Your Sub? Standard Year End Post

They say blogging is dead. Ang whose fault is that blogger? 

Whatevs. I think I considered this more of an exercise. This was writing easy, ephemeral, safe topics.  Certainly not as a means to earn money.  If anything, this blog has enabled me to see how my writing has changed, how I have changed over the years. I am more cynical than ever, that's for sure.

There's a reason why I haven't published much this year: my recent posts have not been appearing on google search. It matters to me, after all I don't do pwede na and I'm sure some socmed people out there notice. My writing may be average but you know what, my works have been copy pasted/lifted without consent, without credit and passed off as someone else's own. That should say something. This is why I want my work in the search engines: so that if I get copied, there's searchable proof that I was copied.  I mean, aside from being curious as to how Blogger differs from Wordpress, I switched to the former because you can disable text select and copy in it. 

But of course, that has not stopped content creators copiers from pilfering. There's even one youtuber who was able to amass thousands of views (and followers) after copying my post. You will notice that it is very different from her other vids. Biglang naging scientific approach nya dun. If you look at her other vids, not a shred of science in them. All but a handful of her post do not even get above 50 hits.

I also know when a brand is doing an online campaign. Old posts of mine about their product/s get lots of hits. Didn't notice it at first. Until I would suddenly see several blogs, Youtube, Facebook or Instagram accounts talking about said product/s days after the spike. Also when someone's holding an online contest. There's sudden interest in my posts on life during the pandemic every time that Southeast Asia Blogging Project is on. Sheesh.

So am I ending 2021 this bitter? Don't know. It's really a sucky year. 

Almost Done: San San Creamy Matte Lip Stain, Hydrating Color Dew, Cheek Blusher Review

During the early months of this pandemic, salons, theaters, dining establishments, and physical stores that sell non-essential goods were closed. Make-up and beauty products were being sold at really low prices online. I bet a lot didn't see any reason to wear make up/put on perfume considering only essential travel was allowed. Plus the uncertain economic climate made people want to curb spending.

Even when restrictions began slowly easing, masks were still in place. The only times that felt reasonable to wear lip products (aside from a lip balm) were during gmeets/zoom/vid calls when we are required to turn on the screens.  

So it's only now that I'm almost through with these products. 

Hand Cream Battle: Marks and Spencer Peach and Almond Hand Cream vs The Face Shop Olive Moisture Shine Hand Butter

Especially now that we're in a pandemic and everyone needs to keep washing their hands, hand creams, because of their scent and hydrating ability, have become common office gifts during Christmas. Along with hand sanitizers. Although really, if it's just moisturization/hydration we want to impart, then we'd do away with the fancy and just gift Nivea blue tins.  But we like the fancy right? Packaging, scent, consistency and all that.