HYBRID OF SORTS

Joe Jonas doing "SINGLE LADIES of Beyonce"

2009-06-06T10:17:00.001+08:00

One word: HILARIOUS!!!

(PENSIVEMIND)

Everything happens for a reason

2009-06-04T09:26:00.003+08:00

"This is the closest I've ever been to achieving the quality of life I want for myself. It's been a struggle and will probably continue to be a struggle, but it's getting easier, and it's definitely worth it."

I am guided by the quote above. Life itself is indeed a struggle but then it depends on how we see it. It can either positively or negatively influences us. When you have a serious disease or is in deep hole or has lost someone that you love, it's always the best time to ponder on a lot of things. You may think some bad things, but always remember that there is someone up above who is willing to listen to you. God will always be with us, he will lift us up when we are down and he will make us strong when we are very weak.

I have received a lot of bad news the past week and i've had some really tough times, honestly. But then God had made it easier for me to accept and move on...It may be hard at first but learn to accept it..Life still goes on.

Last TITANIC survivor has died!

2009-06-01T19:37:00.004+08:00

LONDON (AFP) – Millvina Dean, the last remaining survivor of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, died in a care home in England on Sunday, media reports said. She was 97.

Elizabeth Gladys Dean, known to friends as Millvina, was only nine weeks old when the liner hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on the night of April 14, 1912, and sank killing 1,500 people.

She survived after being bundled up in a sack and carried to safety. Her mother Georgette Eva and brother Bertram also made it, but her father, Bertram Frank, was among those who died.

Dean died in a private nursing home near Ashurst in the southern English county of Hampshire, according to the BBC and Britain's domestic Press Association news agency. Staff there refused to comment late Sunday.

Dean's family had boarded the Titanic at Southampton, heading for a new life in Kansas where her father hoped to open a tobacconist shop.

Born on February 12, 1912, Dean was the youngest passenger on board. At the time, RMS Titanic was the most luxurious, most technically advanced and largest passenger liner in the world.

She was dubbed "unsinkable", but it took just two hours and 40 minutes for her to disappear into the icy waters of the Atlantic after striking an iceberg at 11:40 pm on April 14.

Dean was taken back to Southampton with her family after the disaster and did not find out that she had been on board until she was eight years old and her mother was planning to remarry.

According to enthusiasts' website Encyclopedia Titanica (ET), Dean worked for the government as a cartographer during World War II and then for an engineering company.

She told reporters that it was not until the wreckage of the liner was found in 1985 that she suddenly became a celebrity, taking part in documentaries and giving media interviews.

Dean was invited to complete her family's ill-fated journey to the United States in 1997 aboard the QE2, and accepted, although she turned down an offer to attend the premier of the movie "Titanic" because it would be too upsetting.

She moved into a private nursing home in Hampshire after breaking her hip three years ago, and after struggling to pay the bills was forced to sell off some of her memorabilia.

At auction in October 2008 she raised 31,150 pounds (40,000 euros, 53,900 dollars), selling off rare prints of the liner signed by the artists as well as compensation letters sent to her mother by the Titanic Relief Fund.

Dean was also forced to sell a 100-year-old suitcase filled with clothes donated to her family by the people of New York when they arrived after being rescued.

In the wake of the auction, friends including members of the British Titanic Society and the Belfast Titanic Society -- the liner was built in Belfast in Northern Ireland-- set up a campaign to secure her future.

Among the donors to the Millvina Fund were Hollywood actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the 1997 "Titanic" film. The pair and the film's director, James Cameron, reportedly donated 30,000 US dollars in total.

The last remaining US survivor, Lillian Asplund, died in her home in May 2006 at the age of 99. She was just five years old when the Titanic went down.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Tomorrow's gonna be fine...i hope!

2009-05-31T19:42:00.002+08:00

If there's one thing I'd be doing tonight, it'll definitely have to be sleeping. Me thinks sleeping is the best thing right now! Having been on duty for the 4th straight day now and waking up early in the morning, it's still a bittersweet experience for me...and I still have 3 days more...I ain't complaining, in fact I am lovin' it!

However, tomorrow's gonna be different. I won't be divulging any information however its going to be life-changing if it'll materialize. I am scared, its a risk I am going to take but however, like that of a rainbow, I hope to see a pot of gold at the end. I've prayed for this a couple of times, asked for opinions with the people i trust..its a go or a no-show for me. Wish me luck!!!

Also, apologies to everyone for I haven't updated my blog these past few days. I have been very exhausted not only physically but most importantly..psychologically. Hopefully i'll be able to update it the next couple of days. That's it for now, dozing off!

(PENSIVEMIND)

BEWARE OF TOO MUCH COLA!

2009-05-29T20:40:00.003+08:00

TOO MUCH COLA CAN CAUSE MUSCLE PROBLEMS
by HealthDay news

Drinking too much cola can increase the risk of a muscle problem called hypokalemia, experts warn.

In people with hypokalemia, a drop in blood potassium levels results in problems with vital muscle functions. Symptoms can range from mild weakness to serious paralysis, say Greek researchers who conducted a review of people who drank between two to nine liters of cola a day.

Two of the patients were pregnant women who were admitted to hospital with low potassium levels. One was a 21-year-old woman who drank up to three liters of cola a day and complained of fatigue, appetite loss and persistent vomiting. An electrocardiogram revealed she had a heart blockage, and blood tests showed she had low potassium levels, the researchers explained in a news release.

The second pregnant patient, who'd consumed up to seven liters of cola a day for 10 months, had low potassium levels and was suffering from increasing muscular weakness, the researchers noted.

Both patients made a rapid and full recovery after they stopped drinking cola and took oral or intravenous potassium. The case studies are described in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

"We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before, and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralization and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes," and there's increasing evidence that excessive cola consumption leads to hypokalemia, Dr. Moses Elisaf, of the University of Ioannina, said in the news release.

Elisaf said the three most common ingredients in cola -- glucose, fructose and caffeine -- can contribute to hypokalemia.

"The individual role of each of these ingredients in the pathophysiology of cola-induced hypokalemia has not been determined and may vary in different patients," Elisaf said. "However, in most of the cases we looked at for our review, caffeine intoxication was thought to play the most important role. This has been borne out by case studies that focus on other products that contain high levels of caffeine but no glucose or fructose."

However, "caffeine-free cola products can also cause hypokalemia because the fructose they contain can cause diarrhea," Elisaf said.

....good thing I haven't consumed cola for over 6 months now!

(PENSIVEMIND)

LOVIN' THE RAIN

2009-05-28T21:02:00.003+08:00

Today, while i was having my duty, i opened up to my unit head nurse that I am craving for a lot of foods (of which I am missing since I am on diet for months now). She, being on a diet also, shook me as she answered me with a "yes" right away! Heheh! Take note, she's on diet despite her 47-kg frame!

Anyway, after our duty, we went to a popular mall here in our city...we were like little kids ... eating everything edible that we see...from donuts, to burger buns, to squid balls, etc. That time, I was happy because finally, I overcame something that I've fought in for months...to eat more than the usual.

After the "food trip", we didn't notice that there was a heavy rain looming in which eventually caught me while I was still riding the public utility vehicle. Speaking of the rain, I used to like the rain simply because it gives me the opportunity to be a kid (at least in my heart) again.. because while I was still a kid, playing in the rain would mean forgetting all of your problems... I wanted to shrug off every worry and problem that I have right now.

That is why, when the next rain will fall, expect someone like me to be happy!

(PENSIVEMIND)

Finally, Goodnews to Everyone!

2009-05-28T19:14:00.003+08:00

The other night, I was talking over the internet to a good friend who is now living and based in the US. We talked a lot of things...food, events and lifestyle in the US. She shared to me that she is now taking up a computer-related course in college. I shared back that I am now currently working for a tertiary hospital.

Additionally, I also shared to her that I am spending most of my free time on blogging. She, being a student taking up computer in college, answered right away and asked me whether I am aware of this webhosting site which she thinks is very beneficial to her. She gave me this site --> website hosting.

At an instant, I tried the website right away and true enough, she was very right. I am honestly impressed! Not only that it hosts great websites, it can definitely help you with developing and even teach you how to manage your site through their wonderful articles and tutorials! That's for a cheap price! Great offer, right? Having a personal blog like mine, I was also helped in a lot of ways. I got some integral tidbits and infos on how to manage my blog effectively.

Speaking of their Great articles and tutorials, I also have learned other important considerations when picking a webhosting site. Example is for business users of which they offer 3 important security considerations such as: Strong Passwords, Updates Management and Policy Group Lockdown. You can view more helpful and important articles in this link --> Articles and Tutorials.

So, if you are looking for an excellent new webhosting service, then look-no-more! Http://webhostingrating.com/ is the best website for you! You'll never regret having them as your webhost!

RANDOM THOUGHTS AGAIN...

2009-05-26T19:04:00.005+08:00

I was on graveyard shift duty last night. It was a smooth-flowing duty other than some ghost stories my co-workers feasted in which we eventually ended since the resident doctor got scared as well. Took my cup of hot oatmel. Endorsed. Anyway, the duty ended and time for me to go home. I also learned something that could, well, change my life as of the moment. At first, it blew my mind away. I was thinking and imagining things... Lots of "what if's"... I don't now if it'll ever come true. I am just simply hopeful....seing the glass as half-full. Oh God how i wish. Anyway, that's it for now..I am very tired..having slept less than 5 hours and I will still be going on 11pm-7am duty... Heeyaow!

(PENSIVEMIND)

YOU FOUND ME (THE FRAY)

2009-05-25T18:29:00.004+08:00

YOU FOUND ME

I found God
On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west
Was all but won
All alone
Smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?"
He said, "Ask anything".

Where were you
When everything was falling apart?
All my days
Were spent by the telephone
It never rang
And all I needed was a call
It never came
To the corner of First and Amistad

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me

In the end
Everyone ends up alone
Losing her
The only one who's ever known
Who I am
Who I'm not, who I wanna be
No way to know
How long she will be next to me
[ The Fray Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me

Early morning
The city breaks
I've been callin'
For years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
Ya never send me no letters
You got some kinda nerve
Taking all my world

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Where were you? Where were you?
Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me
Why'd you have to wait?
To find me, to find me

FACT: played this song over 50 times just for today...this is just a cool song. though i have to buy The Fray's album yet. \m/

(PENSIVEMIND)

CHRISTIAN: The lion. A TOUCHING STORY!

2009-05-24T16:51:00.004+08:00

... So I was surfing the internet a while ago. And found this youtube video which I think is very touching. This is an amazing story of men and animals. Enjoy!

(PENSIVEMIND)

POPE BENEDICT XVI ON FACEBOOK!

2009-05-24T16:26:00.004+08:00

You won't get an email saying Pope Benedict added you as a friend and you can't "poke" him or write on his wall, but the Vatican is still keen to use the networking site Facebook to woo young people back to church.

A new Vatican website, www.pope2you.net, has gone live, offering an application called "The pope meets you on Facebook," and another allowing the faithful to see the Pope's speeches and messages on their iPhones or iPods.

The Vatican's World Communications Day this Sunday is devoted to communicating the gospel with new technologies.

"We recognize that a church that does not communicate ceases to be a church," said Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the Vatican's Social Communications department.

"Many young people today are not turning to traditional media like newspapers and magazines any more for information and entertainment.

"They are looking to a different media culture, and this is our effort to ensure that the Church is present in that communications culture."

Users of the new site can select from more than a dozen "virtual postcards" with pictures of the pope and messages from him on faith, love and life specifically aimed at young people, and send them to other users.

The Catholic Church, which has seen vocations to religious life decline and church attendance fall, has already turned to the Internet.

Last January the pope became one of the oldest people to have his own YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/vaticanit.

The pope, known to write most of his speeches by hand, while his aides manage his forays into cyberspace, has even admitted that the Vatican does not use the Internet enough.

The Vatican got egg on its face in January when the pope admitted that, if the Church had surfed the web more, it might have known that a traditionalist bishop whose excommunication was lifted had for years been a Holocaust denier.

The new applications are currently available in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Dutch.

(source: macedoniaonline.eu)

(PENSIVEMIND)

Filipino Pride: DAVE BATISTA!

2009-05-23T16:01:00.006+08:00

WWE fans (count me in!) /non-fans out there, Did you know that Dave Batista is 1/2 Filipino? Yes. The man on the picture above is actually our "kababayan". His real name is David Michael Bautista Jr....Bautista being a common surname in the Philippines. He is born to a Filipino father and a Greek mom.

If you are observant enough, notice Dave Batista's tattoo above...See the Philippine flag? That's the proof! Dave Batista was also seen accompanying Manny Pacquiao towards the ring in the latter's fight against British Ricky Hatton.

(PENSIVEMIND)

SCARED OF GETTING OLDER?

2009-05-23T00:51:00.004+08:00

VITAMIN D may help keep aging at bay!

By HealthDay

High levels of vitamin D might help keep the brain healthy as people age, new research suggests.

For the study, which included more than 3,000 European men aged 40 to 79, the researchers assessed the men's memory and how quickly they processed information. They also examined other factors that affect mental agility, such as physical activity levels and mood. Blood samples were taken to measure the men's circulating levels of vitamin D, which the body produces through exposure to sunlight and obtains through dietary sources.

The study authors found that high circulating vitamin D levels were associated with high scores on memory and information-processing tests, while low vitamin D levels were associated with poor scores. The findings appear online in advance of publication in the print issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The exact link between circulating vitamin D levels and mental agility isn't clear, but it's possible that vitamin D increases certain hormonal activity or protects neurons and chemical-signaling pathways, according to the researchers.

"Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings, but we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said study author David M. Lee, of the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, in a news release from the university.

"The main strengths of our study are that it is based on a large population sample and took into account potential interfering factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity," Lee added. "Interestingly, the association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men aged over 60 years, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear."

If vitamin D supplements can help reduce the effects of aging on the brain, the health implications could be significant because many people, particularly the elderly, are vitamin D-deficient, the researchers pointed out.

(PENSIVEMIND)

WARREN BUFFETT: now the world's richest man!

2009-05-22T17:19:00.011+08:00

Move over Mr. Bill Gates! Forbes Magazine, who released the list of World's Billionaires, has now listed Mr. Warren Buffett of the United States of America with a whopping $ 62,000,000,000 or $62 Billion worth of fortune! Scary!

Warren Edward Buffett (born August 30, 1930) is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is one of the world's most successful investors, the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

Buffett is often called the "Oracle of Omaha" or the "Sage of Omaha" and is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth.

Buffett is also a notable philanthropist, having pledged to give away 85% of his fortune to the Gates Foundation. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees at Grinnell College

In 1999, Buffett was named the top money manager of the twentieth century in a survey by the Carson Group, ahead of Peter Lynch and John Templeton in 2007, he was listed among Time's 100 most influential people in the world. (from wikipedia.org)

Education:

University of Nebraska Lincoln - Bachelor of Arts/Science
Columbia University - Master of Science

Now, Imagine your life if you are in his position of owning/having earned $62 billion dollars. What would your normal daily life be? Would it be normal in the first place?

Me? I'd travel and circumnavigate the world! Backpacking/Travelling is my frustration. And ofcourse, I wanted to be the first Filipino to go to the moon! $62 billion is more than enough for me to be able to go to the moon, right? Hehehe!!!

(PENSIVEMIND)

MADAM AURING'S SEX VIDEO WITH HAYDEN KHO!

2009-05-21T16:36:00.004+08:00

Let's go showbusiness this time!

It's not to be denied that for over 5 days now, the alledged sex scandals of Cosmetic Doctor Hayden Kho, Katrina Halili and some other girls, have plagued the news....beating Swine Flu virus' issue by a mile. LOL When you go online and surf the internet, a lot of searches and talks have been made to these scandals. Now, Senator Bong Revilla even joined the "bandwagon" with some tongue-lashing to Kho referring him as "Pervert of the Highest Type". Some tough words! Whew.

Interestingly, I am just wondering what if Hayden has a sex video of Madam Auring? Hehehe. It's going to be a blockbuster for sure!!! Seriously though, have you watched these alledged scandals? Well, I did...out of my own curiousity. hehehe. I don't wanna elaborate more but it is really graphic. :-(

Anyway, That's all for now peeps. I am Signing off.

(PENSIVEMIND)

KRIS ALLEN IS YOUR AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8!

2009-05-21T13:40:00.003+08:00

About 2 hours ago, the world welcomed the new American Idol season 8....Kris Allen. A devout christian and a missionary from Arkansas, Allen bested Adam Lambert, who was "expected" to sail with the competition and eventually make it as this year's idol. However, Allen, being this year's dark horse, wowed and continued to impress everyone with his "musicality". Who could ever forget Allen's rendition of Kanye West's Heartless? Impressive!

In lieu with this, I set up a related poll at the right side of the screen to find out who are my blog visitor's bet for the title. And seems that everyone is right with their pick...Allen led the voting with 13. Thank you to everyone who voted!

Now, the real fight begins. Outside of the American Idol competition, those who joined will now face a "tougher" competition. Its just the start, not the end...I believe. :-)

(PENSIVEMIND)

TIME TO UNWIND and RELAX!

2009-05-20T13:03:00.008+08:00

Back to blogging, finally!!

Okay...so first, I'd like to thank everyone for visiting and leaving comments on my site. I have been extremely lucky because the last few weeks I have been welcoming a lot of visitors. Secondly, apologies to everyone. I've had no updates for my blog the last couple of days. I am very busy with work.... lots of patients to attend to with only 2 nurses working for 8 hours. I am also very stressed particularly with patient's watchers who are demanding....Weh, If i could slice my body into two i would have done that way way before! Kidding aside, I am working for the 5th-straight duty day tonight and I am very excited with my 3 days off. How about a breather? Nature tripping? I would go anywhere as long as I'll be able to recollect my thoughts and do some relaxation...I badly need one! :-)

Speaking of a breather, if there's one place I would want to be in right now...it'll definitely have to be in a skyscraper or a high-rise building sitting on my very own living room with a grand view of the city. Just like this one:

..while having my cup of cappuccino...

... plus my favorite pizza...

How about the idea of a beach escapade?

Oh how i wish!

Anyway, speaking of a beach escapade, come June, I will be going to pearl farm together with my co-workers. It is a bit expensive (around $40) so I need to save first. However, I am very positive about the idea of going there with everyone from East Wing- Mindanao Heart Center. It'll be a breather for everyone of us...most definitely! Here's a glimpse of what Pearl Farm could give you. A paradise, isn't it?

(PENSIVEMIND)

TOILET SNAKE ATTACK!!!

2009-05-18T08:54:00.005+08:00

TOILET SNAKE ATTACK!!! (urban legend comes true?)

by REUTERS

TAIPEI (Reuters) – A Taiwanese man became a sitting target for a snake, which bit his penis as sat on the toilet at his rural home, local media reported on Monday.

"As soon as he sat down, he suddenly felt a knife-like pain and reacted instinctively by standing up," the China Times said. "When he looked down, he saw the big snake."

The 51-year-old man, from Nantou County, was under medical care with minor injuries, a director at Puli Christian Hospital said.

"As soon as he has passed the risk of infection, he can go," the director, who declined to be named, said. "A snake's mouth isn't always clean."

Local television images showed the black and yellow reptile, reportedly a species of rat snake, being uncoiled and plucked slowly from the toilet bowl.

Snakes regularly enter rural homes in Taiwan and other sub-tropical regions of Asia.

My Take:

- I can't imagine being bitten by a snake while doing my thing. LOL! Seriously, what if it's a venomous snake? Like a Cobra or a Python? Unimaginable!

(PENSIVEMIND)

Someone is leaving...

2009-05-18T08:26:00.006+08:00

Here are some of the pictures taken during our former OIC's surprise despedida party. Mr. Jong Frasco(pic above) is going to United Arab Emirates in search for a more productive career as a Registered Nurse. He will surely be missed. He has been on our hospital/institution way before we were born! Just Kidding. Hehehe. He has taught us countless...uhm..."Foolishness"? Hahaha peace manong!

Mr. Frasco (on blue scrubs - right bottom of the pic)

Preparing a suprise party is sure a lot of fun! With Ayie, Cha, Carl and Divine.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Pres. Gloria MacaPACQUIAO-Arroyo!

2009-05-16T10:14:00.008+08:00

(net-found = credit goes to the owner)

Make way for our new President..... Gloria MacaPACQUIAO-Arroyo! LOL! Anyway, If the rumors are true that Manny, the most celebrated Asian professional boxer to date (and maybe of the world), is running again for a position in congress, then he might just end his glorious days a boxer...Well i think he saved enough money! hehehe. I just hope he re-thinks his decision of running. He's a better guy in boxing than in politics, IMHO.

Another thing... Manny's mom, Aling Dionisia Pacquiao, is also planning to enter showbizness! How is that! She might take some teeny-boper roles. Just Kidding. Anyway, if she does decide to enter showbizness, Manny said in an interview that he is in full support of his mom. Way to go Aling Dionisia!

(PENSIVEMIND)

SUICIDE

2009-05-16T00:36:00.009+08:00

While I was surfing the net, the above picture simply drew my attention. Aside from the very fact that it aimed at bringing humor, it also tackled Suicide -- which is a very sensitive topic (as it has always been). Suicide, by the way, is the intentional taking and killing of one's own life. It is one of the leading causes of death among teenagers and young adults. Last year, an estimate of over a million committed suicide according to World Health Organization...Sounds terrifying huh?

Heath Ledger, who played as the joker for the latest Batman movie, was found dead in his apartment. Earlier reports mentioned that he may have committed suicide or accidental overdose of medications. Our Asian counterpart Korea, is also doomed with suicide particularly with some of their famous Actors and Actresses. Lee Eun-Ju is one. She was a famous actress in Korea who slit her hand and eventually hanged herself to death in 2005. Sources say she had episodes of mental illness and depression prior to killing herself.

Lee Eun-Ju

Surprisingly, the country with the most number of suicides is not America nor Korea. Infact, the top 3 countries are all from Europe. Ranked # 1 is the tiny nation of Lithuania in Northern Europe who registered 38 deaths per 100,000 people from suicide in 2005. Next is Belarus followed by Russia in number 3. South Africa is 4th while Slovenia, another European country, is ranked 5th with 26 suicides per 100,000 people. Our nation Philippines, registered 2 suicide deaths per 100,000.

To give you a better understanding about Suicide rates, here's the world map with a color corresponding to a particular rate:

(PENSIVEMIND)

MY ACHES AND PAINS

2009-05-15T08:51:00.004+08:00

No. Not what you are thinking. Im not experiencing any heart problem right now but mostly of muscle aches and pains. I just came from work and didn't expected that it would turn out that way. I thought that I am going on a relaxed duty but instead it was the opposite. we were very busy and "toxic". Because of the "busyness", I forgot my cup of coffee. I was never even given the opportunity to pee. Oops...hehe. Anyway, i was pondering a bit a while ago, our job is so stressful but we are not well-compensated. I don't think its fair enough but its my passion. Caring for the other people. I hope I will still have the courage to continue working,say, for the next 2 years or so? Hahaha. I'll be very old by that time. When you are a nurse (or even a doctor for that matter), you need to set aside your own emotional and physical problems at work. I just hope our salary increases a bit more! hehehe

Anyway folks, that's all for this moment. I still have to sleep and rest those aching muscles. I am off to dreamland!!! Take Care! I'll visit you all later. Ciao

(PENSIVEMIND)

Danny Gokey is out! Its LAMBERT vs ALLEN in AMERICAN IDOL 8 FINALE!!!

2009-05-14T19:37:00.007+08:00

Danny Gokey, the church music director from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, finally bid goodbye to his hopes of becoming an American Idol. He got the lowest percentage of votes last night even with his beautiful rendition of Joe Crocker's "You are so beautiful". He is officially this season's 2nd runner-up.

Now that Gokey is out, Americal Idol is down to 2 remaining contestants, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. Lambert, a stage Singer from Los Angeles, California has always been on the top contender's list while Allen, a devout Christian from Arkansas, is/was considered as a darkhorse. The two will duel for the much coveted crown and the experience of a lifetime next week (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Who is your bet for the title? Just vote on the poll at the right side of your screen.

(PENSIVEMIND)

ANGELS AND DEMONS to be released real soon!

2009-05-14T19:07:00.003+08:00

One of the most anticipated movies of 2009, Angels and Demons will be released anytime soon here in the Philippines. It is the second installment, after Da Vinci Code, to be created into a movie from an original novel by Dan Brown. Like Da Vinci Code, the movie has been getting mixed reactions from the public - outrage, admiration or even protests. Tom Hanks leads the pack of the characters portrayed as a Harvard University Symbologist in the movie.

Here's a quick synopsis of the movie (warning! the synopsis might spoil something):

"When Langdon(Hanks) discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati - the most powerful underground organization in history - he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization's most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican's only hope for survival."

My quick question: Planning to watch the movie?

(PENSIVEMIND)

BEFORE and AFTER PIC!

2009-05-13T18:27:00.004+08:00

BEFORE --------------------> AFTER

Just for fun!

The pic on the left was taken roughly a year ago. while the pic on the right was taken about a couple of days back. I was about 95 kgs back then and now I am 73 kgs. I made it!!!! Fit n right, if you are looking for someone who will best fit in your advertisement...then look no more! ahahaha No diet pills, no laxatives...just pure FIT n RIGHT! hehehe

Kidding aside, when you want to achieve something, It's best to put your 100% on it. And prayers will also help! :-)

(PENSIVEMIND)

FAITH's BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

2009-05-13T00:31:00.001+08:00

As promised...Here's the first party I attended last monday!

I capped what seemed to be a very busy day last monday with a birthday celebration of my good friend and colleague, Faith Lorenzo. I met her thru a common friend some 2 years back at the review center for US Nursing Exams (where we both passed).

the birthday celebrant

We agreed to meet up at around 5:30 in the afternoon but things turned a little sour when the rain started to pour in. However, that didn't stopped us from doing so because we were definitely in for a dinner pig out.

Everyone were craving for some Italian foods so picking Boyd's Pizza House as the dining place was a no-brainer. Although I am not here as their advertiser, they definitely offer sumptuous and delicious meal at a relatively cheap price!

me at boyd's facade

We ordered some pasta and a box of their famous Ham n Cheese Pizza. However, because of our "hungryness", i forgot to take a shot of the pizza on my cam. Hehe! Nonetheless, the pasta dishes were all good but the Pizza has definitely made the "home run" last night.

Next Stop is the favorite pastime of the Filipinos... Videoke! The place was just a walk from Boyd's so relatively the area is like a one-stop shop. But hold on... the camera accidentally captured something that I think is worth sharing here:

Can you see something wrong in this pic?

Just some laughs. Anyway going back. Videoke has always been so fun. It is the place where Filipinos get to sing their hearts out infront of a telivision playing a song with full lyrics being shown.

Lastly, we ended the night with a cold glass of beer...Nice idea I should say. We didn't spent a lot of time since most of us will be working the next day (twas a monday evening!). However, To top it all off, it was simply a night filled with fun and happy thoughts...

(PENSIVEMIND)

COOK and ARCHULETA in MANILA!

2009-05-12T19:48:00.004+08:00

Remember the Two(2) Davids who fought it out last year for the top plum in the singing contest "Americal Idol Season 7"? Yes! Both of them arrived in the capital city of Manila, Philippines some 6 hours ago for a back-to-back concert this coming May 16 at the Mall of Asia concert grounds.

Who's in for the live performance of Cook's "Always be my baby"? or perhaps Archuleta's "Crush? If you wanna see them perform those hits, be there at 8pm!

To view GMA7's related news video, here it is (apologies to everyone who cannot understand Tagalog):

This page requires a higher version browser
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

(PENSIVEMIND)

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS

2009-05-11T07:59:00.005+08:00

So Yesterday, aside from celebrating Mother's day, I finally was able to return to the Badminton Court after over 5 months of "absence". It was an exciting moment for me .... Not only will I be able to see my good friends from high school again but it is also an escape to my ever-stressful work ... a breathing space to my daily routine.

So I played with my team mates in high school and we agreed to meet up at 12 noon. The place is not a problem actually because we have a gym here in my place that's especially set-up for Badminton and take note, its for FREE. To make the story short, It was a very healthy day for me. It was also the first time in 5 months that I got to sweat very much..soaking my T-shirt 100% - BIGTIME! hehehe. These fats must've been very scared after yesterday's badminton game. You are going to turn into sweat one of these days! Hahaha.

For today, I have a lot of activities up on my sleeves.
Two parties for this day! It'll be fun for sure...

Stick around..More pictures coming up!

(PENSIVEMIND)

A day for my MOM and all of the Moms out there!

2009-05-10T11:50:00.008+08:00

Today, we do not only celebrate Mother's day.
This is also the day that we ponder on how our lives would be without them.

I do not only thank my mom for putting me where I am today
But I also thank her for being very supportive and
For trusting me and for lifting my spirits when I am down.

Happy Mother's day to all of the mom's out there.
You are all special
You are God's special blessing to us.

Aunt Catherine, Aunt Editha, Grandma and most especially to my Mom,
I Love you ALL!!!

(PENSIVEMIND)

"ARGYRIA" - BLUE SKIN DISORDER

2009-05-10T11:01:00.005+08:00

Paul Karason

Argyria (ISV from Greek: ἄργυρος argyros silver + -ia) is a condition caused by improper exposure to chemical forms of the element silver, silver dust or silver compounds. The most dramatic symptom of argyria is that the skin becomes blue or bluish-grey colored. Argyria may be found as generalized argyria or local argyria. Argyrosis is the corresponding condition related to the eye. The condition is believed to be permanent, but laser therapy has been used to treat it with satisfactory cosmetic results.

Since at least the early part of the 20th century, doctors have known that silver or silver compounds can cause some areas of the skin and other body tissues to turn gray or blue-gray. Argyria occurs in people who eat or breathe in silver over a long period (several months to many years). A single exposure to a silver compound may also cause silver to be deposited in the skin and in other parts of the body; however, this is not known to be harmful. It is likely that many exposures to silver are necessary to develop argyria. Once argyria develops, it is generally believed to be permanent.

HISTORY

Reports of cases of argyria and a US Environmental Protection Agency statement suggest that 1 to 4 grams of silver or a silver compound taken in medication in small doses over several months may cause argyria in some humans. People who work in factories that manufacture silver can also breathe in silver or its compounds. In the past, some of these workers have become argyric. However, the level of silver in the air and the length of exposure that caused argyria in these workers is not known. It is also not known what level of silver causes breathing problems, lung and throat irritation, or stomach pain in people. Studies in rats show that drinking water containing very large amounts of silver (2.6 grams per liter) is likely to be life-threatening.

Argyria that covers the entire body is not seen following skin contact with silver compounds, although the skin may change color where it touches the silver. However, many people who have used skin creams containing silver compounds such as silver nitrate and silver sulfadiazine have not reported health problems from the silver in the medicine. In one animal study, a strong solution of silver nitrate (81 milligrams silver nitrate per liter of water) applied to the skin of guinea pigs for 28 days did not cause the animals to die; however, it did cause the guinea pigs to stop gaining weight normally. It is not known if this would happen to people if they were exposed the same way.

RECENT CASES

A recent prominent case was that of Stan Jones of Montana, a libertarian candidate for the United States Senate in 2002 and 2006. Jones acquired argyria through consumption of a home-made silver product that he made due to fears that the Year 2000 problem would make antibiotics unavailable. The peculiar colouration of his skin was featured prominently in media coverage of his unsuccessful campaign, though Jones contends that the best-known photo was "doctored. Jones promised that he was not using his silvery complexion as a gimmick. He continues to promote the use of colloidal silver as a home remedy. He has said that his good health, minus the unusual skin tone, is the result of his use of colloidal silver.

Stan Jones during a speech

On December 20, 2007 the world press published stories about Paul Karason, a California man whose entire skin gradually turned blue after consuming Colloidal Silver made by himself with distilled water, salt and silver, and using a silver salve on his face in an attempt to treat problems with his sinus, dermatitis, acid reflux, and other issues.

Source: wikipedia

(PENSIVEMIND)

American Idol 8: ADAM, DANNY or KRIS? You Pick!

2009-05-08T10:19:00.004+08:00

Now that Allison Iraheta, the last remaining woman on the stage got booted last night on what seemed to be as a very emotional elimination day, we are down to the 3 remaining contestants (all of which are men) for the 8th season of America's largest singing competition....the AMERICAN IDOL.

Based on their performance and likability as a performer, which of the three (ADAM on the left, DANNY on the middle and KRIS on the right) do you want to be on the finale and eventually be the American Idol for this season?

Let your voices be heard. Pick your choice on the poll on the right side of this screen.

For more info, visit this site please.

(PENSIVEMIND)

HALF-FULL or HALF-EMPTY?

2009-05-06T14:19:00.007+08:00

I consider my life as a collation and collage of every experience a person could ever have...some ups and some were down. However, when my Philosophy teacher in college brought with him one day in class an empty glass, I never thought it was going to change how I see life in general. When he filled the glass with a water from the container he used to bring in his class, I was laughing and not paying attention to. "This is disgusting", I sighed. But then, when he opened his mouth and asked us, "Now that i filled the glass with water, how do you see it now? Half-Full or Half-Empty?" I got struck with the question....how do i see now the glass? The first thing that popped into my mind was that it was half-full... a shocking revelation to a used-to-be pessimist like me. For those who do not know about the exercise, they say that when you see the glass as half-full, that means you are a positive-thinker, but if its otherwise, then you are a pessimist.

Just some hours back, I attended an important meeting of my US agency. With the retrogression going on (retrogression = when no visas are alloted for Immigrants-to-be), I expected our employer to be saying all of the negative things about it...but in contrary, She was optimistic about it. I got pumped up, i knew that with the economic downturn of the US right now, it is going to be a hard fight but at the end of the spectrum, its going to be a sweet victory for all of us, of course with prayers. That's where the psychological exercise of my professor brought me right now...I am a positive-thinker...I hope and I dream that we are going to make it big...one day!

(PENSIVEMIND)

"JAI HO" from the Oscar-winning film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

2009-05-06T00:05:00.000+08:00

I am sure some (if not most) of you have heard of the song JAI HO (You are my destiny) from the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire...The song was originally sung by AR Rahman from India but was later popularized and translated to english by the Pussycat dolls.

But do you know what "Jai Ho" means in India? It's "May the victory be yours!"....very fitting for the film Slumdog Millionaire who had swept a lot of awards in the Oscars.

In the mean time, here's the video of the English "Jai Ho" performed by Pussycat dolls in the talk show "Live with Regis and Kelly".

Lewis Hamilton...you are one lucky guy!

By the way, to those who do not know... Nicole, the lead singer of Pussycat dolls, is actually 1/2 Filipino. He is born to a Filipino Dad (Valiente is the surname) and to a Russian-Hawaiian Mom. Scherzinger, from my research, is the surname of his step dad. Let me quote an additional info bout her...

"She said in an interview that she had never gone to the Philippines and is excited since she is half-filipino. So when she saw all those people(during her concert), she was so touched because they all look like her. She felt that she belonged, since all her life she looked different than everyone else."

(PENSIVEMIND)

A GIFT FOR OUR MOTHERS ON MOTHER'S DAY - - SONY CYBERSHOT W220

2009-05-05T19:38:00.011+08:00

In less than a week, most parts of the globe will be celebrating what I would think as one of the most important celebrations ever existed...Mother's Day! This is not only to pay tribute to what our mother's did for us but also to show how important are they in our lives. My mom, is extra special however, she did not only made impossible things possible for me, but she was supportive all throughout my life that is why as part of my gratitude to her...I thought of giving her a gift for mother's day!

Here's how I came up with the idea:

A colleague of mine, who is also a good friend way back in College, is coincidentally doing some "sideline" or business selling gadgets such as cameras, iphone, ipod, etc for a relatively cheaper price (don't ask me why cheaper...I seriously don't know). Other than giving my mom a gift on that special day, our digital camera here at home is also old enough that it would be accepted easily in an antique shop (LOL!), so I entertained the idea of buying one from my friend. She then allowed me to choose what camera would I want and after an hour of comparison and gadget reviews, i've come up with Sony Cybershot W220...

Features:

12.1 Megapixel Super HAD™ CCD Image Sensor

Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® with 4x Optical Zoom

30mm wide angle lens
2.7" Clear Photo LCD™ display (230k pixels):

BIONZ™ image processor
Auto Mode
Intelligent Scene Recognition
Face Detection technology
Smile Shutter™ technology
Double Anti-blur Solution
Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization
High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200)
Convenient Photo Modes

Easy Shooting Mode
Dynamic Range Optimizer Standard and Plus
Function Guide
MPEG Movie VX Fine Mode
16:9 High Resolution Mode
Memory Stick Duo™ Media Convenience
Stamina® Battery Power
In-Camera Retouching Tools
HDTV Compatibility
PhotoTV HD
PHOTOMUSIC feature
Wide Zoom display
Multi-purpose Resize function
Picture Motion Browser Ver 4.2.02

Any comments? Do you think the camera is worth buying?

(PENSIVEMIND)

SUGAR RUSH TODAY! Diabetics, read this...

2009-05-04T18:41:00.006+08:00

Today, I had probably one of the "sweetest" days of my life...not that I achieved something extraordinary or I won the jackpot in the lotto...its just that I took donuts and chocolates today as if there's no tomorrow. Yes! consumed a lot of sweets that I think my blood sugar now is near 300 mg/dl hehehe! ...For those who aren't knowledgeable on the normal blood sugar, its between 80-120 mg/dl.

Well, I cannot blame myself for being a voracious sweet eater today! I have not been eating sweets the past months so I think once in a while i need to fill in some sugar in my body. Would you believe I have not consumed soft drinks for over 5 months now? Believe it..

Speaking of Increased blood sugar (or Hyperglycemia in medical terminologies), here are the signs and symptoms which could alert you to visit your doctor the soonest possible time:

1. Increased urination frequency.
2. Craving for water or liquid.
3. Xerostomia (dry mouth due to a lack of saliva).
4. Urination at night.
5. Increased appetite.
6. Slow healing.
7. Blurriness in sight.
8. Dry skin and itching.
9. Drowsiness or fatigue.
10. Weight loss.

Ofcourse, if you are a known diabetic, you must also know what are the signs and symptoms of very high blood sugar. Here are some of those:

1. Rapid weight loss
2. Unconsciousness
3. The increase in confusion or drowsiness
4. Trouble breathing
5. Dizziness when standing

Hope that helped! Ciao!

(PENSIVEMIND)

Congrats PACMAN! FILIPINO PRIDE!

2009-05-03T12:01:00.004+08:00

Its official! Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines' pride, won over Britain's Ricky Hatton in a relatively short fight...yes! 2 rounds only... with Pacquiao sending Hatton to the canvass for the 3rd time before being declared as the winner! Before that, Pacquiao knocked-out Hatton twice in the first round.

"I didn’t expect a short fight. He hit me hard, I was lucky to have hit him with a right hook. He was surprised with my right hand. Yes, he was strong, and I was careful of not being hit." - Inquirer.net

Additional Info: Pacquiao landed 73 effective punches to Hatton compared to the latter's 18. Big discrepancy!

Now Manny....that's some serious and big bucks! Congrats! Thank you for the countless honors!

(PENSIVEMIND)

DON'T KISS THE SWINE! NO!!!

2009-05-03T11:36:00.004+08:00

Another "funny" picture that is net-found..just can't help posting it to my blog. Swine flu is getting some bad publicity nowadays..hehehe after all, bad publicity is still publicity! LOL! Anyway, this is a classic picture! Nothing more to say...

Any comments?

(PENSIVEMIND)

Smelling good - - My favorite perfume or cologne!

2009-05-03T10:32:00.006+08:00

They say that a perfume is one of the best things ever discovered in the world...You know why? Because they actually make us smell and feel good...And with smelling good, we become happier!

Ever since I was a child, I always have been conscious with the way I smell...and I brought that being conscious up to now that picking the right perfume or cologne before has been very difficult...not until I discovered the scent of the perfume/cologne I am using for over a year now. I am using Clinique Happy for Men -- a scent you wouldn't regret using and paying. It smells good that even after a day's hard work, I can still feel the scent in my uniform. I also got hooked with this perfume/cologne because it doesn't boasts a strong smell compared to other Men's pefumes /colognes which I dislike in the first place.

Now you know my secret!

To know more about perfumes or colognes, they are just a click away: chrome cologne

TWILIGHT's FORKS, WASHINGTON?

2009-05-02T12:36:00.009+08:00

Forks, Washington?

Do you think the picture on your left was taken at the set/location of the hit movie Twilight?

If you think so...then think again!

This was actually taken from Zambales, Philippines. Amazing huh!

Credits: Skyscrapercity

(PENSIVEMIND)

HOW TO MANAGE BACK PAIN?

2009-05-02T11:47:00.005+08:00

Have you ever been in a situation where after a long period of standing or sitting, your face would just grimace because you have a sore and aching back pain? Have you tried a lot of remedies but to no avail, nothing seems working? Then worry-no-more...I'm going to share to you some of the important facts and management in treating and avoiding back pain.

The best suggestion there is, is to do normal activities while avoiding exercises that put strain and pressure on your back. It would also help to avoid activities that promote back pain such as prolonged standing or sitting. Here's some additional information that might just help you:

1). When lying down or sleeping, it would be best help if you put a pillow under your knees. There are even pillows available in the market that is highly recommended for back pain (We had one..and it worked).

2). The application of a heat or cold compress might help. However, it may vary from individual to individual. The use of a hot tub or cold tub has also seen some promising results.

3). Massage, most importantly, has seen some great benefits to people affected with back pain...especially those long and gentle strokes from a certified massage therapist. Acupressure and acupuncture may also be utilized.

4). Physical therapy or manipulation by a chiropractor is also an option. This has also seen some positive results from individuals affected with back pain.

5). The use of medication, for untolerable pain, is also advised. Pain relievers such as NSAIDS, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and muscle relaxants are some of the medications normally taken by these affected individuals.

6). However, if nothing has worked, a thorough examination from a doctor may reveal more serious problems that is why surgery may be needed. Health problems like Lumbar Disc Herniation, Scoliosis and compression fracture must be treated surgically.

(PENSIVEMIND)

"LECHON IS THE BEST PORK EVER" - - TIME MAGAZINE

2009-05-01T22:36:00.005+08:00

It seems not even a possible outbreak of swine flu could stop TIME Magazine from declaring "lechon", a Philippine pork delicacy, as the "Best Pig" on its Best of Asia 2009 list.

According to TIME, the idea for hailing "lechon" came from celebrity TV chef Anthony Bourdain, well-known for his voracious taste for all things pork, who declared the Cebu lechon as "the best pig ever" on his hit travel-food show "No Reservations."

"Many viewers were as surprised by the hyperbole as by the country he situated it in. But not Filipinos, among whom the zenith of porky perfection is an indisputable fact. It was just a matter of time before the rest of the world found out," said TIME writer Lara Day on the magazine's write-up.

Day went on to describe how the delicious delicacy is prepared with a variety of stuffings and spices, and eventually cooked slowly over a coal-fire until it is golden brown and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. "You could call it the Platonic ideal of a pig, but it's doubtful if Plato, or even an entire faculty of philosophers, could have imagined anything so exquisite," she wrote.

This is the Lechon we had a while ago during my Grandma's Birthday Celebration.
Yummy!!!

Gastronomic treat

During the episode of "No Reservations" shot in the Philippines, Bourdain was seen snacking on the crunchy brown skin of a steaming newly-roasted pig and jokingly asking his tour-guide, Chicago-born Filipino-American Augusto Elefano, not to let anyone touch the pig's cheeks, intending to have the juicy part all to himself.

On Bourdain's blog entry titled "The Hierarchy of Pork", he declared the pork he tried in the Philippines as the "best in the world" followed by Bali, Indonesia and Puerto Rico.

During his short food trip in Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga, Bourdain also enjoyed several "porky" treats including sisig and barbecue. He tried many Filipino favorites including bulalo, kare-kare, fishballs, pansit palabok, sisig, sinigang, and even gamely popped a goat eye into his mouth with a smile.

Aside from calling the Cebu lechon "the best pig ever", Bourdain also said that tapsilog's beef was "ugly as hell but good" and described the popular soy-based street food "taho" as "like meatloaf in beancurd form."

credits: abs-cbnnews.com

(PENSIVEMIND)

Happy 89th Birthday to my GRANDMA!!!

2009-05-01T11:35:00.005+08:00

Grandma is rocking and gearing towards a longer and healthier life!

Today, May 01 2009, my family is celebrating my Grandmother's 89th birthday. Yes, you read it right...89-long years..but hold on...though she is 89 years old already, she is still healthy as ever other than the arthritis she is feeling which is relatively normal to old individuals. I am sure you all want to know the secret of her long life...I might post it here in the coming days..so stick around!

We will be hitting the beach this afternoon with the whole family...lots of food and drinks...I am very excited as I am also off from work today.

(PENSIVEMIND)

SWINE FLEW - FLU?

2009-05-01T11:25:00.004+08:00

I'd like to share a funny and interesting caricature shared to me by "past expiry" entitled SWINE FLEW. All right, I know that the whole world is threatened by the virus Swine Flu and this caricature just want to come up with a funny side of the story.

Courtesy of Past Expiry Cartoon

I have another interesting article about the use of Surgical Masks in Swine Flu.

Just click it here: Swine Flu

(PENSIVEMIND)

CRASH and BURN - Savage Garden

2009-04-30T22:58:00.006+08:00

Cleaning my room today was such a hard work....the clutters and the mess are just a lot, however, I also enjoy it because I get to unload and see some stuffs dating back from elementary and highschool...Fun memories! As I was looking at my old CDs from highschool, I found my one and only CD of Savage Garden, the Australian Pop Duo. They used to be my favorite in the late 90's...and one of my all-time favorite songs is "Crash and Burn". Not only a beautifully-made song, but the video as well is very fantastic. As I always say, be enthralled:

"Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone"

- An excerpt from the song

(PENSIVEMIND)

BERMUDA TRIANGLE aka "DEVIL'S TRIANGLE"

2009-04-30T18:14:00.004+08:00

Finally! I now have a chance to feature one of the most fascinating mysteries that ever existed here in the world...The Bermuda Triangle. As I was growing up, I've always wanted to know and inquire every information that correlates to Bermuda Triangle...I even borrowed a documentary tape (VHS) and bought some magazines just to suffice my "hunger" for information.

From Wikipedia:

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels are alleged to have disappeared in mysterious circumstances which fall beyond the boundaries of human error, pirates, equipment failure, or natural disasters. Popular culture has attributed some of these disappearances to the paranormal, a suspension of the laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beings.

A substantial body of documentation exists showing numerous incidents to have been inaccurately reported or embellished by later authors, and numerous official agencies have gone on record as stating that the number and nature of disappearances is similar to any other area of ocean. However, proponents of paranormal phenomena claim that many incidents remain unexplained despite considerable investigation.

The boundaries of the triangle cover the Straits of Florida, the Bahamas and the entire Carribean island area and the Atlantic east to the Azores; others add to it the Gulf of Mexico. The more familiar triangular boundary in most written works has as its points somewhere on the Atlantic coast of Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda, with most of the accidents concentrated along the southern boundary around the Bahamas and the Florida Straits.

The area is one of the most heavily-sailed shipping lanes in the world, with ships crossing through it daily for ports in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Cruise ships are also plentiful, and pleasure craft regularly go back and forth between Florida and the islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from points north.

SUPERNATURAL EXPLANATION

Triangle writers have used a number of supernatural concepts to explain the events. One explanation pins the blame on leftover technology from the mythical lost continent of Atlantis. Sometimes connected to the Atlantis story is the submerged rock formation known as the Bimini Road off the island of Bimini in the Bahamas, which is in the Triangle by some definitions. Followers of the purported psychic Edgar Cayce take his prediction that evidence of Atlantis would be found in 1968 as referring to the discovery of the Bimini Road Believers describe the formation as a road, wall, or other structure, though geologists consider it to be of natural origin.

Other writers attribute the events to UFOs. This idea was used by Steven Spielberg for his science fiction films "Close encounter with the Third Kind" which features the lost Flight 19 as alien abductees.

Charles Berlitz, grandson of a distinguished linguist and author of various additional books on anomalous phenomena, has kept in line with this extraordinary explanation, and attributed the losses in the Triangle to anomalous or unexplained forces.

It has also been thought that the Bermuda Triangle is a wormhole, (a gap in space and time).

NATURAL EXPLANATIONS

- Compass Variations

- Deliberate acts of destruction

- Gulf Stream

- Human Error

- Hurricanes

- Methane Hydrates

- Rogue Waves

For Notable Incidents just click it here: BERMUDA INCIDENTS

(PENSIVEMIND)

Blog Buddy Award

2009-04-30T18:00:00.002+08:00

I'd like to thank Grace for giving me this award. I really appreciate it.
Thank you very much!

To all of my friends, feel free to grab this award. You all deserve this one! :-)

(PENSIVEMIND)

Loving -Blogging

2009-04-30T17:05:00.005+08:00

The goals of this award:

1) As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
2) To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.
3) Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.
4) Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
5) Answer the award's question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
6) Tag & distribute the award to as many people as you like.
7) Don't forget to notify the award receivers & put their links in your post.

Firstly, I'd like to thank my very good friend Kay for giving and tagging me with this award. Appreciate it!

There are a lot of reasons why I blog. But it seriously boils down to one thing: For Self-Expression. With Blogging, I get to express my desires in life. With it also, you will hear and witness my disappointments and victories in life.

I am just a neophyte to blogging, but i hope to stay for good.

I am giving this award to Jong, Grace, Kessa, Brilliam, Bonita, Tweegy, Brigitte, Tricia, Weng, Karen Grace, IcedGurl, Kim. And to everyone who are linked on my site, feel free to grab this award. You deserve this one!

(PENSIVEMIND)

DEATH...

2009-04-30T09:14:00.008+08:00

I am off from work and here I am facing the computer for a much needed relaxation..Yes! you read it right, blogging is my source of energy and my relaxation technique (Its a secret! hahah). Anyway, while I was on duty a while ago, our patient died. It was supposedly be a smooth-flowing night duty but then it turned out to be a little busy...Anyway, I think we did everything for her life to be extended....but that's just it...I hope she rests in peace.

Okay, that's all for me right now. I am off to dreamland again. Heheh. See you again guys!

(PENSIVEMIND)

READY FOR THE BIGGEST RUMBLE IN 2009?

2009-04-29T19:02:00.005+08:00

Britain's Hitman, Ricky Hatton is set to face Philippine's Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao on the 2nd of May(May 3 in the Philippines and the rest of Asia) at the Gambling Capital of the World, Las Vegas, Nevada. The Battle of the East and the West!

Both have impressive records and both are under excellent coaches with Hatton being trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. -- the father of Floyd Mayweather Jr. who defeated him last December 2007. Manny Pacquiao is meanwhiled coached by Freddie Roach.

Now, who do you think shall emerge victorious?
Share your thoughts!

(PENSIVEMIND)

"MASKS NOT AS EFFECTIVE IN SWINE FLU" - Center for Disease Control and Prevention

2009-04-29T18:21:00.014+08:00

About 5 days ago, I was watching evening news at home when a report popped out about a scary epidemic hitting Mexico, a country just south of USA. The news report mentioned Swine Flu Virus as the one causing havoc not only to Mexico but on some countries as well as there might be a fear for a Global Pandemic since some countries have unconfirmed reports of the same flu as well.

And just recently, I thought the news was just a one day phenomenon that will burst like a bubble and will disappear. However, the news grew bigger and bigger that some Nations are now banning pork imports from other countries as well. Aside from banning those pork imports from other countries, Some preventions were mentioned such as the use of Surgical Masks...But Are the use of Surgical Masks help us avoid being hit by this scary virus?

The answer is a NO. Surprised?

Surgical Masks are not very effective in this instance. And let me quote CDCP(Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and Yahoo!,...

"There is not a lot of evidence that masks do much good, and have pointedly not recommended their use by the general public. Swine flu is thought to be transmitted in much the same way as seasonal flu, by touching something with the virus and then passing it to the nose or mouth or through coughing or sneezing. Experts say people who come in close contact with known swine flu patients should wear high filtration masks like those used by health professionals, which are more effective but also more expensive (about 12 pesos or a dollar) and generally unavailable in Mexico City. But even these masks, which filter out fine particles carried in the air, must be used properly to give real protection. The evidence that masks work is relatively weak. "

(PENSIVEMIND)

BRA DEFLECTS BULLET AIMED AT WOMAN!

2009-04-27T23:24:00.002+08:00

BRA DEFLECTS BULLET AIMED AT WOMAN!

DETROIT (Reuters) – A 57-year-old Detroit woman avoided serious injury when the underwire on her bra deflected a bullet shot at her from next door, police said.

The woman, who lives on the West side of Detroit, saw a group of men breaking into a neighbor's house on Tuesday morning. When the men spotted her, one of them fired a shot at her, a police spokesman said.

The bullet struck the underwire on the woman's bra and that saved her from a more serious injury, police said.

"It did slow the bullet down," said Detroit police spokesman Phillip Cook. "She sustained injuries but they're not life threatening."

The woman, who was not identified, was treated at a nearby hospital. The suspects in the shooting drove away.

(PENSIVEMIND)

GLIMPSE OF THE PAST?

2009-04-27T22:58:00.007+08:00

I don't know if the google post card above is authentic or not but okay let's just pretend that we will be in a time machine and ZOOOM...we will all go back to the time where searching in google would warrant us to send it personally at their office in the US. Not only that, It will take 30-long and agonizing days before results are seen...Can you imagine that? A lot of us will become crazy! Kidding aside, We can not foresee what will happen to students who are doing research, to workers and earners who are dependent on the internet and to some people who surf the internet for leisure purposes..Unimaginable? ... However, how did our elders survived their lives before without these tools in the Internet? Let's all think about it.

(PENSIVEMIND)

I AM OFF TO DREAMLAND!

2009-04-26T23:24:00.002+08:00

I'm hitting bed anytime soon for a much needed rest and recuperation. I am very tired from the whole day's work. Although I am home the whole day, I did a lot things..chores, play badminton, fed my dogs and ofcourse I blogged! Heheh. I will be on duty early tomorrow and will go on 16hours of duty the next day. Such a long (and tiring) week ahead but this is my life and i love my profession no matter what! NURSES For-the-win! Hahaha. Bye!

(PENSIVEMIND)

HOME SWEET HOME by Carrie Underwood

2009-04-26T19:20:00.000+08:00

Carrie Underwood, the winner of American Idol season 4, is one of the few country singers I loved listening to. From "Wanna be inside your heaven" to "Jesus take the wheel" to "Alone(not country though)" to "Home Sweet Home", the official send-off song of American Idol Season 8 (used when a contestant is eliminated...a farewell video of the contestant is shown with this song). Here it is:

(PENSIVEMIND)

NATURE AND PROGRESS

2009-04-26T10:20:00.001+08:00

I dug up some of my laptop pictures today to find something that I could feature here on my blog until I saw this picture I personally took when my cousin had his vacation here. Nothing's really spectacular about this picture but this is just very fitting these days....Nature and Progress is both pictured here...Nature being the sea, and Progress at the very back (Holcim Plant). Nature and Progress has always been separated before, It is just now that they come hand-in-hand, we experience nature with progress. Also before, when Progress takes place, we always associate it badly because of its boundless effects to Nature -- one of it is Pollution.

However, all is not lost...just not yet. We can still save nature and mother earth in our simple ways despite the inevitable existence of these progresses . Earth Day was celebrated last April 22 but I believe EVERYDAY IS EARTH DAY!

(PENSIVEMIND)

SUSAN BOYLE'S NEW LOOK

2009-04-26T09:59:00.000+08:00

Talent show star Susan Boyle gets a £100 look to dye for at her local salon

Singing sensation Susan Boyle today revealed the radical new look that cost her just £100.

Gone were the frumpy frock, wedge of frizzy hair and astonishingly unruly brows.

The attempt at budget high street chic may not be to everyone's taste, but onlookers agreed the preened eyebrows and dyed, trimmed hair lopped years off the Britain's Got Talent singer.

The wiry grey mess on top of her head was transformed into a shaggy brown crop for £35 at a salon in Whitburn, West Lothian, near her home.

But those who witnessed the 47-year-old unemployed spinster's secret metamorphosis at Miss Toner's parlour said the key to her image was a simple £5 treatment — an eyebrow pluck. One passer-by said: “It took just a few minutes and it lifted her face.”

Today she wore a new outfit to show it off, estimated to have cost less than £60.

Her favourite Primark faux-leather jacket, which cost £16, was teamed with a white smock and beige trousers, thought to cost £15 each. She also added a designer copy scarf, which can be picked up on a market stall for about £10.

After Miss Boyle's rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables stunned Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell and won her millions of fans, she promised fame would not change her — even though she was made favourite to win the show's £100,000 prize.

But it seems being dubbed the “hairy angel” finally got to her.

Villagers said staff at Miss Toner's pulled down the blinds yesterday while they gave their celebrity client her beauty overhaul.

Miss Boyle's rise to fame took another bizarre leap today after she was name-checked in cult cartoon South Park.

In the episode, Fatbeard, the characters decide to run away and join a pirate crew in Somalia, with Kyle's little brother Ike telling his parents he was fed up with people talking about the singer.

As photographs of Miss Boyle's makeover hit the internet, compliments flooded in. One post on a fan website read: “Every woman wants to feel and look lovely.”

(PENSIVEMIND)

FUNNY PIC # 3 - Who wants to be a Millionaire?

2009-04-25T20:09:00.000+08:00

This is a net-found picture but I just couldn't resist posting it on my blog. It completely made my day (posting this at 5am). I couldn't stop laughing at the woman's answer! Hehehe. More to come!

(PENSIVEMIND)

GETTING BUSIER!

2009-04-25T12:41:00.000+08:00

Hello Everyone!

I am sorry i haven't had good updates with my blog recently. I have been on duty for 5 straight days now and as soon as i approach home, the bed is just so inviting and tempting that saying no to internet is very easy and a give away. Hehe But I promise I will update more my blog tomorrow since I will be on an off duty schedule! See ya'll!

(PENSIVEMIND)

DAWN

2009-04-25T05:30:00.000+08:00

Dawn
by Lucirina Telor Vevan

(dawn in borneo)

The silence shrouds the dark of night,
the moon lets out a silvery breath.
Crickets sing their song so bright
about the cycle of life and death.

The mist falls over sea and land,
and wash s away the dust.
Asleep is now both head and hand,
asleep is hate and lust.

The stars, like lanterns far away
Light a way in midst the blue
So the wind may not wander astray
Through woods of adlemir and yew.

A nightbird lifts it's wings to flight
Like a ghost rising from the grave
And with its voice calls out the night
As it slowly ends it dark enclave

As a queen the Injèrá claims her home
As the waves wash towards the shore
The stars and moon disappear in foam
Its morning, morning again, once more.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Today is EARTH DAY!!!

2009-04-22T21:17:00.000+08:00

Earth Day, celebrated in the US on April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere (From Wikipedia).

Let's do our part in saving mother earth! Let us avoid Global Warming and Environmental Pollution!

(PENSIVEMIND)

ANTI-HANGOVER TIPS!

2009-04-22T09:13:00.000+08:00

ANTI-HANGOVER TIPS
by Dr. I.M Bibe

1). There is one preventive measure that is absolutely foolproof for every person in the world: Don't ever drink. You'll be guaranteed to avoid hangovers for the rest of your life.

2). Since 99.9% of the people who are concerned with hangovers will never follow method #1, then the next best preventive measure is this: Never drink enough to get really drunk. That way, hangovers will be rare, if not nonexistent.

If you know you're going to be drinking a LOT of something, there are certain definite DON'Ts:

1). Don't mix a lot of different types of alcoholic drinks (liquor, then wine, then beer).

2). Don't overdo it with colored liquors (red wine, whiskeys, cordials, dark rum). A cheap red wine hangover is absolutely THE WORST. Death without actually passing into the next world.

3). Don't overdo it with sweet blended concoctions. This is the classic mistake of high-school idiots, dumb college undergrads, and basic novice drinkers (who will probably never drink again). All of these sick sugary trendy drinks with cream of whatever, and doughnut-flavored schnapps, and layers of nifty floating colored syrups and liquers. Oh, please. Gag. Gallons of Coca-Cola mixed with hard liquor. Imitation raspberry-flavored margaritas and "daiquiris". (Raise your hand if you've ever even SEEN a real daiquiri.) The combination of all of that sugar in the stomach with the mandatory alcoholic kick in the head - the end-result is almost always the same.

(PENSIVEMIND)

I CAUGHT MYSELF by Paramore!

2009-04-21T04:39:00.000+08:00

After Decode's phenomenal success as the official sound track of the movie Twilight last year(starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart), Paramore is back again at the chart now with the song entitled "I Caught Myself". Enjoy!

(PENSIVEMIND)

Rihanna's Battered Face!

2009-04-19T22:31:00.000+08:00

Okay, I know this news is a bit old already but this was my first time to see the battered face of Rihanna on pictures. Some of you may have not seen a photo of her battered face before so I am sharing this one to you.

I've read somewhere a joke about it:

So Rihanna's face got swella ella ella eh eh

(PENSIVEMIND)

TOP 10 ROMANTIC COMEDY FILMS

2009-04-19T08:08:00.000+08:00

Here is the list of the Top 10 Romantic Comedy Films of All Time as released by American Film Institute:

1). City Lights - March 1931

2). Annie Hall - April 1977

3). It Happened One Night - February 1934

4). Roman Holiday - September 1953

5). The Philadelphia Story - January 1941

6). When Harry met Sally - July 1989

7). Adam's Rib - November 1949

8). Moonstruck - December 1987

9). Harold and Maude - December 1971

10). Sleepless in Seattle - June 1993

(PENSIVEMIND)

A TSUNAMI IS COMING?

2009-04-18T07:19:00.000+08:00

After working last night, I decided to check my emails and find out whether some important stuffs were sent to me. However, I only got a "Chain Email" from a good friend. I usually do not read emails when its "chain/chained" since I am a self-confessed negativist and I am easily influenced and affected by "hearsays" especially if it has an impact on me. Anyway, the email sounded so drastic that I stared at the wall for a minute. Nevertheless, i wanted to share this with you and decide whether it is a hoax or valid (Well I hope not).

And I quote the message:

"There is a prediction that there will be another

tsunami hitting on July 22, 2009

It is also when there will be a solar eclipse.

Predicted that it is going to be really bad and

countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak),

Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius,

Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Philippines are going

to be badly hit.

Please stay away from the beaches in July.

Please pass the word around.

Please also pray, pray and pray for all beings. "

Nobody can predict the future. Only God knows if these things are indeed going to happen. What's best to do right now is just to pray to him. That's it!

(PENSIVEMIND)

GUESS WHO?

2009-04-16T19:08:00.000+08:00

Can you guess who is this person in a stage play?

Yes! you're guess is as good as mine...That's Mr. Bean! Rowan Atkinson himself who portrayed as Fagin in the stage play "Oliver".

I'm sure Teddy is at the audience clapping for Bean! Hehehe

(PENSIVEMIND)

FOODS WITH HIGH CALORIES (An info to all Health-Conscious Individuals)

2009-04-16T06:29:00.000+08:00

"We are what we eat", as the famous cliche goes.

But is there really some truth to it?

Well, in my own humble opinion, it is 100% true. Like before, i used to weigh around 95-100 kilograms. I was eating foods back then filled with high calories, I wasn't watching what I eat. I was just simply eating for the sake of being full and nothing else. However, when i observed that my blood cholesterol and blood sugar were increasing, I had to come up with a regimen (who later almost killed me..hahah just kidding) that will decrease my weight gradually. I now tip the scale at around 77 kilos, just normal for my height and age. That regimen was to avoid foods that are high in Calories. I even read books, surfed the internet and asked for someone who also lost a lot of weight what to not eat:

1). Fried bacon - 250 cal/slice (Imagine eating 3 bacons in a breakfast..That's 750 calories!)

2). Mcdonald's Burger - 450 cal/piece (Everyone is guilty of eating this! heheh)

3). Popcorn (with butter) - 420 cal/100 grams

4). Chocolate - 500 cal/100 grams (Hmmm. Again, almost everyone is guilty of eating this!)

5). Coconut oil - 900 cal/100 grams

6). Corned beef - 300 cal/100 grams

7). Kebab with Mayonnaise - 600 cal/100 grams

8). Jam Roll - 400 cal/100 grams

9). Peanut Butter - 900 cal/100 grams

10). Pizza Pepperoni - 1050 cal/100 grams ( That's a lot of calories!)

Now you know my secret!

(PENSIVEMIND)

FRUSTRATED PHOTOGRAPHER

2009-04-15T06:06:00.000+08:00

A co-worker of mine, who has the hands of a photographer, is planning to buy and invest into a camera worth over Php 25,000. To an ordinary person without any knowledge on Photography, it would seem a bit expensive, however, for a brain used to taking photographs, it's worth the money spent.

Although I don't have an expensive camera (it's just my cousin's donation/gift from the US. hehehe), I still adore taking pictures and capture the very best of what we have around. I am sharing you some of my precious "shots" and i hope you will all like it. By the way, I am pro-nature, so all you will be able to see are the beaches, seas, trees and the mountains.

I love the beach, the fresh air and the serene sights.

My very own capture of Pearl Farm's facade. Breathtakingly Beautiful!

All my life, I wanted to jump off the cliff and dive into the sea.

The day will end, but it doesn't mean everything shall follow. In the mean time, what a very beautiful sunset capture (Davao Gulf).

(PENSIVEMIND)

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

2009-04-13T00:01:00.000+08:00

HALLELUJAH! The Lord has risen!

Happy Easter Everyone!

May God Bless us all!!!

(PENSIVEMIND)

RACING TOWARDS INCLUSION: Great story of a Father and Son - Dick and Rick Hoyt

2009-04-12T04:43:00.000+08:00

Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.

It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk.

For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.

At Rick’s birth in 1962 the umbilical cord coiled around his neck and cut off oxygen to his brain. Dick and his wife, Judy, were told that there would be no hope for their child’s development.

"It’s been a story of exclusion ever since he was born," Dick told me. "When he was eight months old the doctors told us we should just put him away — he’d be a vegetable all his life, that sort of thing. Well those doctors are not alive any more, but I would like them to be able to see Rick now."

The couple brought their son home determined to raise him as "normally" as possible. Within five years, Rick had two younger brothers, and the Hoyts were convinced Rick was just as intelligent as his siblings. Dick remembers the struggle to get the local school authorities to agree: "Because he couldn’t talk they thought he wouldn’t be able to understand, but that wasn’t true." The dedicated parents taught Rick the alphabet. "We always wanted Rick included in everything," Dick said. "That’s why we wanted to get him into public school."

A group of Tufts University engineers came to the rescue, once they had seen some clear, empirical evidence of Rick’s comprehension skills. "They told him a joke," said Dick. "Rick just cracked up. They knew then that he could communicate!" The engineers went on to build — using $5,000 the family managed to raise in 1972 - an interactive computer that would allow Rick to write out his thoughts using the slight head-movements that he could manage. Rick came to call it "my communicator." A cursor would move across a screen filled with rows of letters, and when the cursor highlighted a letter that Rick wanted, he would click a switch with the side of his head.

When the computer was originally brought home, Rick surprised his family with his first "spoken" words. They had expected perhaps "Hi, Mom" or "Hi, Dad." But on the screen Rick wrote "Go Bruins." The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season, and his family realized he had been following the hockey games along with everyone else. "So we learned then that Rick loved sports," said Dick.

In 1975, Rick was finally admitted into a public school. Two years later, he told his father he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Dick, far from being a long-distance runner, agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. They finished next to last, but they felt they had achieved a triumph. That night, Dick remembers, "Rick told us he just didn’t feel handicapped when we were competing."

Rick’s realization turned into a whole new set of horizons that opened up for him and his family, as "Team Hoyt" began to compete in more and more events. Rick reflected on the transformation process for me, using his now-familiar but ever-painstaking technique of picking out letters of the alphabet:
" What I mean when I say I feel like I am not handicapped when competing is that I am just like the other athletes, and I think most of the athletes feel the same way. In the beginning nobody would come up to me. However, after a few races some athletes came around and they began to talk to me. During the early days one runner, Pete Wisnewski had a bet with me at every race on who would beat who. The loser had to hang the winner’s number in his bedroom until the next race. Now many athletes will come up to me before the race or triathlon to wish me luck."

It is hard to imagine now the resistance which the Hoyts encountered early on, but attitudes did begin to change when they entered the Boston Marathon in 1981, and finished in the top quarter of the field. Dick recalls the earlier, less tolerant days with more sadness than anger:

"Nobody wanted Rick in a road race. Everybody looked at us, nobody talked to us, nobody wanted to have anything to do with us. But you can’t really blame them - people often are not educated, and they’d never seen anyone like us. As time went on, though, they could see he was a person — he has a great sense of humor, for instance. That made a big difference."

After 4 years of marathons, Team Hoyt attempted their first triathlon — and for this Dick had to learn to swim. "I sank like a stone at first" Dick recalled with a laugh "and I hadn’t been on a bike since I was six years old."

With a newly-built bike (adapted to carry Rick in front) and a boat tied to Dick’s waist as he swam, the Hoyts came in second-to-last in the competition held on Father’s Day 1985.

"We chuckle to think about that as my Father’s Day present from Rick, " said Dick.

They have been competing ever since, at home and increasingly abroad. Generally they manage to improve their finishing times. "Rick is the one who inspires and motivates me, the way he just loves sports and competing," Dick said.

And the business of inspiring evidently works as a two-way street. Rick typed out this testimony:
"Dad is one of my role models. Once he sets out to do something, Dad sticks to it whatever it is, until it is done. For example once we decided to really get into triathlons, dad worked out, up to five hours a day, five times a week, even when he was working."

The Hoyts’ mutual inspiration for each other seems to embrace others too — many spectators and fellow-competitors have adopted Team Hoyt as a powerful example of determination. "It’s been funny," said Dick "Some people have turned out, some in good shape, some really out of shape, and they say ‘we want to thank you, because we’re here because of you’."

Rick too has taken full note of their effect on fellow-competitors while racing:
"Whenever we are passed (usually on the bike) the athlete will say "Go for it!" or "Rick, help your Dad!" When we pass people (usually on the run) they’ll say "Go Team Hoyt!" or "If not for you, we would not be out here doing this."

Most of all, perhaps, the Hoyts can see an impact from their efforts in the area of the handicapped, and on public attitudes toward the physically and mentally challenged.

"That’s the big thing," said Dick. "People just need to be educated. Rick is helping many other families coping with disabilities in their struggle to be included."

That is not to say that all obstacles are now overcome for the Hoyts. Dick is "still bothered," he says, by people who are discomforted because Rick cannot fully control his tongue while eating. "In restaurants - and it’s only older people mostly - they’ll see Rick’s food being pushed out of his mouth and they’ll leave, or change their table. But I have to say that kind of intolerance is gradually being defeated."

Rick’s own accomplishments, quite apart from the duo’s continuing athletic success, have included his moving on from high school to Boston University, where he graduated in 1993 with a degree in special education. That was followed a few weeks later by another entry in the Boston Marathon. As he fondly pictured it: "On the day of the marathon from Hopkinton to Boston people all over the course were wishing me luck, and they had signs up which read `congratulations on your graduation!’"

Rick now works at Boston College’s computer laboratory helping to develop a system codenamed "Eagle Eyes," through which mechanical aids (like for instance a powered wheelchair) could be controlled by a paralyzed person’s eye-movements, when linked-up to a computer.

Together the Hoyts don’t only compete athletically; they also go on motivational speaking tours, spreading the Hoyt brand of inspiration to all kinds of audiences, sporting and non-sporting, across the country.

Rick himself is confident that his visibility — and his father’s dedication — perform a forceful, valuable purpose in a world that is too often divisive and exclusionary. He typed a simple parting thought:
"The message of Team Hoyt is that everybody should be included in everyday life."

(PENSIVEMIND)

WHAT IS YOUR HOLY WEEK'S PLAN? BEACH OR STAY AT HOME?

2009-04-10T00:25:00.000+08:00

A Blessed Maundy Thursday to everyone!

To all Christian's out there, what do you usually do when its Holy Week? Since most will have no work, do you prefer going to the beach or just stay at home? Well if you are going to ask me, I am not doing both since I will be working from today (Thursday) until Easter Sunday...This will be my first time to ever work on a Holy Week. Although I might be working, I will still be attending the mass and hopefully will have time to meditate and talk to God. Anyway, regardless of what our plans will be, I hope we will still be able to remember, at least once in a year, what God has done for us!

How about you? What's your Holy Week plan?

(PENSIVEMIND)

PONDER ON THIS!

2009-04-09T05:00:00.000+08:00

Last Monday (April 6, 2009), the Holy Week for Christians have started and what better way to commemorate the Lord's ultimate sacrifice with a youtube video that I have found. Nope, this is not an ordinary youtube video because this video showed a 13-year old's great understanding of what the Lord did for everyone of us! This made me speechless and I am completely touched by it. It almost brought me to tears and I am completely appalled.

May God Bless us ALL!!!

(PENSIVEMIND)

LESSON LEARNED!

2009-04-08T14:16:00.000+08:00

Argh! The boomerang hit me back and I am not liking it!

For over 3 months now, I have been on a controlled diet...less carbohydrates, more protein and lots of exercises...and quite astonishing is that I have lost (so far) around 30 big-pounds already...But hold on! Don't feel envious of me having lost a lot in a span of 90 days because just the other night, As I was on an 11pm-7am duty at the hospital, I took and consumed a glass of coffee and a healthy piece of wheat. Nothing happened...just yet. Until after a couple of hours, I felt my heart beat went faster with an extra/skip beat once in a while. I didn't hover as i thought that was just because of the caffeine i took. So i just shrug it off, and laughingly joked "Hey, I am at Mindanao Heart Center! My Heart will just be fine."

But alas! It didn't stopped after hours of on duty...So i decided to have an ECG done to me and have it read to a Medical Doctor who was having her rounds that early morning. She interpreted it and said "PACs or Premature Atrial Contractions". PACs, by the way, are either brought about by Electrolyte Imbalance or with a structural defect. So that morning, I subjected myself to some series of Electrolyte tests only to find out that my Potassium and Magnesium are below normal with my Chloride increased. I pondered..I know that this was brought because of my dieting and my caffeine intake (I consume coffee 3-4 times a day. Grrr!). By the way, PACs don't have pharmacologic treatment..just Healthy diet, avoid stimulants and provide ample time of rest.

Anyway, that very same day, I invited my brother and mom for a buffet lunch. Hahaha. I said, "Nevermind the diet. I wanna eat!" I consumed a meal good for 3 people. Hahaha! After that, I went home and finally hit the bed...slept around 12 hours! When I woke up, i noticed the erratic heart rate's gone, no extra or skipped beat, just normal heart rate. "I am back to being normal!" I exclaimed with joy. Up until this very hour, I haven't felt a single erratic heart beat and I have erased dieting on my mind...seriously!

I am sharing this to everyone for one real reason, we all should take care of our body, before they hit us back. Although dieting is beneficial to some, a balanced and sound diet would be better. Thank God I am still alive! Heheh

(PENSIVEMIND)

PHILIPPINES' BEST KEPT SECRETS!

2009-04-06T20:38:00.000+08:00

With the current Political and Economic turmoil that is happening in the Philippines, Is there something we still have to be happy about? Do light exists at the end of the tunnel? Is this just a nightmare soon to vanish once we all wake up? I bet all of you wants a "YES" to every question thrown...And I seriously want to say "Yes" as well.

But! In the mean time, I found a website that features some of the sights here in the Philippines that is breathtakingly beautiful...anyone wouldn't even think this was taken from this country. Beware! Do not be deceived. These pictures are taken in the Philippines and not anywhere else. So be enthralled!

Here are some of those:

Cancun, Mexico? Bahamas? Maldives?

Nope. This picture was actually taken at Bantayan Island in the Southern Province of Cebu.

Interstate Highway in the US?

Wrong again. This is in Subic-Tarlac Expressway.

Wyoming? Oregon? Virginia?

Again, this was taken at Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines.

Bet you think this was taken in Scotland? This was again from Batanes, the northernmost province in the Philippines.

More awesome pictures coming up!

(PENSIVEMIND)

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Syndrome!

2009-04-06T12:08:00.000+08:00

Yes! It may sound "funny" and eerie but yes, there is such a syndrome known to Science as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. "Unbelievable? Believe it!" as Dean Cain mentioned it.

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS, named after the novel written by Lewis Carroll), also known as Todd's syndrome, is a disorienting neurological condition which affects human perception. Sufferers may experience micropsia, macropsia and/or size distortion of other sensory modalities. A temporary condition, it is often associated with migraines, brain tumors and the use of psychoactive drugs. It can also present as the initial sign of the Epstein-Barr Virus. Anecdotal reports suggests that the symptoms of AIWS are fairly common in childhood, with many people growing out of them in their teens. It appears that AIWS is also a common experience at sleep onset.

Signs and Symptoms

Eye components are entirely normal. The AIW syndrome is a result of change in perception as opposed to the eyes themselves malfunctioning. The hallmark sign of AIWS is a migraine, and may in part be caused by the symptom itself. Using psychoactive drugs (notably dextromethorphan) may also produce micropsia. AIWS affects the sufferer's sense of visual, sensation, touch, hearing as well as one's own body image.

The most prominent and often most disturbing symptom is that of altered body image: the sufferer will find that they are confused as to the size and shape of parts of (or all of) their body.

The eyes themselves are normal, but the sufferer 'sees' objects with the wrong size or shape and/or finds that perspective is incorrect. This can mean that people, cars, buildings, etc. look smaller or larger than they should be, or that distances look incorrect; for example a corridor may appear to be very long, or the ground may appear too close.

People affected with Alice In Wonderland Syndrome would see a normal person like this. Notice the "stretched" neck.

In addition, some people may experience more intense and overt hallucinations, seeing things that are not there and misinterpreting events and situations in conjuction with a high fever.

Treatment

Treatment is the same as that for other migraine prophylaxis: anticonvulsants, antidepressants, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers, along with strict adherence to the migraine diet.

(PENSIVEMIND)

DRESS TO IMPRESS

2009-04-04T23:45:00.000+08:00

Have you always been on a dilemma when picking the right clothes for an occasion? Does it take you more than an hour to mix and match clothes? Or are you having a headache trying to come up with the best possible outfit? If you are one of them, then worry no more. Here's some tips that will help you decide in the picking that appropriate clothes for the occasion.

Lets Begin.

One of the most important things to consider in choosing the right clothes is to know what occasion you are attending to and what type of clothes will resemble to the occasion. Wearing a coat-and-tie for a Hawaiian party is obviously no-no while wearing jeans for a formal wedding is again not a sound decision. Secondly, always wear a "balanced" outfit, not being under dressed nor over dressed. I am sure you obviously don't wanna see your dates show up in a dinner at an expensive restaurant with them dressed to kill.

Furthermore, no matter where you are going, you must always wear clothes and outfits that are clean, and well-kept. Believe it or not, people prefer seeing their partners wear clean clothes than those dirty ones. That may be a giveaway, but it doesn't hurt listening to some reminders.

1). Always dress your best! No matter where you are going, always pay attention to your outfit. Accessories will also be a difference maker. By doing these things, you portray an aura of being confident and canny.

2). Remember that your outfit and clothes influence the way you act. Therefore, if you don't want to feel silly and ridiculous, find out what image would you want to characterize.

3). Outfits are nothing -- if you don't consider your over-all image. That is why, your gestures, eye contact and mannerisms accentuate your outfit. Those things may also make or break your over-all image.

Good Luck and Break a leg!

(PENSIVEMIND)

A Contagious Big Smile...

2009-04-03T18:00:00.000+08:00

Good Morning Everyone!

Whenever I look back at the experiences I had as a person, as a son, as a student and as a nurse, I just couldn't help but show that big grin and smile. I just couldn't help but laugh. You know why? It is just unbelievable that i made through all of hardships and obstacles, I may have faltered before, I may have lost some opportunites, but I found my way towards success..temporary as it is, I don't really mind...As long as I am happy as of the moment, as long as I am contented, as long as I have my family and friends to back me up, I'll continue to show that contagious big grin...

DANNY GOKEY PHENOM!

2009-04-03T06:30:00.000+08:00

Okay, I know this is a bit late and American Idol Season 8 is midway through the competition but i just couldn't get over with the fact that Danny Gokey is such an inspiration to everyone, not just with the American viewers but with the global viewers as well.

Daniel Jay Gokey (born April 24, 1980), popularly known as Danny Gokey, is an American singer and church music director from Milwaukee,Wisconsin and a finalist on the eight season of American Idol.

In July 2008, four weeks before he auditioned for American Idol, his wife Sophia underwent routine surgery for Congenital Heart Disease. It was the third surgery she had, but she died from complications. They had been together for eleven years and he credits her for his success. Sophia was a fan of the show and encouraged Gokey to be a contestant. He started a foundation in her name with some of her family members who are also musicians. The foundation includes a program to provide donated musical instruments to students.

From that time on, Gokey drew inspiration not only with his co-contestants but with the viewers as well. Some of the viewers were even brought to tears because of his amazing story.

In the mean time, sit back and enjoy Danny Gokey's rendition of Batman Forever's soundtrack, "Kiss From a Rose" originally sang by Seal. This is only on audio but then this is just superb from Danny boy!

(PENSIVEMIND)

GHOST SEEKS WIFE AND SON!

2009-04-02T18:02:00.000+08:00

Five men seeking a ghost’s wife and son
by Rachel Lau

KUALA LUMPUR: Five men have taken out advertisements in three Chinese dailies seeking a dead man’s wife and son.

They claim the ghost of the dead man wanted the wife and son found.

In their quest, the five also turned to Datuk Michael Chong, often called on to help in cases involving violent Ah Longs, missing spouses, Internet scams and vengeful partners, to help them with their supernatural problem.

At a press conference called by the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head, the five men said their problems began when they visited Cambodia earlier this month where the “haunting” started.

They had checked into a hotel room on a floor that a masseuse had warned them was “dirty.”

Teow Hsium Choon, 36, a factory worker, said two of the five then made crass jokes about ghosts in their hotel room.

“I felt a great sense of unease almost immediately, as though there were many angry spirits surrounding me,” Teow claimed, adding that he was possessed twice within four hours.

His friend Ding Hon Sai, 38, said he panicked when he saw Teow going into a seizure the same night, when they were in a pub.

“When he gained consciousness, he spoke in a woman’s voice and started to sob loudly,” said Ding, adding that the “ghost” was begging for forgiveness in Hokkien.

The second time Teow was possessed, a male spirit said it would stop disturbing them only if they located its son, one Chew Kon Lai, 38, and wife Chong Sim Choon.

Michael Chong said that before the five came to him, he had received an anonymous call asking him to help five men from Alor Setar who would seek his help.

“This is an extremely unusual case. I hope we can help the men locate these two people as soon as possible,” he said.

The five have already published notices seeking the wife and son in three local Chinese dailies, but there has been no response.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Introducing... FORD MUSTANG 2010!

2009-04-01T16:28:00.000+08:00

Ford designers approached each classic Mustang design element with a contemporary vision to modernize the vehicle's appearance. The iconic Mustang grille, the "hockey stick" side lines, the hop up into the rear haunch, the quarter-glass window, the three-bar tail lamp and the center-mounted faux gas cap were all reconsidered to give the new car even more presence and character. As a result, New 2010 Mustang squats on its haunches with a clean, sporty design that looks smart and efficient.

Seven new wheel choices are available for the New 2010 Mustang lineup. 17-inch Painted Aluminum wheels come standard on Mustang V6. 19-inch Premium Painted Luster Nickel Aluminum wheels are optional on Mustang GT Premium.

Sequential tail lamps - a distinctive feature during the 1960's - now adorn Mustang as a standard feature. These unique tail lamps fire sequentially, inside to out, to register turn indication within three individual red signal chambers. Using modern technology, each signal uses one light-emitting diode (LED) lamp to provide sharp style as well as bright performance.

To know more about this car, just click it here: FORD

(PENSIVEMIND)

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

2009-04-01T14:00:00.000+08:00

If there's one thing I'd be worrying about these past few days, It'll have to be my lack of sleep. I have been sleeping for a maximum of 5 hours only and it intently makes my world a bit slower from the usual. Nurses can not get away with it, we have schedules to follow and part of that are shiftings...that is we do not only go on duty in the morning but we may also go to work on an afternoon, a night or even on a dawn. What's more amusing is that when I go home tired from work, I couldn't even sleep...for just no apparent reason at all!

Since I was a bit disturbed already with what is happening, I did some research about Sleep deprivation and I'd be very willing to share with you what I have learned:

Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on your health in the form of physical and mental impairments. Inadequate rest impairs our ability to think, to handle stress, to maintain a healthy immune system and to moderate our emotions. In fact, sleep is so important to our overall health that total sleep deprivation has been proven to be fatal: lab rats denied the chance to rest die within two to three weeks.

Without adequate rest, the brain's ability to function quickly deteriorates. The brain works harder to counteract sleep deprivation effects, but operates less effectively: concentration levels drop, and memory becomes impaired.

Similarly, the brain's ability to problem solve is greatly impaired. Decision-making abilities are compromised, and the brain falls into rigid thought patterns that make it difficult to generate new problem-solving ideas. Insufficient rest can also cause people to have hallucinations. Other typical effects of sleep deprivation include:

depression
heart disease
hypertension
irritability
slower reaction times
slurred speech
tremors.

What should we do for a sleep-filled night? Here's some that I could think off:

1). Do some exercises during the day. It makes you fall asleep easier.

2). Napping during the day can interfere with sleep.

3). Avoid Coffee (stimulant), Alcohol (reduces over-all quality of sleep) and smoking.

4). Keep your room dark during sleeping hours.

5). Keep the noise in the room down during sleeping hours.

6). Take a bath before hitting the bed with a warm glass of milk. Milk containts tryptophan that helps induce a person to sleep.

...Time for a good night's sleep!

(PENSIVEMIND)

PAIN OF ALL SORTS

2009-04-01T07:34:00.000+08:00

PAIN
By Prerna Chandak

Somewhere...
Someone has died
Someone has lied to his wife
Someone has lost his job
Someone was killed by the mob
Someone lost his possessions
Someone was killed by his obsessions
Someone has suicided
Someone was misguided
Someone lost his child in a divorce
Someone went off the trekking course

Someone has lost all hope
Someone can't try to cope
Someone has lost their pride
Someone has lost their bride
Someone has lost their support
Someone innocent has lost in court
Someone has no money to live
Someone has no strength to give
Someone can never see the light
Someone can't get through the night
Someone is in need
Someone needs to be freed
Someone has gone insane

...Somewhere someone is in pain.

(A bizarre accident to a weightlifter during the Beijing Olympic Games)

(PENSIVEMIND)

MANILA TRIP - PART 2

2009-03-31T19:45:00.000+08:00

Okay, as promised, here's the continuation of my Manila Trip.

It took us a minimum of 3 hours to complete the exam. We all stopped at the 75th question, a big suprise again. After the very energy-draining examination, we all agreed for a pizza and a cold glass of beer...the party has just began!

Visiting the 3rd largest mall in the world...Mall of Asia. It is indeed titanic and monstrous, you will not get away with a sore feet after visiting the mall. However, its a one-stop shop, as most malls here in the Philippines, so you get to enjoy everything in one place...just huge at that.

Enough of the hustle and bustle of the city. Time to re-discover nature! So we agreed for an exciting trip to Cavite, a province just south of Metro Manila. The trip almost took us 2 hours but it didn't mattered as our eyes were in for a feast of the nature's beauty.

More sights to behold!

Tagaytay City, Cavite - home of the famous Picnic Grove, is one of the places i loved the most. Its weather is almost always very cool as it is elevated. It is also the place were your eyes could take a peek at the Taal Volcano (shown above at the center), one of the few marine volcanoes in the world. It is a popular tourist destination, but beware, the volcano is classified as an active type with last eruption taking place some 3 decades have passed (1977).

Other than Taal's fiery reputation, the area is just breathtaking in person. Fresh air, good food and just pure relaxation. We don't want to leave, seriously.

Just some reminders to all for a safe and sound adventure!

One of the many attractions in Tagaytay - the zipline! Unfortunately, we didn't tried it as it is costly. We were running out of budget. Hahaha.

STOP. We're done with our last destination. Over-all, it was a just a fun trip!

Time to go back home....

(PENSIVEMIND)

MY MANILA TRIP

2009-03-31T12:25:00.000+08:00

What a blast! That's by far the best statement I could ever coin my Manila Trip with 2 of my friends. By the way, to those who do not know, Manila is the capital city of the Philippines. It is also the largest and most populated city in the country. Anyway, We weren't there for escapades only, but we were also there for an important examination (NCLEX). Both were successful, unbelievable! Although it happened some 6 months ago (September), I think it is worth sharing here on my blog.

Get rawrdy, i mean ready, for some turbulence ahead!

We were supposedly be leaving for Manila at 11am, however, due to some delays, the plane took off at exactly 1:15pm...that's over 2 hours of waiting! Good thing we consumed lunch before leaving our very own houses.

The new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3

We hit Manila at around 3pm after a bumpy ride. Yes, bumpy and very turbelent since I think there was a coming typhoon that week. Anyway, my aunt picked us up at the airport en route to their residence at Las Pinas City, just a 20-minute drive. It was raining cats and dogs, streets were flooded and the traffic was just very disturbing.

Other than the escapades and fun that we wanted to do, we were there for a more important part in our careers as Nurses. We were there to take the Licensing Exam for Nurses bound for the United States of America aka NCLEX. Pundits who took the exam before us confessed that it is a very difficult exam...much different from what we have here in the Philippines. True enough, it was really difficult and mind boggling. However we were just very lucky, with God's guidance ofcourse, that we made it thru. All of us are US-Registered Nurses already!

Taken during "THE DAY"...I mean the examination day.

The testing area is on the left of the 2 buildings...at the 27th floor to be exact. It is a dreaded by place by many, but it is a sight to behold as well....a fantastic view of Makati's Skyscrapers.

To be continued....Lots of pics comin'

(PENSIVEMIND)

HOT TEA LINKED TO CANCER!

2009-03-30T12:18:00.000+08:00

Steaming hot tea linked to Cancer
by BBC

Drinking steaming hot tea has been linked with an increased risk of oesophageal (food tube) cancer, Iranian scientists have found.

The British Medical Journal study found that drinking black tea at temperatures of 70C or higher increased the risk.

Experts said the finding could explain the increased oesophageal cancer risk in some non-Western populations.

Adding milk, as most tea drinkers in Western countries do, cools the drink enough to eliminate the risk.

The oesophagus is the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.

Oesophagus cancers kill more than 500,000 people worldwide each year and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type. Tobacco and alcohol are the main factors linked to the development of oesophageal cancers in Europe and America.

But it has not been clear why other populations around the world have high rates of the disease although there has been a theory that regularly drinking very hot drinks damages the lining of the gullet.

Now, who want's some hot tea?

(PENSIVEMIND)

FUNNY PIC #2 - YAO MING's HEIGHT!

2009-03-27T21:01:00.000+08:00

Yao Ming, probably China's most Famous sport personality, was born last September 12, 1980 in Shanghai, China. He is now 28 years old and plays for the NBA team Houston Rockets. He is currently the tallest player in NBA at 7'6 (Thats some height!).

Anyway, just for laughs, here's a funny pic that features China's basketball prodigy:

Just look at the ladies beside him, they all looked like dwarves. Heheh. Seriously, Yao Ming's height is indeed might. And he uses it to his clear advantage as he is performing very well for the rockets!

Have a fun day ahead!

(PENSIVEMIND)

Taylor Swift was sick, but still performed!

2009-03-27T02:22:00.000+08:00

Last night, I had the luxury of staying at home and surfing the internet since I was on an offduty sked. As I was stretching my foot while working my fingers over the keypad, i searched for what's cool and interesting. I usually do that, not only to entertain but inform myself as well of what is happening with the world right now! (I might be too glued with work...C'mon!).

Curiosity led me to a favorite website by many. And i was browsing some of its videos, Taylor Swift grabbed my attention....pretty, young blonde with lots of promise as a singer and a performer. I knew Taylor about a year ago because of a song that was also sung by her. Anyway, after looking at some of her videos, I finally settled for one...It says in the title "Taylor Swift - CMA Awards 2008 - Love Story". Then here's comes the buffering time which will take you less than a couple of minutes of waiting.

When she started singing, I gradually noticed that there must be some problem with her. Is it with the arrangement, microphone, back up? or is it because she is not feeling well that time? Curiosity again has led me to find out that she was actually sick that time! But still, she managed to make it thru. I admire this young blonde for courageously performing though she was not okay health-wise. Hats off to her!

To view the said video, here's it is:

(PENSIVEMIND)

Happy Birthday Brother!

2009-03-23T23:02:00.000+08:00

A Very Happy 19th Birthday to my younger brother, Kirk! I wish you all the good things in life! Stay humble and Fun.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Anorexia - Should we be alarmed?

2009-03-22T02:54:00.000+08:00

EVERYONE OF US SHOULD BE.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness that describes an eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia are known to control body weight commonly through the means of voluntary starvation, purging, excessive exercise or other weight control measures such as diet pills or diuretic drugs. While the condition primarily affects adolescent females approximately 10% of people with the diagnosis are male. Anorexia nervosa, involving neurobiological, psychological, and sociological components is a complex condition that can lead to death in severe cases. The term anorexia is of Greek origin: a (α, prefix of negation), n (ν, link between two vowels) and orexis (ορεξις, appetite), thus meaning a lack of desire to eat.

CAUSES:

It is clear that there is no single cause for anorexia and that it stems from a mixture of biological, social and psychological factors. Current research is commonly focused on explaining existing factors and uncovering new causes. However, there is considerable debate over how much each of the known causes contributes to the development of anorexia, in particular, the contribution of perceived media pressure on women to be thin has been especially contentious.

TREATMENT:

The first line treatment for anorexia is usually focused on immediate weight gain, especially with those who have particularly serious conditions that require hospitalization. In particularly serious cases, this may be done as an involuntary hospital treatment under mental health law, where such legislation exists. However, in the majority of cases people with anorexia are treated as outpatients with input from physicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nutritionists, dieticians and other mental health professionals.

(PENSIVEMIND)

OOH LA LA! I am learning Spanish.

2009-03-21T10:10:00.000+08:00

About 3 years ago, my cousin went home for a much needed vacation from the US. She stayed here for about a month and it was really a blast...No question bout that. She travelled thousands of miles with her little daughter, Alexey, who was I think 4 years old that time. Almost everyday here at home, Alexey repeatedly listened to the video of "Dora the Explorer" which has some Spanish lessons on it. "Rapido!" - I remembered Dora saying. Okay, so after that, I got really interested on the language...Philippines after all was under the Spaniards' domination for over 300 years. This country has obviously a rich and strong tradition of Spanish Culture in it. That interest led and saw me learning the language online...just basics of it since I was also very busy for a lot of things.

Here's a video that might help you learn the basics of the language:

Currently, Spanish is spoken in 28 countries: Andorra, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and the USA. And estimates say that there are at least over 400 million people who speaks the language. Quite Huge!

For example:

- Adios - goodbye
- Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you
- No me gusta - I don’t like it
- Hasta luego - see you later

Aprendamos en Espanol! Now I'm learning...

(PENSIVEMIND)

BOUNDLESS FRIENDSHIP

2009-03-18T09:43:00.000+08:00

FRIENDS FOREVER
By Casiana Molina

A friend is a treasure that everyone has

Sometimes they come, sometimes they pass
Your friends will stay if you don't betray or lie

Or leave them behind
Just put this on your mind

A friend is what you need
To succeed in this life

In this world were you can't live you can't breath
Life will be unfair but your friend will be there

To give you hope, and faith
And a path that is right to take

This will lead you to your dreams
That you never thought would come true

That is being friends forever with you.
Sometimes you forget

What your friend has done
You just stab them in the back

And leave them behind
But when it comes to them

And they don't do the same
You just turn your back

And do it again
But one sunny day

You will be alone
Then you will realize

that all you once had is gone.

(PENSIVEMIND)

SHUTTERBUGS. Just for a day!

2009-03-17T00:36:00.000+08:00

SHUTTERBUG - (shtr-bg) n. Informal. An enthusiastic amateur photographer.

LEVITATION!

This was taken during the last day of exposure of our Nurse Trainees, since they were shutterbugs *coughs*, our camera's kept on flashing and capturing moments.

“The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others.” - William Lyon Phelps

Wow to NOKIA 6700 Classic!

2009-03-15T08:09:00.000+08:00

Whenever i see pictures of ultra-high technology cellular phones over the web, I just get envy very easily. I actually have 2 cellular phones, one is prepaid, the other one is postpaid..both are actually decent-looking, but comparing them with the latest phones over the internet is tantamount to asking if Jupiter is bigger than Pluto. Hahah! Okay, just yesterday, I found the news that Nokia, one of the bigger creators of cellular phones, either has released or will release Nokia 6700 classic...a very sophisticated looking gadget everyone will be definitely mesmerized.

Here's what's cool about this phone:

1). Five(5) Megapixel Autofocus camera phone

2). GPS navigation with Nokia Maps

3). Nokia WebKit Open Source Browser

4). Full metal keymat, a 2.2-inch 16M color QVGA display and supports both quad-band GSM and tri-band UMTS networks (plus HSDPA up to 10 Mbps)

5). Built-in accelerometer for tap-for-clock and turn-to-mute features

6). Flash video-on-the-go

7). With 1GB MicroSD card

8). Available Colors: Silver metallic, Matte metallic, Black metallic, and Brown metallic

INTRODUCTORY PRICE: $305 or Php 14,800.

(PENSIVEMIND)

BATTLE ROYALE: "Friendster vs Facebook"

2009-03-13T07:21:00.000+08:00

Both are social networking websites, Friendster was founded in 2002 with over 90 million users presently, while Facebook was created in 2004 with a whopping 200 million users as of the moment.

" Friendster is focused on helping people meet new friends, stay in touch with old ones and sharing online content and media. The website is also used for dating and discovering new events, bands, hobbies, and more. Users can share content including videos, photos, messages and comments with friends via their profile and their network.

Over 90% of Friendster's traffic comes from Asia. In Asia, Friendster has more monthly unique visitors than any other social network. The top 15 countries accessing Friendster today are the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, Singapore, Canada, India, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, People's Republic of China, Taiwan and South Korea."

"Facebook is a free-access social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. The website's name refers to the paper facebooks depicting members of a campus community that some US colleges and preparatory schools give to incoming students, faculty, and staff as a way to get to know other people on campus."

Pick your choice! Friendster or Facebook?

(PENSIVEMIND)

"I am tired from work..BUT"

2009-03-09T02:09:00.000+08:00

...BUT I AM HAPPY.

I went home today from work as if I was from a brawl with 6-footers...As if i had a boxing match an hour earlier...As if I battled with the bulls of Spain...As if i swam the whole Pacific ocean...As if I climbed the highest mountain in the world...Yes, work is officially on my circulation and I am seriously very fatigued from the bustle of my job. But hold on...I ain't complaining. No no no. In fact, I am liking it. This is a bittersweet experience for me, A good opportunity to widen what I have known as of the moment...An additional weapon in my arsenal.

Today, I had the opportunity of meeting and tackling with diverse personalities...high-profiled Surgeons, famous Cardiologists, veteran nurses...but what I loved about the experience a while ago is that I appreciated my subtleness, my being amateur and the break of meeting ordinary people...learning their struggles and hardships in life..That makes my work more worthwhile.

... as Mcdo lovers say it.."Im loving it".

(PENSIVEMIND)

"NETIQUETTE" - Internet Etiquette

2009-03-07T00:41:00.000+08:00

"Netiquette" stands for "Internet Etiquette", and refers to the set of practices developed over the years to make the Internet experience pleasant for everyone. Like other forms of etiquette, netiquette is primarily concerned with matters of courtesy in communications.

Here's some Netiquette basics that we should all know about:

1). "Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send".

2). If somebody helps you learn your way around, it's almost expected you'll repay the favor some day by helping somebody else.

3). Don't use capitals unnecessarily in email -- it designates shouting, and is considered rude.

4). Don't distribute other people's email addresses to strangers by email or by posting messages to the Usenet, unless the email is on a public work and obviously intended for distribution. Otherwise, you may be responsible for someone getting spam email from commercial sites, and strange email from unwanted strangers.

5). It is easy to copy something from the Internet and put it in an email or on a web page and give the impression by mistake that it is your work. Always clearly identify the author of work that is not your own.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Some Tongue Twang...

2009-03-04T06:59:00.000+08:00

I am very sure that some of you have either shocked or was suprised with the photo shown above. I can't blame you for that. True enough these days, some people's idea have gone from being weird to uncanny or just pure beyond what the brain could normally think.

But before we move farther, have we ever realized how important our tongue is? I mean, aside from the ability to speak, have you ever wondered what if we don't have the ability to taste all of the good foods and delicacies around the world? UNIMAGINABLE, huh?

First, we must be thankful for our taste buds for letting us acknowledge and appreciate the sourness of the tamarind, the saltiness of chips or the sweetness of chocolates..

Our Taste buds are sensory organs that are located on our tongue and grant us the privilege to experience tastes that are either sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Do you want to know how they actually work? Open your mouth, stick your tongue out infront of a mirror.

Seen those bumps? They are commonly called as papillae, and almost all of them are filled with taste buds. They also have very precise microscopic hairs called microvilli. They send messages to the brain about how something tastes, so you know if it's sweet, sour, bitter, or salty.

The average person has about 10,000 taste buds and they're replaced every 2 weeks or so. But as a person ages, some of those taste cells don't get replaced. An older person may only have 5,000 working taste buds. That's why certain foods may taste stronger to you than they do to adults. Smoking also can reduce the number of taste buds a person has.

Now we know... So better take care of your tongue before you lose the ability to enjoy the ice cream you are going to eat next time.

(PENSIVEMIND)

Can't get enough of CHUCK TAYLOR SHOES?

2009-02-28T23:07:00.000+08:00

Chuck Taylor, one of the world's most famous brand of shoes, had just come up with new sets of shoes with interesting and intriguing designs that may just leave you in awe.

CHUCK LIGHTS:

WITH THE GOLDEN ZIPPER:

GOLDEN CHUCK:

SCOTTPATT:

METALLIC:

... and Many More. :-)

(PENSIVE MIND)

STRESS - Avoid it!

2009-02-27T02:28:00.000+08:00

...But what if it's unavoidable?

Jobs that combines physical activity from mental work are very stress-prone...Nurses, Policemen, Doctors, Call Center agents...Are just some of them. But How should we go about them?

Here's MY own formula in reducing stress despite being stressed:

1). I sleep as much as I can. At least 8 hours of sleep will do.

2). I drink a lot of water throughout the day. I consume at least 12 glass of water daily.

3). I consume a balanced diet. Lots of veggies, less meat and enough of Carbohydrates for energy.

4). Always think positive. Nobody has damaged his eyesight looking at the brighter side of things. Kidding aside, when you think positively, everything seems to flow smoothly.

5). I also do some deep-breathing and relaxation exercises after a hard day's work.

And last but not the least:

6). I pray to God.

(PENSIVEMIND)