These days, a lot of consumers are raving about the new Samsung Galaxy S4 model and the mobile network providers are offering this top smartphone at various postpaid and prepaid packages. Smart is offering the S4 with free LTE until end of June to entice new subscribers to their 4G service. Just remember these phones come with lock-in periods and are exclusively locked to their mobile providers. Don’t to expect any unlocked Samsung or iPhone to come with these packages if you are thinking of grabbing such deals so you can use the phone for other networks.

Right now I am a Smart subscriber for their unlidata package at Php2000 per month with S3 as my phone. I got this plan last year when the S3 was still the latest from Samsung. So far, I am happy with Smart, I use my phone as a Wifi hotspot and the data speed is really good. Downtimes are generally few and if ever such rare network problems do happen, I haven’t experienced them affecting my work so far. You can say I am a very satisfied customer!

Another plus is the phone I am using, the S3 is fast, slim, lightweight and I love its user interface. I have not really played around with some of the apps and even the camera. My niece used to tease me that I should give the S3 to her ‘cause I’m a clueless owner who doesn’t know how to maximize its features especially the camera. LOL. Sorry dear, even if I give the phone to you, you can’t readily use it ‘cause it is locked to Smart, and your network is SUN.

Are you on a postpaid mobile subscription too? How do you rate your mobile network’s customer service and data speed? Have you ever thought of getting a new postpaid or prepaid package or switching to another network?

Online, there are websites which help one in choosing the best financing options where one can compare and navigate the market for the best-priced programs for mortgage, insurance, refinancing, credit cards, personal loans and the like. Relevant market information, comparison of mortgage rates and home loans are just part of the information they provide to help and guide those searching for the best rates.

As to personal loans to tide over while the financial going is still rough, one can find lenders which offer no-collateral loans. Personal loans are an option for long-term or short-term financing, for life’s important milestones such as weddings, as a business capital or for home renovation projects. When deciding on a financing option though, it’s best to consult an independent financial expert or advisor.

Dad uses a second-hand Casio keyboard with some buttons and keys for sound effects which he would usually experiment on. He would also browse on YouTube for other musicians playing the electronic keyboards and he would oftentimes joke of buying those costly keyboards and synthesizers. Imagine a brand new Roland V Synt GT Elastic Audio Synthesizer Keyboard costs more than $3000! Whew. I bet he would also drool on some of those flashy electric-acoustic Ibanez from musicians friend.

For those who would like to have their dream musical instrument but have limited budget, then it’s best to buy from a second-hand store. Check out online second hand music stores which usually offer a wide collection of good quality used musical instruments from guitars, percussion, string instruments (violin, ukulele, etc.), wind instruments (trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, etc.) as well as amplifiers, PA systems and some musical accessories. Except for few advertised as slightly damaged or needs some polishing, most of the products sold are still in good condition and comes with hard case, so you get these at a lesser price compared with their brand new counterparts. You can also try checking out your local classified ads; who knows you can have your dream guitar at a budget price from there.

So, am I afflicted with Facebookery? I must admit, I do check my Facebook account from time to time, even while doing work! Ugh.

How about Twitteritis, am I suffering from this as well? I’m pretty much sure I’m not. Even if I do have a Twitter account, I don’t regularly use it, it’s just not my cup of tea.

How about other social networking sites such as Pinterest, LinkedIn or MySpace ? I do have a Pinterest account but it’s mainly for work reasons, and I still don’t have LinkedIn and MySpace accounts yet.

I’m not saying I’m against social networking sites and I’ll never register for additional accounts as I know these are effective venues to meet more contacts, promote my websites and other projects. I’m just quite wary about information overload and would prefer to focus more on urgent tasks that never seem to escape me. This is why I am waging the war against online distractions.

Thankfully I have managed to set up a simple system for time management to focus more on my work. I just set a scheduled time during the day when to check emails, open my Yahoo! Messenger or refresh my Facebook page. Not being able to have real-time online alerts sure was not easy to get used to at first, but now I realize and appreciate my work more when there are no beeps bugging me from time to time.

For now, I simply don’t have the time to dabble in yet another type of social networking tool for fun or leisure. If ever I’d want to engage in some hobbies or take a break, I’d rather play the guitar or meet up with a friend instead of indulging in some virtual respite.

Are you very much into social networking sites and consider yourself suffering from Facebookery or Twitteritis? Which situation or instance do you consider them as useless online distractions or, conversely, as essential tools for building relationships?

The TV survived the shipping and handling (yep, it is working fine until now) as it was cushioned, wrapped around and held intact with books, throwpillows, clothing and other stuff. Even its disassembled TV stand was included in the box.

Well, those were the days when international courier rules were not that strict. I wonder how it is nowadays when sending balikbayan box with a TV inside? I know somebody in Canada who was also planning to send her used LCD TV to the Philippines. Now I wonder if her plans pushed through and how it was shipped.

If you are based abroad and planning to send some used electronic appliances to your family or relatives in the Philippines, I suggest you’d rather not. Why? Come to think of it, the costs of brand new electronic goods are getting more affordable nowadays. There are always some great deals and packages on home appliances such as LED TVs, home theaters, washing machines, etc. as well as discounted accessories such as audio racks and television stands sale in most appliance stores, whether online or at the malls.

When planning to send some old appliances to your family, why not compare the cost of shipping versus buying a brand new unit during sale season. Aside from the delivery cost, you also need to consider the risks involved with international shipping and handling. I’d rather have an old unit sold at a reasonable price, than ship it and pay for precious kilograms. However, it might come out more advantageous to send it if you also consider other important factors. The best thing to do is to weigh the pros and cons when you decide to send some package, whether used appliances or not, to your loved ones in the Philippines.

You’re there in front of your computer, so focused on the task at hand when suddenly you get an email alert. And like what most of us would do, you just can’t fight the urge to check that new mail, only to open some forwarded chain letter, a Yahoo! Mail scam or, worse, some black propaganda against your candidate (yep, it always happens during the election campaign period). So you go back to your work, trying to recall what you’ve been focusing on a while ago before the unsolicited message arrived.

After few minutes, another email alert comes in. It’s a notification message from Facebook, informing you of a friend request from a high school classmate. “Wow…it’s Joey! I haven’t heard from this guy since ages ago,” you tell yourself. So you go open the link and find yourself browsing through your friend’s profile, clicking through his photos, and commenting on them. Then you see some interesting YouTube link from another friend’s status and viewed one video after another. Ooops… you suddenly realize how time flies and you haven’t even made some real progress on your work.

There will always be work distractions, isn’t it?

For those with jobs that require being online, alerts coming from email messages, social networking sites or chat programs would always be there unless we do something about them. There’s also the temptation of browsing over online news which would usually lead to opening more sites. For instance, you check the daily news and find yourself landing on the pages of the latest headlines in movies and entertainment. That’s how the web works, links are made more attractive to visitors with eye-catching or shocking headlines and flashy photos.

So, how do we combat online distractions? It’s as simple as attending to them on a scheduled basis or at certain times during the day. While we value our emails and connections with friends, we can control how these alerts come to us. For instance, you can turn off your email alert program while at work. Set a regular time for checking your emails or logging in to your chat program twice or thrice a day. These activities can also be done during breaks. In this way, you won’t be hounded by incessant alerts while you’re engrossed with some computations or composing a business letter. If you’ll be doing some online research, make sure to close your Facebook or YouTube windows so you won’t get distracted.

The next day, my handyman dad took out our do it yourself pest control and bombarded the affected areas with enough solution to keep them away, at least for some time. I really hope we can have the budget for a full pest control system for our house. For now, I try to keep regular check of the affected area for some new traces of pest attack. I also moved my books and paper documents to another cabinet, and placed instead some plastic containers and other non-paper materials. Dealing with pest attacks is another addition to my list of work-at-home distractions.

Just like any newbie to website building and development, he seemed intimidated just thinking about where and how to start. I explained a lot of things to him but told him it would be best to make his own blog first and learn the ropes in the process. I would be there to guide him of course.

We know there are so many free blogging platforms offered in the Internet nowadays. But I recommended to him to host his blog in his own domain. It simply is the best choice if you are serious about going into online ventures in the future as most free blogging sites are limited in features and customization.

If you’re planning to have your own website and domain name, it is a must to do a lot of research first before deciding on the first attractive webhosting package you see. Check out webhosting review sites to get a comparison of what the top webhosting companies have to offer. Whether you’re thinking of hosting your site on BlueHost, Hostgator or GoDaddy, do take time to read reviews from online resources for top webhosting companies. These informative sites provide detailed comparison of webhosting packages offered by the best webhosting companies listed and ranked according to value for money, basic features and performance with a corresponding detailed review of each site. Comparison sites provide detailed in-depth comparison chart with an exhaustive look into each hosting company package. Aside from comparing webhosting basic features, you also get more information on additional features such as website builder, shopping cart, traffic statistics, email, supported scripts, server backups schedule and more.

If only I’m a composer or one who have studied music and know how to translate these subconscious melodies into notes and weave them into real and tangible songs! Then I would surely build up the song further, and enhance it creatively with music production software such as ableton from musicians friend. For musicians and composers, these are some of the many creative and innovative tools in producing songs to bring out musical ideas better.

I often wonder if those brilliant musicians and composers also experienced waking up to new music in their minds? How easy it is for them then as they can easily transform and write these melodies into notes. I am not a composer, though I often secretly wish I can magically compose even a single song in my lifetime.

Most business owners and their management team usually decide on upgrading their company’s productivity and efficiency with office automation or renovated interiors. This is understandable as every company wants to have increase in clients and sales. An important factor however that most management tend to overlook would be investing in choosing a fresh approach to organizational transition processes. For instance, with a change management software, the transition process can be handled well. As an essential change management tool, organizations are better equipped to assess company situations, and implement new interventions and strategies.

Or maybe I’ll simply go back to dreamland to rest my aching head. ZzzzZzzzZzzz…

There seems to be an air of mystery around DJs. They sometimes talk in riddles or metaphors, drop hints, say something on air that everybody can hear but nobody really understands aside from those persons whom they meant to receive their ‘secret’ messages. I wonder how life is to be stuck inside a small acoustic-designed room for hours with loads of music paraphernalia on the wall and just being a DJ.

But this time, I’m wondering about something else… I am thinking about how it is if ever I’d be the DJ and have my own radio show. What sort of shows will I feature? Of course, my favorite artists will be on the list and how about a show that features expert advice on musical instruments and accessories, such as interviews with the pros about which gear to use for practices, gigs or events, as well as reviews of guitars, drums, and all sorts of musician’s gear. This talk show will definitely attract musicians who need inputs and ideas especially if they intend to purchase the latest Gibson electric-acoustic guitar or pedal train from musicians friend and other online suppliers of musical instruments.

Well, I wouldn’t be considering such thoughts if not for the free online services that lets you have your own free internet radio station – where radio enthusiasts can setup their own show and broadcast it over the internet at no cost. Such sites provide varied broadcasting technologies, you can broadcast whenever you want, or simulcast your preexisting show, or keep a 24/7 streaming channel. All that’s needed to start is to create your free account and register with a username, browse over their tutorial, and you’re ready to set up your own show which will then be aired around the globe. Most of these sites are user-friendly and don’t need software to install but can be easily accessed on the web.

Those interested to put up their own free internet radio station would need to ask themselves these questions:
“What will be my topic and theme?”
“What music will be featured?”
“What kind of audience am I aiming for?”

Most important is the reason for having the radio station – this will keep them going when there will be days that they just feel lazy to broadcast or go on air.

Broadcasting from home? That sounds cool. DJ or not, you might want to try this out.

Fast forward to many years until now, we have relied a lot on buying gifts for them or treating them to dinner. But for this year’s Mother’s Day, I decided to go old school and be more environment-friendly by making a DIY gift; recycling a used cream jar of Pond’s which I felt hesitant to throw away because it is a pretty one made of frosted glass with hard glossy cover.

Here’s a bit of what transpired after prying out the jar cover which was a real challenge: taking out the label, designing the graphic with the greeting, printing it out and cutting it into the desired shape and placing it inside the lid.

Coming up with the graphic was not that easy though, and I had to think quickly. Thankfully, the inkjet printer cooperated and didn’t break down otherwise I could have wished for help from one of those fast brochure printing companies that time. Whew!

Of course, I placed something inside the jar – the colorful beaded necklace we bought from the Negros Showroom. I wrapped it with a used cream-colored ribbon from a brownies box and placed it in her bed.

Mom was happy with it! She gave me her used night cream jar as well, to be worked on later. I have another used cream jar too, so that means two more jars to work my magic on. LOL.

I also baked two batches of dark moist chocolate cake, Mom’s all-time favorite dessert. That evening we just went out for dinner as a treat from my two sisters based in Europe. Our celebration was just a simple one but Mom was happy.

How did you celebrate Mother’s Day and pleased your Mom?

I usually check the weather via the Accuweather widget on my Android smartphone regularly and share the info when I think it’s needed, especially if we’re going out or on the road. Ever since I installed this temperature/weather app on my phone, I find myself checking it often just to get a feel of the day’s weather – if it will be raining or not, or how hot it’s going to be.

This morning we’re having a cloudy 31 degrees Celsius day. Hmmm… it looks like it will be raining this afternoon though, and I bet the temperature will go down. LOL. I’m just trying to predict the weather, I know. Cool rainy afternoons are best spent at home. How about sneaking in one of your comfort foods and staring dreamily at a heartwarming scene in front of you, such as some eye-catching flames emanating from one of those modern fireplaces from thesoothingcompany.com while playing your favorite classical songs in the background.

For some people though, monitoring the weather or temperature mean so much more. There are rooms which need accurate level of temperature for proper maintenance of electronic equipments such as servers. Most electronic devices need to be stored in low temperature settings, thus a temperature monitoring device is very important for them to function well. Maintenance staff rely on temperature gadgets to monitor AC units in server rooms, to protect the equipment from possible breakdown.

For instance, during my sister’s previous vacation, we stayed at her own one-bedroom condo unit in Paranaque, together with her two kids, my mom and dad, before their trip back to Europe. It was quite a blast even if we stayed for just few days. She commented that the unit was spacious for a single bedroom condo. I couldn’t agree more although I just wish that I could say the same thing for the bathroom which was just too small and cramped in space. I had difficulty bathing my baby nephew in the tub with the limited shower area. Oh well.

Talking about bathroom design, there’s a lot of inspiration one can get from the Internet, particularly from architectural and interior design websites. Here are some cool bathroom designs from Flickr photo sharing site.

What if your bathroom space is limited? I know this is the main concern for condo units which usually come with limited area for the bathroom. Not to worry though, just choose the right space-saving bathroom furniture and accessories to help you out. It’s also good to keep your bathroom squeaky clean and dry with bet mold removal products and disinfectants. A clean and well-maintained bathroom looks attractive and easy on the eyes.

Check out online bathroom furniture suppliers that offer a wide selection of bathroom styles and designs to choose from. They usually feature products such as bathroom tiles, toilets, shower enclosures, towel rails, mirrors and more, maybe even have a Jacuzzi collection. Most of these sites provide a search tool, simply enter your favorite keywords to get a filtered list of your preferred bathroom products. Also, be on the lookout for online suppliers currently offering some items on sale.