Blogging

Yes, you can make money from blogging! So I just found out.

However, making money online through blogging is very challenging and time consuming.
Not that blogs are not profitable. Blog CAN be profitable (and could be way, way much better if I learn more on how to monetize this blog), but money wasn’t always come first in bloggers mind.

That’s why blogs – the good ones – can sell beyond the amount of money they are actually making.

Blogging today is way, way much different than it was a few years ago; Blogging today is highly related to make money online.

Of course, there are die-hard bloggers who use blogs to share their opinion to the world without thinking about money. But as blogs’ roles in business world is getting bigger and bigger, us blogger can’t overlook the potential of blogs as money making tools and as web investments.

How much a blogger can make? It varies widely: Most bloggers I know can make less than $100 a month, while a select few – the probloggers – can make in five, even six digits per month.

If you are not making a lot of money blogging today, don’t give up blogging for the sake of it. Keep on blogging and sharing your thought to the blogosphere.

The most important thing in blogging is content + traffic – once you drive enough traffic and interest, you can start offering advertising opportunities. Getting the word out about your blog is what make or break a blog.

I’d love to make money on the internet but I still have so much to learn. There is so much information out there; I simply don’t know where to start. Affiliate marketing, site flipping, advertising, ppc, seo, etc, etc. What the h%#$ do I do first?

Horsemen movie review

The Horsemen is a dark, suspenseful movie about detective Aiden Breslin (Dennis Quaid) who becomes involved in a bizarre serial killer case. Aiden is the typical detective who is so involved with his work that he's lost touch with his two sons, while also grieving over the death of his late wife. As he slowly realizes he needs to put more effort into keeping his family together, he's hit with a case that only forces him deeper into his work.

It seems that a group of people have taken inspiration from the biblical Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and they are committing thematically appropriate murders. Can the killers be caught before their murderous plans are completed? Who are the four horsemen? If Aiden does what it takes to solve the mystery, will the remaining shreds of his family life crumble in the meantime?
 

Aiden's son Alex, played by Lou Taylor Pucci takes on the role of raising his younger brother Sean (Liam James) in his father's absence. Alex is perhaps affected the most by the loss of their mother due to his witnessing of her death. Alex repeatedly tries to do things with his father to keep the family together, only to be let down every time due to a case.

The performance of Dennis Quaid defines the tone of the proceedings. In Horsemen he brings a weary quality to his role. Here is a man who is tired, broken, hurting, and cynical. Every time he has to choose between his job and his family, the decision is a painful one. Despite this, he makes the exact same decision every single time. There are cases that need to be solved, there are people who are in danger, and somebody has to do something about it. Aiden lights up a cigarette, tosses on his overcoat and shuffles off once more into the cold, murderous world. It's good stuff, and Aiden is thoroughly convincing every step of the way. He carries the film through a handful of rather ludicrous moments, keeping everything very grounded at all times.

I wasn't a big fan of the way the natural muted tones contrasted with the more conventional horror-flick greens and reds, but the image is reasonably clear and crisp. 

There are plenty of elements that I just don't like about this movie. My biggest problem is the "message" of the movie. The mastermind behind the plans is murdering others due to a personal problem that many of us have faced. I agree that it is not an easy thing to deal with. But you know what? If you decide you need to gut ipeople just to express your pain, I have no sympathy for you. Various factors of life may make things more or less difficult, but ultimately each person is responsible for his or her own actions. The film does what it can to jerk tears from the audience during the final moments, but I felt nothing for the guilty party. At the conclusion, the killer gives someone a speech full of guilt-inducing lines like, "If only you had done this, none of this would have happened." I dunno. Maybe if you had been able to keep your murderous impulses in check despite your hurt feelings, none of this would have happened, mate. Idiots!

Finally, I should note that Zhang Ziyi gives a surprisingly terrible performance as one of the four horsemen (since she is captured early in the film and subjected to prison interrogations throughout the proceedings). Really all looks but really no talent. 

Inaction

Do you feel guilty when you do nothing? Meaning – do you feel that you are useless, that nobody cares when you don’t do anything or are you capable to relax and wait for the moment to act?

There are times that I feel guilty when I’m not doing anything. I somehow feel that everyone is improving themselves while I am on my couch eating delivered pizza for breakfast lunch and dinner. I get anxious and paranoid that I am wasting my time and my youth.

I guess it is ok to stop for a while to rest and relax and I deserve to rest and relax. Of course I have to remember that no matter how comfortable-or uncomfortable- I am  in my current situation, I have to make sure that I continue moving, and leaping towards my final destination- my destiny.

From now I am just going to take it easy… take small steps toward the goal… accept these ‘pauses’ that enable me to take the time to charge my energies and respect other non-physical realms of sensations day by day.

 

Chilli Prawns with Blue Cheese

I am not a really a seafood person and never really felt comfortable in cooking them. But this recipe - Chiili Prawns with Blue Cheese is to die for. 

Ingredients

150g Blue Cheese, diced

1/2 medium sized red onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 small red chilli, seeds removed and finely sliced

Juice and rind of 1 lime

Olive Oil

300g raw peeled prawns

1 avocado

Fresh coriander for garnish if desired

Directions

1) Using the olive oil, gently saute the onions, garlic and chilli until just tender.

2) Add a little more oil and the milk and then the prawns and cook, stirring occassionally, until the prawns have turned pink. Remove from heat.

3) Finally add approximately half of the cheese or more to suite taste and season with lime and juice.

4) Serve with diced or sliced avocado and roughly chopped corriander leaves.

Serves 2-4

Person & Persona

The word "Person" comes from "Persona" (latin) and "Persona" meaning mask, a mask that we have to wear sometimes in society. Sometimes we have to be political; we have to use this persona.

Imagine what will the world become if everyone were to leave their persona at home? Everyone will put their thoughts up front, their REAL self outside. Sure there is no mask but is it actually good? Freedom to behave is non existence if you want to strike a balance with peace. If everyone were to behave freely, what will happen to our society? Not all restrictions are bad I believe.

We are stuck back to back. You are yourself when you are with your thoughts but the thing is you are never alone. I think they co-exist, you and your persona. You can’t split them. They balance us I supposed.

If a person is always the same, how can she change? Throwing all the masks away may suit for someone with a strong sense of destiny.

Masks allow us to explore unknown areas, seek contact with different types of people and experiment with our skills. Masks know people who could never interact with each other but for the owner of the masks they all are important.

I am weak and ignorant, hence I need the masks to become stronger.

The mask I wear is one of confidence. I’ve applied the mask so well, it appears I’m no longer putting on an act to survive in the play of life, however, when alone, the mask comes off and I experience the dark side of insecurities and uncertainties. I wear the mask to adapt to what society accepts of me (in the corporate world). I wear this mask to be accepted (in my family).

Slowly but surely I peel away the mask when I feel it’s safe to reveal parts of my true self without fear of being rejected. So my mask is yes an illusion even to me. A defence mechanism of sorts.

I don’t actually always know who I am. I have to admit that my own reactions to certain things surprise me. I think sometimes you don’t know until you are put in certain circumstances.

Times when I may wear a mask is when I used to go into work and not like particular people but had to get along with them otherwise possibly lose my job, acting like everything is okay when I’m angry or hurt – for the sake of peace. Sometimes you just need to put on a mask. You can’t always show your true feelings. Being polite to people who I’d like to say a thing or two to but refraining so as not to hurt another loved one.

Anyway that’s how I feel. To survive, one has to wear a mask. Not necessarily to hide the real self but to live peacefully in the society. These masks give us the freedom to act in certain way which we can’t so without.

The question is: Who are you? Who is your persona? Who do you think you are and what you are forced to do to behave so you can survive in the society.