My WiFi Testing Experience at SM City Marikina vs Robinson's Metro East and Sta. Lucia Grand Mall

As I write this blog entry, I am seated here at Mister Donut near the main entrance of SM City Marikina. This is part of the WiFi Testing event here where at least 200 bloggers are expected to participate. Earlier, before the 2:00PM registration, my wife and I had our lunch at Goldilocks and tested the WiFi signal there. I had two to three bars of signal detected by my MSI EX400.

During registration, I won a CDR (I was hoping to win a cap with t he Microsoft logo) and proceeded with shopping for a few things with my wife. We bought sandals that we'll be using and a belt bag for another blogger's event on March 5.

So far, signal is great. I tested the speed connection using speedtest.net and got these results:

I also tried uploading a picture (my picture for this blog entry) and got an error in connection during my first attempt. On my second attempt though, I was able to successfully upload the 1.35 MB picture.

Comparing it with other malls in the area with free WiFi, SM City is Marikina's WiFi signal coerage is better than the internet connection at Sta. Lucia Grand Mall and Robinson's Metro East. They seem to have a wider WiFi signal coverage on the first floor, at the least, because that's where I did some testing. I connected from one end of the mall (Goldilocks) to the other end (Cyberzone) and at the center (Mister Donut) and so far, was satisfied with the connection. That is not the case with the other two malls, by personal experience.

In terms of being conducive for internet users, I would say that Robinson's Metro East and SM City Marikina are both at the top, with more places (restaurants/cafes) to go to where you can sit down and use a laptop.

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The Replacements Are Still Holding

I am happy to see that a few months after getting our bath tub faucet and lavatory faucet replaced, they are still leak free. I remembered how difficult it was to put up with the leaks and to replace the bathroom faucets. My wife considered hiring a plumber but I asked if I could try fixing them myself first. I was so thankful that she was so patient with me after two unsuccessful tries at replacing the bath tub faucet. Sometimes, a little patience can be encouraging and bring out good results.

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We're Officially BloggerVenturers at "DETOUR: The Island Cove Adventure"

I am excited! Why? Well, because me and my wife are officially "BloggerVenturers"! On March 5, 2009, I, Jennie and 28 other BloggerVenturers will be spending a whole day at Island Cove for "DETOUR: The Island Cove Adventure". This event is sponsored by none other than Island Cove and Yehey and we're really excited that we are part of it.

What makes it more exciting is we will be meeting the other BloggerVenturers who we bump to online. In addition to that, exciting prizes will be given away to participants who complete special tasks. I have blocked the whole day for this event and we are looking forward to being out in the sun early this year.

So, fellow BloggerVenturers, see you next week!

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You Choose: Worry or Pray?

With the current global financial crisis, more and more people are losing their jobs. Months ago, the growing call center industry here in the Philippines experienced its effects as a big account of APAC closed down because the company in the US went bankrupt, leaving 900 people jobless. Just last week, a friend who is working for a company in Dubai asked for prayers as his boss called for a company meeting to talk about their inevitable need to lay off office workers and stop hiring for sales manager jobs.

In times like these, we are reminded that nothing in this world is secure. Not a high yielding investment, a healthy body that is capable of working overtime nor a stable job with high compensation. We are reminded that we need God who, according to Deuteronomy 8:18, gives us “the ability to produce wealth.” So instead of worrying about what could happen, let us start praying and planning for the future. Let us learn to trust God especially during these financially troubling times.

"It's not in trying, but in trusting
It's not in wondering, but in praying
It's not in running, but in resting
That we find the strength of the Lord."

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Most Chinups Done In One Hour

This is another one of the shots I took from a magazine I read months ago while my wife and I were waiting for her turn in the doctor's office for her check up. I haven't really verified this information or should I say that I don't know where to verify this. But this trivia got my attention so I just took a picture of the magazine's page.

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A Successsful Approach to Online Gaming Addiction

My experience of ministering to the youth before becoming a full-time minister of a local congregation in Makati in the year 2003 has taught me that a lot of young people are having problems with online gaming addiction. Many have become addicted to playing and spending money to purchase wow toons for sale or the like.

But, I have talked to parents who have kids hooked into video games and some have allowed their kids to play regularly but on a short schedule. They did not totally keep their kids from playing such games, and I think that is a good way to handle that issue. They have been successful in their attempt to keep their kids from being addicted and from lying and stealing for the sake of being able to play. I have even seen parents who played video games once in a while with their kids.

I highly agree with this approach and the parent’s involvement in the lives of their kids plays an essential role in making this successful. When teens feel that they are understood and heard, they do not act defensively and they become more open. Rather than being too strict, parents should guide their kids and be sensitive to them - know when to draw the line.

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Our Church Got a P10,000 Reduction in Rent!

Praise God! Finally, after weeks of negotiations with our church's current landlord, we finally agreed on a price. After much prayer, our church in Makati City was given a P10,000 reduction in rent after our 5-year contract, which did not have any rental increase, officially ended last Sunday. We agreed on a one-year contract but the owner asked for a three-month deposit and a one-month advance. Initially, he wanted a four-month deposit but we bargained for a two-month deposit and agreed to meet in the middle.

This agreement is really a blessing for our church, an answer to all our prayers - the landlord too, of course. It has given us more time in our current area and we hope that this year, our church's outreach will be more aggressive. Now we know that it was part of God's plan for us to stay in the Guadalupe Nuevo area, at least for another year. Our mission in our current location isn't finished yet.

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Looking for Web Hosting?

When starting a blog, or any website for that matter, the two essential things you will need are a domain and web hosting. These two are readily available in the internet and you can even get them free. But using free webhosting has its limitations.

When I started this blog, I started with a free url, just a subdomain and free hosting. Eventually, I purchased my own domain and remained with the free hosting service. I can say that having started other blogs with their own domain and web hosting has allowed me to appreciate how having a paid hosting is.

For a list of web hosting companies you can go to webhostingchoice.com. They have a list of companies and a comparison of the services they offer. This is helpful especially for those who are beginners because you can compare the different offers each web hosting company has to offer. Visit their site for more information.

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Just Blogging My Thoughts Down

As I write today, I realized I haven't blogged for a few days now. I have caught what most say as a writer's block. For a blogger, that's bad, especially when there are sponsored posts lined up. Usually, sponsored posts keep me writing, but the posts in between are what I run out of.

When I started this blog, I chose for it to become a personal blog so I could write anything I want. I thought, that would give me more things to write about. But still, it's better to blog when you are inspired by something - a topic, a news, a movie a song or anything happening around. I guess I have just become to busy with work and even working on sponsored posts that I am not able to tune in to details around me. That's really bad. It's bad when I would have to think hard of something to blog about.

So now, I just decided to just put my thought into writing. It feels good to be able to put your finger on how you are feeling, to understand yourself. I am hoping that this would put me back on a blogging roll until I catch up on assignments that I need to work on.

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Waste, Spend or Invest?

I have been meditating lately about the fact that everyone on earth has the same amount of time in every day. We all have 24 hours given to us in day whoever we are - rich or poor, influential or not, young or old.

What differentiates us isn't the amount of time available to us but the manner in which we exercise our gifts, talents and treasures within the available time. We are all just stewards - people who have been entrusted with what we have.

I sometimes can't help but think about how I do as a steward. Am I faithfully developing and using the gifts, talents and resources given to me within the amount of time that God has allotted to me?

Within every stewardship relationship there are two parties involved: the master who hands out the resources and will one day ask for an accounting; and the steward who is entrusted with the resources and must eventually answer for how he handled them.

I can either waste the, just spend them or invest them. I hope that everything I do will be seen as an investment and I hope to continue discovering ways of investing the multiple resources God has placed under my trust.

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A Disease That Can Be Avoided

According to Wikipedia, Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. I haven’t personally encountered anyone or heard from anyone I know of someone who has had this condition. And I am thankful that I haven’t because since a lot of information is already available about it and its cause, it should be expected that these cases would be reduced or avoided. But I feel bad for those who have this disease, and if it was work related, I hope that their families would be able help them get justice for their situation and that employers who are making things hard for them would eventually be held liable.

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Eduardo da Silva's Great Comeback (With Pictures)

Eduardo da Silva of Arsenal is back and is looking sharp. What a great comeback story! After fracturing his left fibula and dislocating his ankle in a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor in February 2008, he is now back and played yesterday in Arsenal's fourth-round replay against Cardiff in the FA Cup. He started for the Gunners and never gave anyone a doubt about his readiness to play again. He scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute.

A picture of Eduardo da Silva's horrific injury in February 2008

25-year-old Eduardo da Silva, who also plays for Croatia, said, "It was the best day of my life - it was a special moment to score, very emotional. I celebrated by kissing my wedding ring - because my wife and daughter and family supported me through this."

He did not only score once but twice. The Brazilian-born Croat easily dispatched the ball in the left-hand corner of the goal in a 60th minute penalty kick, causing another round of celebration from Arsenal fans.

I feel very happy and excited for him, seeing how good he plays and the future he has in his football career. I hope the best for Eduardo da Silva and may he continue to inspire football fans with his great talent, determination and heart!

Eduardo da Silva is back!

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Decision Making On Car Repairs

It has been three months since we had our Nissan California’s body fixed. I intended to have its other parts fixed or replaced right after that but have not done any major replacement yet. I haven’t let its mechanic use his car lifts to replace the shock absorbers and the springs for the rear suspension yet.

My estimate is it would cost at least P8,000 for the parts, plus the camber alignment. But I am having second thoughts as whether I should get that done first or buy new tires. Because if I bought tires after replacing the rear suspension then I would pay double on the camber alignment. If I did the opposite I would face the same circumstance.

The best option is to buy a set of tires and then have them installed while the suspension is being replaced so I could just have the camber alignment done once. But, this would mean that I need to save up for the tires as well in addition to the cost for the rear suspension. So, right now I am just waiting and hoping that we’ll be able to start saving for all these.

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The Tulay Program: Blas F. Ople Foundation, Microsoft and OWWA

Last week, free computer classes for OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) and their dependents were launched in Manila. Known as the Tulay program, it was launched at the (OWWA) Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration's Blas F. Ople Development Center building located at Intramuros, Manila.

After the launching, some members of the media and bloggers were invited to a dinner sponsored by the Blas F. Ople Foundation to introduce the Tulay program and some of the recent graduates from the CARAGA region and Davao City.

Lilibeth Deronia (lady in black), sharing how Tulay program has helped her

I personally met other bloggers and three graduates of the Tulay program- Elisa Moran, Lilybeth Deronia and Lola Buhay Tan. I was very much encouraged by Lola Buhay's experience especially because she was the most senior among the graduates at eighty-three years old. She is a testimony of the fact that we are never too old to learn something new.

Jeff Aspacio (this blog's author),listening to Lola Buhay's experience with the Tulay program

The Tulay program, which is a joint partnership of Microsoft and the Blas F. Ople Foundation who, is a computer literacy program which is available to OFWs and their immediate relatives or dependents and can be easily availed by contacting the nearest OWWA regional office and signing up.

The graduates of the Tulay program ogether with the representatives from the Blas F. Ople Foundation, bloggers and traditional media representatives (photo taken by Jeff Aspacio)

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Low Priced Eyeglasses

What? Zenni Optical in the New York Times?! Yes. This online store that markets its product cheap was featured in the New York Times. The article written about them is entitled “Seeing Straight Without Breaking Bank”. You may wonder how they’ve become so popular. I think it’s because they sell their eyeglasses at a very low price. Prescription eyeglasses for only $8! The designs can be seen in their website and they are so many that you may have two spend some time picking one that you like. I have found one that I like and it’s the one below. I like it because I think it would look good on me, but I am not one who wants to wear glasses. Thank God I’ve still got 20/20 vision!

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A Cover of Stars by Switchfoot

Last Saturday, our church's youth ministry (JIVE Youth) held a Valentine Banquet entitled "Love Struck" and I was requested to sing the opening song as our music team accompanied. Below is a portion of the song entitled "Stars" by Switchfoot.

STARS (Switchfoot)

Maybe I've been the problem
Maybe I'm the one to blame
But even when I turn it off and blame myself,
The Outcome feels the same

I've been thinkin' maybe I've been partly cloudy
Maybe I'm the chance of rain
Maybe I'm overcast, and maybe all my luck's
Washed down the drain

I've been thinkin' 'bout
Everyone, everyone
You look so lonely

But when I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
I see Someone else

When I look at the stars
Stars, I feel like myself

Stars looking at our planet
Watching entropy and pain
It made me start to wonder how the chaos
In out live could pass as sane

I've been thinking 'bout the meaning of resistance
Of a world beyond my own
And suddenly the infinite and penitent begin to look like home

I've been thinkin' 'bout
Everyone, everyone
You look so empty

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Clutch Cable Adjustment Did the Job

Last week, I had the clutch cable on our Nissan California adjusted. I have been experiencing difficulties in shifting gears lately, especially going on reverse. I would hear some metal parts scraping together when I shift to reverse. Aside from that, driving our car in the C5-Kalayaan Avenue traffic has been causing some strain on my left leg because I would have to press the clutch to the floor every time I shift and that is quite disturbing when I’d have to do it over and over during traffic. After having the clutch cable adjusted, everything about shifting has gone back to normal. I’m glad that it just took that to remove the shifting problem.

I admit that getting a new car has crossed my mind even though that is a remote possibility at the moment. The cost of the downpayment for a new car, plus the cost of auto insurance coverage and the registration is a big amount to hurdle. Maybe when things get better financially for us we would be able to do that, but not anytime soon. When that moment comes, I’ll see to it that I try to get low auto insurance rates from different websites that offer auto insurance online to minimize the cost of the insurance.

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Love Sunday, 2009

It's Sunday again, another day to be at church and worship with brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, our topic at church will be about love. This topic is part of a 6-part message series entitled "A New You This New Year". It blended with the schedule perfectly as we talked about 6 different character qualities that we wanted to improve in our own lives. The series included the topics of gratefulness, courage, integrity, self-control, discernment and the last one which fell on 15th of February was love.

After a great Valentine banquet yesterday, where six visitors professed to have received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, this evening we will be concluding the day with a treat for couples, through "Fireproof". We will be showing the film for free and hope to rekindle the fire in marriages of couples who will be joining us. We also intend to share the gospel to those who don't have a personal relationship with Christ yet. Do pray for this endeavor.

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On Drawings and Art

I am not one who is into other arts except modern music. But writing about other forms of art forces me to broaden my knowledge on it. I recently learned that any kind of drawings that were produced before 1900 while modern drawings are the ones that have been created between 1900 and 1949. Drawings that were created from 1950 until the present time are called contemporary drawings.

When you need to fill your art storage you can visit an art auction to increase your collection. However, keep in mind that there are many contemporary drawings listed in art auctions that never get a bidder. One reason for this is that the starting bid is set so high that it discourages interest. Maybe because owners want to preserve the drawing and let time make it more mature. Antique drawings in art auctions are ones that garner a lot of interest. So if you are looking to increase your art collection, you should prepare enough funds for antique art auctions because they are the ones that are quite liquid in the market.

For your storage needs, visit ImagineMindsEye.com for an wide variety of art needs that fits your needs and budget. You can also download a brochure from their web site to learn more about them.

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Never Leave your Partner Behind

A week ago, I saw the movie "Fireproof" and was touched and reminded about the commitments I made to my wife. I especially liked the parallelism made between marriage and the job of a fireman which both experience 'fires' and the application given was to 'never leave your partner behind'. I was glad to have watched that movie with my wife and since we both saw how it nice it was, we wanted to share it with other couples at church.

On Sunday night, during our usual evening service at 6:00 PM, we will be having a movie night service at our church in Makati. We invited as many couples as we can and the mother's group in our church will be taking care of the popcorn so that those who will join us for that event can enjoy "Fireproof" and popcorn at the same time. We really thank God for the new Acer X1160Z multimedia projector that we can use in church. We just hope we'd be able to purchase a computer that can be exclusively used for that projector which will be put to the test this Sunday night. This movie night event is free of charge, so if you feel like joining us, our church is located at the 3/F 9642 Kalayaan Talipapa Bldg., Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City.

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Busy Weekend

The Valentine weekend sale in malls are still on and these next two days the malls are surely going to be filled with lots of people. Streets going to and from the business establishments will be busy with traffic and travelers will be very much affected. On those two days I will be busy at church with two events, a Valentine banquet and a movie night service. We just hope that the traffic won’t affect our events so much.

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Our Church's Valentine Banquet

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and many people will be busy thinking about love. Many will be preoccupied with their loved ones and our church will be using this to lead others to God's true and perfect love. Our church's youth ministry organized a Valentine banquet entitled "Love Struck". There will be a live band presentation, videos and inspirational message all after dinner. The ticket price is P50 and seats are limited to 50 persons only.

We hope that many of the invited friends and guests of our young people would come and that they would get to hear a clear presentation of the gospel. Please pray for this Valentine outreach event.

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Hoping to Get Back to My Exercise Routine Soon

It has been two weeks now since I have gone to Marikina Sports Park to jog and attend our football training. I have been feeling sluggish and have observed that my body weight has increased from 131-132 lb range to the 134-135 lb range. Both are within the normal range for my height but as one who plays football, a little weight gain means a lot especially with the sudden sprints and change of pace required in playing soccer. But whatever happens, I do not think I would resort to using weight loss supplements, not that they are bad for me, but because I prefer to maintain my weight through exercise and training. This is for the sake of being able to maintain my agility in the pitch. I just hope that after this busy week I would be able to go back to my weekly exercise routine.

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Keeping Track of Time

At 10:00PM tonight, Jennie and I have officially been together for 11 years. I remember that night of February 10, 1998, in the living room of their house, on the sofa, she became my girlfriend and I her boyfriend, eventually got engaged after more 3 more years, and now, we've been married for 7 years, 2 months and 2 days.

I really am bad at details but things like these are meant to be remembered so I try my best to keep track of all these despite my absent-mindedness sometimes.

Being with my wife has completely changed my life for the better. I wouldn't be the man I am now without her. It's like, if I was Adam, she was my Eve - God's perfect gift to me, my "help meet", the one who completes me and balances my character and personality. Truly, it has been a blessed 11 years, with our imperfections and all. By God's grace, we are still together and very happy, now with a cute and healthy son who is 3 years, 8 months and 30 days old.

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The Late 90s: Working as a Forex Trader

Back in the late 90s, I used to work as a foreign exchange trader and traded in USD/YEN and USD/GBP. We would handle clients who invested hundreds of thousands of Philippine pesos and felt victorious when our clients earned so much but felt really bad, like when a doctor loses a patient, when all the money they invested were lost. Our work, as traders not brokers, was not fraudulent, but since there was no regulating body in our country for that type of investment at that time, there was really no protection for our clients from those who mishandle their investments.

After realizing how unprotected our clients were, I and Jennie, my girlfriend then, who is now my wife left the company. Investment Fraud in that form was pretty unpopular during that time but a few months after we left our job, we heard that the Securities and Exchange Commission raided the office we used to work for and gave a cease and desist order to the company.

As traders, we were glad that we handled our business relationship with our clients well and made sure that we didn’t make any decisions without our client’s approval. This served as our protection and our client’s protection from fraudulent transactions.

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RELAX to Relieve Stress

Are you feeling stressed? Here is a way to relieve your Stress. This is a prescription for pressured people -- an alternative way to RELAX.

R -- Realize your worth

The reason most people overwork is because they confuse their work and their worth. We think that if we work a whole lot, achieve a lot, we're worth a lot. The antidote is to realize how much God values us. Romans 5; 8 says, " But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

E -- Enjoy what I already have

Resist the desire to acquire. Be content with that you have. It takes time to learn contentment but it can be learned.

L -- Limit my labor

This means making a conscious decision to make time for other things besides work. Remember, life isn't just about work

A -- Adjust my values

This is changing my thinking about what is really important. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36)

X -- eXchange my pressure for God's peace

This gets at the very root of stress. There are three kinds of fatigue:

*There is physical fatigue -- tired muscles. This can be replenished pretty quickly. A body massage, a visit at the spa, etc.
*There is emotional fatigue -- tired emotions, feelings.
*There is spiritual fatigue -- a dry spirit. The last two are the deepest.

A vacation may be helpful but it won't help the last two in the list above. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

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Shopping at Hi-Top

Ted Amperof Manila String Machine, Jed and Jeff Aspacio while parked at Hi-Top (from left)

Last Saturday, we, our family and my in-laws, returned to Hi-Top Supermarket which is located along Aurora Boulevard, beside Faith Fellowship and in front of Roosevelt High School. This is one of our favorite places to get groceries because of the cheap prices. It has been a long time since we went to this place and have missed, not just the cheap prices of Dr. Peppers and A&Ws in can but also the other items that are not usually available in other supermarkets. The only thing different about this supermarket is they don’t use barcode scanners and I wonder why, knowing that many malls and supermarkets use this because of the efficiency and accuracy it provides for the cashier. But we don’t really complain about how they serve customers because of the low prices they have.

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Steps to Get an SSS ID Replacement at the SSS Main Office

Finally, after my third visit to the main office of SSS at Quezon City, I finished the process of having my social security ID replaced. I lost this ID during the Christmas holidays together with my other IDs. I first had my driver's license replaced and then this ID. I am glad that I finished the process. The hardest part of the process was the evaluation because I had to get in line and had to be at the SSS office before 9 AM. During my visit for the evaluation, I arrivbeed at around 8:30 AM and got a number, 533. I got served at around 1 PM and then I was asked to secure an appointment letter. That was easier because we all had a schedule and the line was faster.

So, the steps (procedure) to get an SS ID replacement at the Social Security System main office, the ones that I took, are:

1. Secure an R-6 form and an E-6 form.
2. Secure an affidavit of loss
3. Pay the amount of P150 at the SSS cashier using the R-6 form
(steps 2 and 3 can be interchanged)
4. Have the filled out forms and the affidavit of loss evaluated and make sure that you have 2 valid IDs. You can check at the back of the E-6 form for the list of the acceptable IDs.
5. After evaluation, secure an appointment letter.
6. Go to the SS office on the appointment date and time to get your picture, fingerprint and signature captured.
7. After three months, you can expect your SS ID in your mail (you can select your home or office as your mailing address).

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The Law and Mesothelioma: Asbestos Caused Disease

Are you experiencing or feeling a shortness of breath? If you are positive that this is due to pleural effusion or, in simpler terms, fluid between the lung and the chest wall and and are experiencing chest wall pain and weight loss, then there is a possibility that you are suffering from mesothelioma.

Maybe you are wondering what that is, well, mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to a substance called asbestos. Most people who develop this disease are people who have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. This is so risky that even washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put you at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Well there is a law regarding this and compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma. There is in fact a specific specialized profession or career for this. The mesothelioma lawyer or what others also call the mesothelioma attorney works on these types of cases.

Mesotheliomamedcine.com is a web site that helps people who are in need of legal assistance regarding this matter. They are committed to help people make educated decisions as they file claims related to mesothelioma. Visit their site to know more about them.

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I Need A List of Restaurant Games

Yes, I need some suggestions for restaurant games because on February 14, our church will be holding a Valentine Banquet entitled "Love Struck". We set a goal of fifty and are hoping that high young professionals, college and high school students from Makati who were invited by our church members will come to this evangelistic event. We will be setting up the church auditorium like a romantic restaurant and our program will include restaurant games, live contemporary music and we'll be serving dinner. Ticket price is P50 only, enough to cover food expenses.

So if you know of any restaurant games, I would really love to hear your suggestions. You can comment here or send a message at pastor@sbcmakati.org. We look forward to hearing your suggested wholesome and fun restaurant games. Thanks in advance.

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Wireless Resources

There are many ways to send data without wires. One popular method is through wi-fi. This is so popular especially to those who travel that a lot of companies who offer Data Card Rental have risen in the market.

Another way to connect without wires is through Bluetooth. In the United States, Bluetooth gets absolutely no respect. It is however, becoming more and more common in notebooks, PDAs, and cellular phones. Even desktops can plug in Bluetoothe devices which provide wireless users a way to transmit small amounts of data over short distances.

Now, Bluetooth is facing stiff competition from new wireless technology. Referred to as UWB or Ultra Wideband, this new wireless connection can provide data transfer of up to 480 MB a second - while most current Bluetooth devices transfer data up to 721 KB a second.

But wi-fi still is the best connection because it not only connects to other electronic equipment, it connects to the world wide web.

Rovair.com is an online source for this kind of technology. They can be considered a great source of information when it comes to wireless resources. Check out their web site and compare plans, prices and services they offer with the wide variety of carriers and manufacturers they partner with.

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Tips For Finding Inexpensive Valentine’s Day Gifts

Have you tried buying a rose for Valentine's Day? If you have ever bought roses for a loved one on Valentine’s Day, most likely, you have noticed that roses are significantly more expensive on Valentine’s Day than they are at any other time of the year. This fact alone may make you think that a great Valentine’s Day gift has to be expensive. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can find really inexpensive gifts that your loved one will greatly appreciate.

This entry hopes to provide a few tips for finding inexpensive Valentine’s Day gifts which are really meaningful but will also provide some tips for how traditional, expensive Valentine’s Day gifts can be modified in a way that makes them more easy on the budget.

Consider the roses we previously mentioned. Buying your loved one a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day can be extremely expensive, like almost triple the original price. However, there are other ways to give flowers without emptying your bank account. One way to make giving flowers more affordable is to consider giving a gift of a single red rose. This is not only an incredibly dramatic gift but it is also very affordable.

Another way to make giving flowers on Valentine’s Day more affordable is to consider flowers which are not so popular on Valentine’s Day. These types of flowers are likely to be much less expensive. As long as it is a flower your partner can appreciate it will make a great gift for Valentine’s Day.

There is another unique and inexpensive way to give a flower related gift on Valentine’s Day. You can give your partner a seeds or bulbs for her favorite flowers and pots to grow these flowers in. This is a great gift idea because it is original and it shows that you really know what your partner likes. It is also extremely affordable.

I guess for me, I would have to think of a great Valentine gift for my wife soon. Definitely not flowers, because I know from experience that she doesn't enjoy flowers. I do have an idea already, but I won't write it down here because she might read this and find out about it. :)

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Custom Built Dream Homes

Repairs and maintenance - the ordinary and expected things that we have to do to keep our home. It is not easy sometimes, not to mention very costly. But our family will not have it any other way. We are glad that we are blessed with the home that we currently have.  

If you have been renting for a while now, you might want to read about Schumacher Homes Press and read about the handful of awards this custom home building company has bagged so far. It is neat how people in the United States can own their very own dream home without such high costs. 

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Going to Church

It's Sunday again and it's the day to worship. Every Sunday, I am expectant about what God's word will be telling me and what changes I need to make to better please Him. By His grace, life has been better and I have felt more at peace within as I continue to seek and obey Him.

Going to church, since I had a personal relationship with Him, has become more than just a religious activity - a routine. It has become a process of becoming more like Christ, learning His will through His Word.

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