I'm only at the 100th episode of Bleach :-( waaah...free streaming video of anime I like is so slow (at least from where I'm watching them)

Digital Camera Reviews and News

http://www.dpreview.com/
A site recommended by camera salespeople as well as friends who are into photography.

When I opened my browser today, there was the Yahoo window with the usual headlines, advertisement, temperature...and what got my eye was this puzzling statement beside my photo "5 years of your life are spent eating". Well, hello! where and how'd somebody arrive at this number?

Avatar

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

The movie is a brainchild of noted director James Cameron - it is a no-brainer for me to conclude that this is one of the best and worthy-of-every-peso-I-paid films I've seen this year (and hey! watching this movie on a spur-of-the-moment decision sure got rid of my "New Moon" blah-ness!).

As fond as I am of action/adventure slash science-fiction films, this movie also earns extra kudos for its underlying and timely "environmental" message but even more so for its being a tribute to one of my favorite sayings - "Imagination is more important than knowledge...."

Truly, the brain behind the creation of such a vibrant, colourful world of Pandora - with all its fantastic creatures, coupled with scenes upon scenes of the environment of this moon (of the gas giant Polyphemus), which in turn brought to my mind visions of a lush Amazonian forest multi-layered with a palette of light and colors from an underwater world - I can only be in awe. It was in early 2006 wherein Cameron developed the script, the language, and the culture of Pandora - and once you see it displayed in all its breathtaking grandeur on the big screen, I am sure you would be amazed also at his literally out-of-this-world imagination and highly-creative output.

Luckily, the current technology and computer-generated imagery techniques available has certainly gone a long way from those old days of stop-motion clay animation (with apologies to Gumby). "Avatar" is estimated to have cost about half a billion dollars - over $300 million to produce, and another estimated $200 million for the distribution and other costs. This film is touted as a breakthrough in terms of filmmaking technology, for its development of 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking with cameras that were specially designed for the film's production. The movie is a hybrid with a full live-action combined with computer-generated characters and live environments.

Some films make up for a simple plot with eye-popping action scenes...others churn out a mental labyrinth of a story with straightforward story-telling devoid of visual effects. But sitting through approximately 3 hours of this movie, I felt that it was a refreshing blend and balance of such diametric film-making approaches.

A definition first before I plunge into the world of Pandora. What does the title refer to?

An "Avatar" is a genetically-engineered human-Na'vi hybrid used for interaction with the indigenous natives of Pandora. A human who shares genetic material with the avatar can be mentally linked to it, allowing them to control its functions and experience what it experiences, while their own body sleeps in a chamber which allows the neural connection with the avatar.

The storyline in the most simplistic description I can give is this:

**** WARNING: SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD ****
.....
.....


The protagonist is paraplegic former U.S. Marine Jake Sully who ends up taking his twin brother's place in the Avatar Program when the latter dies. Off our Jake goes to Pandora, the home of the Na’vi, an indigenous sentient humanoid race who are considered primitive by human standards. The Na'vi live in harmony with their unspoiled world, which the humans have found to be rich with Unobtainium, a very valuable and expensive mineral.

So here's conflict #1: Unobtanium's richest deposits are unfortunately resting underneath the Na'vi's "HomeTree" and big surprise! the military-corporate entity mining the planet for this mineral want those deposits at all costs. In fairness though, with the Avatar program, a faction of the humans on Pandora do try to befriend and learn the culture of the Na'vi ...(and am being hard-boiled but I reason out that some higher-ups just really want to "persuade" the natives to relocate)...it is only later that the bad guys do blast the "HomeTree" to perdition. Oops..I didn't mean to give that obvious development away :-)

Through a series of events, Jake Sully (or more accurately, his avatar) fortuitously ends up in the Na'vi people's Omaticayan tribe with Neytiri, the young Na'vi female who first tries to kill him when he is left behind in the dangerous forest after his thrilling encounter with some sensitive plants and a few territorial and fearsome wildlife. Later on she rescues him due to some timely floating seeds from one of their sacred trees/deity. Neytiri ends up being ordered by the tribe's leaders (incidentally her parents) to teach Jake the ways and customs of their tribe.

This is now a slippery diving platform for conflict #2 to flourish: both Jake and Neytiri develops romantic feelings for each other over the course of Jake's training. When Jake gets exposed later for what he has known will happen if he could not persuade the Na'vi to move from their home - the exposure is also after he and Neytiri have mated - not only is the mandatory dramatic scene inserted, but it gets mixed up with lots of ka-bhoom! and ka-baam! from the "Sky People"'s (another name for us greedy humans) military bombardment of the Omaticayan's home and surrounding environment resulting in horrendous loss of lives, and not just of the Na'vi.

I had a few toenail-biting moments as I was wondering what unearthly twist Cameron could introduce into the story to ensure that the Na'vi with all their "primitive" bows and arrows, even with their strong connections to the justifiable sentient trees and wild creatures, could fight and have a believable win against the mighty firepower and destruction wrought by the humans. I was also thinking madly of ideas on how these lovers of different races could end up living happily ever after with each other (a 3-meter tall, slender and blue-skinned female Na'vi lovingly cradling a gasping, nearly-dying disabled human male on her lap? uhhmm....)

There was an overflowing plateful of enjoyable movie morsels which all resulted in a very "marketable" yummy movie package

we have Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldaña (she portrayed the young Uhura from Star Trek, the 2009 movie), Michelle Rodriguez for starters as part of the cast and let us not forget Sam Worthington too (quite worthy being cast in his pivotal role);

we have kaboodles of seat-gripping close views of the Na'vi way of life (that rite of passage for Na'vi warriors was pulse-stopping); as well as the expected fight and action scenes;

we have a heap of majestically floating mountains/islands and ethereal scenery and the Pandoran creatures are numerous and varied enough but still familiar and quite helpful in the end;

There's the Good versus Bad formula (that Colonel Miles sure is a coldblooded meanie! and makes for a perfect I-love-to-hate antagonist though he's no parody), a sub-formula of Big Corporation versus the indigenous Na'vi...then the miracles do happen hossanahs!...hey, what's not to gobble up...er..I mean enjoy?

Oh, and just to be fair, there were a few cons for me too - but it had mostly to do with some predictable story twists. I guessed these, a by-product of my sometimes too-critical-with-movies and logical brain but in the end, I would still say - go out and watch this now as it is certainly suited for a Christmas season feel-good movie. We all love such cheer these cool December days :-)

With a couple more sequels on its way...what can I say - I will be seeing you later!

A macadamia afternoon - started with Hershey's Macadamia Nut kisses, picked up Green Tea Wasabi-flavored Macadamia nuts on a whim after, then finished up with Macadamia nut Shortbread with blueberries. Mmmm....

I've been out of touch - but now I know I will be looking forward to "Dead in the Family"

The new word I learned for today *gulps in nervousness* is........"heavage"!

Ghirardelli-chocolate-flavored (by accident) oatmeal for dinner! paired with one Ferrero Rondnoir and one original Ferrero Rocher...ay..chocolate-breaktime!

Playing eeny, meeny, miny, moe between a Nikon DLSR, Pentax DSLR and Olympus EP-1. Given limited budget, need for handy but powerful cam...*sigh* maybe I should just not buy one.

Reminiscent Mood: Runaway

Due to Stormlizard's (John) post on Bonnie Raitt and her version of this classic song, I started hunting up the original version because I remember hearing it back home but being sung by a guy.

This when I found out it was Del Shannon who took it to #1 in 1961.

Obviously I heard it decades after  but I really had a great time listening (and grooving) to its different versions -  yes, even the one used as the theme song in NBC's Crime Story, and do me a favor, go take a look at Del singing this song at Little Darlin's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OwkQPSsIxc

Runaway was #1  the Billboard Hot 100 songs in the spring of 1961.
It was written by Del Shannon and keyboardist Max Crook (whoa! listen to all those great solos on the keyboards!!). It is # 466 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Lyrics:
As I walk along, I wonder
Oh, what went wrong with our love
A love that was so strong

And as I still walk on
I think of the things we've done together
Oh, while our hearts were young

I'm a-walking in the rain, tears are falling and I feel a pain
A wishing you were here by me to end this misery
And I wonder, I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder

Why, why why why why why she ran away
And I wonder, oh where she will stay, yay
My little runaway, a-run-run-run-run-runaway

I'm a-walking in the rain, tears are falling and I feel a pain
A wishing you were here by me to end this misery
I wonder, I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder

Why, why why why why why she ran away
And I wonder, oh where she will stay, yay
My little runaway, a-run-run-run-run-runaway
A-run-run-run-run-runaway, a-run-run-run-run-runaway

Bleach Season 1 on Animax Asia

Start:	Dec 18, '09 7:30p
End:	Feb 28, '10
Location:	Asia

Although I've seen it on a streaming site (before the most recent season eps got cut off ...grrr!) I still enjoy this anime and its manga. It seems to be English-dub version though :-(

Synopsis from Animax -
15-year old, orange-haired Ichigo Kurosaki has the ability to see spirits, he is not afraid or shocked, but sees it as an annoyance. Helping those he cares, he leads a normal life with his family that runs a clinic. One fateful day, a mysterious woman in a black kimono with a katana appears in his room. Known as a ‘Soul Reaper’, her name is Rukia. As they get acquainted, the Kurosaki family gets attacked by monstrous ‘Hollow’ spirits which consume other souls, with Rukia injured, Ichigo steps up to take on a Soul Reaper’s responsibility to protect his family.

When Ichigo Kurosaki accidently absorbs the powers of a Soul Reaper, it’s up to him to save the world when an evil conspiracy threatens to destroy it!

Mysterio sa 'Walang Mysterio'

I've been looping through and listening to Imago's old song for the past hour. Its a mystery to me as to the reason why.

I can't say I understand the lyrics completely...or more to the point, what is the deeper meaning behind them..but I like listening to it over and over...

Oh whooo, oh whooo (4x)

Natutunan mong gumalaw
Sa bibig ng laro mong natikman
Ang tamis ng bagong awit ng malisya
Pakana ng unang sumuway

[Refrain]
At pawang di natapos
Misteryong bumalot sa sangkatauhan
At pag di ka namulat
May ibang hahagip sa kamalayan mo

Oh whooo, oh whooo (4x)

Nabalitaan mong may ibang daan
Nagduda ka't nag-iisip
Wag na lang kaya?
May tamis ang bagong awit ng malisya
Pakana ng unang sumuway

(Repeat Refrain 2x)

Oh whooo, oh whooo (4x)

*pork belly laughter* ...reading Pugad Baboy 6 which I found in one of my boxes...

My first time... with durian pancakes....its fun finding out whats left in your ref and pantry shelves :-)

LifeIsShort

Part of a batch of emails I've deleted from my Inbox. Nice reminder though especially on a Friday afternoon, so am posting it here.



 

The Day's Motivation

Cleaning up my Inbox due to space constraints, I found older emails from good friends with timely reminders.

Received from Joy Logon last October 27, 2009 12:18 pm:


When I woke up this morning lying in bed, I was asking myself;
What are some of the secrets of success in life?
I found the answer right there, in my very room.....



Maayong buntag! (Good Morning!)
Maayong adlaw! (Good Day!)

Mark's Music Playlists

http://mdizon74.multiply.com/music
When I want a dose of modern Pinoy music (and others) I make sure to check Mark's site! Here's to Pinoy bands!

....so aside from bookmarking, since I noticed that he shares his playlists to "Everyone" am also putting up a link here and hope my contacts (younger or older) may discover and enjoy the varied songs he has shared..

thanks Mark, hope you get better soon!

The Outhouse

Thanks to John (stormlizard), who said it was okay for me to copy from his site...

I just found this "sublime" (!) in view of what is happening these days in our country (well to be fair, its been like that for the longest time).

I never enjoy writing about crap, so I let this picture do the talking for me...

Reminiscing in Cebu: Looking for Lechon Kawali

November 23, 2009
Cebu City, Philippines

I woke up...hungry.

I woke up...with a craving.

I had a hazy dream where cute pink piggies frolicked on green grass then ended up in my plate "oinking" with glee, but ..uhm...festooned with ...garlands of garlic? And how the heck could they oink with glee if they had an apple stuck between their teeth?!

Well, obviously, after eating pochero at Abuhan the other night, it was time to up the ante, if you get what I mean. After pochero, it had to be lechon kawali on my subconscious mind. Either that or go after lechon, lechon de leche, lechon cochinillo or whatever term they used as long as there was this word - lechon!

* crispy, delicious squares of lechon kawali *

I didn't have time to go to Talisay, nor to any other places (like the mall where one could get a kilo or more of the chopped up porky goodness from well-known makers),  so after a light repast I told my mom I wanted to see if "Marjo's" was still around.

It used to be near the Capitol Provincial Building and started out ages ago as an unassuming little "carenderia"-style eatery - offering humongous bowls of scalding-hot pochero paired with sliced crispy lechon kawali. I have always wondered what the secret was to keeping these artery-clogging temptations on display with such crispy skin. These bestsellers could walk unescorted to the customers' table.

Weaving through worsening traffic, I turned left on a familiar road and asked the security guard at Mayflower Inn where Marjo's was and he said, "Ah! the pocherohan?" then pointed us forward.

Hmm...well....its now known as Sabel and seems to still offer the good ole heart-thumping cholesterol-ridden pork and beef masterpieces.


An ever-tightening schedule made me ask my mom to get a sample of their lechon kawali just so I could say I tasted it again after all these years.


I'm afraid that sampling their pochero and other specialties wasn't in my menu that day as I still had to drive my parents somewhere else afterward and I didn't want to risk having a heart attack after eating such a rich meal *kidding*

   * pics of pochero, kawali, crabmeat  et. al.*

* mom quizzing the food attendant *

* on the chopping block *

I literally dashed in and out of Sabel's though I managed a quick smile at the owner.  If I had more time, I'd have ordered pochero again (for merienda?!). My reminiscing the other night had taken me back to my younger days of devouring chunks of tender beef and melt-in-your-mouth bone marrow while seated at assorted-size tables and fending off fiendishly buzzing flies and waves of heat (this probably added to my perception of the viands' flavor).

Ah..those good ole days wherein my dining partners would just heartily thunk the big bone of the beef  on the table and scrape out the utok (literal meaning: "brain") of those thick beef bones with the help of the end of a fork or a forgotten popsicle stick.


The next time I visit, I promised myself - I would make time to invite some of my guy friends (or those friends of mine who have hearty appetites) to help me polish off a big bowl of the pochero and a heaping plateful of lechon kawali.

                                         * specialties' prices *

For now though I had to be content with making "lanlan" (meaning: to eat solely the viand, without rice or any other accompaniment) half of the kawali-goodness. I swear I could almost hear an ecstatic oink in the background as I wolfed the pieces down. Or maybe..that was just moi?

* food and massage sign? *

my Friday Thanksgiving dinner version tonight: 1/4 kilo of roasted chestnuts; 40 grams of Carcar chicharon (crispy pork skin) dipped in Pinakurat vinegar with all the spices; 1 pack of turones de mani (peanuts), 2 glasses of strawberry yogurt drink, 1 slice of French bread with a pat of butter *burp*

Bruschetta with Tomatoes

Description:
This simple Tuscan dish ought to be familiar if you like eating Italian food. Just using sun-ripened cherry tomatoes and the best quality olive oil is enough to make this dish simply delicious!

Ingredients:
300 grams cherry tomatoes
4 sun dried tomatoes
4 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
16 fresh basil leaves, shredded
2 garlic cloves, peeled
8 slices ciabatta or other Italian bread you may prefer
salt and pepper to suit your taste


Directions:
Use a sharp knife to cut the cherry tomatoes in half.

Slice the sun-dried tomatoes into strips.

Place both types of tomatoes into a bowl. Add the olive oil and the shredded basil leaves, then toss to mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cut the garlic cloves in half. Lightly toast the ciabatta or your preferred Italian bread.

Rub the garlic (cut-side down) over both sides of the bread you just toasted.

Top the toasted bread with the tomato mixture. Transfer to individual plates and serve immediately.

Cebu Pacific - Ends by Nov 19, 2009 Christmas is in the Fare! P999 to all domestic destinations! Enjoy affordable fares this Christmas! More than 50,000 seats in the latest P999 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale to any domestic destination starting now until November 19, 2009, for travel from December 1-31, 2009. Choose among any of our 32 fantastic destinations in the Philippines. This includes flights from Manila to Kalibo (Boracay), San Jose, Tuguegarao, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Busuanga (Coron), and direct flights from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, Clark, and Legazpi. Those with check-in luggage will just add P100 upon booking. Book weekday flights or be flexible about your flight times to easily avail of the seat sale. Log on to www.cebupacificair.com for your P999 seats now!

Raita

Description:
This is a soothing yogurt-based side dish, and a good partner to any spicy Indian dish. It can even be made with variety of vegetables - hmm..seems to me I heard there is even banana raita! But cucumber raita is the most familiar to me.

Ingredients:
1 medium or 2 small cucumbers, peeled (~300g total)
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 sprig mint leaves, coarsely chopped
optional: 2 shallots, peeled and very thinly sliced

Directions:
Halve the cucumbers lengthwise. De-seed them. Cut crosswise into paper-thin slices (other recipes call for grating them). Sprinkle salt over the cucumbers and set aside to drain in a colander for about 15 minutes. Squeeze out as much water as possible from the cucumbers, then rinse off the salt and squeeze again. Allow to drain well.

Place the cucumber in a small bowl. Add the yogurt, shallots, mint leaves and mix well. Serve chilled. Some like it at room temperature.

You can also sprinkle a little chili or ground cumin over the raita just before serving if you like.

USB - 2.0, 3.0, Wireless, port, Hi-Speed, Gadgets - Everything USB

http://www.everythingusb.com/
What lead me to this link was the news about a USB UV Toothbrush Sanitizer and a USB eyelash curler...omg, what next?

In fairness, there are other useful gadgets..so enjoy!

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a specification[ to establish communication between devices and a host controller (usually personal computers). USB is intended to replace many varieties of serial and parallel ports. USB can connect computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards, digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives, and external hard drives.

USD became the de facto standard for connecting any external, thanks to USB's built-in power supply and relatively fast speeds. The then-unique one-cable approach sparked a revolution that spawned everything USB ranging from flash drives, hard drives, headsets, speakers, TV tuners to webcams. All these top at 12Mbps, at which speed is only good for mice and keyboards; so the official USB body upgraded the specs to USB 2.0, adding Hi-Speed USB mode operating at 480Mbps. As more applications moved on to wireless thereafter, the same group decided to follow the trend by cutting the wire in the latest Certified Wireless USB standard, completed in 2005. And as of this writing, we are currently in the pre-WUSB and SuperSpeed USB era.

Cebu voted the 7th Best Island Destination in Asia for 2009

I spent my formative and growing up years around Mactan (Lapu-Lapu City) and Cebu (Mandaue City, Cebu City, Sibonga etc.) So as an all-around(?) Cebuana, I couldn't be more happy and proud as I am now. As simple as that.

Thanks to Claire for posting about it as I was wondering what happened to Cebu's rank nowadays:  http://clairealgarme.multiply.com/journal/item/222/Cebu_maintains_rank_as_7th_best_island_destination_in_Asia

In Condé Nast Traveler: 2009 Reader's Choice Awards:
Under Asia and Indian Ocean, here is Cebu at #7! 
http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/readerschoice/islands

........From Claire's site, here's her post (why reinvent a good thing?)

CEBU has retained for the third straight year its seventh ranking in the list of best island destinations in Asia by international Condé Nast Traveler magazine.  A Cebu resort, the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City has also maintained its ranking in the prestigious list.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine has recently released the results of the annual Readers’ Choice Awards 2009, a listing of the best cities, islands, hotels,  transportation and resorts worldwide.

At 72.6 points, this is Cebu’s ranking for the third straight year and the fourth time in the last five years.

Cebu got 70.9 in 2008; 72.3 in 2007 and 72.8 in 2004. It has been ranked 8th best island destination twice in 2006 with 71.0 points and in 2005, with 69.5.

Rounding up this year’s top 10 island destinations in the Asia/Indian Ocean group are:
Maldives-87.5, Bali-84, Phuket-79.9, Seychelles-76.7, Koh Samui-75.3,  Mauritius-74.1, Cebu-72.6, Langkawi-69.8, Borneo-65.4, and Lamu-63.6.

This year, Cebu, along with Maldives, Bali, Phuket, Langkawi and Borneo, maintained their rankings, while Mauritius slid down.

On the same survey, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, an 11.4 hectare resort in Mactan has maintained its position at 16th place with 88.5, lower by 5 points in last year’s score. The resort surpassed some resorts in Bali, Cambodia and Phuket; trailing behind resorts in Langkawi and Maldives in the resorts category. It is the only Philippine resort included in the 25 top Resorts in Asia.

Every year since 1988, a select sample of Condé Nast Traveler readers have taken the Readers’ Choice Survey.  This year, the questionnaire was available to all readers through a secure website.

The final tabulations of 25,008 responses this year were done by Madiamark Research Inc. of New York City.

* yours truly at Kawasan Falls, Cebu back in Dekada Noventa *

Last August, Cebu was also named 4th best island in Asia by another New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure,  when it released its World’s Best Awards 2009, a listing of the best hotels, airlines, cruises islands and cities all over the world.

Cebu got a rating of 79.68 points and trailed behind Bali (87.41), Maldives (84.43) and Phuket (80.93).

Seat Alert from Cebu Pacific: We're cutting fares by 50% for all domestic and international destinations! Grab this fantastic deal as we offer 50% off our fares for all domestic and international destinations starting now until November 13, 2009, for travel from January 15, 2010 to March 15, 2010. CEB flies to 14 international destinations including Jakarta, Osaka, Incheon (via Manila and Cebu), Pusan (via Cebu), Macau (via Manila and Clark), Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok (via Manila and Clark), and Ho Chi Minh. We also fly to Hong Kong and Singapore from Manila, Clark and Cebu. In the Philippines, with a total of 32 domestic destinations including Kalibo (Boracay), Cauayan, Catarman, Calbayog, Busuanga (Coron), Naga, San Jose (Mindoro) and Zamboanga. Book your 50% off seats at www.cebupacificair.com.

PAL PROMO: USD778 Manila to Los Angeles/San Francisco (Round Trip Fiesta Class Fare at USD548 + USD230 surcharges) Fare does not include USD56.70 U.S. Government Taxes and Fees including the September 11th Security Fee Philippine Travel Tax, other airport fees and charges are not included Travel Period (Outbound Travel): 01 December 2009 - 13 December 2009 Selling Period: Tickets must be issued on or before 15 November 2009

Drooling and Daydreaming over Tumi

I sometimes get news about one of my fave brands of bags.


Just let me ....dream...and drool...at the same time.

Qlock - World Clock

http://www.qlock.com/
I've been using this for a long time as the kind of work I do means connecting up with people all over the world and I don't want to wake them up at 3 am their time for work matters.

Hope you find it as useful as I do...

Oysters Bloody Mary

Description:
Preparation time is about 5 minutes. Cooking time is from 5-10 minutes also.

Where fresh oyster is plentiful..this is a dish more frequently enjoyed

Ingredients:
1 tbsp vodka
1 dash Tabasco
squeeze of fresh lime
freshly ground black pepper
flesh of 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped (make sure no pulp and no seeds are included)
optional: 1/2 - 1 tsp whole grain mustard
6 scrubbed oysters, shucked
lime wedges to serve

Directions:
In a bowl, combine vodka, tabasco, pepper, lime juice, tomato flesh and mustard.

Spread the mixture evenly over the opened oysters and grill under pre-heated grill for 5 - 10 minutes. Or you can serve chilled.

Serve with crusty bread or toast. Garnish with lime wedges.

Anime or Character 2010 CALENDARS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER

http://englishworks.multiply.com/photos/album/151/ANIME_CHARACTER_2010_CALENDARS_AVAILABLE_FOR_PREORDER#
I haven't tried buying from them, coz I don't usually buy calendars as I get them as gifts :-)

However they do seem to have lovely calendars for those who might like spend their money to collect (or use) such items.

One or two caught my eye (such as Tezuka Osamo's works...Astroboy looks cutie! and of course, there's Studio Ghibli)...

So... for those who may be interested in such calendars..here you go...

Pickled Peppers

Description:
I was obviously inspired by "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" line today.

However, I do love peppers and pickled peppers make for a delicious antipasto or pizza topping, wouldn't you agree? Delicious also in pasta sauce, or wherver you would otherwise use peppers.

Ingredients:
1 kg mixed red and yellow peppers
4 basil leaves
2 bay leaves
5 black peppercorns
2 cloves of peeled garlic
1 pint white wine vinegar

Directions:
Preheat the grill to hot. Halve and seed the peppers. Place them skin up and grill for 15 minutes until charred.

Place the peppers in a plastic bag to sweat for 10 minutes. Peel the skin off. Slice the peppers into thick strips then set aside to cool.

Gently bruise the basil leaves between your fingers and put in a sterilized jar with the peppers, peppercorns, herbs and garlic. Add the vinegar.

Seal and use within 6 months.

UNLITXT.ORG : Offers Unlimited Free SMS/Text Messages from you computer to any mobile phones & latest news from the Philippines

http://unlitxt.org
Copied this from my friend Mark's site.
http://mdizon74.multiply.com/links/item/37/UNLITXT.ORG_Offers_Unlimited_Free_SMSText_Messages_from_you_computer_to_any_mobile_phones_latest_news_from_the_Philippines

thanks for sharing dude! *wink*

actually, even if its not a case of "no load"..

...e...alam mo na Pinoy...hehehe...being thrifty!

Anime as an Education Tool for the Unwary Otaku!

“This is what you SO richly deserve for watching anime at ungodly hours and inevitably being curious afterwards..." – I could have sworn this sentence was flashing mockingly like an orange-neon sign on the wall facing my catatonic self.
 
I sometimes cannot reign in my innate curiosity.

Well, if curiosity killed the cat, in my case, I devoutly hope it selectively kills the pimples part of me resulting from the lack of sleep. My bleary-eyed, shiny-nosed face staring at the computer screen’s spewed-out list from googling "Schrödinger" at 4 a.m., was undoubtedly going to be lavishly decorated with those little buggers.
 
How in the world did I end up at 4 in the morning trying to wrap my itty-bitty gray cells around the concepts of quantum mechanics?
 
The only “quantum” I’ve ever dabbled in was the tv show “Quantum Leap” and yet I have valiantly (you can interchange that with “foolishly”) leaped into this unknown territory.
 
I gazed incredulously at the simplistic drawing which was supposed to illustrate the “thought experiment”, nay, the “paradox” - or rather...the resulting “Verschränkung”.
 
Maybe I could get away by innocently citing old age? Or maybe I could use mental exhaustion as an excuse? Uhmm, how about anime overdose?

But I had re-read the paragraph about Schrödinger's cat for the second time, or was it third?…and my synapses rebelled by determinedly marching off to bed in their signature Hello Kitty pajamas (traitors, the whole lot of them!) while the rest of my body was still draped uncomfortably on the prickly-looking chair – leaving me vapidly gazing like one of Hellsing's ghouls into the computer screen - though at least, my mouth was not agape with dripping drool.

“… A cat is penned up in a steel chamber, along with the following device (which must be secured against direct interference by the cat): in a Geiger counter there is a tiny bit of radioactive substance, so small that perhaps in the course of the hour, one of the atoms decays, but also, with equal probability, perhaps none; if it happens, the counter tube discharges, and through a relay releases a hammer that shatters a small flask of hydrocyanic acid. If one has left this entire system to itself for an hour, one would say that the cat still lives if meanwhile no atom has decayed. The psi-function of the entire system would express this by having in it the living and dead cat (pardon the expression) mixed or smeared out in equal parts. 

It is typical of these cases that an indeterminacy originally restricted to the atomic domain becomes transformed into macroscopic indeterminacy, which can then be resolved by direct observation….”

*Groan*

“…. and all this mental exercise just because I wanted to know how Alucard died? Bloody vampires! ” was my fading thought as I surrendered my head to the strangely inviting wooden surface of the table and snored the rest of the early morning away.
 


Notes from wiki and other sources:

* Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment, often described as a paradox, devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. It illustrates what he saw as the problem of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics applied to everyday objects. The thought experiment presents a cat that might be alive or dead, depending on an earlier random event. In the course of developing this experiment, he coined the term Verschränkung — literally, entanglement.

*Alucard (アーカード, Ākādo) is a fictional character and the protagonist in the Hellsing anime and manga series created by Kohta Hirano. A powerful vampire, Alucard works with the Hellsing organization against other vampires and evil forces. He has a range of supernatural techniques including enhanced strength. He fights with ferocity and often extreme cruelty, rarely intending to kill until his target has been disabled and humiliated, while frequently allowing enemies more than one chance to kill him. It is stated in volume 8 of the manga, that he is Count Dracula. Soon after the events in the book, Van Helsing somehow gains control of Dracula, renaming him Alucard and leaves him as a servant of the Hellsing family.

* Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime manga, and video games.

* About Hellsing:

Vampires are real. And it is the responsibility of Hellsing – an organization hidden from the public eye and funded by the British government – to cover up the frightening reality as well as to protect the blissfully ignorant people from the blood-sucking monsters.

Not only is Hellsing armed with a military force of its own, it possesses secret weapons of which the most powerful is ironically, a vampire. Named Alucard (‘Dracula’ spelt backwards), it is no ordinary blood-sucker, but reigns as the oldest and most powerful vampire in existence, only under the control of Hellsing, led by its young and stern heiress Integra Hellsing

Sadistic, arrogant and extremely powerful, Alucard delights in exterminating its own kind just to prove his superiority. It works with Victoria Seras, a policewoman-turned-fledgling vampire struggling to come to terms with her new identity, along with the enigmatic and lethal butler Walter Donez.

Cebu Pacific Seat Sale: Japan and Korea travel Nov 2009

Normally, I just take Philippine Airlines (yes, loyalist hehehe!) but I do get news about Cebu Pacific promos and I'd like to share them here for the benefit of other friends and acquaintances who may be on the lookout for cheaper airfares.

No, I don't get any discounts from either Cebu Pacific or PAL or other airlines - I simply like sharing information for fellow travelers.

Found in my Inbox today, and in fact it was sent 8 hours ago from the time of this writing (how ..uhm..timely?)

Seats to Japan and Korea for as low as P2,499!

Fly to Japan and Korea with their seat sale for as low as P2,499. The seat sale starts now until November 8, 2009, for travel beginning January 15 to March 15, 2010.

Avail of the P2,499 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare to Manila-Incheon, Cebu-Incheon and Cebu-Busan flights, this is 35% lower than the lowest year-round fare of P3,899! Those with check-in luggage will just add P100 upon booking.

Cebu Pacific flies daily from Manila and Cebu to Incheon, and twice weekly from Cebu to Busan.

Manila to Osaka bound passengers can avail of 52% discount off the lowest year-round fare of P5,499, with our seat sale fare of P2,599. They fly every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to Osaka.

I finally saw the ending of the "Daniel Deronda" movie I was seeing in snippets on cable tv for the last week.

Granita

Description:
A refreshing way to cleanse the palate between courses, but since we don't have "courses" at home, I usually make this during summer.

Granitas are made from slushy ice rather than frozen solid, so they have to be served quite quickly.

Ingredients:
* LEMON Granita:

3 lemons
200 ml lemon juice
115 grams caster sugar (also spelled sometimes as castor sugar)
500 ml cold water

* COFFEE Granita

2 tbsp instant coffee
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp hot water
600 ml cold water
2 tbsp rhum or brandy

Directions:
* LEMON Granita

1. Finely grate the lemon rind. Place the lemon rind, juice and caster sugar in a pan then bring the mixture into a boil and simmer for 5 minutes or so, or until thick and syrupy.
2. Wait until its cooled, then stir in the cold water and pour into freezer container with a lid. Freeze the granita for 5 hours, stirring occasionally to break up the ice.
3. You can serve it as a palate cleanser between meal courses.

* COFFEE Granita

1. Place the cofffee and sguar in a bowl and pour in the hot water, stirring until completely dissolved.
2. Stir in the cold water and the rhum or brandy.
3. Pour this mixture into a shallow freezer container with a lid. Freeze this for at least 6 hours, stirring every 1 to 2 hours in order to create a grainy texture. You can pair it with cream when serving it after dinner.

Capri Salad

Description:
Basically a tomato, olive and mozzarella salad, dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. This is a delicious starter, and luckily for me, the ingredients can be easily found.

Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 big, big tomatoes
(actually I remember reading somewhere about beefsteak tomatoes being used, but I don't know where to get that here at my place)
- 130 g mozzarella cheese
- 12 black olives
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- basil leaves as garnish


Directions:
1. Cut the tomatoes into thin slices.

2. Cut the mozzarella into thin slices.

3. Stone the olives and slice them into rings

4. Layer the tomatoes, mozzarella, cheese and olives in a stack. Finish with a last layer of cheese on top.

5. Place each stack on a pre-heated grill for 2-3 minutes...or just long enough to melt the mozzarella. (I use the my oven toaster these days).

6. Drizzle the vinegar and olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

7. Put into individual serving plates and garnish with basil leaves.

8. Serve immediately.

Animation Asia Conference 2009

Start:	Nov 20, '09 10:00a
Location:	Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center

AAC 09 is an event held in conjunction with Anime Festival Asia 09 and will be held at 20th November 2009, 1 day before AFA 09. An industry showcase and business matchmaking session, along with renowned people in the industry.


(sorry this part is finished, but just including it here...)
Industry Showcase and Business Matchmaking -

Only 12 animation companies will be pre-selected by AAC organizers. We hope to provide a platform where new opportunities can emerge from these presentations. New platforms, new IP, new business opportunities – the list goes on. As time is limited, each company is only allowed 5 minutes for a presentation, where they should present their idea or concept in the most interesting way possible.

HOW TO APPLY?
To apply, submit your idea today via aac09 AT reddawnpr D0T com

The submission deadline is Friday 20 October. If your talk is selected, we’ll contact you to get your slides (in Powerpoint).
You are require to provide the following details:
* your contact details
* a synopsis (of less than 100 words) and log line or short description (20 words)
* details of project – format/ business type, genre, production company, distribution information and weblinks (if available)
* creator, crew and cast names
* a short and interesting fact about the project
-------------------------------

For Anime Festival Asia 2009, check out this site:
http://www.afa09.com/

Hellsing OAV on Animax

Start:	Nov 8, '09 11:00p
End:	Dec 6, '09
Location:	Asia

I've usually tried to stay away from the scary, gory, bloody anime shows, unless they were categorized as comedy-action.

But I've seen Hellsing anime (not the same as the OAV) back in 2004 and I ghoulishly enjoyed it - certainly there is merit in trying out things where one usually thrashes in protest like a vampire dunked in vats of holy water.

The first ep of the OAV (original animated video)..or also juggled as OVA was on November 1, 2009 - perfect date for the vampirically-inclined. I'm not sure if fans of Twilight may like it, or even of the Southern Vampire series as its not exactly fitting into that genre.

Shows every Sunday at 11 pm. For replays, please check the Animax site.

From the Animax-Asia site -

Premiering 1 November 2009 and airing Sundays 11pm (SEA/PH) / 10pm (WIB), Hellsing OVA brings the ultimate war between vampires and opposing factions of vampire hunters in a three-way free-for-all ‘battle royale’ for the fates of England, Europe and the world! Waged by the ‘Millenium’, a Nazi soldier-turned-vampire battalion, the war is upon England, protected by Protestant vampire-hunting Hellsing Organization, fronted by the greatest vampire of all, Alucard. The conflict escalates as, Vatican’s Roman Catholic hunters, the Iscariot Organization enters the fray…

Armed with twin large-calibre handguns, immortality, and shape-shifting abilities, Alucard is the most powerful vampire in the Hellsing world, and is Hellsing Organization’s trump card vampire hunter. In his blood red overcoat, hat and signature wire-frame shades, Alucard is the arrogant and cruel anti-hero who delights in humiliating before obliterating his vampire adversaries. Alucard has respect and loyalty only to Integra Hellsing, the sole surviving heir of her vampire-hunting family, and current leader of Hellsing Organization. They fight alongside policewoman-turned-vampire Seras Victoria and butler-cum-operative Walter C. Dornez.

Alucard and Hellsing Organization protects England against the ‘Millenium’, a 1,000-strong Nazi battalion thought to have perished, but had actually been transformed into mindless vampires by their psycopathic leader, known only as ‘The Major’. The undead ‘Millenium’ army seek only one thing – to plunge mankind into an unending war...

Finally, both forces contend with the Vatican’s secret Iscariot Organization, fronted by zealous warrior paladin Alexander Anderson who fights with lethal blessed bayonets, and has god-like regenerative abilities. Charged with the pursuit and destruction of demons and heretics, the Iscariot Organization shares the goal of fighting the ‘Millenium’. But being of the Roman Catholic faith, the Iscariot Organization is dead-set against the Protestant Hellsing Organization, and especially with vampires in Hellsing’s ranks…

The brand new Hellsing OVA anime series comes after the highly successful Hellsing anime TV series that aired October 2001 to January 2002.

The new series distinguishes itself from the first as it stays true to the story of Kouta Hirano’s ‘Hellsing’ manga series. Produced by Geneon Universal Entertainment (Appleseed) with Satelight (Macross Frontier) and Madhouse Studios (Death Note), Hellsing OVA is an ongoing series in Japan, with each episode of an hour’s length.

Directed by Tomokazu Tokoro (Haibane Renmei) and Hiroyuki Tanaka (Claymore), Hellsing OVA also features haunting original musical pieces composed by Hayato Matsuo (Final Fantasy XII) and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, to end each episode.

Anime Overload Festival

Start:	Nov 8, '09 10:00a
End:	Nov 8, '09 8:00p
Location:	Function Room 5, SMX Convention Center (beside SM MOA)

from the following:
- http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=119735
- Animax fans of Facebook

Street: Seashell Drive
City/Town: Pasay City, Philippines

"Get excited! - Feel the thrill as the coming of an electrifying fun of Anime Overload Festival is near. Come and join us on Nov. 8, 2009 at SMX Convention Center. Together we will create an undeniable fun and exciting experience you will always remember. Be part of it, join the video game challenge, battle of the bands, Cosplay competition, Anime music video, maid café, manga café, manga drawing contest... enjoy what it takes to be the NEXT most awaited event of the year. Be there!"

Activities:

1. Videogame Challenge
Show your combo skills or button-mashing tricks on the hottest videogame as you work your way up to the Championship

2. Anime Karaoke Idol
Can you belt a tune singing your favorite J-Pop or J-Rock songs? You do? Then join this contest. If not, please do spare us.

3. Battle of the Bands
Do you have that rockstar attitude? Join this contest to prove that you are truly worthy.

4. Individual Cosplay Competition
Now's your chance to show the crowd your latest cosplay get-up. Enter the contest & let them judge.

5. Group Cosplay Competition
Are your group doing another serious drama skit or another kenkoy dance number? Or can your group do a new gimmick for your group performance? Then try to upstand other group cosplayers as you do your original performance piece.

6. Anime Music Video Competition
Got that handycam gathering dust in your cabinet? Shoot your own anime music video & show your directing skills.

7. Anime Dance Showdown

8. Anime Voice Comic Contest
Got a funny joke about anime? Can you imitate Naruto's voice? Make us laugh (or cry) with your punchlines while you imitate your favorite anime characters's voice.

9. Gyudon Eating Contest
Do you have the appetite to finish a bowl of gyudon meal in a few seconds? Join this contest & eat

10. Manga Drawing Contest
Bring out your pencils & coloring materials as you draw your original manga characters in this exciting contest. Oh dont forget to bring out your skills.

11. Maid’s Café
Fancy having a maid serve your meal while entertaining you with all their kawaii moves? Look no further, here's your chance.

12. Manga Cafe
Did you bring along your sketchbook & want to get away from the crowd to do some sketches while sipping your favorite drinks? Or maybe you just simply want to read a manga comic? Here's the perfect place to bring out your artwork while you unwind & read all your favorite manga.

13. Exhibitors Zone
Looking for an elusive anime toy? an event souvenir? or that hard to find anime cartoon that you've been yearning for years? Check out the exhibitor zone for all the hottest & coolest finds.

"Breaking the Magician's Code" is one of my fave shows which I miss seeing..but its airing in AXN-Asia channel now!

My travel game: closing my eyes, blindly opening the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" and hoping for the best that I can visit the place on the page that fate has chosen for me.. Result for today: Count Dracula's Castle in Bran, Transylvania, Romania.

Any Future for Historical Cities?

Start:	Nov 11, '09 2:00p
End:	Nov 11, '09 5:00p
Location:	Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

Venue: Villa Immaculada, Intramuros, Metro Manila
Free entrance

Expertos filipinos y españoles abordan en este seminario las ciudades históricas desde diversas perspectivas: el urbanismo, la arquitectura, la sociología... El fin es analizar la manera en que se está habitando y rehabilitando las ciudades históricas en la actualidad, y reflexionar sobre la manera en que se podría hacer en el futuro, siguiendo criterios de sostenibilidad y respeto al medio ambiente.

My travel antenna just picked this up now - First Space Hotel to be finished in 2012. - "Aspiring space tourists can start packing their suitcase as 2012 is the time planned for the launch of the first orbiting hotel, thanks to a very generous $3billion offered by an anonymous billionaire to back the project."

A Loss on The Last Day

October 16, 2009 (Friday)
Makati City, Philippines

As I swam back to consciousness, I slowly became aware of a particular sound – a disturbing silence in which you know at once that something is dreadfully wrong. My eyes snapped open and I blinked once…twice..a bit drowsily.  The buzzing, eerie silence continued unabated.

What was that sound which was making me uncomfortable? It was familiar and at the same time...it was not.

I rolled over and sat up unsteadily. Looking at the dim surroundings my gaze jumped erratically - it flitted from the stationary electric fan – it was not whirring merrily away as its usual wont – to the night light – it was only dark glass glinting – to the shaded windows – which showed the faint outline of unmoving leaves and forms of potted plants.

My last memory? Ah, yes...the clock’s hands pointing to 4 a.m. and after that I drew a blank.... or maybe that was a dream which I could not remember in its entirety?

The slow trickle of salty liquid between my shoulder blades encouraged me to move. Standing up and walking slowly, I reached out a trembling hand to touch my face…and it came away wet. I could not see but only feel the slight dampness of my palm even as I stared at it, hence I carefully skirted the dim shapes in the gloom.

I reached out to where I knew the phone would be. A moment passed before I could remember the number I was to call. A busy tone rewarded my first try, but then finally, a feminine voice answered and I jumped into speech.

“Hello Ms. ____, good morning! This is Cat of  ____.  I just woke up and it was hot. Is there no electricity? Do we have a rotating brown-out for today?” I asked as I groped blindly for a woven native fan I kept near the phone.

“Hi Cat! There’s no electricity but not because of any.….what happened...excuse ha?... ” and she turned away to answer somebody else who came into her office as I waited somewhat impatiently and continued my search for the elusive abanico (fan).

Coming back to the phone, she continued on “The transformer at the front of ________ building near our corner exploded. Earlier this morning, somebody jumped from _______ . SUICIDE! Yes, that was what they said. The body landed and the next thing we know…BOOM!”

“WHAT!.... What floor?! Omigosh...What time?!” I gasped back in astonishment as I did a little exploding of my own.

“Well, they are not saying anything else. Confidential and under investigation. But it was probably an hour or so ago."

"Uhm..how about Meralco? Do you know the time frame as to when it could be fixed?" The logical, work-conscious part of my mind pushed me to ask because I usually had double the emails on a Friday.

"....Unfortunately we don’t know when Meralco will be able to fix it,” she added in a mournful tone.

“So....he or she is dead…whatever floor it was...and the body hitting the power lines that's why the transformer was affected…” my voice trailed off as I stated the obvious in disjointed sentences.

I thanked her and dazedly put down the phone. I let go of the woven fan I found that I had gripped and forgotten to use during the conversation. More beads of sweat trailed lazily down my forehead and back.

Walking this time towards the weak daylight showing through the gauzy curtain of my balcony door, I stopped and brought my thoughtful gaze up....up and towards the various windows dotting the bare, pale-painted walls of the opposite building facing my current home.

This was my neighboring building in which one person on a Friday morning had jumped from in order to make a grim appointment with Death and leave the living world behind.

A faint sound interrupted my silent contemplation of the different windows. They all looked eerily similar to empty and unforgiving dark eyes set in an uncaring canvas of a face.

I glanced back into the blanket of unrelenting darkness behind me. The growing sound that I heard this time was familiar. It's absence earlier was what had torn me away from the cradling arms of Morpheus.

The electric fan had just come back to life and was now whirring merrily away.

In the midst of a "toxic" week, I found happiness in simple things - I discovered lychee concentrate in my usual haunt, I found a big bottle of Kirin Milk Tea (which I can't usually find in the grocery store) and a big bottle of Goma (Japanese salad dressing) which for the last couple of months was always out of stock. Now, if I can just find that pesky Mabuti sardines....it would be perfect for my Pokka green tea...

La mejor guitarra flamenca - Flamenco Guitar Concert

Start:	Oct 19, '09 6:30p
Location:	Philippines

Venue: School of Design and Arts, DLSU-College of Saint Benilde

Instituto Cervantes presents Oscar Herrero, the best flamenco guitar!

Concert artist, composer and the author of a new method of teaching Flamenco guitar, Oscar Herrero has received awards of the highest calibre in the world of Flamenco, namely from Bordón Minero and Premio Nacional de Guitarra Flamenca en Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz).

On October 19, 2009, at 10:00 am, Óscar Herrero will give a master class on Flamenco guitar in Instituto Cervantes Manila .

For more information on this activity, please visit the website www.pelicula.ph or call 526.1482 local 115.

8th Spanish Film Festival

Start:	Oct 1, '09
End:	Oct 11, '09
Location:	Philippines, Makati, Greenbelt

Been so busy I almost totally forgot...the ongoing PELICULA Spanish Film Festival! ..and one venue is so near to me too *groans*

La octava edición de Pelikula invita a un recorrido por el cine actual en español. Un año más, los aficionados al cine en la capital manileña pueden apreciar el último cine español y latinoamericano en la que es la mayor muestra cinematográfica de cine en español del Sudeste Asiático. Para más información sobre el Festival, visite a la página web www.pelicula.ph o llame al 526.1482 x 115.

The 8th Spanish Film Festival, the most important and most celebrated Spanish-language Film Festival in Asia, will showcase the best Spanish and Latin-American films in recent years. Once again, Manila film enthusiasts will be treated to an exciting line up of multi-awarded films in the Spanish language. The 8th edition of PELICULA PELIKULA is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila. For more information on the Festival, please visit the website www.pelicula.ph or call 526.1482 local 115.

I only remembered because I received a text reminder today, but I will most probably visit during the weekend.

Three venues: Greenbelt 3, Cultural Center of the Philippines and College of Saint Benilde

@ Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1 for October 9, here is the schedule:
4:30 pm: La buena nueva
7:00 pm: Sólo quiero caminar
9:30 pm: Los girasoles ciegos
9:30 pm: Los cronocrímines

you can check this link for the full schedule in GB3:
http://www.pelicula.ph/en_Venues_Greenbelt.html

Kindle in Philippines?

I first heard about this from my online buddy Ted, who was pretty happy it would come to Japan very soon.

For those of my friends and acquaintances who love to read and keep up...and who can afford it...check out Kindle, the e-book reader.

Let me just drool here by the side or wait for somebody to give a Kindle 2 (new!) to me as a Christmas gift!

Some features (taken from Amazon site):
Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Paper-Like Display: Reads like real paper with no glare, even in bright sunlight

Long Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

Carry your Library: holds over 1,500 books

Read-to-Me:  With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog, and book out loud to you, unless the book's rights holder made the feature unavailable

Free Book Samples: Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

Large Selection: Over 350,000 books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available

Low Book Prices:New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise

The Super Typhoon MELOR now entered the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR) and got the name QUEDAN. The 2 wind-systems PARMA and MELOR start to interact. They can mutually influence the movement.

Larry Alcala Cartoons: A Slice of Life

http://www.geocities.com/larryalcala/sliceoflifegallery.html
Thanks to Chito and Che I now know about this.

I always have a fun time looking for Larry's face in his drawings. Enjoy!

Even the most expensive Portuguese sardines I know (Mabuti brand) were gone from the shelf by the time I went to buy some groceries. Sosyal!

Crocodile seen in Cainta floodwaters

Link

I thought when I first saw a post in FB somewhere about crocodiles being seen that it was another kind of crocodile..you know, mga "buaya" (crocs, and not the shoes either) in the you-know-where, doing you-know-what.

From a fellow Theresian -> To all New Yorkers: Ondoy New York Disaster Relief drop off center @ Pandayan Center, 406 W40th St. Between 9th and 10th Aves. New York, NY 10018 or call 212.564.6057. Please spread the word!

Free PAL airlift of donations for Ondoy victims. Philippine Airlines will airlift for free all relief donations intended for victims of typhoon Ondoy. All provincial PAL stations will load on flights bound for Manila any bulk cargo box containing donations addressed to reputable, non-profit, charitable organizations in Manila. To maximize the cargo load of the aircraft, PAL station heads will be verifying and limiting the contents of the donation boxes to items of value and use, and exclude such donations as expired food and medicines, water, rice (due to weight considerations) and unusable stuff. Complete information of the consignee organization must be supplied with the cargo box/container inscribed with "care of the PAL Foundation". Individual donations for private or personal families will not be accommodated. Meanwhile, PAL passengers whose flights were affected by typhoon Ondoy will not be charged any penalties when rebooking for the next available flights. PAL ticket holders with confirmed bookings from September 26 to October 4, 2009 will have all penalties waived when rebooking. - Taken from the PAL website, dated September 28, 2009

Sahana FOSS Disaster Management System

http://www.sahana.kahelos.org/
I think this is going to be useful for relief and disaster coordinating agencies. Reposted this from Ellafitz's site.

Spread the word please!

Maybe this will help and improve the way we handle and respond to disasters in the future, but for now, its there..and it's free :-)

Let's use it!

Flooding from Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy) hasn't yet abated, and another storm? Eto na ang Typhoon Pepeng (Parma)...

Inuyasha - The Final Act

Start:	Oct 10, '09 8:00p
End:	Mar 31, '10

For those who have a soft spot for the dog demon cutie-pie, fuzzy-wuzzy puppy-doggie ears...ehem..

I mean, for whose who missed Inuyasha, here is the continuation from where the first InuYasha TV anime series left off as InuYasha and Kagome along with comrades Shippo, a fox demon; Miroku, a cursed monk; and Sango, a demon-slayer, continue their battle against the minions of demonic villain Naraku for the mighty Jewel of Four Souls.

Shown on Animax Asia.

Another Philippine holiday - Proclamation No. 1808 declaring November 27 & 28, 2009 (Friday & Saturday) as a REGULAR HOLIDAY in observance of Eid’l Adha.

Home for the Holidays 2009-10

Start:	Dec 27, '09 3:00p
End:	Jan 10, '10
Location:	Manila, Cebu, Philippines

Since there's a wonderful EB in Tagaytay on the 26th of December 2009 to look forward to, I chose to spend Christmas in Manila and meet up with them before going on home to my dear old Cebu.

Just bought my PAL ticket today. Of course, the after-New-Year days means I have to do my work back home and maybe also get to visit my suki na dentist :-)

Here's hoping for the best!

THE PHILIPPINE KOMIKS AND CARTOONS coffee table book, a glimpse

http://hugzone.multiply.com/photos/album/270/THE_PHILIPPINE_KOMIKS_AND_CARTOONS_coffee_table_book_a_glimpse
Hot off the presses!

Only 1,500 copies, and if you reserve and get it now, you will have 20% off discount of the list price :-)

The new word I learned today is....logorrhea \law-guh-REE-uh\, a noun, and it doesn't have anything to do with the disease I am thinking of :-)

APPEAL FOR DONATIONS: MEDICAL-DENTAL MISSION

http://chitoirigo.multiply.com/journal/item/102/APPEAL_FOR_DONATIONS_MEDICAL-DENTAL_MISSION
I would like to share with you this write-up on their appeal for help on a worthy cause.

Please visit the above link for further details on how you may best help or donate to the medical-dental mission.

Tales of Singapore: "I don't understand"

Once in a while, I remember incidents I came across in my last visit to Singapore during the Christmas season.
I was lucky enough that Helene welcomed me to her home and hearth (and dining table let's not forget!).

I got to partake all of those delicious dishes she dishes out, met her fun family, played with their beloved frisky doggie.
I also made contact with new friends in Multiply (hello to Pat and Jan) and had a reunion of sorts with old friends from my hometown (hello to Lani, Santi and their family, and also to Lando and his family).

I want to recount some of the happy memories which come to the forefront of my mind when I think of Singapore.


++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the Yuletide season of 2008, I was sitting at Helene's breakfast table with veritable feast of Singapore goodies laid out on it.  In the midst of the golden toasted bread piled high, nestling with fruits and other typical  breakfast items, my first introduction to "Kaya" happened.



I wasn't adventurous to sample it without asking first what were the components inside the jar sitting innocently in front of my eyes.  I naturally turned to Helene's  brood who were with me at the dining area.

Helene's children are well-behaved and a bit reserved. Or maybe they were wary because I was a newbie in their home who had a voracious appetite..but that is another story. Haha.

They smile affably and they speak with quiet, almost hushed voices - with a touch or more of the Singaporean accent.
Most of the time I have to pause and think about what they are saying. Sometimes a translator is needed

On my part, I have a tendency to speak very quickly, with my words tripping over themselves. Sometimes people also ask me to repeat my words as I almost babble when I am enthusiastic - especially when I am in front of unfamiliar, scrumptious food.

I was almost famished, but mentally prepared, I pointed to the jar and asked Sky what it was.
Surely ingredients would not be so hard to translate, right?
Unless it was something I had not come across before in the Philippines.

Sky answered in his soft voice, and for the life of me I couldn't make out what he was saying!
Was he quoting a list of ingredients, or how to make whatever it was or warning me off from eating it?
After he spoke the second time, I was still having question marks floating lazily above my head and all over the dining room.

"Uhmm....hmm... I..don't..understand...."

I turned expectantly to River who was on the sofa near the table.  She smiled winsomely. Then muttered softly, shrugged and said something to both Sky and me.

Feeling like a Jurassic-era cavewoman, struggling to unravel the endless mystery of a simple wheel, I sadly told her, "Sorry River, I don't understand."

My stomach then growled menacingly. Embarrassed,  I grabbed a piece of bread, opened the jar and spread a little bit of the Kaya on it.

I took a tentative bite. 
Wowza!!  Mmmm...Delicious!!

I scooped out more and liberally spread the Kaya, then munched happily on my masterpiece.  I was all agog to find out what I was gorging on...and I would ask Helene as soon as she made her appearance!

When Helene burst in from the kitchen, another piece of toast was already dangling haphazardly from a corner of my mouth.

I waved excitedly at her and with a muffled voice asked her, "Wazz-iz-this? Tesh-tesh-underfool! Hmm...whats-it-made-out-of??"

Helene looked at me curiously as I continued nibbling on the toast with feverish zeal.
She cocked her head...and furrowing her brow she answered seriously.

"Eh? Cat, I don't understand you."

I snorted and almost choked on my Kaya-toast.

Now, that was unexpected!



Kaya is a coconut jam made from coconut milk, chicken or duck eggs and flavored with the pandan leaf, with sugar as sweetener. Kaya is sweet and creamy, available as a golden brown or green colored spread depending on the amount of pandan and extent of carameralization of the sugar.
* picture taken from http://anton.blogs.com/awesome/2006/10/my_kaya_addicti.html

Breathe! Left, Right, Left, Right!

The nose has a left and a right side; we use both to inhale and exhale.

Actually, they are different; you would be able to feel the difference. 

The right side represents the sun, left side of course, represents the moon.

During a headache, try to close your right nose and use your left nose to breathe.

In about 5 minutes, your headache will go away.

If you feel tired, just do the reverse, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose. After a while, you will feel your mind is refreshed.

Right side belongs to "hot", so it gets heated up easily, left side belongs to "cold".

Most females breathe with their left noses, so they get "cooled off" faster. Most of the guys breathe with their right noses,  they get worked up.

Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left, or right?

If left is faster, you will feel tired. So, close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refreshed quickly.

This can be taught to kids, but it is more effective when practiced by adults.

My friend used to have bad headaches and was always visiting the doctor. There was this period when he suffered headache literally every night, unable to study.

He took painkillers, it did not work.

He decided to try out the breathing therapy here: closed his right nose and breathed through his left nose.

In less than a week, his headaches were gone! He continued the exercise for one month.

This alternative natural therapy without medication is something that he has experienced.

So, why not give it a try?

(Found this in my Inbox and was amused at the picture, because it actually had the round things circling and the lines moving...and I haven't tried verifying the headache thingie coz I don't have a headache now.)

NHK WORLD

http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/info/wallpaper/index.html
Where I get my monthly wallpapers...

General Santos TUNA FESTIVAL

Start:	Sep 1, '09
End:	Sep 5, '09

I've been to General Santos a couple of times, but I only found out belatedly that this place in Mindanao (Southern Philippines) celebrates such a festival.

The festival includes a parade of fishing floats, best-dressed tuna competition (hmm..gives me ideas) and of course, sashimi night...to name a few...

I still remember that wonderful package of the freshest tuna that I brought back home to Cebu with me, which we promptly sashimi'd or put into a clear soup with fresh sili leaves...*sigh* Since I usually traveled Cebu-Gen.San-Davao-Cebu, it was a lucky event that I went home directly to Cebu from that time, and hence I was able to bring that wonderful treasure.

Yummmm!

Being told Sept 7 and 21 is a holiday here in Philippines just a couple of minutes ago has made me sad because....I hadn't planned any trip on these dates, thinking I had a ton of emails to contend with on a working day!!

Calling a storm "Labuyo"? I found it amusing considering its going to be wet and NOT hot and spicy (as in "siling labuyo"). But then again, typhoons are bound to give grief, just like eating too much pepper. Tropical cyclone "Labuyo" (international codename: Damrey) intensified into a storm Thursday morning, and may enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains to southern Luzon and Visayas, weather forecasters said.

With this chat feature in Multiply, am now chatting simultaneously with 6 people in different languages and dialects (2 in English, 2 in Tagalog, 2 in Cebuano...2 people in Office Communicator, 4 in Multiply)..gosh..being connected has its price...

Smart Bro? Globe Tattoo? Sun? ewan...I want to have internet connection when I am outside... http://www.nomad4ever.com/2009/08/17/3gumts-internet-smartbro-or-globe-tattoo-in-the-philippines/

Low Fares, Cebu to Davao (promo ends Sept 4, 2009)

I feel like a travel agent (I am not one though I like sharing travel news), but maybe some of you would be interested -

CEBU to DAVAO

PHP1,088

One Way Economy Class Fare

 

PHP 4,888

One Way Business Class Fare

 

Selling and Ticketing: 28 August 2009 - 04 September 2009

Travel Period (Outbound): 01 September 2009 - 15 October 2009

 

Experience the comfort and safety of your flight, and ride

with PAL's young fleet of Airbus 330/343

 

Check out: www.philippineairlines.com

• Non-refundable
• Rebooking is allowed at PHP 600 per sector
• Buy up is allowed
• Round-Trip airfare is also available
• Economy Class: no Miles and sector count towards Elite tier status qualification
• Business Class: will earn Miles  and sector count towards Elite tier status qualification
• Economy Class tickets cannot be used in conjunction with an UpgradeTravel Certificate (UTC) or Service Class Upgrade AwardRedemption
• Exclusive of Aviation Security Fee (ASF)
• Travel Conditions apply

CALL PAL Reservations at: (632) 855-8888,

or (6332) 340-0191- Cebu, (82) 2264604 - Davao

Once Upon a Time in Beijing...6: "The Young and the Wrathless"

Once upon a time in 2009 the Year of the Earth Ox , in the very auspicious month of August, three adventurous and unsuspecting friends named Niao-Miao, ChehCheh and her beloved Lhooh (by this time if you don't know who they are already, then you obviously haven't been reading 1 to 5 of this series!) - went to Beijing to sight-see and exercise.

One such "exercise" was a stroll to the Temple of Heaven. It's literal name is actually Altar of Heaven and it is a complex of Taoist buildings in the Xuanwu District. It was usually visited by the Emperors of different dynasties for their annual offering of prayers for good harvest.

One thing to note before proceeding is that Lhooh looks like a jolly ever-smiling Japanese, ChehCheh a petite and tanned-looking Filipina and Niao-Miao, with the exception of her ever-present hat, which was a dead giveaway to her being a tourist, looks Chinese enough to pass for a local. In other words, the three do not look related to each other.

As the usual wont after all that walking and climbing, the three energetic ones went to a stall to look through their wares and buy something to drink. They encountered an American woman who was for some time already having  difficulty in confirming from the seller if the green tea drink they had for sale had sugar or not (she had not gotten to the point though of trying out ChehCheh's way of pantomime).

Being the kind and good man that he was, Lhooh offered to interpret her request and the American was quite grateful for getting what she wanted at long last.  Lhooh and ChehCheh were quite chatty and friendly with the woman and talked of different topics.

After some point, the American guilelessly asked both, "Is she your daughter?" indicating the quietly smiling Niao-Miao at her side.

The three froze and sweat-dropped. Separate thought bubbles formed above each their respective heads.

Lhooh (deflated):
"After all the translating I did for her, this is how she repays me? By implying I am old enough to be a father of a woman in her late thirties?!!"

ChehCheh (slack-jawed):
"WHHUUTT?  Excuse me...I am younger than her! Okay, I admit... maybe a few months diff...but I am still YOUNGER!!"

Niao-Miao (pondering): 
"Hmm...maybe I should ask my brand-new parents for a monthly allowance?"

The American continued blithely and figuratively placed the final nail in her coffin by remarking further aloud, "Well, with Asians one never knows....and she looks so young..."

ChehCheh (with demonic red eyes and steam coming out of her ears):
"And I look old? I am SO going to scratch your eyes out you....you heartless !@#%$@*$^ woman!"

Lhooh (with protruding arrows in the heart and stomach and gritting his teeth painfully): 
"Just because I gained a few ounces...fine... more like pounds! ...It doesn't mean I look like an old, fatherly guy! Grrrrr! &*^$!*%@# woman!"

Niao-Miao (concerned look):
"Oh dear, my brand new father and mother seem to be turning purple...hope they didn't catch a virus or something else here in China..."

American woman (puzzled look): 
"Strange folk! Maybe they have multiple personalities - one moment so jolly, the next second, they are like limp noodles...but are there noodles which are purple-colored? I've never actually seen one, but this IS China, so I shouldn't be surprised..."

As Niao-Miao suddenly said into the gathering silence that they were really just good friends traveling together in Beijing, she warily checked her friends' stony expressions to see if they had already cracked into itty-bitty pieces.

The American woman finally said goodbye after a few more comments on her trip, saying that she had to rejoin her party, and with a cheery wave and "Nice meeting you!" she drifted off.

Niao-Miao turned to her friends but before she could say something, Lhooh began in a fatherly way - "Okay dear daughter of mine," and continued huffily - "no dinner for you tonight!" He then indignantly marched off into the sunset.

One millisecond after, ChehCheh smiled at her and said in suspiciously dulcet tones, "And as for you my young daughter," and at this point Niao-Miao's eyes widened "...no more midnight snacks...forever!" and with her hackles still flying high into the sky, ChehCheh quickly followed after the father...ehrm...I mean Lhooh.

Niao-Miao wailed on cue and like pouring salt into a wound, called after them in the loudest voice imaginable (with matching pathetic sobs), "Waaah!! Honourable father and mother!.... What did I do?!"

Her brand-new parents wrathfully chorused from a distance, "You are grounded...for 100 years!"

DISCLAIMER: While the tale has some factual basis, the thought bubbles and other actions after the shocking statement were all made by up the author because she was not old enough to know what really went on her parents' minds at that time.