Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Monday, September 27, 2010
On the Web, Children Face Intensive Tracking
E found this article in the 20 Sept 2010 print version of the Wall Street Journal. I found it online here. It is a long article with quite a lot of other links to related articles but it is worth reading. I think it is a must-read for parents with young children and teenagers who use the Internet.
It is a good and eye-opening article about what takes place when our kids visit websites to play games, network socially or even to study. We are more ''exposed' than we realise when it comes to how much information on personal details and internet activity websites can get with the tracking devices they install.
It is a good and eye-opening article about what takes place when our kids visit websites to play games, network socially or even to study. We are more ''exposed' than we realise when it comes to how much information on personal details and internet activity websites can get with the tracking devices they install.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Technology
It appears that even technology is not exempted from hiccups. Our desktop computer failed to power up two days ago just when I needed to check on a few important email. At first I thought the electrical connections were loose or something, so I crawled under the table, checked out all the switches and plugs, tested them but still nothing changed. It looked like the computer just died overnight without any warning, like a sudden cardiac arrest!
Since we are not computer hardware repair experts, we've got to take it out for someone to take a look. And since I'm not the techie around the house, we'll have to wait for E to do that, probably over the weekend hopefully, or whenever he is free enough.
I'm using E's office notebook right now and learning to get used to using a notebook, the reason being that we just got a new notebook as an alternate to the desktop (E is setting it up right now). This would give me the option of having computer access in any part of our home other than the third floor where the desktop is.
All this while, I've not really enjoyed using a notebook due to the limited screen size and keyboard space (read failing eyesight and clumsy fingers!) but I guess there's no escaping since notebooks are such a norm these days with the convenience it brings.
In general, I like wide, open spaces - be it on computers, indoor and outdoor living, public places, practically with anywhere I'm at and anything I use I guess! Gimme an open park anytime instead of a crowded mall, or a long stretch of quiet beach instead of a strip of busy street....
Since we are not computer hardware repair experts, we've got to take it out for someone to take a look. And since I'm not the techie around the house, we'll have to wait for E to do that, probably over the weekend hopefully, or whenever he is free enough.
I'm using E's office notebook right now and learning to get used to using a notebook, the reason being that we just got a new notebook as an alternate to the desktop (E is setting it up right now). This would give me the option of having computer access in any part of our home other than the third floor where the desktop is.
All this while, I've not really enjoyed using a notebook due to the limited screen size and keyboard space (read failing eyesight and clumsy fingers!) but I guess there's no escaping since notebooks are such a norm these days with the convenience it brings.
In general, I like wide, open spaces - be it on computers, indoor and outdoor living, public places, practically with anywhere I'm at and anything I use I guess! Gimme an open park anytime instead of a crowded mall, or a long stretch of quiet beach instead of a strip of busy street....
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Internet at the new house
Since moving to this new house on March 7, I had been going back to our old home about 5km away about twice weekly to use the computer. This was because our telco provider has exhausted all the ports/cables whatchamacallits allocated for our new housing area despite the fact that occupancy rate is currently probably around 80%. One would assume that they would have allocated enough phone lines for all homes here which number only 345 units compared to larger housing areas with thousands of houses. So it's been four months now that we've been waiting for a fixed line which also serves as the line for Internet access. We first applied for it through an agent a week after moving in and two months later, we applied for another line directly from the service provider. Till today, both lines have yet to reach our doorstep. Earlier on, I kept calling every now and then to check on status but after the second month of waiting, I gave up.
As for wireless Internet servicce by the various private telcos and ISPs, none of their services were reliable in this new housing area and even the latest, hottest provider P1 Wimax has yet to provide coverage here. Finally, the one that Eugene works for has provided coverage here and today, I am blogging for the first time from the new house using wireless internet. Since this morning, the connection has been good i.e. no dropped line. As for speed, although it cannot compare to the one I had at the old place, it is currently fast enough for me to do the necessary online activities, such as check email, go to some websites like my blog, others' blogs, news sites, and Facebook. I've yet to see how good it is for places like YouTube and other graphics-heavy sites.
At least now I have the computer and Internet anytime I wish and not plan my visits to the old place to coincide with running errands around that area etc. and I can put my thoughts here again as and when the inspiration arises. This blog has left out quite a lot of 'moments' of the life of ACE the past four months. I've also somewhat given up on online income since not having the computer at my disposal. Not that I was getting much in the past but the momentum just died after moving to the new place. I have been bogged down by adjusting to the new routine of getting things in order around the house and new travel routes and timing to school, extra curricular activities, grocery shopping and checking out places for food and amenities etc after moving. I also have a larger house area to attend to (3388 sq ft vs 1422 sq ft), one active, growing young dog, a small garden plus next door neighbours on both sides who are currently renovating (read dust, loud noises from drilling and demolishing walls!)
Not to mention the never-ending responsibility as driver, cook, cleaner, laundry person, homework supervisor, piano and drum practice teacher, disciplinarian, dog trainer, fish feeder, garderner. Why can't the job as a housewife, homemaker, stay-home mum, or however you may refer to it, be 9 to 5, salaried with medical and other fringe benefits like paid leave, meal and entertainment allowances etc etc.?
As for wireless Internet servicce by the various private telcos and ISPs, none of their services were reliable in this new housing area and even the latest, hottest provider P1 Wimax has yet to provide coverage here. Finally, the one that Eugene works for has provided coverage here and today, I am blogging for the first time from the new house using wireless internet. Since this morning, the connection has been good i.e. no dropped line. As for speed, although it cannot compare to the one I had at the old place, it is currently fast enough for me to do the necessary online activities, such as check email, go to some websites like my blog, others' blogs, news sites, and Facebook. I've yet to see how good it is for places like YouTube and other graphics-heavy sites.
At least now I have the computer and Internet anytime I wish and not plan my visits to the old place to coincide with running errands around that area etc. and I can put my thoughts here again as and when the inspiration arises. This blog has left out quite a lot of 'moments' of the life of ACE the past four months. I've also somewhat given up on online income since not having the computer at my disposal. Not that I was getting much in the past but the momentum just died after moving to the new place. I have been bogged down by adjusting to the new routine of getting things in order around the house and new travel routes and timing to school, extra curricular activities, grocery shopping and checking out places for food and amenities etc after moving. I also have a larger house area to attend to (3388 sq ft vs 1422 sq ft), one active, growing young dog, a small garden plus next door neighbours on both sides who are currently renovating (read dust, loud noises from drilling and demolishing walls!)
Not to mention the never-ending responsibility as driver, cook, cleaner, laundry person, homework supervisor, piano and drum practice teacher, disciplinarian, dog trainer, fish feeder, garderner. Why can't the job as a housewife, homemaker, stay-home mum, or however you may refer to it, be 9 to 5, salaried with medical and other fringe benefits like paid leave, meal and entertainment allowances etc etc.?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Still waiting
I called Telekom and told them it's been five weeks. Their reply: Our technical team has visited your area and there are no ports available. We have put you on the waiting list.
No point for me to write here what I said to them.
No point for me to write here what I said to them.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Life without Internet...
... is like walking with 'kaki tempang' (limping)!
We applied for a phone line with Internet service one week ago. They told us they'd contact us to make arrangements within 3-7 days. On day 5, I called, they said their 'system' said it's "in progress". Today I called again, they said we'd have to wait till their technician calls us. They've been getting lots of orders and we will have to wait our turn. I asked if they could give me an estimated time when we'll get it. All they said was, please wait. And all I can say is "B*ll S**t!!"
Government, government-linked corporations....I have lots to say but not here. So is Malaysia a developed country?
My poor computer is so lonely in this old place of mine, simply because I can only access the Internet from here for now....
We applied for a phone line with Internet service one week ago. They told us they'd contact us to make arrangements within 3-7 days. On day 5, I called, they said their 'system' said it's "in progress". Today I called again, they said we'd have to wait till their technician calls us. They've been getting lots of orders and we will have to wait our turn. I asked if they could give me an estimated time when we'll get it. All they said was, please wait. And all I can say is "B*ll S**t!!"
Government, government-linked corporations....I have lots to say but not here. So is Malaysia a developed country?
My poor computer is so lonely in this old place of mine, simply because I can only access the Internet from here for now....
Thursday, February 19, 2009
My day
You're an internet 'junkie' when you feel
1. unproductive
2. edgy
3. moody
4. fidgety
5. uneasy
6. irritable
7. lost
8. frustrated
when you are not able to surf, check email, blog, search, log in to Facebook or other networking sites, work using the computer etc.
The internet service provider's server was down for two days (usually happens after a big storm I notice) and it's only this afternoon that it's back.
So this morning, instead of doing all the abovementioned, I managed to catch up on two recent episodes of House Season 5 and one episode of Life Season 2. (Yup, I was 'sick' of not having access to the internet and rebelled by not doing any other pending work like cook or clean or pack things for moving...). That's one advantage of working from home I guess!
Would you risk your career and doctor's licence for not following protocol in a medicine trial you are conducting, in the hope that you could help your girlfriend who is enrolled in the trial? Would you tell your friend you are in love with his father's fiancee? Would you sleep with your boss? Would you give your all to a baby in your care whom the authorities have yet to approve your wish to adopt? All these were some of the situations in the three episodes of House and Life I watched between 7am and 10am this morning.
I also read this somewhere in between watching the episodes: "In C. S. Lewis' tales of Narnia, Mr Tumnus complains that in Narnia it is "always winter and never Christmas." But for those of us who know the God who made the seasons, it is always Christmas in our hearts..." i.e. winter could be cold, dark and dreary if not for Christmas, Christ's birth, that gives hope and strength. Christmas goes beyond decorations, gifts and parties I'm reminded.
After all that, some guilt set in so I started packing, cooking and cleaning...Even if I didn't want to clean, Rusty made me because he pee-d inside the house (again, sign of rebellion for not getting enough attention from me). So mopping was in the list of work that required immediate attention. Then it was ironing, otherwise Caitlin would not have her school T-shirt ready for PE tomorrow. And then cooking unless we fast and go to bed tonight minus dinner...
A mum is so very important isn't it? I have a fridge magnet that says, "Moms are like buttons. They hold things together."
1. unproductive
2. edgy
3. moody
4. fidgety
5. uneasy
6. irritable
7. lost
8. frustrated
when you are not able to surf, check email, blog, search, log in to Facebook or other networking sites, work using the computer etc.
The internet service provider's server was down for two days (usually happens after a big storm I notice) and it's only this afternoon that it's back.
So this morning, instead of doing all the abovementioned, I managed to catch up on two recent episodes of House Season 5 and one episode of Life Season 2. (Yup, I was 'sick' of not having access to the internet and rebelled by not doing any other pending work like cook or clean or pack things for moving...). That's one advantage of working from home I guess!
Would you risk your career and doctor's licence for not following protocol in a medicine trial you are conducting, in the hope that you could help your girlfriend who is enrolled in the trial? Would you tell your friend you are in love with his father's fiancee? Would you sleep with your boss? Would you give your all to a baby in your care whom the authorities have yet to approve your wish to adopt? All these were some of the situations in the three episodes of House and Life I watched between 7am and 10am this morning.
I also read this somewhere in between watching the episodes: "In C. S. Lewis' tales of Narnia, Mr Tumnus complains that in Narnia it is "always winter and never Christmas." But for those of us who know the God who made the seasons, it is always Christmas in our hearts..." i.e. winter could be cold, dark and dreary if not for Christmas, Christ's birth, that gives hope and strength. Christmas goes beyond decorations, gifts and parties I'm reminded.
After all that, some guilt set in so I started packing, cooking and cleaning...Even if I didn't want to clean, Rusty made me because he pee-d inside the house (again, sign of rebellion for not getting enough attention from me). So mopping was in the list of work that required immediate attention. Then it was ironing, otherwise Caitlin would not have her school T-shirt ready for PE tomorrow. And then cooking unless we fast and go to bed tonight minus dinner...
A mum is so very important isn't it? I have a fridge magnet that says, "Moms are like buttons. They hold things together."
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Nine-year-old writes hit iPhone app
This kid is a genius! I read this on Yahoo:
Nine-year-old writes hit iPhone app
Programming for the under-tens
By Mike Smith
You might think you're pretty hot stuff because you've figured out how to change your Facebook status from your iPhone, but you've got nothing on nine-year-old Lim Ding Wen.
This young prodigy from Singapore is fluent in six programming languages, according to a BBC report this week, and his newest creation, an iPhone drawing game called Doodle Kids, has racked up over 4,000 downloads in just two weeks. He wrote it for his younger sisters, who love to draw.
Read the whole article here.
Nine-year-old writes hit iPhone app
Programming for the under-tens
By Mike Smith
You might think you're pretty hot stuff because you've figured out how to change your Facebook status from your iPhone, but you've got nothing on nine-year-old Lim Ding Wen.
This young prodigy from Singapore is fluent in six programming languages, according to a BBC report this week, and his newest creation, an iPhone drawing game called Doodle Kids, has racked up over 4,000 downloads in just two weeks. He wrote it for his younger sisters, who love to draw.
Read the whole article here.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Data recovery
The company which we sent our hard disk to for data recovery managed to salvage 90% of our stuff....but it cost us a huge bomb. But we had to spend it. A large part of the disk contained our precious photographs.
The past three months have seen us dishing out plenty for a number of unexpected problems like for my car (thrice!) and the computer. And of course, the expenses for setting up the new house is no joke.
We resolve to remember to back up our important data from now on. I've even backed up my blogs and work. We spent some $ too on an external drive for more disk space and back-up use.
On a different matter, it looks like we need to take Rusty our schnauzer home tomorrow afternoon. The original owner was willing to help us look afer him till before Chinese New Year only. Again, there's been delay in our moving. Things just don't seem to be moving as fast as we envisioned earlier. And with a number of new things happening this new year, we can't seem to get everything settled at the same time. Oh well, que sera sera...
Rusty would make life different for us in our apartment until such time when we move to the house.
The past three months have seen us dishing out plenty for a number of unexpected problems like for my car (thrice!) and the computer. And of course, the expenses for setting up the new house is no joke.
We resolve to remember to back up our important data from now on. I've even backed up my blogs and work. We spent some $ too on an external drive for more disk space and back-up use.
On a different matter, it looks like we need to take Rusty our schnauzer home tomorrow afternoon. The original owner was willing to help us look afer him till before Chinese New Year only. Again, there's been delay in our moving. Things just don't seem to be moving as fast as we envisioned earlier. And with a number of new things happening this new year, we can't seem to get everything settled at the same time. Oh well, que sera sera...
Rusty would make life different for us in our apartment until such time when we move to the house.
Friday, January 2, 2009
PC crashed!!
Yesterday, our home computer crashed :( taking along everything that we have stored in it... :( including lots of photographs and some of my work files. We had meant to back up our stuff but the computer did this to us before we managed to. I'm now blogging from Eugene's office notebook.
Looks like we'll be computer-less until we get a new hard drive etc etc. We've sent our hard drive somewhere today to see if they can recover any of our data and we'll only know in a few days' time if anything can be salvaged.
I can do without blogging or surfing but not email, Internet and Microsoft Word. Sigh, what a way to start the new year.
Looks like we'll be computer-less until we get a new hard drive etc etc. We've sent our hard drive somewhere today to see if they can recover any of our data and we'll only know in a few days' time if anything can be salvaged.
I can do without blogging or surfing but not email, Internet and Microsoft Word. Sigh, what a way to start the new year.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The times
It is easy to hide, avoid, procrastinate, give excuses when you are online. You just select to be invisible or block selected people from viewing you. You can choose not to reply, or to reply with words that are vague for instance. You can say you missed the email or did not receive it at all if confronted. Maybe it went into your spam box, which you don't check, by mistake. You can avoid issues and confrontations simply by keeping quiet and ignoring.
You can also use pseudonyms for email addresses or fake identities in chatboxes or social networking sites. You can change your identity, and become someone else without anyone knowing. Seems like anyone can do anything these days online. People can hack, steal others' identities, blackmail, cheat, spam, learn how to make a bomb, spread viruses etc
We are living in dangerous times...
I think I've been watching too much Criminal Minds and marveling at Penelope Garcia's tech abilities!
You can also use pseudonyms for email addresses or fake identities in chatboxes or social networking sites. You can change your identity, and become someone else without anyone knowing. Seems like anyone can do anything these days online. People can hack, steal others' identities, blackmail, cheat, spam, learn how to make a bomb, spread viruses etc
We are living in dangerous times...
I think I've been watching too much Criminal Minds and marveling at Penelope Garcia's tech abilities!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Finding and being found
It's amazing how you can find people through the most popular social networking site. I bet you know which one I'm referring to. I've found friends from near and far and from long, long ago -- those whom I've not been in contact with for 20 years or more even...it's quite nice to see their faces in their profile sections, find out what they are doing now (and everyday!) and take a peek in their photo albums. Most of them still look the same despite having grown older.
And it's amazing too how people can find me using this site. I've made friends out of strangers and just today, a headhunter contacted me about a position available. These are the benefits of technology, innovation and creative ideas. Who would have thought 20 years ago that such a thing as social networking sites could be created? All I had then were my school yearbooks and autograph books to remember my friends by.
I'm glad for such innovations. The world has become smaller and its people less distant.
(We must however be on the lookout for those who abuse such benefits. While we can find and be found so easily, remember that not everyone or everything you read out there could be right, fair, true, sincere, real....)
And it's amazing too how people can find me using this site. I've made friends out of strangers and just today, a headhunter contacted me about a position available. These are the benefits of technology, innovation and creative ideas. Who would have thought 20 years ago that such a thing as social networking sites could be created? All I had then were my school yearbooks and autograph books to remember my friends by.
I'm glad for such innovations. The world has become smaller and its people less distant.
(We must however be on the lookout for those who abuse such benefits. While we can find and be found so easily, remember that not everyone or everything you read out there could be right, fair, true, sincere, real....)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Internet downtime
The Internet broadband service I use has been cranky since last week. Sometimes I can connect, sometimes I can't, sometimes it's really slow, worse than dial-up. That's why I havent been blogging these two days.
I called their customer service about five times yesterday and as expected, customer service means answering my call, getting my name and account number (which I have memorised by now) and telling me they are still looking into it and will call me when it's solved. No, they didn't call me when it's solved. I decided to switch on my computer an hour ago to check and yes, it's solved for now.
I called their customer service about five times yesterday and as expected, customer service means answering my call, getting my name and account number (which I have memorised by now) and telling me they are still looking into it and will call me when it's solved. No, they didn't call me when it's solved. I decided to switch on my computer an hour ago to check and yes, it's solved for now.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Internet relationships
Since the availability of the Internet, reaching out to people and making new friends near and far around the world has never been easier. Chat, friendship, dating, matchmaking, networking sites have mushroomed overnight. MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook are just a few the uninitiated me knows of. I bet nine out of 10 people you ask who have Internet access are on Facebook. Facebook is currently the top social networking site.
You can have literally thousands of friends around the world when you join such a site. Friendships can blossom and two people from the far ends of the earth can hook up, date online and even go a step further to what is known as cyber sex. Is this good or bad?
Definitely both, as time, people and real-life cases have proven. Some have had successful relationships which lead to marriage, some become close friends and soulmates, and some also become enemies and abandon the internet relationship.
Whatever it is, when we create internet relationships, we should be clear of what we want out of it. It is easy when it is with family and friends we have grown up with, known and spent time with face to face. We should however tread with caution when it is with people we have met briefly online (or even face to face), people we have yet to get to know well enough, strangers. It is easy for others to fake their identity, character, and personality online and that's where you are at risk of complications, problems, danger, and even threat to your life.
You can have literally thousands of friends around the world when you join such a site. Friendships can blossom and two people from the far ends of the earth can hook up, date online and even go a step further to what is known as cyber sex. Is this good or bad?
Definitely both, as time, people and real-life cases have proven. Some have had successful relationships which lead to marriage, some become close friends and soulmates, and some also become enemies and abandon the internet relationship.
Whatever it is, when we create internet relationships, we should be clear of what we want out of it. It is easy when it is with family and friends we have grown up with, known and spent time with face to face. We should however tread with caution when it is with people we have met briefly online (or even face to face), people we have yet to get to know well enough, strangers. It is easy for others to fake their identity, character, and personality online and that's where you are at risk of complications, problems, danger, and even threat to your life.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Online gaming reviews
With the internet, the world is your oyster. You can do just about everything and anything nowadays via the internet. You can even play at an online casino! I personally do not gamble as I have no interest in it but I am fascinated that technology is so amazing nowadays that programmes can be written to enable gamblers to play online without having to leave the comfort of their home. One of the benefits I can think of is that this helps them from being distracted by the cheap but sumptuous buffets usually offered by the casinos; thus preventing them from overeating!
Did you know that there are even websites that review online casinos so that if you wish to gamble online, you'd know which is good? One such site is Pro360.com. According to this site, there are about 3000 online casinos. Imagine how you would filter out the ones that you like and are good. Pro360.com reviews the casinos and provides information on the game experience, bonus structure, the graphics and also trust scores. It gives a ranking of top 20 casinos out of 75 casinos reviewed, providing a full review plus listing the maximum bonuses, ratings by editors and players, and whether it allows US players.
If you simply wish to zero in on a particular game such as blackjack, poker or craps for instance, you can check the reviews of all the casinos for that game too. And if you are new to online gaming, this site provides you with information including online casino FAQs, beginner's guide to online gambling and online gambling tips. I recommend players to read the online gambling tips as a reminder to not go overboard.
Did you know that there are even websites that review online casinos so that if you wish to gamble online, you'd know which is good? One such site is Pro360.com. According to this site, there are about 3000 online casinos. Imagine how you would filter out the ones that you like and are good. Pro360.com reviews the casinos and provides information on the game experience, bonus structure, the graphics and also trust scores. It gives a ranking of top 20 casinos out of 75 casinos reviewed, providing a full review plus listing the maximum bonuses, ratings by editors and players, and whether it allows US players.
If you simply wish to zero in on a particular game such as blackjack, poker or craps for instance, you can check the reviews of all the casinos for that game too. And if you are new to online gaming, this site provides you with information including online casino FAQs, beginner's guide to online gambling and online gambling tips. I recommend players to read the online gambling tips as a reminder to not go overboard.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Building your own online shop
Online shopping has come a long way. In the early days, if you wish to set up an online shop, you'll probably have to either write your own shopping cart software or find a clever individual or company to do it for you.
It has now become a necessity and a norm for business owners to offer an online alternative to their customers. A shopping site can be set up very easily nowadays with more and more e-commerce software companies now offering quick, easy and affordable services.
Ashop Commerce is one such company offering a web-based turnkey e-commerce solution. It is a web-based solution which does not require any software installation. According to them, thousands of successful merchants in the United States, from novices to professionals, have chosen to use Ashop Commerce.
Ashop Commerce allows a 10-day free trial without a credit card requirement. The software enables business owners to accept credit card payments, customise the design of their site, update contents easily and quickly at an affordable monthly fee.
Its full service also includes technical support and customer service. It is securely hosted, integrated with all major banks, payment gateways and third parties including PayPal.
I tried out one of their demo stores for a test drive of what the software can do. The site admin functions were pretty clear and user-friendly and allows you a lot of flexibility to manage your online store easily. Just by a few clicks on its clearly-labeled menu, you can check your sales, customers' names, products purchased, payment mode and status and tracking numbers. You can also check your inventory, product prices, change your store front theme and view statistics of your site such as page hits, visitor traffic and even a chart detailing the countries you are doing business with.
It sure looks like anyone can start an online shop now with such easy-to-use and affordable shopping cart software from Ashop Commerce. Their packages are priced from as low as $39.95 a month to $189.95 a month.
It has now become a necessity and a norm for business owners to offer an online alternative to their customers. A shopping site can be set up very easily nowadays with more and more e-commerce software companies now offering quick, easy and affordable services.
Ashop Commerce is one such company offering a web-based turnkey e-commerce solution. It is a web-based solution which does not require any software installation. According to them, thousands of successful merchants in the United States, from novices to professionals, have chosen to use Ashop Commerce.
Ashop Commerce allows a 10-day free trial without a credit card requirement. The software enables business owners to accept credit card payments, customise the design of their site, update contents easily and quickly at an affordable monthly fee.
Its full service also includes technical support and customer service. It is securely hosted, integrated with all major banks, payment gateways and third parties including PayPal.
I tried out one of their demo stores for a test drive of what the software can do. The site admin functions were pretty clear and user-friendly and allows you a lot of flexibility to manage your online store easily. Just by a few clicks on its clearly-labeled menu, you can check your sales, customers' names, products purchased, payment mode and status and tracking numbers. You can also check your inventory, product prices, change your store front theme and view statistics of your site such as page hits, visitor traffic and even a chart detailing the countries you are doing business with.
It sure looks like anyone can start an online shop now with such easy-to-use and affordable shopping cart software from Ashop Commerce. Their packages are priced from as low as $39.95 a month to $189.95 a month.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Good vs evil
Is having information at your fingertips good or bad? I always use Google when I need instant access to information about anything and everything under the sun. Sometimes I find that it's the best thing ever invented but other times, it simply scares me. There's so much good as well as bad stuff you can find that it's hard to differentiate between truth and lies, fact and fiction, rational opinions and emotional ones.
It is already difficult enough to sift out fact from 'fiction' when you read the newspapers (anywhere in the world) nowadays...what more via the Internet.
And if you have an online presence, be it a publication, a blog, a site etc or have made a public 'appearance' of some kind, chances are I can track you down simply by keying in your name or related words...
Some keywords to ponder about with regards to this topic are ethics, responsibility, consideration, privacy, discretion, trust, common sense, objectivity,....care to add more to the list?
It is already difficult enough to sift out fact from 'fiction' when you read the newspapers (anywhere in the world) nowadays...what more via the Internet.
And if you have an online presence, be it a publication, a blog, a site etc or have made a public 'appearance' of some kind, chances are I can track you down simply by keying in your name or related words...
Some keywords to ponder about with regards to this topic are ethics, responsibility, consideration, privacy, discretion, trust, common sense, objectivity,....care to add more to the list?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Random thoughts and feelings
Yesterday, the installer of the broadband service we applied for three weeks ago finally paid us a visit. We are now back to a 'wired' service compared to the unreliable wireless one we've been using the past two weeks.
So far, for the past one hour, I've not had any problems with it and it seems to be running fast and smooth enough for me. Eugene even managed to download three episodes of House (Season Four, yippee!) last night! I just have to find time somehow now to be able to see what's new in this latest season. How is Dr House coping with his self-inflicted loss of all his four competent doctors?
I have just re-committed myself to one of the greatest personal challenges last night towards becoming a better business person. I really don't know how I'm going to juggle this feat to speed up my earnings but if I don't try, I know I would be wondering for the rest of my life. It's going to be tough and painful and lonely at times. It's daunting, scary and overwhelming. It will however be rewarding in more ways than one. Looks like movies and even blogging will have to take a back seat for the time being. For a person like me who has found solace and relief from the Internet and networking online, it will be very hard to be disciplined and not waste time when seated at the computer for work. I will need all the support, encouragement and motivation I can get, so if any of you have any inspirational stuff, please send it my way!
So far, for the past one hour, I've not had any problems with it and it seems to be running fast and smooth enough for me. Eugene even managed to download three episodes of House (Season Four, yippee!) last night! I just have to find time somehow now to be able to see what's new in this latest season. How is Dr House coping with his self-inflicted loss of all his four competent doctors?
I have just re-committed myself to one of the greatest personal challenges last night towards becoming a better business person. I really don't know how I'm going to juggle this feat to speed up my earnings but if I don't try, I know I would be wondering for the rest of my life. It's going to be tough and painful and lonely at times. It's daunting, scary and overwhelming. It will however be rewarding in more ways than one. Looks like movies and even blogging will have to take a back seat for the time being. For a person like me who has found solace and relief from the Internet and networking online, it will be very hard to be disciplined and not waste time when seated at the computer for work. I will need all the support, encouragement and motivation I can get, so if any of you have any inspirational stuff, please send it my way!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Handicapped without Internet
Our broadband service provider is apparently suffering major equipment breakdown since August 29 and have yet to resume its service to fuming subscribers like me. That's why this blog has been sitting pretty growing mushrooms. I'm now at a sickeningly noisy Internet cafe near home, trying to get some urgent work done.
Internet cafe users here are typically gamers and totally have no consideration for other serious users like me. Their speaker volumes are turned up to maximum, they are ugly young men with awful hairstyles mainly with some dumb female sitting beside them just looking at their partners kill some monster or maim an enemy....
What is the meaning of life to them I wonder. I have to leave now. The noise is giving me a headache and I have chores to do at home.
I am definitely going to give Nasioncom (my ISP) a big earful and demand our monthly fee is waived for the period of down time when I can get through their customer service line. I think they are deliberately not answering any calls these two weeks.
Internet cafe users here are typically gamers and totally have no consideration for other serious users like me. Their speaker volumes are turned up to maximum, they are ugly young men with awful hairstyles mainly with some dumb female sitting beside them just looking at their partners kill some monster or maim an enemy....
What is the meaning of life to them I wonder. I have to leave now. The noise is giving me a headache and I have chores to do at home.
I am definitely going to give Nasioncom (my ISP) a big earful and demand our monthly fee is waived for the period of down time when I can get through their customer service line. I think they are deliberately not answering any calls these two weeks.
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