Making Money Work For You. Money Saving Tips from Chuva.

To my  Pinoy readers, just for fun – - click on the audio below.  I am a solid fan.

Chuvz

Being a big fan of Suze Orman, I have always paid close attention to her advice on saving money.  Mentioned in my blog entry before – little things that you do, do count.  Morning coffee from Starbucks that would cost 3.00 to 4.00 USD a pop could easily be saved and invested if you make your own coffee at home.  There are more ways you can save and make your money work for you.  I practice most of these but would like to find other means.  So if you have any thoughts or suggestions, let’s discuss it.

* If you are using a credit card to pay your monthly bills only to pay off the whole thing at the end of the month anyway, you should look for a card that will provide you cash back in return.  I had Citibank Select at one point and they used to offer 5% cash back for any groceries or gas purchased using the card.  The rest of your purchases gathered 2% cash back.  What I did was to pay my bills with the card and pay off the entire bill every month.  In a six month period, I received 300.oo USD as a cash back check.  Citibank got wiser and changed the percentage of cash back to 1% for every purchase.  I cut the card in half.  There are always better cards out there and if you take care of your credit, it wouldn’t be difficult to switch to another card.
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Since we are talking about closets, uhhmm – Ricky Martin?

I’ve seen this photo before and I thought it was the cutest picture, not to mention my ever eternal crush, Ricky Martin. He’s older now, and a much more mature… I wonder when he’s going to come out of the closet and tell me he loves me? But in this pic, I found a new crush! Ricky, please do tell!

to view the picture – - from my ‘gorgeous pics archives’, click more.. Read more

Congrats to our girl Jennifer Hudson for winning the Oscar!

 The WINNERS:

BEST PICTURE
“The Departed”

BEST ACTRESS
Helen Mirren, “The Queen”

BEST ACTOR
Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin, “Little Miss Sunshine”

BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese, “The Departed”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Michael Arndt, “Little Miss Sunshine” Read more

Academy Awards – Fashion yay or Fashion nay? Gowns Gowns Gowns!!

Who’s GOWN do you most absolutely LOVE?

Talk about it… I’LL POST MY FAVORITE after the show!!!

FASHION YAY!!  MY FAVORITE TONIGHT – PENELOPE CRUZ. Read more

Breaking News – - Suze Orman comes out of the closet! WOOHOO! Go gurl!!!

 

The financial advice guru, Suze Orman has admitted that she is a ’55-year-old virgin’ and has never been with a man her whole life.  When pressed, she admitted that she has been together with a life partner for seven years now and intends to get married.  Both of them are worth millions!!! 

Read the full story here.

I say, YOU ROCK!!!!!

 

February 25th – 79th Annual Academy Awards! Oscar Party Anyone? Here are some tips…

Well, all I wanna know is – What are you wearing?

This weekend, the year’s biggest event will be televised around the globe, 79th Annual Academy Awards (OSCARS).  “I don’t take this for granted for a second, this is the biggest event, you know, probably to date that I’ve done.”, said Ellen Degeneres, who will be hosting this Sunday’s show.

Of course, there will be your celebrity watchers.  Who’s wearing who?  Prada, Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Versace – who knows?!  When stars start walking on the red carpet, all cameras are on them and it is a very exciting event!  I should know.    

Anyway, we can make the Oscar event more interesting by hosting a party.  Yeah yeah yeah… I know, this is usually a high school event but hey, it’s fun!   I say, buy some champagne, hors d’ oeuvres, and throw a party!  Gather your friends, go to the ‘friend’ that has the big flat screen TV, and bring your champagne, vodka, and whatever else!!  Make some martini, heck, serve lasagna – cause ‘frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!!’

It is a good time to host one now that we are expecting our girl, Jennifer Hudson to win!!!    YOU GO GURRRRRRRRRLL!!!

Gay Men Make the Best Bosses?? I WANT A GAY BOSS!!

Here’s an interesting article I read by Danielle Sacks..

Tuesday  February 13, 2007

Why Gay Men Make the Best Bosses

America’s most desirable managers all have one thing in common: homosexuality. Read our take then post your comments below.
—By Danielle Sacks

Only three months into his senior manager gig at a Fortune 500 company, Matthew Klein was in way over his head. “I finally walked into my boss’s office, threw my hands in the air, and said, ‘I’m feeling totally overwhelmed and inadequate,’” he explains. “I basically had a breakdown.” Many managers would have reacted to such a display by telling him to get back out there and grow a pair. But Klein’s boss had the opposite reaction: First he reassured Klein he was doing a great job, then he helped him prioritize his workload so that it became manageable. “It’s not like he’s this fuzzy guy who would reach across the table and hug you in a meeting—he’s tough as nails,” says Klein of Robert Ollander-Krane, who is director of learning and development for the company. “But he allowed me to be completely honest about my circumstances. Now we have this huge foundation of trust.” Read more

Interrupting the cute video to plug a very important event – Philippine Blog Awards!!

As you may or may not know, we are nominating one of our own colleagues here in the blogging world to be a recipient of the ‘Philippine Blog Award 2007‘. She is none other than, REYNA ELENA!!

We believe that she deserves this award and would like to ask my readers to please nominate her site. We would appreciate all nominations, big and tall, slim and small.

Please show your support. Thanks!!

 

My Money, My Yodlee. Why I use Yodlee Account Aggregation Tool.

I was reading alot of business magazines a few years ago.  I was so adamant to get out of the rat race and start my own business that I must have subscribed to several of them, including Inc., Entrepreneur Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Kiplinger’s and so forth.  Each time I pick up those magazines, to look for business ideas, they have review sections of ‘gadgets and gizmos’ or ‘tools to tag along’ that I glance at for kicks.  

One discovery I made was Yodlee.  Yodlee is an account aggregation tool that allows you to enter your accounts into one place.  You can access your accounts by logging into Yodlee with one username and password.  It only takes a one-time setup of your online accounts and passwords and possibly, a few future updates if your account password changes, etc.   I set up my account way back in 2002 I believe, and to this day I am still with them today and I love it.  It is a free service (for now), and with my memory slowly failing, I needed this tool – in a BAD way. Read more

I sooo agree with this post from Yugatech.com – - Are you a Netrepreneur?

This was inspired by Ben Yoskovitz of StartupSpark. Here are my top 10 checklist to see if you’re a netrepreneur.

• You own a blog and a domain (not on BlogSpot or WordPress.com). Though free is good, nothing beats a good impression that you are willing to invest in your own virtual/online image.  (CHUVA – check!)
• Your first online credit card purchase was your own domain and you now have close to half a dozen other domains. You also have a backup credit card, just in case the other one exceeds its limit.  (CHUVA – half-check!)
• You have at least two of these accounts — Paypal, Xoom, StormPay, Ikobo and eGold. (CHUVA – check!)
• You’re not concerned to publish your complete name, address, phone number and email on your website as you know transparency is everything online. (CHUVA – check!)
• You consult Google and read forums first before shooting an email to a friend asking for help. Yes, Google is your best friend.  (CHUVA – check!)
• You have more than one blog/websites, and they’re more or less niche blogs/sites. And you don’t go crazy with Blogger (see #1).  (CHUVA – double double check!)
• You know that there is more to online business other than the advertising model.  (CHUVA – check!)
• You have more connections in LinkedIn than in Friendster. (CHUVA – no check!)
• You’ve maxed out your Yahoo Messenger’s 300 contact list limit. (CHUVA – no check!)
• You’re not ashamed to tell your first client that your laptop IS your office.  (CHUVA – no check!)

If you scored at least 7 out of 10, you *might* be on your way to become a netrepreneur.

P.S.
Don’t take this too seriously. Just for fun.

Courtesy of : yugatech.com

 SO SISTAHS!!!  ARE YOU A NETREPRENEUR!!!!!!!!

Maybe they both stopped looking for V. Direct from the press – - Piolo & Sam – - Gay?

I don’t think I was the only one who celebrated Valentines yesterday.  To confirm Reyna’s post on his blog February 7th , I just received this email.. I think it was photo-shopped but just for the fun of it, I am posting it here.  Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby.. how sweet!!

If ever the rumor is true, I think they make a great couple, GAY, STRAIGHT or WHATEVS!    Ang sweet nila DEBA???

 

When you stop looking for Mr. or Mrs. V, Valentine that is.

I remember the days when I always said that prayer or made that wish for a Valentine. A wish for someone to spend your ‘special day’ with. A prayer for someone who will give you a kiss, a hug, a smile. Someone to listen to what you have to say, when nobody else will. Someone who looks at you and could see nothing but the best in you, the beauty in you. Year after year I will make that wish. The Valentine never came.

Then, after 10 years – right at the moment that I let go – the instant that I said, ‘It doesn’t matter’, my knight appeared. It happened at the most unexpected moment in my life. I wasn’t ready for it. That was three and a half years ago. We are still together today.

I tried to make logic out of what happened. How and why did it play out that way? I kept trying to find a way to understand. One night, as I was sitting alone at home I thought, ‘I know why!!’ V came at a point in my life when finding a Valentine didn’t occupy my daily thought. I was ready to enjoy ‘me’. I had learned how to be happy – without V. I was content and I was ready to enjoy life, even if it is just ‘me’. It was that which made the difference. My knight saw me as one who no longer relied on ‘someone else’ to experience LIFE! I didn’t project a person who will sit at home, wait by the phone, sulking, and waiting for V to call or write. I didn’t care what V was doing, what V was watching, and why V even mattered. This time, I’m going to be V!!! I thought to myself, I am important too.

I was coming home today, after long hours at work and late nights of blogging. I was tired, I was hungry, and I was ready to eat my dinner and sleep. As I drove to park at the lot, my headlights lit up the door to my house. There was a box sitting by the door. Instantly I knew. My knight sent me a bouquet of flowers fresh from Holland. I ran, took the box in and opened it. Inside the box lay two dozen red roses!!! All because, I stopped looking for V, and V has found me. I LOVE YOU POOH!!

Isn’t this beautiful!! HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY EVERYONE!!!

 

Dedication

May pahabol pa – - -

I received this today… Junior’s World Famous Cheesecake… ang payat ko daw kasi eh.

 

Tithing. 10 percent of your gross or net income?

When I was back home in Manila, I became a member of the Catholic Charismatic movement in Muntinlupa. It was a great experience. From all the bible readings and such, I was able to take away one precious thing, that to this day I still adhere to.

I was very young when my parents left for the States. I was only in sixth grade then. In high school, I was given a weekly allowance to manage for the week. This is when I heard about tithing. We had a great pastor then that told us, ‘Nowhere in the bible are we allowed to challenge God. Even at the time that the devil was tempting Jesus in the desert to turn the stone into bread, he was told – Thou shalt not test the Lord your God.’ He continued to say, ‘There is only one place in the entire Big Book that we are allowed to challenge God, and that is in the book of Malachi.’

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Blogging one oh two! Let’s talk about money some more…

 

It was February 6th when I noticed a big jump on my adcents. That was the time I posted Blogging 101 – Making Money on your Blog. Thanks to all the visitors out there who aren’t tired of me yet. I try to keep the blog posts -fresh, and content – interesting to say the least.

Well, it has only been five days since I posted my ‘shocking adcents’ discovery. Guess what?! I am here to inspire you. We are not talking millions here guys. We are not even talking thousands. Well, maybe hundreds. But, I am telling you – there is money to be made in blogging.

As of today, from the new visitors and faithful out there who visits this blog regularly – - I would say, the earnings have jumped from a total of $6.43 on 2/6 to a whopping total of $28.33 today 2/11!!!!!!!!!! That is over 400 percent increase in total during the last five days!

Now, just imagine the possibilities. Just say that the viewership increases by 30 percent. You do the math!

Now people, it’s time to get excited… The time to get started is now.

ENOUGH SAID RIGHT?

“GATHER YE ROSEBUDS WHILE YE MAY!”

Juuusstinnnn!!! Naughty naughty… what was that really?

Posted on the Queen of Media’s site Perezhilton.com was a red-handed shot of Justin Timberlake doing the grove with the backup dancer.. but wait..  what was that?

Judge for yourself.

 

 Pics courtesy of PEREZ HILTON

If you’re gay and you have a dog…

You all know I have a dog – - Simba!  Love him, at times hate him.. but nevertheless, he’s my baby!

The only problem is when I have to travel.  I always have to find a dog sitter (since I am too cheap to pay for a kennel, and kennels are not all that safe anyway).  It’s a blessing that I have great, wonderful, and reliable friends in and around my area who takes care of Simba when I am away.  It also helps to have a boyfriend, who loves dogs! :D

But, what if a dog-sitter will dogsit Simba for free and he looks like this!?  OF COURSE, WITHOUT THE NAIL POLISH, THAT WOULD TOTALLY RUIN THE FANTASY. 

 

Protected: The Projects: Makeover Results, Rising Star Ghiahna et al!

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Protected: The Result – - Make Over Event!!! February 9, 2007

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Just can’t get enough of KC Concepcion

By Dolly Anne Carvajal
Inquirer
Last updated 05:27am (Mla time) 02/08/2007

SHARON CUNETA seemed irked when she was interviewed by “S-Files” regarding the picture of her daughter KC Concepcion and TV director Lino Cayetano (taken in Hong Kong) that came out in this column last week.

I respect Mega’s feelings. As a mom, I’m also protective of my kids. But since my son IC is in show biz, I have accepted the fact that it’s beyond my control when people take pictures of him with a date and it lands in the papers. KC may not be actively in show biz but she’s a celebrity, like it or not, with all those commercials she has made.
When a reader e-mailed me the picture, I got excited and wanted to share it with everybody. Nobody can seem to get enough of KC. She really is hot property.

The same reader (Kace Cayetano—pure coincidence) have not sent me these pictures of KC and Lino taken at the wedding reception for friends of KC’s last Jan. 13 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. It is my only hope that Shawie won’t take it against me. Just as she picks out wonderful songs for her repertoire, I also have to choose interesting subjects/pics for my column.

I am eternally grateful to Sha for all the help she selflessly extended during my ma’s ICU days and my darkest hours. But that’s a different story. Knowing Sha, she wouldn’t want to make a big fuss about that.

Let’s talk money for a little bit…Making Money – Blogging 101

I was reading this article after I joined Blogflux. I became a bit excited to find out that there are lots of bloggers out there today that makes the most of blogging by using their blogs to earn an income. I was a bit skeptical at first not knowing what to expect. But I’ve heard about this Google adsense income a long time ago from my co-worker who started augustfather.com. The site is no longer in existence today but during that time, he was giving me all the ins and outs in getting a blog started and having Google adsense work for him!

His plan was to start one blog and use adsense and affiliate sales to earn income. From there, he planned to create more blogs about different topics using publications that are in the public domain such as newspapers and books already written by known authors (with a caveat of course, by giving credit to the source) and publish them on his blog. August Father was born of his passion being a first-time dad. There were no manuals, or warranty that came when his son was born. He had to learn how to discipline his child and yet instill in him that discipline is for his own good, and found a way not to take away his child’s respect and love for him. This became his inspiration to start a blog for other first-time dads out there. He did have quite a few subscribers to his blog!

Whether it worked or it didn’t work, I didn’t have the chance to find out. He has since left our company and as I understand, works from home today. So, it must have worked and I was inspired!

The next credit goes to Reyna Elena and Bryan Boy for inspiring me to start my own blog. I knew how to create a website, and from the early days – and I knew it was very time-consuming. I figured, I barely have enough time now – how can I have time to write a blog after blog after blog! But I tell you, with Reyna’s coaching, it has been very easy! You just have to read a lot of instructions, a lot of patience and a little common sense and you will be on your way!

And since I started my blog a few weeks ago, my adsense might as well have been called adcents because I had nothing there but .41 cents. But today, the ‘clicker-elves’ must be hard at work! I earned six whopping dollars in one day. Just imagine six dollars per blog. If I had 10 blogs, it would have earned me sixty dollars! How about 20 blogs? Hmm it could be very profitable but — yes, the proverbial ‘BUT’~! But, who can manage 20 blogs? Or 10 blogs? Come on!

So, I stumbled upon this site that gives you lessons on how to make the most from your blog! There are tons of useful ideas such as Azoogleads, Vibrant Media IntelliTXT, Direct Buys, Linkshare and lots lots more that you can use to optimize income on your blog! You just have to be patient.

When Reyna told me that with the influx of 20,000 visits from nurses all over the globe, during the exam results release made her five dollars – I was a bit disappointed. That amount of volume should have generated hermore than just five bucks. However, recently, I’m sure she’s reported to be making a few bucks more. Thanks to the loyal visits of fans and friends of Reyna.

Okay. I know you’ve been waiting for my source. I am speaking about John Chow. He is one of the people who make a good income from blogging. He will teach you how Affiliate sales work, how to use IntelliTXT, and all the ins & outs of making money out of your blog. He gets approximately 200,000 views per month. He has a lot of direct sales (ads on his site from Dell to Canon to Sony etc.) but a lot of affiliate sales as well.

For example, he says that an affiliate sale is one that is CPA-based (cost per action – no sign up or purchase from advertiser, no money to blogger) and a lot of bloggers shy away from them. But according to John, if done right, affiliate sales could outdo his adsense income. Lots and lots more to read from his site. So if you are interested, you may visit his blog at Making Money From A Blog.

Don’t hesitate to start your own blog now before the wave is gone. Set your goal and try to achieve it. Once achieved, outdo it! More power to bloggers out there. There is money to be made after all! With this posting, I hope to change my template to another one which is more concentrated on ads and affiliates. It may take me some time before I can make everything work, but hey – - $6.43 whopping dollars is my inspiration. THE KEYWORD IS ‘OPTIMIZE’!!

P.S. – Come back on Saturday for the Video Release of our friend ‘Gianna’. Performing ‘Jennifer Hudson’s – And I Am Telling You at 12th Air Command in Philadelphia. It will be a hoot!

It’s friggin’ cold!!! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

I don’t know about y’all. I’m not complaining because we really had a fair winter so far. It was like spring in January, and most days I could even wear shorts.

But, yesterday and today – it feels like Siberia moved next door!!! It is so friggin’ cold here in our part of the world. If you look closely – it ‘feels like’ 2 degrees!! The wind is blowing like crazy! It’s look like it’s not even going to get any better in the next few days.

I just hope y’all are warm and toasty – with the fire going and having some hot chocolate or chicken soup. I am still off to class tonight until 11:00 p.m. so I guess I have to bundle up.

No worries – - just a few more weeks of this, and we should be on our way to spring. I heard that the ground hog didn’t see his shadow, so early spring is what I’m counting on. I have bulbs ready to be planted!!

Image Source: http://weather.com

Newsflash!!! The pradyek revelation is this Friday (2/9 US Time)!! – - MUNDO, GKNB???

The wait will soon be over.  Chuva Chienes – Makeover Edition will come to an end this Friday.  You will be pleased about the results.  It is something that we didn’t expect ourselves.  IT WAS BETTER!!   I will reveal who our subject is, including the AFTER picture.

And – - on Saturday, the video for the ‘Jennifer Hudson – And I am Telling You’ rendition by our second subject will be posted here as well! 

Exciting week huh!  Kapit kayong lahat sa seats ninyo – oOO-[][][]-OOo – this will be a day to remember.  WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember – heto siya!!

Warning Pinoy Movie Lovers – Do not subscribe to www.filipinomovierentals.com!

I am usually easy to please.  I try to be fair in all my dealings, be it personal or professional.  I normally shell out money if I believe I am in the wrong.  This past summer, I was late for a party and I know that I was speeding way above the speed limit.  When I got caught, I was fined $400.00 USD – no need to contest, I paid the fine.  I knew I was in the wrong and I paid the price.

However, when you know that you are being ripped off – you just don’t sit back and say, ‘Go ahead, rip me off and I will gladly pay you!’.  I hate it when people rip me off.  Just like I said, I try to be fair in all my dealings and I expect other people to be fair with me.

I am Filipino as you may already know.  I love Filipino movies, and most specially the classic ones in Black and White. The movies they show on Sine Siete on Channel 7 in the afternoons when I was a child growing up in the Philippines.  I miss the Gloria Romero flicks and the Chichay comedies.  I have been looking for the time when these movies will be released on DVD.  I keep checking www.sampaguitapictures.com to make sure that I be the first one to own such classics.  I constantly search the internet to find out if the films have been released on DVD.

Well, alas!  I found a website similar to Netflix  but it primarily marketed Filipino Movies.  Their advertising listed the Black and White movies I had been wanting to have!!  So, with no question, I signed up for $19.95 a month.  I told myself, it will be worth it!  I wanted to reminisce and remember my childhood by watching the films I used to adore.    They listed Hong Kong Holiday, Bilanggong Birhen, etc etc.  I immediately placed them on my queue just like in Netflix but since they didn’t have enough at that time (Only four movies are classics), I put other Tagalog movies on my queue as well.  The Piolo Pascual movies, and the Sharonian fan that I am, the classics of the megastar as well.

Week by week, I will receive the recent movies instead of the Black and White movies eventhough those classic films are first in the order of my queue and my queue will get re-ordered to put the black and white films at the bottom.  I let it go for a couple of months and realized, I never really received any of the black and white films.  I contacted them and I was advised that it is because the movies haven’t been released yet.  They gave me a couple of dates that made me think that maybe I can still wait.  After a couple of months, the same thing – no black and white movies.

First, it was false advertising.    Cancellation is not all that easy.  There are no phone numbers on the website to speak to a human being.    Next, it takes them a week to mail you one DVD, which in two months, I was only able to rent  6 DVD’s.  I figured out that they only have one hub in Texas where all the DVD’s come from.  It takes 4-5 days for their DVD’s to reach me – another 4-5 days for the return of the DVD’s to reach them.

So, I decided to cancel.  At the time I cancelled, I had movies in my queue that they shipped to me.  Two of them in fact.  Their website states, you must return  outstanding DVD’s within seven (7) days otherwise you will be charged $29.95 per DVD.  Okay, I agree with that policy in the hopes that they understand shipping from Texas to New Jersey takes 4-5 days (excluding weekends) so I thought, the most recently shipped DVD’s would be given the chance to be returned after seven days!  As soon as I received the DVD’s I promptly returned them the next business day – which was a Monday.  They only received one DVD and I was told that another DVD outstanding will cost me $29.95.

I sent them an email (again, no phone number to reach anyone) stating that both DVD’s were returned at the same time and that they should allow time for it to reach them.    The second DVD was received about three days later.  What did they do?  They charged my credit card.  $29.95 is not all that much but unreasonable.  They shipped the DVD back to me stating that I now own the DVD.  I tried to fight it but it was considered my fault for not following their policy as stated on their website.  How could they have expected me to return the DVD’s within seven days when they shipped two DVD’s to me the day that I cancelled?  By the time it reached me, it  was already 4-5 days in the  policy -  then, they expected it to be received back in 2 days and if not, charge me??

I only found a number for the company, MEGASTAR ENTERTAINMENT, after I reported them to the Better Business Bureau which didn’t help much either because BBB in Dallas, didn’t follow up as well and just closed my complaint with a note ‘RESOLVED’.  How could they  consider it resolved?  Until now, no response from my follow up emails to BBB.  Oh well!  I guess lesson learned.

To make the long story short,  STAY AWAY  from www.filipinomovierentals.com!

If you want Filipino movies – classic  or new ones – - rent it on Netflix!  They have it – - they have excellent customer service and serves from multiple locations that can get their DVD’s delivered to you in 1 day!!  If you value your money, go NETFLIX!

Gay Straight Guys – - How true! =)

Thanks to Mam Reyna – I didn’t know the video wasn’t working so I am reposting it!! Thanks Ross!! I think this is hilarious! Woohoo!! I see this happening all the time… actually last time we went out, there was this guy who claims to be straight and a cop too – - but didn’t mind kissing a guy. They are all over the place. If you want to see a movie where the gay guy is transported back to a world where everyone is gay, see this  heartwarming movie – watch ‘Almost Normal’. Visit www.rainbowreels.com and search for ‘Almost Normal’ and view the trailer.

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxdncxro-9s]