has been prompt (within 72 hours) so far, and to-date, their Admin has pretty much adopted a pro-active stance and has faithfully sent out emails at least once a week to keep members updated.Well, I'm not saying Surf20Cent is the best program around, but it has certainly impressed me thus far. Per upgrade unit is only 20 cents with upgrades lasting 50 days with advertising credits, and you only need to have $2.00 in your account to request for cashouts. Where many of their peers have fallen, the very fact that they're still around and working fine.. I would say Surf20Cent deserves a kind mention here. :)
I started getting hungry 7 months ago.. A dear friend who helped me to place free adverts for proofreading services led me to click on another ad nearby that led me to the now-defunct-and-declared-scam 12daily Pro website. One thing led to another, and from there, I was attracted too to the now-management-empty StudioTraffic.
As with majority of the auto-surfers, I soon began my new ventures in 12DP and ST. Truth be told, I liked 12DP much more, not sure why.. just some gut feel, I guess. And so I pumped more money into 12DP than in ST, and for 4 nice months, things went smoothly. Then troubles brewed.. first, 12DP blocked my account due to some IP problems, but that was resolved within a week, so it was still okay. Then ST blocked my surfing services unjustifiably and it remains blocked to this very day. By a horrible twist of fate, StormPay decided to keep all funds for itself, and indirectly caused the downfall of 12DP. Of course, the media and some black ugly sheep vested in 12DP played a huge part.
Anyway, to cut things short.. the start of this beautiful year of 2006 resulted in my online monies mostly locked up now with FBI, SEC or (T Lennon) and ST. My adventures with the few new auto-surf programs that I dallied with in the past 2 months haven't been smooth-sailing as well.. most have folded up to avoid ending in the same fate as 12DP, or have simply vanished into thin cyber-air. Of cos, along the way, I employed the principles of diversifying, and invested some monies into some HYIPs and a couple of cyclers, but again, most have turned into scams. As for my cyclers, they're still around but I'm still awaiting my turn for my investment to be cycled, hahahah.. :p
All these have led me to further explore other money-making opportunities.. so in comes Google Adsense, blog-writing, Google Adwords, Google Cash, ClickBank, etc.
Anyway, though SEC has declared 12DP a ponzi and therefore a scam, 'cos Charis has been so nice and responsible and so open thru' it all, I still choose to stand with her, and should she decide to make a comeback, well, she's got 1 supporter here.
By the way, I still offer proofreading services. :)
Okay, I admit it.. I'm money-crazed these days. These days, I'm always searching frantically for some good online programs out there that can start me on my path to earning a nice passive income. I'm paving my way to the day where I can proudly declare I'm ready for retirement (read: quit my full-time job and yet still live comfortably without fearing where my next day's bread and butter will come from).
It's no easy feat. A search thru' Google led me to a thousand and one websites, all claiming to be THE one that would bring me the riches I crave for. Almost all claim their programs are as easy as A-B-C, requiring just an hour (or less) of work that will yield from hundreds to thousands daily. Wow, that sounds like just what I'm looking for.. yeah, except that there are thousands of them, and rather than feeling exhilarated, I actually end up feeling confused, wary and deflated.
I won't lie. I've been cheated, not once, not twice.. but ample times. So much so that I've lost count myself.. okay, I said I wouldn't lie.. so in truth, I didn't lose count. Rather.. I refuse to count my failures. Heheh, it's easier this way. But still, I refuse to give up. I refuse to give up my quest to find THAT 1 program (or maybe 2) that will work for me. I'm stubborn that much.
Hence, my decision to blog my quest for that elusive path to online riches here... I will attempt to pen and share my thoughts on the programs that I come across, and if I should test them out, what my results are. I'm sure this path is definitely no stranger to many of you out there, so folks, if you can, let's share our findings together.Life really shouldn't be just about work alone, there's gotta be a simpler and less time-consuming way than simply slogging it out day and nite, spending two-thirds of our waking moments to earning the dollars and cents.
Blog this page, guys.. and stay updated!
