Get my kids used to organization

Guest post written by Kyra White

I'm one of the least organized people ever, but I really do try to keep our home organized. It's something that I don't do without thinking, but I don't want my kids to be like that. I want them to get used to organizing their stuff so they won't be as messy as me.

I went online to come up with some ways to instill responsibility and organization in them like my parents didn't. When I went online to do that I came across the website www.ClearWirelessInternet.com and after I looked through it some, i decided to change over our home internet service to that company.

I got the idea to make some little cubbies to put in each of their rooms and put their toys away in. I want them to be able to put away their things on a regular basis without thinking about it so that it will be less of a chore and a burden and more of an everyday activity for them. Maybe along the way I can also learn some organizational skills too.

Music: Are You Still Downloading?

I am sure you have been downloading music for your iPod for later use. But where do you download mp3’s and other stuff?

I haven’t been downloading or leeching for a very long time now. Besides having a terrible and slow internet connection, I haven’t been interested in music, may it be buying or simply leeching.

Before, I used Kazaa and limewire to look for music and videos. With an increasing amount of software being created everyday, it’s no surprise that music torrents have been around for the past few years. Torrents are becoming popular because of ease of use and more reliable system if you know how to use it.

I have used torrents to download PDF’s, ebook, tutorials, some softwares that are full of spywares and malwares, and some other stuff that I no longer use. However, music does not pique my interest anymore, for unknown reason.

Maybe because YouTube has offered more flexibility and availability. You can basically find anything there, without having to download files that will eventually clog your hard drive.

That said, let me dedicate a song from one of my favorite bands: The Beatles. Don’t tell me you don’t know this, as this music is quite popular.

Dreaming of a Pedestrian-Friendly City

I live in a city where a report said that two of the country roads are dangerous to pedestrians: JC, NJ. Several incidents have been recorded on the busy and long road of JFK Boulevard, and a few ended up in the statistical category “deaths” just in 2007.

I’d love to walk around the city, just to stroll and observe people. JC is an interesting place – just a river away from the beautiful lights of New York. We have a mixture of culture here, and hopefully the government transforms this place into a more pedestrian-friendly city. I am not dreaming of joining the list of Top 5 Walking Cities, but just a safer place where you can walk by and socialize with others.

Peds-friendly streets, I believe, would create a more community-like environment. The more you walk, the more people you’ll see regularly and eventually you’ll familiarize with them and vice-versa. Oh, and did I mention that walking is good for the heart, too?

Unfortunately, it looks like it would take JC more years to be that place I am dreaming of. Just here in Journal Square, the spot where demolished building where previously erected remains untouched when the government said actions will be taken in the last quarter of 2009.

My new Website for my Hobby

As I expand my latest hobby that is photography, I decided to build a website that will allow me to document my progress.

Choosing a name for a site isn't always easy, especially if you also intend to use it for business later on. I wanted my site to be easy to remember and at the same time, will represent what I do and what I am.

Welcome to PhotograPens.com...

Now the etymology:

Obviously, the "Photogra" portion stands for Photography. Pretty much self-explanatory. The "Pens" part is intended with pun.

"Pens" means writing, or in this case blogging. My objective is not limited to snapping and taking pictures... I also plan to write about the moments and memories captured by my camera.

There's also an anecdote attached to it which I am going to tell in a short concise sentence: my wife likes calling me "Pens" which is short for my surname "Pensoy".

My hobby + my wife's term of endearment to me = photograpens.com ... sounds good to me.

If you are interested to know, I plan to go the "event photography" route. Portraiture also interests me, so I also got myself a nice prime lens (Nikon 50mm f/1.8).

Excuse me, I'll just step out to practice my shots. ;)

Community Blog or Personal Blog?

Blogging can be tiresome, I won't deny that. If you have tons of idea to write about, sometimes you get excited and at the same time get confused where to write it.

Is it a personal experience? Does it involve my community or neighborhood?

Or is it both?

In a personal blog, you can write about anything. Just be careful though, as I have read many things about some people getting fired because they blog about their work. But other than that, it's safe to say that your own personal blog is your kingdom. You can do (or so say) as you please. Keep in mind, though, that if you plan to be popular via personal blog, you do not get any help if you are not creative. I must say that the success (or fame) curve for a personal blog is very steep. Monetization is hard -- bloggers who own this type of blog -- usually write paid reviews to support their sites.

On the other hand, a community blog has a strong likelihood that it will grow into an active site where everyone in your neighborhood is involved. Because you write about your community, others will be able to relate and they will be able to contribute either by writing comments or submitting a topic. If you are creative, you may be able to gain success via old school marketing (asking local businesses to advertise) since the traffic will be steady. You may use Adsense if you wish, as there maybe people coming from search engines. One example of this type is Jersey City Information where the blog talks about Jersey City. As a result, I got inspired and made my own "aspiring" community site -- Journal Square, a district in Jersey City. In this blog, I try to talk about all the happenings in Journal Square.

In my country of origin, my friends made a community site (Pandacan, Manila) that slowly but surely is gaining popularity.

So, which do you prefer?

I suggest you try both, and size up which one is best suited for you. Either way, you won't lose time if you enjoy blogging. ;)