Elvis - Dead but still Filthy Rich

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Just because you are dead, it does not mean you can't stage a comeback.

Web site Forbes.com said on Tuesday that Elvis Presley regained the top spot on its list of the highest-earning dead celebrities, ousting Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who had beaten him last year.

Elvis shimmied his way back atop the seventh annual list of 13 top-earning legends that he had ruled since its inception, with estimated earnings of about $49 million in the year ending this month.

The rise from $42 million last year comes after CKX Entertainment, which bought part of his estate from daughter Lisa Marie Presley, embarked on a mission to renew interest in the late singer and actor.

Forbes.com said in a statement that the top 13 -- who generated massive amounts of merchandising revenue -- grossed a combined $232 million in the year.

In second place came Beatle John Lennon, who was murdered in New York in 1980 at the age of 40. He earned $44 million while the creator of Peanuts comic strip, Charles M. Schulz, took the third slot with earnings of $35 million.

Cobain was one of four who fell off this year's ranking. He debuted on the list in first place last year after his widow, Courtney Love, sold part of his song catalog for a reported $50 million.

Rounding out the top five on this year's list were George Harrison from the Beatles, who died in 2001, with $22 million, and German-born physicist Albert Einstein with $18 million.

Einstein has become a key trademark in child education due to the Disney-owned Baby Einstein brand of videos and toys.

The Beatles did well in the latest list in the wake of settling two long-standing legal disputes with the settlements believed to have exceeded $100 million.

Newcomers in the list were actor Steve McQueen and the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown who died late last year. Rapper Tupac Shakur regained a slot on the list as did James Dean.

Rounding out the top 13 were pop artist Andy Warhol, Theodor Geisel, better known as children's author Dr. Seuss, silver screen legend Marilyn Monroe and reggae superstar Bob Marley.

The other three bumped off this year's list were rhythm & blues pioneer Ray Charles, author J.R.R. Tolkien and country singer Johnny Cash.

World's Creepiest Places Part 3

By Ralph Martin

Szoborpark, Budapest, Hungary

A towering Lenin addresses a now-absent city square, while Marx and Engels, wearing holy robes and carrying religious-looking texts (surely their own), are crumbling nearby. Budapest's Szoborpark is a collection of retired Soviet-era iconography just outside Budapest. A pavilion warehousing 40 years of often kitschy, sometimes terrifying, and overdone public statuary, the park is a brilliant solution to the problem that came up with liberation from Soviet tyranny in 1991: What to do with all that official art? While the rest of the former Soviet republics couldn't get rid of their Lenins fast enough, the Budapesters decided to round them up and put them on display. As you walk around, all those stony stares create the uncanny feeling that you're being watched. Take a 30-minute public bus ride from the city's central Déak Tér stop; you have 40 minutes to wander before the bus goes back into town.

Abbey of Thelema, Cefalù, Sicily, Italy

Aleister Crowley is perhaps the world's most infamous occultist, and this now-overgrown stone ranch-style house with hallways full of dark pagan frescoes was once the world capital of his satanic orgies. Or so it was reported in the 1920s. Crowley is now known for his famous fans, including Jimmy Page and Marilyn Manson, and the fact that he appears on the cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. He founded the Abbey of Thelema—named after a utopia described in Rabelais' Gargantua whose motto is "Do as thou wilt"—in 1920 in the beach town of Cefalù, Sicily. It became a free-love commune with a dark side: Newcomers were forced to spend the night in the "Chamber of Nightmares," where, high on hashish and opiates, they stared at frescoes of earth, heaven, and hell. After a British society dandy named Raoul Loveday died of a fever contracted at the Abbey, the press had a field day, leading an embarrassed Benito Mussolini to expel the commune in 1923. Notorious underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger unearthed the compound in 1945 and made a movie there, although mysteriously the film was subsequently lost. The Abbey is now a collapsed semi-ruin, overrun with vegetation, but inside there are some original hellish frescoes that Crowley used to scare his disciples into shape. Intrepid and esoterically minded visitors visiting Sicily can wander the grounds and get some vibes, though no official tours are available.\

Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, Scotland

Hidden below Edinburgh's medieval Old Town is a series of subterranean streets with an unsavory past. Mary King's Close is where plague victims were quarantined and left to die in the 17th century, and paranormal activity abounds down there. You might, for instance, feel some gentle tugging at your hands and legs by an unseen force. The cause is believed to be the ghost of Annie, a young girl abandoned by her parents in 1645. More than a hundred years later, in classic horror-tale fashion, a grand new building was constructed over Mary King's Close, leaving the streets, including the plague ghosts, intact underground. In 2003, the surprisingly well-preserved Close was opened to visitors, drawn by tales of its supernatural goings-on. Tour guides will accompany you down a stone staircase to the vaultlike, oppressive lanes. In addition to Annie's Room, there are typical re-creations of bygone lifestyles and plague deaths. Just remember to keep on moving, especially when you feel a sudden chill.

Chernobyl, Pripyat, Ukraine

Walk through the abandoned town of Pripyat in the Ukraine, and you'll find a large-scale crime scene abandoned in a hurry: A nursery full of children's shoes, and apartment complexes with the morning newspaper, dated April 28, 1986, open on the breakfast table. Two days before, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, minutes away, melted down, but it took 48 hours for the authorities to alert locals and clear them out of the world's biggest nuclear disaster site. Now that radiation levels are safe for short-term exposure, Chernobyl's nuclear complex has become an unlikely tourist attraction since opening to visitors in 2002. The power complex is at the center of the 20-mile-radius "Exclusion Zone," a regrown area of forests now populated by wolves and bears. Reactor #4 is the star of this sad show, today sheathed in a concrete and lead sarcophagus 200 feet high. A tour organization called Welcome to Ukraine offers day trips from Kiev via bus (you're advised to book two weeks in advance): You'll tour the forest and get to inspect the plant's exterior, including mounting an observation post to see the reactor, before walking to Pripyat, which was built in the 1970s and celebrated in official USSR propaganda as the "world's youngest town." It died young, but failed to leave a beautiful corpse.

World's Creepiest Places Part 2

By Ralph Martin

Manchac Swamp, Louisiana

As your boat pushes out into the swamp by torchlight, ancient cypress trees and Spanish moss drape across the water. That far-off howl you hear might just be the rou-ga-rou, the Cajun version of the Wolfman. The Manchac Swamp, a.k.a. the "haunted swamp," near New Orleans is a Southern Gothic fan's dream. An imprisoned voodoo queen is said to have cast a curse on these watery surroundings around the turn of the last century, resulting in the disappearance of three hamlets in a hurricane in 1915. The occasional corpse still surfaces in this otherwise untouched bird sanctuary, left alone by commercial development for more than 100 years. Torchlit nighttime boat tours are offered by the Old River Plantation Adventure. But beware: As anyone who has spent a night in the wild can tell you, nature can be anything but gentle, and the staring red-eyed alligators can give you a real fright as they watch your boat cruise slowly by.

Bran Castle, Bran, Romania

A vertiginous hilltop climb leads to a storybook castle that seems to have no horizontal surfaces: Endless stairways and towers are all that is visible. Inside, underground passageways connect dozens of rooms containing rococo antiques and suits of armor. All that's missing from Dracula's Castle, as Bran Castle is known, is a stormy night and a lightning bolt to illuminate the scene. A cloud of legend, local folklore, and literary pedigree hang over the dramatic fortress, perched 200 feet above the Romanian town of Bran. The castle has certainly reaped a PR bonanza as the setting for Bram Stoker's Dracula, with a reported 450,000 visitors a year—not bad for an isolated spot in Eastern Europe. The name comes from the notoriously sadistic tyrant Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad Dracula, who is said to have used the castle as an occasional base of operations. Vlad earned his nickname by hoisting tens of thousands of enemies on stakes; one engraving shows him feasting alone at a table surrounded by a veritable forest of his victims hanging on spikes. Bram Stoker got wind of Vlad's legend and, after a visit to Romania, modeled Count Dracula's castle on this one. The castle is quite tourist-friendly, but just be aware that it closes at 4 pm, lest the sun set before visitors are safely away.

Paris Catacombs, Paris, France

Bones and skulls are stacked on either side of a narrow corridor like merchandise at a warehouse—a lot of merchandise. The air is close and cool, with just a hint of decomposition, and there's rude graffiti dating from the French Revolution, mainly about the king and the feeble nobility. Once inside, you can easily see why Victor Hugo and Anne Rice have set stories in Paris's famous Catacombs. Snaking some 187 miles through underground passages around the city, only a tiny portion is open to the public—it's said that the rest is patroled by the legendary cataflics, a special underground police force. Though guided tours are available, it's more creepy and effective to go on your own, when it's just you and millions of bones lit by the occasional low-wattage bulb. The catacombs were originally a Roman-era quarry, but when the Innocents Cemetery in central Paris started overflowing to the point of being a public health hazard in 1785, the tunnels came into their present state. Bones were carted off in elaborate nighttime ceremonies, and until 1814 the catacombs filled up with Paris's dead. You can reach out and rattle the ivory yourself if you like, but the greatest chill is in wondering which of them didn't die of natural causes.

Winchester House, San Jose, California

The Winchester "Mystery" House is a colossal construction built on a foundation of superstition. It's said that Sarah Winchester, heiress to the arms company, was told by a soothsayer that the ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles would haunt her unless she moved from Connecticut to the West and built a house that could never be finished in her lifetime. Construction started in 1884 in San Jose, California, and kept going nonstop for 38 years until her death. Now the house's 160 rooms are haunted by her madness and packed with bizarre details: Staircases go straight into the ceiling, doors open onto blank walls, spider motifs abound, and candelabras, coat hooks, and steps are arranged in multiples of 13. Reports of banging doors, footsteps in the night, moving lights, and doorknobs turning of their own accord have been occurring since the house was opened to the public. Tour options include Flashlight Tours every Friday the 13th and Halloween. But you don't have to believe in ghosts to be blown away by the scale and intricacy of the place, or the folly involved in building it.

Let the Peso Speak

I did not vote today despite the irritating prodding of my mother (because she thinks it is morally not right), despite being an able-bodied, mature and eligible Filipino (who has no class or work to be preoccupied with), despite the proximity of the voting precincts from our home (a minute ride because of the free transportation provided for by the local government), and despite the urge of the socially proactive spirit in me (would have been an activist if not for my personal struggles I am in no mood to discuss...hehe).

Now let me recount the reasons why.

1. As early as evening of yesterday (October 28) envelopes have been flying around town distributing themselves to innocent voters. Enclosed with it is a list of possible barangay officials who I think out of desperation has resorted to vote-buying to become a part of the bureaucratic government in newly-slated city of Naga (by the way a barangay councilor's pay is P8000 apart from the possible corruption). My mother received a whopping P900 for three voters (me, my mom and my dad). There were six candidates, what if they all payed for votes? Do the math.

If I were you, would you rather have a hand in electing such corrupt persons whom despite not being elected yet has shown as much hunger for power as those who would kill their brothers or sisters to be favored for a throne? No thank you. I would rather renounce my right to suffrage as of the moment because I find the electees incompetent, good-for-nothing, and power-savoring posers of righteousness, honesty and justice.

2. I am not based in our town. I live in the city and I am not blessed with having as much familiriaty as i want with all the candidates. Some of whom I know only by name and the others I have never heard of.

I have once said in another post that some ounce of familiarity will always be a good ally and I still live by that. I would rather not vote than risk putting into office someone I do not personally know nor recognize even.

There are other reasons why I did not vote but they are far less significant than these two. I am regretful that my birth-right to vote was not exercised but am equally pleased that I bear no burden in my conscience. There will be better times to vote and better people befitting the positions in contest. I just hope this time happens in my lifetime because honestly, politics is far more dirty than a landfill.

Enough of my ranting.

Signing off.

World's Creepiest Places Part 1

I am a big fan of the occult and was more than delighted to have seen yahoo posting about the scariest places on earth. By far, I enjoyed it so much and left me with churning sensations in my stomach owing to my very rich imagination. Hope so does you!

It is very long so I will be doing it in three installments. These are all from Concierge if you want to see it for yourself.

By Ralph Martin

Bhangarh, India

India's Bhangarh, in the Rajasthan region north of Jaipur, is a town with a mysterious history. Built in the 1630s, it was abruptly abandoned ten years later for reasons that are still unclear. Legend has it that after a convoluted series of events involving a princess and a jar of enchanted oil, a massacre occurred and the town was never repopulated. Nowadays there are tourists aplenty by day, but no one stays at night. This might have something to do with the supposed curse placed on the town by a jealous shaman. Even the local archeological office is located half a mile away (better safe than sorry). But the magnificent ruins—not to mention the Palace of Prostitutes—imply that Bhangarh was something of a Gomorrah of extravagant goings-on. Perhaps that history—and not the ghost stories—is why a sign at the entrance reads, "Staying here after sunset is strictly prohibited." Either way, we're happy to rest our heads at the ultra-luxe Amanbagh resort six miles away.

Mütter Museum, Philadelphia

From the sliced human head floating in a glass case, à la Damien Hirst, to the gruesome collection of preserved presidential tumors and a plaster cast of Siamese twins Chang and Eng (as well as their actual conjoined livers), Philadelphia's Mütter museum is a must-see, especially for those who found the movie Dead Ringers oddly compelling. Part of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the oldest medical school complex in North America, it combines exhibits of pathological objects, surgical tools, and anatomical curiosities. Other wonders on display include the tallest skeleton in North America and a collection of 2,000 objects removed from people's throats, each with its own case history. There is an almost gleeful disconnection between the museum's mission—"to advance the cause of health, and uphold the ideals and heritage of medicine"—and the often shocking displays. High on the ugh-list are the painted papier-mâché models of the effects of gangrene and the wax faces with various eye injuries; the air outside is bound to seem fresh afterward, no matter what the weather.

Truk Lagoon, Chuuk, Micronesia

A ship ripped neatly in half offers a perfect cutaway view of life and death on the high seas. Everything is encrusted with barnacles, from cabins and boiler rooms to onboard assault tanks and airplanes. Much of the Japanese Navy's WWII fleet lies in the shallow Truk Lagoon in a volcanic valley in Micronesia, part of the Caroline Islands 3,200 miles southwest of Hawaii. Now a deep-blue diver's paradise (it was the subject of a Jacques Cousteau documentary in 1971), this was where the Allies sunk more than 60 battleships and aircraft carriers in 1944, many going down with their crews trapped inside. While swimming through the wrecks, you can spot gas masks, sake cups, and the odd "human remain." The ships are corroding fast and many have become full-fledged coral reefs, but they still provide a jaw-dropping testimony to the ravages of war. Tour companies, including the Blue Lagoon Dive Shop, offer excursions for experienced divers.

Sonora Witchcraft Market, Mexico City, Mexico

Witches packed into tightly spaced stalls proffer advice and spells for $10, promising quick ends to poverty and spousal infidelity, while some rather unhappy-looking exotic animals—iguanas, frogs, and wild birds—are for sale in cages. This is the Sonora Witchcraft Market, open daily to pilgrims from Mexico City and far beyond who come to have their fortunes read and attempt to find a shortcut to a better life. The market is a labyrinth of stalls that cover a few city blocks, and it's the regional source for "spiritual" stuff ranging from potions derived from ancient Aztec recipes to Buddha statues. For hard-core enthusiasts, perhaps some rattlesnake blood or a dried hummingbird will give your fortunes a jolt. But you should be aware that witchcraft in Mexico is no joke: The National Association of Sorcerers has weighed in on presidential elections, casting spells to make them free and fair. And of course there's a dark side, such as bad-luck charms from the Santerí—a religion that scares the daylights out of locals—and don't give anyone in Mexico a black candle unless you really, really mean it.

Easter Island, Chile

One of the most unnerving things about the 30-foot carved heads that dot Easter island is that they're not looking out at you as you arrive; the famous unsmiling moai sculptures look inward from the sea, as if guilty of some crime. Perhaps it has something to do with the virtual disappearance of the people who made them. At only 63 square miles, tiny Easter Island is home to more mystery for its size than just about anyplace else on earth. The Rapa Nui people, nearly extinct a century ago but flourishing now, kept no written records of how they moved the enormous moai around the island, sometimes as far as 14 miles, from the volcanic quarry where they were carved. We like the theory that UFOs were behind it all. It's said that the Rapa Nui grew so devoted to their stone heads that they sacrificed their civilization in the interest of bigger, better, and more perfect specimens. The island's now accessible via Chile (a five-and-a-half-hour flight), and the new Explora property offers a range treks, as well as luxury accommodation.

Oh My!

I visited the blog of a new friend and I stumbled upon this very cute commercial. I can't even remember if it was shown in the Philippines but for sure if I saw this or not I loved, love and will love it.



Salamat Camille!

Spain in all its Glory

Two of the magnificent site of Spain are Torre de Bujaco and Muralla de Avila.

Torre de Bujaco is one magnificent castles found in the town of Caceres. It was built as part of the Roman fortification in the Roman empire hence its Roman design. Although it was once threatened for demolition, this enchanting castle still stands due to efforts of preservation.

Muralla de Avila on the other hand is a series of walls enclosing the old military town of Avila. Its outside has been lined by churches for the awe of tourists as well as locals.

If you plan to go to to Spain, these two places should atop your list of itineraries. Best hotels in Spain are just around the corners from which these tourist attractions could be found.

For a more specific tour of each city, if you plan to go to Barcelona, three of the most visited attractions to ogle are the Sagrada Familia, La Boqueria and GOthic quarter.

Sagrada Familia is a charming church by the city built around 1882. It was designed by Antoni Gaudi. It is towering testament of Catholic faith that has been unfinished and ravaged by war yet 2.2 million people visit it every year.

La Boqueria is literally the haven for shoppers going to Barcelona. It houses all types of goods from fresh fruits and flowers to ready to wear goodies.

The Gothic quarter used to be known as the Cathedral quarter of Barcelona. It is composed of streets lined up with Gothic buildings designed to almost a perfection. From churches to old Gothic establishments, one can find it in the city's Gothic quarter.

Hotels in Barcelona is never a problem owing to its rich culture and the vast amount of guests that flock the city every year.

Should you find Madrid a place to behold, then you need to know three of its major attractions: The Royal Palace, the botanical gardens and the Prado museum.

The Prado museum is known to be the largest art gallery in the world. It exhibits coins, drawings, paintings, sculpture and other works of art from all over the world and Europe most especially. If someone is looking for an educational and entertaining experience then this is a place to beat.

The botanical garden used to be the king's garden housing his botanical collection in the 1800's. In 1981, it was opened to the public as a public garden amassing large amounts of visitors every year. It houses different species of plants all to the enjoyment of plant and nature lovers.

The Royal Palace is, for me, the place to be in Madrid. It is living proof of the power that was Spain and also houses the king and his future successors. It is strategically located in Madrid the capital of Spain as a symbol of the cities autocratic rule.

The same as Barcelona, hotels in Madrid are also abound.

For a truly satisfying visit in Spain, let us all visit the said tourist spots.

Executive Clemency. A Joke?

First of all, I am but stating only my opinion.

Erap's Pardon did not come as a surprise. It was a carefully manipulated stunt to make people believe that it was an act of mercy. After Erap's acceptance of the legitimacy of the Presidency, what could be a better gift or should I say bribe than to give him his much needed freedom? After being tried and proven guilty? The government should have known better. They can no longer fool the people especially after scandals and controversies alternating to happen. The public is no longer privy of the political movie that is unfolding in our very eyes and being shown on the television.

I personally do not like Erap. If there could have been a better choice for a President of our country, it would neither be Erap nor Gloria. They are champions of their own ways of trickery and politicking. Why can't they stop bickering and attend to far important things such as security, economy and resolutions of the scandals?

I am very tired. Tired of our political system. Tired of those seated in the government. Tired of the all the problems that doesn't seem to have a solution.

I am hoping that in the next election, the voters will know better. We really have to choose the right leader. A leader who is as competent as he is morally upright. That is what we need, if we want a better Philippines.

Celebrities are Human too Version 2

Marie Osmond, a celebrity contestant of Dancing with the stars, suddenly faints while results of the October 22 show were being bared. Though the comments to her were pleasing, out of nowhere, she passes out.



According to her, after a physically draining samba routine, she had difficulty continuing to breath and catching her breath was unsuccessful. Right onstage, she collapsed with millions of TV viewers watching on national TV. Luckily, she quickly recovered!

Finally, Zsa Zsa in Cebu!

While Manila boasts of colorful musical plays from famed directors, CEBU HAS BEEN OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT. I am by my own admission a theatre fanatic yet I rarely get to watch good plays in Cebu if none at all. The most productions local producers stage is at most twice a year. Quite inadequate for the talent-reach province of Cebu specifically and the whole Visayas region in general.

Luckily, another famed Manila play is bound to set its foot in Cebu. Elite International will be bringing ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH (ZE MUZIKAL) in Cebu this November. The lucky location is Cinema 1 of Sm Cebu and shows are slated on the 16th, 17th and the 18th every 3PM and 8PM.

The play will star some of the most prolific stage performers in the country with K Brosas as the leading role.

To those who have been anticipating this play, let us all head to East West Ayala, Sm Cinema Ticketing or call VICTO HAUS at 232-3776 and look for Merlin or text 09225323028/09157437679 (SUSET).

Hope to see you there!

Love Poker?

Poker for me is a very intricate game. It requires a lot of thinking, bluffing and formulating strategies to make your hand look as if it is better than a royal flush. Thus, the term poker-faced was coined. It is trickery at its best because you make people believe you are the luckiest person alive despite being the opposite.

This has made my fascination for the game grew into immense proportions. I would really love to learn to play the game because you do not only become a ruthless gambler but also a believable deceiver. Such irony in a world of deception and gamble I should say.

I took the liberty to research on the best online casino because the luxury of a tangible casino is not available in our area. True enough I was not failed, I was brought to a website where all the finest casinos in the net are ranked and reviewed. Pro360 provides you with a detailed review of such factors as the game experience, trust score and bonuses offered by each casino. Such lavishness with just a click on the mouse is offered right in the comfort of our very homes. Not only are we able to experience the same excitement as the as the real game, we are also taken into a completely new level of gaming because we do not see who our competition is.

This is where trusting the gut feel and instincts seeps in like water into a whole.

For gamers and gamblers like me, do visit pro360 for the detailed review and a comprehensive list of the best online casinos.

Ecommerce Software

These days, online shopping has increased in popularity. Even a child has the ability to browse the internet and slowly, the web has become the haven of all ages and all lifestyles. It is as not only source of information but also a way for shoppers on the go to maximize their time by just a click on their personal computers or the internet.

In this connection, executives have found a new way of advertising their products. Here is where the job of online web designers comes in. However, hiring them requires a lot of cost and time.

Luckily, I have chanced upon an online shopping cart that revolutionizes the way businesspersons do their typical websites.

Ashop provides a highly specialized ecommerce software or shopping cart, enabling new or established businessmen a better way of augmenting their online sales.

In addition, Ashop is connected with all major banks including third party money processing companies such as Paypal making payments easy to process and productivity more effective.

I plan to have my own business in the future and as I was browsing through their website, the have provided a wide range of choices for new businessmen. Much luck for me and all future online sellers!

Ashop is truly a thing to beat and if I did have a business, it will surely top my list of must-haves.

Bloggerwave - A New Revolution

With the advent of online blogging, opportunities for earning have sprouted left and right. Who wouldn't want to earn while doing their passion, right?

I have been writing for the most part of my life but stumbled upon blogging just about recently. I have read some online journals stating the marketability of earning via blogs and since then , I have joined the bandwagon.

I happen to come across about bloggerwave via another famed blog. She mentioned that it was one of the newer blogging-for-pay sites. In fact, their job opportunities pay $10 on the minimum - a very competitive price for such a cut-throat industry. So, I readily applied in the hopes of having my two-month old blog approved. True enough, after two days, I was not disappointed. They have accepted my blog and response was quicker than lightning. So here I am, writing my very first post for them.

I am yet to test whether they pay on time but basing on the comments of fellow bloggers I have read, they are very prompt on that matter.

To end, I am encouraging fellow bloggers to give it a try. Approval system is fast and easy and paying system is prompt. We are all in a win-win situation!

Read Fellow Harry Potter Fans

By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer


NEW YORK - Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."

Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

"Oh, my god," Rowling concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction."

Potter readers on fan sites and elsewhere on the Internet have speculated on the sexuality of Dumbledore, noting that he has no close relationship with women and a mysterious, troubled past. And explicit scenes with Dumbledore already have appeared in fan fiction.

Rowling told the audience that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," she spotted a reference in the script to a girl who once was of interest to Dumbledore. A note was duly passed to director David Yates, revealing the truth about her character.

Rowling, finishing a brief "Open Book Tour" of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a "prolonged argument for tolerance" and urged her fans to "question authority."

Not everyone likes her work, Rowling said, likely referring to Christian groups that have alleged the books promote witchcraft. Her news about Dumbledore, she said, will give them one more reason.

From yahoo.com

What Makes Cebu Any Safer?

I have been looking for reasons why Cebu is way safer than Manila but I am unable to find any. Due to the recent bombings in Makati, should I be complacent enough because I am in Cebu? I don't think so!

Here is a definitive list of the reasons why Cebu isn't any less in danger:

1. Guards poking stick in the malls to check baggage and belongings. (Not unless there is this microchip in that stick that alarms authorities when a bomb is detected.)

2. Metal-detectors at bay. (Only used when security is heightened! Is that what you call safe?)

3. Only a single bomb-sniffing dog covering the whole mall if none at all.

4. Police visibility just above ten percent. (Except for kotong cops and traffic enforcers who goes OT to meet their quotas.)

I am not inviting anything untoward to come to Cebu. I am just worried we might be the next potential target. I just hope security goes up with these recent events. I would never want Cebu or any other place to suffer the same fate as Glorietta.

I am hoping for peace and eternal repose for those who died and a quick recovery to those who are injured.

I am hoping this will not happen again.

How Could they?

Yesterday, I was in the middle of watching a movie when a friend of mine texted me not to got to malls or LRT just yet. He was mentioning a death of 8 people in a bombing that happened in glorietta.

True, when the movie was finished, I heard news after news of the accounts of the events in Makati. The bombing left at least 8 people dead and hundreds more injured. Such a sad, sad occurrence especially that the Christmas season is coming up.

Many theories have surmounted regarding the alleged bombing. First of which is that it was caused by an LPG leak from a restaurant's kitchen. Such a preposterous assumption. The gravity of the incident should never be downplayed in order for the incompetent police force's not to look bad? Call that wake up call for the police years of slumber! Does it really have to take a graver tragedy before they do their jobs?

Second theory was that the government was behind the bombings. True or not, the government is to be blamed. If they should have stopped bickering and instead focused on far more important things such as heightening the security, terrorist acts like this would have been averted!

To the citizens, no one else should look out for our own safety than ourselves. For now, let us avoid going to public places becuase we can never say when the perpetrators of such horrendous acts would strike again.

Note: Thanks to Anitokid for the picture.

Am I not Good Enough?

Yesterday, I was scheduled for an interview as a part-time ESL instructor in one of our better-known English schools here in Cebu. I dreaded that day because I never liked interviews from the start yet all I can do was to suck it up and hope against hope that everything turns out the way I want it.

It was set at 4pm so I cam about 20 minutes early. They were quick enough to entertain me as they have, quite surprisingly, proceeded to my exams despite the premature schedule. So off I go and took roughly three types of tests: Language use test, IQ test and pre-Employment test. They also required me to take fill out their very own version of a curriculum vitae.

I know I passed it. I was confident with my grammar skills and I think my IQ is above average basing on the tests I have took in the past. So I waited for my interview, confident that somehow I fifty percent on the way to getting the job.

The interviewer came. He was well-dressed with tie and all but not as intimidating as they normally would look like. The first thing he said to me was "are you tired? because you look like one. we could reschedule this should you be in not well". I was irked a bit because I was not. I even overslept the other day. Maybe, he just thought that my being red is a sign a being exhausted.

The interview went very well. In my standards, I have ably answered all his questions to the best of my ability. However, there was just this big problem that hindered my employment. You see, I am a nursing student and my schedule can go from unpredictable to utter erratic. Despite applying for part-time job with a minimum of two hours, my schedule would only allow me to teach at night. He said that most English classes are in the morning. Too bad for me.

He ended up saying that he will put me on active file and once training for a new set of teachers comes, he'll call me. That is after minutes of him pondering on how to resolve my issue and another more minutes me of bargaining. Guess the job was not meant for me just yet. Again too bad!

Celebrities are Human too

In her show last October 16, Ellen deGeneres was brought into tears when apparently, the agency who gave her the dog "Iggy" for adoption took the poor animal back because of the former's infraction of their rules. A case of pure ignorance of the law I must say.

Ellen, upon bringing the new pet home, discovered that said dog never got into good terms with her cats. In the spirit peace, she decided to give the dog to one of her staffs in order to provide a home for it and in turn, a family who will love and care for it. It stayed for a few days with her staff and became somewhat attached to two lovely little girls. Inadvertently, Ellen broke one of the rules of the Pet Agency who rescued the dog. A foster home (If that's what you may call that) is not allowed to give the pet to another home. But she did!

The agency took the dog back, maybe with force I must say, breaking the hearts of the young girls. That's why, Ellen, human as she is, begged on national TV in her show for the Pet Agency to give the dog back.

This just goes to show that celebrities are human too. we often think that they disregard feelings because of their status but as it turns out, they are capable of caring as much as most of us normal people can.

Update: It was in the news that this issue is going to be brought to court.

Best Swimsuits in Town

Summer is over but who says going to the beach is out? Who says swimming pools should be abandoned? Who says going to tropical countries like the Philippines isn't a good idea? No one, right?

Of course, one can never boast of a good beach experience without flaunting the bodies he or she has worked on the whole year round. As tribute to the persons courage, donning his or her favorite bikini or swimsuit is a must.

Instyleswimwear.com offers the best swimsuit in town. From kids to the young at heart, they offer all types of swimming apparel in all shapes and sizes. Not only that, their website gives you the luxury of browsing through their list of designer swimsuits according to category. Call it convenience!

So what are you waiting for? For swimsuits and other swimming apparel, visit their website here. You will never regret it!

Jessica Alba's Blind?

Can you imagine this lovely bombshell totally dependent on a walking stick while traversing busy streets?

I can't but she will be. Following the theatrical success of the Ring series, another horror flick from Asia is about to have its Hollywood remake. Originally done by the Pang brothers of Thailand, "The Eye" revolves around a young lady's quest to correct her congenital blindness.

After a successful surgery and while coping with the new-found light, she is no longer privy to the colors that surrounds her. But only with a twist, she sees death literally. She gets a glimpse of soul keepers guiding the dead people to their new home and worse, she is haunted by ghosts with unfinished businesses.

Interesting enough? It never gets better! Jessica Alba stars as the young blind woman. And its coming soon in theatres.

Can't wait to see it via the big screen. I loved the original version.

Food for the Dirty Mind

A first-grade teacher, Ms Neelam was having trouble with one of her students the teacher asked,"Boy, what is your problem?"

Boy answered, "I'm too smart for the first-grade. My sister is in the third-grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the third-grade too!"

Ms. Neelam had enough. She took Boy to the principal's office. While Boy waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was.The principal told Ms Neelam he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the first-grade and behave. She agreed.

Boy was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: "What is 3 x 3?"

Boy: "9".

Principal: "What is 6 x 6?"

Boy: "36".

And so it went with every question the principal thought a third-grade should know. The principal looks at Ms. Neelam and tells her, "I think Boy can go to the third-grade."

Ms. Neelam says to the principal, "I have some of my own questions.

Can I ask him ?" The principal and Boy both agree.

Ms. Neelam asks, "What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?

Boy, after a moment "Legs."

Ms. Neelam: "What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?"

Boy: "Pockets."

Ms. Neelam: What starts with a C and ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin whitish liquid?

Boy: Coconut

Ms. Neelam: What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Boy was taking charge.

Boy: Bubblegum

Ms. Neelam: What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs?

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer...

Boy: Shake hands

Ms. Neelam: Now I will ask some "Who am I" sort of questions, okay?

Boy: Yep.

Ms. Neelam: You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do.

Boy: Tent

Ms. Neelam: A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first.

The Principal was looking restless, a bit tense and took one large Patiala Vodka peg.

Boy: Wedding Ring

Ms. Neelam: I come in many sizes. When I'm not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good.

Boy: Nose

Ms. Neelam: I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver.

Boy: Arrow

Ms. Neelam: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' that means lot of heat and excitement?

Boy: Firetruck

Ms. Neelam: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' & if u dont get it u have to use ur hand.

Boy: Fork

Ms. Neelam: What is it that all men have one of it's longer on some men than on others, the pope doesn't use his
and a man gives it to his wife after they're married?

Boy: SURNAME

Ms. Neelam: What part of the man has no bone but has muscles, has lots of veins, like pumping, & is responsible for making love ?

Boy: HEART.

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said to the teacher, "Send this Boy to the University, I got the last
ten questions wrong myself!"

P.S. This moved me. I just want to share it to Everyone!

The Mind of An Alcoholic

Away from the rustle and bustle of the city, I confine myself in the refuge of my home. Here, I woke up to the twittering birds of the morning, to the soothing feel of the morning dew and to gracious smell of home-cooked meals.

I would have been totally satisfied except that every day of my stay, I wake up to the scent of tequila, vodka and oh my favorite whisky. My mind fights the thought of getting drunk again but sobering up is just as hard here as it has always been in the city. Constant temptation are abound and who am I not to fall for them.

I am surrounded with reminders that I am as weak as a newborn child, vulnerable and easy prey. Can anybody help me? Can anybody save me from drowning into total delirium?

I guess no one can. I am but my own ally and it is I who can guard this slowly crumbling life of mine.

P. S. Vodka, Tequila and Whisky are our dogs and this is just a work of literature. Hehehe...The writer in me just wants to scribble this down.

Pinoys from UK Please Support Dr Joy Barredo

I am Dr Joy Barredo, your love coach. I enjoy helping people find love, move on from a heartbreak or keep the romance alive in their relationship. I am a hopeful romantic and a realist at the same time.

Please spread the word about the first and only Pinoy radio show in the UK called Usapang Pinoy. The pilot show is on the 27th of October at 10pm Manila time. Anyone in the world can go to http://www.futureradio.co.uk/ and click on LISTEN ONLINE and participate. You can send me instant messages which I will read on air! And I also need Pinoy music to play on the show. I only have a very limited number of songs, so please help if you can.

I already emailed and sent snail mail to record companies in the Philippines - no response.

Joy
Your Love Coach

Note: This is in response to my friend: Parisukat's post. Hope I could help in my little way!

Mrazing my Day

I own a Motorola L7 right now and the only song stored in it is a favorite by singer/songwriter Jason Mraz.

Eversince remedy, I have kept track of all the songs this talented guy records and there was never a single time that he was not able to deliver.

He has this very unique style of tongue-play. Whenever, by chance, I sing any of his songs I am left breathless.

In honor to one of the artists I look up to, here is the Acoustic version of "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz with lyrics below.

I'm Yours Lyrics
Artist(Band):Jason Mraz

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
and now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love
Listen to the music of the moment maybe sing with me
A lá peaceful melody
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
My breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what i'ma saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
No need to complicate
Our time is short
It can not wait, I'm yours

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
A lá one big family (2nd time: A lá happy family; 3rd time: A lá peaceful melody)
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love love love

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No please, don't complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No please, don't hesitate
no more, no more
It cannot wait
The sky is your's!

5 DON'TS WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING

I received this email years ago. Thought it might be a good post for added knowledge.

DON'T SLEEP WITH A WATCH

Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health.

DON'T SLEEP WITH A PHONE

Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible. Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Therefore if you need to put your mobile phone near you, switch it off first.

DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP ON

People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep.

DON'T SLEEP WITH BRA ON

Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. So go to bed without it.

DON'T SLEEP WITH OTHERS' WIFE

You may never wake up again. You know what I mean! *winks

De Niro Sealed it All - A Stardust Review

As Christmas approaches, the genre of movies being shown have magically turned to fantasy. All to the happiness of frustrated warlocks like me. From unicorns to ogres or from giants to dwarfs, they all seem welcome attractions and distractions. Hehe!

Last Wednesday, I was lucky enough to finally get a chance to watch my much-anticipated movie on the big screen on its first day. I just came off from duty, feeling tired after almost 8 hours of wrestling through my nursing tasks.

The movie started quite bleakly- its fifteen minutes of slowly introducing its characters to the moviegoers was done in subtlety. Maybe it was so much subtle that I did not even get to prepare myself of the viewing experience I was about to be enthralled.

The storyline was packed with adventure, drama, love, magic and a whole lot of different things. Despite the disarray of characters and emotions, it all seemed to have blended well like coffee is to cream.

Michelle Pfeiffer (did I even spell it right?) was the perfect villainess. Though superficial her reasons are for doing so, she epitomizes the usual dark and murky persona befitting a royal enchantress.

The two main characters (Claire Danes and Charlie Cox) were equally superb. I don't really like Claire Danes but here she glows ( literally or not!). Charlie Cox, though quite unknown by my standards, made Tristan as believable a known fact.

Oh and Robert Deniro! You wouldn't expect how his character would turn out. He had me laughing like a hyena when he made his dance number. You shouldn't miss it I tell you! He truly sealed the deal!

My overly critical self ended up enjoying two hours of pure exhilarating movie experience making me wanting for more.

But all things have to come to an end!

Stardust will surely be a favorite. I better go off and do some quick editing in my profiles because my favorite movies has just had their new companion.

No regrets. It was all worth it.

Shi**y Experience

For the past days, I have been contemplating on changing the blogger template. Being the new blogger that I am, I ended up utilizing as much as the blogger template had to offer. I've invested on learning a little HTML to somehow alleviate my ignorance. Just the basics as they say.

Last night, I came upon Pyzam and it offers templates way better that what I saw in blogger. No offense to blogger, but there were a few selections thee that I really like and might actually even love (murag love story).

So, I went ahead copying the code and changing my template. The worst part of it is that in the process, all HTML code I have made in my side bar as well as my Adsense are also going to be deleted. Heck I'm not gonna do it. Of course, I wouldn't want to redo all my code and having to copy it again and paste it is much of a hassle to me. (Call it laziness)

It's just that I suck at HTML.

I shifted from CompE to Nursing because I never liked programming.

Mao ra!

Aaawww

During childhood, we express emotions so genuinely because we are untainted by personal gain. We do not manipulate people to get what we want. Although we throw tantrums but once Mama or Papa gives us the "look", we fold like a pliable sheet.

In the spirit of sweetness and in memory of our childhood, I am sharing this simple video.

Makes me want to become the child I was all over again!


Special Moments - Click here for more home videos

Kangaroo beats Aussie Car Racers

In what could have a usual car racing day in Australia, an unexpected guest racer joins in.

After the gunshot signalled go, in the middle of race track turned up a galloping kangaroo. The riders, instead of getting busy fighting amongst themselves, had an extra load of work up their sleeves to ensure the poor creature survives the race track with minimal injuries.

True enough, the kangaroo was saved and it survived a day of peril in the race track.

Call it fish out of water!

Resident Evil Never Fails Me Part 2

Truly, watching Resident Evil on the big screen is both a viewing delight and an intellectual experience. Not only is it fit for the lovers of the said RPG game, but to the general viewing public. Although it would require a lot of toning down of its violent scenes to make suitable for the children.

Mila was superb. Not only was she a sight to behold but she also emanated a believable expertise in the martial arts that one would envy all her abilities.

The supporting cast was equally notable. Although most of them died in the flick, their deaths were absolutely not put to waste because it made the viewing experience a lot more scary, a lot more believable and to some point a lot more gory.

The movie ended quite as expected. Mila's quest was not finished and the pursuit for Umbrella Corporation has just started. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment because fro sure it would exhibit a dozen more Milas.

And it Struck Me

I was reading a blog of another famed blogger, Migs, regarding falling in love - and how it washes everything away like a flash flood.

In a world of superficiality, people do not get to appreciate the simplicity that surrounds us. Only when we are with our true love, do we get to see that the petals makes the flower jubilant with color, that the water is silent when it runs deep and the sky is blue because of the sea.

I would have been in no writing mood but because of this song, I am obliged to share a simple and poignant symbol of how genuine love should be.

I present to you, "Never Saw Blue Like That" by Shawn Colvin - soundtrack of runaway Bride and Dawson's Creek.

Never Saw Blue Like That by Shawn Colvin

Today we took a walk up the street
And picked a flower and climbed the hill
Above the lake

And secret thoughts were said aloud
We watched the faces in the clouds
Until the clouds had blown away

And were we ever somewhere else
You know, it's hard to say

And I never saw blue like that before
Across the sky
Around the world
You've given me all you have and more
And no one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now
Oh, I, I never saw blue like that

I can't believe a month ago
I was alone, I didn't know you
I hadn't seen or heard you're name
And even now, I'm so amazed
It's like a dream, It's like a rainbow, it's like the rain

And somethings are the way they are
And words just can't explain

Cause I never saw blue like that before
Across the sky
Around the world
You've given me all you have and more
And no one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now
Oh, I, I never saw blue like that before

And it feels like now,
And it feels always,
And it feels like coming home

I never saw blue like that before
Across the sky
Around the world
You've given me all you have and more
And no one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now
Oh, I, I never saw blue like that before

Oh, I, I never saw blue like that

Carting at its Best

I am very fond of shopping online. Apart from not going through the hassle of personally looking for an equipment and asking a sales representative regarding a product's features, the coveted object is delivered right through your doorstep should you opt for delivery (which I do).

The greatest dilemma by far when visiting websites is its being user-friendly. Some sites require you to click on several things before you can even reach the order page. What if you got faulty Internet connection or worse, the connection just freezes? you'll be left wasting an awful amount of time without even getting the most out of it.

As I was browsing through the Internet, I chanced upon this new shopping cart by Ashop. It is a highly specialized ecommerce software or shopping carts, enabling new or established businessmen a better way of augmenting their online sales.

Ashop is connected with all major banks including third party money processing companies such as Paypal.

This foe sure is a perfect venture for an online sales website I plan to have in the near future. They even offer their very own security mechanism integrated in the future website one plan to have. That seals the deal for me!

If I were in a business, I should include this Ashop shopping cart in my ventures because its all worth it.

shopping cart software

Blog for Money

I admit I am but a neophyte in the blogging world. Although I have been writing for the most part of my life, I do not know the exact process of blogging especially html. However, some fellow bloggers introduced me to to Smorty and they assured me that I will never regret it.

Smorty is a service connecting advertisers with bloggers. Advertisers can pay bloggers to write opinion posts with links back to the advertisers site. It allows you a chance of getting paid to blog. With Smorty, all you have to do is open free account with them, get your blog approved and as fast as that you are practically on your way to earning easy money.

Who wouldn't want to get paid to blog these days, right? With Smorty, you are given a chance to write constructive opinions about certain products. Only, you have to get your post approved. Once approved, the cost you require for doing what you love to do (writing of course!), is paid to you weekly via Paypal.

So fellow bloggers, why don't you grab the chance of getting paid while blogging. It's easy, fast and very doable. My blog is almost three months old only and they have me approved that easily.

Thanks to Smorty - one incredible way of fostering a blog for money . Truly, no regrets!

blog for money

I have been tagged!

Vera, a fellow blogger, tagged me to list down at least six weird things about myself. I, generally, find myself weird but when it comes to thinking and pondering on stuff that make yourself obnoxiously unique, your mind play tricks on you.

Now, let me start with what I think is weird but on the sane side:

1. I have a very flushed face. People call me red Rey because blushing is an understatement compared to my face. Imagine a very sick person who has had a bout with alcoholic drinks! I'm almost maroon. Hehe. ( "Rey, nakainom ka?. very common question!)

2. I am a frustrated thespian. Whenever I am not able to cry in a snap, I employ this very weird trick. I put vickz, sanitary balm or anything minty below my eyes to induce crying. Hahahaha. Call it crying like the pouring rain that never stops.

3. I am good at making weird monikers for people. Whenever, I have new friends, I never fail to make their name sound as "bantot" as possible. Example:
Rebecca - Bikaka, Krisa - Sangit or Potpot, Cleofe - Oping. Need to know more? Want to know what yours would be?

4. I have severe peculiarities in terms of food preferences: I love unripe mangoes but rarely eat a ripe one, I don't like my food to have spring onions but I love Shawarma, I'm not particularly in love with chocolates (Am I the only one?)...hehehe..

5. I love to walk. Imagine walking from F. Cabahug to Country Mall to Fuente and Back to Panagdait. That sure is a long walk but you know what's weird, it wasn't traffic at all and I have money for fare. Call it trippin!

6. I can change voices before you can even count 1. From a retarded child, to an old lady, to a cat or dog, to a foxy, sensual girl...name it I can do it all...hehehe...

Instruction: Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about themselves. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.


Now you know much about me, I would like to know 6 weird things from these people: shemdgoddess, crazyelaine, olech, shellaboang

Falling out of LOVE?

Love’s lessons
By Melanie Lim.

I can’t claim to be a guru. But in matters of the heart, I’ve learned a thing or two.

Despite what we think, men really can’t read our minds. A few have been blessed with this supernatural ability but for the rest of the mortal males, they need to be reminded to remember; they need to be told to take action.

So stop expecting a surprise on your birthday or anniversary or you might truly be surprised.

Say the words—don’t let the moment pass. But if that time has come and gone, don’t beat yourself to pulp. To ruminate in regret for the rest of your life benefits no one. Mourn but move on. It’s all right to let your tears fall but no public wailing please.

If you don’t feel loved, you’re probably right. Stop making excuses for the man in your life. He can’t be busy all the time. He can’t be perpetually clumsy and clueless. When you feel the interest waning, it probably has waned. If he can’t make room in his life for you now, it isn’t likely he ever will.

If he is not brave enough to tell you he no longer loves you then ask him yourself if it is true. Don’t bawl at the truth. Take it like a woman. Bow out gracefully. There is no shame in no longer being loved only in clinging on to someone who no longer loves you.

Don’t ask why. You don’t need to know. You need it for closure? You do not need him to recite your faults and failings—real or imagined. He does not need to hear your rebuttal either. He has rested his case. He no longer loves you—that should be enough closure for you. Let it be. You do not need to know everything.

Sometimes, love dies—for no logical reason. But then again, there is no logic in falling in love so falling out should follow the same pattern. Remember, you can’t love for two. And you can’t compel anyone to love you—despite how wonderful you may truly be.

It’s still best to break up amicably. Should you keep in touch? Why not? Should you hang out? What for? You can stay civil and compassionate with each other but you don’t have to be friends if you don’t want to. You don’t have to be mortal enemies but you don’t have to be bosom buddies either.

I’ve learned that with age, I don’t have to be wiser—just braver. To love someone is a blessing. But to stop loving someone is not necessarily a tragedy. The dateless need not be desperate on Valentine’s Day. They can actually be—simply delighted to be free.

It is a liberating feeling to no longer pine for anyone—not exactly where I expected to be at this time in my life. But I can’t say I’m disappointed. It actually feels pretty good to be able to find the courage to be finally free. I’ve learned to be happy without a man and that, to me, is a gift far greater than anything a man could ever give me.

Note: Melanie Lim Is one of my favorite columnists in a local newspaper. Although I rarely buy it for the news but when I do, it is her column that I read first. It's not that I don't like the other columnists, its just that she writes with simplicity. She is very direct to the point and that's what I love about her.

The Story of a Fart

Here is a List of Personal Characteristics (farts included):

• VAIN: A person who loves the smell of his own farts.
  
• AMIABLE: A person who loves the smell of other people's farts.
  
• PROUD: A person who thinks his farts are exceptionally fine.
  
• SHY: A person who releases silent farts and then blushes.
  
• IMPUDENT: A person who boldly farts out loud and then laughs.
  
• UNFORTUNATE: A person who tries awfully hard to fart but shits instead.
  
• SCIENTIFIC: A person who farts regularly but is only concerned about pollution.
  
• NERVOUS: A person who stops in the middle of his fart.
  
• HONEST: A person who admits he farted but offers good medical reasons.
  
• DISHONEST: A person who farts and then blames the dog.
  
• FOOLISH: A person who suppresses a fart for hours and hours.
  
• THRIFTY: A person who has several good farts in reserve.
  
• ANTISOCIAL: A person who excuses himself and farts in complete privacy.
  
• STRATEGIC: A person who conceals his farts with loud coughing.
  
• SADISTIC: A person who farts in bed and then fluffs the cover over his bedmate.
  
• INTELLECTUAL: A person who can determine from the smell of his neighbor's fart precisely the latest food item consumed.
  
• ATHLETIC: A person who farts at the slightest exertion.
  
• MISERABLE: A person who would truly love to, but can't fart at all.
  
• SENSITIVE: A person who farts and then starts crying.

A Hero Once Again

This morning, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, tagged as the boxing hero of the Philippines proved that he was the better in his bout between Antonio Barrera Of Mexico. I personally was not able to watch the match but as the news would say, the valiant fighters fought twelve rounds of grueling pound-per-pound body beating where in the end, the Filipino protagonist emerged victorious.

All the same, it was not a humiliating defeat for the Mexican. It was predicted by boxing analysts and aficionados that he would not last more than 3 rounds and succumb to a knockout. However, he proved everybody wrong by fighting the Pacquiao- a younger and a lot fitter fighter at the prime of his career - to the last bell. He indeed earned the respect of the Filipinos.

Barrera- the older and probably, wiser fighter - did employ some dirty tricks in the game when he still pounced on Manny while the referee was breaking them off. An act of wisdom? I don't think so.

Nevertheless, it was a win for the Philippines and as of presstime, Filipinos from all over the world are celebrating in jubilation of yet another success of a fellow Filipino.

A Christmas Carol (not the book)

I found this email very funny. I got this some 2 years ago when I was working as a call center agent. Spamming was our favorite past time then and we make sure to send it to all. Enjoy!


Schizophrenia -
Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality -
We Three Queens Disoriented Are

Dementia -I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas





Narcissistic -
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
(About Me)

Mania -
Deck the Halls and Walls
and House and Lawn and Streets
and Stores and Office and Town ...

Paranoia -
Santa Claus is Coming To Town
(To Get Me)

Borderline Personality -
Thoughts of Roasting
in an Open Fire





Personality Disorder -
You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry,
I'm Gonna Pout,
then MAYBE I'll tell you why

Depression -
Silent anhedonia, Holy anhedonia.
All is calm, All is pretty lonely.

Passive Aggressive -
On the First Day of Christmas
My True Love Gave to Me
(and then took it all away)




Obsessive Compulsive -
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell...