Happy New Year!

As our tricycle (a motorcycle that has a sidecar; hence the name) roars through the silent and holy night of Christmas eve, I noticed that there were only few houses that put on Christmas decorations; last year was definitely brighter. All right, all right. I understand. Of course who would leave the lights and parols switched on considering the cost of electricity nowadays? Misgiving forgiven.

Come New Year.

There were only two houses that lit firecrackers in our street. It struck me as totally puzzling as almost everyone in our neighborhood goes out of their houses at around 11pm to make all sorts of noise. Tonight was different. It's as if this ceremonious event is a factor of money. Yeah, life has been more difficult these days. Many people say that. But let me ask you: Is the God of yesterday the same God today? If God has been faithful to give us bounty in excess that we could save in the past years, has He wavered this year, and will He in the years ahead? Of course not.

Christmas and New Year celebrations are feasts to testify to everyone that we have been sustained for a year by our loving God. Let's not forsee our conditions to be worse this year as what economists have predicted. God's grace is everlasting.

Thank you Lord for the year 2008.
God bless everyone.

The Business of Boxing

Christmas came early to the Filipino people.

Pacquiao won the boxing match dubbed as the "Dream Battle". But was it really a dream battle? Did it live up to the hype? I guess it didn't. The Pacquiao-Marquez and Pacman-Barrera matches sent an even more vicarious heat from the ring. But I congratulate the Golden Boy for solidifying his goldeness by raking in cash in his 'last' fight.

Earn Money by Clicking

Perhaps some of you know that I'm a blogger--who earns. But blogging requires 2 hours or so of my time everyday for maintenance. Sometimes it just fills up my hands too much so I looked for alternative ways of earning online. And trust me, the net is such a goldmine! Last month, I dug a very good website that lets anyone earn just by clicking; .005USD/click. That means 10USD/monthly per 70clicks/day. You just need to visit certain ads (they're actually websites), and voila!

Things to do:
1) Sign up for AlertPay.com. This is where TakeTheGlobe. com will transfer your earned cash.
2) Follow this link and sign up for TakeTheGlobe.

Feel free to ask me if you have questions.

She Sells Sea Shells

iraqi subtitles - Watch more Free Videos

I've actually pondered about the political repercussions of subtitling before.
Watch this movie and you'll understand.

Vogue

There are only a few out-of-the-closet homosexuals in Korea. Even without thinking deep or going pedantic, you can basically understand why:

1) The gay gene is neutralized by the military service. Communal living among the same sex can sublimate "homosexual feelings" to a kind of affinity akin to brotherhood.

2) The existence of jjimjilbang (public bath house) obviates the curiosity of both sexes towards how male and female physique could look like. Familiarity breeds disinterest.

3) Family-oriented society gives primacy on procreation. There is a pressure to marry.

4) Movies with homosexual themes abound. The repressed and sanctioned homosexual tendencies of the Korean society are effectively projected towards soft media such as through movies. These tendencies can henceforth be enjoyed and/or explored momentarily without the attendant stigmas.

Talking of gay movies! But casting Jo In Sung and Jo Jin Mo are totally off the record!

ShopWiki, Shopwise

South Korea has very well-established online shopping websites. I enjoyed the ease of having to choose clothing items at the comfort of my swivel chair; I really didn’t enjoy going out during the peak of summer and extremes of winter. My orders arrive usually in three days. Payment is also secure. When I went back to my country, online shopping was definitely something that I really missed. Good thing shopwiki helped sustain my conspicuously consumptive shopping behavior. I enjoy buying clothes online because they could be unique in your own country. The design is one of a kind and so your clothes, if not you yourself, stand out. Shoes are also good to shop online. These days, I’m into Crocs. I like the fact that it’s ergonomic. Shopwiki provides a good selection of this brand. I recently bought a pair in one of the malls out here only to find out that there had already been a lot of newer arrivals online. I’m also planning to buy sunglasses. They can basically be worn here in the Philippines most of the time as we only have two seasons: summer and summer. At Shopwiki, you can easily browse for sunglasses by brand, price, and function.

Seasons' Sunglasses

This November was a very busy month for me. I applied for a scholarship (Monbukagakusho) for my masters; the workplace has been very boring lately and continuing my studies would be the best anti-dumbing cerebral cream. So yeah, I had to prepare a lot of requirements, including a thesis proposal, something which I always find as a source of extreme anxiety. I had to go to the embassy on a one hot Tuesday, and the sun was at it’s maddest on that day. Good thing that I never fail to bring my designer sunglasses my father gave me. It was a black tinted Anarchy visors, square with round edges, full frame, with a very class curve. I always wear it when I go out because I think (and my Mom also thinks, yeah) that it does its job well. Not only are sunglasses meant for shielding your eyes from sunlight and harmful UV rays, but they are also accessories that help highlight that which deserves to be highlighted. In my case, it’s my nose. It’s not that really tall, but the shape is all right; it’s there. My Anarchy visors also compliment my oval face as it tones down its oval-ness, making it appear more chiseled, broader, and mannequinesque. My sister also wears women's sunglasses. Hers is a pink Chanel with a plastic frame. The lenses perfectly match the bangs and curls of her hair. Her Chanel makes her look more sophisticated and chic. Sunglasses are perfect gifts for Christmas, especially in a country where the sun seldom sets, literally. Ray Ban sunglasses are the most popular visors in the Philippines and you can see a lot of imitations here and there. Some are good imitations but I’m not just sure about the quality. Who would like to wear sunglasses that work like binoculars? If you are looking for designer sunglasses, visit Sunglasses Online. Delivery is gratis, and they deliver everyday. The website has the following brands: Anarchy, Angel, Arnette, Body Glove, Dolce and Gabbana, Gargoyles Sunglasses, Ray Ban, and Vogue. You can easily browse the website for visors just by clicking on the search filters at the left hand side of the site. Browse for designer sunglasses, polarized sunglasses, Aviator, Men’s, Women’s, Performance sunglasses, oversize sunglasses (we call them “bee” visors), and wrap around sunglasses. You arrow your search by price range.

Anti-bettyful Movement

I and my friends launched the anti-Betty movement this year. We realized that good employment opportunities come with good looks and good grades. We have the latter already. Haha. So we decided that before this year ends, we’d go to season sales in malls and splurge our 13th-month pay on fashion items. For eyeglasses, I think holiday glass frames from Zenni Optical would definitely put an end to dreadful Bettyful glasses. The popular online eyeglasses shop boasts a wide array of eye wear. The prices are also very affordable even if you factor in the shipping cost. You can even get $ 8 Complete Rx Eyeglasses from Zenni.

Anyhow, these fresh, green-rimmed glasses would be the perfect treat to freshen up my face this turn of the year. Frame Color Choices: Dark purple on top, Purple at bottom; Black on top, Red at bottom; Dark green on top, Green at bottom.
A medium-small contemporary and fashionable tylish looking full-rim frame.

A Blog has Just Sprouted

I just got my new domain! ^^;
I'd appreciate it if you could link A Break from Monotony on your site.

Beat the Fear of the Blank White Page

I was a student before. I think college life was the most challenging and difficult. Sometimes the professors are just plain sadists that they think that it is only their subject that students attend. Oftentimes I had to skip sleeping, and having sleepless nights was the norm rather than the exception when I was attending college. There are paper works to do everywhere! There are assignments here and there. Sometimes I just can not help but wish that there would be an extra 8th day for rest. Why did God only created seven days? Well, I guess He have his reasons. When I was surfing the net, I stumbled upon this website which offers uber busy students the chance to be lazy at times. Masterpapers.com offers compare and contrast essay, classification Essay, dissertation research proposal, and much more. Though I am not really sure that these kinds of website are really, you know, helpful in general terms, but I guess we all have to answer our emergencies really decidedly fast at times. It is inevitable that a crisis would not hit a typical college student so we need a little help here and there. Yeah, writing a thesis proposal has been the most difficult. I really do not want to go back to those times. There was the pressure, the pimples, the zits, and everything that could sprout like mushrooms on my face. It was a general plague area, and yeah, not to mention the sleepless and restless nights of conceptualizing for the research paper writing and for the actual research on a particular site. There were also surveys. But I do not really want to settle for less. Having a bachelor’s degree would not cut in this very competitive world so I think I am pursuing my masters degree. There is a general worry though that some knowledge has been forgotten during the hiatus period from undergraduate moments to graduate studies. The good thing is if you are unsure of what to do for your master’s dissertation, you can always consult Masterpapers.com which offers us the chance to refresh our skills on writing quality research papers. It also can aid in finding the right topic for you. It has a list of good and available research paper topics, tips and general rules of writing, and of course a sample research paper. And if the push comes to a shove, though I really don’t encourage it, you can buy a custom-made paper from masterpapers.

Home-based Part-time Job

YehBefore I started working, I never had the slightest idea of how 10 bucks could be that difficult to earn. Every hour is so tiring, repetitive (to a certain extent), if not at all boring. Of course this is specialization. My job is very much focused on doing technical inspection that I really don’t anticipate something new everyday. My salary is ‘ayt’ too; I could use more. I started looking for home-based freelance writing, and I think I have found the perfect supplement. Academia-research.com offers everyone with at least more-than-high-school-level writing proficiency freelance writing opportunities, which can make the concept of “savings” possible in today’s expensive living standards. I am really enticed to join Academia-research.com team because they offer their writers the freedom to choose the topic on which they’re adept about. Writers can also choose the time when they’re most free to take on a task, i.e., tasks are not assigned; they’re grabbed. Compensation is also commensurate to the quality of work that a writer produces. There are also no strict and unreasonable demands form the writers except of course professionalism, compliance to customer’s description, and of course production of non-plagiarized work. I know a lot of people who need extra money to propel their selves monthly. I think this job for writers should do the trick.

When Silver Becomes not Second Best

I cannot go public without wearing an accessory or jewellery. I just wear a plain silver thumb ring and a leather necklace. The bold blackness of the leather matches the sheen of the silver; they’re my usual accessories. My sister acquired a bit of my fashion sense, too. She is turning 13 this month and she’s asking me to buy her a thin silver necklace that has an accompanying “vampire” pendant. I guess she has read too much S. Meyer. Anyhow, since I do online shopping my sister and I decided to scour the internet for a vamp necklace. We stumbled on KeySilver.com, website that sells sterling silver jewellery. I thought my sister is not going to be interested in the designs this online jewellery shop sells, but this particular item caught her eye (she is also a Little Mermaid fan) and asked me to buy as well. She really has a sense of good timing as it’s nearing Christmas, and there the 13th month pay is also as good as being encashed. Yeah, I’ll be ordering this silver necklace with a heart and purple dangling starfish. It’ll make her birthday special. For my mom, I think I’d get her silver bangles. She hasn’t been to this website yet. I’m going to refer this to her. Sterling silver bracelets sound good to my dad as well. I might buy for him a thick silver chain with a rugged design. I am pretty confident about the quality of the silver jewelleries here. Aside from being established for already 2 years, KeySilver.com only sells silver jewelleries that have a .925 stamp. Customers from the UK are also rest assured to receive quality customer care service, enjoy on-time shipping and return policies. The prices are affordable without a tradeoff in terms of quality.

Clipper Cuts haven't Looked this Great!

I was never fussy about my hairstyle when I was in college. Mine was just plain trimmed everytime it grows disheveled. I trust my barber and his clipper cutting techniques. I might not have had ‘style’ before, but neither was my non-style bad, thanks to my barber. When I stayed in Korea, I felt a bit apprehensive to sit on a barber shop chair. I was afraid that the barber might ruin my status-quo hairdo. But yeah, I don’t have any other choice, do I? So before my hair gets mistaken for an avian nest, I went to the barber shop near my dormitory. I didn’t expect that the barber would still perform clipper cutting as my friend told me that Koreans use different hair cutting tools. There are, as it turned out, two kinds of barber shops in Korea: for Ajjoshis (middle-aged men) and for the trendier generation; I’m on the crossroads. But I really think that the ajjoshi barber didn’t massacre my hair. In fact, I liked it. There was style; my hair looks like it was crafted by something else. I also learned that in Korea you can’t just open up your own salon without studying the art of hair cutting, or at least having undergone training through clipper cutting videos or taking short courses on hair cutting. You could actually study clipper-cutting at home!

The Ring

Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger?

There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.

* Thumb represents your parents
* Second (Index) finger represents your siblings
* Middle finger represents yourself
* Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
* Last (Little) finger represents your children

Do this:

* Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back.
* Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to tip (as shown in the figure below):

• Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)… they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong.
• Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings)… they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own famlies and will have their own separate lives.
• Join the Index fingers again and separate your Little fingers (representing your children)… they will open too, because the children will also get married and settle down on their own someday.
• Finally, join your Little Fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised that you just CANNOT… because Husband and Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!

from My Rocking Cradle

Quality Images Come for Free

Finding appropriate photos for your blog post sometimes is tasking. You end up settling for a less, something from Google. Good thing that there are some websites that offer free images for bloggers. One such website is acobox. Sign up on this website and you don’t need to tire your eyes scouring for high quality online photos. Acobox also offers bloggers free hosting of photos, that is, all the photos are directly downloaded from Acobox and bloggers won’t have the need to upload photos to the limited hosting space of blogspot. What I really like about this service is that it automatically generates the code for a picture and all you need to do is just copy and paste along with your text entry. The images are very vivid and professionally snapped. You also have the option to resize the image from 100-500 pixels. Searching the website is also very easy. You can either think of a keyword and use the search box, or you can use the search filters to narrow down your search: landscapes, architecture, urban, panorama, monochrome, animals, plants, culture and entertainment, drawings and maps, engineering and technology, etc. Try Acobox and enjoy free blog images.

Glasses Need Not be Expensive

Fashionable sunglasses need not be expensive. Zenni Optical offer a variety of eyewear ranging from visors, single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic) lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and, progressive lens. What’s good about these glasses is the frame. I have always been a color coordinated person since I knew how to don myself with clothes that won’t take the biscuit. Visit the website and choose from a wide variety of affordable yet quality variable dimension frames from zenni. Zenni means great eyeglasses for less. And yeah, if you’ve been a couch potato these days, Zenni Optical was on FOX news! Try out great glasses from Zenni Optical.

Prepare for the Glare

The sun never sets in the Philippines, literally, and wearing sunglasses is the way to dress to kill. I have 8 pairs of sunglasses and two of them have been bought online. I was really pleased to receive my visors that perfectly accent my chiseled face. If you are looking for a good online shop to buy glasses, try browsing through the incredible stylish new frames from Zenni. I am amazed at the variety of frames and designs of Zenni glasses that ordering just a pair wouldn’t be enough, especially that the price is unforbidding. You can even get a Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses. And if you have been watching TV these days, Zenni Optical was on FOX news!

Visionary Meets Reality

“We need visionaries if our country is to prosper”. These words are indelibly printed on my head. My professor was a visionary himself, and he doesn’t just content himself with intangible visions. He give them body. He transforms them into reality. I’m playing my cards well so my visions, as young as I am, will not be just a wisp of smoke that can dissipate anytime. I mentioned in my other entry that I read biographies. This time, I came across a brief life story of Mr. Jim Piccolo. He was the founder of Nouveau Riche University. Establishing a institute for higher learning is a herculean task, something that’s not easily achieved nor maintained. It requires ability, a vision bordering on the concrete, and a person of integrity. Jim Piccolo’s background has enabled him to open up Nouveau Riche, a real estate investment college. He brings with him more than twenty years of extensive experience in the business field, enabling him to unlock the knowledge on business how-to’s. He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of a privately held multi-national manufacturing company, and later became the head of a publicly traded international marketing company based in the US. Mr. Jim Piccolo’s adeptness at dealing with international business concerns cannot be underestimated as his teacher was Experience. He sums up his business principle succinctly: "To succeed", he says, "you must build relationships and recognize that you create your own success when you create success for others."

Scam or Not?

I love reading biographies. The most recent one I’ve read was Margaret Thatcher’s. Being a social science major, I found the Iron Lady’s statecraft something that is unparalleled in modern politics. I dreamt of attending Oxford but of course the barriers are more real than what I could have imagined. I contented myself reading her life stories and the books she penned herself. For me, this is the best way, albeit a consolatory one, to learn from the masters. I’m her protégée from the distance. Haha. Good for you if you are in Phoenix AZ, US, you can grab the opportunity to learn real estate investments from the pros. Nouveau Riche University has an battalion of reputable real estate instructors who can bring you from the level of reading biographies to real-time, face to face, interactive learning. There is no Nouveau Riche scam when your teachers have diplomas from equally reputable universities. Visit Nouveau Riche’s website and know first hand why Nouveau Riche scam is a benevolent scam, whatever that means. You can read from the university’s website success stories of its alumni and alumnae, and why you have to join Nouveau Riche scam. You can also find a wealth of resources and information about the university by visiting Nouveau Riche’s official blog. Take your pick from more than 30 real estate investing and business related classes: short sales, wholesaling, fix & flip, business financial management, foreclosures, retirement plan investing, buying out of state deals and more.

Sight of Affluence

A website layout tells more about site than any homepage graphics or introductory remarks. I especially like Nouveau Riche’s innovative web layout where organization, professionalism, vivacity, and success are reflected. More than just being an eye candy to visitors, the real estate university’s website provides a clutter-free presentation of what the institution can offer. Nouveau Riche offers cutting-edge curriculum for students having a penchant for real estate investment. The university ensures that its graduates will have the best brew of real estate astuteness by mixing theory, concepts, hands-on, practicality, and real life experiences in classroom instruction. Nouveau Riche is also offering extensive workshops for people having the same goals and interests. Participants can take part in case studies, classroom discussion and role-plays that can aid better information retention. The learning approach in Nouveau Riche is non dogmatic, far from traditional, and like its website layout, innovative. If you feel that you have a knack for real estate investment, or even if you don’t feel like you have the “it”, you can try to visit the university’s site and explore the things it offers for the wealthy people in the making. Experience professional facilitation from expert instructors in Nouveau Riche.

Graduate Riche

I was once asked by my teacher: “Why do you study?” I said that I wanted to become a good person. “Is that all?” she followed up. I said, “Well, I guess I have to get a good job after school. I have to get wealthy fast.” And so it occurred to me more clearly that choosing the university and selecting your major are critical foundations of my future. I played my cards well and I was admitted in the premier university in my country. It is undeniable that the name of the university you graduated from becomes more existentially important than your name is. So choose your university well. If you are looking for an excellent real estate investment college, consider applying at Nouveau Riche. This university has recently been featured in the January 2008 Issue of Your Business at Home Magazine. Of all the bids received for the month of January, Nouveau Riche was selected for its potential to hone future real estate experts. Students at Nouveau Riche learn to earn. The university weds practicality and theory in its curriculum, making it different from traditional and pedagogical real estate universities of old. Nouveau Riche has also produced exemplary alumni and alumnae in the field of real estate investment.

3.1416

The Life of Pi. My friend had me to guess what the title means. I told her that it's about infinity, the vastness of life: religion, family, unfathomable love and bottomless despair, boundless horizon of hope and the end of things that is death. I haven't gone far yet in the book but I it was really a pleasure to read. I cannot retell the story here not because I don't want to give out spoilers, but the way it was written prevents the story per se from being retold. You have no other choice but to get a copy and read through the unlimitedly meaningful digits of π.

See it from the Nexus

It is sometimes very tasking to keep track of your credit report. I personally find it troublesome. But of course it would be more troublesome if I would sloth on keeping a vigilant eye on my credit history. My identity could have been stolen without my knowing. Bogus transactions could have been made with my credit account. In light of this serious threat, I strongly suggest that credit card users avail of free credit report. It would not only safeguard us from unwanted discrepancies in our spending but it is also a very potent tool to improve credit scores. And we know that credit score is a really important gauge for borrowing money from lending firms. It is the first thing that is considered before you can apply for a loan, a mortgage, or a charge account. Credit experts recommend checking your credit report at least once a year. Anyhow, Free Credit Report online gives everyone the opportunity to improve their credit lives. Free Credit Report provides complete, comprehensive, and accurate reviews of your credit history. The free credit report includes reviews from the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. With these three reports juxtaposed, you’ll be able to find out easily what goes wrong when things have gone wrong. You could prevent worse things from happening by paying close attention to your credit reports. Free Credit Report not only offers free credit reports but it also offers good information on credit repair (if your credit life is on the verge of death, so to speak), identity theft, credit card rights, credit card bureaus, frauds, and many more. The site is very easy to navigate. At the top of the page are easy links to the services that you’d want to avail. Click on the “start now” and Free Credit Report will take care of your credit activities.

Dare to Bare?

It was summer, my third month in the Land of Kimchi. I never thought that Korean summer will be much hotter than the usual sunny weather in the Philippines. “Are you going to come with us?”, asked my Korean friend. Today’s weather was terrible. It was the hottest I’ve ever felt in Korea. I had guessed that my Korean friends are taking me to the nearby recreational center where there is a large pool, an ice skating rink, boxing ring, etc. Late did I know that they were taking me to the Jimjilbang. I don’t know what that was before so I just shrugged and obliged. All right jimjilbang, whatever you are, here I come! The place was really nice. The entrance was beautifully landscaped with shrubs, mini fountains, artificial palm trees, pebbles, and ornamented glass windows and doors. It was a distinctly Korean spa. I felt excited because it’s gonna be a total relief from this day’s uber heated weather. “You can take off your clothes, Sir.”, said one of the attendants. I was shocked, baffled, confused…Without ado, my friends started stripping in front of me. I asked them if it’s really necessary, if I could be exempted from total nudity. They asked if I was shy. I told them that I am not…it’s just that I’m not used to being clad-less. Anyhow, I took of the last piece of clothing that is my boxers. Voila! I started to not care after some minutes. They didn’t care. I got used to the feeling of lightness that comes with walking undressed. Anyhow, I started feeling more relaxed and I saw the beauty of the jimjilbang. There were amazing showers and pools and Jacuzzi. Different scents filled there air. There were mint, jasmine, and some other aromas that I can’t recognize, but there were orientally pleasant. We spent 2 hours bathing, scrubbing, relaxing in the Jimjilbang. The shower store sells various scrubs made of both synthetic and natural fiber. I bought a sponge as a remembrance. Today was one hell of an experience that somehow brought me back to the Garden of Eden where there were only Adams. Today was nice, I concluded. I had a very good night’s rest. I thought that I would save money so when I go back to the Philippines, I could purchase shower enclosures online. I know it’s going to be a bit expensive but installments are usually entertained here. I’m also sure that I could even find discount steam showers from the local shop. Relive the jimjilbang moments in my own bathroom--! Jjang!

Billionnaires are Made

Today’s educational institutions should not be disjoint from reality—the reality the job market has become more competitive and volatile. Most students, if it is safe to say, are less geared to acquiring the traditional pedantic knowledge that typical universities are now offering but are more geared to welding their knowledge and education to making big bucks. At Nouveau Riche, this dual need can be met: 1) high quality education that will not let you grope in the world of business and 2) practical and up-to-date skills that will definitely give you a heads up and a total boost to your career path. Many people have benefited from innovation in knowledge. They are the ones who were keen enough to know where the potential for money lies. They are called billionaires, the New Rich. Of course there was the factor of luck, but more than luck, their success is brought about by a confluence of mental astuteness from experience and education. Check out this website for a list of Nouveau Riche. They could inspire to become one, too. It's not about greed. It's about success and knowing how to handle it. Nouveau Riche University can pave the way to success. Don’t let this chance slip by. Don’t let yourself slip by.

And If You Don't...

If You Forget Me

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Pablo Neruda

Asian is for Asians, African is for Africans

African Americans are one of the prettiest voices in the music industry. I can only admire Beyonce whenever she performs; I admire not only her vocal prowess but also how she carries herself. More than her dress, I guess its her hairdo and makeup that strike people all the time. I know from my mom that different skin tones and skin types need different cosmetics. African American makeup will work well for African Americans, cosmetics made for Asian skin will work well with Asian skin.
In my case, the only vanity item that I buy is moisturizer. I apply it on my face every night. I make sure that it’s made for Asian skin so the effect would at least be somehow greater than if it isn’t fine-tuned with my skin’s chemistry.

Cosmetics for Teens and 'Tweens

Everyone these days seems to live up to the media interpretation of glamour. In Korea, the streets have never been more punctuated with people donning fashionable clothes, eccentric hair-dos, and head-turning makeup. Of course Korea has relatively more dispensable income for vanity. They have Skin Food, The Face Shop, Etude, etc. These beauty shops sell cosmetics of all sorts: teen makeup, men’s makeup (pore cover cream), whole body care systems, etc. I am not sure if Markwins International has already reached the Korean market but I heard from my dad that it’s one famous cosmetics brand in the United States. He actually bought my sister a lip gloss from this cosmetics company and she’s quite delighted about the effect it does to her lips. She hopes to see Markwins cosmetics on shelves here in our country.

Colorado Real Estate

If you are looking for a good real estate buyer, you better make sure that it is registered with the QSC (quality service) broker. Colorado real estate is a Stuart Dobson Real Estate Professional Company that delivers to its customers objective, credible, and professional real estate service. Home buyers and sellers would enjoy the highest level of competence from real estate brokers as QSC real estate professionals need to live by their QSC rankings.
The website is very easy to navigate. Basic information about Stuart Dobson is found at the homepage. A registration form is already made available; it’s easy to fill out as it’s without clutter. You can get more information about real estates by clicking on links located at the left column on the website. Whether you are a buyer, a seller, or an investor, you’ll find this website useful if just for the wealth of information on real estate.

The Next Gen Riche

Nowadays, you are not guaranteed with landing on a job after graduation. Even a masters degree is not a strong reassurance. Today’s market is so competitive that traditional modes of instruction practiced in some universities won’t just cut through. In Nouveau Riche University is different. It focuses on practicality (what their students could actually become and what skill they could offer in the changing market) coupled with a new age method of instruction (application more than theory; becoming rich by one’s effort instead of waiting for an employer to be-rich oneself) matching the new age dynamics of labor demands. It specializes in real-estate concepts and strategies. The learning approach is very innovative as it encourages participation, role-play and the utilization of other means of instruction; this is pedagogy in action. Nouveau Riche University also has an online magazine called Graduateriche where you can find recent updates about Nouveau Riche University. The magazine also allows readers to have glimpse of what the university offers, and of course what the university has already produced—quality alumni and alumnae. These people who entrusted their education in Nouveau Riche University are now reaping the rewards of their investment. They now belong to the top niche of their chosen fields. Also, you can read student profiles in Graduateriche online magazine where you can forsee future successful graduates. Available also in the magazine are institutional articles that will update a reader about business for today and for tomorrow.

Five Senses in Business

Economics now appeal to the senses. When I was in Korea, I noticed how fine dining restaurants, ice cream parlors, coffee lounges, and pubs battle each other not with their products but with ambiance. The place with the best atmosphere gets more customer visits. The place with the most innovative and creative pub tables gets to be more crowded. In other words, ambiance sells. I went restaurant hopping in Korea just to gather as many visual imagery as I can about how they make their interior exquisitely pleasing, relaxing, and worth going back to. I paid attention to all the details: the color, the arrangements of tables, bar stools, plant boxes, overhead lamps, ceiling fans, lighting, background music, etc. The element that is constantly present in pleasant restaurants is the furniture. I think one has to really invest in vanity furniture and facilities if one wants to create a top-notch ambiance for customers. My mom and Dad are planning to open a restaurant. I’ve already told them about the importance of ambience but my dad is a bit recalcitrant about building just a simple, if not, traditional restaurant. The oldies are not quite into interior beautification; they are more into substance and content rather than the “exterior”. Dad reasons that if the food we offer is sumptuous enough, it’ll make people coming back to the restaurant. That’s not the case these days. Things have changed and people spend on less tangible things like ambiance and status symbols like a cup of Starbucks. Yeah, I have to convince him to invest more for the interior decoration. I would surely recommend premiere barstools to my dad. That website offers a wide variety of counter stools, kitchen bar stools, extra tall stools, outdoor stools and tables, items from clearance sales, pub tables and sets, and many more. These things would surely bring the imagery I have in mind into reality—in our own family restaurant. The website boasts a very neat homepage layout where you could easily browse for the things you need without any hassle. You’ll find in the homepage featured barstools like beech wood counter stool and cross back wooden seat bar stool. It also shows specials that are sold for a very affordable price. What I like about the site is that it gives a full and detailed description of the products it sells. The pictures are taken in high resolution so you could see how high-grade the stools are. I am pretty sure that investments in these things will just yield healthier revenues that if we settle for the old, humdrum restaurant setup.

Elegant Dust Collectors

Dust collectors or not, a furniture adds class to one’s house. We moved to our current about five years ago and I say that a lot of things have changed in our house’s interior since then. My mom is a big fan of interior decoration that she buys mags of that genre (even though she can’t afford perhaps half of those on the pages). In our first year, she was able to save enough money to buy buffet furniture. She placed it near the main entrance door. She bought a small one so it wouldn’t cramp our relatively small house. She followed that purchase with a custom made mahogany kitchen hutches but she wasn’t absolutely satisfied with the way it was handcrafted; she sold it. She bought two couches next. She’s eyeing kitchen hutches as her next purchase. I might as well lead her to eBuffet.com, a site that offers quality pieces of furniture like buffet tables, buffet cabinets, sideboards, hutches, furniture from clearance sales, buffet sets, etc. The website is very easy to navigate as it has on its homepage featured items and new arrivals. It is also easy to scour the site for the design of your choice. Just click on the filters column on the left-hand side of the site where you can narrow down your search. I personally would recommend to my mom the modern sideboard with dark oak finish. The design reminds me of my host family in Korea. It has a modern and ancient luster beneath its varnish. I just find the design very appealing. But apart from this personal choice, eBuffet offers other quality sideboards that choosing from among the elegant varieties is difficult in itself. Visit the website and promenade through the wide selection of elegant dust collectors. Who says that a house should just be a home?

Shower and "Tabo"

Last month, my Korean friend arrived here in the Philippines for a leisure trip. We have met before in Korea when I studied there so it was tacit that he could stay overnight in our place. His arrival was both a pleasure and a threat to me because I have to think about how our house should look like: the windows must be draped with better curtains, my room should be de-cobbed, and the bathroom should have a working shower nozzle. It has been ages since our shower has not been in use; it is more common to use “tabo” (dipper) in the Philippines. I told my mom, weeks before my Korean friend’s arrival, to go to the shower store and buy things for a major shower room overhaul. I guess right now we can’t afford to buy luxurious shower enclosures so mom just bought a gold and silver plated shower set. I showed her Unlimited Showers, which sells quality shower enclosures online, from where she could get an idea and an inspiration on how we could seriously transform our shower room in the future. Of course we have to save first (but she could always order discount steam showers). But for you out there whose purchasing power allows buying showers. Unlimited Showers offers a variety of elegant jetted showers, steam showers, shower enclosures, shower columns, items from clearance sales, shower doors, and shower trays. I personally prefer the Jetted Shower with 10 Jets and Foot Massager showcased on the front page, featured shower column. Its price is a bit wallet flattening but this shower could last you for decades. This shower is made from high quality Acrylic/ABS single piece back wall and fiberglass reinforced acrylic base tray that promise both class and durability. It also features a three-valve water control and a water temperature regulator that can transform your humdrum shower routine into something that you could only experience in spas. What’s more is that you can actually choose either white or chrome for the exterior trim of your home jetted shower spa. If you are looking for affordable alternatives, you just have to click on the price filter on the left of the website. You can get shower columns and shower sliding glass doors for a good price. You can also search by style of showers: glass showers, acrylic showers, frameless glass showers, fiberglass showers, sliding door showers and more. I personally prefer a translucent sliding shower door to keep a bit of privacy. ^^; And yeah…so came my friend enjoying not a “tabo” but a classy shower and a Dove soap.

Batya and Bathtubs

You won’t find a bathtub in an average Filipino shower room. A bath tub is considered a luxury, actually, a bit of un-necessity and excessive vanity in a typical shower room. We use batya instead. It is a large basin where a toddler could dabble in soap and water. I remember when I was young that I just contented myself in a cramped batya. Batya is my bathtub before. It is every kid’s bathtub. And then cognizance dawned upon me, thanks to the movies. I saw good batya. They were shiny porcelainesque ones, metallic, luxurious-looking tubs that had definitely challenged the fun my good old batya brings. Anyhow, preferences change. I’m all grown up and I can’t fit into batya. I am resolved to entertain and continue my fascination with taking a bath submerged in water. I’m definitely buying a tub. Simply bathtubs.com offer quality walk in tubs, whirlpool bathtubs, clawfoot bathtubs, bathtubs from clearance sales, and bathtub sets for a good bargain. I am amazed at the broad selection of bathtub design that this site offers. The site showcases in its homepage models of bathtubs and a summary of their specifications. If you want to read more about a particular model, you just have to click on the view product details and you’ll be able to appreciate the bathtub for all its worth. Well, a good bath never comes cheap. These are neither quality tubs that have a very sturdy appearance that won’t crack nor collapse even after years of use. The material used to make the tubs looks to have been molded and not just glued together, giving the products a look of durability. I am particularly concerned about discount clawfoot tubs because they are relatively more vulnerable to damage because of the support—clawfoot. But I’m sure that even given this structural vulnerability, so to speak, these clawfoot tubs would still last me for decades. Anyhow, if you are concerned about the price, you can actually search the site by selecting the price filters at the left-hand side of the site. You can also easily browse for bathtubs based on their type, design, and material: corner bathtubs, acrylic bathtubs, antique bathtubs, modern bathtubs, free standing bathtubs, and cast iron bathtubs. It is also possible to search by tub dimension. The site also provides good after sales service. You can call their number toll free. Yeah, to save money and buy a grown-up’s batya is one of my simple dreams. ^^;

The New Livingroom

Vanities are today’s necessities. I believe that if you have extra dough to throw, throw it at buying vanity stuff. I always like things to be “simply the best”. It seems ironic. But it is in ironies that we see things at their best. This philosophy applies to every nook of my life: my fashion statement, my office cubicle, my room, my notebooks, my shelf, my PC, my bathroom. Bathroom?! Well, not really. My sassy sister is the one who is fussy about bathroom decorations. Just a week ago, I found that she has bought new bathroom furnishings that made our already small bathroom smaller—yet simply better. She bought a water-proof, Celtic-inspired wooden drawer that made showering with candles and aroma more enticing. I think the bathroom is only the legitimate place where my sister can pour her artistic self; she shares her room with my younger sister. Another week has passed and I’m not going to be surprised if I found another item replacing another decor in our bathroom. Usually it the shower curtain gets ditched. Her fascination with vanity products is fine by me so long as she uses her own money buying them. Well, I guess have to suggest that she visit single bathroom vanities online where she could shop for elegant yet affordable bathroom vanity items. The website is very easy to navigate as it provides on the left pane a list of choices that can narrow choices for shopping vanity stuff. My sister will surely get delighted with this deluge of choices: single vanities, double vanities, vanity sets, linen cabinets, clearance sale, bedroom vanities, and business sales. She can also choose from various themes and designs: wood vanities, antique vanities, contemporary vanities, and traditional vanities. If she is on tight budget, then she could just click on the price filter “under 1000 U$D”. The website features top vanity bathroom items on the main page. Though these are a bit expensive (who says that vanities comes cheap?), they are worth every single penny. The products are sturdy-looking; it’s not as if they’d rot in a week after a purchase. The site also showcases vanity items on special sale. I really have to tell this to my sister if she has to get a good deal. What is great about this site is that there are real reviews from customers. At least you’ll get honest reviews from customers.

You Need Your Supplements

My aunt has been encouraging me to jump onto the bandwagon of online money making. I remember that I was recalcitrant and kept on insisting that easy money from blogging, affiliate marketing, home-based businesses, are too good to be true. They must be bogus. I’ve just recently discovered—to my chagrin—that indeed, the Internet is such a virtual goldmine. I started exploring its possibilities. It is sufficient to spend an hour a day to make money online. All you need is a bit of carpal workout and a good home business opportunity. There are swarms of them in the internet. If you would like to supplement your salary, I suggest that you visit Plug-In Profit Site. Aside from blogging and all that jazz, this site allows people to earn from advertising affiliate and network marketers to promote 6 different affiliate programs from one website. Even if you are not an internet savvy person or someone who’s inexperienced in earning online, you are still given the chance to reap the fruits of the Internet. Plug-In Profit Site, with its long and successful track record since 2002, includes a free training of members with a comprehensive training program called "30 Days to Success". This value-added skill will surely give you the necessary skill to maximize the potential of earning online. Visit the website and see how many people it has helped extricate themselves from financial difficulties. You are not excluded from this opportunity. Give Plug-In Profit Site a try.

Spin for the Win

There are a lot of online casinos that you can be irked by just looking for the best portal online. Portals are sites that consolidate links and information a particular service. For instance, if you are looking for a good casino portal, USA online casinos has everything on its main page. This online casino portal gives everyone the chance to play irrespective of one’s language as the page can be translated to 20 languages. You can find in this website an organized presentation of available games, with bonuses indicated, the currencies accepted (U$D, British Pound, Euro), and software that’s used for the game. What’s good is that there is customer feedback so you can take a look at honest reviews about the games.

Women Under the Microscope

Outsmarting Debt

Headache. This happens to me when I know I can't pay my wifi bill on time. Good thing that I'm still uncommitted that I could dispose of all my salary for paying the bills and for personal leisure. But what if you have so many other monetary obligations to meet and you simply just cannot expand the pie? Of course what happens is you borrow. Sometimes borrowing is as easy as asking for a chocolate chip cookie. You don't realize that interest is compounding, that you're slowly sinking in the debt pool. Situations become more complicated if you have multiple lenders to pay. Debt consolidation services help people in an almost beyond redemption cases to recover from their debts. It means that you're going to borrow from only a single lender the amount of money that could pay all your other “mini” lenders. This reduces headache by around 80% I guess. Availing of a debt consolidation service could save you from foreclosure of your asset you used to secure your loan. Of course you cannot borrow that easily if your credit score, or credit history, is egregious. You need to know your level of credit worthiness. At least you have to avail of credit reports, and most of them are not gratis. My Debt Consolidation Advice offers a free credit report to its clients. Headaches have cures. Just be smart about your money, and money won't outsmart you.

Cream of the Electronic Crop

The Internet is a vast repository of free information. But sometimes it's just drowning that searching the net is as tiring as borrowing piles of books from a library. When I was looking for an MP3 player, I guess it took me 2 days of browsing and canvassing from various website as to what brand provides more features for a lesser price. Good thing that there are websites like Gadget Advisor that can save us from wallowing through internet clutter. Gadget Advisor is a website that features the cream of the electronic crop. It offers a good distillation of top gadgets ranging from storage devices like online backup services, network media player, to universal remote control. The diversity of electronic stuff The site features a clutter-free list of high-end technologies , a good full review of its specifications, a review from users as comment posts, etc. What I like most about this website is its layout. It has a very fresh look to it that although the website provides a wealth of information, you'll not feel overwhelmed by it. It categorizes information by gadgets, technews, computer hardware, computer software, feature articles, and archives if you want to get some good back reads.

Spin Joo Luck

My grandfather loves casinos. I remember once that he won huge sums from the roulette but then that win was just once in his 20-year casino life. Now he is kinda unfit to go to Casinos so we just play simple card games at home. I wonder if he could use Online casino services so that he could still enjoy his favorite adrenaline pumping hobby. He was rich—not to mention, old—so yeah, Mum doesn't bother to stop him from indulging. Perhaps I would recommend him to drop by online casinos when we visit his house next week. I think he'll enjoy the wealth of resources that this casino would provide. This features online casinos with the highest quality, maximum pay, excellent customer service, and a variety of free stuff. This website is very easy to navigate. It provides a list sans clutter of top casino services. It also provides a brief description and customer feedback of casinos so you wouldn't play without knowing. What is very unique in this website is that it provides visitors Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, and Japanese translations of its pages. Knowing that players could come from different backgrounds and cultures, this web feature is really handy. It also organizes the web contents by placing a column of links at the right hand side of the site. You can select free spin casinos, top casinos, online money converter, etc.

God and Goods: Spirituality and Mass Confusion

The title itself implicitly contains three ways in which the works seem to approach religion and its dynamics. The dichotomy God and goods speaks of the relationship between religion and consumption, spirituality refers to those works that suggest the search for an alternative dimension, while the word confusion recalls doubt in all its meanings.

In the past art and religion have been indissolubly linked, considering that only a few centuries ago the artists really freed themselves from the wishes and the necessities of the commissioners. But what is the relationship between art and religion today? Maybe it would be correct to say that they are complementary: one asks questions, the other gives answers. What brings them closer it is not their consequentiality but, on the contrary, their common source of doubt. This exhibition wishes to observe the way in which, through doubt, the artists challenge the stereotypes and the limitations of the concept of God to substitute it with many different and infinite question marks.

The works in the exhibition, dating from the late Eighties until nowadays and including also some new site specific projects, deal with the concept of religion from a series of indirect point of views: they can confront its dictates with irreverence, analyse its systems and dynamics or propose, ironically or not, alternative models.

Italy, Codroipo, Villa Manin Centre for Contemporary Art, 20 April - 28 September 2008

Jobs in Atlanta

With the Internet, finding a job has never been easier. I found myself a job through it. The Internet offers people in between jobs the chance to conveniently find one in the most convenient way. When I was in college, my seniors often told me that I have to walk for kilometers in the business district and apply for a post in person. I thought it was tough. Good thing that there are websites these days that cater solely to job hunters. If you live in the United States, specifically in Atlanta, looking for a job would not mean callous feet and all that hassle. Marketing Jobs in Atlanta offer people who have a background in the field of marketing to land on a job of their choice. The website showcases a wide array of marketing jobs. It lists more than 2,000 job opportunities that are up for grabs for those who are eligible. The website is very easy to navigate as it has filters to narrow down your search. If you are aiming to become an account executive, an account manager, director, a sales employee, or a sales representative, you can just easily click on the these job titles to display open opportunities for you. You can also look for a marketing job based on the company. Marketing Jobs in Atlanta showcases the following marketing companies: Johnson Controls, Inc., Kforce Finance & Accounting Staffing, Kforce Technology Staffing, and Newell Rubbermaid. The homepage is uncluttered; it lists down all the job titles with a brief job description. You could click on it to see the full details of the job. Marketing Jobs in Atlanta also offers free resume templates, if you are not yet sure if you already have a non-turn off resume. The website also has a search box where you could just type in the job that you like, the company name of your prospective employer, or just any keyword that could lead you to the job you're looking for. The Internet has never been so helpful in this regard.

Career in the Health Industry

A friend of mine recently graduated with a degree in nursing. She took this course with the knowledge that baby boomers would want to spend money just to keep their most prized possession secure: their health. Indeed, however economically far-fetched it sounds, she is right. In developed countries where the population is greying, the demand for nurses and medical assistants is growing. In response, countries with quality pool of human resources such as the Philippines have encouraged medical assistant schools that confer degrees for medical practice. St. Agustin School of Medical Assistants offers online classes and training for people who are just too occupied to attend regular classroom sessions. This medical assistant school has a virtual lab that lets students have a hands-on experience as if they were really in a real medical situation. Being a medical assistant is no joke and this school assures that all of its students acquire and master the core skills medical assistants should possess. St. Agustin School of Medical Assistants is also an accredited school where you can get a certification in just 6-8 weeks. With the growing health industry, some people do jump on the bandwagon. But this bandwagon, I guess, is worth jumping onto depending on your career goals. St. Agustin School of Medical Assistants assures its students that career opportunities will be there after they graduate.

Ye Shall Rest only on the Seventh Day

Proverbs 24:33-34

“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”
Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.

On Strawberries and Homosexuality

-log file from a chat with a friend (permission was secured before posting this)-

Friend: Well, I really hate gays...I don't say this to them but I feel icky yucky when they're around...especially the loud ones.

Me: I don't like the loud species either. But you know, I have a number of decent gay friends when I was in college. Some are even close to geniuses.

Friend: I'm not sure...But I guess they could choose not to act like one...I don't like the idea of men hugging men. hahaha.

Me: Then, we're on the same page, Friend. But I'm more liberal when it comes to homosexuality. Let me tell you something (and yes, I was able to come up instantly with these acronyms):

You only like Strawberries. You despise Durian fruit. One day, the MUSTD (Morally Upright Society of the Tyrannically Dominant, in collaboration with the OUGHTS and SHOULDS) promulgated a unanimous law:
"People who eat Strawberries are rabid monkeys! They should undergo treatment from the LAW (Living Amnesty Ward). They would be given Durian puree 3x a day and will be asked to consume Durian candy for as long as thee Rabidness lives."
They fought this through under the assumption that gays could actually choose not to actualize their attitudes into behavior.

Could be. But if I were gay, a gay Christian at that, then I would rather choose to be celibate. I'd rather choose not to eat Strawberries. But no one could ever force me to eat Durian! I just can't buy the idea that behavioral therapy could "cure" homosexual attitudes. It's heavy enough a burden for a celibate rabid monkey not to eat strawberries. Would God grant him entrance to heaven if he dies a virgin? I don't know. Is it unfair that, of all the addictions, homosexuality was the one that dawned upon his consciousness? I don't know. But one thing I'm certain about: the monkey won't eat Durian. Will he be sad? YES!

Friend: I'm following you. But heck! Maaano naman to ng science. Antayin na lang natin (Let's wait for Science to shed light on this issue).

Me: Sana nga kaya (I hope Science could).

Change topic:

Friend: I heard you're buying a new laptop.
----
cut. ^^

Just Another Call Center Agent?

I have been working as an online English teacher to Koreans for almost a year already. Being part of this KPO company was such a turning point in my career as I really never thought of becoming an educator, much less a web-ucator. Now, my career path has been re-carved by Fate, a sui generis entity created by none other but myself.

In the company, things were going well. My team mates were professionals; they do act like teachers who just happen to work in an unconventional classroom setting. My bosses...uhhmm...they were benign. They're quite detached from the tutors probably because of certain stereotypes that perpetuate themselves, whether they be well-grounded or unfounded. I'm not really bothered about this as much as I am with the nature of this job. I asked this question thus:

"Will my Korean bosses be willing to pay $ if I were their English teacher?" I think this online teaching thingamajig is going to be a big fat joke if they they themselves feel dubious about our English and teaching skills. To wit: "Are these Koreans just fooling their fellow countrymen by placing them under Filipinos speaking half-baked English?" And as there is a need to be fair, I also have to ask myself: "Will I pay for the kind of service that I give?"

There is one wish that I could ask from my bosses. I wish that they could be more than just benign towards us and show us the level of respect that teachers, in the original sense of the word, deserve. They should manifest confidence in their teachers, for we are not there to dupe anyone. And to the instructors, I wish that EVERYONE display professional behavior that is befitting of teachers. This reciprocation of attitudes and values between Korean higher-ups and Filipino employees could very well dispel the divisive spirit that has been there for an unwantedly long time.

Paper Heart

When I was little,
I drew a big heart
on pretty virgin paper.
The middle was hollow,
it was merely an outline.

When I was a bit older
I handed that drawing
to an unworthy boy,
who took it, and giggled,
and handed it right back.

A little older still
I gave it to a boy
who folded it carelessly
and stuck it in his back pocket.
It was crumpled when he gave it back to me.

I once handed that drawing
to a charming boy,
who promised to look after it.
Instead he cut it into little pieces
and scattered them on the floor.

I gathered them up, one by one,
and held them close to me.
But as much as I’d tried,
I didn’t have them all.
Some must have blown away in the breeze.

But then you appeared.
You took the little pieces from me
and taped them back together,
and you filled in those missing parts
with little bits of your own heart.

Then you did something
which made me stumble in surprise.
You took a big red crayon,
and you coloured that heart in,
before placing it in a frame and hanging it on your wall.

The big heart
that I drew when I was little
is now crumpled and frayed.
The paper is no longer virgin white.
But, you see,
it’s better than it ever was before;
because you coloured it in for me.

written by Cynical Romantic

Beating the Odds

The Internet has virtually covered everything that could be done in a live setting. Playing in casinos is no exception. Instead of leaving the comfort of your own home and walking through the hustle and bustle of a real casino, why not try USA Online Casinos? This website features one of the highest online casino payouts in the internet. It also accepts major currencies like dollars, pounds, and euros. The homepage also showcases a list of most popular casino websites, the bonus each gives, the software that each uses, and reviews and feedbacks from users. USA Online Casinos accept most USA coming from all states except:: Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Louisiana and South Dakota. You can choose from more than 80 casino games in this website. The website also assures its players safety, security, reliability, and of course, fun!

Just Like Makeup?

In one of our session, my Korean student asked me about my stand on body enhancement procedures. He asked me whether going under the knife is socially acceptable in my country as it is very much welcomed in Korea. I am aware that surgery is performed in Korea much more frequently than in any other Asian country. Well, there is Japan which rivals Korea in the statistics. China is closely trailing by. Going back, I told my student that I am not against plastic surgery but I am against the prejudice other people have towards ‘fat’ or 'ugly' people. And if these ‘fat’ and 'ugly' people don’t feel good about themselves, and if they have the money, then they could undergo liposuction or any other aesthetic surgical procedure. I found a blog that talks about plastic surgery. The warm colors of the website make it attractively homey to visitors. Elements of the website such as home, picture gallery, testimonials and free consultation number are arranged in such a way that visitors won’t have a hard time browsing through the site. Beverly Hills plastic surgery is a website that offers tummy tuck, liposuction and breast augmentation services for women who desire to become more acceptable not only to other people but also to themselves. These processes of self-improvement has gained acceptance in wider society as if it were just an application of make-up. Self-enhancement procedures like these should be undergone by people who have the capability and desire to improve what needs to be improved in their bodies. Tummy tuck, liposuction and breast augmentation are three body enhancement services that can be found in this cosmetic surgery blog. And it promises to deliver satisfactory results as the various testimonials show. The testimonials are not the only things that exude credibility, confidence and trust but also the various images posted in the site. The flowers parallel the beauty that one can get after undergoing the beautification procedure. The gardens express natural beauty. Los Angeles tummy tuck brings in an easy air that can relax the clients, and of course satisfy their beauty needs.

Supposedly Sedentary

For an average Joe, buying a house is one of the most crucial decisions he could ever make. It could be more than just an investment for him but it also can be something that's imbued with sentiments of pride and hard work. Seven years have passed since my father decided to buy our own house. I never could write how hard-earned the money was, but he was really intent on buying the lot, customizing the architecture of the house, and furnishing the interior based on his and my mom’s preferences. For some people though, doing this means slashing more cash, and so they just opt for mortgage quotes. If any of my readers is moving into a new house, or is planning to in the future, do consider getting free mortgage quotes at moveme.com. The site is well-designed to not only provide mortgage quotes and removal quotes but also to intelligently inform prospective movers about a major decision they are making. The site does not only boast years of experience and professional expertise on striking good mortgage deals. Moveme is also a winner of Yahoo Innovation Award and Yahoo People’s Choice Award. And since Moveme is a site that involves talks about money, feeling a bit apprehensive towards its service is not unexpected. Moveme prides itself of being FSA approved, meaning that this mortgage site is safe; it also offers quality services by giving free information on things pertinent to moving: moving your family, parents, pets, moving with disabilities, preparing a home for sale, organizing a surveyor, working with real estate agents, finding properties, managing purchase sale, and equally as important, legal things explained. Moveme’s prominence in this area is not at all surprising, since I myself was drawn into looking further on what moving into a new house might mean through mortgages. If you’re looking for information on mortgages that’s straightforward, helpful, and practical, then move it, or rather, Moveme.

Check Out My Cyworld

The English-speaking world has its own array of social networking sites: Friendster, Multiply, Facebook, and the list goes on. I thought these were the coolest ones that offer free service until I was introduced to Cyworld. It's a Korean-based networking site that offers much more features, photo enhancement tools (embedded in the website), privacy options, and most of the things you thought you could have lived without. One major and obvious downside, however, is that you have to know Korean.

Here are some photos I uploaded in my Cyworld hompi (homepage):
Team Rio
Karl, Sir Matt, Me
In Tom's World, Ayala Town Center.
I like the superimposed "sticker photo" clip arts the most! ^^;

BBC News or Funny Websites?

I stare at my PC more than I do at my girlfriend’s face. I work for more than eight hours at the office and I can say that it’s quite tiring sometimes. Good thing that there are jokes websites that could break the monotony of modern slavery. Aside from reading news, refreshing on jokes websites is something that I do when I feel dozing off or whenever I just feel plain bored. This jokes site feature a wide array of jokes including blonde jokes, dirty jokes, Yo mamma jokes, political jokes, nerd jokes, computer jokes, lawyer jokes, clean jokes, and many more. I particularly like Konglish (God the Farther). Haha.

Mission Vision

For a long time already, I have been a fan of natural medicine and supplements. My facial skin is quite prone to pimples by just being exposed to simple ubiquitous allergens. Hence, I had looked like a pimple with a face. I tried tomato extract mixed with lemon juice on my face as I have both in our fridge. After just a month or so, I noticed miracle unfolding. These days, however, my capacity to realize visually beautiful things (I’m not saying that my face is handsome) is being challenged by poor eyesight. I’m working for more than eight hours in front of the PC and I think it’s just expected. A friend of mine sent me a mail about alternatives to prescription glasses. Pinhole glasses is scientifically hailed to naturally correct the angular entrance of light that comes through the eyes. Honestly, I have never heard about pinhole eyeglasses before but I do believe that the basis of this eye correction product is scientifically sound. The most common visual illness is refractive eye disorder. This category includes myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, computer vision syndrome or cataracts. Basically, the function of the lens to refract the absorbed light has been distorted, or ill-refracted, resulting to poor eyesight. My vision is not yet as bad as to require the help of prescription glasses. But when bad comes to worse, then I will definitely try pinhole glasses. It does look a bit new, if not strange, to see someone wearing pinhole glasses. To me, I regard its design to be trendy and hip. At least I’m not going to wear something that’s uselessly fashionable. The main reason why I’m taken by this revolutionary item is its engineering principle, the science behind it, its affordability, and its natural ability to correct one’s vision. Tomato and lemon concoction is to my face as pinhole eyeglasses are to my eyes. Oh, I almost forgot: for only $14 I could have the chance to correct my vision the natural way.