The capitalization of a blogging friendly environment and the dark side of blogging

Greedy bloggers like me (a technically inclined freak) tend to capitalize on something so innocent as a web blog. After spending few minutes browsing other blogs (by clicking on the "Next Blog" button of the Blogger Navbar, which is located at the uppermost right of this blog) I've concluded that it is in human nature that we can't resist the attractiveness of the online advertising (i.e. we're the culprit and greedy bunch).

I've done so myself with Google Adsense (as you've definitely noticed on the sidebars and what's right below the title bar), on the very second day I start blogging. But it is not as sinister as what other bloggers have done. For example this blogger (should I call her blogger at all?) has turned her site into a complete online retail shop, with external links to online stores. If you looked at her personal profile, you will realise that she's got one of each kind of shops you'll ever need. Note: I differentiate this from a conventional business blog because at least a business blog would care to describe the goods and services they provide, and sometimes even care to log them as a traditional blog.

There're more sites like that, including:
1. Sale of DVD's and more from this blogger
2. How to Make Money Fast
3. Yet another how to make money fast, online (mega wealthy they called) here
4. Ok, this is weird, there're a few sites like this, descriptive headers but non-sense content, maybe a code generator, a worm, a virus?
5. Online game rentals
6. More to come if I find them...

Other bloggers have done worst with site pop-ups before linking to their blogs (I dare not post, but if you navigate few more blogs I bet you'll encounter a them, as I had). You can neither go back nor navigate to the next blog.

So, what has happened to the blogging community? Is this where the next eBay comes down to? By imposing shops as blogs to attract potential bloggers and thus plagues the blogging community?

If Blog Police is out there. Hear me! Please do something before this is getting out of hand!

If you're not blogging and/or sharing pictures, why bother? Please kindly remove yourself and your idiocy from the blogging community.

China, a country of the unethical treatment of animals

With poverty looming in the rural provinces of China, people with desperate needs often resort to anything to make money, regardless of any ethical and morale issues. Often these unethical and immoral acts resulted in severe consequences for its inhabitants, but this time around, it is the animals that suffers.

This week, CTV broadcasted a news clip of the unethical treatments and the brutal torturing of animals at privately owned Chinese zoos. Please check it out here.

Because of the severe lack of state laws on animal protection and well-being, the owner of these illegal zoos intentionally put sick and weak animals (usually domesticated animals) into an open arena with a group of hungry tigers. Spectators then watched the horrific onslaught of these poor animals. The zoo keepers insisted they're showing what occurs naturally in the wild, but upon further investigations we see that the predatory animals were imprisoned in cages no bigger than their size. The keepers also fed tigers bones to induce a hungry appetite that are beneficial for later shows.

This type of incident is of nothing new since Chinese medicine merchants usually poach or torture the captive animals for their body parts to be sold at the lucrative Chinese black markets. But this time, its purpose is solely for the entertainment of onlookers, which is quite sick and disgusting.

China has become one of the fastest growing economy of the world, partly due to its under evaluated currency (renminbi) and partly due to its vast contingent of cheap labour. However, with this growth, there're also setbacks in many issues such as the human rights, animal rights, environment, patent infringement and its political agenda.

China is the host of 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The government of China should set standards as an Olympic host and abolish the old ideas and strive for positive changes in human rights, the environment, and animal rights!

At least put the poor animals in proper zoos, stop the illegal poaching and the exploit of animal parts for traditional Chinese medicine. They don't deserve getting butchered in a Colleseum sport!

The softer side of Osama?

Don't know if you have seen this but apparently Osama Bin Laden (the terrorist who masterminded 9/11) has a very HOT niece! You can check BBC's Bin Laden niece in glamour shots.


Her name is Wafah Dufour. A 26-year-old musician and model, and is the daughter of Osama's half brother. If you searched on the web for her you will find many more revealing photos.

In the traditional Muslim society female should always bundle and cover up their hairs, wear something loose and less exposing. This traditional teaching preserves a woman's humble image, her integrity, the loyalty towards her future husband, and devotion to her faith. In the Muslim world, Ms. Dufour clearly violated all of that and is now walking on the decadence pathway of the corrupted Western society.

Similar to what countless actresses, models, and singers have done before her , she is simply rescuing her imagine and career, especially after 9/11. But what she didn't realize is, by posing for these photo shoots, she has set a very bad example and a low standard for the Muslim female rights.

What she's shown is not just the skins but a false sense false security and hope on the gender equality of a Muslim society!

The reality of a Wal-Mart economy!

So, you think you're doing the economy good every time you shop at Wal-Mart? Well, think again!

As you probably already know, Wal-Mart is a multi-billion dollar retail giant, who's growth has surpassed many industries and is still one of the biggest and fastest growing business on the North American continent. There're many legitimate reasons behind its amazing growth. Some of which definitely are worth learning for the young entrepreneurs. But, what lurks behind is something much more complex; these are Wal-Mart's pricing and partnership strategy. I've summarized some of the cause and effects of these strategies, and how they inevitably affects our economy.

Wal-Mart's pricing strategy is one of a kind. Together with its vast and high-tech inventory tracking system, it is one of the deadliest of all the competitive advantages. By pricing at below cost, it can drive many nearby retail businesses out of service. However, in order to target at such a low price Wal-Mart must need a supplier who's willing to supply at lower than below cost. How does a supplier do this? It does this by outsourcing the labor to many Third-world country or in-the-development country, such as China and many Southeast Asian countries.

What does this done to the local and national economy? By outsourcing to other parts of the world, we lose ample employment opportunities for Canadians and sometimes even copy-rights, patents infringement of various kinds in underdeveloped countries (due to the outsourcing of patents for mass production). So as you may not have noticed, by lowering the price and outsourcing, it indirectly weakens the Canadian economy. We may not see it right now, but I guarantee you that we'll see it in the near future. This trend of unemployment has already happened across the US in many sectors, including high-end consumer-electronics manufacturering jobs.

Wal-Mart's partnership strategy also tides together with its pricing strategy.

By outsourcing to China or other Third-World countries, there exists a transparent partnership between Wal-Mart and the Southeast Asian countries. To quench the thirst of these underdeveloped or nearly developed countries, we exports out raw materials from North America to the Asian continent and, in return, we import manufactured goods from the same people we export to. Usually, the raw materials are less expensive than finished goods. This price difference ultimately leads to a large trade-deficit. The trade-deficit then influence our economy flow and the daily market trades. All of these setbacks are evident and has been demonstrated from our U.S. neighbor down south.

Ultimately, by choosing Wal-Mart and buying at Wal-Mart, we are only strangling ourselves by outsourcing jobs and creating trade deficits.

If you wish to learn more, I recommend you read and watch PBS's FRONTLINE documentary, Is Wal-Mart good for America?

Here's also a movie on the high cost of low price. I believe it's worth a look.

Vancouver 2010 down the drain?

It's been raining heavily in Vancouver since the last week. This weather trend was particularly devastating for the local ski and snowboarding enthusiasts in which the pre-Christmas snow was completely washed out. The so-called "pineapple express" brought heavy rain to local mountains forcing some of the ski operators to close early. Meteorologist forecasts that the warm weather trend will continue for the next few weeks. Will the 2010 Winter Olympics be a big soggy congregation of athletes? Only time will tell...

So, we've all the facilities, equipment and athletes, the only thing we lack now is the SNOW! If this trend continues all through 2010, Vancouver will be labeled as the "City of soggy Winter Olympics" and it will be forever remembered as the only hosting city without any traces of snow. What a laughter it will bring?

For some this is already happening. People came from Europe for winter vacations were already disappointed and vowed never to come back. And local ski hills have already shut down due to the lack of snow.

I guess now it doesn't really justifies us, the Vancouvrites, for paying such a ridiculously high property taxes. Unfortunately, it'll be us whom will pay the ultimate price, such as taxation, inflation and a higher costs of living (i.e. higher price but not necessary a better quality).

Who knows? Maybe we'll get non of that. Maybe it'll be the ultimate economy boost! Only time will tell!

This is what it looked like on Mount Seymour's parking lot. Foggy, ice and desparate in need of snow. For more information please visit here.

It's the season for blogging, reunion, sharing, not shopping and buying

I know this is a bit too late, but a late post is better than no post!

Recently, there's been a renewed interest in shopping and buying gifts for the loved ones, relatives and friends. This trend is partly encouraged by a strong Canadian dollar and economy, and it is from VISA Canada that Canadians would spend approximately $900 per person on average this holiday. Why is it necessary that giving gifts always comes first on holidays? It's not really a must. We can definitely live without all the gift buying, time wasting and exaggerated spending.

Instead of all these non-sense buying, you should hold a plain, simple family reunion or gathering, share what we have with the unfortunate. And, if you really want to, start your own blog!

Seriously, spending a fortune on buying gifts doesn't justify the appreciation for a loved ones. If you really want to express your appreciation, why not do something for them instead of buying something that they might not like? There're plenty of things to do if you're observant and have thought of what they need the most. For examples, spend more time with your kids, help your wife do the household chores, spend more time with the elderly, etc.

And, about the gift cards? That's just irresponsibility at work!

So, this is how it starts...

Like every story, there's a prologue, rising action, climax, ending and an epilogue - a sequence of events that dictates how story goes. Well, I'm a bit too lazy for all that, so I'll jump straight to the rising action. If you want to read somebody's profile, how they've aged and what they look like then this blog is definitely not for you!

After wasting many hours on writing stupid emails, getting no replies, this is what I'll do: like every other drones who has already done so, I'll start one myself. However, instead of what they usually do (i.e. talking about their lives, well-being and who-gives-a-damn), I'll include all of that plus complaints, and the forever whinings. This makes a lot more sense than the usual "what happened to you today". Seriously, who gives a damn what happened to you today? You think it really matters?

Hey, better yet, maybe I will attract someone by posting some girly pictures and/or muscular guys to get some traffic from you-know-who.

So, enough of my rant. This blog is not just an ordinary report-my-life blog but includes anything which I'm oppose or against to.

Enough said, more to come!