It’s amazing what kind of information the Internet can expose about us, particularly now that social network applications are so accessible and popular amongst us.

I’m sure one has the right to tweet everyone in the world where he or she is at the moment, but are these people aware of how dangerous it is? PleaseRobMe.com
I also began to understand the importance of choosing a car insurance quote based on whether it is accepted by most of the auto workshops around my area. When I was involved in a car accident once, I was lucky that the auto repair shop was able to help me with each and every paper work I would otherwise have to deal with, because the body shop actually supports quick insurance claim processing for the particular insurance I was using. I didn’t even have to go to the police station to formally do my report for my insurance claim — it was all done by the body shop. Needless to say I was thrilled and relieved beyond measure.

How frustrating — currently the room I would like to call my office is actually a make-shift store room. The ones that are taking the most room are boxes of unopened electric kitchen appliances that my husband won — a bread maker, a “water purifier” vacuum cleaner, an oven, a couple of outdoor furniture, and a cooker. There are also a couple of computer monitors lying around. I doubt buying some office furniture to organize that room would be of any help.

Once I was holding a credit card which, after a while, I have decided to cancel because I was not satisfied with the services and fees I have to endure. However, I still have a substantial credit balance to deal with. Luckily, I saw a web site advertising its cash advances and payday loans service, and I immediately applied and utilized my loan to pay off my credit balance. The best thing about it is that the interest I have to pay on my payday loan is much lower than the credit card I paid off, so that’s a big plus.

There is this one web site called TrustSource.org, which reviews and lists out the different financial institutions that provide cash advances and payday loans to every level of person, financial backgrounds, and so on. Not only will the site review each of the service for you, you can also provide your own feedback on the services once you have experienced them. That is a good option to have so that you can also help other people using the TrustSource.org to decide the best financial assistance and that all the services offered are as promised in their web sites. So far I have seen only five cash advance services sites being reviewed, but I’m sure the list will grow as more reliable cash advance services are found.

One of the biggest Malaysian music awards gave us (or at least myself) a wonderful shock with the win by Estranged’s Itu Kamu despite their last night’s technical glitch (missing keyboardist?). I was certainly hoping for the best and expecting the worst with these underdogs, who ended up winning for overall Best Song and Best Song in the Pop/Rock category. Competition was stiff for all categories (Pop/Rock, Ethnic Creative, Ballad), but I believe every one of the winner in each category (even Mawi for Best Performance) deserved it.

The 22nd AJL looked to be doomed with the ban of Faizal Tahir and a no-show by Kaer and Rio Fabrian, but the artistes standing in for them — Fiq, Sahri, Bob and Lah — have done wonderfully. Photo gallery and coverage can be found at Gua.com.my.

I see one aspect that’s pretty obvious with this year’s AJL. The fact that a significant number of its performers — four in the winners’ line-up — were once reality show participants, particularly from Akademi Fantasia, goes to prove that Akademi Fantasia specifically is not just a feckless show trying to rob us of our texting/SMS dollars, but is showing its force as a powerful platform to boost careers of talented wanna-be stars. I hope this positive trend by reality shows can continue to spurn out fantastic artistes and give more chance for new composers and writers to impress us. Let’s continue to support our Malaysian music industry, shall we?

I opened my Google News yesterday and what did I find? News on the untimely death of Heath Ledger. And only last week I watched the Dark Knight trailer and was in awe at how startling Ledger’s portrayal was as The Joker, which gave me the impression that this would be the best Batman movie yet.

Not only will he be remembered for the tear-jerking performance in Brokeback Mountain (I cried! I really did, dagnabit!), but we will also miss him for the greatest and most disturbing Joker we would ever see for a long, long time.