I kissed New York goodbye

I've been to different cities, big and small, but my recent trip to NY was an entirely different experience. Unfortunately, it wasn't a positive one. I'll never make another trip there to save my soul. Roads are congested. Parking is tough. I didn't see a single handicap parking where I went and almost all parking spaces are for commercial vehicles. And pedestrians are unbelievable... they overtake the cars! They're not afraid to cross the streets even with an oncoming vehicle.

A fellow Filipino I met at the Philippine Embassy told me that he'd rather drive in Manila than in New York City. I don't blame him. I was only in NY for three hours and I couldn't wait to leave.

Who will win the Super Bowl XLIV?

In the spirit of the Super Bowl, I'm having a game for all. Who is your bet to win tomorrow's game? Colts or Saints? Leave your answer as a comment. If your bet wins, your name will drawn together with other entries with similar answers to win a free ad here in my blog for a month. You have until 12noon EST, February 7th, 2010 to post your answer. Only one blog per owner please or your entry will be disqualified. Let's be fair to others who only have one blog.

Update: This game is now close. Winner will be announced tomorrow. Thanks for participating.

Cryo-Cell Gives Back to Haiti

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Cryo-Cell International. All opinions are 100% mine.

It has been a tradition to discard the umbilical cord of newborn infants. In recent years, however, they have been proven to contain a multipotent-stem-cell rich blood useful in treating health problems and a potent resource for transplant therapies.

The cells of the umbilical cord blood don’t have the features that make them prone to rejection by the recipient’s immune system. The umbilical cord blood lacks well-developed immune cells which keeps the recipient’s body from being attacked by the transplanted cells, also known as the graft versus host disease. Clinical trials using umbilical-cord stem cells have been used for treatment of heart failure, type 1 diabetes, brain injuries and neuronal disorders such as cerebral palsy.

We are all aware of America’s stand on stem cell research which makes its scope very limited. But families and loved ones of those who are suffering from different disorders and diseases continue to hope for a cure.

If you are considering cord blood banking, Cryo-Cell is the right stem cell bank for your family. Cryo-Cell was established in 1989. They’re FDA-registered, cGMP/CGTP-compliant2, AABB accredited, and ISO 9001:2000 certified. Certified Professional Childbirth Educator Support is available 24/7 to help you with your inquiries. Cryo-Cell also provides innovative stem cell solutions.

Cryo-Cell will donate $25 from each enrollment to the “Save the Children: Haiti Relief Fund” for the entire month of February. Cryo-Cell is the only cord blood bank contributing a portion of each sale to Save the Children: Haiti Relief Fund. So if you enroll now you don't only give yourself a gift but also to the people of Haiti who were affected by the massive and powerful earthquake on January 12, 2010.

Danger is everywhere

A kite surfer was attacked by sharks on Wednesday off Stuart Beach in Florida. According to reports the victim was in an unguarded area south of Stuart Beach. Fortunately, a lifeguard noticed the surfer and rescued him. It was a heroic act on the part of the lifeguard since the sharks were still circling the surfer. The surfer was brought to the hospital but he didn't survive.

It's always dangerous out in the ocean. You'll never know what's going to bite or sting you. It's just like crossing the street and suddenly a person gets hit by a driver who's drunk or either on the phone. We can never be too careful.

DSL is the new dial up

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is synonymous with speed and reliability. I remember a few years back when we’re still using dial up, we always encountered connection delays and busy signals. It took minutes to load some web pages especially the complex ones. It was really getting to be more and more frustrating by the day to the point that I didn’t want to use the computer anymore.

We didn’t waste any more time so we switched to DSL. I love the idea that I can be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and without any dialing. With high-speed Internet service, I can talk on the phone while surfing the web, checking e-mail, or sending a fax - all over a single telephone line. High-speed Internet service drastically improved my Internet experience. Most importantly, I also saved money because when I was still using dial-up, I was charged per minute.

So if you’re still using dial up, it’s time to stop waiting and get going. Charter offers $19.99 a month for High-Speed Internet. As a bonus, Charter will even install it for you at no cost at all. There’s always a better way and nothing could be better than getting the most out of your Internet service.

Note: Follow Charter’s Facebook page for offers, important updates and more.