Came out for a jog, since it is the second day with sun out of the whole week.

Can’t miss the opportunity to use my Nike Plus sensor.
Will write a post about it soon

Been spending a lot of time in the library recently, and its a lot more productive than staying in my room.
I get lazy at home!

Lets start!

YourOwnName.com

Well, today’s topic will be about getting you own website. As you can see its pretty cool to have your own name as a domain website. I OWN THAT, and other Kingston Liu’s in the world have no chance EVER getting that!

Email with Own Address

One thing about having your own domain is that you get to have your own email too. No gmail/hotmail/yahoo mail, its just your Email@yourname.com or anything you can create. It makes it unique and a little more professional.

I have 5 personal emails on my Iphone, each sorted out for different priority! One email is just made for signing up websites, so its full of spam, so with your own email you can have separate emails too for family/friends/work/enemies.

You can even create emails for your family (i.e: Mum@yourname.com), friends or just for your sweetheart I.e: Sweetheart@yourname.com (she’s got her own personal email on her bb or iphone, its like direct personal email. Made one for my gf, and its one of the sweetest ideas EVER)

Your own Blog

Even blogs are easy to set up, and customized. You can have http://blog.yourname.com or yourname.com/blog or just about any name you can come out with….youarechecking.yourname.com!! see how fun that is.

No more blah.blog*pot.com or any other free blog service with banners all over and limited customization.

Hosting It

I’ve owned my domain name for almost 3 years now. Most people don’t know having a domain is just having that name, but hosting it is another part. Hosting is the stuff that stores your data/pages/images on the net. Domains are registered name that links to your host.

Generally, domains are owned for 1 year, but you can just pay for 2-3 years, it will be cheaper. Hosting packages are normally paid monthly, but to sign on for 2-3 years its just cheaper and more cost effective. I started out with having an overseas (US) host, it was cheaper, but there is always a downside to cheaper host. They are shared with a lot of people, so it tends to be slower, and having the server overseas slows it down too.

So last year, I signed up for a local server, was slightly more expensive, but not really that expensive. The server is located in Malaysia, since thats where my INITIAL target visitors are from, so I it was perfect. I signed up and transferred my data over, and got it going.

Been with Exabytes.com.my for almost a year now, so far so good. Customer support is good, servers are not super fast, but for blogging and basic static web pages, its good for me. They have few different packages to suit your hosting needs, but overall everything is pretty affordable.

One thing good about them was that they did my data transfer for me for free, so it was hassle free. The other great part was that I was able to transfer my remaining 3 months left on my old hosting to Exabytes for free, so they added additional 3 months worth of hosting service, just because I moved over.

They have automated web services like wordpress blog, gallery, online shop and all that. Just one click and you get all those services running, thats how I got my blog running.

So feel free to check out EXABYTES and sign up a hosting under me!
Link up your blog here when your done!

Click on the banner to have a look!

iWant but iCant iFord coz iPoor…iSigh iSad

I have a Macbook pro, ipod, ipod shuffle and iphone….Now I need an iPad… Not want…but need!! when I have money!

Steve + iPad

Nice!

Mmmmm

Awesome Calender!

10 Hours Batt Life (1month on standby)

News Read

News + Photo!

And I wanted to get a kindle a couple of months ago!! Look at this!
iBOOK!

Book Library!

I'll be doing so much reading with this!

The accessories

iCover

iCover Another way

iKeyboard

THE PRICE!!!

Kindle is Owned!

Kindle was like 300ish as I remembered…..but this is a winner….at this price…I might be able to afford it…I think!

Out in 2 months for Wifi model, 3 months ish for 3G….

Later!

I picked the colour of that item specially for her, PINK! Doesn’t every girl love Pink?
So obviously its not for me, but yet I still can use it. (smart huh? – she will be reading this so this plan is going to fail, but it already failed, I’ll TELL YOU WHY!)

After getting it last week, as in ordering it online on Friday. I was checking with her if she likes pink? and decided not to tell her, so it will be kind of a lil pre-christmas/welcoming gift.

Everything Fell Apart! Because the company PLAY.com, is USELESS! ( product was delivered the next day, sorry for the rant)
Play.com is an online retailer similar to Amazon. Its pretty highly ranked in UK, that is the whole reason I decided to purchase it from them. They run the business from a place called Jersey, Channel Island. Apparently, its a tax free area, so its cheaper.

The item I bought was Polaroid Pogo. This!

Pink Pogo for Her (cute? yes!)

and the paper!!

Stack of 70

I thought it was a good deal! Just before flying off next friday, I’ll be able to bring this home for her.

Then while we travel, we can take photos and print it out on the spot.
It prints 2 x 3 photos with an option of removing the back to make it a sticker…..so perfect for instant cool photos of Me & Her!

Its similar to the one Dell is selling called Wasabi. Using the same Zink Technology.

What so special bout this printer is that it doesn’t use INK, so no replacing ink cartridges that are messy and expensive. All you need is the special paper that is with crystalize or something with colours, so when its heated up the colours shows UP!
You can print it thru usb cable with your camera, or thru bluetooh.

Polaroid Pogo

Back to the story..

The printer and paper should have been here! Its been around 5 days! Only the paper came yesterday, I’m very very sad!
I need to wait 21 days till I get to claim a refund or re-post. That is AFTER CHRISTMAS & AFTER MALAYSIA & AFTER MY HOLIDAY!

Whats the point of having special paper but not the printer! Its USELESS!! I don’t know when the printer is coming, hopefully tomorrow!!

ARghhhhhhhhhh!! ANGRY!! STUPID ROYAL MAIL OR STUPID PLAY.COM!! Now I can’t print any photos on the spot!

Today the topic of my post will be Moleskine!
Do you know Moleskine?!

Well! Its just a brand for notebooks…I didn’t know anything about Moleskine, thought all pocket diary/notebook/sketchbook/planner/organizers are all the same. Just a book with papers, but after The GF told me about it. I did a bit of researching, checking out the sites, youtube, and everything about Moleskine I can find from the net and found out its a very “in”, as in “In & Happening” notebook brand. Its used by a lot of “creative” “arty” “smart” people around the world to record, or sketch about everything. The quality of the paper and the book is very good, and it will last!

*ohh* was typing this looked out the window and saw a bunch of ducks flying in V….awesome….lol

k…continue…Gf told me bout this notebook cause when we travel (soon), I can take photos and jot down whats going on,  where I am, whats happening, and she can write her feelings in the notebook (girls love writing about feelings), then we can have a little historical travel journal together.

She said she was going to get it for me when I get back to Malaysia, just before we travel.
So after I did the research, and found out its not cheap in Malaysia.
Nothing is cheap in Malaysia….food is the only thing that is cheap, and that is getting expensive as well.
I decided to check the price online in UK, did a bit of searching and found the price in Amazon.co.uk is good, they have discounts on it and delivery is free.

So I bought 2 lil soft Weekly Notebook Diary. One for me and one for her! I believe it was £6 for one. Its still pricy for a lil notebook, but its very useful!
Since its a Legendary Notebook as shown in the front cover(below). You really can’t put a price on LEGENDARY!

July 09 - Dec 10

For Him + for Her

I was so excited when it came (felt like christmas), its like a new book to read. I get to “plan” my days now, and be “organized”. As you know me, I’m all about being organized…..lol

The cover is soft and the skin is nice and smooth, when I’m bored I just rub my fingers over it. Great feeling….lol
The stretchable strap keeps the book from opening up.

It comes with a lot of important features, like a lil pocket at the last page for small notes or receipts, timezones, world public holidays, full moon timing, conversions, and other nifty standard diary info.

The Left side of the diary is the days of a week…and right side is just empty lines for notes.

Its soft and easy to bring around, you can put it in your pocket, shirt pocket or jacket pocket (for people in cold countries).
It small and handy, I’ve been using it everyday now, bringing it to class and writing everything down.

I feel very organized now.

Handheld PDA

Overhand Grib (check out my veins..ohh yea u know its awesome)

That’s my short review of Moleskine Pocket Weekly Diary.
There are other types of Moleskine products…..check out the site to find out more.

Here is the link check it out….Moleskine®

THE END!

1. When I was 9 I took up piano, stopped cause I told my mum I wanted to focus on my “studies”. (hehe just an excuse)
2. Was in Scouts from 9-12? Stopped when I got into high school…coz scouts were pretty gay in high school, not considered “cool”..sorry friends in scouts in highschool..
3. Was interested(or parents made me…don’t remember) in Tennis from 8-9….coz I couldn’t play
4. Badminton school team from 9-12? Played a bit in high school and stopped…I got really fat and couldn’t run.
5. Was so in love with saxophone that I dream of playing it in my sleep, was playing it for 1 year and stopped “studies” (this was true) I still want to learn it, but don’t have the time.

So I’ve never been into something this passionate before….many times while I am working an event taking photos or meeting new people, they would ask me “Do you have a card?”

I would frown and say nope… working on it? When I am more into it? or Soon?
I have been waiting to design my card for ages, but I didn’t know how to do it. I know how to design one, but not a very professional cool looking type.
Like those sleek black plastic looking with modern fonts with cool silver bold embossed text, with funky shape, that people will keep and frame it. Really want those, cause its impressive.
And the IRONIC part is! My uncles is in the printing business, and I could easily get one printed.

But!!! Recently, I bought a few books from amazon.co.uk and received a voucher to print business cards. Got a few of them, cause I bought a few books.

Awesome Vouchers

I kept it aside, and made a mental note. I will do this one day!

And the day came!!
I thought OK! Today is the day! I will finalize my card dilemma! Its cheap and I will just try it out!
So the site was Vistaprint.co.uk!

They have tons of card templates with pretty cool looking designs, but those designs did not make me feel special…and I’m into feeling special.

I started to play around with the custom image upload, so I upload a few of my photos.

Decided to use my own photos because it represents ME! and its nice to give someone something memorable, rather than just my name…at least when they are stress…they can look at my card and go Awwwwwww…..Tension *GONE*

Moved them around, typed my info, moved it around, resize the images, here there and everywhere. Till I was happy with the colour, fonts, and layout. I didn’t really have a good selection of the fonts cause it was limited.
Didn’t select to design the back of the card, cause you have to Top up! the $$$$…which cost more, I went for the basic!

Finalized my look!! and ordered it. Price was £1.24, which was around RM 6 something, Aud$ 2?, Usd$ 1.80? all rough currency estimate. The promotion came with a free card holder too!! Awesomemo!!

So I thought fuck!! That’s like a freaking BARGAIN!! Many levels of choices popped up, like do you want to make a keychain, a calender, magnet, mug,tshirt, goes on and on and on!! ENOUGH!!! I JUST WANT MY CARD!!
Finally it came to the last part….postage!! This is where they bust your balls!!!

Shipment Details:

Quantity     Price        Shipping     Tax
Custom Business Cards               250          £1.24        £3.58        VAT:£0.73
Business Card Holder                1            £0.00        £1.81        VAT:£0.27

Goods Total Excluding Tax: £1.24
Shipping and Processing pre TAX: £5.39
Estimated VAT (15.00%): £1.00
Invoice Total: £7.63

Dirty Dirty Tricks! I tell you!!
So the shipping + tax came up to 6.39!! Ouch!!
I don’t know how much it is normally for printing cards like these.
Rm45 for 250 cards that will last me quite awhile is alright I suppose.
Since it was my first time getting a card. It was all good!
Shipping took 2 weeks, since they were shipping it from AMSTERDAM.

It came in less than 2 weeks….here it is!! GET READY!!
I’m not from art design school, so it might not be like SUPER HAPPENING OR COOL! but I like it a lot!
Because its all MINE!!!

Like Totally Wow!! Right? Right? (thanks wendy for being part of my card)

Woot Woot! Right like Right?

The holder is just a cheapo metal case….but still pretty shinny and I’m impressed easily…so it was alright!

Shinyyyy

I’m quite happy with the Print Quality! Colours were nice and sharp….but the card was slightly smaller than I expected, not really the standard name cards….but since I am always an Optimist(lol…I try)!
Sooooo I got my Stylo-Milo Shaped Card after all!

So if you ever want Vistaprint.co.uk, Name and Business Card printing….I highly recommend it, only If you have the discount!
The normal price is pretty expensive, but if you don’t care about the price…the quality and the service is pretty good.
So go for it!

Enjoy!

Ever since I made my goal of trying to write a post in everyday, I’ve been more and more fascinated by how hopefully one day I can eventually be earning some side income from my site.

Listening to videos on youtube about how to generate more viewers and get more $$. I know its a pretty daunting task to have a constant flow of “avid” readers for my blog, since its pretty much just stuff about me, me and me. Basically, people visit your site either they want something, or they care about you to check you out. Pretty much nobody gives a shit about a blog, unless they love you. I know some of you do. I love you too.

However, even if it is about me, I do hope random readers out there get some knowledge out of it. Its like having a personal web reviewer for sites, photographs, tech and everything nice!

Adding on to that!! I’ve checked my google adsense page!! I’ve earned USD$5 so far!! $145 more and I’m getting a big fat American cheque!! Hence, being so freaking motivated! My goal is to have a kind of a “passive” income from this, and this will allow me to afford a Roti Canai/Nasi Lemak and a Teh Tarik when I get back to Malaysia.

Now, to the topic of the DAY!

L.D.R A.K.A Long Distance Relationship

I was browsing thru a video about how to generate viewers, and one of the case studies on how to make your site successful was to do something your going thru or something love & passionate about, and not to think about the money. She mentioned about a site called Loving From a Distance.

Basically, the author of that site was going thru a long distance relationship with her bf and she came up with that site to help other couples going thru the same thing. This was like a niche part of a relationship, so many sites about the standard relationships, but nothing about long distance. With support groups, guides, games, and other things to do.

Ohhhh!! You’ve guessed it…(k maybe not)
I am currently in one too….Boooyahhh! KINGSTON LIU is in one. Damn straight!! Believe it! 2 months and counting and going strong!!

We skype, we call, we whatsapp, we msn, we sms, we email…. the only thing missing is the real thing….sighhh

• Skype: I top up around Rm45/Au$16/£8 every 2 weeks or 1 month to my skype account so I can call her directly to her phone whenever I want when she is out. I tweaked (jailbreak hax) my iphone to be able to make Skype calls over 3G phone connection, so I don’t have to depend on WIFI, when I’m out. We talk when we are at home.
• Calling: Emergency Time or Bad Connection periods we use direct calls. Or when I’m really needy. Its too expensive to call directly, overseas calls cost £1 a min! I’m a struggling student, so its hard.
• Whatsapp App: Our official Pager/Chat/IM, anytime anywhere, we can just drop each other Messages
• Sms: Occasionally when there is no 3G or Wifi on my phone, we use SMS
• Msn: Use it sometimes, but after whatsapp and skype, hardly use that.
• Email: I’ve created a special email account for her on my @kingstonliu.com, so she’s got a Direct email service for me and her. Its like having her own personal Batman spotlight! tee hee hee

So long distance is kinda hard in a way, but thank god for technology and my awesome geekyness. It makes it less painful, but sometimes it gets pretty tough. All thanks to apple and wonderful Iphone too, all this is possible.

This is my Life Now

Things we do to lessen the Long Distance Damage.

(Some are facts & some should be read with some sense of humor)

1. Planning things in the future – this allows us to think about the fun times ahead, rather than dreading the present (Highly Recommended).
   • Short term goals: Like…Ohh I’ll see you on skype when I get back.
   • Slightly a bit longer than short term goals: Like…Ohh I’ll see you on skype tonight/ weekend.
   • Slightly longer but still short goals: Like..Ohh I have something to show on skype next week, can’t wait to see you.
   • Longer Goals: Planning a trip when I get back in Christmas. Things to do when I get back. Give some imaginative visual aids like, ohhh I’ll have my six packs when I’m back.
   • Future Long Goals: We’ll be together in the future, where and when.
2. Sending emails to each other. Since email is not instant, so it will prolong the current conversation.
   • Example : She: What are you doing now?  Since I’m busy…I’ll reply 3-5 hours later…and with 3-5 hours x 100 time = 300-500 hours = Many Days!. That reduces the days we are actually apart…and christmas doesn’t seem so far away! (Recommended if used correctly)
   • If you want to go a whole new level, go Old School, do a snail mail (with current UK mail strike). Seeing each other in Christmas will be even sooner! Historically proven it works, as seen in movies with the box full of letters. (Depends)
3. *Arguments/Fight* – This is a tricky one. Actually, not really a good one. Although it delays contact with each other, but hours seems like days for this. Cause you’ll be constantly thinking about the issue & the person. (not recommended)
4. Recording Video conversations from Skype (Mac app called CallRecorder) – Due to time differences, sometimes I’m awake and she’s asleep and vice versa. Hence, with a recording
   Leaving it on Playback Loop makes me feel like she’s around, on cold lonely scary nights.
   • Record her cuteness: This will cheer you up when your sad/depress/stress/lonely.
   • Record her nagging: This enables you to be a better person, when you don’t feel like studying, or being productive. *play it*. You’ll be motivated all of a sudden. (Highly Recommended)
   • Do not record something you’ll regret, if you know what I mean. Images/Videos showing up on gutteruncensored (blocked in malaysia).
5. Do something nice like poetry writing, telling a bedtime story (or story of your day as detailed as possible), singing a song/lullaby to her, cooking and eating it while while chatting.
6. Most importantly TRUST!

I hope my so called “Guide to L.D.R.” is informative & a tad entertaining.

Didn’t know I could be giving such advice.
Ohhhh how the world can be mysterious and full of miracles. lol

I’m off to Snoozeland…Night!

This new theme is just fantastic….so many options for customization….There is still a lot of work to do in tweaking it to what I like…like changing the header photos to my own photos…so technically its not 100% ready….

Part of the reason for this update is to have a better more fresher look, rather than the dark modern look…now is young and bright (like me)….

My eyes is hurting from staring at the screen for such a long time….

Anyways…I was talking to my gf today in the afternoon, and she told me about her shoot at work. Was trying to find the photographer that she was talking about. She was the PR at a Modeling Agency Contract Competition Finalist Shoot…with 20 Models in Lingerie. I was like hmmm LUCKY PHOTOGRAPHER, so she told me he was good and how fast it took him. Its the malay photographer, I forgot his name.

I tried to do a google search for like “Ishkandar” or “Ismail” just for the fun of it, cause I just like randomly naming malay names. But no luck….

After searching for a bit…I found this guy Andy Lim. I’ve never heard of him before, but looking thru his site and blog kinda inspired/impressed me. Went thru his About Me, and saw read thru his background….worked in my art areas as designer and such, and came out to do his own stuff.

He works as a wedding/portrait/commercial photographer and gives photography workshops as well. The classes are not CHEAP! Rm300-600 for basic understanding of how to use a camera, but I guess its worthwhile if you have no idea at all. I’ve spent Rmxxxx on books to learn all that on my own, would be nice if I started with lessons like that.

Maybe I should start charging 150 for lessons! I’ve been giving classes to quite a lot of friends, maybe I should have the “experience” of teaching by now!

Here are some of his work….

Nice Composition

Beautiful

Awwww

Very Nice

More on his Site Andy Lim

What impressed me was not just photographs, but his web design and layout…his site is very nicely done! makes me sad that I can’t create sites like that! Its really a gift to have such a talent…..

Sighhh…Even one day if I become very very good in photography…and a “professional photographer”, and I wanted a very nice site with great interaction and layout, I will still have to pay someone to do it…..Why didn’t I study computer science and design in school? Why?
All I can do is count how much I spent and how much people owe me. Thanks Accounting.

Anywaysss back to my gf time and then sleep time.

Its photos from the Chinese National Day, really wanted to see the photos earlier coz I heard it was super fantastic, but forgot about checking it out.

Luckily I got the link, all I can say is INCREDIBLE!!
There is a reason these photographers work for AP/Getty, the composition and colour and all of it.
When you see the photos……..speechlessssss

Here are some of the pictures from the link…

Niceeee (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

Very Colourful (REUTERS/Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

They Say All Asian Look alike...Need I say more?? (AP Photo)

Another Example of All Asian look Alike...I really can't tell...& I'm Chinese (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Another Impressive Shot (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

To see the rest of the 39 other awesome photos, the link is below..

China celebrates 60 years

——

IPHONE APP REVIEW

On another NOTE! I’m going start giving Iphone App reviewsssss too!!!

Basically, I will be talking bout apps I just started using or MUST USE!

I will start with WhatsApp, I’ve been promoting this app when I first got it!

Here is the link WhatsApp
This is a MUST USE APP!

Contact Screen ( I don't have many friends)

Entertaining Conversation with Bro

I got it while it was free, but it cost around $0.99 now.
Totally Worth Getting it!!

Out of all the apps I’ve tried to get for instant msging or chatting, this is by far the best!
The layout is simple and you get to navigate around pretty smoothly, somehow its a lot more stable than IM+ or Ping (THIS SUCKS)

You get push notification too, so anytime anywhere you get to msg your friend’s or loved ones…
Pros : -

• Push Notification ( msg pop up instantly)
• Stable n No crashes
• It connects super fast too
• Changable Wall paper
• Update facebook status with the status updates on it
• other goodies

Now for the not so good part.
Somehow it doesn’t support a lot of Malaysian Numbers, some got approved, some friend’s didn’t.
Hence, I don’t have a lot of people on my list in Whatsapp!
However, I have the important people that counts…..if you want to count as one of the important few, then get it! (n tell me, I have my UK number so add me)

Another Bummer is that….it doesn’t let you add contacts.. You must have the contact on your phone book for it to show up…So if you just wana msg someone but don’t want them having your number, then you can’t.

So Overall I give it….8/10! Lovingggg it!

Went out for a lil drink on Wed, so I’ll be good this weekend.

Was with my classmates for thier golf club social drinking session. It was a pub crawl-ish golfish drinking game… Started at a Aussie bar called walkabout at 8…2 pints of snakebite (resberry/cider/foster)….I was the hero of that round…skulled both pints in 2 takes…WINNA!

Stopped at the last snakebite + shot…..needed to catch the bus to get home….Not gona pay 7 pounds to take a cab home alone….so got home at around 11….was a fun night after all…Slept around 1 but got to class all alright the next day!! but tired….I’m Old!

Today (sat) went for a football match at fratton park (portsmouth fc)….good fun times!!

Photos : -

Drank this pint in 1 Take!! Ohh Yea!! Winna!

Score Card ( didn't finish, but was a close match)

Moi, Julia + Sascha

Portsmouth VS Wigan

OMG David James?

Pompey won 4 – 1….first football match for me…was pretty fun!! atmosphere and all…tooooo bad I didn’t get tickets for man-u match next month =(

ohhh welll
Time to go….Laterz!