Work Smarter Daily

10 Essential Productivity Tools for Remote Workers Who Want to Work Smarter

2026-06-08T12:11:46.711+08:00

Remote work sounds simple until you actually do it.

No commute. No office noise. No one standing behind your chair asking, “Got a minute?”

Nice, right?

But then the other problems show up. Too many tabs. Too many messages. Meetings that could’ve been a paragraph. Tasks hiding in random chats. Files saved in five different places. And somehow, even though you’re home all day, you still feel behind.

That’s why having the right tools matters.

Not 40 apps. Not a complicated productivity system that takes more time to manage than your actual work. Just a solid set of tools that helps you communicate clearly, plan your day, manage projects, protect your focus, and avoid digital chaos.

Here are 10 Essential Productivity Tools for Remote Workers that actually make sense for modern work.

1. Slack: For Team Communication That Doesn’t Become Email 2.0

Slack is still one of the most useful tools for remote teams, especially when it’s set up properly.

The key phrase there is “set up properly.”

A messy Slack workspace can become a full-time distraction machine. But when channels are organized by project, team, or client, it’s much easier to keep conversations out of your inbox and find context later.

Best for

Team chat
Quick updates
Project channels
Async communication
Lightweight voice/video huddles

Practical tip

Mute channels you don’t need all day. You don’t have to be available for every conversation just because you work remotely.

Honestly, one of the best remote work habits is learning when not to reply immediately.

Small downside

Slack can get noisy fast. If your team uses it like a public group chat, your focus will suffer.

2. Notion: For Notes, Docs, Wikis, and Personal Workflows

Notion is great when you need one place to store notes, ideas, documents, content calendars, meeting notes, and project details.

It’s flexible, which is both good and annoying.

Good because you can build almost anything. Annoying because some people spend three hours designing a dashboard instead of doing actual work.

Best for

Remote team wikis
Personal dashboards
Content planning
Meeting notes
SOPs and checklists

Practical example

A freelancer could use Notion to keep:

Client notes
Project timelines
Invoice reminders
Content ideas
Weekly goals

You don’t need a perfect setup. Start with simple pages and improve them as you go.

Small downside

It can become messy if you keep creating pages without structure.

3. Todoist: For Simple Task Management That Doesn’t Feel Heavy

Todoist is one of those tools that works because it stays simple.

You add tasks. You organize them into projects. You set dates. You get things out of your head.

For remote workers, that alone is useful. A lot of stress comes from trying to mentally remember 27 tiny tasks while also pretending you’re calm on Zoom.

Best for

Daily to-do lists
Recurring tasks
Personal work planning
Freelance task tracking
Lightweight project organization

Practical tip

Use Todoist for actions, not vague ideas.

Bad task: “Client project”

Better task: “Send homepage draft to client by 3 PM”

Clear tasks reduce friction.

Small downside

For big team projects, Todoist may feel too basic compared to tools like Asana or ClickUp.

4. Google Workspace: For Files, Docs, Email, and Collaboration

Google Workspace is not exciting, but it’s useful. And honestly, boring tools are often the ones you use the most.

Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, Gmail, and Meet cover a huge part of remote work. You can write, share, edit, comment, store files, schedule calls, and collaborate without much setup.

Best for

Shared documents
Cloud file storage
Team editing
Spreadsheets
Calendar scheduling
Video meetings

Practical tip

Create a clear Drive folder structure early.

For example:

Clients
Internal Docs
Templates
Finance
Content
Meeting Notes

The annoying part is trying to fix file chaos six months later.

Small downside

Drive can become a mess if everyone names files differently. Use naming rules.

5. Zoom: For Meetings That Actually Need to Be Meetings

Remote work needs video calls sometimes. Not always. But sometimes.

Zoom is still a reliable choice for client calls, team meetings, interviews, coaching sessions, webinars, and remote presentations.

The trick is not using Zoom for everything.

Best for

Client meetings
Team calls
Workshops
Webinars
Screen sharing
Remote interviews

Practical tip

Before scheduling a meeting, ask: “Could this be a Loom video, Slack message, or shared doc?”

If yes, skip the meeting.

Your calendar will thank you.

Small downside

Too many Zoom calls can drain your energy. Video fatigue is real, even when nobody wants to admit it.

6. Loom: For Async Video Updates and Quick Explanations

Loom is one of the best tools for remote workers who hate unnecessary meetings.

Instead of booking a 30-minute call to explain something, you record your screen, talk through the issue, and send the link. The other person watches it when they’re ready.

It’s especially useful for feedback, tutorials, bug reports, design reviews, and quick walkthroughs.

Best for

Screen recordings
Async updates
Client explanations
Team tutorials
Feedback videos
SOP creation

Practical example

Instead of writing five paragraphs explaining what’s wrong with a landing page, record a three-minute Loom and point at the exact sections.

It’s faster. It’s clearer. And nobody has to schedule a call.

Small downside

Some people over-record. Keep videos short. Five minutes is usually better than twenty.

7. Asana: For Managing Projects Without Losing the Plot

If your work involves multiple people, deadlines, dependencies, and moving parts, you need a proper project management tool.

Asana is good for this because it helps teams see who is doing what, what’s due, and what’s stuck.

This matters a lot in remote work because you can’t just look across the room and ask for an update.

Best for

Team projects
Campaign planning
Task ownership
Deadlines
Project timelines
Workflow tracking

Practical tip

Every task should have an owner and a deadline.

A task with no owner is basically a polite wish.

Small downside

Asana only works if the team actually updates it. If people keep managing work in private chats, the system falls apart.

8. Calendly: For Scheduling Without the Back-and-Forth

Scheduling sounds simple until you send six emails trying to find a time that works.

Calendly removes most of that friction. You set your availability, share a link, and let people book a time.

It’s especially useful for freelancers, consultants, coaches, recruiters, creators, and remote workers who take external calls.

Best for

Client calls
Discovery meetings
Interviews
Coaching sessions
Sales calls
Office hours

Practical tip

Add buffer time between meetings.

Don’t let people book calls back-to-back all day. That’s how you end up eating lunch at 4:17 PM while replying to emails with one hand.

Small downside

If your availability is too open, people will fill your calendar. Protect your deep work time.

9. 1Password: For Passwords, Logins, and Less Digital Panic

Remote workers deal with a lot of accounts.

Client tools. Work email. Finance apps. Social media. Cloud storage. AI tools. Project apps. Website logins.

Using the same password everywhere is asking for trouble. A password manager like 1Password helps you store strong passwords, share access safely, and avoid the “Wait, what’s the login again?” problem.

Best for

Password storage
Secure sharing
Team access
Freelance client accounts
Remote security habits

Practical tip

Use a password manager plus two-factor authentication wherever possible.

It’s not glamorous, but it saves headaches.

Small downside

There’s a small learning curve if you’ve never used a password manager before. But once it clicks, it’s hard to go back.

10. Toggl Track: For Knowing Where Your Time Actually Goes

A lot of remote workers think they know where their time goes.

Then they track it and realize they spent 11 hours “working” but only four hours doing the thing that actually mattered.

Toggl Track helps you see how your day is really spent. This is useful for freelancers billing clients, remote workers managing focus, and anyone trying to improve their workflow.

Best for

Time tracking
Freelance billing
Productivity awareness
Focus analysis
Project time estimates

Practical example

Track your time for one week without judging yourself.

You may notice things like:

Admin tasks take longer than expected
Meetings are eating your mornings
You do your best creative work before lunch
Small client requests are quietly taking over your day

That data helps you make better decisions.

Small downside

Time tracking can feel annoying at first. Keep it simple. Don’t track every tiny bathroom break.

How to Choose the Right Productivity Tools

The biggest mistake is trying to use everything at once.

You don’t need every app on this list today. Start with the problem you actually have.

If communication is messy

Start with Slack or a better channel system.

If tasks keep slipping

Use Todoist or Asana.

If meetings are taking over

Use Loom and Calendly more intentionally.

If files are everywhere

Clean up Google Drive or Notion.

If you feel busy but unclear

Try Toggl Track for a week.

The best productivity tool is not the one with the most features. It’s the one that removes friction from your actual workday.

A Simple Remote Work Tool Stack for Beginners

If you’re just starting, don’t overcomplicate it.

A simple stack could look like this:

Google Workspace for files, docs, email, and calendar
Todoist for daily tasks
Slack for communication
Loom for async explanations
Calendly for scheduling
1Password for security

That’s enough for most students, freelancers, creators, and remote workers.

You can add Asana, Notion, Zoom, or Toggl when your work becomes more complex.

Final Thoughts: Tools Help, But Systems Matter More

The truth is, productivity tools don’t magically make you productive.

They help when you use them with a clear system.

A messy person with ten apps is still messy. A focused person with three good tools can get a lot done.

So don’t chase every new app. Build a simple workflow:

Capture tasks in one place
Store files clearly
Communicate in the right channel
Reduce unnecessary meetings
Track what matters
Protect your focus time

That’s the real goal.

These 10 Essential Productivity Tools for Remote Workers can make your workday smoother, but only if they serve your workflow instead of becoming another thing to manage.

Start small. Fix one annoying problem first. Then build from there.

Creating Online Courses That Sell: A Step-by-Step Guide

2026-06-04T09:48:54.754+08:00

Online courses sound simple from the outside.

Pick a topic. Record some videos. Upload them somewhere. Wait for sales.

That’s the fantasy version.

The real version is a little less glamorous, but much more useful: a good online course solves a specific problem for a specific person in a way that feels easier than figuring it out alone.

That’s what sells.

Not the longest course.

Not the fanciest camera setup.

Not the most complicated platform.

A course sells when people can quickly understand what it helps them do, why they should trust you, and what result they can realistically expect.

This guide breaks down the practical process of creating online courses that sell without turning it into a fake guru project.

Start With a Real Problem, Not Just a Topic

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is starting with a broad topic.

Something like:

“I want to create a course about productivity.”

That’s too vague.

Productivity for who? Students? Freelancers? Busy parents? Remote workers? New managers? Creators with ADHD? People who keep buying Notion templates and never using them?

A better course idea sounds more specific:

“How freelancers can organize client work, deadlines, and invoices in one simple weekly system.”

That already feels more useful.

Before creating anything, ask:

What problem am I helping people solve?
Who has this problem?
Why are they struggling with it?
What would a clear win look like?
Would someone pay to solve this faster?

The annoying part is that many people skip this step because planning feels slower than creating. But this is where the course becomes sellable.

A course doesn’t need to help everyone. In fact, it usually sells better when it doesn’t.

Validate the Course Idea Before You Build It

You don’t need a huge audience to validate an idea. You just need signs that people actually care.

Look for proof that your topic already has demand.

Check places like:

Reddit threads
YouTube comments
Facebook groups
TikTok comments
Quora questions
Online communities
Existing courses
Amazon book reviews
Freelancer marketplace requests

You’re looking for repeated pain points.

For example, if you want to create a course on using AI for content planning, look for people saying things like:

“I don’t know what prompts to use.”

“AI gives me generic content.”

“I spend too much time editing AI outputs.”

“I need a workflow, not just random tools.”

Those comments are gold. They tell you what your course should actually cover.

Honestly, the best course ideas often come from complaints.

If people are confused, stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated, there may be a course opportunity there.

Define a Clear Course Promise

Your course promise is the simple result people get from taking your course.

It should be specific, realistic, and easy to understand.

Weak promise:

“Learn everything about AI productivity.”

Better promise:

“Build a simple AI-assisted weekly planning system to organize tasks, emails, and content ideas in under two hours.”

The second one is clearer. It tells the reader what they’ll make, why it matters, and roughly how practical it is.

A strong course promise usually includes:

The audience
The problem
The outcome
The method or timeframe, if useful

Examples:

“Help busy students build a study system that reduces last-minute cramming.”

“Teach freelancers how to create a simple client onboarding workflow using free tools.”

“Show beginners how to use Canva and ChatGPT to create 30 days of social content.”

Don’t overpromise. People are tired of exaggerated claims.

A realistic promise builds more trust than a dramatic one.

Build the Course Around a Transformation

A course should take someone from Point A to Point B.

Point A is where they are now.

Point B is where they want to be.

For example:

Point A: “I’m overwhelmed by client work and keep missing small details.”

Point B: “I have a repeatable system for tracking projects, deadlines, files, and payments.”

That transformation becomes your course structure.

Each module should move the student forward, not just dump information on them.

A simple structure could look like this:

Module 1: Understand the Problem

Explain what’s going wrong and why their current approach feels messy.

Module 2: Set Up the System

Walk them through the basic tools, templates, or framework.

Module 3: Apply It to Real Life

Show examples, use cases, and realistic scenarios.

Module 4: Fix Common Problems

Help them troubleshoot the mistakes beginners usually make.

Module 5: Maintain the System

Teach them how to keep using it without making it complicated.

That’s already enough for many beginner-friendly courses.

You don’t need 40 lessons if 12 good lessons solve the problem.

Keep the Course Simple Enough to Finish

Here’s something course creators don’t like to admit:

Most students don’t want more content.

They want a result.

A short, focused course that people actually finish is often more valuable than a huge course that sits untouched.

Try to keep each lesson focused on one clear action.

Instead of a lesson called:

“Productivity Tools Overview”

Try:

“Set Up Your Weekly Task Dashboard”

That feels more practical.

Good lessons usually include:

A clear goal
A short explanation
A demo or example
A simple action step
A quick recap

For beginners, action steps matter more than theory.

People should leave each lesson thinking, “Okay, I know what to do next.”

Choose the Right Format for Your Audience

Not every online course needs to be video-heavy.

Depending on your topic, you can use:

Short videos
Screen recordings
PDF guides
Templates
Checklists
Worksheets
Audio lessons
Live sessions
Community support

For digital workflow topics, screen recordings are usually useful because people want to see exactly how things work.

For strategy-based topics, slides and examples might be enough.

For hands-on systems, templates can make the course feel much more valuable.

A course about building a freelance client tracker, for example, becomes more useful if students get:

A Notion template
A Google Sheets tracker
Email scripts
A client onboarding checklist
A weekly review process

The course teaches the thinking. The resources help them implement it faster.

That combination sells well because it saves time.

Price It Based on the Problem, Not the Number of Lessons

A common beginner mistake is pricing based on course length.

“I only have 10 lessons, so I can’t charge much.”

That’s not always true.

People don’t pay for lesson count. They pay for clarity, confidence, saved time, and better outcomes.

A short course that helps someone land better freelance clients could be worth more than a long course full of generic productivity advice.

That said, pricing should still feel realistic.

For many beginner course creators, these ranges make sense:

Low-cost mini-course: $19 to $49
Practical beginner course: $49 to $149
Deeper course with templates/support: $149 to $499
Cohort or coaching-style course: $500+

The right price depends on the audience, the outcome, your credibility, and how much support is included.

If your audience is students, pricing too high may create friction.

If your audience is freelancers solving a business problem, they may be more willing to pay because the result connects to income.

Create a Sales Page That Feels Human

Your course sales page doesn’t need to sound like a loud internet marketer.

Actually, it probably shouldn’t.

A good sales page simply answers the questions a real buyer has.

They want to know:

What is this?
Who is it for?
What problem does it solve?
What will I learn?
What do I get inside?
How long will it take?
Why should I trust you?
What happens after I buy?
Is this realistic for me?

Keep the language clear.

A simple sales page structure:

1. Clear Headline

Example:

“Build a Simple AI Workflow for Planning Your Week, Managing Tasks, and Saving Time”

2. Short Problem Section

Describe the frustration your audience already feels.

3. Course Promise

Explain the result in plain English.

4. What’s Included

List modules, templates, bonuses, or resources.

5. Who It’s For

Be specific.

6. Who It’s Not For

This builds trust. Not everyone is a good fit.

7. Your Credibility

Share relevant experience without bragging.

8. Price and Call to Action

Make the next step obvious.

One thing most people don’t realize: clarity sells better than cleverness.

Launch Small Before Going Big

You don’t need a massive launch.

A small launch is often better for your first course because you can learn faster.

You could start with:

A waitlist
A small beta group
A discounted first version
A live workshop version
A pre-sale before recording everything

Pre-selling can be useful because it confirms demand before you spend weeks building.

For example, you could say:

“I’m running a small beta version of this course for 20 people. You’ll get the full training, templates, and a chance to give feedback before the final version launches.”

This keeps expectations honest.

You’re not pretending everything is perfect. You’re inviting early users into the process.

Improve the Course Based on Real Feedback

Your first version probably won’t be perfect.

That’s normal.

After students go through it, ask:

Where did you get stuck?
Which lesson was most useful?
Which part felt confusing?
What did you expect but not get?
What result did you achieve?
What would make this easier?

Feedback will show you what to improve.

Maybe your lessons are too long.

Maybe your template needs instructions.

Maybe your sales page promises something slightly different from what the course delivers.

Don’t take feedback personally. Use it.

The best courses usually become better after real students interact with them.

Promote the Course With Helpful Content

Promotion doesn’t have to mean shouting “buy my course” every day.

A better approach is to create helpful content around the problem your course solves.

For example, if your course teaches freelancers how to organize client work, you could create content like:

“How I organize client projects in Google Sheets”
“The simple weekly review system freelancers should use”
“What to include in a client onboarding checklist”
“Why freelancers lose track of invoices”
“My favorite free tools for managing freelance work”

Each piece of content should give real value.

Then your course becomes the deeper, more complete solution.

This works because people trust you before they buy from you.

Pros and Cons of Creating an Online Course

Online courses can be a smart digital product, but they’re not effortless.

Pros

You can create once and sell repeatedly
You can teach skills you already know
It builds authority in your niche
It can pair well with a blog, YouTube channel, or newsletter
It helps people at scale

Cons

It takes time to validate and build properly
Sales are not automatic
You need clear positioning
Students may need support
Marketing matters as much as the course itself

The biggest reality check: creating the course is only half the job.

Selling it requires trust, visibility, and a clear reason for people to care.

Final Thoughts

Creating online courses that sell is not about stuffing everything you know into a video library.

It’s about solving one specific problem clearly.

Start with a real audience. Find a real pain point. Build a course that helps people move from confused to capable. Keep it simple enough to finish. Make the outcome obvious. Sell it with honest, practical language.

You don’t need to sound like a guru.

You just need to be useful, specific, and trustworthy.

And honestly, that’s a much better long-term strategy anyway.

5 Simple Side Hustles That Can Be Done From a Smartphone

2026-06-02T10:56:21.462+08:00

Most people assume you need a laptop, expensive software, or some complicated setup to start a side hustle.

Honestly, that’s not always true.

A smartphone is already enough to start small, test ideas, and make your first bit of extra income online. You probably won’t build a huge business overnight from your phone, and anyone promising that is usually selling something questionable. But you can use your phone to do practical, simple work that people actually pay for.

The key is choosing side hustles that match how phones are already used: taking photos, recording short videos, messaging clients, managing social media, editing simple content, researching, and organizing small tasks.

Here are five realistic smartphone-friendly side hustles worth considering.

1. Short-Form Video Editing

Short-form video is everywhere now.

TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, and even LinkedIn videos are part of how creators and businesses get attention online. The problem is that many people don’t enjoy editing their own clips.

That’s where you can help.

You don’t need a professional editing setup to start. Apps like CapCut, VN, Canva, and InShot are good enough for basic edits, captions, trimming, transitions, and simple effects.

What You Can Offer

You can help clients with:

Cutting long clips into shorter videos
Adding captions
Removing awkward pauses
Adding basic background music
Creating simple hooks at the start
Formatting videos for TikTok, Reels, or Shorts

The best clients are usually small creators, coaches, local businesses, online sellers, or busy professionals who want to post content but don’t want to spend time editing.

Why This Works From a Phone

Short-form content is already designed for mobile screens. Many creators record on their phones, send clips through Google Drive or WhatsApp, and post directly from mobile apps.

You can edit, export, and send the final video without touching a laptop.

Realistic Expectation

You won’t become a high-end video editor immediately. Start with simple packages like:

5 short videos per week
Basic caption editing
Simple Reels formatting
Repurposing podcast or webinar clips

The annoying part is that clients may ask for revisions, so be clear about what’s included. For example, one free revision per video is reasonable.

2. Social Media Content Assistant

A lot of small businesses know they should post online.

They just don’t know what to post.

Some are too busy. Some overthink everything. Some post once and disappear for three weeks.

A simple side hustle is helping them plan, write, and schedule basic social media content from your phone.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to become a full social media strategist. Start with simple support work:

Write captions
Turn customer reviews into posts
Create Canva graphics
Find content ideas
Reply to simple comments or DMs
Organize a posting calendar
Schedule posts using Meta Business Suite, Buffer, or Later

For local businesses, this can be genuinely useful. Think cafés, salons, tutors, fitness coaches, home bakers, repair services, small online shops, and personal brands.

A Simple Example

A local bakery might need:

3 Instagram posts per week
2 simple Reels ideas
Daily story reposts
Replies to basic customer questions
Simple Canva designs for promotions

That’s not complicated work, but it saves the business owner time.

Why This Is Beginner-Friendly

Most small businesses don’t need viral content. They need consistency.

That’s good news because consistency is easier to offer than “I’ll make you famous.”

You can start by creating simple content samples for one niche. For example, make five sample Instagram posts for a café or online clothing shop. Then use those samples when reaching out to potential clients.

3. Mobile Photography for Local Businesses

Your phone camera is probably better than you think.

Many local businesses don’t need magazine-level photography. They just need clean, bright, useful photos for social media, Google Business Profile, menus, product listings, and promotions.

This can be a practical side hustle if you enjoy taking photos and have a decent eye for composition.

Who Might Need This

You can offer mobile photography to:

Restaurants
Cafés
Small shops
Home-based food sellers
Beauty salons
Fitness studios
Airbnb hosts
Local service providers

The goal is not to pretend you’re a luxury commercial photographer. The goal is to help small businesses look more active and trustworthy online.

What You Can Offer

A simple package might include:

30 edited phone photos
10 vertical story photos
5 short video clips
Basic color correction
Delivery through Google Drive

You can edit using Lightroom Mobile, Snapseed, or Canva.

What I’d Be Careful About

Don’t oversell your skills. If you’re using a phone, be honest that you offer simple mobile content photography, not full professional studio photography.

Also, lighting matters a lot. Natural light usually makes phone photos look much better, so daytime shoots are easier.

This is a great side hustle if you like being offline sometimes but still want to use digital tools to earn money.

4. Selling Digital Templates

Selling digital templates sounds complicated, but it can be surprisingly simple when you start small.

You can create templates on your phone using Canva, Notion, Google Sheets, or even simple PDF tools. Then sell them on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, Payhip, or Ko-fi.

The main idea is simple: create something once, then sell it multiple times.

Template Ideas You Can Create

Some beginner-friendly ideas include:

Budget planners
Student study planners
Weekly productivity planners
Social media content calendars
Simple invoice templates
Habit trackers
Meal planners
Resume templates
Small business price list templates

You don’t need to create a huge product at first. A clean, useful one-page planner can be enough to test demand.

Why This Works Well From a Smartphone

Canva’s mobile app is strong enough for basic template creation. You can design, export, upload product images, write descriptions, and manage orders from your phone.

It’s not always the most comfortable workflow, but it’s possible.

Realistic Expectation

This side hustle takes patience.

Digital templates are not automatic money. You need decent design, useful product ideas, good product images, and some way to get traffic. That might be Etsy search, Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, or your own blog.

The good part is that you can build slowly. Create one template, improve it, then create related products around the same audience.

For example, if you make a student weekly planner, you could later add:

Exam revision tracker
Assignment deadline tracker
Study timetable template
Grade calculator sheet

That’s smarter than randomly creating unrelated products.

5. Online Reselling Using Marketplace Apps

Reselling is one of the most practical side hustles because you don’t have to invent anything.

You find items people want, list them properly, and sell them through marketplace apps.

Depending on your location, this might include Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, eBay, Vinted, Depop, Mercari, Shopee, or other local platforms.

What You Can Resell

You can start with items around your home:

Clothes
Books
Gadgets
Bags
Shoes
Small furniture
Collectibles
Unused gifts
Home items

After that, you can look for undervalued items at thrift stores, clearance sales, moving-out sales, or local marketplace listings.

Why Your Phone Is Enough

Your phone lets you:

Take product photos
Edit photos
Write listings
Reply to buyers
Compare prices
Arrange delivery or pickup
Track simple profit notes

The biggest difference between a bad listing and a good listing is usually effort.

Clear photos, honest descriptions, measurements, and fast replies can help you stand out.

A Simple Reselling Tip

Don’t buy random items just because they’re cheap.

Check if similar items are actually selling. Search the platform first. Look at prices, condition, demand, and how many similar listings are sitting unsold.

The boring research part is what helps you avoid wasting money.

How to Choose the Right Smartphone Side Hustle

Not every side hustle fits every person.

A good side hustle should match your skills, schedule, and patience level.

Choose Video Editing If…

You like content, editing apps, social media trends, and working behind the scenes.

It’s a good fit if you don’t mind revisions and can follow a creator’s style.

Choose Social Media Assistance If…

You enjoy writing captions, organizing content, and helping small businesses stay consistent.

It’s a good fit if you’re reliable and comfortable messaging clients.

Choose Mobile Photography If…

You like taking photos, visiting local businesses, and creating visual content.

It’s a good fit if you have a decent phone camera and understand basic lighting.

Choose Digital Templates If…

You prefer creating products once and selling them repeatedly.

It’s a good fit if you enjoy design, productivity tools, or organizing information.

Choose Reselling If…

You like finding deals, taking product photos, and negotiating with buyers.

It’s a good fit if you’re practical and don’t mind handling physical items.

A Few Tips Before You Start

Start smaller than you think.

One mistake beginners make is trying to build a full brand, website, logo, and complicated plan before earning anything. You don’t need all that at the beginning.

You need a simple offer.

For example:

“I edit short videos with captions for small creators.”

That’s much clearer than:

“I help brands grow online using digital solutions.”

Keep it specific. Keep it easy to understand.

Also, track your time. A side hustle is only worth it if the money makes sense for the hours you’re putting in. If a $10 task takes three hours and stresses you out, it’s probably not a good offer.

And don’t ignore communication. Many clients care less about perfection and more about whether you reply clearly, deliver on time, and don’t make the process difficult.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a fancy setup to start earning online.

A smartphone can be enough for simple, practical side hustles like short-form video editing, social media assistance, mobile photography, digital templates, and reselling.

The realistic path is to start with one offer, test it, improve it, and slowly build from there.

Don’t chase every online income idea at once. Pick one that fits your current skills and daily routine.

For most people, the best side hustle is not the trendiest one.

It’s the one they can actually stick with.

Maximizing Online Income with AI-Powered Content Creation

2026-05-26T15:05:41.605+08:00

AI content tools are everywhere now.

Some are genuinely useful. Some are overhyped. And some, honestly, create more work than they save.

But used properly, AI can help you create better content faster, test more ideas, and turn your skills into online income without needing a big team or complicated setup.

That’s the real opportunity.

Not “press one button and make money while you sleep.” That kind of advice usually falls apart pretty quickly.

The more realistic version is this: AI can help you write, plan, edit, repurpose, research, and publish content more efficiently. And when your content supports a clear offer, product, service, or audience, it can become a practical income tool.

So if you’re interested in Maximizing Online Income with AI-Powered Content Creation, this guide breaks down how to do it in a smart, realistic way.

No fake guru stuff. Just practical workflows that can actually help.

What AI-Powered Content Creation Really Means

AI-powered content creation simply means using AI tools to help with different parts of the content process.

That might include:

Brainstorming article ideas
Writing outlines
Drafting emails
Creating social media captions
Repurposing long content into short posts
Summarizing research
Improving headlines
Editing rough drafts
Creating scripts for videos
Planning content calendars

The important word is “help.”

AI should support your thinking, not replace it completely.

The best content still needs a human angle. Your opinion. Your experience. Your taste. Your examples. Your ability to look at a sentence and say, “Technically fine, but nobody talks like that.”

That judgment matters more than people think.

AI can write quickly, but speed alone does not create income. Useful content creates income. Content that solves a problem creates income. Content that builds trust over time creates income.

AI just helps you get there faster.

Start With an Income Path Before Creating Content

This is where a lot of people go wrong.

They start posting before they know what the content is actually supposed to do.

They publish random tips, motivational quotes, tool lists, and short videos. Then after a few weeks, they wonder why nothing is happening.

Sometimes the issue is not the content quality. It’s that there’s no clear income path behind it.

Before using AI to create content, decide what your content is leading people toward.

For example, your content might support:

Freelance services
Affiliate products
Digital products
Coaching or consulting
A paid newsletter
Templates
Online courses
YouTube monetization
Sponsored content
A blog with ads

You don’t need to map out the next five years. But you do need a basic direction.

A freelance writer might create content that attracts small business owners.

A Notion template creator might publish productivity tips that lead to a paid template.

A blogger might write helpful articles that earn through ads, affiliate links, or email subscribers.

AI becomes much more useful when you know the business goal behind the content.

Otherwise, you’re just making more content for the internet pile.

Use AI to Find Better Content Ideas

Coming up with ideas is one of the easiest ways to use AI.

But don’t just ask, “Give me 50 content ideas.”

That usually gives you generic answers.

Instead, give the AI tool more context.

For example:

“I help freelancers organize their client work. Give me content ideas for beginners who feel overwhelmed by deadlines, scattered notes, and messy communication.”

That kind of prompt usually gives you better ideas because it explains the audience and the problem.

You can also ask AI to create ideas based on:

Pain points
Beginner mistakes
Common questions
Product comparisons
Step-by-step tutorials
Personal experience angles
Myths in your niche
Tools your audience already uses

A good AI-assisted content idea is not just “10 Productivity Tips.”

It’s more specific, like:

“How to Organize Client Work When You’re Managing Everything Alone”
“The Simple Weekly Planning System I’d Use If I Were Starting Freelance Work Again”
“Why Your Productivity App Isn’t the Problem — Your Workflow Is”

Those ideas feel more human. More clickable. More useful.

And honestly, more worth reading.

Turn One Content Idea Into Multiple Pieces

This is where AI can save a lot of time.

Most people create content one piece at a time. They write a blog post, publish it, and move on. Then they start from zero again.

That gets tiring fast.

A smarter workflow is to create one strong piece of content and repurpose it into smaller pieces.

For example, one blog post can become:

A LinkedIn post
A Twitter/X thread
A short email newsletter
Three Instagram carousel ideas
A YouTube Short script
A Pinterest pin description
A checklist
A lead magnet idea

AI is useful here because it can quickly reshape the same idea for different formats.

Let’s say you write a blog post called:

“Best AI Tools for Freelancers Who Hate Admin Work”

You can ask AI to turn it into:

Five social posts
A short email
A video script
A comparison table
A checklist for readers
FAQ questions for SEO

The key is not to copy and paste everything exactly.

Each platform has its own style.

A blog can be detailed. A LinkedIn post needs a stronger hook. A short video needs a clear opening line. An email should feel more personal.

AI can create the draft. You still need to shape it.

That’s the part that makes the content feel real.

Use AI to Improve Your Writing, Not Replace Your Voice

AI can write complete articles, captions, and scripts.

But the first version often sounds a bit too smooth.

You know the style.

Perfectly structured. Clean transitions. No weird edges. No real opinion. It says all the correct things, but somehow feels like nobody actually lived it.

That’s why editing matters.

A better workflow is to use AI for structure, then add your own voice.

For example, AI might write:

“Productivity tools help users streamline workflows and improve efficiency.”

That’s technically fine, but it sounds like software website copy.

A more human version would be:

“Productivity tools are helpful, but only if they don’t become another thing you have to manage.”

That feels more natural. It has a point of view.

When editing AI content, look for places to add:

Small opinions
Real examples
Honest limitations
Personal observations
Simpler wording
Shorter sentences
More specific advice

You don’t need to make everything dramatic. Just make it sound like a person who has actually thought about the topic.

That alone can make your content stand out.

Build Content Around Problems People Already Have

If your goal is online income, don’t create content only around what interests you.

Create content around problems people already want solved.

This matters a lot for blogs, YouTube, affiliate content, and digital products.

Good content topics often start with questions like:

How do I save time doing this?
Which tool should I use?
How do I start without wasting money?
What mistakes should I avoid?
Is this worth paying for?
What’s the easiest way to do this?
How can I get better results with less effort?

AI can help you turn those questions into useful content.

For example, instead of writing:

“Why AI Is Useful”

Write something more practical:

“How to Use AI to Write Better Product Descriptions for Your Etsy Store”

Or:

“5 AI Workflows That Help Freelancers Save Time on Client Admin”

Specific content usually performs better because the reader immediately understands why it matters.

People are busy. They don’t want vague inspiration. They want help with something they actually care about.

Use AI for Affiliate Content Carefully

Affiliate marketing can be a good income stream, especially for blogs, newsletters, and YouTube channels.

But it’s also easy to do badly.

A lot of affiliate content feels fake because the writer clearly hasn’t used the tool or doesn’t understand the reader’s problem.

AI can help you create affiliate content faster, but you still need honesty.

Useful affiliate content might include:

Tool comparisons
Beginner guides
Setup tutorials
Pros and cons
Use case breakdowns
“Who this is best for” sections
Alternatives
Realistic limitations

For example, if you’re writing about an AI writing tool, don’t just say it’s amazing.

Talk about when it helps and when it doesn’t.

Maybe it’s great for outlines but weak for personal storytelling. Maybe the interface is simple, but the free plan is limited. Maybe it’s useful for bloggers, but not ideal for technical writers.

That kind of detail builds trust.

And trust is what makes affiliate content work long term.

Create Digital Products Faster With AI

AI can also help you create digital products.

This can be a practical income path if you already understand a problem your audience has.

Examples of AI-assisted digital products include:

Notion templates
Budget spreadsheets
Content calendars
Prompt packs
Email templates
Mini guides
Checklists
Workbooks
Planning systems
Swipe files

AI can help with the structure, wording, examples, and formatting ideas.

But again, don’t let AI create something generic.

A good digital product should feel specific.

Instead of making “A Productivity Planner,” create something like:

“Weekly Planning Template for Freelancers With Multiple Clients”
“Content Calendar for Beginner Bloggers Posting 3 Times a Week”
“Simple Budget Tracker for Side Hustlers With Irregular Income”

The more specific the product, the easier it is for the right person to understand why they need it.

AI can help you build the first version faster. Your job is to make it actually useful.

Speed Up Research Without Being Lazy

AI is useful for research, but you need to be careful.

It can summarize topics, explain concepts, organize notes, and suggest angles. That’s helpful.

But don’t blindly trust everything it says.

AI can make mistakes. It can sound confident even when it’s wrong. The annoying part is that the wrong answer can still sound very polished.

Use AI to speed up research, not replace fact-checking.

A practical research workflow could look like this:

Ask AI to explain the topic in simple terms.
Ask for common questions beginners have.
Search for real sources, examples, and current details.
Use AI to organize your notes.
Write or edit the final content yourself.
Double-check claims before publishing.

This is especially important if your content involves money, tools, legal topics, health, software pricing, or anything that changes often.

Good content is not just well-written. It’s accurate.

Build an Email List From Your Content

If you’re creating content to earn online, don’t rely only on social platforms.

Algorithms change. Reach goes up and down. Accounts can get limited. Platforms shift priorities all the time.

An email list gives you a more stable connection with your audience.

You can use AI to help create:

Lead magnet ideas
Welcome email sequences
Weekly newsletter drafts
Subject line options
Product launch emails
Reader surveys
Follow-up emails

A simple setup could be:

Create useful free content.
Offer a small free resource.
Collect email subscribers.
Send helpful emails consistently.
Recommend products, services, or offers when relevant.

The free resource does not need to be huge.

It could be:

A checklist
A template
A short guide
A spreadsheet
A resource list
A mini workflow

Something small and useful is often better than a massive ebook nobody reads.

Keep Your Workflow Simple

This part sounds boring, but it matters.

If your AI content system has 12 tools, 9 steps, and 4 dashboards, you probably won’t stick with it.

A simple workflow is better.

For example:

Collect content ideas in Notion or Google Sheets.
Use AI to create outlines.
Write or edit the draft.
Repurpose the content into social posts.
Schedule posts.
Track what performs well.
Repeat weekly.

That’s enough.

You can improve later.

The goal is not to create the most advanced AI-powered content machine. The goal is to create a workflow you can repeat without hating it.

That’s what makes online income more sustainable.

Final Thoughts

Maximizing online income with AI-powered content creation is not about replacing yourself with software.

It’s about using AI to remove friction.

AI can help you brainstorm faster, write rough drafts, repurpose content, research ideas, create digital products, and stay consistent. But the content still needs your judgment, your voice, and your understanding of the audience.

The people who win with AI content are not usually the ones publishing the most generic posts.

They’re the ones using AI to work faster while still creating something useful, specific, and trustworthy.

Start with one income path. Build content around real problems. Use AI to speed up the boring parts. Edit everything like a human.

That’s the practical way to make AI content actually support online income — without sounding like every other recycled post on the internet.

Best Online Tools for Building a Sustainable Side Hustle

2026-05-26T14:55:25.709+08:00

Starting a side hustle is the fun part.

You get the idea. You choose a name. Maybe you design a quick logo, open a new social media account, and tell yourself, “Okay, this could actually become something.”

Then real life shows up.

You still have work, classes, errands, family stuff, messages to reply to, content to create, payments to track, files to organize, and about 37 random ideas sitting in your notes app.

That’s usually when a side hustle starts to feel less exciting and more like another job.

The right online tools can help with that.

Not because tools magically make you successful. They don’t. But a simple, useful tool stack can make the whole thing easier to manage. It helps you stay organized, create faster, sell more smoothly, and avoid constantly feeling like your brain has too many tabs open.

So if you’re looking for the Best Online Tools for Building a Sustainable Side Hustle, this guide breaks down the actually useful tools, especially if you’re trying to work smarter without overcomplicating everything.

What Makes a Side Hustle Sustainable?

A sustainable side hustle is not just one that makes money.

It’s one you can keep doing without burning out every few weeks.

That means you have some kind of system. Not a perfect system. Just something that helps you know what to do next, where your files are, who you need to reply to, what content you’re making, and whether the thing is actually making money.

A sustainable side hustle usually has a few things in place:

A simple way to organize ideas
A basic workflow you can repeat
Clear tasks for the week
Easy payment and delivery
A way to track income and expenses
Tools that save time instead of creating more work

The last point matters.

A lot of beginners get stuck collecting tools instead of building the actual side hustle. They sign up for every shiny app, watch 10 setup videos, build a beautiful dashboard, and then… don’t sell anything.

Honestly, it happens a lot.

The better move is to start with a small set of tools and only upgrade when you genuinely need to.

1. Notion — Best for Keeping Everything in One Place

Notion is one of those tools that can be incredibly useful or a complete distraction, depending on how you use it.

For a side hustle, it works well as a central workspace. You can use it to store ideas, plan content, track clients, write notes, organize links, and keep your weekly tasks in one place.

A simple Notion setup could include:

Side hustle ideas
Weekly tasks
Content calendar
Client notes
Product ideas
Research links
Money tracker
Launch checklist

You don’t need a complicated dashboard with 12 databases and animated icons. In fact, that’s usually where people lose momentum.

Start simple.

Create a page called “Side Hustle HQ” and add four sections:

Ideas

For random ideas, product concepts, content topics, and things you might test later.

This Week

For the few tasks that actually matter right now.

Content

For blog posts, videos, newsletters, social posts, or whatever content supports your side hustle.

Money / Clients

For payments, leads, invoices, and client details.

That’s enough for most beginners.

Notion is great because it’s flexible. The slightly annoying part is that it’s almost too flexible. You can spend more time designing the system than using it.

Try not to do that.

Best for: freelancers, creators, students, writers, coaches, and service providers

Not ideal for: people who keep redesigning their workspace instead of doing the work

2. Google Workspace — Best for the Boring but Important Stuff

Google tools are not exciting, but they’re useful.

And honestly, boring tools are sometimes the best tools.

Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, Gmail, and Calendar can handle a lot of side hustle basics without making things complicated.

You can use:

Google Docs for proposals, drafts, scripts, and client documents
Google Sheets for income tracking, budgets, and content planning
Google Drive for storing deliverables and templates
Gmail for client communication
Google Calendar for deadlines, calls, and publishing schedules

If you’re just starting, the free version of Google tools may be enough.

Once your side hustle starts looking more serious, you might want a custom email address like hello@yourdomain.com. It looks cleaner than using a personal Gmail address, especially when you’re dealing with clients or customers.

But don’t upgrade just because you feel like you’re “supposed to.” Upgrade when it actually helps your workflow or makes your business look more professional.

Best for: almost every side hustle

Not ideal for: people who need advanced project management or client portal features

3. Canva — Best for Simple, Good-Looking Design

Most side hustles need visuals.

Even if you’re not trying to become a designer, you’ll probably need some basic graphics at some point.

Canva is useful for things like:

Instagram posts
Pinterest pins
YouTube thumbnails
Lead magnets
Simple logos
PDFs
Product mockups
Presentations
Flyers
Digital product covers

The main reason Canva works so well is that it makes design less intimidating. You can start with a template, adjust it, and create something decent without opening professional design software.

For side hustlers, Canva is especially useful for creating small digital products.

For example:

A budget planner
A checklist
A printable worksheet
A mini ebook
A social media template pack
A simple guide
A workbook

The only thing to watch out for is the “Canva template look.”

You know it when you see it.

If you use a template exactly as it is, your design may look like everyone else’s. Change the fonts, adjust the spacing, use your own colors, and make it feel more like your brand.

Best for: creators, digital product sellers, freelancers, coaches, and content creators

Not ideal for: advanced designers who need full creative control

4. ChatGPT or Claude — Best for Thinking, Drafting, and Editing

AI tools can be extremely useful for side hustles.

But they work best when you use them as a helper, not as your entire business brain.

You can use AI tools to:

Brainstorm product ideas
Write content outlines
Improve emails
Rewrite messy notes
Create FAQ sections
Plan content calendars
Summarize research
Generate first drafts
Improve sales page copy
Come up with customer pain points

The key phrase here is “first draft.”

AI can help you move faster, but it still needs your judgment. If you copy and paste everything without editing, the result usually sounds flat. Sometimes it sounds fine, but not memorable. And online, “fine” is not always enough.

A better workflow looks like this:

You give the AI tool a clear idea.
It helps organize your thoughts.
You edit the draft.
You add your own examples and opinions.
You remove anything that sounds too generic.

That last step is important.

AI is great for getting unstuck. It’s not great at replacing real experience, taste, or personality.

Best for: writing, planning, brainstorming, editing, research support

Not ideal for: publishing generic content without review

5. Buffer — Best for Scheduling Social Media Content

If content is part of your side hustle, consistency matters.

But consistency does not mean you need to manually post every single day while eating breakfast or half-watching Netflix at night.

A scheduling tool like Buffer helps you batch content ahead of time.

A simple weekly workflow could look like this:

Write five short posts on Sunday
Schedule them for the week
Check replies once or twice a day
Review what performed well
Repeat next week

That’s much easier than waking up every day and thinking, “What should I post?”

Buffer is useful because it keeps things simple. You can plan posts, schedule them, and avoid the daily panic of trying to be visible online.

At the start, don’t obsess over analytics too much.

Just pay attention to basic signs:

Which posts got replies?
Which posts brought profile visits?
Which posts led to email signups?
Which posts attracted the right kind of people?

Likes are nice, but they don’t always mean much. A post with fewer likes but better leads is usually more valuable than a post that gets attention from people who will never buy, subscribe, or care.

Best for: creators, freelancers, coaches, newsletter writers, and service providers

Not ideal for: people who don’t know what they want to post yet

6. Gumroad, Payhip, or Lemon Squeezy — Best for Selling Digital Products

If you want to sell digital products, you need a simple way to take payment and deliver the product.

You don’t need a huge ecommerce setup on day one.

Platforms like Gumroad, Payhip, and Lemon Squeezy make it easier to sell things like:

Templates
Guides
Notion dashboards
Spreadsheets
Mini courses
Digital downloads
Prompt packs
Printable planners
Design resources

The biggest benefit is speed.

You can upload a product, create a checkout page, add a description, set a price, and start testing whether people actually want it.

That testing part is important.

A lot of people spend months building a big product before they know if there’s demand. A smarter approach is to start with something small and useful.

For example, instead of creating a full course, you could sell:

A checklist
A template
A 20-page guide
A spreadsheet
A mini resource pack

Then you see what happens.

The downside is that each platform has its own fees, payout rules, tax features, and limitations. So read the details before you commit, especially if you’re selling to customers in different countries.

Best for: digital product creators, educators, template sellers, and creators

Not ideal for: large ecommerce stores or physical product businesses

7. Carrd or Framer — Best for a Simple Landing Page

You don’t always need a full website.

Sometimes one good page is enough.

A landing page gives people a place to understand what you offer and what to do next.

It can include:

What you do
Who it’s for
Why it helps
What’s included
Pricing
Testimonials
A contact button
A payment or booking link

Carrd is great for simple one-page websites. It’s clean, affordable, and easy to understand.

Framer is better if you want something more polished and modern, especially if design matters more for your brand.

But here’s the thing: don’t hide behind website building.

A simple landing page with a clear offer is better than a beautiful website that says nothing clearly.

For example, if you offer “LinkedIn profile rewrites for freelancers,” your page only needs:

A clear headline
A short explanation
A few benefits
Some examples
Pricing
A way to book or pay

That’s it.

You can improve it later once people are actually visiting the page.

Best for: freelancers, service providers, digital product sellers, creators

Not ideal for: large blogs, marketplaces, or complex websites

8. Stripe or PayPal — Best for Getting Paid

This one sounds obvious, but it matters.

If you want your side hustle to make money, people need a simple way to pay you.

Stripe and PayPal are two common options. Which one is better depends on your location, your customers, and what you’re selling.

Stripe is great for card payments and clean checkout flows. PayPal is familiar to many people and can be helpful for international customers.

The main point is this: make payment easy.

Don’t make customers ask how to pay. Don’t send confusing instructions. Don’t create unnecessary friction right when someone is ready to buy.

Put your payment link in the right places:

Invoice
Proposal
Checkout page
Booking page
Email
Product page

The easier it is to pay you, the better.

Best for: freelancers, consultants, service providers, and digital sellers

Not ideal for: users in countries where availability or withdrawals are limited

9. Trello or Todoist — Best for Staying Focused

Not everyone needs a huge productivity system.

Some people just need a clear list.

Trello and Todoist are great for that.

Trello works well if you like visual boards. You can move tasks from one column to another and see your workflow at a glance.

A basic Trello board could have:

Ideas
To Do
Doing
Waiting
Done

Todoist is better if you prefer simple lists and due dates.

A basic Todoist setup could include:

Today
This Week
Content
Clients
Admin

The best task manager is the one you’ll actually check.

That sounds obvious, but it’s true.

If your task system feels too heavy, you’ll stop using it. Then your tasks go back into your head, and suddenly everything feels messy again.

Keep it boring. Boring systems are underrated.

Best for: people who need clarity, structure, and fewer scattered notes

Not ideal for: people who want one tool to manage every part of their business

10. A Basic Spreadsheet — Best for Tracking Money

This is probably the least glamorous tool on the list.

It might also be one of the most important.

A simple spreadsheet can help you track:

Revenue
Expenses
Profit
Software subscriptions
Client payments
Product sales
Affiliate income
Taxes to set aside

Many beginners ignore money tracking because the numbers feel small at first.

That’s a mistake.

Small numbers become messy numbers if you don’t track them. And once you have a few tools, a few payments, a few expenses, and a few income sources, it gets confusing fast.

You don’t need expensive accounting software at the beginning. A Google Sheet is enough.

Set a simple habit:

Once a week, update your numbers.

That’s it.

It may not feel exciting, but it helps you understand whether your side hustle is actually working.

Best for: everyone

Not ideal for: honestly, no one — every side hustle needs basic money tracking

A Simple Beginner Tool Stack

You don’t need every tool in this article.

Please don’t sign up for everything at once.

If you’re starting from zero, this stack is enough:

Notion or Trello for planning
Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive for files and tracking
Canva for visuals
ChatGPT or Claude for brainstorming and drafting
Carrd for a simple landing page
Stripe or PayPal for payments
Buffer if you’re using social media

That’s already a solid setup.

Add more tools only when you hit a real problem.

Not a fake problem. Not a “someone on YouTube said I need this” problem. A real problem.

For example:

You’re losing track of clients.
You’re spending too long making graphics.
You need a better checkout process.
You’re forgetting deadlines.
You’re manually doing something every week that could be automated.

That’s when a new tool makes sense.

Final Thoughts

The best online tools for building a sustainable side hustle are not always the fanciest tools.

They’re the tools that make your work easier and help you stay consistent.

A sustainable side hustle needs a simple system for planning, creating, selling, delivering, and tracking money. The tools should support that system, not distract from it.

Start small. Keep your costs low. Build workflows you can actually repeat. Upgrade only when a tool clearly saves time, improves your work, or helps you earn more.

That’s not the flashy version of side hustling.

But it’s the version that actually lasts.

Can we exist without a box?

2018-01-09T09:35:00.000+08:00

Existentialism for the day:

Can we exist without a box?

Can we ever ignore the existence of the box?

If we ignore the box, do we exist?

Can we physically be in the box but tell our mind that the box doesn't exist?

Seriously, the phrase "thinking outside the box" has been so overused so much so that it has lost its meaning and glitter.

"Thinking without the box" is nothing but a meaningless derivative of that phrase.

But let us analyze it anyway.

To think outside the box, we must first know the box. What is the box? How does the box make us think? Why must we not think within the box?

Only then we can think OUTSIDE the box.

And be free of the box.

But in doing so, the box is still there. It is just that we are outside of it.

To think without the box is an impossibility. Because without the box, there is nothing. Only a vacuum.

And we can't exist in a vacuum.

In the context of an organization, the rules and regulations set by the management is the box.

To implore the staff to think without the box is to ask the staff to ignore the existence of the rules and regulations.

Now that, to me, is dangerous.

I wouldn't say so. But then, that's just me being me.

Raila's Impressive Closing Words

2017-11-16T08:25:00.000+08:00

Menteri dari Afrika ini bercerita tentang rasuah dan dalam klip ni dia berseloroh tentang lawatan ke satu negara ni, korang mesti tak percaya negara mana yang digunakan sebagai contoh yang mengajar Afrika tentang rasuah

Tengok lah sendiri ...

suka tak suka, percaya tak percaya inilah keadaan sekarang

Football: Malaysia fined US$30,000 over 'dog' chants

2017-11-03T14:58:00.004+08:00

Malaysian football fans cheer during their semi-final football match against Indonesia at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 26, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's football body was fined US$30,000 on Tuesday (Oct 31) after the national team's fans chanted "dogs" at supporters from Singapore and Brunei during matches at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

Malaysian supporters chanted "Brunei dogs should just be killed" during their side's 2-1 victory over the neighboring country on Aug 14 at the Kuala Lumpur-hosted tournament, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said.

Two days later the fans also chanted that Singaporeans were "dogs" as Malaysia beat Singapore 2-1.

The AFC's disciplinary committee fined the Football Association of Malaysia US$15,000 for each of the offenses.

The AFC also issued a warning to the Hong Kong Football Association after home fans booed the Chinese national anthem during an Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia this month.

"A repeat violation may result in a more severe punishment," the disciplinary committee warned.

Advertisement

Fans in the semi-autonomous territory have repeatedly booed the "March of the Volunteers" anthem despite warnings from football authorities and fines from world body FIFA.

Source: AFP/ec

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-malaysia-fined-us-30-000-over-dog-chants-9361728

MALAYSIANS HOLD WORLD’S FIFTH MOST ‘POWERFUL’ PASSPORT

2017-01-18T08:30:00.000+08:00

The Malaysian passport has been ranked number five in a list of the most “powerful” passports in the world.

Malaysia had a score of 153, sharing the fifth group slot with Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand in the 2017 Passport Index.

The fifth placing indicates the high level of travel freedom for Malaysians. A Malaysian passport gives visa-free access to 151 countries.

The index is a global web-based ranking of the world’s most user-friendly passports. It’s main criteria is how many visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries can be visited by passport holders.

Last year, another index, by the World Economic Forum, put Malaysia on the eighth spot. That index ranked passports according to countries that can be visited without applying for a visa.

According to the latest ranking, Singapore and Malaysia are the only two nations in Asean to have user-friendly passports with regard to visa-free or visa-on-arrival entries.

Singapore was ranked number two, together with Sweden. Both had a score of 156.
Germany tops the list with a score of 157.

The passports at the bottom of the index are from Iraq (92), Pakistan (93) and Afghanistan (94).

South Korea, which was at number two in the previous index, fell to sixth place (152), while Japan rose to 4th place with a visa-free score of 154.

The visa-free score is calculated using three steps: counting the number of countries each passport holder can visit without a visa or where they can obtain a visa on arrival; comparing the two figures; and using the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index as a tie-breaker.

The index, which looked at 193 countries and six territories, was compiled by financial advisory firm Arton Capital.

New top 10 passport power ranking (by score ):

157 – Germany
156 – Singapore, Sweden
155 – Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, UK, USA
154 – Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal, Japan
153 – Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand
152 – Greece, South Korea, Australia
151 – Czech Republic, Iceland
150 – Hungary
149 – Malta, Poland
148 – Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia

article shared from: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/01/17/malaysians-hold-worlds-fifth-most-powerful-passport/

This Couple Takes A Drone With Them During Their 400 Days Honeymoon And The Result Is Beautiful

2016-12-09T08:41:00.002+08:00

I wish I could afford a drone and have my family to travel around the world with me...

Living with poisonous plants

2016-12-07T08:45:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I was interviewed by a Chinese language newspaper (Nanyang Siang Pau) on the subject of poisonous plants. There has been a spate of emails and sms messages saying that this or that popular house plant is poisonous and even cancer-inducing. As a result worried people have been throwing out their house plants. After the two- hour interview, I wrote a summary in English and sent it to the reporter to help her. Since I do not read Chinese, I have no idea what will finally appear in the Chinese press, but I thought my English summary might be of interest to blog readers.

Plants cannot run, fight or hide, so they make themselves inedible with poisons, otherwise they would get completely eaten up and become extinct. Animals that live on plants have some degree of resistance to plant poisons, but humans mostly lack such resistance. Salad plants have been selected and grown for their lack of poisons but such plants cannot survive on their own without human protection.

Some plant poisons act by contact. The most notorious are those of the poison ivy family which cause irritation in contact with bare skin. People learn to avoid touching these plants after one experience.

The most common plant poisons are tannins. Tannins react with proteins and are used to convert the perishable protein in animal skins into tough durable leather. Tannin will similarly react with the skin of the mouth and throat. Plants that contain tannins in large amounts are impossible to eat. Just try raw bananas or raw persimmons! When fruits ripen, their tannin content is deactivated to allow animals to eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. In dilute amounts, tannin is what gives taste to beer, wine and tea.

The next most common poison is calcium oxalate in the form of sharp microscopic crystals in the plant cells. When these cells are broken in the mouth, the crystals embed themselves in skin of the mouth and throat and cause swelling. The aptly named ‘dumb cane’ and other members of its family such as the popular ‘money plant’, as well as the ‘ZZ plant’ Zamiocalcus zamiifolia (marketed as a Chinese good luck plant), contain such crystals. Kids that put a leaf containing oxalate crystals in their mouths will learn never to put unknown plants into their mouths ever again, but it may be hours before the pain and swelling passes.

Then there are the plants that contain cyanide compounds, especially those in the tapioca (cassava) family that includes the ‘sweet leaf’ (sayur manis or Sabah vegetable). These poisons are totally inactivated by cooking. There was a case in Taiwan of death from eating raw ‘sweet leaf’, that caused a panic and a sharp drop in consumption of this popular vegetable when reported in the press. The person who consumed the raw leaves had done so deliberately in the belief that it would help her lose weight.

Finally there are the plants that contain alkaloids and other chemicals that can cause convulsions, breathing problems, nervous disorders, hallucinations or kidney failure. These plants are used to kill e.g. to tip arrows and darts for hunting and warfare, for execution (e.g. the famous case of Socrates who was executed with a drink of hemlock juice), for murder (when disguised as food) or suicide. Also to kill pain and give pleasure (e.g. opium). Many of these plants are used as medicines in small dosages.

Cases of accidental fatal poisoning by eating poisonous plants are extremely rare. The one case that everybody quotes is the deadly nightshade in Europe that has juicy delicious-looking but poisonous fruits. Because tomatoes resemble the deadly nightshade and belong to the same family, it took a very long time before Europeans would accept tomatoes as food after their introduction from the Americas.

In brief, fatal poisoning by accidental consumption of poisonous plants is almost impossible because poisonous plants are so unpleasant to eat and the human mouth is so sensitive to unpalatable substances. All the worry about poisonous plants is unnecessary.

Posted by Dr Francis Ng at 6:31 AM

You are just an employee

2016-11-29T13:35:00.000+08:00

To a company you are just an employee. The day you resign, your work cubicle will be replaced. Your absence missed for a day then the company forgets you. They went on to make their money for they need to, and they have no time to grieve because of the expectations they have to fulfil. Occasionally they make mistakes and it may come with a price, you have to pay.

This is why, my friends, do not mix work with family. Do not take your work home, cast your family aside and forget about giving time to your children. Because in their hearts you are never replaced, because when you are gone, everyday you will be missed. If anything happen to you, it will be your family and friends crying like crazy for you. Because to them, even though you are just one person, you are their world.

So reset your priorities. Be a good worker but be a better father/mother/friend/daughter/son."

Within less than 15 minutes, they have taken out the cash from my wallet

2016-09-07T15:14:00.000+08:00

Dear all my FB friends,
 
I would like to share the incident happened to me at KLCC recently:-
 
Sunday, 5 July 2015; at approximately 12.40pm I was at Mango boutique, located on the concourse Level KLCC, after purchasing a few items at Mango, around 1.20pm I walked into Zara boutique located on the same floor and not too far away from Mango boutique.
 
 
When I was at Zara boutique, while choosing a few dresses, I realized one elderly lady was standing too close to me and pushing me while I was choosing the clothes, (I looked at her and thought that she is either Thai or Indonesian). And after a few minutes, this lady was gone. I continue looking at the clothes for a few more minutes (maybe around 5 minutes) and then I decided to leave Zara.
 
I went to Mark & Spenser kiosk selling chocolates and biscuits, located in front and not too far from Zara boutique. I have selected a few items here and when I was at the cashier to pay for the items, I just realized that my wallet was lost.

 
 
 
I immediately went back to Zara boutique, called the manager on duty as I remember the face of the suspect who came very close to me and was pushing me at Zara boutique dress’s area. The manager on duty checked the CCTV immediately, the time showed on the CCTV was 1.33pm and I was actually surrounded by not only one, but three ladies at the dress’s area. And the CCTV images showed, one of the ladies has stolen my wallet from my handbag when I was busy choosing the dresses at Zara. After obtaining my wallet these suspects left Zara.
 
Zara boutique’s manager has identified these suspects as the same case happened to one of their customers on Saturday, 4 July 2015. This customers handbag was cut, iPhone 6 & wallet were stolen from her handbag also at Zara KLCC.
 
Zara boutique's manager and one of the security guards accompany me to the KLCC security’s office, which is also located on the same floor (nearby Chamelon women's accessory shop).
 
As we were walking to the KLCC security’s office, we bumped into a young Malay lady and two of her friends (this young Malay lady was the victim of Saturday, 4 July 2015 pick pocket incident at Zara KLCC). She was standing in front of Chamelon with two of her friends and when she saw us walking, she approached Zara boutique’s manager and told that the three suspects are now in Chamelon, they are looking for other victims in Chamelon.
 
Immediately, the KLCC security guard called a few more securities to come to Chamelon to detain the suspects. Two suspects have been held, but one of them has escaped. They were brought to the KLCC security’s office for investigation. The suspects are from Vietnam, they hide the a lot of cash they stole (including my money RM2015.00, the whole stack of this amount of cash was found in one of the suspects secret pockets in her undergarment). When we were in the security's office, one of the Vietnamese ladies offered me the money she stole from my wallet and hoping that we will release them.
 
I refused to take any money from them as I think they might change the story later and therefore, referred this case to the police. KLCC security manager has called the police of the Dang Wangi Police Station to bring these suspects to Dang Wangi Police Station for further investigation.
 
Within less than 15 minutes, they have taken out the cash from my wallet, hide the cash in their undergarment and threw my wallet somewhere in KLCC area and they went to Chamelon to find their next victim.
 
These two ladies (in the picture) have been detained for further investigation, one of their friends, managed to escape. According to the police, these ladies denied that they stole anything and it seems that they just entered Malaysia on 3 July 2015 (Friday).
 
Now, I am not sure if they will be released or not or what is the next action will be taken against them. The CCTV has clear evidence they have been to Zara KLCC on both Saturday, 4 July & Sunday, 5 July when the two incidents happened. And what they did to me on Sunday, 5 July is very clear on the CCTV.

Moving to Canada?

2016-07-26T13:30:00.000+08:00

Dr. Waleed Hakeem
July 24 at 6:13pm

Subhanallah, when I left the US in 2007 and moved to Canada, many people (including my colleagues and some public figures) made fun of my decision. The irony now is that those same people are calling me and asking me how to move to Canada! :)

Here are my top reasons of why I left the US to Canada:

1- Canada is 11 times safer than the US statistically speaking. I couldn't go out of my home after 9pm in the US, but in Canada I can walk out past midnight fearing no one but my Creator!

2- The US allows anyone to purchase guns. In Canada it's illegal, and even pepper spray is considered a weapon and illegal!

3- Canada has free healthcare for everyone. The US healthcare costs an arm and a leg and any serious illness will most likely bankrupt you.

4- Also as an indirect result, Canada is very strict on banning harmful chemicals in food, but the USDA isn't, because sick people are profitable!

5- Canada has consistently ranked #1 in the world in quality of life during the 90's, and #2 after Norway since the 2000's. The US is not even in the top 20 anymore!

6- Canada only taxes their citizens inside Canada. The US taxes their citizens worldwide wherever they live.

7- Canada has much less racism than the US. Couples from mixed races are a very common scene there, but in the US they would often get strange and dirty looks in many states.

8- Canada gives you a citizenship in just 3-4 years, but the US takes twice to triple the time to get that citizenship!

9- Canadian economy is very stable and in fact they hardly got affected by the famous 2009 recession. Meanwhile the US has 18 trillion dollar debt and will sooner or later get bankrupt.

10- Canada's law enforcement are active in working with Muslim communities, but US law enforcement are very suspicious of Muslims.

11- Canada spends most of its budget on taking care of its citizens. The US spends most of its budget on the military.

12- As a Canadian citizen traveling, you will often be treated with respect and friendliness. Meanwhile, being a US citizen you will often get hostile remarks about your country's "foreign policy".

13- Canada ranks ahead in the US in school education, agriculture, public transportation, and just about every major category (excluding military and entertainment, which is not really a concern for me).

14- Canadian laws are pro-employees, but US laws are pro-corporations. You get mandatory 2 weeks vacation a year by law plus another 10 days public holidays. In US, it is zero days by law (Yes zero!)

15- The Canadian media, is generally speaking, much more balanced than the US media. Just compare how Canada covered an attack on their own parliament building compared to how the US covered the same news story!

16- There are more than 10 million people in US jails. That's about one third of the population of Canada! Many US jails are for-profit companies so its in their interest to make laws that give longer sentences.

17- The minimum wage in Canada is almost double the minimum wage in the US, with half of the unemployment rate.

My comparison doesn't just extend to Canada, but I can name at least 20 countries that are much better than the US (e.g. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Japan, etc). The American dream is over since the early 90's. The dream now is Scandinavia. Now come join Noah's ark and leave before it's too late! :)

Okay guys.. I wanna share my story.

2016-04-29T15:01:00.001+08:00

Okay guys.. I wanna share my story. This happened on 14th April 2016, at Pavilion food court (Melayu&Padang). My life literally snatched in a moment as a crook (identity hide to avoid racist comment) stole my handbag in split sec! Through the cctv 2.50pm, shows that I was targeted by this 'uncle' left me and my baby with no money, credit card, debit card, important docs, H/Ps, house key! Luckily im staying in pavilion residence and my husband still at home Zzzzz.. 😂

I couldn't call anyone for help because everything was gone! Me and my sleeping baby... standing there feeling hopeless. Fast forward, I went and talk to one of the cleaner to direct me where's the security office. Thank god it's just nearby!

On my way to the security office, I prayed hard the cctv covering the place where I lost my belongings, working. Yup, it works.. and sharp! The staff at the security office were very professional attending my needs. Still.. they can't disclose the cctv to me as I need to have a police report before I could see the video. Escorted by a security personnel to the Auxiliary Police in Pav.. we bumped into someone wearing a civil shirt, the security staff was talking something to him, and he.. without asking my permission straight away snap my pic. I was furious like.. Heyyyyy!! Then he showed me his badge.. ohh, abang police 😎. (Police1)

Upon reaching the police office, so many things going on in my mind. You know, social media often shares a clip where police always not being cooperative with Rakyat, often shows that the police is rude, sleep (while office hour), cut short, police are Monsters 😂😂😂.. Well I tell you, what I've gone through the whole process totally changed my perception what they always say 'Police Raja Di Malaysia' is wrong!!

Entering their office, there Ms Ainani.. looking at this woman pushing a baby stroller feeling hopeless and pale asked me to take a sit, calming me down and asked what happened? I can't say anything as my heart start pumping all over again.. Things I can remember was asking 'can I borrow a phone?' Yeah.. she gave me her personal phone to call my husband. Couldn't control my voice til it wake my baby up!

My husband, without thinking and wasting his time, get dressed and get out the house (without his wallet, without locking the house 😂) drove his car and started tracking 2 of my iPhone. The signal shows the crook just left Pavilion 10minutes ago. The apps called 'Find My IPhone'. As a housewife, I'm amazed the tracking was way so accurate with satellite captured the exact spot!

With my baby eyes wide open, wishing me to play with her, adoiii how to complete my police report? I need to see the cctv!! God sent one more police named Ms Amyza.. 😂😂😂 she took care and play with my baby. Before I could complete my report, Abang Police.. (Seriously didn't get his name so I address him as Police1) came to office and show me the footage through his cellphone. By right, I should have hand a police report to security office in order for me to get a copy of cctv. He however acted super fast and show me the video.

I received a call from my husband (through Ms Ainani cellphone) telling me the signal he get was only 100-200 meter radius from his car. He knew the crook is around nearby, but he couldn't get a figure right. Police1 jumped to my husband rescue sending him the cctv clip. That crook was seated nicely waiting for a bus near RHB jln Tun Razak. My husband nabbed him with my handbag next to him inside a plastic. That crook was extremely shocked and claimed the handbag was not his, he don't know who put the bag there 😂😂😂. My husband grabbed the handbag and pushed the crook's face facing the glass wall! Less than 10minutes, Police1 and his partner Officer Daniel.. Waaaa so fast, I thought I saw Police1 and Officer Daniel standing next to me like 5minutes ago??

While we still drafting a report, I saw my husband's car arrived with Officer Daniel and the crook in it! I ran to my husband's arm and cried. Then came Police1 and officer Daniel, behind them.. that crook!! They took him in the room so fast I didn't have a chance to kick him with my stiletto!

And the bad news.. my husband told me he got everything back but, my purse was emptied! That crook took my money and threw cards/doc somewhere but he didn't know how to address the place!! Haiyerrrr 😡😡!! I thought that's the end.. Nope.

We were transferred to Police Station Dang Wangi branch. Police MPV arrived with blue siren light. Heading to my husband's car, he received a call from someone who's working at a construction site (Mohd Firdaus), telling my husband he found several doc and cards next to a fence where he works.

Arrived at Dang Wangi branch, again.. 'Monsters' are playing in my head 😂😂😂.. first Lady Officer who attended me, omg.. she's such a dolly! Also taking care of my grumpy baby while I'm struggling to draft a report. Upon completing my report, Mohd Firdaus called my husband how and where to meet up. Few minutes later, came a young, tall and bright looking aura walks into Dang Wangi branch and shook his hand to my husband. He handed over all cards/doc he found near the construction site. My husband offer Mohd Firdaus an 'Ang Pau' which he firmly rejected.. God Bless this Man

We were asked to go level 10 to meet Sarjan Aiman. A fierce looking guy, eyebrows so thick and attached 😂😂. But heyyy.. this guy is rich with sense of humor! All went well. I got my handbag, purse, money, iPhones, doc/cards back. The whole process went so well and ended at 8pm. Long day, but it just didn't feel 'a long day'..

Moral of the story, take a good care of our belongings. Police are not a Monster, for they are really a Polis Di Raja Malaysia! The very person that I really wanna thank for, Police1 and officer Daniel. Police1 supposed to go home early as he's not feeling well, instead.. being there with me until we finished. Salute 😘..

I need your help, everyone's help.. please share my story until it reaches to all these police's Facebook Wall!! Thank you PDRM and thank you Malaysians

p/s: my Husband is my Hero FROM Jezzabelle Loraine Lansing fb posting

Source: https://www.facebook.com/jezabelleloraine/posts/1199555456735279

Don’t do this to our city, Internet users say of new KL tourism logo

2016-04-29T12:01:00.003+08:00

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz was reported as saying that the city needed its own branding in the same way Paris is associated with romance and Rio de Janeiro is associated with a carnival atmosphere. — AFP pic

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — A new logo and tagline to promote tourism in Kuala Lumpur has drawn online criticism from Malaysians, who poked fun at the design and the words used to describe their beloved capital city.

The logo, a simple design featuring “Kuala Lumpur” written in grey lettering with a drop shadow, describes the city as “exciting, surprising and enticing”, and also brands it as a “city of contrasts and diversity”.

According to reports, it was unveiled on Monday by mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz.

Internet users were quick to mock the city’s new tourism promotion initiative.

Comments in a TimeOut article seeking readers’ feedback on the logo were overwhelmingly negative, with one commenter, Izwar Z, describing the logo as “shameful”.

“Looks like they designed it with PowerPoint,” wrote Aliff A, while another, Z K, described it as “embarrassing.”

The logo, a simple design featuring 'Kuala Lumpur' written in grey lettering with a drop shadow, describes the city as 'exciting, surprising and enticing', and also brands it as a 'city of contrasts and diversity'.“My mediocre sense of art never felt this insulted. We can’t do this to our city. Please don’t,” wrote Wahida Y.

Reaction on social networking sites such as Twitter was equally as negative, with one user, Faizal Hamssin, comparing the logo to those of Amsterdam’s, Jakarta, and Dubai.

“All are vibrant global cities. Now, can you see the difference?” he wrote.

https://twitter.com/faizalhamssin/status/725141321426464768/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Another Twitter user, Iced Nyior, recreated a similar logo with WordArt and posted it online, claiming it only took her five minutes to complete it.

“DBKL, I hope you didn’t pay lots for your new #kualalumpur branding as I did this in PPT with WordArt in 5 minutes,” the user wrote.

https://twitter.com/IcedNyior/status/724921632935038977/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The Star in its article this week quoted Amin as saying that Kuala Lumpur needed its own branding in the same way Paris is associated with romance and Rio de Janeiro is associated with a carnival atmosphere.

“We need to create a brand for Kuala Lumpur, something that differentiates us from other cities,” he was quoted saying.

The logo signs will be installed in three locations in Kuala Lumpur — at Dataran Merdeka, Bulatan Semantan and Jalan Sungai Besi.

Malay Mail Online is currently trying to contact the KL City Hall for a response.

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dont-do-this-to-our-city-internet-users-say-of-new-kl-tourism-logo

This mother lost her child, because she made a mistake on Face book. Keep your eyes open!

2016-04-28T09:11:00.003+08:00

The internet and its social networks can both be a curse and a blessing. This mother had to learn that painfully. Everyone should know her story and draw the right conclusions. It is about the welfare of our children.

Imagine that you're on Face book and get a friend request from a stranger. As I said, you don't know him or her at all. But the profile picture is actually quite nice and it speaks to you somehow. So then you accept the request. Just like that. What could go wrong ...?!?

Everything quickly forgotten, because you have something much more important to do: your daughter (or son) is starting school for the first time. You're so proud of your offspring, how she has made herself ready for her big day and you post the best photos on Face book. Underneath you write something like: "What a day! Unbelievable who big my sweetheart has become." Then you even link the picture with the name of the school and upload it on Face book. A couple clicks - done. But the consequences are terrifying.

Because what then happens in secret is unimaginable: the stranger whom you have add to your friend list a few days ago, has now long saved the picture, uploaded it to an online catalogue and sent it to hundreds of men around the world! Her writes underneath it:

"Young blood, American girl. Not even 6 years old! Only 5,000 dollars!"

You have no idea this is happening, for it's all going on behind your back. But the horror first begins when you want to pick up your daughter from school a few weeks later - but no one is there! You look everywhere; ask everyone who you pass while stricken with tears: Have you seen my kid?

What is now happening with the little one is something you probably don't want to know. And all of this wouldn't have happened if you hadn't committed this serious mistake. And even if you're lucky and your child is spared, the disgusting feeling of knowing that your sweetheart's picture will end up in a catalog for child molesters.

So: STOP FRIENDING STRANGERS ON FACEBOOK!

It's better to have one less "friend" than to live through this horror story.

We must never forget this message: be vigilant and nurture a healthy dose of skepticism while dealing with strangers on the internet. Reject friend requests from strangers! And most importantly: no pictures of children! Because they often land in the wrong hands. Pedophiles often look for such openness. In real life, you wouldn't show everyone your private life, right? Here you can watch how to protect your profile from privacy abuse.

Please share this important warning with all your friends! It can prevent a tragedy.

Source: theinfopost.org

Why 32,934 donors cancelled contributions to Yapeim

2016-04-05T14:32:00.002+08:00

PARLIAMENT Negative perception and slandering were among the reasons 32,934 donors have cancelled their donations to controversial Malaysian Islamic Economic Foundation (Yapeim) from 2015 until February 2016.

As a result, Yapeim suffered a total loss of RM580,897, which was previously obtained through the monthly deduction scheme. This was revealed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom in a written reply to Parliament yesterday.

Yapeim came into the spotlight following series of allegations of misappropriation of donations exposed by National Oversight and Whistleblower (NOW) director Akmal Nasir.

Yapeim's deputy president Zaleha Hussin's husband and son are alleged to have been appointed to the foundation and collectively, the family earns RM81,700 in salary a month from the foundation.

Jamil, who is the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, allegedly went on a golfing and shopping trip in the US using funds from Yapeim's subsidiary Yayasan Pembangunan Anak Yatim/Miskin (Pemangkin), totalling more than RM400,000, which were meant for orphans.

Besides negative perception and slandering, Jamil gave other reasons for the decline in donations including donors who had retired, died, contributions to other institutions, and the rising cost of living.

Despite the reductions in donation, Jamil said the foundation still has RM106,870.80.

Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/336522

IGP, be a man and say sorry

2016-03-28T08:49:00.002+08:00

Mar 26, 2016 4:00 PM

Six years ago on April, 2010, when a 15-year old boy was mistakenly shot dead in a car by the police after a speed-chase, it was front-paged and the fear in every parent then was that their teenage child on a joyride could be the next victim.

Due to him being a minor, Aminulrasyid Amzah was not even named in some of the media reports the day after, and the then Selangor police chief (and now the Inspector-General of Police) Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar held a press conference explaining how the car had suspects who were trying to run over the police and they had even found a parang in the boot.

Aminulrasyid’s family, from that very night of the incident itself, insisted that he was just a panicked teenager who was on a joyride and being maligned by the police.

During the trial of the police officer Corporal Jenain Subi and four others, a police officer told the High Court that he found 22 bullet holes, including one at the rear window of the car driven by Aminulrasyid.

The New Straits Times then reported it here:

“Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the policemen were on patrol in two cars when they spotted two men behaving suspiciously inside a car at Section 14 here.

They signalled for the driver to pull over for inspection.
However, the driver sped off, forcing the policemen to give chase in their vehicles.

After beating several red lights, the patrol cars managed to corner the suspects' car.

"A male passenger jumped out and escaped on foot while the driver reversed his car and tried to run over the policemen, forcing them to open fire," Khalid said yesterday.

He said one of the policemen fired four shots at the tyres of the car but one of the bullets is believed to have hit the boy, killing him instantly. Police found a parang inside the car which is believed to have been used in robberies.

"I deeply regret and am saddened with what had happened.
"I have appointed an officer from the Selangor police headquarters contingent to conduct a thorough investigation. We will also investigate why the suspects tried to escape when stopped by the police."

Now, years later, Aminulrasyid’s name has been finally cleared.

The Shah Alam High Court last Thursday awarded more than RM400,000 in damages to the family of shooting victim Aminulrasyid for their pain and suffering.

The court found that the police shooting at Aminulrasyid was in breach of the Inspector General Standing Order which says the police can only shoot if police's live or public lives are in danger.

The parang the police mentioned was never found.

Yet, despite an innocent life lost and the name of a family having been dragged through mud for years due to the statements issued by Khalid then, it is disheartening to note that Khalid has refused to issue an apology for the mistake his men did that night.

Further, the High Court has found Khalid guilty of misfeasance of public duty for coming up with story about Aminulrasyid "reversing" his car to ram into policemen as an attempt to justify the unlawful shooting of the police.

There was no such evidence of such action by Aminulrasyid because he was shot in the head and died almost instantaneously

Khalid has arrogantly stated that he will not apologise.

He was reported to have said, “ "Why should I apologise? I will not apologise. Everyone wants me to resign. But they are not my boss.”

Now Khalid, what if it was your teenage son? And do you not have an iota of regret in your heart for that mistake your men made in shooting down a 15-year old boy and over you having made those statements which have caused years of sleepless nights for the family?

So, stop being defensive at the wrong place and be a man. Admit your mistakes and apologise, for PDRM must not forget that the real boss is the public.

http://www.theheatmalaysia.com/Main/IGP-be-a-man-and-say-sorry

Nasi lemak listed in TIME Magazine’s healthy breakfasts

2016-03-23T07:56:00.001+08:00

PETALING JAYA: Nasi lemak, the staple Malaysian dish, has been recognised as one of 10 most healthy international breakfasts by TIME Magazine.

Listing down the various components of the coconut rice dish, the article described nasi lemak as “supremely delicious”.

“Yes, there’s a bit more fat than is good for you (eat less rice to reduce), but it’s balanced with lots of manganese, protein, and carbs.

“The chili in the sambal also boosts the metabolism (depending which nutritionist you talk to),” according to the article on Tuesday.

Also on the list was the Turkish breakfast spread featuring olives, tomato, white cheese, eggs and sausages as well as the Israeli shakshouka in which eggs are poached in a tomato and vegetable sauce.

The Japanese breakfast of various side dishes alongside rice and the Vietnamese pho bone broth, which comes with a variety of vegetables and herbs were also listed.

Egypt’s entry was ful medames with broad beans spiced and stewed overnight, while gallo pinto, black beans with rice, from Costa Rica was also selected.

Europe’s contribution to the list consisted of porridge, with Iceland’s hafragrautur oatmeal porridge and the Russian kasha, a porridge consisting of various grains and cooked in milk, making the list.

Upma from India was featured as well, described as a thick concoction made from dry roasted semolina.

Once a farmer’s meal, nasi lemak now enjoys widespread popularity across Malaysia and is commonly considered the country’s national dish.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/03/22/nasi-lemak-listed-in-time-magazine-healthy-breakfasts/

Malaysia League

2016-03-15T14:15:00.001+08:00

"Yang lain semua xde t*l*r.." Tonton dan dengar temubual yang berapi bersama Lim Teong Kim berkenaan TMJ.. Sindiran pada pasukan selain JDT FC.. hati tisu dilarang tengok..
Posted by Bola,Bola&Bola on Sunday, March 13, 2016

Top 17 Scams in Malaysia that you should know

2016-01-15T15:33:00.001+08:00

1. The Cafe Scams – Island Red Cafe & Stevens Corner

Island Red Cafe collects members RM6,000 each and promised 5% return every month and even give you a name in the ROC as a shareholder but what’s the point when they run away ? Stevens Corner, the famous indian coffee shop follows due to drop of business since their renovation. They collect RM3,000 per member and promise return of RM150 monthly and plans to open nice fanchisee cafe called StevensTeaGarden. Someone mentioned they will make you sign an agreement that give them the rights NOT to pay you anything in future. If you really wish to join, ask for a copy of their agreement and consult your lawyer BEFORE paying them. Bet you will NOT get a copy. Both collect monies from new members with MLM recruitment schemes and pay the old members like Sunshine Empire. You never know when they will run away.

2. Sunshine Empire

This licensed and legal Company back then had an impressive office at the ground level of KUB building along Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, near Menara Public Bank and AmBank Building. They also had a showroom office at the ground level in the next building. Singapore’s Straits Times and The Paper published big news reminding their people to be careful and NOT to believe in them. Hope someone can put up the link or google for it. (As expected, they STOPPED paying back members now and all investors LOST their money).

3. MOBILEWALLET

This Company owned by 2 young men, Stanley & Rey Gan, office in Queens Avenue Park has collect multi-millions years ago. Claimed that they tied up with Telekoms, Utility Board payment like Water & Electricity bills, even Maybank got fooled by them. Advertisement Billboards everywhere. They STOPPED paying back their members few months ago and the members cannot do anything because they are made to sign an agreement unaware that they have to claims if the company stopped paying them by CHANGING terms and policies.

4. Water businesses

Oxygenated and alkaline water products – Some of these are bottled water and some are filters or equipment that claimed the trick. One of the better known Company that sold “oxygen” water is SITO (supposed to stand for Selangor International Trading Organiszation and claimed Selangor State Government owned some share in it). The key person and founder is a Dato Robert Ong from Rawang but his name is no longer in the business now. Their products are sold for RM2 to RM3 for a 350ml bottle and now concentrating mostly in the Indian market. Their Chinese and Malays market are long gone since a year or 2 ago. Their customers are made to believe that their water has more oxygen and able to give miraculous effects for the body. Water is H2O, how to put more O into it ? Anyone knows how much oxygen do we breathe into our body everyday at FOC ? Latest news is that this SITO Company is going to create new label to market under a new Company since the SITO name has already gone bad. Someone informed that this Company is owing alot of money(due to refunds) to ex-stockists but just refuse to pay them.
(Latest news, SITO shifted to another place and their MLM business has closed but planning to start again with a different name, beware !!)

5. Car Fuel Booster

K-Link, the famous scam MLM Company that sold the footpatch TAKARA, later the “cock-ring” and energy-card launched the patrol-saving pills last year. Got so hot that even grocery shops are selling for them. Recently many of these cars that used the pills are rushing to the workshops to clean the residual. Few months ago, another MLM Company launched a fuel booster gadget, claimed that saves up to 20% fuel, that is attached to the cigarette lighter. Started off well using binary plan but businese begin to fade now and most users find it NOT effective.

6. Perfumery Products

Lampe Berger is not so hot now in the neighbouring countries but there are still new victims every month in Malaysia. Bel-Air have closed in Malaysia. LB is almost zero in Singapore. This perfumery product from France with over 100 years history is just bottles and fragrance but the Company marketing them in Asia claimed “aromatheraphy” products. Hong Kong TVB aired a program that exposed their scam but their members claimed that HK’s TVB already apologised to them. Note that the biggest strenght in a MLM Scam is their members will go all way out to lie in order to defend for their Company. The reason is simple; these members fear that they will not be able to make their money back if the Company collapsed. Knowing that the Lampe Berger products are moving slow, they add a line of skincare products named Estebel, also claimed to have over 100 years history in France.

7. Energy Products

(Eg. stone pendants, bracelets, mattress and pillows). They use all sorts of gimmicks and demonstration to make you into believing them. They will do some tricks and demo to prove that these products really produce energy BUT is there any tricks in their demo ? So what if there really produce energy; is it good or strong enough to help the body ?

8. Hi-Tech products

Names like bio-tech, nano-tech that claimed millions of dollars of research involved, eg Bio-Young and XKL few years ago). Most of these will claimed a professor behind them(even with name and picture of a person) or used words like “U.S.A. formula”, “German Technology” or “Nanotechnology” and no further details(more details later). If you ask for more details like the professor or factory’s address, the answer will be “trade secrets”.

9. Investment Schemes

SWISSCASH is the King of all. Swisscash is nearly over now but there are many similar and smaller ones that are still on. (Now, it’s closed or stopped paying back members)

10. GoldQuest

This Company that claimed to be HK-based started with some non-value gold-plated coins that are sold for over RM2,000 have several names and changed products several times. QuestVacation, QuestNet, etc. They had several offices in Amcorp Mall, PJ and their key person (in fact, the owner), a Malaysian Indian was arrested a few years ago in Indonesia for having involved in a very big Phillipines scam. Most of their overseas offices are closed or inactive but their Malaysia business is still hot, with some “energy” products.

11. Numerology & Fortune telling

A Company named Visiber is using MLM to sell fortune telling classes using your birthday based on Numerology fortune telling. Prospects will be told that they need to buy a certain “number” between 1 to 9 in the form of pendants or bracelets made of stainless steel and sold from RM600 to RM20,000. Customers, or rather victims are mostly females from rural areas.

12. MJ-Life

This Company boost of a very big background with many many years of history which is NOT true. Their people or associates may be long in business but nothing to do with their MLM launched recently. Why do I consider it a scam or bad ? New members are told to pay a sum of money(up to RM1000) and you get NOTHING for it. You only get a membership can entitle you to enjoy all sorts of special price and discounts when you have medical check-ups in their centres. They will claim all those check-ups cost more if done elsewhere. It’s not true. Only the naive and those new to medical check-ups will fall victims to them. Most members who paid the money ended up with nothing.

13. Seaweed Venture Scams

One such company was located in Taman Maluri, Cheras. They will ask you to invest a few thousands ringgits for their venture of growing seaweeds in East Malaysia and you are guaranteed returns. To gain your confidence further, they will tell you your investment money is secured by “insurance” or “unit trusts” & “trustees”. When you ask for further documents to prove, they will give all sorts of excuses or just ignore you because they know they cannot get you.

14. MXM (previously MGM)

This is a master scam among the younger group, very successful 2 or 3 years ago but since there moved to their big 10-storey office at Phileo Damansara and changed name to MXM, their business dropped. They collect members RM3,000 to RM4,000 with credit card monthly easy payment and in return you get a hospital benefits insurance from Pacific Insurance worth only a few hundred RMs together with some you-don’t-need medical check-ups from their associate Company Pathlab. Also talk about fitness, lifestyles bullshit that is all worthless.

15. Gano Excel

This company from the north, a copycat of DXN selling Lingzhi capsules created a new Company called Gano iTouch to cash-in on the internet like e-Cosway after their Company went down the drain since the last 2 years, selling Linzhi and some no-value energy pendants and alkaline water gadgets. They provide free transport every weekend from KL to visit their Alor Star office.

16. NuLife (HK)

This Company started by some HK people has been in Malaysia for more than 10 years but they have flopped in HK and Malaysia due to bad management and a product scam making use of a prosecuted American named Dr Jeffrey Bland, found guilty of false products claim. Since this case in the US leaked out and many Malaysians found out that the real boss in HK is a Steven Tang (he cheated many Malaysians in another scheme about 20 years ago) their business went down all the way. Now they claim Malaysian partners cheated them and start a new Company in Malaysia. Watch out, this new Company will come out with some investment scheme idea that will get many to lose their money.

17. Arowana Fish Breeding, Oora from Germany, Biofuel (Kompleks Maluri) etc

These are some newer scams. Arowana fish venture ask you to invest some money and give you fixed return. Biofuel will tell you their Indonesia connections (just like Sunshine Empire before using Taiwan) & Oora from Germany that market some bio-chips and a gadget that claims to give energy and therapeutic effects of acupuncture, tai-chi, yoga, etc depending how you set the toy-like gadget, wear it on your body and you get the effect later. They could not explain or provide any demonstration to prove their effectiveness.

We are pretty sure there are many more scams out there which are not in this list. If you have heard of a new scam that is not mentioned in this list, please do email us atcontact@funnymalaysia.net or feel free to comment in the comment section below.

Best Reply Ever

2015-09-28T08:23:00.002+08:00

Best reply ever by Rashidah Abdul Rahman to Nicole Yin who created a petition to ban Korban.
Dear Ms Nicole Yin,

We thank you very much for your kind concern and compassion towards the animals. Indeed, Islam do teach us to be kind to ALL creatures be it man or animal. We are all made by the same Creator. Even to kill an ant for no rhyme or reason is prohibited.

You are indeed very brave to question a practice, that has been deeply rooted in a reliogion that has 2 billion followers. In that 2 billion mass, we have doctors, lawyers, scientists, thinkers, communicators, writers. Many of the so called modern foundings in Science was already discovered by this representation of 2 billion in numbers. We are not a barbaric crowd of human who are blood thirsty violent creatures definitely NOT what the media made us out to be. The atrocities that you see happening around us..is not Islam. Its driven by greed and power crazed individuals, using religion as a medium to oppose. May Allah have mercy on them.

Back to the topic on the Qurban ritual done once a year to honor our Prophet Ibrahim. May I know, if you have the chance to PERSONALLY watched how the ritual is being done? Also wat are the MANDATORY methods in which our animals are slaughtered daily?

There is a long list of criteria but this are some pertinent ones. I hope you will find some time to do FULL RESEARCH before starting such a petition which can create an ugly uproar in a country which pride itself on racial acceptance and tolerance.

Most important rules during animal slaugtering in the Islamic rites are: Animal must be fit and not handicapped. Animal must NOT be pregnant. Animal must be properly fed and maintained with tenderness. The slaughter can ONLY be performed by a SANE ADULT MUSLIM who is strong n fit. NOT anyone can come and Kill another being unless he is a serial killer! The knife used for slaughtering...must be very clean and resharpened after each slaughtering. The slaughter must on the point of pressure, reach the jugular and two major veins ensuring SWIFT and QUICK death of animal. The head must NOT be separated from the body and at no time, should the strike reach the back bone or spine. The animals will be comforted and given water before the process., the animals are separated from each other out of respect that it also feels and understand the surrounding. The invocation of Allahs name IS A MUST and an intention must be consciously made that the death of this animal is purely for consumption. None of the body parts is to be wasted. All of it will be handed out to the poorest of the poor who is in some region starving and in hunger. Meat is a luxury that they cannot afford.

The ritual that you are questioning, is as instructed in our Holy Quran in which very strict guidance are listed. If we are not doing it right than it is not the religion that is questionable but the people who is not doing in accordance to the teachings.

I would like to reiterate, that you attend for yourself and witness what goes on. As a child i attended this event and was feeling scared in the beginning. My father took his time to explain the whole process. We were allowed to stroke and pat our animal before offering it as a gift to the poor. We take honor to be present as if to tell the animal that we are there with them and that we will meet again in afterlife in the sirratul mustaqim. This animal that was offered today will be raised to witness what we have done for our fellow needy brothers n sisters in faith.

Nicole, this is a religion of Mercy and Compassion. We dont need activists to question our rituals. The very fact that we NOT condone the use of machinations to cull the animal already show the respect and honor we have for it. We placed a very sincere INTENTION upon touching the animal to comfort it and take its life away with full respect. Its madness otherwise to be handling struggling animals but we adhere because this is the basic fundamentals of Islam when it comes to consumption of livestocks.

Please do your own research in the benefits of Islamic Slaughtering and compare it to the conventional method. Compare also why Muslims abstain from pork. It has got to do with veins and neck. Islam knows 1400 years ago what modern world is discovering only in the 21st centuries. Perhaps it is the culling of pigs and its consumption you should be petitioning for, since you have that much time.

I am not opposed to your voicing out your concerns. You are a brave young girl and learned but I and the rest of my fellow muslim request that you do ADEQUATE research into all areas and reasoning as to why we do what we do.

Thank you. Happy Eid Mubarak to my fellow Muslims around the globe..indeed this is our Jihad. To explain to a non believer what they know not. As the Prophet S. A.W had mentioned, Holding on to Islam in the Final Days will be like holding on to burning coals. We are heavily tested. Allahu Akbar Wa lilah Ilham

and petition was closed.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/srilyn.yusoff/posts/725693030908797

Racist customer service given by maxis tesco kepong branch.

2015-09-18T15:04:00.001+08:00

by Samantha Resh

We went to pay the bill in this branch and lined up. We did not take a number just as the Chinese customer behind us. As we lined up,a Chinese guy in charge asked us the reason we were there and yet did not ask us to take a number. When it was our turn the Chinese lady at the counter asked for the number and since we didn't have one we were asked to take a number.

The Chinese guy at the back of us as mentioned did not have a number too but was able to pay his bills. When we question the manager he laughed sarcastically and even admitted on being racist and challenged us to make a report. To make matters worst, the number machine ran out paper and after they refilled it he printed out numbers and gave other people who came after us and gave the last number to us. He said we could do nothing but live with that fact. He even gave us a number to complaint claiming it was his manager and when we called up he answered and further laughed at us!!!

Is this how your customers are suppose to be treated? Arrogant and racist customer service provided!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/samantharesh/posts/10207939418629643?pnref=story

Happened in IKEA!

2015-08-10T14:15:00.005+08:00

Happened in IKEA!
These culprits are really good.
They work really fast.
Please be alert!

My handbag were cuts with knife. Alhamdulillah, luckily I'm not injured. But they got my purse. All the cards and money were gone. Poor thing that I just withdrew the money. They did the same to the person behind me. And luckily too my husband's wallet which happen to be in the bag were still there.

Please make this viral! Keep your handbag closed to you and be careful as they are using a very sharp knife. It might hurt you.

Old lady and mother with kids are their easy target.

-Bella Jaffar

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207117361996934&set=a.1413448260728.56860.1368205641&type=1&permPage=1