All posts by The Artist

Travel

Booking A Hotel In Amsterdam

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I mentioned before that I have a Dutch friend, Niencke, who has been urging me to visit her in Amsterdam. At first, I was rather reluctant to go because of the cost. It is never cheap to travel to another continent but she has sad that it does not cost that much, except that I am not able to bunk with her. Well, I too need the freedom, anyway.

Niencke told me about the website EuroBookings.com where one could Book a hotel in Amsterdam for cheap. Well, I have gotta believe Niencke since she s local and know the rates more than I do.

She told me that IF I were really on a tight budget, I could even get a room for less than Euro20 and in Amsterdam itself too. I checked the hotels out on EuroBookings.com and find it easy to search for hotels that fit my schedule and budget. I could sort the listings by reviews, rating, name, stars and also popularity.

Although I have used quite a few similar websites, EuroBookings.com is one of the rare ones to offer many images and views of the hotels available. I really like it because I cam make sure this is the hotel I really like to stay in. I am not one for surprises!

Computing & Internet

Play Cow Patty Bingo and Win $50

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All is not wasted from my blog hopping activity. One blog led me to another and that was how I discovered Bloggrrl. Michelle who writes Bloggrrl is an ultra funny lady. I find myself looking forward to her post every day and I believe I am not the only one.


Image courtesy of Bloggrrl

This July, Bloggrrl is running a contest. It is so easy that everyone just has to participate so as not to lose out. To join, just write up a post linking to Bloggrrl’s Cow Patty Bingo contest and the mention your favorite post on the blog. My current favorite is 11 Mistakes Your Blog Makes In Bed.

If you do participate in this contest, do drop me a comment letting me know your favorite post on Bloggrrl.

The prize for this Cow Patty Bingo contest to the lucky winner is $50. Well, winning is a bonus. I am just happy enough to have found the funniest blog ever!

Computing & Internet

Free Backlink Building Workshop

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As the date of the rumored impending Google Page Rank update gets closer, I am getting a little desperate to try to increase as many backlinks as possible, but of course, I am not prepared to pay as some of my fellow bloggers are. In a previous post, you may have read about a SEO course that I registered with but that fell through, unfortunately.

However, there is a new discovery of a free inbound link building course. This is a mini workshop which anyone could sign up for and receive for free by email five mini courses over five days.

I think this would be very helpful for me. Oh yeah, if you go get your hands on his no strings attached courses, you could download the 30-minute audio to your iPod (lucky you!!), burn to CD or just listen online.

Happy backlink building!

Computing & Internet

How To Win An XShot

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Drew, a fellow blogger that I got to know of earlier this year and now blogs actively on FOUR blogs (where does he find the time??), left me a note recently about his new contest. I think the prizes that he is giving away are just so apt for his passion in photography. If you like photography, you just have to check out the vibrant photos that Drew shoots. He also takes the trouble to edit his shots to make them more captivating.

Anyway, if you would like to win an XShot from BenSpark, do check out his contest post to read what it is all about. Don’t know what an XShot is? It is something that ALL avid photographers should have. When I do get my digital camera, this is something I am going to get as well.

Or if you win the XShot from BenSpark, you can give it to me while you keep the fame! Thank you very much!

Computing & Internet

Medical News Site

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I came across a medical news website that is a compilation of news and articles with many medical conditions and categories including OB / GYN, asthma and cancer which serves as a very useful starting point for anyone looking for medical news.

With all the news compiled under one website with an easy to read layout, it makes it easy for people who are looking for news on a particular illness or disease.

Although I am not in the medical profession, it looks like the site has all major illnesses that afflict humans covered. Check the sidebar for each specific disease.

Blogging

Review The Cranking Widgets Blog & Win US$50

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I got to know of this contest through Ryan’s Review. While I am not as prolific a writer as Ryan, I will still attempt to review The Cranking Widgets for a shot at US$50.

First up, I don’t really mind the content. I rather like the personal posts interspersed in technology posts and Brett Kelly, the writer, is only human and it is natural to have personal posts now and then. However, checking the archives, I am surprised that Brett seems like he has lost momentum in blogging on The Cranking Widgets for the past couple of months.

With only an average of one post every 3 – 4 days and with 1,647 feed readers, there are not that many comments left on the blog. No doubt feed readers mostly read from the feed reader and do not drop by the blog but if the posts are compelling enough, readers will still come and comment even if they have read the post via the feed reader.

I have to mention that I got this figure of 1,647 feed readers from Ryan because I CAN’T SEE IT from the feedburner icon. The whole rectangular is orange in color. I think Brett needs to get the color recustomized and it would be better to move the icon over to the left sidebar where the other stat trackers are.

Another thing that I would like to mention is that the Google AdSense leaderboard at the bottom of the page sticks out like a sore thumb with a different background color. I could see that Brett did change the background color but it matches the color of the main body of the page and not the darker shade that makes up the left sidebar and the bottom of the page. In my opinion, it would look better if the background color is changed for this leaderboard.

In conclusion, Brett needs to post more frequently to keep the impressive number of readers coming to the blog and there are two things that could be changed to make the layout more visually appealing.

And by the way, Mr & Mrs Brett Kelly, congratulations on the new addition to the family!

Travel

Thinking Of A Golf Vacation?

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I just came across a website for anyone who is thinking of a myrtle beach golf vacation. Coastal Golfaway, which is owned by the PGA Professional, William J. McGraw, Jr., offers some of the best golfing vacation packages to the Myrtle Beach area and Wilmington.

Booking your golf vacation through Coastal Golfaway, golfers only have to pay a low of $749 per person. In any case, it is great to be able to check out the current offers page to keep updated with the new rates.

You could also check out the rates according to the season and your travel dates or get one of those custom packages where the golfing vacation will be tailored to your needs.

Not only does the website allows online booking, one could also make an online payment by credit card. Getting a golfing vacation has never been this easy.