What Is Wrong With This Picture

Crying Ice

A report from the dailymail.co.uk shows a melting glacier that appears to be crying because of, well, global warming.

"At first glimpse it looks like any other glacier you might find in the freezing Arctic wastes of Norway.

But on closer inspection an eerie face is depicted in the melting ice wall that appears to be crying a river of tears.

The forlorn-looking 'Mother Nature' figure appeared to locals during a thaw, with the melting ice and snow falling towards the sea below.

The striking image of the Austfonna ice cap, located on Nordaustlandet in the Svalbard archipelago, would seem certain to be heavily used by environmentalists protesting against climate change.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1210706/Caught-camera-Mother-Nature-cries-river-tears-global-warming-threatens-planet.html#ixzz0QIihGGSV

Bookstore Bloopers

Slip of the Tongue: If only captions could kill

Or a deadly wish?

Prawn, Prone and Phrone

Cannon and the Green Man Diary

The Green Man Diary  posted a soft-enough-that-you-have-to-sigh entry called "Jesus Let Us Come to Know You."

Here is the first part:

"It’s an intoxicating day today at work and all of us here are so harassed by what needs to be finished before the weekend. Importing artworks, talking to National Museum staff, following up with the broker... rushing the framer, etc... sigh...

I took a late lunch break around 3:00PM and sat outside the foyer after. I needed to relax my nerves. I turned on my mobile phone’s music player and listened to an Cannon in D inspired, A Capella, gospel song.

While listening to the music and melody, I got a comforting feeling knowing that, even though things are worrisome at times, there is still a higher, more powerful entity governing us all.

I am not superbly religious, but nature, circumstances and practically everything around me show proof that everything start small and grow wonderfully big… and there is an energy fueling all these… that’s what I am talking about. That “something” unseen yet powerfully present.

So I listened to my mobile phone and sang in my head… sort of a prayer. I felt a little better."

Awwwwwww.

I love this guy, and I will marry him someday. (hehehe, joke dude) So I can forgive him for a very slight grammatical error, which pales in comparison to the beauty of this man.

However, just for the record my beloved E (he is your friend, and you might be confused, as always, with the spelling).

From Wikipedia:

A cannon is any tubular piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellants to launch a projectile over a distance. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees, depending on their intended use on the battlefield. The word cannon is derived from several languages, in which the original definition can usually be translated as tube, cane, or reed. In modern times, cannon has fallen out of common usage, usually replaced by "guns" or "artillery", if not a more specific term, such as "mortar" or "howitzer".

A canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e.g. quarter rest, one measure, etc.). The initial melody is called the leader (or dux), while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower (or comes). The follower must imitate the leader, either as an exact replication of its rhythms and intervals or some transformation thereof (see "Types of canon", below). Repeating canons in which all voices are musically identical that repeat are called rounds – "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "Frère Jacques" being widely known examples.

And this is my boyfriend; he doesn't know it yet!

The Smiles

Happiness = Victorina Plus GoodTimes Hosts Mo Twister, Grace Lee and Mojo Multiplied by Bandwidth.

I just love that blog. Go check it out. 

Blogger's Entry at the Boracay Blog Contest sponsored by Philips

Paradise Surprise

I have a feeling that the long Labor Day weekend would go down in my book as one of my most interesting summer weekend trips. Everything seems to be going my way, from the time I stepped into the airport to this very moment that I’m enjoying my extra cold watermelon shake under the Boracay summer noon sun. There’s a little extra special about this trip to begin with: it’s my first time to come here on my own. It’s part official business, that’s true, but it’s Boracay, nonetheless.

With my fingers crossed, I went to the airport with the hope of arriving at my destination at the very least on the same day. I was told that a ruckus had erupted the night before at the airport that left all flights delayed amid inclement weather. And after the long series of queues leading to my designated terminal gate, what do you know!-- there were a couple of announcements of flights being cancelled, but with mine only 15 minutes delayed!

One plane ride, a shuttle bus ride and a boat ride later, I was already on the shores of Boracay meeting new friends in the van taking us to a resort. My new friends invited me to a bloggers’ event of some sort. While I told them that I did not blog, they said that it’s going to be interesting anyway for non-bloggers and that I could of through my social networking website. I agreed as official work would begin only the night of the next day.

The event, the Bloggers Summer Encounter, took place in Boracay Mandarin with a cozy set up of short tables and pillows to sit on. The program featured a blogcast with an environmental advocate talking about the need to raise awareness about the current degradation of Boracay’s environment and the ways to solve the problem. I was both surprised and relieved that efforts are being made to call attention to this situation, which I would not have considered otherwise. Anyway, the event was sponsored by Philips, which I was also surprised to learn had an environmental advocacy that they tie in with their products.

I must say that I was quite impressed with what both Philips and the people behind the event did. They had not only sent out their environmental message to us present there, but those other bloggers who participated live online as well. I was told that the event would also soon be posted on youtube for everyone to access.

And now as I take a sip of my chilled shake, I’m gladly surprised the establishment I’m in proudly displays Philips banners in its beachfront with the tag sense and simplicity. My refreshment, I saw from the bar, was specially juiced and blended in Philips appliances. I have to make a mental note that in case I need a juicer or blender at home I should consider buying those from Philips, not only because of its quality, but partly also for the company to continue its noble advocacy. What a way to learn and discover Philips and the environment in Boracay. The weekend has just begun and I can’t wait for my next surprise encounter in paradise!

 

 

For All Bloggers in Boracay

All bloggers who will be in Boracay April 30 - May 1, 

you are invited to join the

Boracay Bloggers Encounter

Boracay Mandarin

Learn. Advocate. Save Boracay.

Eat. Drink. Party

Please contact 332-1031 local 107

BB Gandanghari's Definition of Being a Woman

Once again, Aruba is getting the flak for its no cross-dressing policy.  This time, it has a formidable foe - the beautiful and controversial BB Gandanghari.

Because she has called herself a woman, she will be addressed in this entry as such.

Her rejection story was excellently narrated by BB herself  in her own blog From the Bottom of My Hypothalamus  and it is best to allow her blog community to argue her cause. My concern is just grammar.

A striking proposition is found in these statements: "Certainly, I dressed up as a woman because I am a woman. If I dressed up in a masculine way, that would be the time that I would be crossdressing. But let’s discard all the labels, it’s not the issue."

In the comments section, she followed up this assertion with this:

"First, I'm not crossdressing. I'm not a man wearing women's clothes. I'm a woman wearing women's clothes. What I am right now is not a product of "choice" akin to choosing what food I want to eat. This is a product of self-discovery and whatever I discover is not a choice. You'll know this if you have gone through the wonderful experience of discovering your inner life. What I am right now is a manifestation of what's inside of me."

This confusion is exemplified by this anonymous comment poster:

"- Errr...wherever you got this idea from? Yes you are a man wearing women's clothes! You may have converted yourself to be GAY but you are NOT a woman, as you were born a man and nothing will EVER change that. You may 'want' to be a woman and dress totally like a woman but the sooner you tell yourself and accept that you are only a man converted to gay, the easier it may be for other people to accept what you chose to be."

And these beg the question, "What is the definition of being a woman."

The dictionary of course tells us that a woman is an adult female human. And, from a grammar's point of view, to be a woman should require one to have the female reproductive organs from the birth.

That is the literal definition.

And any commenter or reader who will read the blog entry from a literal and grammatical point of view will be confused and will miss the whole point.

BB Gandanghari is a public persona - a transformed media personality that is a fruit of life decisions. From the moment of her idea conception, she was already a woman. The man named Rustom Padilla exists now as a birth certificate and a historical footnote.

Perhaps such a complex life story is too difficult for security guards to understand. 

To be continued...

The Need for Democratic Grammar

You can fault their grammar, but not their commitment to freedom and democracy.

Castrol and the Fast and the Furious

BURNING UP THE TRACK AT THE CASTROL AUTO SHOW

Well, there were three reasons why I joined Castrol (not counting the fact that Ozmund was there.) The movie, the models and the motors --- well the cars, actually!

Castrol helped get the summer off to a blazing start when the premium engine oil maker put on a special auto show and drive-in screening of car thriller The Fast and the Furious at the MC Home Depot Rooftop at the Fort recently.

The event was part of Castrol’s ongoing promotions for Castrol EDGE as the official oil of Fast and Furious 4, the blockbuster 4^th installment to the immensely popular movie series, which premiered globally last week. Castrol EDGE is a new line of fully synthetic engine oils that guarantees top performance for your car.

Starting off the night was the special auto show which featured 82 souped-up high-performance tuner vehicles from many of the best car clubs and organizations in Metro Manila, including Team Rage, Accord Tunerz, Girl Racer Club, and others.

Partygoers were given the special chance to meet and mingle with celebrity motoring aficionados who joined the celebrations, including actress and former Hot Babe Andrea del Rosario, as well as fitness model and beauty queen Tisha Silang and her model boyfriend Geoff Rodriguez.

Silang and Rodriguez, who were featured prominently as top three finalists in last year’s The Amazing Race Asia, said they were particularly excited about the car show.

“We’re big car fans so it’s a real treat for us to be here,” said Silang. “Some of the rides we saw at the show were just incredible. We’re really hyped to see the movie as well.”

“I definitely picked up some great ideas for my own car,” added Rodriguez.

International rock band The Speaks, who have a song featured on the soundtrack of Fast and Furious 4, were also on hand to sign autographs at the party.

Visitors were also given the chance to get their cars washed by curvy FHM models clad in red hot summer attire.

The partnership between Castrol and the makers of Fast and Furious 4 should come as no surprise. Backed by over 100 years of expertise in premier car lubricant technology, Castrol EDGE is the perfect fit for the movie, which is a street racing junkie’s dream. Castrol EDGE delivers maximum horsepower and lasts 45% longer than standard engine oils. It also provides optimal thermal stability and maximum engine protection.

“The objective of the event was to create camaraderie amongst car clubs”, said Jonathan Chio of Ladder Events Productions who helped put together the event. “I think we’ve managed to achieve that. We had a whole bunch of tuner clubs and groups come and show off their cars, which was pretty amazing.”

What to Give Up This Holy Week

I got this from EWTN. I thought this might make a good prayer or poem for the Holy Week. It is easier to give up meat or a full meal. But how about such emotional habits like worrying? or bitterness? Or anger?


Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . .think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . .become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . .pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!

Coke Everyday

Billboards along EDSA and threads online carry the same message: Drink Coke Everyday!!!!!

Read this forum entry, this time against it!

____________________________________
I drink a 2 liter Diet Coke everyday!!!
Pages: 1
Posted in: Dr. Hull's Health Forum » Aspartame - NutraSweet

#1
Started by PeekaBoo on 02-18-2008 3:23 am
PxxxxBoo
Member

Registered: XXXXXXXXX
I drink a 2 liter Diet Coke everyday!!!


Since I was 18 yrs old I have been drinking Diet Coke! I am now 34 and still drinking Diet Coke! 



________________________

First of all, I don't think it's a good idea to pump your body system with two liters of any soda, whether diet or not and whatever the brand is. 

Secondly, there is a big difference between every day and everyday.

Everyday and every day are commonly confused in English. There's no difference in pronunciation, but using the wrong one when writing is a mistake in the everyday English you use every day.

Everyday

Everyday is an adjective that means commonplace, ordinary, or normal.

These shoes are great for everyday wear.

You shouldn't wear an everyday outfit to the wedding.

Don't use the everyday dishes - it's a special occasion.


Every day

Every day means "each day."

I go to the park every day

I have to work every day this week except Friday

Every day I feel a little better

The Bottom Line

Everyday is a single word and is an adjective, so it's the one that is used in front of a noun to describe something as normal or commonplace. Every day is an adjective (every) plus a noun (day), and it means each day.

The Pope On Condom: Grammar Okay, Opinion Sucks!

Pope Benedict: Condom Distribution Will Fuel AIDS Epidemic
Pope Benedict is a very dangerous man setting policies that will be responsible for many, many deaths:



"Benedict said that the Roman Catholic Church is in the forefront of the battle against AIDS. 'You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms,' the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde. 'On the contrary, it increases the problem.' The pope said that a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease. About 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to UNAIDS. In 2007, three-quarters of all AIDS deaths worldwide were there, as well as two-thirds of all people living with HIV."

How does the Catholic Church dare call itself "pro-life"?

What's In a Name (Of a Carenderia in Leyte)

In Tacloban, Leyte, just off the airport, this eatery stands proudly -- bearing a name that no straight man would dare to use. Can someone please tell the owner what M 2 M means?

Who Should Win the Oscars

I am posting this because I feel frustrated. I wanted to file a leave of absence tomorrow morning so that I can watch the Oscars live, but there are three meetings tomorrow morning. Apparently, clients are more important than the Oscars. I can't understand that.



What Should Win/Will Win at the Oscars
By Graham Flanagan - CNN

Best Picture

Should Win: MILK

The Academy loves to reward movies dealing with hot-button political issues. Crash (2005) dealt with race.. Gandhi with human rights... and The Best Years of Our Lives focused on the veteran's difficult post-war experience. With all of the recent controversy surrounding the issue of Gay Marriage, it would make sense for Milk to join this group of topical best picture winners. However, there's much more to this movie than its politics. Director Gus Van Sant proves yet again that he is one of the masters of his craft, and receives strong support from Sean Penn in yet another amazing performance. Overall, this is the best film in the category.

Will Win: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

I can't imagine this epic pleaser of both crowds and critics not walking away with the grand prize on Oscar night. It received the lion's share of the precursor awards, including the Golden Globe and the SAG award for Best Ensemble. The only thing standing in its way is perhaps an inability to connect with older members of the Academy put off by the film's techno-infused soundtrack and instances of graphic violence.

AM Picks for Best Pic
- John Roberts: Slumdog Millionaire
- Jason Carroll: Doubt
- Carol Costello: Slumdog Millionaire
- Jim Acosta: Slumdog Millionaire
- Rob Marciano: Step Brothers
- Ali Velshi: Tropic Thunder (just for the end)
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Slumdog Millionaire
- Jeanne Moos: Hamster on a Piano (Youtube video)
Best Actor

Should Win: Sean Penn in MILK

It's hard to believe that Sean Penn only has one Oscar, which he brought home for Mystic River in 2004. In all honesty, he should have at least three. How he didn't win for Dead Man Walking or Sweet and Lowdown remains one of Oscar's most puzzling mysteries. Well, it's time to put another one on his shelf, and this one definitely wouldn't be any "sympathy" or "lifetime achievement award." Penn totally abandoned his grizzled, tough-guy persona to transform into Harvey Milk. So successful was he that I had to remind myself halfway through that, hey, that's Sean Penn up there!

Will Win: Mickey Rourke in THE WRESTLER

After taking home the Golden Globe, the BAFTA and a slew of other awards, Rourke definitely has the momentum heading into Oscar Sunday. We've all heard the cliché that Hollywood loves a comeback, and the Hollywood community definitely loved Rourke's performance as a self-destructive pro-wrestler on a futile quest for redemption. However, didn't Rourke already "come back" a few years ago as the Mickey Spillane-esque narration-spewing Marv in Robert Rodriguez's Sin City? Believe it or not, Rourke had a little bit of Oscar buzz for that movie, too... ah, the short attention span of Hollywood. That film and this one both prove that Rourke is genuinely talented and it wouldn't surprise me if he saw himself back in the Kodak Theatre in the near future.

Best Actress

Should Win: Meryl Streep in DOUBT

With fifteen Oscar nominations to her credit, the cinema community at large regards Meryl Streep as the greatest female screen actor on the planet. However, she hasn't taken home a statue since 1982, when she won for Sophie's Choice. Hard to believe, isn't it? I honestly believe that she has never deserved to win more than she has for her work as the Catholic School principal in DOUBT. She goes toe-to-toe with one of the screen's greatest male actors in Philip Seymour Hoffman and wins a few more rounds than Hoffman's character might like to admit. Streep's disappears into her embodiment of the ultra-strict Sister Aloysius, who commands the audience's respect with the same intensity as that which she inflicts on her fearful students. Streep truly earned this one.

Will Win: Kate Winslet in THE READER

Like Rourke, Winslet seems to have all the momentum, though Streep is hot on her tail. A win for Winslet would no doubt stir up its fair share of controversy since she was initially campaigning for a spot in the supporting category. Also some people might see the win as a reward for the combination of her work in The Reader as well as her unmentioned work in Revolutionary Road. Well, it's definitely a lead performance, and (contrary to the rumors) there's much more to the role than her lying around the apartment naked the whole time. Winslet truly plays against type and embodies a very stiff, almost masculine physical quality that stands out from all of her previous work. With six previous nominations and no wins, many see her as the youngest person in history to be due for a "sympathy award." That concept is somewhat ludicrous since it is actually a terrific and deserving performance. Although I'm definitely on team-Streep, it won't bother me if Winslet takes it home.

Best Supporting Actor

Should Win: Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

Most would agree that much of the wild box office success that met the year's biggest blockbuster should be attributed to the mystique surrounding Ledger's compelling portrayal of one of the world's most famous villains. I have to wholeheartedly agree. The movie is undeniably at its best whenever Ledger is on-screen. And whenever he isn't in the mix, it always feels as though something is lacking and you can't wait for him to return. I do feel, however, that the award should be complimented with a win for The Dark Knight in the Best Makeup category. The character design of the Joker in this film undoubtedly played a major role in motivating Ledger to go inside those dark places within his own mind in order to create such a twisted figure that will forever remain a true cinematic icon.

Will Win: Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

Again, this is no "sympathy award." Were he still alive, Ledger would likely be the current frontrunner. His win will not only serve as a tribute to a truly memorable individual performance, but also to the legacy of one of cinema's most promising talents that was sadly taken from us during his prime.

Best Supporting Actress

Should Win: Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Halfway through Woody Allen's ode to the Catalan way of life, Penelope Cruz arrives with the force of an F-5 tornado, turning the entire story on its ear and only enhancing what was already a fantastic piece of filmmaking. Though she has achieved relative stardom in the United States, Cruz didn't prove herself to U.S. audiences as a gifted actress until her Oscar-nominated performance in Volver made a splash in cinemas across the mainland. She works best in her native tongue, and here Allen has given her the opportunity to move seamlessly between it and the English language while in the same scene! It's this aspect of her performance that makes it truly special enough to deserve such an honor.

Will Win: Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Cruz is the eighth actress Woody Allen has directed to a Best Supporting Actress nomination, and after Diane Weist and Mira Sorvino, she'll be the third to bring home the trophy. Hopefully she'll take a cue from double-winner Weist and work with Allen again soon so she can get in line for another Golden Boy!

How is that for wrong spelling????

Incontinence: involuntary leakage of urine or involuntary discharge of fecal matter.

Inconvenience: an experience of discomfort

Big Difference!

The Pope on Facebook

Pope welcomes Facebook, but cautions, using antiquated words.

Trust Benedict to pretend that he understands the new reality by using online jargon like social networking sites and digital divide. His ignorance shows when he used labels appropriate eons ago like marginalize and obsessive.

Here is the feed from Associated Press:


VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI says social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace can foster friendships and understanding, but warns they also can isolate people and marginalize others.

Benedict urged a culture of online respect in his annual message Friday for the World Day of Communications.  Benedict welcomes as a "gift" new technologies such as social networking sites, saying they respond to the "fundamental desire" of people to communicate.

But he also warns that "obsessive" virtual socializing can isolate people from real interaction and deepen the digital divide by excluding those already marginalized.  He urges producers to ensure that the content respects human dignity and the "goodness and intimacy of human sexuality.

______________

Obsessive is the adjective form of ob·ses·sion (əb-sěsh'ən, ŏb-) which means  compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety, or a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

Perhaps the Pope does not understand that virtual socializing is about connecting with friends and establishing connections. What is unreasonable about that?

Yeah, I know I am just ranting. I am just deeply disappointed that the Vatican refuses to accept that its moral framework is irrelevant to the world today. The Church needs a new "eye" to see today's reality.

Okay, it is not about grammar and word usage, it is about obstinacy.

Tragic Tale of Two Cities

Let us divert from blogpesticide to more serious stuff.

Two of my most favorite cities in the world -- Baguio City and Cagayan de Oro City-- are going through weather-related crisis these days. The temperature in Baguio has dropped to record-level lows, prompting worries about the health of the poor residents who don't have fire places and can't afford thick blankets. It might drop below 7 degrees anytime soon; I can just imagine the biting cold and what it means to humans, animals and vegetation. This is my hometown right now; and I always loved the cold, but eight degrees is too much. It is too cold for comfort.

Here is a blog post for updates. http://www.ikuwaderno.com

Cagayan de Oro is experiencing the worst flood in its history. This is my second hometown. I spent years at the Ateneo de Cagayan, both as student and volunteer. Cagayanos, bless their souls, are a very friendly and warm people, who are not used to tragedy and catastrophe. I wonder if they have the resilience required to go through an environmental crisis like this.

Here is a blog for updates: pinoyteens.net

Touche!

I cant't understand why is it so difficult to edit before finalizing a road sign that is bound to be permanent.

Twilight, Not at All

blog pipi at bingi, an inventive header, wrote about Takipsilim, the supposedly Pinoy adaptation of the Hollywood hit "Twilight". The news, it turned out, was denied by the network ABS-CBN. And well, the grammar, it turned out, needed some validating as well.

Here is the article:

"Twilight will be turned into a Philippine TV series and it is entitled Takipsilim.

It makes me think what the other movies would be called? Bagong Buwan for New Moon? Ceasar Montano already did a movie with that title. Anyhow, ABS-CBN should have a better screen adaptation of Twilight. The title Takipsilim isn’t so bad.

Since Takipsilim will start shooting this February 2009, it’s safe to assume that we can watch this series as early as March. "

1.. The first sentence, a compound construction, moves the tense from future to present in a blink of an eye. First, it "will be" turned (future), then "it is" entitled (present). The "it" subject of the second independent clause refers already to the TV series, which has not been decided yet -- so the tense should be future. But for better construction to connect two ideas like these, try complex rather than compound sentence. "Twilight will be made into a Philippine TV series which will be entitled Takipsilim."

2. The use of "screen adaptation" invites ambiguity; the phrase is usually applied to the transfer of material from book to a movie screenplay. The transfer of content material from film to TV is simply called television adaptation.

3. The last sentence needs a reconstruction. "Since Takipsilim will start shooting this February 2009, it’s safe to assume that we can watch this series as early as March." It is best to sustain the point of view of a sentence. If Takipsilim is the subject of the dependent clause, it should be the subject of the independent clause.

Thus:

Since Takipsilim will start shooting this February 2009, it will probably be aired as early as March.

(ABS-CBN denies the rumor.)