Acne, more commonly known as pimple, is classified as a skin disease caused by changes in the skin's health. Acne mostly affects adolescents, specifically more than 85% of the teenagers. Adults are also not exempted from acne though most cases started since teenage years and continued up to adulthood.

The teenager phase is the most crucial part of growing. This is where self-esteem tries to build up. But with a case of acne on your face, it is just hard to stand on the crowd and not get conscious of your acne. Everyday, more and more teens are finding the best solutions to get rid of the nasty acne. Acne doesn't look good and so persons with such are likely to be desperate in removing it.

I found three simple steps in minimizing the severeness of acne or better yet, removing it totally.

1. Cleanse
   
   We all know that the world is a polluted one. Our face also has pores and dust and other particles tend to get stuck in the pores. This is one way for acne to get severe. That is why cleansing the face with a facial cleanser or appropriate soap is the first thing to do in getting rid of your acne. Just make sure your facial cleanser won't irritate your skin and will surely kill 99.9% of surface bacteria. Cleanse your face before you get out of your house as well as before going to bed. Ensuring a clean face will also ensure that your acne can't get worse. Some acne cases even end on this step.
   
   
2. Treat
   
   Treating the skin after cleaning it is the logical next step to do. After making sure the skin is clean, treatment is already doable. Use a treatment gel on this step. So what does a treatment gel do? It will heal existing acne and will prevent new ones. This will also do a bit of Step 1 -- cleaning the pores. Treatment is a crucial part. Jumping to this step without cleansing is a no-no. Treating when your face is dirty will worsen the case -- dirt may get stuck up deeper into the pores. RECOMMENDED PRODUCT: Murad Acne Complex
   
   
3. Hydrate
   
   This is the last part and will just ensure your face is still visibly healthy inside and out after the treatment. To hydrate, use face lotion, hydrating gels or moisturizers. Don't use liquids with oils in it. To hydrate your skin is to ensure irritation won't occur and dryness won't come your way. It is always good to look fresh and hydrated. The recommended product above, Murad Acne Complex comes in with a Skin Perfecting Lotion.
   

People with acne must not lose hope. There are lots of way to get rid of your acne. Those three steps above is one way. It is always good to try out different kinds of treatments but just make sure that what you are applying on your face is safe and healthy for your skin. Excessive chemical application is not recommended. Good luck with your fight against acne!

Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplycute/

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This is a sneak peek of what I'm expecting for February. This is also a gratitude post for my Entrecard Top Droppers in January 2009.

January is now ending. What I will remember about it is that it has been one of the most difficult months in my school life. I have been exhausted many times in this month. But nevertheless, here I am still alive and kicking. I guess I survived Mr. Tough Guy January.

I haven't been active that much in Entrecard starting December up to now. But I am still so much glad that there are still a lot of other bloggers that dropped on my blog completely, with no day missed, for the month of January. Here are my Top 10 droppers for January 2009 and they are all tied up with 31 drops.

• Snapshotcap
• Comedy Plus
• Everything Under the Sun
• Random Ramblings
• The Ad Master
• Entreblogger
• The Matthias Chronicles
• Everyday Living
• verITableLIFE
• Lofty Matters

Since all are tied up, I'm using again the #ran feature of my scientific calculator to determine whose 125x125 widget will be shown on my sidebar (on the very first spot) for one month. And the result is: 0.528 which is The Ad Master. A sidebar ad for The Ad Master and the link love for the rest!

What I'm Expecting for February

• more hard days of school life
• JS Prom
• Valentines Day with no date
• more hard days of school life

I pray that God will help me in everything. Good luck to all of us for the second month of the year of the Ox! I'm supposed to be lucky this year; I'm Snake.

Photo by yoshiko314

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Some students just find the traditional classroom style of learning boring. Do you think sitting on the same chair and listening to your teacher's voice everyday is fun? I don't think so. And if I'd ask a gazillion young students that same question, they'd surely answer No. So that's why people thought of alternatives to the traditional teaching style. Others used multimedia, others used field trips and others used exhibits. But the wrong exhibit can be equally boring so teachers bringing their students for a exhibit visit should make sure the exhibit is worth visiting at.

This year, a new kind of exhibit will open in Orlando, Florida.

Grossology Exhibit - Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center will open an exhibit entitled Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. The first time I heard this I wondered why it is called Grossology. Is it gross? You better find out! Grossology aims to teach students about biology, life science and body functions and parts in a fun and interactive way.

Animatronics and inventive exhibits are used to teach students and kids everything about the human body from the best parts to the most yucky topics about the body. Even our body's secrets are revealed through this exhibit. Grossology is not only interactive and fun, it is gooey, slimy and oozy. If you know what I mean. Most of our body fluids are (think nose).

If I get the chance I'd surely pay the place a visit. Even if I'm in college, I'd surely still learn some things from the exhibit.

Know what, learning can be really really fun if done in a very happy and active manner. An interactive exhibit like this is one way to ensure that students really learn by heart and not because they need to to pass exams.

At Grossology, it is the students who'll seek for knowledge, not the other way around.

The exhibit will premiere on January 31, 2009 in 777 East Princeton Street, Orlando, Florida.

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The Samsung E250 mobile phone came out in late October. But now, two years later, it is still a chosen brand by many including me. I bought my Samsung E250 last September 2008 so now it is four months with me. My Samsung E250 is my very first phone that I bought myself. Here is my review of the Samsung E250:

Basically, the Samsung E250 is affordable. This phone is not a high-end phone like the latest Samsung models. This phone is basic but with a reasonable multimedia support. The phone is tri-band; it is very friendly to travellers. The screen size is also huge in 2.0 inches. If you want a phone with a large font, this is it. The Samsung E250 is a slider phone so there's no lock funtion actually. It supports up to 2GB of microSD card. The 2GB would support videos, mp3s, pictures and Java games. The camera is only VGA (640x480 pixels) though and is not really clear. It is hard to shoot pictures in poorly-lit environments. The video is also of poor quality.

The Samsung E250 supports Java games but installing the games is the worst thing that I ever did with this phone. Installing games is not easy as just transferring the jar files to the phone. There's a long and exhaustive process entailing it. I even forgot how to do it, but I really don't need games in my phone anyways.



The Samsung E250 also supports web browsing. In my experience, the speed is fast and the web menus (i.e. bookmarking, etc.) are good enough. The font again, is big. The phone's battery also doesn't drain fast. Just make sure you don't overcharge it. Here are more features of the Samsung E250 phone.

Dimensions: 99.5 x 49.5 x 14.1 mm
Weight: 80 g
Type: TFT, 65K colors
Size: 128 x 160 pixels, 2.0 inches, 32 x 40 mm
Type: Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3
Vibration: Yes
Phonebook: 1000 entries, Photocall
Call records: 30 dialed, 30 received, 30 missed calls
Card slot: microSD (TransFlash), 10 MB shared memory
GPRS: Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE: Yes
Bluetooth: v2.0 with A2DP
USB: v1.1
Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML
Colors: Silver, Black
Camera: VGA, 640x480 pixels, video(QCIF)
Other Features: Java MIDP 2.0, FM radio, MP3/AAC/AAC+ player, T9, Organizer, Built-in handsfree, Voice memo
Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 750 mAh
Stand-by: Up to 250 h
Talk time: Up to 5 h

Final Notes:

The Samsung E250 is a basic phone making it affordable. As you see, the specs are not very high-end and are the most basic. If you are a person who care more about function, a basic phone like Samsung E250 is the phone for you. Here in the Philippines, I bought it with a price of around PhP5000. That amount is already good with the features the E250 provides.

Photo by mobile_phones, m3ddl3rphoto, mania_mobile

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If I am not in the information technology or computer world right now, I'd probably go photography.

It has always been my dream to be a photographer. No, not the photographer you see in schools or high school graduations, but the photographer that captures every vivid memory to pass by time.

I'm a fan of the world -- both the natural and the artificial world. I wanted to keep those visions worth reliving in tangible ways -- through photos. It's good to keep memories about great sceneries, unforgettable events, or just simple things that go unnoticed. It's good to show other what they're supposed to see in the world that we're all living in.

But this dream of mine wouldn't materialize right now, right here. It is sad knowing that a lot of the things that I want to do in my life actually have to wait because of certain circumstances. I can't do photography now -- I have college, I have blogging. I also don't have a job which means I have no financial capacity to buy the best photography tools/units available. And I know my parents wouldn't provide me with such thing -- a want, not a need. So, as I have said, photography has to wait. I know when I grow older, photography would still be a fresh dream. I will keep on dreaming. For now, I have to focus on what I have to do first.

Please check out 42 Photo Cameras if you are also interested in photography. A lot of cool cameras there. I wish I could buy one myself someday. Probably next year.

Click! Click!

Photo by Flickr user www.flickr.com/photos/viamoi/

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I have been so amazed with the powers of the online world. When I was a little boy during primary school, the internet was introduced to me. There and then, I got attached to it, addicted to it. That's the same reason why I end up in a Computer Science course.

One prominent feature of the internet is the social networking facility which allows you to connect practically to anyone. Imagine today with no internet. Would you be able to virtually talk to a loved one outside of the country within seconds? Would you be able to bump to your long lost childhood friend? Would you be able to meet again your very first kiss? Yikes! The answer is yes -- rarely. And it boils down to a no.

Through the internet and through social media sites, you could meet the people you never thought you'd be able to meet again the rest of your life. Just recently, I have been communicating with my long lost classmates from my first school which I left without a word. It's a good feeling meeting these people again especially if you have memories with them in the past.

The internet brings in wonders -- both things predictable and unexpected. Do you have your own online story to share?

Photo by luc_legay

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Did you know that Real Estate means Big Money? Or mathematically,
REAL ESTATE = BIG MONEY

Yes, real estate investing has become a target of business-minded individuals or groups that aim to take hold of huge amounts of profits. Real estate investment is no joke. It is not as easy as 1-2-3. It takes time and a handful of skills to be able to be successful in such field.

One of the must-have skills in real estate business is risk management. Like any other business ventures, real estate investment can be a ground of dangerous play. That is, anything could happen most especially fraudulent acts which may lead to the investor's or buyer's financial loss.

Here are some of the most common risks associated with real estate investment and some strategies to lessen such risks from happening.

• Adverse possession - From Wikipedia, adverse possession is the process by which title to another's real property is acquired without compensation, by, as the name suggests, holding the property in a manner that conflicts with the true owner's rights for a specified period of time. This means that somebody claims ownership of a property without giving any credit to the real owner. For example, if Mr. A owns Property A but in secret Mr. B is selling the property as his without Mr. A knowing, then that's adverse possession. To avoid such, hire a licensed surveyor and ask a boundary survey.
• Fraudulent sale - Fraud is everywhere and is high in real estate business. It is always necessary to verify information given by sellers or buyers and to verify provided documents too. In this age of technology, documents can be easily falsified or created fake, so it is good to verify from trustworthy sources too.
• System failure - Properties must be checked before purchasing to identify broken parts or those that need attention. It is always good to do maintenance routines on properties.
• Overpayment at purchase - Do not rely on one and only one appraisal. Always do cash analysis to get the most appropriate value of a property. You may be paying more than what you are getting if you don't take a deep look on things.
• Cash shortfall - Almost a common risk in all types of businesses. Set aside an amount of money to cover for costs like maintenance and for debt services.
• Economic downturn - Always remember that businesses cling to the economic situations. Some types of real estate properties may depreciate over time and some may not. It is always good to be prepared. I heard houses are so cheap in the USA nowadays because of the recession.
• Tenant destruction of property - Some people just don't know how to take care of your properties. Get a good housekeeper or property manager.
• Underestimation of risk - This is the most important part. Always remember that risk can come out in the open anytime. If it does, don't be too relaxed and confident that you'll solve it. Some look fine but are destructive through time. Always be prepared for anything.

Because of such possible risks, it is always good to know every side of real estate investment from a true mentor and expert. Expert Dean Graziosi said that NO RISK means NO SUCCESS. So don't be afraid to venture in real estate investment. You can study about real estate investment from the book Be a Real Estate Millionaire by Dean Graziosi. Also, don't hesitate to ask some help from other investors regarding problems, issues and financial matters in forums like in the Dean Graziosi forums.

Real estate investment is a challenging but rewarding type of business venture. This is also one way for you to go big time.

Photo by thinkpanama - http://www.flickr.com/photos/23065375@N05/

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The Top Five Cancer-Causing Foods

1. Hot dogs - Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.
2. Processed meats and bacon - Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.
3. Doughnuts - Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4. French fries - Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer-causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .
5. Chips, crackers, and cookies - All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

The Top 10 Brain Damaging Habits

1. No Breakfast - People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2. Overeating - It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
   
3. Smoking - It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
   
4. High Sugar consumption - Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
   
5. Air Pollution - The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
   
6. Sleep Deprivation - Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
   
7. Head covered while sleeping - Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
   
8. Working your brain during illness - Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
   
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts - Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
   
10. Talking Rarely - Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.

The Main Causes Of Liver Damage

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
   
2. Not urinating in the morning.
   
3. Too much eating.
   
4. Skipping breakfast.
   
5. Consuming too much medication.
   
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
   
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
9. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
   

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Sometimes, we are all too busy to arrange and clean our bed everyday because of our super busy lives. Some of us are trained not to leave the bed after waking up. But some also don't care about their bed much and go to their ordinary lives like nothing's gonna happen. But this shouldn't be the case.

Aside from germs accumulating in your bed sheets or just dirt from your body (we shed off a lot of dead skin everyday), there are creepy little creatures that could find abode in your comfy bed. Aside from ants (if you eat on your bed), we also have the most common bed-dwelling creature, the bedbug. Do you know what a bedbug bite can cause you? Bedbugs are like flies -- they carry harmful diseases that could transfer from one host to another. You could be next. From Wikipedia, there are 27 known pathogens that could reside in a bedbug. Bedbugs though are less harmful than fleas. When regularly bitten by bedbugs, anemia could also result.

So what should we do?

For one, after waking up, arrange the bedsheets and the pillows and clean off any dust or particles that are on your bed. Same before going to bed. Always make sure you change the sheets regularly and the pillowcases too. Don't eat on your bed. And don't go to bed when you're dirty (i.e. dirty feet or hands) as this could attract "monsters".

The bed is just a small part of your house. There's no excuse for not cleaning it.

Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamburgerjung/

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I have just read about colon cancer. Colon cancer is medically called colorectal cancer. And surprisingly, colon cancer is not only the term for cancerous growths in the colon but also in the rectum and appendix.

Colon cancer is caused by an unhealthy diet which includes excessive alcohol. Heredity is also a factor. From Wikipedia, colon cancer deaths account to 655,000 per year. That's a pretty big number. Here in the Philippines, the prominent person having colon cancer is our former president Corazon Aquino. She was diagnosed last year and I guess she's been doing good in her medical treatments. Which means, colon cancer can be fought.

But prevention is always better than cure

Just like any other part of the body, the colon can be very healthy if accompanied by a balanced diet and healthy living. High consumption of meat (which I love to do) is one cause of such cancer. A high fiber intake on the other (which I must always do) decreases the chances of colon cancer. But sometimes we can't avoid all those sweets and yummy unhealthy food. They're just so tempting. The suggestion would be a colon cleanser which will be helpful in detoxifying your body. Recent findings also found out that calcium supplementation is helpful in the prevention of colorectal adenomatous polyps. Other than that, a regular body checkup including the colon will be helpful. Sometimes, colon cancer is hereditary and it is better to trace your family's medical history not only for colon cancer but for any other hereditary disease.

Final Notes

Because of an unhealthy living most of us are doing right now, it is good not to forget about the conditions of our body and body organs. I know most of the horrifying illnesses come out in the later years of our lives. We may not feel the effects of our bad lifestyle now but we may suffer in the coming years. I hope I could have a perfectly healthy living. And hope you do too.

To see more prevention tips for colon cancer, see this article in About.com: Top 10 Colon Cancer Prevention Tips

Photo by mollywtx

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What do you think is society's definition of a sexy and hot body? Is it a flabby arm, a bulgy tummy, or huge legs? I don't think so. Society well dictates what's in and what's not. When it comes to the tummy area, what's "in" for guys is the 6-pack package and what's "in" for gals are the smooth curves and flat tummy. Because of these stereotypes, a lot of people have been quite obsessed with improving their body structure. It may not be totally a good thing but doing this can also bring in health benefits. What's not good about trying to get the flat tummy though is leaving out other more weighty priorities.

Obtaining the tummy you've always wanted is NOT easy. Who ever told you it is easy? If someone did, then they probably have nothing to do but work out all day. Here are some ways to grab a Ms. Universe curve or a surfer dude's abs.

• Eat right - Obviously, this is the obvious answer. Cut down on the sweets and fatty food. It may be yummy (I attest to that) but it won't do much good for your body. More of the vegetables and fruits, less on artificial, junk or fast food.
• Exercise regularly - People have formulated a lot of exercise routines for your abdominal area. What you really need is TIME and EFFORT. A lot fail at this one because they lack the two. Also remember, exercising regularly doesn't mean exercising everyday. Your body's not a toy.
• Live a healthy lifestyle - Combining the two aforementioned would be great. Cut on alcohol and other body-damaging toxins. Go healthy food! Be pro-active. And have a positive mindset.
• Tummy tuck - The fastest and surest way to get the flat belly you've always dreamed of. This may cost you some hefty amount but if you REALLY want the sexy you, go for it! Companies who offer such great services like Belo (Philippines) and MYA Cosmetic Surgery (Europe) also suggest not to put liposuction (tummy tuck) above living a healthy lifestyle. Tummy tuck is not a complete alternative.

A lot of people want their bodies to look so good and hot that they resort to anything just to achieve what they want. Just remember, anything done in excessive is not good for our body.

Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/extra_sour/

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Yes, you heard that right. Just minutes ago I had my second encounter with a small house snake.

My First Encounter

Our family went out and when we returned, I immediately went to my room to change. I did not turn the lights on yet when I walked in my own room. Then suddenly I step foot on something thin and slimy and it slid away. Curious what that was, I turned on the lights and checked under the bed. There I saw a small snake wriggling. I was so afraid I ran out and stupidly, called for help. I was ignorant then of which snakes are venomous or not. But I still fear biting animals. The small snake was killed by our neighbor.

My Second Encounter

I was walking in our living room and turned around the center table so I could position myself in front of the TV when something slid past my foot. I didn't care then and proceeded to sitting on the sofa when I noticed something thin, long and slimy wriggling under the glass center table. So it is a snake. I told my mom and she killed it. I did not tell her to kill the snake. I told her after that she should've spared the small snake and let it free in the wild. But she said it'll grow big. I pity the snake. It was gasping. It looked so poor. The small snake... (But if that was a big snake I would have fled somewhere else away from the living room)

Why Me?

Why is it only me who seem to be able to get in situations with snakes in our house? And it always happen through my foot! Is it because my zodiac sign's Snake?

After the incident I searched for some more info about snakes. I pity the snakes. I found an article entitled Snakes, Love Them Don't Hate Them. After reading, I imagined myself making snakes as pets and thought maybe not. But now I understand why we should respect snakes and their environment.

But don't get me wrong. I'd still run away if I see a big snake nearby. Poisonous or not. Snakes are my phobia. I'm sorry.

I still can't get over the look of the small dying snake. :(
I'm so sorry Lord my mom killed the snake.

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Yes, I just added another blog on my list. I named it What About Bryan?. You may have heard of the TV Series What About Brian. I based the name from that. The only difference is the spelling. Actually the title makes sense. This new blog will be about me and purely about me. This blog your reading now may contain some ideas of which that really don't reflect who I am but only reflect what I do or know. The new one will be different. And it doesn't do Entrecard so you may not accidentally bump on it. It is still new so the post count is literally low. I hope you'd be dropping by on the new blog often! Thank You!

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McDonalds is not only home of the yummiest burger and fries (we ate there yesterday in Ayala) but home to many of the best-made commercials to air in national TV. I remember how their Karen and Gina commercial was a hit when I was a kid. Now they have added another local commercial entitled, "First Love".

With "Ang Huling El Bimbo" by Eraserheads as the soundtrack and with amazing actors on hand, the First Love commercial has become one of my favorite commercials. With a minute and 2 seconds, a complete story has been made. The song reminds me of my childhood. Ang Huling El Bimbo came out when I was small and I hear it almost everyday alongside with other Eraserheads songs. And the commercial's story is perfect. I mean, poor guy. Here's the last line:

"At kahit hindi rin naging kami sa huli, siya pa rin ang first love ko."

Perfect.

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"Take advantage of Software as a Service (SaaS) to help your BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) business take off."

The IT industry opens up a new trend. It is called Software as a Service or SaaS for short. SaaS helps small companies gain competitive advantage without paying much in acquiring new technologies. Instead of buying and owning the needed software, a company can now simply rent it by logging on to the relevant SaaS website. The fees are not too heavy. It usually entails a monthly or annual fee and some may already include the maintenance fee.

To put this clearly, let's list down four (4) advantages of renting a software instead of buying it.

The Advantages of Software as a Service

• Rapid deployment - Deployment means all of the activities that make a software system available for use. When you buy software, it takes time for it to get delivered and set up. With SaaS, the software will be ready for use within a short period only since the relevant SaaS website will be the one hosting softwares available for the company.

• Less IT infrastructure requirements - Renting a software won't require your company to physically set the infrastructure requirements. No physical implementation. No direct maintenance. The SaaS website where the hosted software application is rented will manage almost all these.

• Access to new technologies - SaaS website or companies are always updated. This means your company will also be updated to the newest additions in technological advancements.

• Freedom of choice - Your company could choose among the many fully hosted saas solutions. There's a wide list of available software. Fees may vary though.

The SaaS way is just like an ordinary business transaction. The only difference is that software is the object being rented in this rather than any other object. The system is not complex and a lot of SaaS companies are willing to help. It is suggested for small businesses or companies to look out for the best rentable softwares to optimize the business growth.

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It is always good to have siblings, whether we like it or not. They're our friends at home. They're family. But one funny issue is that siblings also love to argue and fight each other. Oh not just the ordinary teasing and hiding of stuff, but the mean ones, where one gets angry and steaming. So when do siblings stop fighting?

Never probably. Well in my case, I'm still 19 and my sister's 14 so I expect the arguments and fighting not to recede any moment. Don't worry, it's not everyday. But just today, an hour ago, I witnessed this funny experience. Today's sort of a family reunion where almost all of my aunts and uncles, my grandparents and their siblings, my cousins and their respective families and our family gathered for the death anniversary of my great grandfather. One uncle is teasing my godmother about her not bringing anything for the said gathering while my other aunts brought some desserts/food. To make the short story shorter, my godmother got pissed off, really pissed off, and did not stop arguing and talking and walked out after her meal's done. 

No tension anyways. The "elders" were laughing. And we then ate ice cream. What's funny is that they're all in their 40's or 50's and they still fight for a reason such as teasing. I think that's really life. You grow up, grow old, you think you've changed but along the way, the childishness in you would still get out. 

I like that. I don't want to get old nor want to stop making fights with my sibling. That's the color of life. 

Photo

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A lot of people are actually wine lovers. I have witnessed a lot of households stacking up a lot of reserve wine on their shelves. Unlike the ordinary beer, people don't think badly of wines. Wines have numerous health benefits so to mention -- red wine specifically. But I'm not here to discuss the health benefits of drinking wine.

Certain rich households, hotels and establishments have adapted newer ways of displaying the best wine choices. You don't see Bordeaux, Chianti, Merlot or Novelino just standing straight in the shelves anymore like that of the image on the right of a vintage hotel. Wines can now be displayed through a lot of varying wine holders that can be bought in several stores.

Here are several images of unique and well-designed wine holders that suit any kind of household.



From Left to Right:

• Stainless Steel Bottle Holder
  
• Blomus Chrome Bottle Holder
• Blomus Stainless Steel Bottle Holder 2

What do you think? Would you rather just let your wine bottles stand on the shelf or place them on those special kind of bottle holders?

Find more on The Stainless Steel Store.

Photo courtesy of www.stainlesssteelstore.com & www.flickr.com/photos/merwells/

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Last November 2008, I bought my very first laptop. The model is Compaq Presario CQ40 - 107AU. I bought it in Octagon in SM Cebu. Their service is great. And I learned a lot from the salesman about the store itself.

Anyways, I decided to buy a laptop because I could use it in my school works. Apparently, our desktop is getting so old and cranky that I'm having a hard time with it. And I'm bored of it. My mom and I decided to buy a Compaq because it is affordable and HP Compaq's are known to have good quality. By the way, this is the laptop that I'm paying through my little earnings in blogging.

The laptop is now two months old with me. Still, it has not malfunctioned ever since. I have no problems with it.

Here's my own review of the Compaq Presario CQ40-107AU

• Design:It looks simple and slim. What I like most is the shiny outer surface. It doesn't look dull. Though it is hard to protect from scratches, I can manage. This laptop is simple, sexy and good looking.
  
• Speed: It is already fast enough with an AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core Processor 1.9 GHz. A student like me could be well satisfied with such speed. Applications used by students or non-professionals don't really demand a higher speed. Besides, compilers don't really need a fast computer. Maybe Netbeans.
• Memory: The 1GB RAM (upgradable to 8GB) is already sufficient and good. No qualms about it. The 160GB hard disk capacity is already huge for me. My movies are even stacked up in my hard D yet it isn't full at the moment yet.
• Sound: The speakers are loud enough -- in a not-so-noisy environment. But when in a noisy place, the speakers are not that hearable.
  
• Other features: The webcam is okay. The mouse area is unique. The screen is wide enough and crisp. The DVD writer is good. The keyboard is easy to use although mine has some problems with the right side Shift.
  

Compaq Presario CQ40-107AU Specifications

Operating system installed: FreeDOS
Processor type: AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs QL-60
• 1.90 GHz, 1 MB L2 Cache, Up to 3600 MT/s system bus running at AC/DC mode 35 watt
Standard memory: 1024 MB
Memory type: DDR2 667MHz
Memory layout: (1 x 1024 MB)
Maximum memory: Supports up to 8 GB DDR2 memory

System features
Internal storage: 160 GB
Hard disk drive speed: 5400 rpm
Optical drive type: SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Display size: 14.1” Diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display
Graphic subsystem name: ATI Radeon™ HD 3200 Graphics
External I/O ports: 3 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 VGA, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45, 1 Stereo headphone-out, 1 Microphone in
Speakers and microphone: Altec Lansing® speakers
Network interface: Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Modem: High speed 56K modem
Wireless technologies: Wireless LAN 802.11b/g

Dimensions / weight / warranty
Dimensions (W x D x H): 33.4 cm (L) x 23.7 cm (W) x 3.3 cm (min H) / 4.0 cm (max H)
Weight: 2.29 kg
Power supply type: 65 W AC Power Adapter
Battery type: 6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery

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Special thanks to Dedeandro for giving me the Butterfly Award.

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Did you start your new year right? Anyways, this post will be all about lights.

Before New Year, my grandmother and my mother bought chandeliers from a warehouse in Cebu City. I forgot the warehouse's name though. The picture you see on the left is our chandelier. I know it looks too simple but that's our very first chandelier at home. And I know we can't afford to spend for a bigger and brighter chandelier. But what effect did it make to our living room. The house went brighter. Very bright. Though in the picture it isn't obvious. I took that in the morning. Here are more pictures of our simple chandelier. I think it looks better with the lights off.

Anyways, do you have chandeliers or some big well designed lights at home?

Why lighting is important

Light signifies good things. And a house with a dim lighting would look sullen (or maybe saving on energy). But then again, lighting is an important aspect a house should look on for. There are many ordinary households that use energy-saving bulbs to at least minimize electricity cost yet maintain a well lit home. A well-lit house is a healthy house.

What I notice

What I notice is that ordinary houses rarely use chandeliers. They only use the ordinary fluorescent or incandescent lights that are available on the supermarket. Houses that are situated within villages or subdivisions have lights that look like mini-chandeliers or even chandeliers actually (e.g. George Kovacs or Fine Art Lamps). I think it is a misconception that only the rich use those kind of lights. We are not rich yet we have one.

I know it is bad to spend on things like that. But once in a while, it's good to invest in something that will add spice to how the house looks. But it's all the decision-maker's choice though.

Lighting must also be looked at. Try mounting a new lighting style somewhere in your house and see how it transforms the moment the new light is turned on.

Did you have some lights to brighten up your house for 2009?

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It's time again for the annual celebration of Sinulog here in Cebu City. For non-Pinoys, Sinulog is a feast in honor of the child Jesus. The highlight usually is the big street dancing that happens around Cebu City. Sinulog is very colorful.

Last year's Sinulog, my first

Last year was the first time I went to see the streetdancing and celebrations in Cebu City. I was with my friends. That was a cloudy and a bit rainy day but it never stopped us from walking long distances just to see the street dancing. Yes, no traffic. Almost everyone are walking -- even stars! The day was filled with the street dancing. It was grand. The night ended with a very beautiful fireworks show by Ayala Center Cebu. Very beautiful. I regret I didn't bring any camera or cellphone to capture those moments.

Check this page out for the schedule of activities for this year's Sinulog: Sinulog Festival 09 Schedule.

This year's Sinulog, my second?

I don't know if I'm going to the city again to celebrate. Yeah, I live outside the city. My friends don't have any anticipation for it anyways. We only really loved the fireworks last year. The dancing was cool but we weren't really excited with it. And my female friends would only look out for the good-looking male dancers and those walking around (Sorry guys, I spilled it out). The reason for the low excitement is... a project due the day after the next of Sinulog. Plus a play about Florante & Laura. Talk about academics killing fun. I love to watch the fireworks display. But going to the city just to watch some fireworks would cost me around 50 pesos. I don't know if it is worth it.

I know what I'm going to do. Since celebration starts the day before and the main event's on Sunday, I'll be buying some stuff on Saturday! Yeah, malls will be having a sale. I hope.

Since my friends have no plans and one will have a date, does it mean I'm not going? Anybody there who'd like to go with me? Nobody, yeah I know. But in case, just tell me. Okay?

Pit Senyor!

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Well I won't really call it something significant, but I'd like to pinpoint on some changes I'm making with my blogging 'acts' this year.

This blog started last September (August 31 exactly) and it has been running for months already, most of its life with a PR 3, which I got thanks to a friend. I have learned so much. I have unlearned so much. I gained a lot. I equally lost a lot. And I have so much to learn about this world we call the blogosphere.

Guilty, I am

I feel guilty. Sort of. Before, I was frenzied with paid posts. Money makes my eyes big. Now, I admit I still do it (not in a low quality way) but I still feel guilty to readers who might hate what they see. But I have no choice. This is the necessary evil. I have to pay monthly for my laptop which I bought mainly for my studies. I pay it, not my mom, not anybody else. But I'm also sort of proud of my paid reviews. Why? I pick what I know. Just this afternoon, there are two paid post opportunities but it's about breast reduction. What do I know about that? I didn't and won't take it. If I did, I'd have lied in my post. Some of my paid reviews also made it to EzineArticles.com and got some readers there. At least, I extracted something good from those.

Envious, I am

Phew! Honestly, I get envious of other blogs whose posts are 100% (or maybe 90%) original content. I'd like to do the same. And that probably brought me to make my second blog, Bryan Karl dot Com, free of paid posts and nasty affiliate links. I hope I'd stay it that way. For my readers.

Choices and goals, I have

Because of having two blogs and because of having a very difficult school life and course, I have to choose which one to give more weight. I picked studies. But I won't leave my blogging life. Never. I'd just like to relax a bit from 'dropping', specifically. Contents will still pour in once in two days (or regularly). I'd also like to focus on my second blog. I hope it will gain max speed sometime this year.

That's all for now. Maybe I'd change this blog's layout. Or not? I don't know. It would be a hassle. I'm still too preoccupied with studies. But I'm not making any major qualms about it. I put a clear line between blogging and studies that I make sure neither affects the other.

I still hope some of my readers would come back often even if I sort of lie low from Entrecard (as I have personal blogging-related issues with it also). If there's one person who could truly understand me, it's my real blogger friend, blanne. Who else?

See you around everyone!

Photo by JF Sebastian

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So why pratice?

This is a funny quote from Ai-Ai delas Alas' new movie, Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat. Though I haven't seen the movie, that quote is always played back during the commercials in TV so probably, everybody have memorized her funny sayings.

I'm not going to make any movie review here. I told you, I haven't seen the movie. What I'm going to do is make a "reflection" on her funny quote. Not to treat it seriously but just examine it.

"Practice makes perfect; but then again, nobody is perfect, so why practice?" makes sense, for me. Okay, I'm not actually the ultimate lazy guy, but I'm basing my agreeing with it from a philosophy student's point of view (Hey, to all philosophy graduates, forgive me if I have wrong ideas here. I know you know philosophy can't be mastered in just one sem). But it's also wrong in another way. What IF the one's who created those two sayings were only giving opinions and the society just agreed? How did he know that nobody is perfect? What if somebody is actually perfect? How did he know that practice makes perfect? What if practice makes imperfect? And what is perfect? Maybe the dictionary definition is another opinion? Haha, I know I'm both confusing and confused. I still have to devour every piece of info I learn in philosophy class.

Can anyone share their opinion on this: How do we know we are not dreaming right now? What if we are just dreaming that we are dreaming in our sleep? Anyone who could give a strong answer is a great philosopher!

Photo by DownTown Pictures

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Valentines is coming, sort of. It is what usually follows the New Year holiday. And so lovers, family members and friends all around the world may be now thinking of preparing gifts for the Valentine season. I have made a post entitled “The Latest Trends in Watches for Men” last January 2, 2009. Here I am writing a related post talking about something particular already.

Citizen Watches

Who doesn’t know the watch brand Citizen? They have been around for decades already. Your great great grandparents may have used this brand. Truly a classic. The name Citizen has stayed so long, up to now, in the market because of it undeniable durability and good function. They have been upgrading their technologies (they’re recognized worldwide as a leader in advanced technology) to include the world’s slimmest LCD watch, the world’s first voice recognition watch, and the world’s first professional dive watch having a depth sensor.

Citizen Eco-Drive Watch

This is their latest model being tagged as Ecologically Friendly Timekeeping. How do they make it eco-friendly? These watches are light-driven or light-powered. It therefore needs no battery and no battery waste means a healthier environment. Don’t worry; you don’t need the sun all the time. It can run on ANY type of light, natural or artificial.

Personally, I suggest the Citizen AR1054-52E Men's Eco-Drive Two Tone Stiletto Black Dial as a gift for men. Simple and sleek.

The Citizen Eco-Drive Watch, a perfect gift idea

When you give this as a gift, you don’t only make one person happy; you make the whole world happy. You flattered a person and at the same time you helped the earth retain its ecological balance. Therefore citizen watches make really good gifts for Valentines and for any other occasion possible.

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Philippines is a victim of a very rough destiny. In our history, we could see that we were continuously exploited by outside forces over and over again. We were always the victim. And now, look at our country, still branded as third world. Is there no hope for our country?

Poverty is widespread. The rich can't feel that. The poor suffer so much. The middle class sees everything. People are flocking out of the country to migrate literally. So what are the reasons why we never progress just like Korea did after their experience of too much poverty (more than the poverty we have right now)? I don't want to be negative about this but I'm looking at it in an unbiased judgment now. So, to all optimists for Philippines, excuse me first, okay?

1. The Government- Something is wrong with it. Something is wrong with them. And no action is played. If not corrupt, the officials are savage. If not both, then useless. Though let's not brand all of them as bad officials, but most are. Just tune in to the news about a government official beating up a minor and an elder, you'll see.
2. The People - We are not united. Do you know that crab mentality is now not heard, but felt? Yes. Read this article of a Korean about Philippines: Essay about Philippines. It is stated there that we Filipinos love to go to Church yet the moment we get outside the holy place, we act as if we were never there. We hear the words but we don't do it in reality. Sad but true.
   
3. Migration - Do you know that there are piles and piles of immigration applications for USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, etc.? And take note, only those who have professional level or are graduates dare to apply. This means a bye bye to the country's professionals. This can increase poverty and this is also caused by poverty. Where does it end?
   
4. The Foreign Countries - We get affected by whatever's happening in the Middle East, USA, China or Japan. I mean, all of the countries do but we can't cope with it well, I guess. Also, they love to influence us and the youth just love to be influenced! I, included.
5. Everything - The government attracts people by their words, half of the people follow. And the other half of that people kept on rallying. Rallying. Period. The government is hated, and the government creates reasons to be hated. A never ending scenario. I'm even confused how this started.

I apologize if you didn't understand the points as I myself am confused of the situation our country is in. I know we are not in our poorest but I am only speaking from an observationist's point of view. I'm not leftist. My mom would freak out if I were one. I believe there's hope. But that belief is waning. Happy New Year Philippines! What awaits us this year, let's be prepared.

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Are you planning to build a house this 2009? Owning your own land and house is a big investment. Its sole ownership is truly yours and not to anyone else. But starting out is a difficult phase. First and foremost, you have to set aside a huge amount of budget for the whole project, not only for the materials. If the budget is ready, you then have to find somebody to design or plan the house, its structuring, size, etc. This is the phase that we are going to discuss in this post.

Planning and design of the house can be made by you. Possible. But expect a lot of flaws in the design. That is why most people hire a professional, an architect, to do the house plan and make the blueprint. An architect will also make sure that the budget you present will fit the whole project's financial requirements. But the cost of an architect is expensive. Just by creating the house plan would cost you $50-$150 dollars per hour, though this is negotiable.

Because of the difficulty of meeting that high cost due to the recession that we are experiencing, a lot of future homeowners turn to professionally-prepared house plans that are available not through a face-to-face architect but online. Practicality-wise, this is a good move. House plans that are available online are also architect-made but they are less costly because of its being a package already. The choices for house plans available online are not limited. Most sites that offer house plans now present around 40 architectural styles to choose from.

If you are planning to purchase a house plan, visit House Plans by House Plans and More. House Plans and More offer great choices like Country House Plans and Log Home floor plans among others.

Photo by Flickr user MumbleyJoe

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Watches have now become an important part of the body. Aside from keeping you updated with time, watches already have become part of the style group. Year after year, manufacturers and designers together upgrade or improve the look and designs of watch, together with varying timekeeping abilities and varieties. Men's watch trends change every year just like that of women's. Since we are just on the mouth of a new year, let's take a look at what's "in" for men's watches.

Leather, the classy look

Leather straps are "in" again (and will always be). What's good with leather is that it is wearable on any type of occasion. Leather is already a regular in the world of fashion and clothing; watches not exempted. The classic leather look is not what we are talking about here. The newest style is the wide leather wristband which has made a buzz in the market. Leather strap combined with leather wristband is also a choice for many teen males and fathers alike. The image on the left is a Nike Sledge Analog.


Mesh band steel watch, conservative

Those who wants to stay in the serious and conservative part of society can still enjoy the benefits of being glorified with their style. Steel watches with mesh bands have lived a long time already yet millions still use them for any purpose possible. The mesh bands give the crispiness of the strap and the grand looking time eye is an addition.

Funky, groovy and colorful

So if you are a teen, a boy, a kid or just young at heart and wants to keep up with the latest look of time, then watches with funky watchstraps are perfect for your arm. Velcro, nylon or terry cloth straps can go multicolored and still look good when paired with the right outfit. Watches like this are purely casual, and businessmen who are tempted to wear one in their meetings should not take hold of these.

Modern and techy

New styles of watches have been added just recently. Modern ones that offer a unique way are all available. Magnetic watches are famous among the rich people; those watch eyes that are held by magnetic force from the strap. Another new one is hiding the watch face. The watch would look like a bracelet when in reality, it is a watch.

There are a lot of trendy watches to look out for guys. Now it is 2009, let's not be left behind by the fast-paced movement of time and everything that it encompasses, style not exempted.

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I am not so much into TV shows anymore when I started blogging and when school started to be very harsh. That's why being "engrossed" in watching a particular TV show nowadays is quite a new thing for me.

I never spared a time before to watch Pinoy Fear Factor, Philippines' version of the worldwide reality hit Fear Factor, because it was sort of boring and very serious (unlike Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition). But just recently, two weeks before (my guess), they changed the way Pinoy Fear Factor is presented, and that is "with a twist". Now, Marc Logan is hosting it in primetime and Ryan Agoncillo is still the one seriously hosting the show in Argentina. Marc Logan never fails when it comes to making anything funny. That's what made me watch Pinoy Fear Factor now. I like their stunts, I know the contestants already and I know the show. And I can't dare not to laugh when watching it. Marc Logan makes comical voices for the participantes. And he makes voices for the creatures too. An hour before New Years Eve, the PFF episode showed previews for the happenings to be aired in 2009 and I'm quite excited. But sadly, next year's episodes will get back to serious mode again. I'll try if I can manage their seriousness.

I wonder who'll be the El Ultimo Participante. My bet is either Manuel or Jommy. The chicas are not that strong as the chicos are. So, they can't possibly get the cash prize.

Are you a Pinoy Fear Factor fan too? Or are you already tired of reality TV shows? Ugh, I hate it when I get addicted to a TV show. It eats up my time. Bye for now.

Photo by Flickr user froneljones

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There are a lot of things that you can do to start the New Year right. You could go in parties, you could cook exotic food, play sports that you never played at all and most of all, bond with your loved ones in a very special place. They say the best place to complement a total family bonding is a haven-like paradise, a place where problems don't go. We're talking about grand resorts here, where you could practically do anything. Now we'll talk about the hottest destination in the world. And that is...

Jamaica

The best resorts reside in Jamaica (just like a lot of South American countries). Jamaica is filled with a lot of seascapes and landscapes being sculpted together to form an Eden in earth. Breezes Runaway Bay is one of the many popular destinations to look for while in Jamaica.

Other famous resorts in Jamaica, located in Negril and Runaway Bay are the Grand Lido Resorts. Grand Lido Resorts are well-known specifically as honeymoon spots. Romantic vacations usually take place in such resorts. So if you mean husband or wife for family, this is the right place. Newly-weds will have the time of their lives.

What Breezes has to offer for to-be-weds and newly-weds alike

Breezes Resorts don't only offer honeymoon services, they also take weddings. What would the perfect wedding be like? A lot of couples, much of them, usually dreamt of a beach wedding, during the sunset, with the breeze offering its gentleness and the fresh smell of the ocean. Too ideal but with Breezes Resorts, possible. Breezes Resorts can give you the wedding of your lives - luxurious wedding we call it. The best of the best Carribean Weddings take place only in Breezes Resorts.

Jamaica is reachable via a lot of airlines. Jamaica offers vast choices of activities for an action-seeking tourist. One could go horseback riding, cruising, parasailing, shopping, biking, diving and a lot more. The moment you land in Jamaica, seek immediately for a Jamaica all inclusive resort so you'll have maximum fun and bonding all the time.


Family time is precious time. Family time in a very special place is more than precious time. Memories last forever. They better be snapshotted in a paradise so they could continue to live on for a lifetime .

Photos by Flickr users rastapong & Ejimofor The Photographer

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I want to greet all the readers of Bryan Karl | Everything Online and Bryan Karl dot Com Earning, Blogging, Tips and More a happy, happy New Year!

I just wish and pray that all will be better and well in 2009. The previous year, 2008, was a tough one and hope 2009 will not be, but instead bring in more blessings, more happiness and more peace of course. I also hope that everyone will have better lives in the 365+ days of 2009. And hopefully, the worldwide crisis would slow down or better yet, get away.

I'd like to thank the Lord, my family, my friends, to the people I know, to the people I do not know, to the bloggers out there, for all making my 2008 worthwhile. Hope you continue to do so in 2009.

Again, Happy New Year, Good Luck, God Bless, and Happy Blogging!
Another 12 months await us!

Entrecard Time!

Here are my Top Droppers for Entrecard during December! A link love for the ten of you.

1. Mrs. G
2. ThinkingOutLoudBlog.com
3. Money Maker Times
4. flitting on fiction
5. The Virtual Dime Museum
6. The Ad Master
7. Paperkraft.net
8. Everyday Living
9. Small Town Mommy
10. 14-Year-Old Kid Tech Guru

And they all deserve to be called TOP droppers because they all got 31 drops for me in December. I used the #ran feature of my sci calculator again to determine whose 125x125 ad will be placed in the sidebar for a month. And the one month sidebar ad goes to 0.929, which means dropper #9, Small Town Mommy. I'd like to say special thanks to ThinkingOutLoudBlog.com for being in the top for two consecutive months.

Happy New Year!

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