A (sexy) manly reminder.. oh la laaaa..

Sounds (looks) kinky?
Not really.
Look at this as another approach in educating the women.
Yes, us, women.
What about?
Well, Breast Cancer, of course!

There has been several deaths this year, of those whom I personally knew, which related to breast cancer.
Although non were blood related to me, (and I am very much grateful to know that genetically I am free of cancer) all were shocking news, as they discovered at the critical cancer stage.
What happened to the curable 1st and 2nd stage?
My medical insurance covers for mammogram and pap smear screenings only at the age of 40 and above.
Forty years old?
Oh come on!
With this current lifestyle, unhealthy food, polluted air and water, don't cha think we need to revise that?
Early detection is crucial now.
We can't wait till 40, anymore.

And thanks to this video, which I can guarantee, us, women will gladly takes matters into our own hands.
Ohh laa laaaaa.. enjoy!

(pics and video googled from the net)

In Case of Emergency: Bags that double as weapons

Ohhhh how I miss blogging about bags.
But so sorry coz I don't have anything personal to jot my thoughts down due to time constraint.
Been kinda busy this week.
However, that doesn't stop me from reading about them while commuting to/ fro work.
Love this article so much that I just have to share it here.
From THE PURSEBLOG by the gorgeous Amanda Mull.
Enjoyyyy!! 

-----------
What’s a girl to do, in the face of modern society ripping itself apart at the seams?
Arm herself, of course.
I’m not talking about getting a gun or a knife.
No, those are dangerous and it takes time to fish one out from the bottom of your bag.
I’m talking about getting a handbag that can also be used in self-defense maneuvers of all kinds, so that if the apocalypse should rain down while you’re at the movies, you’ll be prepared to survive in the dystopian hellscape that you encounter when you leave.
Or, you know, you can use most of these bags to whack a mugger in the head.
But doesn’t the former somehow seem more likely than the latter lately?
In all seriousness, though, be safe out there ladies.

Naturally, we couldn’t have this discussion at all without the Alexander McQueen Knuckle Duster Clutch.
This design is the original handbag-as-weapon, or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a weapon-as-handbag. How you use this one should be obvious.

Those pointy bits on the front of the Botkier Flint Hobo are solid metal, and that means that in a pinch, you could cut one off, attach it to the end of a stick, and have yourself a handy shiv (or spear, if the stick is lengthy).

You may not be able to see it in this picture, but we’re all familiar with the big honkin’ chain that graces every Marc Jacobs Stam. I’ve got one myself, and every time I’ve flown with it, I’ve found myself a little nervous that airport security might wonder why I had such a long, heavy chain. You could stave off an attacker in any number of ways with this thing, including a swift blow to the noggin.

If there’s one thing that Alexander Wang’s bags are known for, it’s the sheet of solid, heavy studs that graces the bottoms of many of them. Of all the options in the line, the Alexander Wang Diego Bucket Bag is the best for self defense because of its long strap. Swing it around your head like Wonder Woman with her golden laso for maximum use of the bottom-mounted metal.

Because the studs on the Valentino Rockstud Satchel are of a different placement and lighter weight than the Wang bag, I’d suggest using this one with the short handles to give a harasser a quick smack directly to the face. And then run away.
-----------

Have a safe weekend ya ols!

How to fold those fitted sheets ??!!

Folding made easy, wohoooooo !!!
I never knew this method ever existed !!
Thanks Shakey for sharing this link with all of us at the office.

(pics googled from the net, clip from youtube)

Lets talk about HFMD

This is a special post.
For educational purposes, and knowledge sharing.
Since I am currently at home taking care of Arif this week, I have the privileged to google up for more info on HFMD.

As scary as it may sound, it is stated that this is a common disease infecting infants and children below age 10 years old.
It is moderately contagious and is spread through direct contact with the mucus, saliva, or feces (urine/ stool) of an infected person.
Quarantine period is 3–7 days.
It is uncommon in adults, but those with immune deficiencies are very susceptible, and when infected, it could be fatal.
Babies born to mothers who have symptoms of enteroviral illness around the time of delivery are more likely to be infected.
Hence,pregnant women must practice good hygiene to decrease the risk of infection during pregnancy and around the time of delivery.

This HFMD is caused by the Cocksckie A virus which tend to infect the skin.
Early symptoms are likely to be fever often followed by a sore throat.
Loss of appetite and general discomfort may also occur.
First two days after the onset of fever, painful sores may appear in the mouth and/or throat.
A rash may become evident on the hands, feet, mouth, tongue, inside of the cheeks, and occasionally the buttocks (but generally, the rash on the buttocks will be caused by the diarrhoea.)


In my case, Arif didn't get any fever, and doesn't loose appetite either.
Doc said we're lucky that this could just be a mild one.

Treatment?
None.
Yup.. no vaccine nor antiviral drugs to make it go away.
Just calamine lotion, to make sure external spots are dry and sooth the itchiness.
And the paracetamol, for fever, if any.
And allergy syrup, in case to relief the aches.
Doc said there are cases which requires antibiotic, and that is when the throat has been infected badly.
Hence the immediate and thorough check up is important to determine the level of HFMD caught.

The tip is to make sure your child is cool, clean and dry all the time.
Wear light, thin clothing and placed them under the fan.
Drink loads and loads of water to relief the mouth ulcers, ease swollen throat, and to prevent dehydration.
If they have fever, sponging with water is necessary.
Cool on the inside of the mouth is crucial too- and that's where the ice cream plays its most important role.

For more info, feel free to click wiki, and special link from the Sarawak gov.

(pics and info googled from the net)

Today I did the Heimlich Maneuver

Not kidding.
This is serius.
Please read on and learn to do the Heimlich Maneuver, coz you never know when you might gonna perform it.
Like what I just did, today.

We were getting ready to go out.
I was preparing the kids bag, putting the spare diaper in.

Then hubby came running to me.
Both hands holding his own neck.
Eyes bulging.
Face redenning.
He looked like he was about to cough.
But not coughing.
Oh my god!
He was gasping for air!
Shit!

He was heading to the toilet.
I ran to him.
Hug him from behind.
Made a fist, placed above his belly, and yanked him backwards!
He straighten his back, and I yanked again.
Nothing happened!
Yanked again.
And again.
Nothing happened!
Shit!
He's not letting out even a cough!

He's still gasping.
Bending down towards the sink.
This is it.
No mercy.
I made a fist, again, but this time I hit him hard at the upper back.
I was trembling and screaming, "What did you swallow?"
But of course, he can't answer me back.

So, I kept on hitting his back with my fist.
Slap it hard.
Very hard.
Again.
Again.
And again.
Wanting whatever that was stuck at his throat to get the hell out of there!
Then finally, he started coughing!
Cough again.
And breathe!
Ya Allah! Thank God!

So, what made him choked?
Nope, not food.
Difficult to explain this but he actually chocked after an abrupt sneezed and coughed.

Choking : is the mechanical obstruction of the flow of air from the environment into the lungs, prevents breathing, and prolonged or complete choking is potentially fatal.
And the obstruction of the airway can be caused by either a foreign body (food or small objects), a respiratory diseases, or compression to the trachea a.k.a strangulation.

I have learned this Heimlich Maneuver as soon as Amin was born, 6 years ago.
Just a precaution as we all know that babies tend to put anything and everything into their mouths.
But I never would have imagine that I'd be performing this very first time (and hopefully the last time too!) on hubby.

This is the universal sign of choking.

If you see people doing this, get help.
If you are choking, use this sign to get help.
Because chocking victim cannot talk, so, please be aware of this sign language!

Three most important thing to remember when dealing with chocking people or even your own self;

1. Encourage to cough. If the victim is coughing, this means that he's still getting air in.  This is partial chocking. Hence encourage him to cough more to clear up his wind pipe. Offer him water.
2. Back slaps on the upper back. This is to create pressure behind the blockage, assisting the victim in dislodging the thing.  But do not back slaps when he is coughing, as it could get worst.
3. Abdominal thrusts- also known as Heimlich Maneuver. Please be reminded that there's a difference in doing Heimlich Maneuver for normal adult, pregnant woman, older age group, kids and babies.  Also there's the Heimlich Maneuver for yourself and what to do for victim that's already unconscious due to choking. Yes, they're must be treated differently, but hell yeah I'm telling you that each of them are worth learning!

Here's how to do the Heimlich Maneuver for a concious adult, taken from eHow.
1. Ask the choking person to stand if he or she is sitting.
2. Place yourself slightly behind the standing victim.

 3. Reassure the victim that you know the Heimlich Maneuver and are going to help.
 4. Place your arms around the victim's waist.

 5. Make a fist with one hand and place your thumb toward the victim, just above his or her belly button.

6. Grab your fist with your other hand.

7. Deliver five upward squeeze-thrusts into the abdomen.

8. Make each squeeze-thrust strong enough to dislodge a foreign body.
9. Understand that your thrusts make the diaphragm move air out of the victim's lungs, creating a kind of artificial cough.
10. Keep a firm grip on the victim, since he or she can lose consciousness and fall to the ground if the Heimlich Maneuver is not effective
11. Repeat the Heimlich Maneuver until the foreign body is expelled.. but in my recent incident, I then proceeded in doing the back slaps.

Done, that's it for now.
I'll post more about it later.
In the mean time, here's a very very VERY useful youtube for guidance.

Sayang, if you're reading this, do note that I am too young to be a widow.

So, please go do the CT scan immediately, ok!

We need to know if you might have the respiratory diseases.

(pics and guide from eHow, clips from youtube)

Gastroenteritis

What is Gastroenteritis?

Definition from Health-cares.net, Gastroenteritis is a catchall term for infection or irritation of the digestive tract, particularly the stomach and intestine. It is frequently referred to as the stomach or intestinal flu, although the influenza virus is not associated with this illness. Major symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. These symptoms are sometimes also accompanied by fever and overall weakness. Gastroenteritis typically lasts about three days. Adults usually recover without problem, but children, the elderly, and anyone with an underlying disease are more vulnerable to complications such as dehydration.
Gastroenteritis usually consists of mild to severe diarrhea that may be accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and discomfort in the abdomen. Although gastroenteritis usually is not serious in a healthy adult, causing only discomfort and inconvenience, it can cause life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in the very ill, the very young, and the very old.
Typically, children are more vulnerable to rotaviruses, the most significant cause of acute watery diarrhea. Annually, worldwide, rotaviruses are estimated to cause 800,000 deaths in children below age five. For this reason, much research has gone into developing a vaccine to protect children from this virus. Adults can be infected with rotaviruses, but these infections typically have minimal or no symptoms.
Children are also susceptible to adenoviruses and astroviruses, which are minor causes of childhood gastroenteritis. Adults experience illness from astroviruses as well, but the major causes of adult viral gastroenteritis are the caliciviruses and SRSVs. These viruses also cause illness in children. The SRSVs are a type of calicivirus and include the Norwalk, Southhampton, and Lonsdale viruses. These viruses are the most likely to produce vomiting as a major symptom.
Bacterial gastroenteritis is frequently a result of poor sanitation, the lack of safe drinking water, or contaminated food--conditions common in developing nations. Natural or man-made disasters can make underlying problems in sanitation and food safety worse. In developed nations, the modern food production system potentially exposes millions of people to disease-causing bacteria through its intensive production and distribution methods. Common types of bacterial gastroenteritis can be linked to Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria; however, Escherichia coli 0157 and Listeria monocytogenes are creating increased concern in developed nations. Cholera and Shigella remain two diseases of great concern in developing countries, and research to develop long-term vaccines against them is underway.

What causes Gastroenteritis?

Summary from Health-cares.net, the most common cause of gastroenteritis is viral infection. Viruses such as rotavirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, and calicivirus and small round-structured viruses (SRSVs) are found all over the world. Exposure typically occurs through the fecal-oral route, such as by consuming foods contaminated by fecal material related to poor sanitation. However, the infective dose can be very low (approximately 100 virus particles), so other routes of transmission are quite probable.
Gastroenteritis arises from ingestion of viruses, certain bacteria, or parasites. Food that has spoiled may also cause illness. Certain medications and excessive alcohol can irritate the digestive tract to the point of inducing gastroenteritis. Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain and cramps. Sufferers may also experience bloating, low fever, and overall tiredness. Typically, the symptoms last only two to three days, but some viruses may last up to a week.
A usual bout of gastroenteritis shouldn't require a visit to the doctor. However, medical treatment is essential if symptoms worsen or if there are complications. Infants, young children, the elderly, and persons with underlying disease require special attention in this regard.
Besides bacteria, several types of viruses, such as rotaviruses and the Norwalk virus, cause gastroenteritis. During the winter in temperate climates, rotaviruses cause most cases of diarrhea that are serious enough to send infants and toddlers to the hospital.
Certain intestinal parasites, particularly Giardia lamblia, stick to or invade the lining of the intestine and cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a general sick feeling. The resulting infection, called giardiasis, is more common in cold climates but occurs in every region of the United States and throughout the world. If the disease becomes persistent (chronic), it can keep the body from absorbing nutrients, a condition known as a malabsorption syndrome. Another intestinal parasite, called Cryptosporidium, causes watery diarrhea that is sometimes accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. The resulting infection, called cryptosporidiosis, is usually mild in otherwise healthy people, but it may be severe or even fatal in people with a weakened immune system. Both Giardia and Cryptosporidium are most commonly acquired by drinking contaminated water.
The greatest danger presented by gastroenteritis is dehydration. The loss of fluids through diarrhea and vomiting can upset the body's electrolyte balance, leading to potentially life-threatening problems such as heart beat abnormalities (arrhythmia). The risk of dehydration increases as symptoms are prolonged. Dehydration should be suspected if a dry mouth, increased or excessive thirst, or scanty urination is experienced.

What is stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) ?

Concluded from Health-cares.net, Stomach flu is a viral infection that affects the stomach and small intestine. It is also called viral gastroenteritis. Viral gastroenteritis is a common infection of the stomach and intestines that results in vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be caused by a number of different viruses, such as Rotavirus and Norovirus (previously known as Norwalk-like virus). There are many other causes of non-viral gastroenteritis including bacteria, toxins, parasites, and some non-infectious diseases.
Viral gastroenteritis is a highly contagious leading cause of illness, but it seldom lasts for longer than 72 hours. It is characterized by a sudden onset of loose, watery bowel movements, which may or may not be accompanied by fever, chills, weakness, muscles aching, stomach or abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or gas.
Many types of viruses can cause gastroenteritis but the most common are Rotavirus and Norwalk virus. Rotavirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in children and can also occur in adults exposed to children with the virus. Norwalk virus causes group-related or institutional diarrhea with peak frequency during the winter. Norwalk-like viruses are common in school-age children. These viruses are often found in contaminated food or drinking water. The viruses cause about 40% of group-related diarrheal illnesses. They affect older children and adults and are more frequent during the winter months. Symptoms appear within 4 to 48 hours after exposure to the contaminated food or water. The viruses are usually spread by the fecal-oral route. Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Severe dehydration and death can occur in the young age group. It is responsible for up to 50% of the hospitalizations of children with diarrhea. Outbreaks may also occur in geriatric settings such as nursing homes. Usually, by the age of 3, most children have acquired an antibody to the virus.
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are vomiting and watery diarrhoea. Other symptoms may include nausea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, and muscle aches. Dehydration can follow. Symptoms can take between one and three days to develop and usually last between one and two days, sometimes longer.
The objective of treatment is to replace fluids and electrolytes (salt and minerals) lost by diarrhea. Antibiotic therapy is not effective in viral illness. Antidiarrheal medications are generally not given, as they may prolong the infectious process. Self-care measures to avoid dehydration include drinking electrolyte solutions (available over-the-counter) to replace fluids lost by diarrhea. People with diarrhea who are unable to take fluids by mouth because of nausea may need intravenous fluids, especially in small children. People taking diuretics need to be cautious with diarrhea, and may need to stop taking the diuretic during the acute episode. (Always consult with the health care provider before stopping a prescribed medication!)
Do not give anti-diarrheal medications to children unless directed to do so by a health care provider. Since the risk of dehydration is greater in infants and young children, parents should closely monitor the number of wet diapers changed per day when the child is sick. Electrolyte and fluid replacement solutions for children are available in food and drug stores. Jell-O water, soda and plain water do not replace electrolytes the child needs when dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea. Children with diarrhea often benefit from dietary modifications until the diarrhea subsides.

if you are thinking about suicide..

.. read this first

A must read for those who have been thinking about suicide.

how to help a suicidal friend

Yesterday, a friend informed me that someone we know was found in an attempt to slash his wrist. Thank god for the blunt knife, he ended up with only a bruised wrist and not dead, yet. One question that popped into my mind the moment I heard the news was "Why?".

What could possibly made him do that? What triggered him? Now I feel obligated to educate myself and hopefully others out there about how serious this issue actually is.

I have spent several hours reading through some very fantastic websites and would like to use this article from Metanoia online. The word metanoia itself means " a change of mind".


The first and most important thing we should know is that THIS IS THE REAL THING, NO JOKE. Do take it seriously. Keep in mind that

"Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain
exceeds resources for coping with pain"

meaning that there's more pain than the person can handle.

Here's the list of "What You Can Do To Help Someone Who May Be Suicidal?"

1. Take it seriously.
   
   Myth: “The people who talk about it don't do it.” Studies have found that more than 75% of all completed suicides did things in the few weeks or months prior to their deaths to indicate to others that they were in deep despair. Anyone expressing suicidal feelings needs immediate attention.
   
   Myth: “Anyone who tries to kill himself has got to be crazy.” Perhaps 10% of all suicidal people are psychotic or have delusional beliefs about reality. Most suicidal people suffer from the recognized mental illness of depression; but many depressed people adequately manage their daily affairs. The absence of “craziness” does not mean the absence of suicide risk.
   
   Myth: “Those problems weren't enough to commit suicide over,” is often said by people who knew a completed suicide. You cannot assume that because you feel something is not worth being suicidal about, that the person you are with feels the same way. It is not how bad the problem is, but how badly it's hurting the person who has it.



2. Remember: suicidal behavior is a cry for help.
   
   Myth: “If a someone is going to kill himself, nothing can stop him.” The fact that a person is still alive is sufficient proof that part of him wants to remain alive. The suicidal person is ambivalent - part of him wants to live and part of him wants not so much death as he wants the pain to end. It is the part that wants to live that tells another “I feel suicidal.” If a suicidal person turns to you it is likely that he believes that you are more caring, more informed about coping with misfortune, and more willing to protect his confidentiality. No matter how negative the manner and content of his talk, he is doing a positive thing and has a positive view of you.



3. Be willing to give and get help sooner rather than later.
   
   Suicide prevention is not a last minute activity. All textbooks on depression say it should be reached as soon as possible. Unfortunately, suicidal people are afraid that trying to get help may bring them more pain: being told they are stupid, foolish, sinful, or manipulative; rejection; punishment; suspension from school or job; written records of their condition; or involuntary commitment. You need to do everything you can to reduce the pain, rather than increase or prolong it. Constructively involving yourself on the side of life as early as possible will reduce the risk of suicide.
   


4. Listen.
   
   Give the person every opportunity to unburden his troubles and ventilate his feelings. You don't need to say much and there are no magic words. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it. Give him relief from being alone with his pain; let him know you are glad he turned to you. Patience, sympathy, acceptance. Avoid arguments and advice giving.
   


5. ASK: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?”
   
   Myth: “Talking about it may give someone the idea.” People already have the idea; suicide is constantly in the news media. If you ask a despairing person this question, you are doing a good thing for them by actually showing him that you care about him, that you take him seriously, and that you are willing to let him share his pain with you. You are giving him further opportunity to discharge pent up and painful feelings. If the person is having thoughts of suicide, find out how far along his ideation has progressed.
   


6. If the person is acutely suicidal, do not leave him alone.
   
   If the means are present, try to get rid of them. Detoxify the home. (Distract with new activities. Get him occupied with something else and make him forget about it even for just a few minutes.)
   


7. Urge professional help.
   
   Persistence and patience may be needed to seek, engage and continue with as many options as possible. In any referral situation, let the person know you care and want to maintain contact.
   


8. No secrets.
   
   It is the part of the person that is afraid of more pain that says “Don't tell anyone.” It is the part that wants to stay alive that tells you about it. Respond to that part of the person and persistently seek out a mature and compassionate person with whom you can review the situation. (You can get outside help and still protect the person from pain causing breaches of privacy.) Do not try to go it alone. Get help for the person and for yourself. Distributing the anxieties and responsibilities of suicide prevention makes it easier and much more effective.
   


9. From crisis to recovery.
   
   Most people have suicidal thoughts or feelings at some point in their lives; yet less than 2% of all deaths are suicides. Nearly all suicidal people suffer from conditions that will pass with time or with the assistance of a recovery program. There are hundreds of modest steps we can take to improve our response to the suicidal and to make it easier for them to seek help. Taking these modest steps can save many lives and reduce a great deal of human suffering.
   
   

Conditions associated with increased risk of suicide

• Death or terminal illness of relative or friend.


• Divorce, separation, broken relationship, stress on family.


• Loss of health (real or imaginary).


• Loss of job, home, money, status, self-esteem, personal security.


• Alcohol or drug abuse.


• Depression. In the young depression may be masked by hyperactivity or acting out behavior. In the elderly it may be incorrectly attributed to the natural effects of aging. Depression that seems to quickly disappear for no apparent reason is cause for concern. The early stages of recovery from depression can be a high risk period. Recent studies have associated anxiety disorders with increased risk for attempted suicide.
  
  

Emotional and behavioral changes associated with suicide

• Overwhelming Pain: pain that threatens to exceed the person's pain coping capacities. Suicidal feelings are often the result of longstanding problems that have been exacerbated by recent precipitating events. The precipitating factors may be new pain or the loss of pain coping resources.


• Hopelessness: the feeling that the pain will continue or get worse; things will never get better.


• Powerlessness: the feeling that one's resources for reducing pain are exhausted.


• Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, self-hatred, “no one cares”. Fears of losing control, harming self or others.


• Personality becomes sad, withdrawn, tired, apathetic, anxious, irritable, or prone to angry outbursts.


• Declining performance in school, work, or other activities. (Occasionally the reverse: someone who volunteers for extra duties because they need to fill up their time.)


• Social isolation; or association with a group that has different moral standards than those of the family.


• Declining interest in sex, friends, or activities previously enjoyed.


• Neglect of personal welfare, deteriorating physical appearance.


• Alterations in either direction in sleeping or eating habits.
  (Particularly in the elderly) Self-starvation, dietary mismanagement, disobeying medical instructions.


• Difficult times: holidays, anniversaries, and the first week after discharge from a hospital; just before and after diagnosis of a major illness; just before and during disciplinary proceedings. Undocumented status adds to the stress of a crisis.
  
  

Suicidal Behavior

• Previous suicide attempts, “mini-attempts”.


• Explicit statements of suicidal ideation or feelings.


• Development of suicidal plan, acquiring the means, “rehearsal” behavior, setting a time for the attempt.


• Self-inflicted injuries, such as cuts, burns, or head banging.


• Reckless behavior. (Besides suicide, other leading causes of death among young people in New York City are homicide, accidents, drug overdose, and AIDS.) Unexplained accidents among children and the elderly.


• Making out a will or giving away favorite possessions.


• Inappropriately saying goodbye.


• Verbal behavior that is ambiguous or indirect: “I'm going away on a real long trip.”, “You won't have to worry about me anymore.”, “I want to go to sleep and never wake up.”, “I'm so depressed, I just can't go on.”, “Does God punish suicides?”, “Voices are telling me to do bad things.”, requests for euthanasia information, inappropriate joking, stories or essays on morbid themes.

Be alert and sensitive towards your relatives, friends and peers. We never know when we can be there to help them. Feeling helpless? Don't be. You can make a difference. We can make a difference. Wear a yellow ribbon, for the prevention of teen suicide.

Blog cause you want to (and include SEX in your headlines)

Everytime after I login into Meebo I will spent several minutes to read the Meebo blog featured by the Meebo team and today I learnt something new; there's actually an international conference held pertaining to blogging!! It's called the Blog Business Summit and was held from 25th till 27th October 2006 in Seattle, USA. Wow.. I never thought blogging could be such an in-thing nowadays. There's actually the most popular bloggers list and one of them is Robert Scoble who gets more than 1200 RSS feeds daily. Honestly speaking, I have absolutely no idea what that means but whatever it is, it must be great. And here I am, just starting to enter the blogosphere with only one reader and that was my own husband who read only my 1st entry. *sigh*..I need help.

Ok, lets learn together. It says here that during the summit, Robert and his wife Maryam gave a presentation titled "10 Ways To A Killer Blog" which while reading some of the websites featuring this reports, I can't stop myself from browsing for other reports because there were no 10 ways to a killer blog. They're actually 15! Why did they have it titled 10? Is it some kind of a blog-gimmick, to use typical or simplified digits? I'm already confused even before beginning to read.

Anyway, here's the list I have compiled from 2 most very entertaining reports that I've found and they're from from Andru Edwards and Janet Lee Johnson .

1. Blog because you want to. (and include sex in your headlines -to grab attention). A story without love is not worth telling. Maryam talks about how Robert kept pushing her to blog for four years. Then one day, she started to blog. As soon as she started, she was blogging about Robert and he tried to get her to stop talking about him on her blog.
   If you are blogging about something you don’t really care about because you think it’s profitable, you won’t have passion to go long-term.
   
   
2. Read other blogs. If you want to be a blogger, you've got to read other blogs. If you want to be a thoughtful leader, read what others are thinking.
   Maryam started blogging because she was going to a lot of conferences, but people told her they had no way of linking to her. It brings out community and a bond that she hadn’t experienced before. Through blogging she has gotten a much better job and has made a lot more friends. She loves it.
   
   
3. Pick a niche you can own - be different. There are two kinds of bloggers - ones that want to make things, and shake things. Others just want to talk to their friends and use their blogs to post baby pictures, talk about books they read, etc. Either way, each group should have a common set of values. Non-technical people (Robert calls as geeks) interact with the world through a search engine. If you believe that people negotiate the internet through a search engine, you need to come up on search terms. People who focus content on a single niche gathers a much bigger audience than a large or defocused audience. And, by the way, Robert says there are 100,000 blogospheres, so you can find a niche more easily than you might think you could.
   There was a niche blogger in London who talks about the London Underground transportation system. After the London bombing, everyone hit her site, and now she is popular. Of course, we don’t want to have a terrorist act happen to make us famous, but you get the point.
   
   
4. Link to other blogs. When Robert started at Microsoft, he linked to a bunch of people who hated Microsoft - it made them know that Microsoft listened to them. And it diffused issues. You can also see who links to you easily - and it’s human behavior to want to know what others are saying about you. You should go over and comment on those posts, and get more link love.
   
   
5. Admit mistakes. Maryam was afraid to start blogging because she read Robert’s comments and saw the personal attacks. But she loved how Robert admitted mistakes - it gained him credibility in the blogosphere.
   
   
6. Write good headlines. The world is moving from feeds to keyword searches, in order to find information about very specific information. Think of how people scan lists to find information. Great headlines make you stand out.
   
   
7. Use other media. Most bloggers use only text. Use things like graphics (logos, screen captures). Even better, have an audio podcast or video podcast. Mix media so that you can share your knowledge with the world in multiple ways.
   
   
8. Have a voice. Having your own personal voice and persona that allows people to see you as a human rather than as text makes people want to connect with you more. Robert tries to type what he would say to you face to face rather than focusing on trying to be a good writer.
   
   
9. Get outside the blogosphere. Hit places outside the blogs. Conferences, meetups, and go out and meet people. That makes the connections deeper and more meaningful. You'll gain relationships that can turn into power structures later. And something that you can blog about. That is how the A-List is built - people connecting and building strong relationships. PR companies need to learn this - set up a blog, go and meet people at conferences. That works better than sending a pitchy email.
   
   
10. Market yourself. Some bloggers put their URL on their business cards. It’s little things like that which will encourage readership. Just basic marketing like that can make a difference.
    
    
11. Write well. Spell check. Check grammar. See if you get your point across. Check your state of mind, Maryam says, before you post emotionally. If you are upset, wait a little bit before publishing so that you don’t go overboard or say something that you don’t mean. Write short paragraphs because they are easier to scan.
    
    
12. Expose yourself. Corporate types are normally very reserved in their writing style. No one wants to read a press release, but the point here is to engage readers. Put in a bit of yourself into your posts, and let people see that you are a real human being. Use anecdotes, and be personal, if even a little.
    
    
13. Help other people blog. Share and build community. Bring new voices into the blogosphere.
    
    
14. Engage with commenters. Robert recommends commenting on others’ blogs in order to get them to realize you have something to say, and they may link back to you. To participate in the conversation, leave interesting and thoughtful comments.
    
    
15. Keep your integrity. You are what you appear to be, and if you’re taking advertising or are taking free product, disclose it. Never try to hide what you are or who you are, or when people find out you don’t have integrity, they will ‘out you’ to the world. Robert publishes his cell phone on his blog so people can do fact checking before they publish information that he’s commented on.

So, how about that? Feel free to read more here :
Paul Cheney
Denise Wakeman
Barry Hurd
Dustin Luther
Note : These cool cartoon illustrations are from Hugh Mcleod

ok..it works..

yup..proven.. it works..

features..features and more features..

Since I'm very free nowadays in the office (not too much work and yet, not too litlle -adalaa keja jugaknya) , I managed to surf the web and learn a few things about this blogger world..

• I can add in meebo widget into blog page
• also add in logos
• post into my blog through emailing - which is what i'm doing right now.. just testing to see if it works.. ok.. let send in this email and just wait and see..