New Year Wish List

Online wish lists are nothing new and most online stores including Amazon.com, allow you to create one. The most popular auction site in the World, eBay has something similar though they call it the "Want It Now" list.


I used to think of them as a list of all the stuff you dream about, which you then paste on your blog sidebar, just to make it look funky. I only came to realise their usefulness when my sister got married in Australia. She put up a online wish list (with one store in Melbourne) where guests could select stuff to buy as wedding gifts for the couple.

I certainly think it is a good idea and we wouldn't have been stuck with several punch bowls, rice cookers etc. Not sure whether it will take of in Malaysia because of our culture. I for a fact know that most Malaysian Chinese prefer gifts of cash rather then items. So that they can cover the cost of the dinner (please correct me if I am wrong). In the west, it has been well accepted for most weddings to have a wish list.

Wish lists are not limited to weddings and you can have one for any special occasion including birthdays, baby showers, etc. It's not too late to create one for Christmas too. One thing about most wish lists is that they are restricted to a single online store. However, that was before I came across Wishbin where you can create and organize not just one but multiple wish lists. And best of all, it is not restricted to one site but you can creat a list from wish lists from popular online retailers such as Amazon.com, Toys "R" us,, Target, Banana Republic, etc. In fact, WishBin supports all retail websites.

BTW, take a look at the my New Year wish list.

I was looking at my list and I suddenly realised that out of the 10, 8 are electronic items. I guess it's true what they say about boys and toys. Some might think that it's so materialistic. I also wish World Peace too.

p.s. This post was not sponsored by Wishbin.com. I wrote this much earlier but didn't post it up, thus wasting an excellent opportunity to make some money in the process.

Tags: Sponsored Posts Wish List Wishbin Presents

Leona has the X Factor

Leona Lewis is the winner of the 3rd series of X Factor, the most popular reality talent show in the UK. The 21 year old from London is the first female winner of the talent show.

To be honest, yesterday was the first time I actually watched the whole show. Before that I had only been able to catch bits and pieces now and then.

For the final show, she sang "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton), "A Million Love Songs" sung with Take That (Take That), "All by Myself" (Eric Carmen) and "A Moment like This" (Kelly Clarkson).

I think that it was the last song that actually won her the prize - a million pound recording contract. She really has an amazing voice and I couldn't help but compare her with Mariah Carey. She actually sounded better. I can't remember the last time, the UK has ever produced an internationally famous singer. You can't count the Spice Girls because they were a group. I predict she's going to be the one.

Anyway, it was really amazing that right after she won, viewers were taken to a factory where her debut single "A Moment Like This" started production straightaway. It will be available in music stores on Wednesday. However, you can download the song from the ITV website. It has broken a World record, by being downloaded 50,000 times within 30 minutes of being available online. Her debut single pre-sold 1,000,000 copies making her the top contender for this year's UK Christmas number-one single.

Oh! Raymond Quinn better known as Ray was the runner's up and it seems he got a good deal too. Simon Cowell (who is a judge and also a co-producer of the show) said:

I’m going to have a quiet chat with Ray on my own in a minute. We won’t let Ray down.

Seems like everyone is a winner in the show.

Related Link: Leona Lewis Official website

Tags: Leona Lewis Talent show World record X factor

See how an Internet business is set up

As an MBA student, we read about Internet start ups and how net entrepreneurs became overnight millionaires. That was during the hight of the Dot Com boom. Of course, we then read how most went bust when the bubble burst and we analysed what they did wrong. We would get fired up reading the case studies of the few successful internet companies and dream of one day setting up or working for such a company.

Students today are lucky as they can now watch as an Internet company is built up from nothing into a multi-billion dollar international powerhouse. This is reality tv unlike something you might have seen before. It follows the crazy antics of the people who make up the Payperpost.com team led by Edward “Ted” Murphy (the founder and CEO), as they move the company into a mutimillion dollar international business.

If you don't believe me just check out well known Malaysian blogs and you will be hard pressed to find one without the link button you see on my side bar on the right.

When I last checked, their website had 4 episodes. The last one is actually just a preview (titled VEGAS BABY!) of a forthcoming episode. Looks like some more crazy stuff. As far as I know, no TV channel in the UK are showing them as yet and the website mentions that..

We are currently shopping our show to television networks. All footage has been shot in HD. If you are interested drop us an email at ted (at) payperpost (dotcom).

Anyone interested?

Tags: Internet startup Payperpost Reality tv

I love my nuts

When I tell people that I am a vegetarian, people give me a pitiful look and given below are a sample of what people said when I told them that I am a vegetarian:

You poor boy.
Are you crazy?
You are missing out on all the great stuff.
Oh dear.
We have some salad for you.
How do you get the nutrients?

I found this web page which might answer the last question.

Actually I am not a "pure" vegetarian and take milk and eggs. I believe the proper terminology for people like me is Ovo-lacto-vegetarian.

BTW, here is a pic of one of my favorite foods. Kenny Sia loves his coconuts. I too love my nuts.

Did you know that Nuts are chocked full of healthy nutrients? I found the title quite funny:
It's Full of Fat and Helps You Lose Weight

Tags: nuts Vegetarian

From blogging to webdesigning

Without even realising it, I have become a full time blogger and my wife yesterday pointed out that I am blogging a post daily, sometimes more. The good news is that I have been receiving a lot of some opportunities to earn money. This include invitations to contribute articles, to manage websites and even a few webdesign projects.

The funny thing is that I don't even a background in ICT. Yeah! I did obtain a piece of paper saying that I am a "Certified E-commerce Professional" after attending a course in Informatics, Petaling Jaya. However, I learnt most of the stuff myself - through trial and error and online tutorials.

While I was working in Kedah, I did receive several web designing projects but I would pass it on to other freelance web designers as I didn't have enough time. Now, I am not letting any project go as every penny counts.

In the past I used to host most of my websites with one very cheap host (only RM90 annually for 100MB space) in Malaysia. I stopped using him as most of the sites I designed later were for Government organisations, which had their own servers.

Anyway, some of the new projects I am working on are not the simple static websites I used to design. These people want Content Management Sysytems (CMS) and e-commerce facilties.

Searching for an affordable web hosting service that could fulfill the requirements have been causing me a bit of a headache. Searching on Google gave several links which were quite confusing. That was, until I came across the cheap ecommerce hosting directory. They have listed six companies (when I last checked) that can help create and manage an online store. Right now I haven't decided as yet but am comparing their services and of course the most important detail, the cost.

The website has given a list of the top 10 webhosting companies. I am not really sure how they came out with the list but they mention that they...

factor in numerous variables to arrive at the top 10 list. This is an honor reserved for those web hosting companies that go above and beyond in products, service, and quality.

Going though the list seems to confirm their claims. For example, the No 1 in the list, Ipower.com has been Top 5 Host 2005 Winner, Editor's Pick 2006, cnet Top 3 Most Popular and 2006 Gold Award Top Ten Reviews.

For those looking for cheap hosts, they also have the 'Budget Showcases' that lists
affordable hosting companies.

Besides those mentioned above, they also have listings under Unix Web Hosting, Windows/.NET/ASP hosting, VPS /Dedicated, Resell Hosting, Exchange Web Hosting.

If you consider yourself an expert on the in the hosting and domain name industry, you are in luck (Unfortunately I am not one). You may get paid to write what you know. Just click here for the details.

SO if you are looking for a web host, look no further. Just go to
cheaphostingdirectory.com.

Tags: Cheap hosting directory Webdesigning Web hosting

Firefox t-shirt plus a bonus

Today afternoon there was a loud knock on the door while I was feeding Imaan. It was the postman with a parcel.

I kind of guessed what was inside but was not sure. Maybe my wife had bid and won something on ebay. However, when I saw that it was addressed to me....


Opened it up and yes! As soon as I saw the Firefox logo, I knew it was the T-shirt. But what is that on the top. It was the surprise bonus that Marcia had mentioned in her e-mail - a Firefox cap.

In case you are wondering what this is all about, then it's clear that you are not a regular visitor to my blog.

A few days back I had written a post about the Firefox T-shirt that never arrived. Well it finally did today.

I couldn't believe it when I received an e-mail from Marcia a few days after I wrote the post, saying that they were sending a t-shirt to me. Asa had actually read my post.



I know. A lot of you probably think it's unfair. That I don't deserve it blah, blah, blah. But you are probably just jealous.

Just hope Asa doesn't get flooded with a wave of "Where is my T-shirt?" e-mails and posts from other Spread Firefox members.

I only have one problem - my wife wants the t-shirt for herself. In fact, she's already trying it out. The only consolation is that at least I have the cap.

Thanks a million Asa, Marcia. I will treasure them.

BTW, check out 10 reasons why you should use the Firefox browser in the 'Why Firefox' page.

Tags: Asa Dotzler Firefox t-shirt

I can finally work in the UK

This morning my wife picked up a letter lying in front of the door. "It's your NI number".

Yeah! I can now finally work in the UK.

Non European Economic Area (EEA) students like us, are allowed to work part-time during term time, but cannot work for more than 20 hours per week (unless the work is a necessary part of the studies) except during vacation. On the other hand, the spouse and children of a student are allowed to work full time (if the study period is more than 12 months).

However in order to work legally here, you need an NI number. NI is short for National Insurance and the NI number is allocated to a person for life. Of course you can find jobs where you don't have to give your NI number but I won't recommend it. Some employers will apply for you (if they really really want you) but most of the time, they won't employ you unless you have the number.

Like most people I knew I had to have an NI number but didn't know what to do to get one. So how did I get the number?

Step 1:
I turned to the www and did a check on Google. It led me to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs website here. It tells you almost everything you need to know about the NI number.

I then followed a link from there to the Department for Work and Pensions site here, which finally led me to the Jobcentre Plus site. I found the nearest local office in Coventry and took down the number.

Step 2:
I called up the number and fixed an appointment for an interview. Yes! Before they give you the NI number, you have attend an interview.

Next day, I received a letter from the office confirming my interview date, the location and a list of documents I have to bring along.

One thing I noted is that unlike in Malaysia, the Civil servants here are extremely efficient. I wish I could say the same thing about the service quality of some of the private sector companies here.

Step 3:
I went on the appointed date and was there quite early at the Jobcentreplus office:

Coventry Cofa Court Jobcentre Plus
Cofa Court, Cheylesmore
Coventry
CV1 2HJ
Tel: 024 7623 2200.

A Punjabi lady interviewed me. She asked me a few questions. I showed her the documents which I had brought along:
i) Passport
ii) International driving permit
iii) Proof of residence in the UK. I took along some letters addressed to my name as I didn't have any bills.
iv) Proof that I have been actively seeking a job. This is kind of funny - like a chicken and egg thing. We need an NI number to get a job but in order to get an NI number, you must have proof that you have applied for jobs. So I brought along a couple of rejection letters (past 2 months). That was good enough.
I filled up the forms and that was it.

The money I get from a part time job should be enough for us to live comfortably but not luxuriously. If I save every penny, I might be able to pay for my PhD but iI very much doubt it. For example, the University of Warwick tuition fees for this academic year is £9150 and is expected to increase. That is almost double what the students from UK and other EU countries pay (£4975). No wonder they want to attract more non-EU students to come and study here in the UK.

Tags: Employment Jobcentreplus National Insurance University of Warwick