Importance of Computer Literacy

We are now living in the digital age and knowing how to use the computer is already a necessity. Almost every transaction is being done using a computer that even schools are using the device to teach their lessons.

Computers were basically invented to compute thus the name. However, over the period of time, computer also evolved into something awesome and can already perform logical tasks and a lot more complex things. Partnered with an internet connection, almost all questions in the world can already be answered by a computer.

 That’s why, it is very important to know to how to use one. Basic computer programs are being taught in school and are being offered as a short course program for those who are no longer in their school age years. It aims to teach the basic knowledge on how to utilize a computer properly and appropriately.

For a household having their own computer at home, learning how to use it won’t be that difficult. Most of the young people in the family or the children can teach their parents or anyone who didn’t have the chance to learn it during their younger years. Good thing computer classes are already included in today’s curriculum ensuring that the latest generation of students are already computer literate.

If no one in the family can teach it, then better enroll yourself in one of the best computer schools to keep up with the fast paced world. It not too late to start after all.
-niceurdaneta-

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Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) a.k.a. Traitor in Action

Nearly two years ago at about 10pm in the evening, I received a call from my pop (dad). He sounded very anxious and scared. It was an emergency call for my mom. My pop informed me that she suddenly lost her consciousness. She is known to be hypertensive for quite some time and admittedly not that religious to her maintenance medications.

I calmed down my pop and instructed him to bring mom to the nearest hospital so that her condition would be monitored. Indeed her blood pressure was horribly high at that time. When I get to talk to my cousin-in-law who was also there when she collapsed, she insisted that she really saw my mom jerked or had seizure. By that information alone, I can already sense that there is something wrong going on in her brain.

I hurried to the hospital and talked to her doctor. He said that my mom is now stable and told me that she only had a hypoglycemic attack because according to the laboratory results her blood sugar is very low. During her first night, she can't seem to sleep and keeps on slapping her left cheek, she said she can't feel anything on her left arm up to her left cheek. When I went near her, I observed that her left pupil is dilated, and when I checked her right eye it was on it's normal size. I immediately pressed the emergency buzzer and called the attention of the nurses on duty.

My mom's face appeared asymmetrical and can no longer talk properly. The resident doctor on duty arrived in the room and ordered some emergency medications. Since then, I wasn't able to sleep. There has been a lot things running inside my mind. The situation wasn't just a simple hyoglycemic attack because there is no way it can lead into scenarios like those. It's TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) or STROKE! I'm 100% sure on that and she should be transferred to a bigger hospital if that's the case. If it isn't going to be treated immediately, worst things would surely happen.

TIA or Transient Ischemic Attack is a sudden onset of a focal neurologic symptom and/or sign lasting less than 24 hours, presumably brought on by a transient decrease in blood supply, which rendered the brain ischemic in the area producing the symptom. In layman's term, there has been a part of our brain that has been receiving a less amount of blood causing a disruption on its assigned function.

When I told the doctor that my mom had a seizure before she collapsed, he also agreed to my theory that she indeed is having TIA. He ordered for a CT Scan but unfortunately the hospital that we were in didn't have it. I decided right then there to transfer my mom to the city and admitted her in a bigger hospital wherein all that she needs can be provided.

I admit it caused us a lot of money but I didn't care. The fact that we were able to save my mom from being totally physically disabled was already a great blessing. 

Since then, we had been very conscious in her diet and she has been religious in her maintenance medications. However, at this time that I thought everything is going fine, I received another emergency phone call. This time, it's not a "loss-of-consciousness" scenario but a different situation. My pop told me that my mom can no longer talk which is like her tongue isn't moving. Oh my! it's another TIA, I'm 100% sure of it for the second time. Indeed my feeling is correct. Another TIA and another scary situation for us. Good thing we were able to detect the symptoms early and was able to bring her to the hospital for treatment. 

She's now out of danger but anytime this traitor disease will get back on us. For the second time around, we should tighten our defenses. Medications should be followed religiously and diet should be in moderation. -niceurdaneta-

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Finding An Amazing Mediterranean Cruise

If you are hoping to see and experience some of the many varied delights of the Mediterranean this year then a cruise holiday is perhaps the best way to go about it. You can book yourself on-board any number of fantastic ships and sail around some of the most beautiful coastlines to be found anywhere in Europe or the world.

The really good news though is that there is no shortage and even a relative abundance of bargains available on quality Mediterranean cruise holiday packages from fully reputable and reliable tour providers. So you could soon be seeing that sun-drenched corner of the Med you had in mind with more money to spend than you'd imagined. A little online research should enable you to turn up some significantly discounted deals on quality cruises from the likes of P&O, Celebrity, Thomson Cruises and others.

And if you're quick enough with your online research and your decision-making, and you have the requisite flexibility, then there's every chance you'll find cruise deals to suit your needs on the basis of a last minute package. The nature of the last minute offers made available vary but they could help you save some significant sums and cruise ships tend only to check out the most impressive coastal areas of the regions they visit. And there is always likely to be an enormous amount available on-board to keep you more than occupied and suitably entertained during the length of your stay.

There are packages to the Mediterranean on offer right now, as there are to more far-flung parts of the world from the Caribbean to the Galapagos and from Asia to Australasia. The list of possible destinations with cruise holidays is in fact virtually endless and any combination of family members, couples, individuals or groups of friends can be easily accommodated at any time of the year.

-niceurdaneta-

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Head to the Mountains: Winter vs Summer

The picturesque alpine resorts high above sea level, nestled in the stunning mountain ranges of Europe, aren’t just a skier’s Mecca. They can be enjoyed whatever time of year; your chosen activity is the only thing that changes.

During the summer months, as the snow melts and the lush green mountainsides emerge, head to the Austrian lakes and mountains for some unrivalled landscapes and some of the best walking, hiking trails and cyling. During the summer, Krimml Waterfalls are highly recommended due to the outstanding natural beauty that resides there or, as a family, have a go at canyoning in Mayrhofen. As winter arrives, the Austrian Alps turn into a haven for skiers and snowboarders alike, making the range a very popular spot for all winter sport enthusiasts –a skii holiday in Europe which offers one of the most sought after spots.

For such a small country, the principality of Andorra has a vast array of activities on offer, whatever your interests. In the summertime, you can choose from gentle walks around the traditional villages homing Romanesque churches, or more thrilling hikes and climbs in the Pyrenees. It is also a very popular spot for mountain biking, fishing and horseriding. With dramatic scenery, lush narrow valleys and snowcapped mountain ridges, try and make the most of the gondolas that take you to the top of the mountains during the summer months and admire the breathtaking views. As winter falls, head to Arinsal or Soldeu for some of the best all-round skiing opportunities this area has to offer. 

Equally, Switzerland is also an ideal retreat for those after winter or summer sojourns. Lovers of the great outdoors will be in their element here during the summer, with trails galore for walkers and avid hikers. Head to Interlacken for some thrillseeking delights, with canyoning, rafting and paragliding all on offer for those who dare. The Swiss Alps offer some of the most dramatic slopes for winter adventurers, as well as snowshoeing, husky rides and glacial walking for those who want a change of pace. 

Whatever season you choose, the mountains are waiting to give you a holiday of a lifetime.

-niceurdaneta-

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Best Place to do Rafting in Canada

White water rafting or simply rafting is a stimulating outdoor activity for recreation which is conducted with the help of an inflatable raft for the purpose of navigating one’s way in a river or water body. For increased thrill and excitement, rafting can be conducted in varying degrees of rough water. This can be termed as a leisure sport as long as one does not choose a setting which is more than what one can handle. Canada is a paradise for rafting lovers. This beautiful country has some of the most beautiful rivers in North America. In order to truly experience the power and thrill of rafting in Canada’s rivers you will need to get wet. Rafting in Canada is a great way of feeling your adrenaline pumping.

When it comes to the best place to do rafting in Canada, you will not find one synonymous answer from people because there are so many rivers in Canada that are perfect for rafting. Therefore you can try your hand at rafting in any one or all of the rivers. Kicking Horse River is one of the best places to go for rafting in Canada. Located in the Canadian Rockies, this river provides the ultimate thrill of rafting. You will be able to go for rafting tours here where you will be given the right equipment and also training. In addition to the thrilling rafting experience one can also observe the beautiful scenery and towering canyon walls. 

If you are in East Canada then you should head over to Kipawa River. The good thing about this river is that it is Canada’s best intermediate whitewater river with an impressive length of sixteen kilometers. You are bound to feel the power when you step into your dinghy and start paddling. The adrenaline rush which one experiences when rafting in this river is unsurpassable and the cost of rafting here is just USD 100, which isn’t a lot. Therefore true rafting lovers really do not mind flying all the way to Canada to experience rafting in Kipawa River. After all, they would also get air miles in Canada for this connection!

Want to go for a rafting experience with a superb view? In that case Fraser River would be just right for you. You will be able to spot Mount Robson (the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies) here when you are rafting. The scenery is breathtaking, the water is perfect for rafting and the cost for rafting is also low, no wonder people get tempted to fly to Canada for the purpose of rafting.

-niceurdaneta-

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Wakeboarding For The First Time

I've been hearing a lot things about wakeboarding but I just can't find the perfect time to try it. From all the pictures that I've seen from my friends, it looks fun and challenging and seemed to be very-easy-to-do. Well, there's only thing to find out, TRY IT!

One of my friends from college returned home and I told him that we should try wakeboarding while he's still here. Good thing, Deca Wakeboard Park is only few minutes away. Upon arriving at the park, there were several beginners just like us who were doing their best to at least move few meters away from the starting point. Oh my! I thought it's that easy but at the back of my mind, maybe they weren't following the basic positions being taught or maybe they were just too scared.

Seeing them crashing several times almost convinced us to back out. However, there's this little voice at the back of my mind that I won't be able to find out if I can do it if won't give it a try. We spent some time getting there not for site seeing but to face the challenge ourselves. 

It took us 1 mango shake and a bowl of french fries before we finally leapt our feet to the registration area. Waivers has been signed and off we face the trainer for the briefing. 

It' an SOP of the park to at least achieve two laps on the kneeboard before they would let us ride on the wakeboard. 

And this is it! With my heart having tachycardia, I knelt down and tighten my grip to the tow rope. "READY!", shouted the cable control man who's also preparing himself for another set of good laugh. With the split of a second, the rope dragged me out to the water and amazingly I was able to achieve my balance! Wooooohooooo! I did it! But right at middle of my celebration, I suddenly don't know how get in between the first pair of orange buoy to keep my towing rope on the cables. The rope loosened and I let go. Good thing the life guard is nearby and assisted me to get back to the sides. 

Did I ever mention that I don't how to swim? It's been years that I've been relying on the existence of life jackets and floaters. However, it didn't stop me from trying water sports and adventures because I know these wonderful things exist to keep me floating.

Because I don't know how to swim, it took me several minutes to get back to the sides. I did everything to get out from where I am because riders are also on their way and they might crash on my face. The life guard assured me that I shouldn't worry because they're already experienced riders and they know how to maneuver themselves to avoid me. However, my eyes widened upon seeing the speeding rider who is coming towards me, it's my friend and he ain't an experienced one! Oh my goodness! He almost hit us! Luckily he was able to control it and was able to get pass through us safely. What a relief! 

For a beginner to reach that far, that was already an achievement. It gave me enough confidence to try one more time. Proud and exhausted, I carried my board and walked back to the starting point. The trainer told me that in order to get inside the floating balls, I should pull the rope towards my left side and place all my weight to the right. He reiterated that moving the rope to the left side won't bring me anywhere.

For the second time, I tried it. This time I was able to get inside the floating balls and completed the lap. However, the dragging force of the rope has been unbearable that I need to let go to have some rest.

That ends my kneeboarding experience and everyone has been convincing me try the wakeboard. My friend tried several times but he kept on crashing. This time it's a lot more difficult. It requires strength and whole lot of balancing. However, it didn't stop me from trying but I end up crashing myself face down drinking a lot of water from the track. 

I Would definitely want to try one more time but arms were already sore. I guess that would end my wakeboarding experience. I would surely go back there and achieve it.

All in all, with all the crashes and sore arms, my first wakeboarding experience was fun and fulfilling. -niceurdaneta-

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Early Bird Bookings: Family Holidays to Majorca 2013

Now is the best time to book 2013 family getaway treat. The cheapest package escapes are now available to browse online; search at leisure from the comfort of your own home and look for travel deals to suit your brood and your budget.

Family holidays to Majorca are ideal for clans with children of all ages. Tots and toddlers will appreciate the short flight times (approximately two hours from most UK airports) and blue flag beaches, while teenagers and young adults can revel in the island’s excellent nightlife and array of attractions.


A home away from home, wherever you decide to stay, Majorca is brimming with child friendly eateries and entertainment. When travelling on a budget, make the most of the region’s breath-taking beaches – great for adults and children alike.

Palma Nova, the sister resort of vibrant Magaluf, is a fabulous resort for families looking for a lively break away. Without the disturbance of Magaluf’s nightlife, Palma Nova is close enough to the area to benefit from the nearby attractions. Waterparks, themed evening cabarets and marinelife centres are all within easy reach.

When you’re looking for a slightly lower-key stint in the sun, head further north to Alcudia. Although still a bustling resort loved by tourists, a stay in Alcudia is distinctively more relaxed.

Families can enjoy the watersports offered on the safe, sandy shores, while more active days out can be found at Park Aquatico, Alcudia’s waterpark. Take a look at the island’s wildlife at Port d’Alcudia, a stretch of natural wetlands open to the public.

Plan in advance and save money on your 2013 family holidays to Majorca. Look online and find holiday deals now to pick up the very best early bird rates for your summer escape next year – save your spends for fun in the sun.
-niceurdaneta-

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Holiday Season: Travelling Abroad

Life can be full of stressors – the job, the financial woes, the annual car service being due... If you’re anything like the majority of Brits, you’ll be hoping to escape the rat race and the formidable English weather by jetting abroad this year; donning your sarong and arguing over who put their towel on the sun lounger first.

Depending on where you are in the country, or what sort of holiday you are looking for, there are so many options to cater for your individual requirements, right down to the airport you choose to fly from. One of the main reasons for your choice tends to be location – which airport is the nearest and the easiest to get to? But this doesn’t always have to be the main reason for flying from there. Sometimes, your chosen destination isn’t served by flights from your ideal airport but flight connections between domestic airports can mean that your dream holiday can soon become a reality.

Manchester airport is a hub of activity for holiday-goers. Offering both domestic and international flights, it’s one of the most popular UK airports outside of London. With a fantastic road network, allowing ease of accessibility (the Alderley Edge Bypass being a particular favourite), a Meet & Greet service to make car parking a breeze and more shops and food/drink outlets than you can shake a stick at, you can be sure to leave your stresses behind as soon as you enter the Terminal. As long as you don’t face any delays, that is.

You don’t have to do all the travelling in one day, either. Particularly useful if you live further than a few miles from Manchester, or if, worst case scenario, you are stuck in a delay of epic proportions; a hotel near Manchester airport could give you a well-deserved time out between journeys.

-niceurdaneta-

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How To Unlock Your USB Modem

The wait is finally over folks as here is the step by step process on how I had my usb modem unlocked.I think I already mentioned in my previous post how convenient it is to have the unlocked one. Now before you read any further, bear in mind that is going to be a 'try-at-your-own-risk' process. The entire thing worked pretty well on my usb modem and I'm hoping that it would also work fine on yours. I'm just sharing here what I exactly did. You might be hesitant right now because maybe you think you're not that techy enough to pull through but I tell you this, 'We Are On The Same Boat', I'm not that techy either. I'm just a curious, determined and stingy person who doesn't want to pay anyone to do things for me if I can do it on my own. For everyone's convenience, I'd be posting screen shots for proper guidance. 

Here are the basic things that we need before we proceed: 


1. Your USB Modem. 
As to my case I have this white Huawei HSDPA USB Stick. 
Model: E1553 (I think this info is written in your stick, just look for it) 
IMEI No: 354112032341500 

You would be needing these information later on. 


2. Software/s 


v4mpire-unlocker.rar 


I downloaded mine over 4shared.com. I think you will needing an account in 4shared to do this. Don't worry, 4shared is one of the legit downloading sites in the internet. It is one of the places to look whenever you need anything. It is a rar file so make sure you have winzip or 7-zip to extract the file.

In there you will find two softwares. 
a. v4mpire.exe 
b. CargarCodigoUnlock.exe 


UNLOCKING Process 


1. To start the unlocking process, make sure you plugged in your USB modem. Do not connect the internet yet. 


2. Run 'CargarCodigoUnlock.exe' and click 'Please Select Com Port'. By this time, the software should have detected your usb modem, if not, pull it off then reconnect then try again. If it's already there, click 'Accept' then 'Unlock Modem' 

3. Then it would ask for a 'Modem Code' 

4. This time run 'v4mpire.exe'

5. Click Hauwei IMEI and enter your usb's IMEI then click 'CALC" 

6. On the black window on the left, it would display the 'Unlocking Code'. Copy then paste it to the 'Modem Code' being asked in step #3. 


7. Then click 'Unlock Modem'. You would be able to read in the white window that your USB is now unlocked. Yey! I hope you're going to be successful. Good Luck! 


Now for your dashboard configuration, here are the important information that you need to key in before you can successfully connect in the internet. Make sure also that you have enough credits/load.


Dashboard > Tools > Options > Profile Management 


SMART 
APN: Static 
APN Name: 
Smartbro Access Number: *99# 

Globe 
APN: Static 
APN Name: http.globe.com.ph 
Access Number: *99***1# 

Sun Cellular 
APN: Static 
APN Name: wap 
Access Number: *99# 

-niceurdaneta-

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I Had My USB Modem Unlocked

Internet connection has become one of the most important parts in the life of a blogger. Most of us see to it that we are online 24/7 so that we won't be missing anything or be one of the first to know whatever's happening in the internet world. May it be a cool gadget's release date, celebrity breakups or wedding proposals, travel promos, blog contests etc. 

In the case of travel bloggers, having a wired internet connection is really not an option. We prefer having those plug-it or usb modems that we can carry anywhere we go. 

Ever since I started my online career, I only rely on my usb/plug-it modem for my internet connection. Admittedly, it's not that fast compared to the wired ones but the speed is just enough for my online needs. At first I had a postpaid one but later on I realized that it's not worth it. Though I could save few hundreds of having a postpaid modem, there are days that I couldn't connect, simply because the network doesn't have a a strong data signal in a place that I'm at especially if I'm in the provinces. 

The mentioned situation made me think that it would be best to have the prepaid one and having the modem open-line. In a certain place, there would always have this 'stronger' network provider and most likely it would be the same network provider that could give you the strong internet connection or data signal. I had my postpaid plan cut and bought a prepaid internet sim instead. And since I strongly believe that USB modems can be openlined or unlock, I spent few hours googling the process. I'm stingy type of person so paying someone to do it for me is not my way. 

After viewing some youtube tutorials and downloading a couple of softwares, ola! my usb modem is now unlocked. Of course, I bought the other networks' internet sims to try it out. It simply worked and I'm just so happy. Now I have an unlocked/openline usb modem, I can have an internet connection wherever I go. I would simply ask someone from the place that I'm at on what's the strongest network and use the internet sim accordingly. 

If you're not well versed with techy/internet terms, the process of having the usb modem unlocked is quite difficult but if you're determined enough to do it, Google is always there to help. 

For the configuration in your dashboard, here are the important data that you need to key in. (After unlocking) 

Dashboard > Tools > Options > Profile Management 


SMART 
APN: Static 
APN Name: Smartbro Access Number: *99# 


Globe 
APN: Static 
APN Name: http.globe.com.ph 
Access Number: *99***1# 


Sun Cellular 
APN: Static 
APN Name: wap 
Access Number: *99# 


Modem Used: HUAWEI HSDPA USB Stick Model: E1553 

-niceurdaneta-

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