Books This Year

Book Fair came and gone this year. Yes, I was a little disappointed. I was expecting more. Or at least, the same as last year but then, there were fewer stalls and the big stalls were cut in half this year.
But that, doesn't mean, I went without buying. hehehe. Can't resist books.
Here are some I got from the fair.

Set of Black Dagger Brtherhood books. 295, each excpet Lover Unbound which is 395. Each at 20% off at National Bookstore.
Turbulent Sea - 299 at 20% off
Dark Curse 975 - 20% off
Fangs for the Memories - 299 at 20% off
Mt Immortal Highlander - 299 at 20% off
Undead and Unreturnable - 315 = got it at 198.
Undead and Unappreaciated - 315 = got it at 198
The Treasured Ones -100 at A Diff Bookstore
The best buy I had was this 1.5 feet, three inch thick Biblica, The Bible Atlas. Fully colored, pictures at ever page. 1495 at 20% off.I made National Bookstore rich this book fair.

I heard last year, the rent for a space was about 50,+++.00 no wonder, not much wants to come back this year. It's expensive and people expect you to have cheap books.

I hope it would be better next year.

Turbulent Sea

Feehan's New Book on the Drake Sisters.

Glad it came out in the bookfair! I bought it kaagad!

The sixth sister is doomed to fall in love... Joley Drake knew the inevitable is coming. It is said that the seventh sister will give birth to seven daughters. That has been an unbroken tradition. These seven sisters will have strange power like no other. The eldest will fall in love first then the rest will follow accordingly. In Safe Harbor (Book5) Hannah Drake, Model extraordinaire, marries their childhood friend Jonas Harrington but not before an adventure and lots of near-death experiences. It was Ilya Prakenski, a supposed Russian Mobster who helped the Drakes. He has strange powers of his own.

He may not collect on the Drakes but he has something he must collect from Joley, her heart! For nights, they talk in their heads telepathically, soothing Joley, understanding the world and their differences. Mishaps happen and Ilya posts himself as Joley bodyguard.

Its an explosion of powers as Ilya was the fate seventh sone of the seventh son and Joley is marked as his destined.

Worth the wait! Gotta have more!

The suspense is killing me! Elle Drake is missing and she is about to have more trouble than Joley!

Next to Safe Harbor, I love this book! This series is a must-collect.

The Mtv of Turbulent Sea. (from www.christinefeehan.com)

Arms Ahoy!

What kind of arms do you sport?

Skinny? Bony and think maybe it is too skinny for your whole body?

Average? Just right but needs to be seen just right.

Heavy? Chunky? It flaps when you say goodbye!<

Here are some styles you may want to try out.

Note: It's all in the sleeve!

Thins arms allow you to go with volume so you can have puffs or leg-o-muttons. Do not over do! Avoid Razor backs and razor fronts!

Chunky arms need no extra volume. Make sure your sleeves are fitted. Not too much extra room there! It might add more volume than you are trying to hide.

Try a butterfly sleeve. Guaranteed to flatter and not flutter!

If you are not so sure of the sleeve, Butterfly is actually a good sleeve to hide what you need to while still showing some skin. You may also try a cap sleeve. There are some puff-cap sleeves out in the market and are great and very "presco" on the arms.

A bit formal? Try an elbow sleeve or three-fourth sleeve. make sure the cuffs are not too thick that it might make your arms short. Also, make sure it is not too loose. The width of your arms plus 2 inches is the correct measurement. Not sure? Fit it and rotate your arms. Punch up then down. If it moves, then the fit is perfect.

Remember, the seem (tahi line) where the shoulder and sleeve is joined must be at the ball of your shoulder. Feel around for it and make sure it is there. For males, it drops an inch or two after the ball.

For more fashion tips: http://figures.multiply.com

Book Fair Day 1

Book Fair this year is in SMX.

Smaller venue compared to World Trade but it was ok. My problem was, fewer book sellers this year. Powerbooks and National Bookstore booths were comparatively small. As in half the size of last year! Incomplete books too.

Let's see tomorrow if maybe they would put out more books. The spaces are smaller and Stephenie Meyer and Harry Potter Books dominate the area. There are very few cheap books or Sale Piles. :-(

Hello... Nicolas

Finally, Dark Curse by Christine Feehan was out this week. Bought one yesterday and can't put it down. (Only now since I wanted to blog.)

Nicolas De La Cruz, he is a different man. We have been introduced in Dark Secret but I never really knew his personality. That's because he didn't have any then. Now, he has because he just found his lifemate. Nicolas is the middle child of 5 brothers. He believes he is traditional just like Manolito (Dark Possession). He also believes he is sexual. Perhaps a bit like Rafael (Dark Curse) since he told Rafael to just do it with Colby, convert her and get over with it. "Her virginity belonged to you!"

But when he met Lara, his lifemate, he wanted to be all the man that he is. But nobody told Nicolas that keeping a lifemate was so overwhelming. Everything went flying out the window when he can't think of anything but to please her. He was never a gentleman but now he kept apologizing to Lara every turn.

As for the rest of the Carpathian Race, there is danger. The Dark Mage Xavier is on the loose and is carrying out his plot to destroy the Carpathians. He has introduced something tot he mineral rich soils, parasites. The target: women and children of the race.

Will Lara and the Carpathains save the race?

I don't know yet. I haven't finished the book.

Oh! Turbulent Sea is out in National Bookstore Just Today!

Word Camp 08

I'm glad Word Camp was a success. Congrats Kuya Bloggie and team!

Aki and I were there. Attended some talks and of course took turns manning the table we got for Talecraft.

Nine cards, five minutes, one tale.

Can you handle it?

Can you blog that fast? :-)

It brought back memories to be back in CSB. Some things never change. Like paperwork to get things like a tarp and laptop and camera in. IDs and long lines too. Oh yeah, not to mention roaming D.O.'s.

I did expect more people but the turnout was not disappointing. Most of my old classmetes form CSB used to keep blogs. Perhaps they just needed more advertisements. I didn't ahve a single batchmate in the WordCamp. Maybe next year would be better. No complains here. It was a feat to achieve. Just that, I wanted to share it with my friends.

Good Job Kuya.

Dark Curse

Dark Curse by Christine Feehan is out but not yet in this country.
This sucks! I wish they had the same release dates.

I found the Book Trailer.
I DO NOT like thier choice of actor for Nicholas. He has not an ounce of sexy SOuth American with Old World Elegance here.

Misconceptions in Full-Figure Dressing

Sometimes, people have these misconceptions on dressing. They want to hide their "fats." There is this mindset to hide the bulk. I'm not only talking about Plus-sized women. Most people think this. I use to work for two different people and they have similarities about what the plus-size market should be wearing. One is plus-sized herself.

Perhaps what they were thinking was true during the 80's but now, even the big girls want to stay trendy and hip. They need clothes that work and fit right.

Misconception #1: Hiding Bulk in More bulk.
I see many plus-sized women wear bulky clothing. Sometimes even over-sized men's shirt. Wearing these excess-sized clothes will only make you look even bigger.

What to wear: Shirt that fits. There are a lot of clothing brands emerging that are trendy. Expensive? Not anymore. Boys T-shirts has got to go. You're a woman. Feminine. Show those curves! Get jean that are either bootleg or skinny. Make sure the thighs are hugged. Hips must be the fittest part of that jeans. Look here: Denim pants or Twill jeans are tough materials. If there is excess space, air will fill it up, giving you MORE volume. We don't want to look bigger than we feel.

Misconception # 2: Stripes. More an more stripes
Not all stripes are friendly. Just because they make a vertical stripes doesn't mean they look good.

What to wear: It doesn't have to be the weave of the textile nor the print. Pleating or a folding can give a vertical lines. Remember, less is more. Smaller stripes, lesser space too. Diagonal is always safe.

Misconception #3: Long sleeves to hide those big arms.
Some people do have amazingly big arms. I saw a girl who was a SIZE 10-12 but her arms were like for size 18. She may be prone to heart attacks. How do you hide this? By showing it.
No kid.

Remember M#1? The more you hide, the more you show. There are ways to show but still hide these arms.

What to wear: Butterfly sleeves and cap sleeves. Trust me! Unless you have designer cut sleeves, no RTW has perfected anything that hides bulk in bulk yet.

Misconception # 4 Belt the tummy or belt under the breast.
Major no-no! Belt under the breast will give you the preggy look. Belt under the tummy emphasizes the upper and lower tummy.

What to wear: Want some baby doll blouses? Empires? Make sure they are cut HALFWAY BETWEEN under the breast line and belly button. You'll look longer and thinner. If you have a belt, think or thin, put it ABOVE your waist line. It makes the tummy disappear.

Misconception # 5 Long Blouse and capri pants.
Not for you, gal. The wrong cut is out of style. Get blouses that does NOT cut at the 2nd hips. That would be the fullest part of your buttocks. No! It will only make you look bigger. Cut at the first hip which is 4 inches below the belly button. Oh, by the way, for long blouses, make sure the waist is defined. If not, you will look short.

Capri may be great but not everyone is built for it. If the pants are cut at the fullest part of your calf, it will make you look bigger. Find something below or above it.

What to wear: Wear pedals or ankle length pants to be on the safe side.

* * *

Remember ladies: Hide what you can, flatter what you can't.

Filipino Comics

Your story. Your art.

http://www.komikasi.com/call.html

Komikasi Enterprise is now open for comic submissions! We're looking for fun, witty, engaging comics; comics that will leave us shouting for the next issue! If you have a comic series you'd like us to consider, send us a detailed summary of the series, and the first issue of your series.

Specifications

Size: 180 x 250 mm + 3 mm bleed; 150 x 220 mm drawing frameColors: Black and White; Screen-tonedNum of pages: 30-60 per issue, ideally. But we can go as low as 12Language: English or FilipinoTheme: Open; as long as it's interestingReaders: Young adult; no sex, please, and easy on the violence

When you send your first issue, save the pages in JPG format at 72 dpi. Since we're still evaluating, we don't need them hi-res yet. As for the detailed summary, keep it within 5 pages. Let us also know how many issues your story will be. If you don't have the exact number, an estimate will do. Save your summary in RTF format.
Send your summary and first issue, along with your name, age, contact number, favorite ice cream and any other information you'd like to share about yourself to feedback@komikasi.com. Deadline is on September 19, 2008.

Proffesional Gate Crashers

What do we know of such people?

We think they are people we know and we didn't bother to invite them then they just show up at your party/wedding.

Nope, there's really an art to it.

I went to a laureate for lunch. Sort of a family reunion with friends and relatives. There are over 200 guests and half of them don't know they are related. We attend this to know we are related. This family association can be dated back to our pre-colonial China days.

Anyways, there was this old lady in our table. She's wearing a dress like you buy it in a tiange and a suit jacket. When the food was being served one at a time, she started to horde the meat and canned soft drink.

Note: A table seat twelve and one dish is being served one at a time in a typical Laureate.

Alright, we though, bad table manners-much! She horded so much meat when we all took small quantities only. Then, she scooped them in plastic bag.

I hate to be related to this woman!

Then, when the last of the dessert came, she went off from table to table taking left-overs.

Normally, the managers don't mind. But you'd never know if food is the only thing she takes. What if she took your cellphone?

We later learned she is a pro-gate crasher. With more than 200 guests, its hard to spot them and they are not usually alone.

According to stories shared: a couple of pro gate crashers had IDs of Media on them. No kid! These are pros. They come to eat and take home some food.

The nerve!

Note: the host pays at least 1,000 pesos per person. Each guest is usually counted. Extra drinks have extra charge!

So, party hosts beware! Be aware of these people and see if you have these people in your party. They may dress the part but they don't have good table manners!

Busy, busy

Toycon last June was a success. I had a problem then, a great problem. Diki said it's a good problem, the type that you must always wish for if you ever had a problem: Running out of stocks.

Cool problem indeed!

So, I am now preparing to make more. Tons more. I'm gonna make a ton of things to sell. If they click, yey me! I want to have the same problems last time: Running out of stocks to sell.

I earned 900 pesos in terms of chockers alone. Then, Me, AKi and Diki ran out of hats to sell too. We didn't think they'd sell. So, I am tasked to make hundreds! In different colors this time!

See picture here:

Little Muning is keeping me company.

Actually, he's making gulo! He's after my ribbons. He's lying down on it too.

So now, I'm busy-busy. Making hats. Making bonnets. Chasing kitties.

Lover Enshrined

A Mansion full of emotional vampires!

The sixth book for JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series.

Phury has accepted to be Primale. Meaning: He has to ensure the race by impregnating 40 females form the Scribe Virgin's Chosen. Unfortunately, he's falling in love with one of them and he. Throughout the book, he battled drug and alcohol addiction and a strange inner voice pulling him to destruction.
In the mean time, the other brotherhood members have their own battles to fight. The Glymera is being massacred, Wrath is having problems ruling, Zsadist in fearful of Bella's pregnancy and John Mathews is not comfortable in his transition. Outside of the brotherhood, things are also chaotic. Rhevenge is being blackmailed. Haver's Clinic is hit by the Lessening Society.
Will they all pull through?

Who would have known emotional vampires could be fun and romantic? The main characters are given depth and each one is tested. Unfortunately, not all characters are featured. I felt there wasn't much on Butch, Vishious and Rhage. Guess, these three didn't have that much of an impact on Phury as Wrath, Zsadist and Rhevenge.
John's story is very much part of the problem. His friends are there to protect him and he is there for them. Slowly he grows up emotionally but it is in steps.
Ward's Series is a must collect. It's not-your-usual vampire series.

Waitng For Feehan

Today, I was in FullyBooked. No book yet. Christine Feehan's Turbulent Sea is not yet out in this country. Maybe August they said.
Isn't it August yet?
Can't wait to get her new Carpathian Book, Dark Curse. But it's still on September. But I think it's coming a month later here.

.....still waiting

Word Camp 2008

Why do I want to join the word camp?

I would really want to meet fellow bloggers and see their views, their everyday life through blogging.
I think blogging has become a way of life and how we are as a person is reflected in our blogs.
It is also a venue to interact with people who share the same hobby/pastime/interest.

• i.PH: the Domain for Individuals


• Free Online Flash Games


• Wazzup Manila Philippines


• Real Estate CRM


• Real Estate Website Designers


• Orange County Real Estate


• Auto Insurance Quotes


• Lane Systems Inc.


• RedMedia


• Orange County Business Lawyer


• Cebu Pacific Air

• Reality Wedding Videos
  
  

SONA Fashion Show

Instead of being a solemn occasion, the SONA '08 became a fashion show.

Is there anything worth addressing? The Text message to go down to fifty cents. So?
"Texting is a way of life." --PGMA.
So what? Rice is more important than Text. How much would rice be?

Things that have to be addressed are:

• Poverty
• Population Control
• Rice Crisis
• Gas Price Increase
• Corruption
• Red Taping and "Lagay" system
• The environment
• Efficient Transportation

So, instead of showing off those designer outfits, you should sell it and give the money to a legitimate NGO. 100,000.00 goes a long, long way. Even if the designer is your friend.
That red carpet show in the SONA was just disgusting. All those people showing-of should be ashamed of themselves.

While the country is in a crisis, these people parade around like clowns. Don’t they know where the money comes from?

(Sounds very Maria Antoinette-ish? Then, the crisis might explode and shake this country very soon.)

Hair Color

Hair Color Blue and Red!

Cost Cutting Much!

For those who have not been flying recently, here's the thing:

Read and read well.

As seen on papers, Cebu Pacific has been cutting price. Yey for us. Right?
Maybe.
Here's the catch:

• No food, no drinks, no blankets, no emergency oxygen.
• Food and drinks must be purchased. a C2 350ml for 50.00!!! 500ml for 100.00. Pack of peanuts or chips for 50.00. No kid! You can't bring drinks in the plane. Drink your own laway! You can bring your own food. Being your own blanket too. If you have heart/lung problems, you can't bring your own oxygen. Ride a boat if you dare!
• Small plane, squeeze much chairs.
• Oh yeah, best one yet: You don't go through the tube to get in the plane. You have to exit through the fire exit, go out in the heat/rain and run to the plane which is beside the tube. But they can't use it. One of the land stewardess said it cost 35,000.00 to just use the tube. Talk about cost cut much.
  

So, tips:

1. Eat ahead of time.
2. Bring your own blanket and knick knacks
3. wear comfy clothes and shoes. You can freshen up in the CR when you get down.
4. Oh, make sure you don't cry when your luggage gets battered. Or whatever is in there for that matter.

No kid! Witnessed it myself! They throw your luggage from the carty thing. If you have that fragile thing on your luggage, they will put it on top but that doesn't stop them from dropping it. These carriers won't care. Don't worry, I haven't lost the whole luggage but I've lost two wheels and the strolly thing at the back. Three luggages in a year!
I know you Cebu Pacific guys are cutting cost! But it doesn't take much to take care of the luggage. It won't cost anything!

Guess the Food!

Guess what these are:

Picture A. It's brown and sticky.
If you think this is Barbeque Spareribs or something like that...

Wrong! It's Biko! Behind it is not garlic chips but V-cut BBQ Chips.


Picture B. What does it look like?

Alien Planet?

Di ka taga-Dabaw! It's Marang. A bit half eaten. Yum!

Davao and Food... Again

I was in Davao the whole week!
Yup, the city where food is always good!
I've learned that Harana's prices went up. So, we went in front instead to Cubyertos, along Torres. Chicken Salad is a must! Can't get enough. Ate it twice and took out a third time.
Rising prices? In a budget?
Go eat Chinese! There's this place called Mandarin. Food=SULIT! Order anything. Eat everything!!!
Makes me fat. Food and lots of choices!

Yesterday, we went to Torril. Lechon on the road and picnic in Campo Agua. Picnics are good. You can't do that in polluted Manila. Air is still clean in Davao and food is still prepared with love.
:-)

Must eat snacks:

• Eclairs form Boulangerie, Victoria Plaza
• Merco Jelly Roll or Plain Chiffon Cake
• Chocolate Cake and Cathedral from Cecil's
• Chicharon with Pinakurat Vinegar
• Peanuts from the Streets
• Bola-Bola Siopao from Famous
• Durian Tarts/Candy/Pie

Princess of the Stars, Star of the Sea

Sulpicio's MV Princess of the Sea Sunk last Saturday. Who is to blame?

DOST slams Sulpicio for blaming Pagasa

Philippine Star - Sunday, June 29
The Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) lashed back at Sulpicio Lines for blaming the weather bureau
in the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars, saying that it was the company
that erred.
DOST Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Sulpicio should not pass
the buck to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (Pagasa) because the agency had issued ample warnings about
typhoon "Frank."
Pagasa is under the DOST.
Sulpicio lawyer Arthur Lim had
blamed Pagasa for inaccurate reporting on the typhoon causing the Princess of
the Stars to be caught in the eye of the storm last week.
Nestor Pontero,
Sulpicio's port officer in Cebu, claimed that the last message he received from
Princess of the Stars Capt. Florencio Marimon was "Buanga ning Pagasa, pataka
lang (Pagasa is crazy; it is only guessing)."
The last communication was
received at around 7 a.m. of June 21, just before the 23,000-ton passenger ferry
capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon.
Marimon is still
missing.
"Initially, they blamed the (Philippine) Coast Guard, but it turned
out that they were operating on an old guideline. After that, they said it was
an 'act of God.' And now they are blaming the Pagasa... We have full
documentation that complete bulletins (were issued)," Yumul told The STAR.
He
said Pagasa follows a "protocol" in which it submits warning bulletins to the
National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Philippines Coast Guard, which in
turn disseminate information on weather updates.
Aside from this, Pagasa also
maintains "voice services" where the public can get updates about the weather by
dialing 433. The weather bureau also regularly posts bulletins on its
website.
"And if they register on our website, they can receive weather
bulletins in their own email addresses," Yumul said.
Yumul stressed that on
top of individual media interviews, Pagasa had called for five press conferences
from June 20 to 22 to inform the public on changes in Frank's route.
"There
is really no reason for Sulpicio not to know about the developments in typhoons.
Pagasa has been doing its best to inform the public," he said.
Yumul
maintained that ship captains should be conscious not only about the weather in
their ports of origin but also in their ports of destination.
Manila was
reportedly under typhoon signal No. 1 when the Princess of the Stars sailed, but
signal No. 2 was already up in Romblon by the time the ship reached its
vicinity. - Sheila Crisostomo/Philstar

Six years ago, I visited Sibuyan Island. I don't remember if I rode a Sulpicio lines but I do remember my boat experience. It was something one cannot forget.

We boarded the boat at 12ish because we were to depart the port of Manila at 1pm bound for the Island of Romblon, Romblon. 3pm and we were told there was a delay due to engine trouble. 4pm, we were asked to move to the ship beside where we were. Our boat was never going to move. 5pm, the coast guard ok-ed the boat and we left for port. Where's our bed? by the time it was dinner, we were still standing in the hallway. One of us got sick. Our moderator of the Immersion program, went to fix things.

Later, she told us the surprise. We get to sleep in the hallway because there was a different set of passengers who booked the 5pm boat. All from the 1pm boat were to just stay in the hallway. Don't worry, the crew will still give us dinner. Did the coast guard know this? Apparently, after they checked the 5pm boat and saw the manifest, we were let in. Passenger and crew totaled 2,000. Boat capacity is only 800. Go do the math.

We arrived in Romblon at 5am. Now to catch the other boat to Sibuyan Island. Surprise again! We are not at Romblon, Romblon. We are at Tablas, Romblon.

Luckily, we were Assumptionistas and a priest gave us a lift to Romblon proper to take the next boat to Sibuyan.

So, toxic boxes int he hallway? Seen it! Bet you haven't seen animals there too! Sand, cement, marble, animals, people, stocks, food, they are all in the hallway.

700 people in MV Princess of the Stars? Was that the declared number? How many are undeclared? What about undeclared cargoes?

200,000 pesos per person. Is that the amount a life is worth? Things are getting expensive, people's lives are getting cheaper.

So, why did the search start 3 days after the boat sank? Passengers who were alive inside the ship died due to the cold and the toxic pesticides. They don't have P&I Insurance. This means they don't get money to do clean-ups. Sulpicio is the one who is shelling the money to do the search and rescue operations. But isn't the government doing that instead?

Ruckus Makes a Ruckus

Ruckus is a noisy cat who is mean and makes a lot of mess. We gave him a good home several streets away. Mean?
We are giving him a better home. He'll be loved and cherished and showered with attention there. He'll be an only child there!
I do hope he'll adapt.

Comicon2008

Sold out all my hats! Including the ones on our head! Yey!

Dark Symphony

Dark Symphony is one of my favorite books. It is a Carpathian Book by C. Feehan.
Antonietta Scarletti is a rich heiress but wealthy in her own right. She is a pianist and composer. Whatever businesses she touches, turns to gold. One thing though, she is lonely. The people in her life want only her money including her family.
There is murder, conspiracy and scandal in every step of a Scarletti life but she has to over come it.
For one thing, she is blind.
Another thing, she is psychic.
Not a bad combination.
Just Mix Byron Justicano into the equation.
Byron Justiccano is a Carpathian Artisan turned Hunter. The moment he heard Antonietta's Music, he vowed to court her and make her his lifemate. Now, to be able to keep her and protect her, he must face the same intrigues that plagues the Scarletti.

Saw the Book trailer. Here is it.



My personal comment: Get a real Pallazzo. Her music room is separate and it connects to Antonietta's bedroom. This music room is just a piano under the stairs!!!
Another thing is, GET A FASHION CONSULTANT! Hello! She is a rich heiress, designer clothes and all. He's Carpathian with a good body. Get some slim fits or flat fronts. Get a CRISPY shirt!

Girl, you need make-up. This is a shoot. A bit of fake-ness, needs dramatic eyes, lips and put a bit of blush. Get a hair dresser too. Your hair looks like Morticia Adam's wig.

Dancing, making out? This trailer needs more intrigue. The threat needs to be deadlier than just a the camera angles.

Dark Possession was a good trailer. Dark Destiny too. I liked how that was narrated while the action was taking place. I didn't like any of the rest.

Spec Fic Questions

1. If you were a Super Hero, what would your powers be? (Powers must not exist in any published works)

I'd sweat bullets. Literally.
My super special move is called the BasKill- As in basa kilikili (wet armpit). It's like a machine gun from my pits.

2. In the Year 2059, you are the top scientist of (whatever field you choose). The World Leaders ask you to implement a plan to control population growth. What's the plan?

As the leading pediatrician in the world, I'd put something on the OPLAN-Alis Disease drops given freely to children. This makes them barren. Only when they are able to support themselves comfortably will the Health Office give them another shot that would allow them to give birth to one healthy offspring. Each female will be given a maximum of three shots=3 babies only.
This will not only alleviate population overgrowth but also poverty and unwanted pregnancies.

Why is the choice given to females, because (this is based in my country only) right now, the lower class keeps saying they did not have a choice, that it was the man's choice. Then, now it will be their choice to get the shot that would give them a baby or not.
Women who have unwanted pregnancies live their whole lives trying to pay for their mistakes. Some who have no help from family spend everything they have for the children. Food, clothing and education. There is no more recreation and family life. At times, they go OFWs just to send money home.

3. If there was a point in History you can change, what would it be? What would the result of the change be today?

I'd make sure Miguel Lopez de Legaspi does not take Tondo.

I'm pretty sure soon, there would be other conquerors who would ravage the Philippines but at least the hold on Intramuros would not be as strong.

If I can't make that happen, I'd make sure Bonifacio survives. He will bide his time and groom his descendants to be good leaders, self-less leaders who would take over the government and turn it around.

Baby Boomers

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-walt-babyboomers-blurb,0,1036393.blurb

Look at the above link.
Sound like your parents?

Yup...

Happy Anniv Mom and Pops!

Yearbook Yucks

Company to reprint yearbooks after head switching
Sun May 18, 2:57 AM ET
McKINNEY, Texas - School officials say they are appalled by altered photos — including heads on different bodies — in hundreds of McKinney High School yearbooks delivered this week.

Yahoo Full Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080518/ap_on_fe_st/odd_altered_yearbook

Thier heads are switched and they had to reprint!
Our AC02 Just came out LAST YEAR! (I'm Not Kidding!)
Nobody even bothered to reprint! We all look dead! There are some typo's and captions are all wrong!
My worst of all!
My sister's nickname was written on my space. In fact, her testimonial is the one on my space!!! As in, I'm a violinist and a movie star? Hey... I'm the artist! Where did my best friend's great testimonial went?
Can this awful yearbook be reprinted???

My Tuxedo Lover Come Home...

Today, something knocked on the door.
Yes, knocked.
My mother had the shock of her life when she discovered who the visitor was.
It was my wayward baby Alonzo.
Talk about a raven rapping on my chamber door!
I was my Raven colored Alonzo rapping on the house door.
He has come home!
So happy, I gave him my chicken without hesitation.
He was sorry to leave so long. I could tell.
He was rubbing his head on my toes. He was trying to be affectionate.
Aw... 'Lonzo-kins. I love you too.

For the Love of Joining!

I was watching reality TV and saw a documentary about conjoint twins, ones that function as people no matter how they are. It inspired me to create artworks on Conjoint/Siamese twins. Here is one above. A lot of people seems to like them. I named them Caitlyn and Marilyn.

This one is an originally concept of a guy named neonigma3 in DeviantArt. He asked me to make a rendition of one of his art. I made this. Ivori and Eboni. The clothes, I designed.

Go Speed, Go!

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer
He's a demon on wheels

He's a demon and he's gonna be chasing after someone
He's gaining on you so you better look alive
He's busy revving up the powerful Mach Five
And when the odds are against him and there's dangerous work to do
You bet your life Speed Racer's gonna see it through

Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer go

He's off and flying as he guns the car around the track
He's jamming down the pedal like he's never coming back

Adventure's waiting just ahead

Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer Go!

They kept it!
The song, the clothes and the look!

It was like watching an ever-changing kaleidoscope! Matrix meets Car Racing set in Jetsons age! Lots of Matrix camera angles happening and WWF moves on the car. Action-packed! I'm not spoiling anything because I think the movie is worth the watch! Don't buy pirated! Watching it in the big screen is part of the effect! Cool! Fast!

Speed, Trixie, Pops, Mom, Rex, Spritle and Chim2x are all in character. That's what I like about it. They also added spice and depth to the original 2d characters to make them 3d. Like, Speed, he really admires his brother. They show his childhood to explain why. Trixie, the very supportive was there from grade-school to high-school.
Mom and Pops, the clothes! They attitude! Pops really look likes Pops Racer! Mom is always understanding and constantly cooking!
What can you expect from Spritle and Chim Chim? Pranks and mischief! Candy thieves and stow-aways!
Sparky is the trusty mechanic. He's older in the movie but he's still part of the family. He doesn't follow dress code or character but he blends in.
Rex is complicated in 2d and 3d. What gave him depth is what he does in order to change the racing industry.

Go watch!

By the way, Mach 5 is not Speed's car. It's now Mach 6. The 5 belonged to Rex. That's the only give away I'm telling!

Move Over Man of Steel!

Move over Supes, Steel can't beat this Iron flat!

*Warning! Spoilers and Details of the Movie!*

Genius playboy Tony Stark of Stark Industries is captured by terrorists and is forced to make one of his weapons for them. Due to a blast, his heart was raptured by shrapnels. Only a car battery is helping him alive. With superhuman genius expertise, he makes a sort of heart using his dismantled torpedoes. For three months, he and another weapons expert work to make an iron suit to escape. He escapes but his friend lost his life buying Tony time.
When he got back to the states, he sets his time cleaning up.

You'll love this guy. Especially in press conferences. He always makes a one liner that rocks the world!
First he said he was stopping weapons manufacturing. That dropped the stock market by 56%!
The highlight of the movie was the ending line he gave! No super hero in this planet could ever beat that!

"The truth is... I'm Iron Man!"

That was the bomb!

Some people might think Tony Stark is not a relateable character. Nerdy Peter Parker or even Mild Mannered Clark Kent are the relateable types. But don't you ever look at CNN and see the war on Iraq or the trouble in Afghanistan and wish you could do something. To all Americans, how do you feel about your taxes funding the military to perfect weapons and kill other races so they can be "pacified." Then also learn the same weapons sold to the terrorist so that they can counter the American attacks?
The beginning of the movie felt like Micheal Moore's Fahrenheit documentary. Then it felt like Batman Begins when he was in society and out flirting with girls. It got its own flair when he was testing his little project. Tony's gadgets have a humor of their own.

In a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a nine point five. It's a definite Barkada and Family movie.
Pictures from Yahoo Search

Dirk And Steele

I began reading a new series of books by a rising new author of Paranormal Romances. Although I feel she has more paranormal than romance, I do enjoy her stories.
This series circles around a detective agency named Dirk & Steele. It is no ordinary detective agency. All the members here possess some unique ability like telekinesis or they might be shape-shifters.

"Tiger's Eye"

All Dela wants is a vacation, but when she buys an odd little box from a Beijing market, she finds much more than that — she gets a djini: a shape-shifter, a warrior, the last of his kind. Hari has been used and abused for millennia, but upon his release from the riddle box, he sees his new mistress is different. In Dela’s eyes he finds hidden power. If only he dares protect, where before he has savaged; love, where before he has known hate. For Dela, he will dare all.

Shape shifters are introduced in this book. Hari is aTiger and is cursed as a djini. His got lucky that weapons expert Delila or Dela is the one to open his box. Dela's Aunt is head of the NY office of Dirk & Steele. Her powers are wielding metals. This first book grip you to read the rest of the series.

"Shadow Touch"

Elena Baxter can work miracles with her fingers. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the soul. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken. But salvation awaits. it exists in a form least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last, a shadow touch.

One of Dirk & Steele agents, Artur Loginov is missing. He and others with talents are taken by a rival organization who also have agents with talents. He meets Elena who is a healer. They also rescue other shape shifters. This book is not one of my faves.

"The Red Heart Of Jade"

When grisly murders bring ex-cop and clairvoyant, Dean Campbell, to Taiwan, he finds a shocking truth -- and a woman he thought long dead. What follows is an adventure far more deadly than any that has been foreseen, a threat heralding immortal evil.

I first thought it was long and dragging because the stories are jumping from one thing to another. Mummies, arsonists, Taiwanese Super Stars, Red Jades, then dragons. What ties it all up? What does Dean and Miri have to do with all these?
Then the ending is a killer! The Jades are like books. They are passed from generation to generation and gets reborn into people's hearts. These Jades are actually like the book of Death. They can unleash their powers to mankind. But the maker of the book made a precaution that nobody can use it on its own. He chopped it in half and put it in one girl and one boy. For some reason, every generation, they will be born lovers.

"A Dream of Stone and Shadows"

There are those who do terrible things in this world, and those who simply watch. Charlie would do neither. Imprisoned, his only release is through his own destruction — or through Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss or a rescued child, she is the one dream he does not dare desire. As an agent of Dirk & Steele, she could be his salvation. Today, his dream is waking.

What, do you ask, is Charlie? He's a Gargoyle. Strange name for a gargoyle right? He can't really die. when he does, he lingers as shadow until he heals. In his shadowed state, he learns the plight of a little girl who is hidden in a basement and is used in a kiddy porn. He looks for a warrior who can do what he can't. He finds Aggie.
I like the story. Aggie is strong and like Dela, she likes to annoy Roland Dirk. Charlie is actually a modern Gargoyle. He doesn't stay ancient. he keeps up with the times. I love how Aggie saves him and his brothers.

To see more of Liu's books:
http://www.marjoriemliu.com/

Healthier Way to Eat Ice Cream

Some would associate Ice Cream with Summer. Well, doesn't mean we can't cut down a little.
Ice Cream too small for a big bowl? Trick your mind. Here's a useful tip to make ice cream yummy and not-so-fattening. In a nice-looking bowl, take a scoop of your fave ice cream. Just one. Ok, Maximum 2. Cut up some fruits. Try the summery fruits like mango and pineapple. Then put A banana split on half. You can put unsweetened rice crispies or animal crackers. I put one chocolate cookie cut in half here. Then, don't put syrup. Put a Tbs. of Virgin Coconut Oil. Trust me, it is very interesting when it hardens with ice cream.

A Model Life

What is in a model's life?
Fashion is such a fast business. As Heidi Clum would say, "One day you're in, the next day you're out." It is all appearance, looking young, fresh and edgy. Who can blame the Fashion World? It makes the economy run and fast.
But what about the Models? How does this affect their life?
A Model's lifespan is only the look they bring. If you don't make an impact by 25, you fade into the background. Models who make it switch careers but stay into the limelight. Look at Tyra, she hosts her own show. Heidi has her own show too. That makes Petra Nemcova too. She mentors six girls in a reality show that's not quite "Top Model" and all the more harsh.
"A Model Life" with Petra Nemcova follows six girls' journey in Next Modeling Agency. By the end of the show, only one will be picked to be one of Next's 18 models in the Fashion Week.

Executive Producer David Broome says A Model Life's aim is to "pull back the curtain on the modeling industry" and tackle issues like distorted body image, living in a big city on one's own, and self-esteem. As six models vie for a contract, walk Fashion Week's runways, and compete for ad campaigns, Nemcova acts as sideline coach. But really-gorgeous, pampered models as victims? More than you'd know. "Girls are anorexic and dying," says Nemcova. "It's stupid, but it still happens in this business." Broome cast a nutritionist to offer a healthy defense against fashion's never-too-thin manifesto. "Models pick up life-threatening habits to stay in the game," he says, "and the industry still spits them out."

Clip from: http://www.marieclaire.com/world/articles/petra-nemcova

Pull back the curtains indeed. We can see the harsh life even in the Agency alone. They haven't even booked jobs yet. They get critiqued left and right. Not only in their performances, mind, also how their bodies look. Michelle, the most anorexic looking girl with sunken eyes and ribs for torso, is what they call perfect and edgy. Theother girls with hips or bits of flesh, the agents are already saying they won't make it. Still, week after week, they are told to loose weight. What wieght?
Would you be angry at the agents for driving these girls to malnutrition or blmae the girls for doing it?
Sarah from ANTM Cycle 9 was sent home because she was too fat to be a regular model but too thin to be plus-size. How can a person be a model? Is it simply the looks, the personality or something more innate? All three are very subjective. One client might like a lot of character but some wants no character at all but looks alone. I've seen four Reality Show about modeling already. Each are very different yet same. Each client is very subjective and when all the contestants are beautiful, it all comes down to who would go the extra mile to get what they want.
America's Next Top Model, Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency, A Model Life with Petra Nemcova, Make Me A Model, all these shows show the fashion world. They keep saying that the fashion industry is harsh and it is. The show gives you bonuses like a place to live in, challenges to win prizes and meet the popular people who mave and shake that world but it reality, when there is no show, a model's life is one full of struggles and woes.
In this country (Philippines), you can't be a full-time model. It doesn't pay. You are subjected to whatever a model is subjected to and you get very little pay. A professional model may earn Php3,000.oo to Php5,000 per walk but how many walks can you do a year? Fashion Shows are scarce and with competition, prices are being brought down. You can find a tall teen ager in the streets with edge in their looks, train her and pay her Php1,000.00 the whole night (Aprox, 4-6 walks). Cover model? Rarely. We have Actors, Singers and politicians gracing the covers and endorsing products.
So, a model life is one full of woes.

If you do wish to be a model, make sure your family is behind you. They not only give you support but also back-up. When you stumble, fall and be put down, there must always be someone there behind you to fall back on.

Hanoi Trip

Three sisters, one destination. Me, Aki ria and Diki Marie boarded the shuddering Cebu Pacific Plane praying the Maiden Flight won't end up like Titanic. I know back in our minds, we were singing "On a Maiden Voyage, One a Maiden Voyage..."
Thank God, we landed! And lived to get conned by a colorum "taxi." Yes, we are not the only country with colorum taxis and taxis who tamper their meters. The good people of Hanoi may prefer to use motorbikes but that doesn't stop road accidents. they are hell-drivers, very much like us!

So, we immersed ourselves in culture and history. Going around one of Hanoi's most important Lakes, Hoan Kiem. Hoan Kiem Lake is the center of commerce in Hanoi. The Old District surrounds the small pond-like lake. Legend says that the old emperor took a boat trip in the lake and a giant turtle appeared and gave him a golden sword which he used to win a war. After, the turtle took it back and was never seen. You can find a stuffed giant turtle in the pagoda in the middle of the lake. Strange such big creatures actually exist in the small lake. Whether the turtle is the actual turtle of the story, no one can confirm nor deny.

The shopping district is basically everywhere close to the lake. You can buy anything and everything if you can find the streets. The Old Hanoi were ruled by guilds. Each street had its own wares, its own guild. So, you may find yourself in a street full of Musical instruments, a street of shoes, lapidaries or a street of greeting cards. There are no malls so you can find Nine West in front of the Lake. It is a law in Hanoi not to demolish old structures especially in the Old District. but they are renovated. The downstairs are all turned commercial but the top floors retain their colonial touches. By the way, Vietnam was conquered by the French.

So you can see a lot of the French influences like architecture food and theatres. It was to our delight that Hanoi has an Opera House and we were fortunate to be at the last night of the Spring Ballet entitles "Chopiniana" and for the second part, West Side Story.

Vietnamese culture cannot be complete without a Vietnamese Theatre. In front of Hoan Kiem lake is the Water Puppet Theatre where the famous art form is performed with traditional music using traditional instruments are used. The Water Puppet performance are little segments depicting Vietnamese life and culture like Dragon Dance, Dance of the Phoenix, Planting Rice, Catching Frogs, The story of the Emperor and the Turtle (One where the emperor is given the Sword and its return). Of course there is also a segment where a Scholar returns home and the whole town celebrates.
Do you think Valentines Day is popular in Hanoi? Nothing can compare to teachers day. Flower prices rise tenfold during Teachers Day. Vietnamese revere their teachers. A one point in history, they were revered as gods.
To me and my two sis' delight, we found a place of reverence to one of the most important things in our life, Literature. We went to the Temple of Literature. It was built by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070. Later it was made into "University of the Sons of the Nation," Hanoi's first university. Today, we find the names of the scholars and teachers immortalized in stone on the back of stone turtles.

After seven days, we ready to go home. Bringing culture, memory and a whole bunch of silks, we arrived in Manila, tired and hungry. Nope, Cebu Pacific did not feed us in the four-hour journey plus one hour delay. And Hanoi Airport closes its restaurant at ten so no food for us.
But boy! What experiences we now carry, from the trip to the tours to going home, our Hanoi experience is incomparable. One day, we hope to return and tour more sights that were not part of the itinerary we set for ourselves. We would also wish to see Saigon, Ho Chi Min and possible take the train up all the way to Beijing. It is a ten-hour experience!

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A Day of Plays

Day 6 in Hanoi
Water Puppet Show, shopping and Spring Ballet

An Emerging Dragon

Day 5
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is a river system described as an emerging dragon. The limestone islets protruding in a line like formation gave it it's name.
When visiting Ha Long Bay remember these: Wear comfy clothes that blocks sun and weather. Wear good shoes that you can trek with. Although food is provided, bring your own drink. They only have coke on board and it is a dollar each. Water is not so safe inn the islands.

I did enjoy my Ha Long experience. The 4-hour cruise was leisurely and perfect for relaxing. We went into an island where you can go inside a cave with natural grottoes with stalactites and stalagmites. Some contain fossilized creatures.
Food is a simple fish and vegetables but rice-all-you-can. There is not water on board to drink and you must buy your own coke. In the islands and the harbor, there are water, sodas, chipos and souvenirs for sale but they charge a tourist price.

A Street Lined with Silk

Day 4 in Hanoi

Silk Village to shop for silk.