Living Free

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:28:00 +0000

The complete text of the declaration of Human Rights:

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore,

The General Assembly,

Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11

Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.

Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14

Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

Everyone has the right to a nationality.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16

Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23

Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26

Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27

Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29

Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

© The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
+41 22 917-9000

udhr@ohchr.org

The THRIVE Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:57:00 +0000

"THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream -- uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future."

http://www.thrivemovement.com/

Blogging News Stories As They Happen

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 16:26:00 +0000

Running a blog news tales as they unfold is one of the most
thrilling and controversial applications of technology
that bloggers have discovered. One thing that makes the
blogosphere so active is the fact that it is feasible to
update a weblog instantaneously, so the news on blogs
tends to be more current than the news in the paper, or
on television. Unlike news delivered by other
media, news that appears on blogs does not have to
travel through a series of editors and administrators
before it reaches the public eye. This has some
advantages, and some distinct disadvantages.

One of the most notable cases of news hitting a blog
before appearing in other media took place in July 2005
when terrorism struck London. As passengers were
evacuated from a subway automobile near an explosion, one
man took several photographs of the scene with his
cellular telephone, and within an hour these images were
posted online. First-person accounts of the catastrophe
began appearing on blogs shortly after these photos
appeared, and people all over the world learned about
the events in London by reading the words and seeing
the pictures posted by bloggers.

The fact that these tales and pictures were being spread
directly by individuals operating without the added
filter of a reporter helped to make the crisis feel very
immediate to people across the globe. When it comes to
blogging, news often appears in a personal context.
This has the potential to be the beginning of an exciting
new era of reporting, one that takes "New Journalism"
to its logical next step by putting the power to shape
how the news is written and read directly into the hands
of the public.

Lots of bloggers and cultural commentators who are
champions of the weblog movement feel that this
growing trend of individuals getting their news
from blogs is a good thing, because it makes the flow of
information more democratic. By decentralizing the
control of news, blogs permit more voices to enter the
field of debate about important current events.
However, lots of people are adamantly against the
use of blogs as news outlets, and there's plenty of
good arguments on this side of the debate. Unlike
newspapers or television stations, few blogs have fact-
checkers, and there is tiny attention paid to journalistic
accountability on lots of blogs. This can lead to the rapid
spread of misinformation, and over one falsehood
has taken the blogosphere by storm. The questions
about whether running a blog news as it happens is ethical or
not are complicated, but no matter where you stand
on the topic of current events blogs you are sure
to agree that this movement has the potential to
revolutionize how modern people get their news.

Earthquake and Tsunami Hit Japan Friday....

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Middle East Update

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:31:00 +0000

"YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND"

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:01:00 +0000

Greetings to all my friends in the Blog Catalog community!
It is nice to meet you all in pictures and in your writings and just wonderful to know each other. Thanks to Blog Catalog for this great opportunity to connect with fellow bloggers.

To honor my friends in the blogsphere, I decided to post this blog once I come back from being inactive for many months. Here, I am back in circulation.... I truly value our friendship and I also believe that friendship is not a matter of "Addition," but "adding" with good intentions. I hope that when you typed "added you," will not end right there in your keyboard. You will find enjoyment if you explore his or her website and share some ideas.

I think everyone of you love to listen to the music and lyrics of "You've got a friend..." Here's my nephew sharing his interpretation of the song.

MANILA RANKING HIGH IN POPULAR CHOICE TO BECOME New7Wonders OFFICIAL HOST 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:34:00 +0000

News Release

MANILA RANKING HIGH IN POPULAR CHOICE TO BECOME New7Wonders OFFICIAL HOST 2011
Still missing official support!

Zurich/Switzerland, Apr. 27, 2009—Visitors to the new7wonders.com website have been suggesting leading cities around the world to become the Official Host for the Declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature event in 2011. Manila is frequently chosen in this poll, yet without official support now it cannot be considered by the organisers.

The opportunity to be in the global spotlight
''Cities and countries around the world are being invited to submit their bids to become the exclusive Official Host of the biggest event in 2011'' says Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, ''Manila certainly seems to be a popular choice, but unless we hear from the official authorities within the next few days, it may well miss out on the chance to bid.''

The Official Host 2011 receives unique global image and branding around the world over three years, and is the location for the Official Declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature event in 2011—when the result of 1 billion votes is revealed to the world during a spectacular gala.

For more information on the Official Host 2011, please visit www.n7w.com/2011.

Official authorities can contact the New7Wonders 2011 bidding coordination office directly via email at 2011@n7w.com.

Contact:
Tia B. Viering
tia@n7w.com, tel: +32-2-503-4767 or +32-473-79 57 53 (mobile)

HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE BLOGGING WORLD...

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:02:00 +0000

I would like to greet all my friends in the blogging world, "MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR BLESSED WITH SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY!!!"

Many thanks for your support, inspiration and nice remarks on my website and wish you more success in your career in the coming years.

I will also take this opportunity to inform my friends that I will be embarking on a new blogging strategy with my own newborn website at http://www.ennspotlight.com/ to be launched and will go live on 1st January 2009.

I am inviting you once again to visit my new website. Your unfading support and inspiration are highly appreciated.

The Battle of Leyte

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Today is the 64th anniversary of the famous “Leyte Landing” of General Douglas MacArthur and his forces in Palo, Leyte Island on October 20, 1944.
The Battle of Leyte was part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and staff land at Palo Beach, Leyte, 20 October 1944.
Date 20 October – 31 December 1944
Location: Leyte Island, Philippines
Result: Decisive Allied victory

Belligerents:
United States
Philippines
Australia
Empire of Japan

Commanders:
Douglas MacArthur
Walter Krueger
Franklin C. Sibert
John R. Hodge
Ruperto C. Kangleon
Tomoyuki Yamashita
Sosaku Suzuki
Shiro Makino

Strength:
200,000 U.S. troops
3,189 Filipino guerrillas
55,000 Japanese troops

Casualties and losses:
Allied trops 3,500 killed
and 12,000 wounded
Japanese 49,000 killed

The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita from 17 October to 31 December 1944. The battle launched the Philippines campaign of 1944-45 for the recapture and liberation of the entire Philippine Archipelago and to end almost three years of Japanese occupation.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaand wikimedia/commons.

“MILAGROSA,” miracle lady with a mystic scent

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:39:00 +0000

By: Enn C. Baybay
Freelance Writer

“Milagrosa,” a runaway rice variety- "miracle lady" with a mystic scent wants to be reunited to her homeland.

RIYADH - “Milagrosa Rice” or miracle rice has striking resemblance to a beautiful lady, Filipina name, but embracing citizenship of another country. When this fashionable young woman walks in for the swimsuit category, the gullible audience were overjoyed and thought at last a new breed of Filipina will be crowned as Miss Universe. However, when she introduced herself, her fans were caught by surprise when she said: “I am Miss Thailand.” The festive air fades away in an instant.

In reality, it is not only our talented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who invaded the lucrative market abroad, but also various Philippine products except for rice. Once our very own, Milagrosa has joined the caravan but ironically coming from another country. Some OFWs may have been victims of illegal recruiters or in the case of Milagrosa rice by shrewd businessmen whose ultimate opportunistic goal may prompt them to cheat and to enrich themselves at the expense of our national heritage.

During the Marcos era, a high yielding rice variety, named as IR8 was created. This variety was also popularly called the "Milagrosa" rice, a Spanish word for "miracle rice" which has been our pride and a favorite rice for many years. Its crystal, transparent complexion attracted not only Filipinos but also people from other countries. Many competitors are trying to duplicate this variety but failed to equal its vibrant texture. In fact, there was a report that a similar variety of "miracle rice" would have been christened as “Imelda” in honor of a once beauty queen and the former First Lady of the Philippines. However, the idea was abandoned due to the rice pests at that time that might have caused a "bad image for Mrs. Marcos and the IRRI."

Many people were wondering why the Philippines is facing a rice crisis when it hosts the prestigious International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the world. Since its founding, agriculture scientists have known that the Philippine agricultural lands need government support in providing fertilizers and pesticides to counteract the menacing bugs that attack our crops. That was almost half a century ago. Today, we are still confronted with the same dilemma. Before the so-called “Asian Tigers” were born, we were there at the limelight. We were always in the international spotlight economically. The importance of the "miracle rice" can not be ignored since it is the only variety that made the Philippines self-sufficient in rice during the early days of the Marcos regime.

Although there are factors beyond control, but failure in effective governance has been a major cause in the tremendous decline in the economy. The country’s debt has multiplied and keep on rising since the Martial law era and there is nothing in the horizon that shows us the light of recovery. I am expressing the sentiment of the common people, recipients of the fruits of a “failed economy.”

Meanwhile, feed up and frustrated of the economic situation, skilled workers have gone abroad in search of a better life, free from the "pests" that occupied the influential sector in society.

Going back to our beauty queen, Milagrosa, shall we just sit back and do nothing to regain its ownership? Was she adopted, stolen or pirated? I believe, the real mystery involving Milagrosa is adding insult to injury in a country whose “runaway daughter” gives magic and glory to an alien country. In my opinion, our local farmers are very sensitive to this issue and would like to be reunited to their once national pride which is nearing its extinction in a country it originates.

Can we prevent Milagrosa to be commercially manipulated, its Filipino name to be misrepresented and falsely advertised? For the sake of our national heritage, shall we take the initiative and start the campaign now to bring home our beautiful, “Milagrosa?” The least we can do perhaps is to convince the parties involved to refrain from using "Milagrosa" and "WagWag" rice labels in millions of bags being marketed abroad.

Close-up of Milagrosa rice bags on sale

Abundance of Milagrosa rice on sale abroad
at the height of the "rice crisis" in the Philippines.

Another variety "WagWag" rice of Philippine origin marketed abroad.

"The Sound of Music" An Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:16:00 +0000

One of my friends emailed me the pictures of the kids behind the musical movie. Indeed, an inspiration to the present and future generations to come. Allow me to share with you its contents:
__________________________________________________

The 7 Children In "The Sound of Music" - After 40 Years
"The Sound of Music" is a 1965 film. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1965 and is one of the most popular musicals ever produced. Still remember the 7 children of the Trapp family?

They were having a reunion after 40 years and all were looking healthy and amazingly well...

Sound Of Music

The hills are alive
With the sound of music
With songs they have sung
For a thousand years

The hills fill my heart
With the sound of music
My heart wants to sing ev'ry song it hears

My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds
That rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
From a church on a breeze

To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls
Over stones on its way
To sing through the night
Like a lark who is learning to prey

I go to the hills
When my heart is lonely
I know I will hear
What I've heard before

My heart will be blessed
With the sound of music
And I'll sing once more

(The owner of this website would like to thank the original source of this article/photos and would like to secure permission for its publication.)

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATL. PARK IS NO. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:44:00 +0000

Asian countries dominated the top spots as of the latest update of the New7Wonders of Nature Nominees.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is currently ranked no. 1 among the 77 candidates of the New 7Wonders of Nature Nominees. Other nominees from the Philippines are now ranked as follows: Tubbataha Reef, Chocolate Hills and Mayon Volcano,ranked 4, 5 and 11, respectively.

Here’s the latest report from the New7Wonder of Nature’s website.

“… Voting for nominees will continue through July 7, 2009. Then the New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts, under the leadership of Prof. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, will review the top 77 nominees and choose the 21 finalists, to be announced on 21 July 2009. These finalists will then be put to popular vote.”

Last update 22-SEP-2008 06:25 GMT

1. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park,PHILIPPINES-Asia
2. Cox's Bazar, Beach,BANGLADESH-Asia
3. Ha Long Bay,VIETNAM-Asia
4. Tubbataha Reef,PHILIPPINES-Asia
5. Chocolate Hills,PHILIPPINES-Asia
6. Al-hasa Oasis,SAUDI ARABIA-Asia
7. Ganges, River,BANGLADESH/INDIA-Asia
8. Ali Sadr Cave,IRAN,ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF-Asia
9. Sundarbans, Forest, BANGLADESH/INDIA-Asia
10.Lake Saiful Maluk,PAKISTAN-Asia
11.Mayon Volcano,PHILIPPINES-Asia
12.Mount Everest, Mountain CHINA/NEPAL-Asia
13.Liwa Oasis and Empty Quarter OMAN/SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES/YEMEN-Asia
14.Mount Damavand IRAN,ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF-Asia
15.Phong Nha-Ke Bang,National Park VIET NAM-Asia
16.Fansipan,Mountain VIET NAM-Asia
17.Red Sea Reef EGYPT/ISRAEL/JORDAN/OMAN/SAUDI ARABIA/SUDAN/UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES/YEMEN-Africa
18.Dead Sea,Lake ISRAEL/JORDAN/PALESTINIAN TERRITORY,OCCUPIED-Asia
19.Amazon,River/Forest BOLIVIA/BRAZIL/COLOMBIA/ECUADOR/FRENCH GUIANA/GUYANA/PERU
SURINAME/VENEZUELA-South America
20.Mount Fuji JAPAN-Asia
21.K2, Mountain CHINA/PAKISTAN-Asia

New7Wonders brought to life by Brooklyn class award-winning website

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:32:00 +0000

Here's the latest update of the New 7Wonders of the World
courtesy of Tia B. Biering, N7W Press
________________________________________
News Flash

Brooklyn Fifth-Graders Win Award for New7Wonders Website
in TQNYC Website Challenge
Bringing the New 7 Wonders of the World Alive for Kids

Zurich/Switzerland, Sept. 10, 2008—Students, youth and children played a very important role in the first New7Wonders campaign, to elect the New 7 Wonders of the World that were declared on July 7, 2007. They are now already bringing their special enthusiasm to the current campaign as well, choosing the New7Wonders of Nature.
In the United States, Mrs. Costa’s 5th grade class at Public School 131K in Brooklyn, New York, created a fun, very informative website that presents the New 7 Wonders of the World, explains the history and goals of New7Wonders, and lets children find out lots more about the countries and cultures involved.

Quizzes, puzzles, printable bookmarks, music and lots more
The P.S. 131K students integrated many features, such as music, a blog, games, downloadable goodies and a guest book into their award-winning site. New7Wonders has a link to the site, which can also be reached at:
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC085362.

Out of 132 elementary school entries, their website was selected by the judges as one of only 11 finalists in the competition. At an awards ceremony at Columbia University, the students received Honorable Mention Awards along with a $100 gift card each.

New7Wonders congratulates Mrs. Costa’s students! And we the organisers hope to receive news of many more exciting projects from classes and students worldwide.

Contact: Tia B. Viering: tia@n7w.com, Tel: +32-2-503-4767 or +32-473-79 57 53 (mobile)

The Top Seven Mistakes eBook Authors Make

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:03:00 +0000

-By Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel
© Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel

eBooks are the hottest thing going on the Web right now!

Authors with the entrepreneurial instinct are making
anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars
per month - that's right, per month - by selling ebooks
online.

Why are some authors doing so much better than others?
We've discovered seven key mistakes that most ebook authors
make (and in doing so, hold themselves back from major
success):

1. They don't write to a specific, target audience.

The biggest mistake most ebook authors make is they don't
clearly define, identify and visualize who they are selling
their ebook to. On the Web, to be successful, you must
write to a specific group of people who have specific
interests.

Make sure that you know exactly who is going to buy your
ebook, and where you can find them online.

2. They don't automate as many of their business activities
as possible.

Selling ebooks, though it is highly profitable, is not a
business where you make hundreds of dollars per sale.

Automate everything you can - credit card processing, ebook
delivery, as much technical support as possible. If you
can't automate a function, delegate it to someone else.

3. They don't have a compelling title for their ebook.

Use words that convey the benefit of what's in the ebook, as
well as words your audience is familiar with.

A bad title for an ebook: "Online Marketing for Newbies."
A good title for the same ebook: "97 Ways to Promote Your
Website - No Experience Required."

4. They try to cover too much ground.

Many ebook authors convey a lot of information but don't
cover anything in-depth. As a result, they never fully
explain anything in enough detail to provide any useful
value to their readers.

This is a very bad mistake to make, especially when it
comes to how-to ebooks, which happen to be the best type to
write.

5. They are not proactive in their marketing.

It would be nice if marketing for your ebook simply happened
on its own - but it doesn't. You have to do it yourself.

After you've promoted your ebook to the people on your own
mailing list (if you have one), then you have to contact
other Website owners and persuade them to be your
affiliates. You should do this continually.

6. They don't differentiate their ebook from its
competitors.

When you choose your topic, even if there are a hundred
other ebooks out there on same general subject, choose an
angle for yours that will make it easy for yours to be
distinguished from the others.

For example, right now job-hunting ebooks are very popular.
There are dozens that are big sellers. "Secrets of Breaking
Into Pharmaceutical Sales" has a very specific title that
sets it apart from the competition, and is aimed at a
clearly identified target audience. Incidentally, it's
selling very well itself.

7. They write ebooks that nobody will pay for.

Many ebook authors write about information that either
people can get for free, or that people are not actually
interested in enough to pay for the information.

Before you invest weeks or months into the writing of your
ebook, invest a little time investigating whether other
ebooks in the same subject area are selling on the Web.

So, there you have it - the seven big mistakes to avoid.
Remember, the opportunities are plentiful - and huge - right
now for anyone who wants to become a best-selling ebook
author. Simply use common sense, follow our advice, and let
your literary career flourish!

===============
Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel are co-authors of "eBook
Secrets Exposed: How to Make Massive Amounts of Money in
Record Time With Your Own eBook (whether you wrote it or
not!)," the authoritative guide to publishing and marketing
ebooks on the Web.

Guerrilla Marketing author Jay Conrad Levinson says, "If
there ever was a 'must-read' for this century, it's this
book." For more information
Click=> http://hop.clickbank.net/?enncrave12/ebksecrets

VOTE AND SPREAD THE WORD.....

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:23:00 +0000

Press Release

ONLY 21 WEEKS UNTIL FIRST New7Wonders of Nature VOTING PHASE ENDS!
VOTE and SPREAD THE WORD

Zurich/Switzerland, August 4, 2008—On Wednesday, there will be exactly 21 weeks left to vote in the first stage of the New7Wonders of Nature campaign. On Dec. 31, the Top 77 nominees, chosen by worldwide popular voting, will be the group from which the 21 Finalists will be chosen by the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, under the presidency of Prof. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO.

Check whether other favorite nominees are in the running to be a Finalist!
A new, easy-to-understand traffic light icon system now shows at a glance whether a New7Wonders of Nature nominee has an OSC or needs one.
All four of the Filipino nominees are Official Supported Nominees, but you can check whether another favorite nominee is in the race to become one of the New7Wonders of Nature—if not, get it back on track by helping to set up an OSC. Setting up an OSC is very easy, just follow the simple instructions on the New7Wonders website at www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nomination/osc/.

About the New7Wonders of Nature
The first New7Wonders campaign, in which more than 100 million votes were cast, chose the New 7 Wonders of the World that were declared on 07.07.07 in Lisbon.
The 21 New7Wonders of Nature Finalists will be announced in early 2009. The New7Wonders of Nature will be announced in late 2010.

Contact: Tia B. Viering: tia@n7w.com, Tel: +32-473-79 57 53 or +49-89-480 887 19

New 7Wonders of Nature....News Flash.....

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:04:00 +0000

Here's a news release from the Press Area of the New 7Wonders of Nature.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA AND MISS WORLD SUPPORT TWO New7Wonders of Nature NOMINEES

Hollywood for Iguassu Falls and Beauty for Ha Long Bay

Zurich/Switzerland, July 22, 2008—Two nominees in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign recently received votes from very prominent visitors.
Legendary Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola cast his vote for Iguassu Falls, which straddle the border between Argentina and Brazil, while the current Miss World, Zhang Zi Lin, voted for Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

Very different places—calm water reflecting rock formations vs. crashing falls
Miss World expressed her support for Ha Long Bay during a visit to Vietnam which included inaugurating numerous charity houses. Ha Long Bay’s serene beauty, with impressive and jagged rocks formations such as the famous “Kissing Rocks” reflected in the still water, surely impressed Miss World.

Francis Ford Coppola, best known perhaps for the Godfather series of movies, has been moved by the majesty of Iguassu Falls since he first saw them in 2003. He commented that “One of the most spectacular landscapes I've seen and one of the most incredible places I've visited are the Iguassu Falls” He noted that Iguassu Falls are like ''ten Niagara Falls together.”

Join these two stars and the millions of people who have already participated!

Discover the beauty and power of the New7Wonders of the World nominees,
choose your favorites and VOTE at: www.new7wonders.com

The 21 New7Wonders of Nature Finalists will be announced in early 2009.
The New7Wonders of Nature will be announced in late 2010.

Contact: Tia B. Viering: tia@n7w.com, Tel: +32-2-503-4767 or +32-473-79 57 53 (mobile)
Source of the above article: Press release received from the New7Wonders of Nature, in my GMail Inbox 22.07.08

How To Create Websites that actually make money!

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:57:00 +0000

-by Jim Edwards (c) Jim Edwards
- All Rights reserved http://www.thenetreporter.com/

Not a week goes by that half a dozen people don't ask me what separates a great, money-making website from a bad one. In response, I surveyed of a number of different websites, large and small, to find what they share in common to make them so successful. With few exceptions, every extraordinarily great website contained the following elements.

~ Testimonials

Every great website has testimonials from satisfied customers. These testimonials help set the potential customer's mind at ease that the products or services sold online will perform as promised.

Truly great testimonials not only endorse the product, but clearly state how the product increased sales, saved money,or benefited previous buyers in very specific and tangible ways.

Testimonials should present real benefits others can readily identify with, understand and, more importantly, want those same results for themselves!

~ Headlines

Headlines capture visitors' attention and get them involved in the website.

How do you read the newspaper?

If you read like most people the headlines first catch your attention and determine whether you'll actually read a story. Similarly headlines on a website determine whether visitors get involved in the information or surf away never to return. My own experience has shown that the proper headlines can easily and quickly double, triple, or even quadruple a website's sales almost overnight.

~ Bullets

Bullets communicate various and subtle bits of information about a product or service without making readers plow through paragraphs of information to get to the meat of a website's offering.

Bullets arouse interest, build excitement and convey a lot of information very quickly to time-starved web surfers.

~ Bonuses

Every great website offers bonuses to people who buy, apply or fill out a form.

Nothing induces someone to do business with you online like offering them something extra for taking the action you want.

Offering a bonus report, tape, extended membership, extra quantities of product at a deep discount, coupons, or just about anything makes people more willing to go ahead with the purchase decision.

~ Guarantees

Everyone takes a risk whenever they buy anything from anyone.

The risk centers on whether or not the product or service will perform as promised. In a retail store most people feel pretty confident the store will still exist if they need to make a return or exchange in a few days.

On the web, however, that risk in making a purchase seems much higher than in the 'offline' world.

Every great website makes a point of specifically telling customers about their return policy and truly exceptional sites offer 100%, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantees.

People rarely take advantage of such guarantees and I have personally seen a website's sales increase by 45% just by extending the guarantee period an additional 30 days.

~ Phone numbers

Every great website has a phone number with a real live human being on the other end who can answer questions and provide product support.

So there you have it!

With few exceptions this represents the formula for creating or identifying a truly great website.

------------------------------------------
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Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, ranked 6th in latest 7Wonders of Nature survey

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:58:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of the Puerto Princesa National Park Official Website.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
PHILIPPINESThe Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. Currently ranked
6th among the top 77 nominees to the new 7Wonders of Nature.

Tubbataha Reef, on the spotlight...

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Tubbataha Reef is currently ranked no. 2 among the top 77 nominees to the New 7 Wonder of Nature.

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef located in the Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles (181 km) southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.

A scene from Tubbataha reef featuring a large soft coral, probably measuring about four feet. The location shown seems to be ideal for soft coral growth-- fast current, about 70 feet deep, positioned on a vertical precipice or "wall".Photo & text are published by courtesy of Jeff Jeffords,at divegallery.com

As a diver looks on from far above, a large red whip coral has its tentacles extended for feeding, ideally located along a deep stretch of wall at remote Tubbataha reef. From above, the depths appear deep blue to nearly black as the sunlight is rapidly absorbed by the water, never able to reflect upward from the sandy bottom hundreds of feet below.Photo & text are published by courtesy of Jeff Jeffords,at divegallery.com

This is a typically colorful reef view from Tubbataha Reef....Photo & text are published by courtesy of Jeff Jeffords,at divegallery.com

Featuring "the fiery and beautiful" Mayon Volcano of the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:25:00 +0000

class="extiw" title="en:Pyroclastic_flows" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroclastic_flows">Pyroclastic flows at Mayon Volcano, Philippines, 1984.Pyroclastic flows descend the south-eastern flank of Mayon Volcano, Philippines. Maximum height of the eruption column was 15 km above sea level, and volcanic ash fell within about 50 km toward the west. There were no casualties from the 1984 eruption because more than 73,000 people evacuated the danger zones as recommended by scientists of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
(Photo and text courtesy of author, C.G. Newhall, Wikimedia Commons; Photo courtesy of the US Geological Survey (USGS)
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayon_Volcano">Mayon Volcano, the "perfect cone." is an active stratovolcano in the Philippines' province of Albay, the Bicol Region (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Four wonders from the Philippines are ranked among the top 77 official nominees to the New 7Wonder of Nature . The top 21 candidates will be announced in January 2009. The next stage is the final selection of the new 7 Wonders of Nature from the 21 finalist candidates. The magic 7 will be officially declared in the summer of 2010.

Live ranking update as of 28th May 2008:

Location- Philippines

1. Tubbataha Reef, ranked 4

2. Chocolate Hills, ranked 5

3. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Nat'l. Park, ranked 9

4. Mayon Volcano, ranked 11

Calling fellow countrymen to access the website 7Wonder of Nature and cast your vote.

UN's Human Rights Campaign Theme- "Dignity and justice for all of us"

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Sat, 17 May 2008 18:26:00 +0000

As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) celebrates its 60th year of existence, this writer would like to invite fellow bloggers and all readers of this blog to participate and promote the UN's Human Rights Campaign thru their website KnowYourRights2008 . You will find in this website an attractive logo for your webpage and various screensavers, wallpapers, cartoons and other goodies to decorate your desktop.

In the spotlight - CHOCOLATE HILLS, “a scene of unusual beauty”

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:09:00 +0000

Picture above is the "Chocolate Hills," famous tourist attraction located in Bohol, Philippines.

Today, "Chocolate Hills" is in the spotlight as its rank climbed to 9th spot among the top 71 list of the New 7Wonders of Nature.

The "Chocolate Hills, " an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines, is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills or mounds of about the same size. It covers an area of more than 50 square kilometers comprising the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. The hills are covered in green grass that turns chocolate brown during the dry season, hence the name, "Chocolate Hills." On June 18, 1988, it has been declared as the Philippine's 3rd National Geological Monument and also being nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Two other Philippine nature wonders already in the roster of UNESCO World Heritage List are also among the top 71. Tubbataha Reef ranked 8th and Puerto Princesa's Subterranean River National Park, ranked 18th. These are the Philippines' big 3 vying for the top 7 New Wonders of Nature. The final results will be officially declared in the summer of 2010.

The New 7Wonders Foundation of Switzerland is behind the project for the new 7 Wonders of Nature. The foundation which has its motto: "Our Heritage Is Our Future," is calling all citizens of the world to support the project, according to its website.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism has urged and encourage all Filipinos to participate in this survey and promote the tourism industry of the country.
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Chocolate Hills photo credit: Steve

Make your weekend refreshing and a memorable one...

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:28:00 +0000

Some of the beautiful spots where one can relax during weekends.

Sightseeing or going to a beach.

Enjoy paddling the canoe.

Expats called it the "red sand."

For me, I have known of two weekends. Saturdays and Sundays in most countries; while Thursdays and Fridays in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia. How you will spend your weekends depend on your budget and places you like best to enjoy your two days off outside from your homes or cubicles in your offices.

In Riyadh, expats have their own version of an escapade from the busy life in the city. Expatriates of different nationalities always love to see the beautiful sceneries just few kilometers away. Enjoying the morning view in the desert is just fantastic. Sometimes we have to commune with nature -the sands and the rocks and just feel the wind and admire the beauty of nature’s gift.

I have found also a best place to go if we want to be refreshed completely. In my opinion, going to the beach or sea - swimming, sailing or canoeing would be great. Breath the fresh air and feel the sea breeze. By refreshing yourself, your body will be ready again for the activities in the next couple of days.

Wherever you spend your weekends, just make sure you will find enjoyment and refreshing, too.

(Photo credits: Enncrave- Philippines and Saudi Arabia)

"Help Keep A Child Healthy..."

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:31:00 +0000

Once again, I am inviting you to visit The Child Health Site which provides "many free ways to help protect and care for children in need." One of the ways is quoted below from the website:

"How You Can Help In Mere Seconds — Every Day
The Child Health Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness as well as prevent and treat devastating childhood illness every day — through easy and quick online activities.

With a simple, daily click of the blue "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Child Health Site, visitors help children. Visitors pay nothing. The treatments and preventative services described above are paid for by our site sponsors and accomplished through our charitable partners, Mercy Corps, the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Helen Keller International.

Please remember to click every day to help children get and stay healthy, and to give hope to future generations. Every click counts in the life and health of a child."

Defeat Hunger: "Free Ways to Help"

noreply@blogger.com (Enn C. Baybay) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:46:00 +0000

There are free ways to help fight hunger. As quoted from the CharityUSA.com LLC. website:

"How You Can Help In Mere Seconds — Every Day

The Hunger Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness and prevent hunger deaths every day — through easy and quick online activities.

With a simple, daily click of the yellow "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Hunger Site, visitors help provide food to those in need. Visitors pay nothing. Food is paid for by the site's sponsors and distributed by Mercy Corps worldwide and by America's Second Harvest to food banks throughout the United States.

Please remember to click every day to give help and hope to those most in need. Every click counts in the life of a hungry person."