Internet Tips for Those Who Need Extra Income

I wondered about friends of mine who stay up all night "to make extra income" by doing work over the internet. There are several sites, but one that I hope that we Filipinos thought of FIRST is Odesk. Odesk has a "software" you have to download to keep track of your time.Some call this "cyber slavery" but we are all timed anyway when we go to the office to work aren't we?
If you have relatively good English skills, ANYONE can be paid by the hour which is something that YOU determine. The average one hour however is something like 5 dollars which isn't bad because that's close to the US rates.
If you can write, do wenb work, can cannot inbound-outband calls (using skype, perhaps), do SQL programming and come up with websites, Odesk pays you for the job that you have done. Odesk PAYS you because most "employers" pay Odesk FIRST before they hire you whcih means that Odesk literally pays you. Thus, your "employer" cannot run away from you after doing a job.
I am writing about Odesk because we Filipinos should have THOUGHT of something like this. At a time when everyone seems to need "some extra source of income", Odesk certainly has its possibilities.
Initially though, you'd have to take the regular Odesk test. This test will certify that you're Odesk-ready. You can take other tests like English writing ones or call center tests and these tests give you an edge as you compete against others.
I learned about Odesk from a friend of mine who makes extra income using Odesk. It can be difficult because of the time difference between Canada, UK and America vis-a-vis the Philippines but if you can stand night work at home, you can try your luck at this site.
Isn't it rather sad that the Philippines has not thought of something as CREATIVE as Odesk? Surely, if we had something like this, we'd have more of OUR workers having more income. There are however Filipinos who do get jobs and have the best Odesk Feedbacks.Try the tests, if you fail one, try another -- find your skills. Besides, if you fail one test you can take it again after some time.
While traditional work is good, it is also helpful to know about what's happening around the world and how wok can "happen" though you aren't in your own "office". I sometimes wonder if this is the wave of the future. Perhaps, it is.

Here is a video about it :

Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do with My Life?

If you believe in God then that is the question that may be difficult to answer but God somehow "tells" us by sending us people, circumstances, joys and even difficulties to let us know what His purpose for our lives are... it differs, however, because we are all individuals and God "talks" to us individually.

One may be meant to serve him as a doctor and another as a priest. Another may be meant to play his/her guitar for the church choir. There is no ONE main purpose for everyone but a different purpose for every human being. God made us all unique. Thus, He deals with each of us as personally as possible. That's love! This song is something I'd wish to share with you all.

Ivy at 103 Twitters Like Mad

Ivy is a 103 year old grandmother from the UK and she can beat most of us when it comes to Facebook and Twitter. She first started with Facebook and now is deeply engrossed with her Twitter. Yes, she is the oldest member of both social networks (Of course, we have Kirk Douglas at My Space but he's 90 and THAT is young compared to Ivy).

Ivy has gone through two world wars, probably even witnessed the lightning of the first streetlight at Telluride, Colorado and is a first hand witness to the history of world technology. Yet, at 103, she has learned to "rock with the times". Now, doesn't that tell those who THINK that 60 and above are "too old" for the internet something?

What do you THINK?

The "Great" Larry Hochman Shares his Thoughts:)

This was originally written in 2001, when Jillian was eight years old. We're having her Sweet 16 party this weekend. This - and two other old notes - will lead up to one current and very important one. Stay tuned if you want to thoroughly enjoy your present and parlay it into an incredible future.

And please pass this note along to whomever you think it will inspire.

*** ***

There is no better sound in the world than hearing your child laughing from the soul. It tells you that anything is possible.

I'm spending part of the morning doing Mad Libs with my daughter Jillian. She's discovering this verbal treasure for the first time, and the world of verbal humor is opening up for her.

And she's laughing like a big silly goon!

Later on in the day we stop at the bank. She sees the lollipops on the counter near the teller and makes her way toward them. Before I say a word she asks if she can get one for her little sister Sarah. At that moment I remember Jill doesn't like lollipops and feel a burst of pride and love for my little lady.

After the bank, we stop at the hair salon for a long overdue cut. She's getting the works: wash, blow dry, cut, styling. She's sees herself all fluffy and feminine, the hint of the woman she will become. As she's being fussed over by the beautician, she celebrates her new found prettiness with a grin from ear to ear.

Still later, we stop at a Subway restaurant to get her favorite treat...ham and provolone on whole wheat, no vegetables, no mayo, nothing.

Her eyes light up when I offer the three chocolate chip cookies (if she shares with Dad). I notice the look of unbridled pleasure on her face as she chomps on her sandwich. She savors the food itself and the fact that she's getting a special treat; the combination makes her feel like a princess.

Then we stop at my office so I can take care of some paperwork. I ask her to call home and tell Mommy where we are and how long we'll be. She delights in the fact that I show trust in her to make the call by herself, and that I believe in her enough to use the "special buttons" on the office phone. She handles the task as well as any administrative assistant I've ever had.

Close to bedtime, we work on math homework. She whips through four pages of multiplication, number patterns, graphs, and word problems. The quiet calm of competence shines in her eyes, and her mouth is turned up at the corners in a sublime, confident smile.

She knows her stuff, and tomorrow her teacher will know she knows it as well.

Want to see the wonders of the world? Find a child, one you love if possible.

See the world through his or her eyes, the joys, the kindness, the fears, the dreams, the unexpected delights, the gratitude.

Even better, see YOUR world as if YOU are the child. Experience things for the first time, and feel it with that intensity.

This is something you can access anytime you want.

And it will make you a better grown-up.

Your Pal,
Larry

Yes, WE ALL CAN!

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I owe my blog-mates MORE than just this video. Yes, I have decided to put on my running shoes and see where this path takes me. This path, however, is NOT new. I have been on the same path for the last 40 years of my life as anyone from San Juan City probably knows. Thus, it isn't anything REALLY "new" after the forty years when we first started the Pink Ladies and decided to give the San Juan ladies "some means of livelihood". It was also in the 70's when I started to improve the San Juan school library and health centers. Later, I tried to make sure that San Juan would have more schools, teachers, a museum and something close to a "mini cultural center". Thanks to my son JV, who was supportive in most of the projects.He understood that that we needed more schools, health centers, improvement of police force and the basic need of every resident (and guest) of the city to feel safe and secure.

Admittedly, there is always room for improvement. That is why I have the BSK (Balikatan sa Kaunlaran) projects such as recycling and waste management. San Juan is the "flood basin" of Metro Manila and during the rainy season there are times when some areas are still under water. There is also the sanitation situation that has vastly improved and we intend to do more given the "go signal" from the people.

Why only NOW? Frankly, I first was rallied by my friends and residents of the city to take the official role during the 90's. That was however a point in my life when I was more enthused about business and I had an unexpected health problem caused by taking a vaccine which was injected into my system. Vaccines can be GOOD but not everyone should be vaccinated all because it seems to be "fashionable" to do so. Anyway i shall tell you that story another time in my blog.

Last year I visited my sister Gilda in Chicago and decided to have a complete medical check up, just to make sure that I can stand the rigors of the campaign and public service. I prayed. I asked God that should He want me to pursue this not-so-new path, a sign would take would be that of my doctor's prognosis. Surprisingly, my doctor in Chicago declared me in the pink of health and added: "You can do anything you like". After some more prayers and perhaps, a bit of heartache now and then, it was clear that this is the time in my life when I had to go for it.This was God's time given me to take a more obvious role as leader of the city.

Still, I cannot do it alone. Not without your help or your suggestions. If there is anything I appreciate, it is good and productive ideas for the city. I do not view this phase in my life as me running alone but all of you running "WITH ME". I have never viewed leadership as simply giving the orders but rather a partnership with the people who share the goals I have for the city. After all, I am no super woman, I was only a provincial whose roots are from Negros and who managed to be fortunate enough to get good education-- BUT if we all come to terms with our set goals for the betterment of the city (and even the country) then yes we can do and accomplish anything!

Michael Jackson: A Short Tribute

I chose this video because it's the earliest memory I have of a Michael Jackson song -- about that of an "unwanted" rat by the name of "Ben". Another reason I decided on this video is that it seems that Michael Jackson saw himself as "Ben".He knew that he missed his childhood, has no long lasting relationships, had no list of "best friends" except perhaps Liz Taylor whom he wanted to marry. The problem was that Liz Taylor knew that Michael Jackson wanted a "mother", not a wife. So it went that he married Lisa Presley which sounded like a PR/corporate coup but we all knew that marriage would not last.

Many wonder why and perhaps, it was for the obvious reason that Michael Jackson was obsessed in buying the childhood years he was never allowed to enjoy. Childhood, children, kids.... it was the Peter Pan syndrome even his "Neverland Ranch" (his heaven on earth) seemed to be nothing but a huge playground for kids.

He was not perfect - aha! we all know that.But do we REALLY KNOW or do we only think we know? Michael Jackson was a human being who was soft spoken (when not on stage) and who was, obviously, harassed all his life because he had BIG money. He has "problems" and thus had to pay-off a lot of people. He almost lost everything though and was planning his "great comeback" in the London stage this July when he passed away on the same day as another pop icon, Farrah Fawcett, got her real wings.

Except that Farrah was loved. She had her parents, family and the man who loved her by her side when she slipped to heaven. Michael Jackson was alone when he died with no one, living in a rented hundred thousand dollar a month apartment.

We wish him forever peace. At last, he may be in that better place where he NOW has learned to love himself at last. Today, he knows that he was loved, even if he thought that he was so "unattractive" that he "needed" to change his face and skin color. It is reported that he had more than a dozen facial surgeries.

His music however forever lives on as we remember that there was once a poor boy who sang and never grew up and was called "The King of Pop". That king is dead but what moves me about this man/boy is the whole tragedy of his life. Even in death, he remains an "enigma". Sometimes it makes me wonder if geniuses like him and Vincent Van Gogh for instant are pretty much doomed to be unhappy in this planet because "they don't belong". Again, I quote Don Mclean : "But I could have told you Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you".

Twitter is alive with Michael Jackson tributes, google almost collapsed today and there are other people dying as I write this. It's sad that Michael Jackson's whole life was a lingering performance, much like the life of Ben, the rat in the video, except that Ben found one loyal friend. I doubt if Michael had one though he had millions of fans.

Sad.. really.

Poem for My Sister

Born in the same womb
You and I bloomed
I became me and you became you
Parted by oceans yet instinctively I feel me and you
so near as though we share one nest
connected still by some invisible umbilical chord
called love -- or more than love.

You sit sometimes at eight in the morn
praying to God each day that His blessings me adorn
Knowing that so often your visual image makes me smile
You are to me my sister, my closest friend- the classiest one with style
THAT A-1 human being who makes me laugh as I recall
the merriest memories of "us" -- being simply us.

Family means those memories though some of them have dimmed
mom and dad, the scent of the Christmas air, sounds of the Church bells
The books in school, the sweetness of family dinners, the problems of "long ago"
When we felt so secure because we knew "we belonged" - nurtured, safe, loved.

Though I speak of long ago, I"m also glad there's NOW
You are there and I am here... and still our lives bring me joy
because we are still family
our parents watches o'er us
proud of what we've become, but more so ecstatic that we love
each other -- as sisters often do - and should.

by Guia Gomez