The Cake Chronicles

For Beautiful Skin, I Swallow

2011-01-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

LG* uses this tagline for its skin supplement Pycnoskin. A lot of skin beautifying products are out in the market but I would still trust organically-based supplements, especially those that I take in my body. Being extracted from French Pine bark, Pycnoskin is one of these.

Since I'm based here in Korea, procuring Pycnoskin is no big deal. I've been taking it for more than three months already and I've noticed that my skin has become more transparent and glowing. I also feel more vigorous. I would not have believed that Pycnoskin does effect positive changes to my skin had my friends--and they're quite a lot of them--not compliment me for what they see.

If you'd like to try Pycnoskin for yourself, just pm me. I can PM you the price and shipping details. One bottle contains 54 capsules, 2 capsules a day.

*Yes, you've read it right. In Korea, LG is such a huge conglomerate that has expanded to virtually all manufacturing sectors, from technology to food and medicine.

Shop for Korean Cosmetics!

2010-05-01T22:12:00.001-07:00

Shop here for SkinFood, The Face Shop, BRTC, Skin79, and other brands.

Pre-ordering:

*All the pre-ordered products will arrive in the Philippines on July 7, 2010. Shipping will be on the next day, July 8, 2010. Pre-ordering is from May 1-June 20, 2010.
Expect your order to arrive at your doorstep in two to three working days. For queries, contact the seller by sending an email to: ilovemyskin14@yahoo.com.

Pricing:

*Item price + 90Php for shipping in and outside of Metro Manila.

Item selection and Payment:

*You can choose any product you want by posting a comment on the item photo: "I want [quantity]".
*You need to pay 50% of the total price of the item(s) anytime from now UNTIL June 20, 2010. The remaining 50% is to be paid on or before July 7.
*Your item will be shipped as soon as full payment is confirmed.
*Please send your payment to:
Aidyn S. Dagandan, savings account: 3166-1359-61, BPI Alabang Branch

Teaching in an International School

2009-12-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

HIRING:
Full-time high school Social Studies teacher @ MIT International School in Alabang Muntinlupa City.

Tasks:
1) teaching World History and Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics; 4 hours/day
2) preparing weekly lesson plans
3) preparing quarter grades and all those teacher stuff

Full-time high school English teacher @ MIT International School

Tasks:
1) teaching Literature (American and salient literary works of other cultures) to Grades 10 and 11
2) teaching Grammar and Composition to Grades 9 and 10
3) preparing weekly lesson plans
4) preparing quarter grades, etc.
5) 4 hours/day

Benefits:
1) East-West insurance
2) perfect attendance incentive
3) teaching resources are provided
4) air conditioned rooms with large LCD & PC
5) small class (9-15 students)

*Work starts on March 1, 2010. Application is until Feb 24 (Social Science).
*Work starts on January 4, 2010. Application is open till the post is taken (English).
Send me your resume if interested.

Toxic Personalities You Need to Avoid

2009-05-23T02:56:00.000-07:00

You are most of the time articulate, never tongue-tied, aggressive. But when a certain person comes in, say in your office, you feel like your IQ has been cut by half, your worthiness and competence severely challenged. And that unwanted feeling you can't just shrug off and regressing to being a second-rate worker is all what you could involuntarily do. Well, you could still wish wholeheartedly that your esteem bulldozer would resign or become sick. But that seldom happens.

If the above description rang a bell in your head, then here is a good read from Yahoo!.

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.

Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.

Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.

Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

* Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.

2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."

* Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.

3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.

* Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.

4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.

* Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.

5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.

* Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.

6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.

* Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.

7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.

* Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.

8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.

* Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time.

Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier. Have you encountered these personalities? What have you done? Any personalities you would add?

Life in 24 hours

2009-04-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

One common denominator among soaps and TV series is the omnipresence of coincidences. However crazy and improbable these mini plot gears are, they are exciting as they are necessary. Consider a love triangle. Guy 2 kisses Girl and at the exact moment Guy 1 sees them, secretly rending his heart. I guess that's the most common example. There are still some others that are more subtle, unreal, yet accepted in our consciousness as enviable, prepossessing, entertaining. Coincidences in drama dispel the perennial monotony that is present in real life.
If you happen to be living now, you might have felt unproductively slow, if not bored through and through. You feel that a year has passed by with only a handful of changes and conquered hurdles. Love wanes. Friends change. Empathy weakens. Work is stress. Life is boring. What makes it boring anyway? The answer can be found in TV series where lives are lived in solid 24 hours.

College Bloc-ulet!

2009-04-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

Long live the S.A.R.S. bloc!
Why SARS you ask? It was in 2003 that we entered college, the same year that the SARS epidemic broke out in China. We were asked by the freshman committee to come up with a bloc name thus, Students' Association Representing Sociology.

I accidentally stumbled upon this very old yet youthful us during our first year in college. Mga blocmates, check this out!

Innocence isn't an excuse

2009-04-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

It was my first time to teach in a real classroom setting and I won't forget what happened during my first day in school.

Student: "Teacher are you rich? Why is your hair so beautiful? I wanna have it."
Me: "Oh, thank you. Well, actually, I just used Suave. I'm not rich."
Student: "Are you emo? I really like your hair. Can I have it?"
Me: "Uhmm...you can touch it if you like."

I loved my grade 5 pupils from that day on.

Nosy Doc

2009-04-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

Derma: "Sir, if you don't mind, I'd like to make a recommendation."
Me: "I won't mind. Go ahead."
Derma: "You'll look like a movie star if you get rhinoplasty. Though your nose already looks fine as it is, it can use some enhancements."
Me: *dazed* "How much will it cost?"
Derma: "Not more than 3000USD".
Me: Oh. Maybe next time.

Yeah. So this is what has transpired during my latest visit to a derma clinic. I usually go to one once every three months just to squeeze the ugly heads off my nose. I usually don't get as much zits as I used to when I was in college. I think taking in Vit C in megadoses does help. It's the only thing that changed in my health regime. Anyway, about the rhinoplasty, I actually had mulled about having the tip of my nose reshaped. But meh, whenever I recall my own reaction to people who I suspect to have undergone a nose lift, I had to think twice for my own nose. I'm not sure about the probability, but I guess there's a good chance that the shape of the nostrils of an altered nose would look 'enhanced'. I don't want to receive even the benefit of the doubt of having a rhinoplasty.

Thanks doc. But I guess I'll just stick with my good ole nose.

Avoid Pronunciation Violation

2009-04-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

Vocal Warm up

The sentences below have been specially designed to work all the vowel and consonant sounds in the English language to warm up the muscles needed for good speech.

Repeat each of these sentences aloud slowly and clearly before you start your day, being careful to pronounce all the vowel and consonant sounds. These are not tongue twisters. Do not rush! If you feel any strain or pain, stop. Gradually work up to reading all the sentences in one sitting.

Eat each green pea. Aim straight at the game. Ed said get ready.
It is in Italy. I tried my kite. Oaks grow slowly.
Father was calm as he threw the bomb on the clock.
An awed audience applauded Claude.
Go slow Joe, you’re stepping on my toe.
Sauce makes the goose more succulent.
Up the bluff, Bud runs with the cup of love.
Red led men to the heifer that fell in the dell.
Maimed animals may become mean.
It’s time to buy a nice limeade for a dime.
Oil soils doilies.
Flip a coin, Roy, you have a choice of oysters or poi.
Sheep shears should be sharp.
At her leisure, she used rouge to camouflage her features.
There’s your cue, the curfew is due.
It was the student’s duty to deliver the Tuesday newspaper.
He feels keen as he schemes under the hutch.
Boots and shoes lose newness soon.
Ruth was rude to the youthful recruit.
Vivid, livid, vivifying. Vivid experiences were lived vicariously.
Oddly, the ominous octopus remained calm.
The pod will rot if left on the rock.
Look, you could put your foot on the hood and push.
Nat nailed the new sign on the door of the diner.
Dale’s dad died in the stampede for gold.
Thoughtful thinkers think things through.
Engineer Ethelbert wrecked the express at the end of Elm Street.

A Switch that could Change the World

2009-03-26T07:53:00.001-07:00

On March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour.

Or you can vote global warming by leaving your lights on.

The results of the election are being presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. We want one billion votes for Earth, to tell world leaders that we have to take action against global warming.

2,712 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.

Can't stop laughing

2009-03-17T05:31:00.000-07:00

I watch these two clips everytime I need a dose of laughter in the days of gloom. I stumbled upon them in youtube.

The Korean Goof-icial

Flip-ino Reporter

Hotta Fashionista

2009-03-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

A change in season means a change in fashion. And yesteryear’s summer outfit probably won’t do for today’s standards of what’s in and out. You have to change or just add up something fashionably fresh to your wardrobe. This especially applies if you live in upscale places. For clothes shopping, instead feeling icky along the way to the mall, I just run Firefox and do some ‘window’ shopping. Yeah, I do open a lot of windows. Try Fenchurch online fashion. It’s fairly easy to browse the website since you can narrow down your search pretty easily by clicking on well-organized category links at the left-hand site of homepage. They sell men and women’s clothes. You can also search by brand. Take a look at Fly53 clothing and choose from among their shirts with the simple and confident designs. Of course even nice tops would flop when paired with disastrously cut trousers. If you don’t want to be an eye-scorch in addition to the summer sun, then shop for jeans in Jack & Jones. All denim products are of high quality. They also sell belts. Divine Trash deliver gratis for all UK orders.

Self-study Korean

2009-03-02T06:16:00.000-08:00

If you're working with Koreans, you might have wanted to learn their language, Hanguk-o. Now is your chance to learn Korean by yourself. No need to attend expensive language institutes. You can learn Korean as much as you want and at your own pace!
I got the following software when I was in Korea: ReadWrite Korean (for those who don't know the Korean writing system) and Korean HakGyo (for those who already know Hangul and wish to learn grammar).

Anyone interested to learn Korean is enticed (lol) make the payment through Paypal, BPI, or BDO
Each costs 300php + 150php standard shipping fee anywhere in the Philippines.
Contact me for details.

Snaps of the Communist North

2009-02-18T23:22:00.000-08:00

Take a tour of North Korea through Eric Lafforgue's flicker photostream. I had been to North Korea myself but I wasn't able to really get into the heart of the community as Eric has done. Very good collection of photos.

Surprise in the Subway

2009-02-12T18:43:00.001-08:00

I thought this would be fun to share!
Drunken ajjoshi in the subway. Surprise!

Damage Compensation

2009-01-29T00:41:00.000-08:00

It is but natural that under the system of private ownership, possessions and valuable belongings be protected from ill circumstances. It is, however, impossible that damage be kept at bay all the time. What will you do if, say, your nose got a little bit weird-looking after a rhinoplasty? Or what if your job has been jeopardized by someone? These are your possessions and you need to act in order to claim the just amount of compensation from the person who did the damage, wittingly or unwittingly.
Just today I received an SMS from my mom informing me that her car was unintentionally hit at the rear by a woman driver. Both were cooperative and civil enough to just settle the matter amicably. The same situation doesn’t happen to anyone, though, especially if a greater degree of loss has been inflicted to the offended party. And sometimes, the offended doesn’t have the money to fend himself or herself and get his or her rights backed up by law. Herein comes First Personal Injury. It is a service that help the offended their rights to personal injury claims. In our country, where riding the bicycle as a means of transpiration is common, bicycle accident claims are commonplace. And to some universal degree, traffic accidents, which kills more often that heart attack, can entitle one to whiplash injury claims. The latter could be seen in a trivial light, but whiplash injuries could be very distressing and could limit the normal physiological activity of the person damaged. First Personal Injury boasts of its no-win-no-fee legal services to people who are not be able to afford to pay for these services. FPI is also a bastion of compensation experts and lawyers who already have garnered enough experience to flaunt a no-win-no-fee deal. Drop First Personal Injury a line should you need an expert guidance for accidents involving children, including birth accidents and other medical malpractice issues. Rest assured that your valuables would get compensated in the fairest amount possible.

Lunar New Year 2009

2009-01-24T00:23:00.000-08:00

This week reminds me of one the most palpably exciting days I had in Korea. Two days from today and it’s Lunar New Year. Being one of the biggest occasions in Korea, and on where most establishments fold up for three days, I know I had to rush to the deparment store to buy presents for friends and to stuff up my fridge. Shopping didn’t take long. I’m not fussy when it comes to food; I’ve gotten over the aversion towards kimchi and I’ve learned to love Korean foods. It was buying gifts for my bosses that rubbed the best off of my Sketchers. Why not cigars, I thought to myself? I just need to look around to get a clue what middle-aged Korean men could want. Out of 10 Korean men I’ve met, only one has sputum-free lungs. Or probably not so because of the sidestream somke he’s already inhaled. Yeah, I thought I’d just get them a box or a special bundle of cigar and that would make them puffing happily this season. As for my Korean girl friends, I just bought for them fashion accessories from underground kiosks. It was dismally more difficult to find items for men in Korea. In one department store I went to, there were like 8 floors dedicated to women’s fashion while only 2 for men AND children. There is less variety of clothes to choose from, less accessories than what you can find for women. I just decided to grab cutely patterned neck ties and thin fashion scarves for my male friends. As for my seniors (“sonbe”, as younger people address older acquaintances in Korea), I just have to settle for bottles of Korean traditional wine and cigars. My erstwhile plump wallet has just gotten...well, gaunt. If only dieting is just as fast. Anyway, I enjoyed buying all these stuff for everyone. Giving indeed feels better than receiving.

새해 복 많이 많이 받으세요! Happy New Year!

Florida Court Sets Atheist Holy Day

2009-01-15T02:51:00.001-08:00

In Florida, an atheist created a case against the Easter & Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews & observances of their holy days. The argument was it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized day. The case was brought before a judge.

After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed."

The lawyer immediately stood, objecting to the ruling, saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter & others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur & Hanukkah. Yet my client & all other atheists have no such holidays."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Counsel, your client is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is 'April Fools’ Day.' Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned."

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T09:32:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-07T05:01:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T04:07:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-04T04:17:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-02T05:04:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-29T00:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-27T01:13:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-20T00:13:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-19T00:45:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-18T04:45:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-18T04:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-17T01:03:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-13T00:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-03T04:37:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

“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?

2008-11-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-31T05:19:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-10-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-10-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-21T01:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

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"

2008-10-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T01:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-14T01:24:00.000-07:00

Outsmarting Debt

2008-10-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-05T00:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-03T01:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

-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?

2008-09-28T02:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-25T06:57:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-18T19:45:00.002-07:00

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.

Fiery Will To Win

2008-09-18T19:45:00.001-07:00

When I was young I used to play Bingo with my relatives. Our family is rather big so we enjoy family games that have only cents at stake. Playing with risks is a bit exciting for me, especially games that require not only pure luck but also wit and logic. Casino games have been quite attractive to me and I want to try online casinos even just for once. You know, just so you could say: “I’ve tried that. And it was…”. Though of course I am more discerning when it comes to trying out “more dangerous” new experiences. KWIM? Online gambling could be this shallow a reason for someone to try, or it could be an outlet for something else. I don’t particularly care if a person gambles or not, so long as he or she knows where the line to being too much hooked begins.

Apartment Rental is My Ideal Business

2008-09-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

My ideal business is owning an apartment for rent. A condo could be much better but considering the financial capacity of an average citizen here, an apartment seems to be more feasible and marketable to people who are still saving to buy their own house and lot. I tried thinking back to all the apartment units our family has occupied before being housed in a house that we can legally call our house. Doing so would let me crystallize what’s good and what’s bad to an apartment business. I actually made a proposal in my marketing class about this. Luckily, I didn't have to start from scratch what a good apartment should look like. Lexington apartment rental provided me with good insights on what a decent residential space should be. If you’re traveling in the UK and shall be needing a short-term apartment lease, then this site could help out. Lexington apartment rental has properties in South and East Lexington, Georgetown, Nicholasville, Midway, and Versailles. Pay less while enjoying the amenities Lexington apartment rental provides. What’s more is that it has a 24-hour emergency maintenance and assistance from courteous management and staff. No need to worry about leaving your pets behind. You can bring your pet with you.

Real Estate in Arizona

2008-09-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Last year, my cousin left the Philippines for Arizona. He was fortunate enough to land a job in the US as a computer programmer till he finally decided to emigrate. He always told me that Arizona is such a great place. He sends me pictures occasionally and is constantly harping that I try out my luck applying in the US as well. His job is pretty lucrative, though his savings is not yet enough to buy him a house and lot and a car. Perhaps I’d recommend that he try consulting Scottsdale Real Estate Agent in finding his dream house. I found this site intelligently designed. One can find features such as automatic MLS alerts, full access to the site’s exclusive mapping tools, email listings, blogs, customer care contact info, and more. The homepage says they are doing serious business. Scottsdale Real Estate Agent is reputable in relocation, investment, out-of-town clients, foreclosure bargains. What’s great about this real estate service is that they could help one out in applying for a loan, in looking for best value estates, and in touring homes in person. I think my cousin would love to drop them a line.

It's Not How Educated You Are, It's How You Are Educated -- NU

2008-09-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

Whoever says that a good business acumen is mostly genetic needs reeducation. At Nouveau University, students acquire business competence through expert training and experience both in the theoretical and practical aspects. If you are looking for a business school that gives primacy to creative entrepreneurship and to the birth of new business elites, Nouveau University is the school to attend. The name and the professional looking homepage are not just fronts to attract prospective students. Nouveau University indeed boasts real achievements that a serious business education school should have. More than just its renowned alumni and world-class business curriculum, Nouveau University now prides itself of having Dr. Laura Palmer Noone, former President of University of Phoenix, the largest private university in the world, as its Chief Executive Officer. With her constellation of achievements, leadership experience, and entrepreneurial competence, Nouveau University is guaranteed institutional growth and development. Under the auspices of Dr. Noone, together with the creative, smart, able, and passionate staff of Nouveau University, students are assured of quality education that could satisfy the needs of the new generation of entrepreneurs. They will surely be equipped with the needed technical knowledge of entrepreneurship, and becoming a nouveau riche is as easy as applying online. Jumpstart your future business and enroll in NU.

Today, They Matter Most

2008-09-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

The Consolation of Aging

September 13 is only the legitimate day when my ego can indulge in overflowing compliments, best wishes, and greetings of all sorts. "Why were you even born?", asked one of my friends. I do thank him; at least that could be a bitter melon in today's sweet salad.

Yeah, today's my birthday. And I was expecting someone to greet me warmly today.
That person didn't.
Honestly, I felt that by birthday won't be that complete without that person's greeting.

But I couldn't care less now.

After my best friend from overseas dropped me a line, when my lawyer-to-be friend went out of her way to greet me, when all my relatives remembered...That person shrank to insignificance that I was able to tell myself:

"You're not a someone to begin with. No, you're not."

These people are the reason why I should be happy today:

Thank you everyone for making my birthday kimchi-esque.

A Day In Seoul

2008-09-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

I went to Jinhyeung's house for a two-day home stay during the summer vacation. It was my first time to visit Seoul. There I saw how different a developing country is from a developed one. Though of course, Manila is almost like Seoul, sans subways. We took the KTX train from Daejeon City to Seoul Gwangyeokshi (major/special city) and it was expectedly fast. In Korea, ppali-ppali is enmeshed with all aspects of their lives: transportation, eating, walking, working, etc.

The Kim Family, our host, was very generous to prepare for us this meal of 5 courses. Expect that you have to eat appetizers, veggies, meat, veggies again, rice and meat, and soup, in a Korean family's table. I thought that these people eat a lot! So here was my first ever home-prepared Korean meal:
[pic above] The rice and some side dishes weren't yet served. The table, after all's been cooked and served, should look more festive; the sight would be enough to make you pe-bo-lo-yo (full).
The host has been very kind to us; hospitality is out of the question. More than the food, more than giving us a place to sleep, I found a home in the very busy, and somewhat impersonal city called Seoul.

Emoment

2008-09-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

A love unspoken is a torment to one's mind,
a poison to the soul.

You're Invited!

2008-09-08T10:01:00.001-07:00

Dear all,

Greetings from UPLB!

In the midst of today's issues, the youth seek for solutions and
answers. On September 11, 2008, the UPLB Sociology Society, UPLB
Development Communicators Society and the Theta Epsilon Sorority will
hold a symposium entitled the "DIWA: Alamin, Unawain, Pagtibayin – A symposium on the issues confronting the youth today", from 1:00PM to
4:00PM at the SEARCA Auditorium. The speakers will comprise of
young leaders from various groups and political parties, who aim to
have a conversation with the young people to clarify issues, provide
substance, and arm them with objectivity and hope, instead of apathy
and hopelessness. The speakers are:

Atty. Adel Tamano, President of Pamanatasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(PLM), United Opposition Spokesperson and UP alumnus
Mr. Gilbert Remulla, former congressman, broadcaster and television
personality; spokesperson of the Nacionalista Party and UP alumnus
Prof. Danton Remoto, Chairman of Ang Ladlad Party List and English
professor at the Ateneo de Manila University

We are really hoping that you can join us in this important
occasion. The University of the Philippines - Los Banos community would like to see and hear from you.
To confirm, please email at this address ekdd14@yahoo. com.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

(Signed)
Ella Kristina D. Coronel
Organizer
(Socio Soc Tribo 95)

for:

Vincent Baracao
President, UPLB Sociology Society 08-09
(Batch Band 06)

Grab the Key

2008-09-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

Pay day loan services have become commonplace in the internet. Sometimes you’ll just base your decision on what payday loans homepage exudes more professional credibility and capacity that you can rely on. Of course façades matter. It’s just sometimes it is not translated to what is really at the interior. Perfect Cash Advance case is an exception. With years on the online lending business, it offers you an expert and professional service to start up your own business, pay your debts zero and start a new and clean monetary slate again. This website is designed intuitively in that the essential links that you need to click on such as the quality of services it offers, how to get started, how things work, frequently asked questions and the contact information are boasted at the top part of the site. Navigating the homepage is thus easy. The site also provides a good explanation answer to the question: what really is a payday loan? Of course not all people know about what this is and so fail to exploit the benefits pay day loans can offer. Moreover, the site also provides swift access to the application form. If you are interested, then you can sign up easily. Just fill up the client information box with the usual information about you. Spare yourself from bad credit cash loans and avail payday loans from Perfect Cash Advance.

Owning A Car

2008-09-07T00:12:00.000-07:00

I have read from a recent economic paper that this generation of teens would find it difficult to acquire baseline assets such as a house and lot and a car. Unfortunately, I do belong in this generation. But I don’t think that I’d be sharing a common fate. Haha. Anyhow, I’ve always dreamt of having a car. Mobility is needed in my work and I think landing my hands on luxury wheels is a luxuriously great idea. Owning a car is really not as difficult as the study might have suggested. Spare yourself from bad credit auto loans and try Get the Best Auto Loan. This service provides a quick, easy and secure way of owning four wheels. It might not be the elegant Ferrari of your dreams, but at least your mobility and the ease of it you will be having with your very own car. This website is very easy to navigate. The links are organized to places where you would expect them to be. At the bottom of the page there is About Us (provides you with a sense of credibility for the website; of course shelling a few thousand dollars is not a game most people can play), Contact Us (for some inquiries about auto loan services) and site map. Links for Loan for new cars, loan for used cars and refinancing are also present at the homepage so you will not get flooded with all unnecessary things. Just focus on what you need, click and auto loan will do the rest for you.

Advancing the Moolah

2008-09-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Availing for payday loans or cash in advance is becoming more convenient ways of fishing one’s self off debt pond. More oftentimes, money doesn’t arrive in times when you need it most. Good thing is that there are online advance cash lenders in the internet. These loan services are especially useful if you are caught sandwiched in multiple debts and you see yourself in need of divine intervention. This website http://www.easyonlinepaydayloan.com can help you out iron your financial creases. Easy Online Payday Loan provides a very straight forward explanation of what payday loans and cash advances are. I guess this website does not just front a debtor-congenial face but actually is in reality a friendly lending service. If you are short on cash, and if you are caught between paychecks, this website can really help you out. It provides a very good payday loaning service coupled with experience in the business and credible lenders. Browsing the website is very easy. The most necessary information you want are featured as the centerpiece, no unnecessary blabber and bluff, just pure expert lending business to fish you out in undesirable financial states. You can easily sign up for payday loans. Advantages of this service are cash are deposited directly to your account overnight, fast and easy service, confidential and secure, 100% online and flexible payment options.

While Waiting for the Moolah

2008-09-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

If you are short on moolah, having a huge, purse-purging, wallet-flattening debt problem, if you are on the verge of borrowing from gangs and “5.6%” lenders, then just give Personal Cash Advance a click. It could just be the site you need for your fast and reliable cash loans online. You can apply for cash advance loan and payday loans effortlessly and with more confidence. With its loaning skill expertise and long experience in the field of online loaning, your satisfaction and success are guaranteed (that is assuming that after you borrowed, you will be able to handle the money well; channel it where it should really go like in your outstanding debts a few days before your payday) Borrowing money from Personal Cash Advance is as easy as one, two, three. You can even have the money by the very next day, pay your debts off, or better yet, start up your own business—an asset that can yield more assets if you steer the business wheel carefully. Moreover, Personal Cash Advance can qualify you for a payday loan of substantial amount. So just kick back, relax, and let this cash loans online service do the thing for you. Advantages of availing this terrific payday loan service is that it is 100% online, cash is deposited directly into your account on the very next business day, it is quick and easy and requires no faxing in many cases, and most importantly, it is safe and secure. Borrowing is never as risky as it seems to be.

Get a Jumpstart for Your Business

2008-09-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Wanting to open your own mini mart? Availing loans has not been so easy with EzUnsecured.com. Everyone needs money but the question is how fast can one get money? In today’s business, it is necessary that one acts fast, one must invest fast. So availing business loans for starting your business should be made quick and easy. And EzUnsecured has the answer to your loaning needs. Unsecured loans means that there will be no collateral. Your house won't be at risk. You car won't be in jeopardy. Though the interest would be a bit higher than secured loans (loans secured against your assets), I think this is still the best way to go through lending. After all, you'll do work 24/7 for your business to grow. Hence, you can pay the interest and the principal. The site provides a very easy on the eye interface. On the left hand side you can see a set of links that can get you to know more information about their loaning service. EzUnsecured also offers debt consolidation. If you are doubtful about the business loan EzUnsecured offers, you can just click the 'learn more' at the center of the webpage, or call toll-free. It's also very easy to apply for a credit card, credit lines, and loans in the website. Just click on the apply button that's conspicuous in the homepage. Borrow, flourish and worry about payment less with EzUnsecured.

A Refreshment for Your Credit

2008-09-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the scariest thing that could happen to a household is that when it incurs multiple financial debts. Some have just gone a long way down the drain to have their house and ‘substantial’ properties secured against their debts. Indeed, getting out of the debt pit is difficult. In the case of having serious financial crisis, advisers more often than not suggest availing of a debt loan consolidation. What is debt consolidation? The concept is very easy to understand. If you owe a number of people debts, i.e., you have multiple debts to other people or lending firms, a debt loan consolidation plan would lend you the sufficient amount of money to pay all these debts one time big time. The logic is that you would not have to trouble yourself pay each individual / entities and instead rest your mind on just paying the debt loan consolidator. NoDebtToday.com offers an easy way of getting out of the debt trap. It gives people the change to refresh their credit scores and live their credit lives anew. The good thing about debt loan consolidation is that more often than not, entities that offer this service give a relatively lower interest than all your individual debts combined.

Dress Up Your House

2008-09-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

A curtain is only as beautiful as its iron wrought. When we relocated to our new house eight years ago, I remember my mother arguing over allocating a larger budget for designer curtains. Our house is really not that big, not mansion-esque, but its interior quite requires a bit of glamour and zest that only not-your-humdrum curtain can deliver. Of course, as my mom says, the wrought iron should be on par with the curtain’s aesthetic quality. We scoured big malls looking for quality curtains; those were relatively easier to find that are good curtain rods (some people call an iron wrought curtain hangers/rods). I finally decided that we should just check the internet for local wrought suppliers. As my keyword was so general, “good iron wrought seller”, google returned to me websites that are not local. I clicked on them one by one so I could also get an idea of what a really good iron wrought should look like. In one website, if found fabulous curtains hanging from fantabulous curtain hangers; there were Victorian designs, Greco-roman forges, rustic wooden curtains and iron wrought. I told my mother that if she is really into curtains and wrought, then we should increase the bar of our standards. There were plentiful to choose from.

There was one site, however, that I wished would be local. It is Iron Wrought Haven and it offers more than just curtain hangers. It also offer garden decors, furniture for the house and office, candle holders, cabinet hardware, wall hooks and hangers, etc. Above all, this website features items that would make your house an abode. If you can see samples of an iron wrought in this post and find that you like it, hesitate no more and go to Iron Wrought Haven. They are currently offering a 30% discount to anyone who’s ordering now. You can pay with MasterCard, Visa, Paypal, and other major cards. Their homepage also offers 24/7 live support so if ever you have more inquiries, just give the agent a buzz.

The Birth of Another Southern Soldier

2008-08-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Everyone can now drop their two cents in this blog. I (guess who) have already changed the comment settings.
----

My Korean buddy has already graduated from college. Congratulations for a job well done! Though I really can't return all the favor you've done to us, and that no words of gratitude could ever suffice, still, 너무 감사합니다 작한 buddy, Kim Jinhyeung.

Health Net

2008-08-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

There was a recent buzz in our company about a health insurance firm offering low premiums, better benefits, and shorter maturity. As someone who is working, being uninsured is really a no-no. I started asking how to apply in that insurance company but thought that perhaps this kind of risk management doesn’t quite suit me. In my opinion, I could better reduce the risk of my getting sick by living healthy: eating veggies and fruits everyday and taking in large doses of vitamin C. For some people, however, having an insurance gives them peace of mind. Indeed, having one won’t really harm the insurance beneficiary. If you are looking for a good health insurance provider, and especially if you are living in the US, then visit healthinsurancerates.com. It provides information on the best insurance companies out there. It gives prospective health insurance buyers the chance to have an informed decision on what insurance policy better suits their individual needs. Aside from health insurance, this site also gives information on auto, housing, renters, and condo insurances. Health costs in the US are increasing and getting sick is the last thing that anyone wants to see in the picture. If you are not healthy, you cannot work. Your earnings are definitely affected. A good health insurance is definitely a good safety net.

Namsan's Nocturnal Summer Lights

2008-08-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Namsan Tower might not be as quite as famous as the Tower of the Baguettes but anyone who happens to be in Seoul, a keen traveler or just a plain, budget-constricted (but pupil dilated), exchange student such as I, should not miss. At night, Namsan ceases to be your humdrum tower. It transforms into a harmony of multicolored lights dancing with the grace of the fractal arts, and priding itself with such aesthetic beauty. You could never see any other object that is so beautifully condescending that liking it and even witnessing it for another round could never have been more addicting.

A Student's Lifeline

2008-08-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Almost 5 months have passed since I had last faced a blank MS Word page. That was when I was writing my thesis, which was a rewarding and at times frightening experience for me. Well, I guess every student must have felt a bit queasy about having to fill an entire page with single-spaced text in Times New Roman font 11. Some could just be too busy trying to fit all their teacher’s requirements with all their org and extra-curricular activities. I was one of them. I had three organizations and sometimes I just don’t have time for everything. Good thing that there are some internet services offering an extra brain for uber busy students. Custom-essays.org helps students to prioritize by providing custom term paper to those in dire need to beat the deadline. If you are looking for writers for a custom research paper, then custom-essays.org could just be the site for you. The custom writing this site provides is guaranteed to be plagiarism-free, will not be re-sold, written free of grammatically blonde moments, and is guaranteed to be delivered on time. What is great with this service is that the site is not selective of difficulty levels of your custom writing request: from minor reports, term papers, to cerebrally hemorrhaging theses, writers at custom-essays.org can handle all. I encourage everyone to try this service out but this is by no means a condoning of laziness. If you do, you learn. This site is just an extra hand, and a good one at that, for those in real need to squeeze through their busy lives—alive.

Mud-ness

2008-08-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

Muddy Hell!
For nine humid days in July, the downtown areas of Boryeong and Daecheon Beach are transformed into large muddy recreational areas. Organized for the purpose of advertising Boryeong mud cosmetics and providing a fun, festive atmosphere for the locals and visitors, the Mud Festival is quite popular with foreigners. Meet my muddy friends.

So where does this mud bath come from?
Extracted from Daecheon Beach area, it’s a high quality natural ocean mud. Boryeong mud is said to emit a healthy level of infrared rays, so the festival is not only a great way to have loads of fun but is also a good way to revitalize your skin and health.
Boryeong Mud Festival has all the activities and performances involving mud that one can possibly think of. It’s also a suitable festival for everyone as playing and getting dirty in mud will allow people to let loose and feel like kids again. While there are plenty to do in the city, why not take a trip down to Boryeong for a weekend of fun-filled activities?

Getting there
There are several ways to get to Boryeong from Seoul.
• Train
Yongsan Station to Daecheon Station: 16 rides available throughout the day with approximate travel time estimated at 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Iksan to Daecheon Station: 16 rides available with approximate travel time estimated at 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Express Buses
Seoul to Boryeong Terminal: 29 rides throughout the day (two hour ride). Once you reach Boryeong Terminal, take the city bus to Daecheon Beach (20 minute ride).

click here for more info.

Cash in a Flash

2008-08-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

Life is indeed surprising—surprising in an unsurprisingly unwanted way. Without prior notice, I just knew that my sisters’ tuition fees have increased by 15%, electricity and water bill were taxed higher, jeep fare topped by another .50 cents (the nth fare increase this year; I simply lost track counting). Unsurprisingly, my company has not given us any increase at all. In fact, they are trying to devise ways of punching holes to wage laws to keep our salaries depressed. This month I think I’d be needing extra sources of money, aside from my teaching English part-time. And I'm trying to avoid bad credit cash loan. I guess a cash advance or payday loans website could help me cross the financial bridge before I receive my salary at every end of the month. I actually have tried availing cash advance services provided by a local loaning firm and my experience would not deter me from borrowing again. If you can just manage your money well, allotting your money to things with priority tags like urgent and constant expenses and debts, borrowing is not really harrowing. Payday or cash advance services are actually friends of those who are temporarily in need of cash that doesn’t arrive in times when you need it most.

Credit Card Resource Website

2008-08-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

I used to despise credit cards when I was younger. I thought that this is one devious way banks earn money from unsuspecting credit card users. That there might be ghost charges, unknown inequities, and other thoughts of paranoia are unwarranted beliefs I held back then. When I started working, I realized that so long as you are disciplined to pay the bills you incur using your credit card, banks could be good friends. Your Credit Card Network (http://www.yourcreditnetwork.com/) offers a wealth of resources on how to avoid bad credit cards. It helps prospective credit card users to research, compare, and apply credit card providers so that customers would have the broadest choice possible. An informed choice is the best one. Your Credit Card Network will help you to find the right credit card for your specific needs with the lowest interest rate possible. If you are looking for the following credit card types: Rewards credit cards, cash back credit cards, student credit cards, business credit cards, balance transfer, or hotel/airline credit cards, Your Credit Network is the best place to go. Partner banks are the following: American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, and Discover. Electronic money is more convenient after all.

Haven for Casino Players

2008-08-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

The internet could be a nasty place to earn money (blogging could be an exception). Playing online casino games perhaps is thought of as quite notorious in this respect. You are risking big and important things like your time and your money if you play carelessly. Good news is that a website provides a comprehensive guide for online casinos to players on maximizing gains and minimizing losses that playing online casinos entail. Casinoguide.ws provides really exciting and practical ways to know online casinos. The main page is attractively designed that it can lead you to dig more information about your favorite online casinos game. It features the homepages of various links to best online casinos that you can ever play in. If you want, you could always bookmark this site for easier access to a wealth of resources for casinos. There are good casino tips here that could really boost your chances of winning. Knowledge is power. And we also know that gambling involves an understanding of the concept of probability. As much as I wanted to try this, I think I’ll just cheer for my friend who is a black jack expert. ^^;

When Land is Rained on by Blood

2008-08-20T02:11:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, war broke out in Mindanao:
Government forces versus Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Filipino Christians versus Filipino Muslims

The reason for this incessant war in Mindanao is Land. The MILF wants to gain exclusive control over their ancestral domain which have been endowed to them by their progenitors. Mindanao boasts of having the oldest surviving politically organized institution before it even becomes internationally recognized as a part of the Philippine peninsula. And the Muslim Mindanao wants to live by the names, pacts, and muslim legalities of their sultans bygone.

Government solution: Crush the separatists.
Outcome: 30 years of bloodshed...and still blood-shedding.

Innovative approach: Government caving into MILF's demand of expanding its territory, i.e., "gerrymandering" ARMM or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao occupied by the less conservative Muslims and Christians.

Problems: This would trigger war among Muslims themselves.
This step is tantamount to partitioning the Philippine territory, undermining Philippine sovereignty, ceding political powers to a group of regionally interested Muslims because the Central Government is so weak to crush them.

I particularly am vehement towards this provision:

"The parties agree that the BJE shall be empowered to build, develop and maintain its own institutions, inclusive of, civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, and police and internal security force, judicial system and correctional institutions, necessary for developing a progressive Bangsamoro society the details of which shall be discussed in the negotiation of the comprehensive compact.

Sometimes I wonder if strains of Islam really do harbor war-freakish behavior and atrocious worldviews. I don't know if I should blame Mindanao's particular Muslim "deonomination" for this territorial dispute. But it is clear that military power alone cannot eradicate sessecionist movements. Indeed, an new innovative approach is needed. One that does not necessitate the creation of BJE.

For the full draft, visit Inquirer.

August Celebrants

2008-08-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my fellow ASEAN Scholars Batch 2007!

Freda Yuin Wei (Singapore)

Joe Phanouvong (Laos)

생일 축하합니다! 진짜 보고 싶어. 언제 다시 만날까?

Season Differential

2008-08-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

The tides is to the seas as seasons is to humans.
I always thought that having a changing season is one significant factor of economic growth. Notice that countries that enjoy four seasons are relatively well off that countries having only summer and summer (North-South divide).

Four points of reference,
Four different activities,
Four different paces,
Each aiming for four different goals.

The Music of Spring

2008-08-16T00:12:00.000-07:00

Shikajng Mountain -- It's March and Cherry Blossoms are all abloom. Professor Choi took us for some hiking in the crisp wind of Spring, something that my nostrils were very new to. Our History class didn't go to the top but just walked around the flat levels of the mountain till we reached the mountain's park. We saw there people dancing in a weird, unconventional rhythm. Prof Choi told us that it's called the Farmer's Dance and is one of Korea's traditional dances. The sole use of percussions made it difficult to appreciate it at first because of the loud, patternless sound...but then, when you try to merge the imagery of falling Cherry blossom petals, with the cold, fresh air, and brown twigs, the movement, chant, and drumming of the dancers, you'd find it quite relaxingly oriental...

Even Jumong Falls

2008-08-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

Though I feel a bit of vicarious loss for the Koreans, I must say I'm in some way happy because Archery is not in the blood!
Zhang Juanjuan of China bagged the gold in the Women’s Individual. Park Sung-hyun of South Korea was beaten by just one point (110-109). Yun Ok-hee of South Korea got the bronze.