Saturday, August 30, 2008

Outstanding FHM Photos of Ana Ivanovic


Her recent unpredictable loss in US Open 2008 is not a weakness but it's a lesson to be learned. After all, there's only one Ana Ivanovic in the world and she's not perfect. She's only twenty years old and she still has a lot more brilliant things to show the world. Truth is, I might be disappointed with her downslides but I'm confident that Ana will sail on to be the outstanding Ana Ivanovic as we have seen in French Open 2008 Finale.

Only time knows when it will happen.

But for now, Ana Ivanovic is likely be the biggest WTP champion in the world when you look these three breathtaking photos as seen in UK FHM August 2008 edition.




What can I say? If I were Novak Djokovic, I am definitely keep this girl for life! I know they were childhood friends and childhood friends can sometimes be the great lovers...



There's only one thing in my mind now, that is, WHERE I CAN BUY THIS FHM MAG HERE IN DAVAO, PHILIPPINES? I tried looking at the mall but I got none and that's really frustrating.

Can anyone help me?

Photos courtesy of:
faniq.com

clubhousecancer.com

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Congrats Novak!


Novak Djokovic was hailed as the bronze medalist in tennis (men's singles) at the recent concluded Beijing Olympics. He defeated James Blake of USA, 6-3, 7-6.

That's really great, indeed!

Novak is a great tennis player from Belgrade, Serbia. He and Ana Ivanovic were childhood friends.





Right now, Novak is seeded number 3 in the ATP rankings and honestly, I want him to reach the top spot beating Federer and Nadal.

I like Fed-ex and Nadal. These two tennis players are outstanding. Without a doubt, Fed-ex is born to play tennis while Nadal has this blazing passion to dominate the tennis playground. Novak is little and way different from the two. I've seen some of his comical videos in YouTube and geez, he's very ridiculous.

Just as funny as he is, he still manages to be in his serious cloak when he's playing tennis. In fact, he won the 2008 Australian Open nailing down Jo-Wilfried Tsong, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.

Photos courtesy of:

tennisrulz.com
itftennis.com
nacionalnarevija.com

Here's his winning video during the Australian Open 2008 Finals


The Game of Life

Life is a game. Life can be frustrating and it is constantly filled with problems. You don't exactly know what will happen to you tomorrow.

That's what I call life. It's a game everyone can play and if you can play it, then you ended up in a rehab.

As what other people say, life is not only about our choices. Whether you like or not, there are things beyond our control and no matter how, you still need to survive it.

Life is a game anyway and shit always happens. There will be no winners. There will also be no losers. Sometimes, people are simply using other people for their advantage, especially if you're a businessman.

In business, life can be really be unpredictable. You don't know who your friends and enemies are. No matter how you want to see it, business is a dirty game. it's even dirtier than you thought. It's not about love or being friendly. Seriously, business is all about money and how you can generate money.

To those who can't play it well, their ego will be smashed forever but to those who can always modify their game plan, you simply need to roll the cut-throat game.

That's life. What can we do with it?

For this reason, never treat life so seriously. Have fun. Laugh till you drop and cry if you are hurt. It's a game anyway so play it nice and rough.

All of us will die sooner or later.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Ana Ivanovic: The Front Cover of FHM

I am typing the keyword "Maria Sharapova" in Google Images Search Bar while also searching for "Ana Ivanonic" pic on other tab window. I am trying to compare the two tennis players and to my delight, I found this site CamelTap and holy cow, I found this gorgeous front cover pic of Ana Ivanovic in FHM August 2008 UK edition.



Photo Courtesy of: Flickr and UpMyPhoto
For more hot and sexy pictures of Ana Ivanonic, just click on the above link, CamelTap.

Right now, I am thinking of ways on how I can buy this magazine. I'm crossing my fingers that this magazine will be available here in Davao City, Philippines at SM National Bookstores. I really need to buy this magazine not because I want it or because my favorite tennis player is in the front cover but it is for the FACT that it's Ana Ivanovic on FHM: The 20-year-old Serbian of beauty and brain who aced the French Open 2008 in Paris.

About my curiosity on who's hotter: Sharapova or Ivanovic?

I don't need to think twice or thrice. The answer is already given and I'm sure all of you will agree with me whether you like it or not. But if you insist that Sharapova is hotter then feel free to leave a comment and tell me why.

I Love Diggin'

Right now, I am addicted to digg and I really don't know why. I haven't tried all the great services of digg. I have only explored the basics and what can I say? So far, So good! I also love reading articles in several genres, especially if it's all about tennis, health, gaining weight and other psychological issues.

What I really love with digg is: the site is well-organized. I like their idea of posting your own stories there, comment on other digg entries, add them to my "favorites" and just tour the digg community. A week ago, I do have some problems with digg, that is, I couldn't understand why I can't log in on their site. I keep on signing in but nothing happened still. It always say I have the wrong username and password but, a huge thanks to their friendly contact services and the problem is now solved. The problem is with the IP address of my unit.

Because I am now a digg addict, I'll post here a portion of an article I've got in Ezine that is written by Vishal Lamba. The title of the article is "How To Use Digg To Get More Traffic." Enjoy reading as much as I enjoy it too.

What is Digg?

Digg is a free "social media" website where the news on its pages is controlled by the community of users (over 500,000+ at this point of time). There is no central governing body that decides which news to report and which news makes it to the front page. The community of users submit the sotries and "vote" on them by clicking the "digg this" icons besides each story listed on its pages. Digg was originally for geeks only and had mostly technology related articles but has since grown to include a whole range of categories that cover almost any topic.

If you are a blogger or a site that writes news stuff and is looking for extra traffic, you can possibly look at Digg to get this for you. It is difficult - and eventually only stories that are unique get large number of "votes" or "diggs" from the community of users and make it to the front page.

If your blog post or story is unqiue and good enough, and the community picks it up and begins digging it - you can rest be assured that once you get to the front page you will get over 10,000 unique visitors to your site in one day... and that gradually tapers off in a few days. This is known as the "digg effect" and achieving this should be one of your goals.

There are a few handfull of ways to get on to the front page of Digg. These are power methods for power users" and I will discuss them below. I won't go into the how to use Digg.com in detail. You can get that on the help area and FAQ area of the website... see the footer/bottom of the website, under the heading "all about digg".



Making your strategy on Digg

If you are new to Dig, then hang out around the site, for about a week and read and see how people are commenting and what kind of stories are getting popular. Participate in threaded comments and discussions.

. . . "Just Make New Friends!"

This is the key. You need to connect with other users and thus have many friends on Digg. Why? Because, when you submit a story - you can invite your friends to Digg it. You can even legally setup a reciprocal digg exchange...

"you digg my story, i digg your story". You can do this by sending a private message, known as a "shout" to your friends. Just digg their story first and then tell them - I dugg you, please digg my story now ... and include the link of your story that is on the digg site (not the offsite link that is on your website or blog).

Another way you can invite them to digg, instead of shouting (private messaging) them - is by directly clicking on the "share this news" with all my friends link that appears under the story post on digg. This is quick but not as effective as a personal shout. Use it once you have over, say 200 friends on digg....

Yes, you heard that right. 200 friends. That should be your target. Why? Simple - because you can invite them to digg your story. The more friends, the more diggs.

Now, for the secret...

There is a tool available, that can automatically keep adding random friends to your digg network. Its called Digg Friend Adding Automator. Its simple to use. All you need to configure is one file, with your username and password on Digg. Then run it the software (no install needed - just a simple double click). Then take your shoes off and sit back - while it adds friends to your profile at the rate of one every 5 seconds.

There is a precaution here. Do not add more than around 20 friends in one shot. This may alert the digg admins and you can get banned permanently. Add 20 friends... then shut down the software for about 15 minutes or so.. and then re-run it for another 20 friends and so on. Dont add more than around 50 per day, and stop at around 200 to 250 for about a week. Then rinse and repeat.

If you cant get hold of this great tool - you can still quickly randomly add friends on digg by simply clicking on the "add as friend" link besides their names, next to articles they have submitted.

Now, when you have soooo many friends, you can invite them to come vote on your story. Of course the key here is to firstly make sure that your story is unique and will arise the interest of over around 70% of readers. That should be enough. Once you invite them and share your story with your friends, after a day - start contacting friends who have sent your shouts (private messages) to digg their story -and start digging their story and in return ask them to digg yours.

It is extremely important that your story gets popular (large number of diggs) at a fast rate - and before a lot of time passes by (probably around 10 to 20 days). Why? Because, by then it could become stale news! Also, dont submit irrelevant and boring news, or stuff thats already been submitted. It will only be "burried" out by the community.

Commenting on Digg for traffic

Another easier way to get traffic (although in much lower numbers and probably a very very low fractional amount) is by posting comments on popular stories with high diggs. Just make sure what you write is relevant to the story and then leave a catchy phrase and link (signature) at the end of your comment.

The Onsite "Digg This" Button

If you have a fairly large number of readers to your blog, you can submit your blog posts to Digg and then insert a "digg this" button in near your blog post ... as an onsite "digg this" link. This way visitors or readers of your blog can vote your story up the Digg ranks. This works only on blogs that have a large number of readers and visitors - so its only powerful then.

End of the article - - - - -

Now, do you now understand why I am addicted to digg? My digg page has still no PR and I still have to digg, digg and digg to be a well-known digger.

Keep diggin'

Monday, August 25, 2008

Survivor And More Simple but Good Stuffs....


There are 3 awesome good events that took place over the weekend.

1) Survivor returns in the primetime. Yes! It's now confirmed that Q-TV, the sister network of GMA, will telecast the upcoming seventeenth season of the Emmy-Award Reality competition in TV and this time, Survivor will be in the deep wilderness of Gabon in Africa.

Yahoo!!! This will be sooo great and I'm going to be alive again. I'm going to meet 18 new castaways again and I'm sure one of them will be my favorite. This will be a tight race between Studio 23 and Q-TV, Whoa!

2) Last Sunday, I got the time to watch the latest film of Katherine Heigl "27 Dresses." All in all, the movie was fine. The plot is very simple and somehow predictable but it's a fun-filled motion picture. It's not the best and at the same time, it's not also crappy. I don't like watching romantic-comedy films and the only reason why I watched this film was Heigl.

It's my first time to see Heigl (Izzie of Grey's Anatomy) and James Marsden (Cyclops of X-Men, X2 and X-Men3) in one movie. They made a very cool couple. Heigl plays the role of a perfectionist bridesmaid, Jane while Marsden acts as Kevin, a newspaper writer who wants to explore the life of a successful wedding planner but still remains to be single.



3) The internet connection was really down yesterday. I don't know what happen to Smart Bro and I was bored all throughout the day. I missed diggin and blogging and I was like in an empty space again. I thought of reading a book but my mind was not in the mood to read. What I did was I turned the computer's speaker volume at its maximum level and played the coolest old school and new school R&B tracks in my list. There's really a magic in music, especially R&B. It saves you from boredom and when it is played very loud, nothing can replace the moment of cool satisfaction.

That's life! You'll learn how to appreciate small but good stuffs when things gone awry.

Pics are taken from:
23firststreet.files.wordpress.com
blogs.nypost.com
www.collider.com


Thursday, August 21, 2008

Be Nice To Yourself

Are you too hard of yourself? Do you feel sad regularly? Do you hate yourself and wish that you are somebody else?

If you answer yes to these questions, then something might be bugging your self-esteem and self-confidence. People think that these two elements are similar but quite frankly, they are different.

Watch this inspiring video to know why.



Self-esteem refers to the way you treat yourself while self-confidence refers to a reflection on how you do things. In some cases, your confidence might be high but your self-esteem is low.

Therefore, if you think you have a poor self-esteem, start reassessing your strengths and weaknesses and repeatedly tell yourself that "I AM GOING TO BE NICE TO MYSELF."

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Ana Ivanovic is the Supreme Goddess of Tennis


No need to doubt at all, seeing these eye-candy pictures of Anna Ivanovic, the World seed Number 1 in Tennis, can't only make you say "She's really HOT!" but you can conclude that she is the most stunning star in the world.

Unfortunately, Ana was forced to left the Olympics 2008 in Beijing due to her thumb injury but recent reports claimed that she is all in good condition right now and she's preparing for the upcoming US Open in August 25th (That's five days from now). I'm hoping that she will nail the concrete and bring home the bacon.

Whatever happens, win or lose, Ana Ivanovic will still be the supreme goddess of substance and beauty. Is it possible to hug and kiss this girl before I die?

Pictures courtesy of: soccer-legends.blogspot.com

Monday, August 18, 2008

Detecting Poor Self-esteem

Self-esteem is an important aspect of life. It is like a vessel that keeps you going on with the ups and downs of life. To tell you the truth, it is very impossible to have a meaningful life without boosting the level of your self-esteem.

How will you know if you are suffering from poor self-esteem? Before I will answer that question, let me define what is self-esteem.

Basically, self-esteem refers to the value of respect you award to yourself. This is also about your feelings and opinions on how you will evaluate yourself in the world. In fact, your self-esteem comes in several levels. It might be high, healthy, low or drastically low.

Now, if you don't value yourself that much and you tend to patronize your abilities, there's no need for you to doubt that you tend to have a poor self-esteem. Having a poor self-esteem is as similar as drinking a poison. You are living in a topsy-turvy world and whatever you do, you feel worthless.

Some indications of poor self-esteem: (the following details are taken from an article written by Abhishek Agarwal in Ezine)

1) Feeling of not being cherished and respected by anyone

2) Feeling of extreme jealousy

3) Sense of dependence on other for everything

4) Loss of decision making abilities

5) Displaying excessive anger

6) Always under the pressure to over achieve

7) Need for everything to be always nothing less than perfect

8) Worrying too much

9) Shying away from trying out anything new, especially from taking any sort of risks

10) Frustration

11) Feeling of helplessness at not being able to understand or describe feelings

12) Poor performance at workplace or school

The Cause of Poor Self-esteem

What's the cause of having a poor self-esteem? Is it fair to blame yourself if you have a crack self-esteem?

In some cases, self-esteem is not only about you but is about everything that surrounds you. If your family is criticizing you for every little mistake you do, then you begin to question several whats and whys. For this reason, you will grow as a confused and submissive child with a shattered self-esteem.

Truth is, the home is the place where one's own self-esteem is developed. The type of family you have affects the level of your self-esteem. So, if you think you are suffering from poor self-esteem, begin analyzing what kind of family background you have. Try studying the personality of your dad, your mom and your siblings and understand their strengths and their weaknesses. If you will do this, you'll seem to know why your self-esteem is low.

Another huge factor that affect the level of your self-esteem is your society. Your social environment refers to the kind of friends you have, the type of work you are into, what religion you are in, etc.

As what many experts say, the kind of environment you have is what you'll become. Whether you'll like it or not, there are good and bad things around you and you will be influenced to do things beyond your control. Sadly, when you have a poor self-esteem, you are easily swayed away from what you believe is right. For instance, if you have friends and they are offering you prohibited drugs, it's so hard to say no probably because you can no longer generate good decisions for yourself.

Balancing Your Self-esteem

There is no 100% good self-esteem but you can always balance it. Your self-esteem is like a seesaw. It doesn't mean that if you have a healthy self-esteem, you will be invincible from the frustrations of life.

When your self-esteem is low or poor, your sense of sensitivity is high. That means, you will become paranoid. You will regularly hear negative voices in your mind, making you feel lonely and vulnerable.

On the other hand, when you have a high self-esteem, your sense of sensitivity might be low. In this case, you will act as if you're the perfect person in the world. You will be described as insensitive, tactless and conceited.

How To Boost Your Self-esteem?

Boosting one's own self-esteem is not easy. It's a process and you need to be consistent in it. Improving one's own self-esteem can depend on the type of physical appearance you have. It's proven that having a good physique results to healthy self-esteem. But if you are healthy but you still have poor self-esteem, something might be wrong with your emotional upbringing.

In this case, you need to change the way you think. The human mind is very powerful. It can play tricks on you and puts your self-esteem at risk. As what Rick Warren wrote in his phenomenal book entitled The Purpose Driven Life, "THE WAY YOU THINK DETERMINES THE WAY YOU FEEL AND THE WAY YOU FEEL INFLUENCES THE WAY YOU ACT."

See the point? The human mind is always connected with the emotions and deeds. Everything starts in the mind and if you will learn how to control the way you think, the level of your self-esteem will be fine.

In addition to that, there are many self-esteem test online. Feel free to answer them. If you want detailed explanation about your result, you can always consult registered psychologist near you.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

These Videos are funny!

I was exploring YouTube and found this two funny videos about men and female sexuality. I don't know if the facts presented in these videos are true> True or not, these videos are funny and I have forgotten my problems for the meantime.

Facts about Women:



Facts about Men:

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Empty Space

My mind is like in an empty space right now. I don't exactly know why. My mind is revolving in things, which I can't really understand. I am so sick with this melancholy feeling. Why it has to be this way?

It was my 24th birthday last Wednesday. I thought I would be completely happy to celebrate it with my family and friends but I was wrong. I treat my family in an eat-all-you-can restaurant last Wednesday. On Thursday night (August 14), I went out with my psych friends and we had some good time. But, some things were beyond my control. I thought I would see someone but you just couldn't please everyone even how you try. There are several if, many excuses and it seems too much.

Why life seems unfair? Life can be so unpredictable. Life, whether I like or not, is still a drama. It's still incomplete. This is the end, I think. Everything is clear to me to now. Perhaps, I was really naive to believe in the concept of unconditional love and true friendship. Love is a delusion. There's no such thing as unconditional love, only perception. I might be so wrong to say it but this is what is happening right now. Stop denying it. Truth is, I was wasting my time to be a friend with someone who no longer wants to be my friend.

I can't do anything about it. I can't no longer fix the screws. What was the past will remain a memory. It will stay a memory and it's painful to think that I can't take it back. Like I said, I was really naive. Perhaps, it was my fault and no one has to be blamed except myself.

I learn my lessons well. Starting this day onwards, it's better to bruise myself off with work and money. Who doesn't want money anyway? Having a lot of money is way better than having a friend I thought I still have.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

SurvivorDean @ Beinte-Quatro


Start: 4:39 AM (081384 Philippine Time)

August 13, 1984 - A good-looking gentleman was born. His life was full of ups and downs, mostly downs but as years rock by, he is still standing tall and calls himself, SurvivorDean.

End: 12:00 MN

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Cool Video About Web 2.0



What did I learn after watching this video?

I can say that this is the coolest video about Web 2.0!

But I can't really understand this Web 2.0. The term is too difficult to define. Some people says Web 2.0 has numerous definitions. Wikipedia says it's "a term which describes the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users."

Honestly, reading this definition makes my brain explode. The definition sounds intellectual but it is too technical. But in some ways, I say that Web 2.0 simply refers to everything that exists online. It is a tool that connects people and when people connect interactively, the mode of living will be easier and faster. My problem now is, what really is Web 2.0?

Actually, it was Tim O'Reiley who invented this ambiguous and technical term.

"Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform (Wikipedia)."

This is how O'Reiley defines Web 2.0. Oh geez! You know what the funny thing is, the way he defines the term is still technical and complicated, nothing has changed with the above definition- do you agree?

As I'm watching the video, I realized that web 2.0 is a powerful online tool that helps everyone with our online needs. When you download, upload, email, chat, podcast, blog, digg, stumbleupon etc.- these are all the benefits you get from this web 2.0!

For this reason, Web 2.0 is awesome! It makes life easier. Our highly-technological world needs it. Everyone is using it even if its definition is far off our reach.

Take This Test If You Think You Are An Idiot

In dictionary, an idiot is a noun referring to an utterly foolish or senseless person.

In the field of psychology, idiot refers to a person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.

Do you think you're an idiot?

Take this test

Idiot Test

Some Nutritional Facts You Want To Know (Part 1)

Forty-five percent of the total calories come from carbohydrates, 30% from protein, and 25% from fat.

A traditional weight-loss diet is 60% carbohydrates, 20-25% protein, and 20-25% fat.

According to a new study, a daily dose of caffeine may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by as much as 60%.

Eating a snack won't help you eat less during your next meal, but if you have to miss a meal, a high-protein snack will help keep you feeling full longer than a high-carbohydrate snack.

Researchers at Ulleval University in Oslo found that kids who drank acidic water with a pH value of between 6.2 and 6.9 were nearly four times as likely to develop diabetes as kids from homes whose water had a pH of 7.7 or higher.

For an adult male taking in 2,500 calories a day, these are the guidelines to try to live up to:

Calorie intake Percentage of your total daily calorie intake
Sweets: no more than 25%
Protein: 10% to 35% At least 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight
Fat: 20% to 35% Including at least 17 grams of linoleic acid, from corn oil or safflower oil
Carbohydrates: 45% to 65% Including at least 38 grams of fiber

Source: webmd.com

Saturday, August 9, 2008

What Type of Body Shape Do You Have?

Rosie Peters sent me an informative newsletter about the different types of body shapes. To her, "you should tailor your eating habits and exercise routines to suit the shape you were born with."

Read her newsletter below:

*** *** *** *** ***

There exists a system of body type classification called "somatotypes". It was originally dreamed up by a psychologist in the 1930s to link personality to body shape.

Ectomorphs are the "hard gainers". They are slim and find it hard to put on weight, whether than weight be muscle or fat.


Many people envy their skinny ectomorph friends who can "eat anything".

However if you are an ectomorph and shoveling junk food down your gullet in a daily feeding frenzy, your health is going to fail. Big time.

And you know exactly how flabby an untoned ectomorph looks naked in the bathroom mirror.

Ectomorphs need lots of complex carbs at very regular intervals and an exercise routine that is light on the cardio.

As an endomorph, you are medium to big boned, soft and rounded. You may have the classic pear or apple shape.


The bad news is that you attract fat like flies to a picnic, mosquitoes to a bar-b-cue. The good news is that you can muscle up just as easily as fatten up with a moderate/high protein and moderate/low carb diet and a goodly helping of aerobic exercise in your weekly fitness routine.

If you are a mesomorph, you are the most balanced of the somatotypes. Hourglass women and wide shouldered, narrow hipped men.


You find it easy to put on muscle whether you are after lean or mass muscle. You can take your pick of healthy diets and get the best fitness results with an equal mix of energetic cardio and heavy duty resistance workouts in your week.

While our bodies tend to approach a particular somatotype or a combination of somatotypes, it is rare to be a "pure" type.

Become as informed as you can about your particular body type and your efforts will be rewarded.

*** *** *** ***
Photos are taken from betterbodyjournal.com

Friday, August 8, 2008

2 Quotes you must remember..

"God,grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference..."

It's inspiring to believe that there is like a Big Brother Up Above and grant us the inner strength we need all the time in order to survive life. Truth of the matter is, being at peace is not easy. We carry a lot of stress on our back everyday. Several forms of stress in different levels.

This is the reason why we need courage to change whatever sufferings we need to deal with. Courageous doesn't only mean that you need to stay tough against all odds but this is the heroic act of what's beyond the society's standards, individual's labeling and cultural stereotypes.

If one acts beyond what is expected, there's no need to doubt that God will eventually grant him the precious wisdom to understand the intricacies of the bad and good.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." -Albert Einstein

There are several questions about life and at times, we lack of ability to answer them all. That's what we call doubts. These questions remains unanswered because it requires us to dig the surface and find salvation in it.

If we remain curious then that's a good thing to move forward with life. the more questions we have, the more doubts we still need to have and the stronger we have to become in order to provide answers.

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Happy 8-8-8 Day, Everyone!


Today is August 8, 2008 Friday in Philippine Time. What does this mean? This day might be lucky for some. In Philippines, some Filipinos tend to believe that number 8 is a lucky number because the end point of your pen will end at the top once you write the number on a piece of paper.

I don't know if it's true, Filipinos have so many superstitious beliefs and I don't believe to those. Maybe, some are real. Perhaps, some of them are simply a product of one's imagination. No matter what, there's nothing wrong if you are going to believe in it. For now, happy 8-8-8, do what you think can make you lucky.

Do you believe it?

Got A Friendship Award! HaHa...



These are some of the great friendship quotes I've got online:

"I pull you from your tower, take away your pain, show you all the beauty you posess if you'd only let yourself believe"

-Sarah Mclachlan


"At the shrine of friendship Never say die, Let the wine of friendship never run dry."

- Les Misérables

What are friends? Friends are people that you think are your friends. But they're really your enemies, with secret indentities and disguises, to hide they're true colors. So just when you think you're close enough to be brothers, they wanna come back and cut your throat when you ain't lookin."

- Eminem

"Friendship is delicate as a glass, once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks"

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."

- John Leonard

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."

- C. S. Lewis

"Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade."

- William Shakespeare

"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."

- Henry Ford

"No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence."

- George Eliot

This is by far the best:

"To the world you are someone, but to someone you are the world."

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Allergic Rhinitis Sucks!

Yesterday, my rhinitis was at its peak again and all I did was sneeze, sneeze and sneeze. There were even blood coming out from my nose. That was an indication of having an inflamed nasal passages. Until I went to bed that night, my rhinitis was still ripping me off. I couldn't breath well.

This morning, I thought my rhinitis was gone. But, I was wrong! After I took a bath and change clothes for work, it attacked again. My nose was all stuffy again. Achuu!!! Achuu!!! The sneezes were forceful, loud and irritating ones. How can I focus in my work when I am feeling like this, I thought.

So, I decided to be absent from work and headed in an ENT (Ears, Nose & Throat) clinic. Thank God the ENT doctor was there. After consultation, he prescribe some medicines for my rhinitis 1) A 10ml Azer (Azelastine HCl)nasal spay that costs 645 pesos and 2) six 10 mg tablets of Alnix (Cetirizine Dihydrochloride)which costs 24 pesos each.

Oh geez, these medicines are really expensive, I said to myself. But, it's for my own benefit anyway. This is the reason why I am writing this blog. My goal is to articulate my worries. There's nothing I can do with this allergy. No way of stopping it.

Find out why.

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I was browsing EzineArticles.com and I found this article about overcoming allergic rhinitis and it's written by Arnold Cafe. I'll post the entire article below.

Persons afflicted with certain hypersensitivity reaction due to changing weather, air pollution, pet's fur and to a particular allergen are suffering from Allergic Rhinitis. It is an inflammation of the membranes of the nose, it is characterized by sneezing, nasal itching, congestion and rhinorrhea or "runny nose". Tearing and redness of the eyes, feeling of fullness in the ears, headache and drowsiness are also common. Physically, patients are noted to have dark circles around their eyes due to nasal congestion and dilatation of the nasal vessels. Nasal discharge is thin and watery, opposite to the thick and purulent discharge of sinusitis. Allergic Rhinitis is different from the common colds since the former is caused by an allergen while the latter is caused by a virus.



In children, boys are more prone than girls but it is noted to prevail equally during adulthood to both genders. The presence of certain allergens in the environment can trigger the occurrence of Allergic Rhinitis and being identified for the following:

a) Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis - This is caused by seasonal specific pollen and outdoor molds which are very difficult to avoid since they are airborne.

b) Perennial Allergic Rhinitis - This is caused by allergens that are present all year round. House dust mites, pets, cockroaches and rodents are the causes of this type.

c) Sporadic or Intermittent Allergic Rhinitis - Characterized by brief encounters of the disease which is caused by allergen to which the patient is not usually exposed to. Say, a person who is not used to have pets and may eventually experience sneezing, tearing once he comes near to it.

d) Occupational Allergic Rhinitis is seen in patients who are exposed to allergen in the workplace irregardless of this type is seasonal, perennial or sporadic depending on the specific allergen that triggers the attack, as long as it occurs to patient's workplace.

One has to undergo diagnostic tests to confirm if the patient is indeed suffering from allergic rhinitis. The most widely used is allergy skin testing. This is done by introducing a drop of the extract of the suspected allergen into the epidermis of the patient's skin. Sensitivity to the allergen is then determined by measuring the size of the wheal and flare produced. Nasal smear may also recommended and is done by getting samples of nasal secretions using a special probe. The sample is then examined under a microscopic for presence of a blood component called eosinophils which are commonly observed in allergy patients.

Medications called antihistamines are widely available in the market and prove to be helpful in alleviating the discomforts associated with the disease. However, doctors advise patients who are on antihistamines to refrain from performing activities which may pose danger to their lives, since there is a possibility that the adverse reaction will be experienced. Nasal steroid sprays also prove to be effective in alleviating symptoms associated with Allergic Rhinitis. Decongestants are prescribed to relieve nasal congestion and fullness of the ear. They are more commonly used in combination with antihistamines.



Immunotherapy or desensitization is a treatment prescribed to make the patient get used to the particular allergen that triggers his attacks. Success rate is high but can be observed only after 6-12 months. Moreover, severe allergic reactions are possible since the specific allergic stimuli are regularly re-introduced to the patient's system. Thus, this made of treatment is recommended to those with severe disease, after weighing the benefits and the risks.
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I found another well-written article by Janice Kumar. If you want to read it, click here

Conclusion:

Reading the articles and watching informative videos in youtube about rhinitis can be therapeutic. Rhinitis is a part of me now and can never be cured. No matter what, I'll stay as a gentleman with a weak immune system and a sensitive nose.

That sucks!

The Power of Control in Writing

What's the use of control in writing?

This is probably the biggest mistake some writers, myself included, are having when they write. They have no control.

To be honest, when you lack control in writing, you get lost- don't know what to say and don't know the reasons why you need to say it. For this reason, you need to control your writing approach. Don't just write whatever is in your mind but write what you think is right.

If you control what is in your mind, you can think of what should be the next sentence you should be writing about. When you're doing this, it's like you're making an outline.

You know, writing is like a tennis game. You need to hit the ball swiftly in order to volley it. The harder you hit the ball, the stronger the intensity and if you are consistently hitting it hard, the bigger chances of bringing home the bacon, right?

That's the world of writing, you need to hit every word, every sentence, every paragraph you need to write. You need to know where are you going to. You need to decide when to turn left, go to the right or make a detour. Sounds hard? I know it's hard but no matter what you say, writing is really difficult even to those who do it all the time.

I'm not a journalist and I might not a great writer like John Grisham. I'm a graduate of psychology but I love writing. Writing is my life. It's the only way to wash out the frustrations and sorrows buried inside me. In fact, learning how to write is also like analyzing the deep walls of human behavior. When I was hired as a content writer in an outsourcing company, I realize one important lesson and this is not a lesson I can just do but a lesson I must do, that is- in writing, you must learn how to properly articulate the what, why, when, where, who, where and how of your content.

The writing approach should not drag your readers into the peak of confusion but make sure you are giving them the support they need. If you think you can't relate to the subject matter but you are forced to write something about it then expect that you are totally screwed.

Honestly, in cases like this, I also don't know what what to do. However, what I did is I read three to four articles related to the subject matter, try to make an outline and forced myself how I can put myself inside it. After writing the content, I edit, edit and edit it. If the output is still not perfect then what I can do? Nothing is perfect in this world, hehe.

But seriously, that's the use of control in writing. Once you really figure out how you can control your ideas for your piece, expect something nice in return.

You need to constantly remember that in writing, you need to think what strategy to use, control what's inside your mind and keep rolling the ball.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Are you Attracted to Gemini?


After reading an article in Ezine entitled "If Your Considering Making Love to a Gemini Woman" by Jared Wadel, I have realized that gemini people tends to be attractive, simple but very changeable.

"Love and sex belong together in the eyes of a Gemini."

Oh geez, this is a shocking statement about Gemini women. I don't know if it's true but as I see it, it can be true. Gemini women are fun to be with and if they are attracted to you, they will say it. But beware: They are easily bored because they don't want to stick in one subject area. Believe me, it's true. I have a gemini friend and she's acting that way.


In fact, "Gemini's fondness for ridicule can annoy regal Leo, though, and Leo will probably demand more adoration than Gemini is willing to give. Socially, each tries to upstage the other, but they have a lot of fun together doing it."

I am a Leo and talking with my gemini friend seems complicated. You know, there are several moment of ups and downs existing between us but we are still friends and will surely remain as friends till we grow old.

"Gemini men like mirrors, I am sorry to divulge in it but it's true. They do take time on their appearance and he will take time standing their making sure that he looks good!"

My best friend is a Gemini, too. This is a different person from that Gemini female friend I'm referring to above. Now, I know why he's behaving that way. If Gemini men want mirrors, it reveals that they want to seek for reassurance.

Before I wrap up this article, let me say that Gemini is a unique. I want them at my side and I was lucky to have them as my friends.

Peace and love, Geminis!

Monday, August 4, 2008

The Verifiable Truth Behind Love

For the past few days, I've been busy posting articles on how to gain weight and I'm aware that some of my readers can't relate to it. For this reason, I've decided to post another entry this time and I want everyone can relate to it.

How about if we talk about love?

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What is love? How will you know if you are falling in love with someone? Are there any signs and symptoms of falling in love? Why do we fall in love?

There's no need for you to doubt that love seems complicated. It's hard to understand and you can't directly explain the mysteries behind it.

Many people believe you should not look for love but let love find you. Some says love is about time. Once the right time comes, love will just be right there like a thief in the night.

In that case, whether you're a poet, a shrink, a teacher, a computer programmer or whoever you are, you can say something fruitful about love. I know it's cheesy but it's probably the most cheesiest thing here on earth everyone wants to have.

Last night, I was reading this July 1980 edition of Reader's Digest and I found this interesting article about pathology of love written by Stanley L. Englebardt.

"Falling in love resembles what social scientists call imprinting." This statement is according to John Money. He is a professor of medical psychology at John Hopkins Medical School. To him, everyone has this innate element of love buried inside our soul. ".... There already exist within each of us certain standards that reflect our family life, background and, in some cases, ethnic or racial heritage. "

That means, "when you encounter a particular type of perceptual stimulus- someone who fits these preconceive notions of what you need in a wife or husband- there's a good chance you'll fall in love."

In Money's book entitled Love and Love Sickness: The Science of Sex, Gender Difference and Pair Bonding, he wrote "Falling in love is the experience of establishing a pair bond."

From what I understand, Money is trying to tell us that once you fall in love, the experience can be dramatic. Love is a process, you can either experience it unexpectedly (love at first sight) or the whole process is simply slow and gradual.

Money believed that if you are falling in love, "you are not falling in love with a person per se but with an idealized, subjective image that often diverges from the impression the loved ones makes on other people."

This is the reason why you tagged love as blind. Love can be blind but when it is excessive, it can also lead to frustration, hate and violence.

"Under the pressure of inevitable disillusionment, a pair-bond that results from blind love is bound to weaken..." Money commented.

Love has psychological and physiological components and in order to fight the weaknessess enveloping it, you need to understand that the top-secret to a successful relationship is complimentary pair-bonding.

"It's irrelevant whether the partners are replicas or polar opposites in temperament, interests, achievements or whatever, what counts is that they fulfill each other's projected image."

In fact, romantic love is at its peak during the two to three years of relationship that's why; each one of us must learn how to adjust the level of our expectations as the relationship blooms further.

Expectations can ruin relationship and adds up to your frustrations. The higher the level of your expectations are, the bigger chances of having depression.

(End of Part 1)

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Protein Shakes For You!


Drinking protein shakes is one way of gaining weight. As a hardgainer, you need to increase your protein intake to boost up your energy levels, especially after working out. All you need is protein powder, ice cubes and the ripe fruit of your choice.

Then just mix these all ingredients in your blender and you're done. This is just the delicious way to get healthy and buff.



Before I say peace out, just a quick reminder that you need to drink your protein shake everyday.

How Dedicated Are You To Gain Weight?

Read this article I've copy and paste from Vince DelMonte site. If you are an ectomorph, it's now time to start a brand new version of you and obtain that muscular body you deserve.

Before reading, let Vince DelMonte explain to you what it really takes to gain weight. Watch the video...


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1. Double It Up

One of the most practical steps you can take is to double whatever you are currently eating in the kitchen right now. If you are eating one chicken breast per meal, then cook up two. If you are only eating two slices of bread, then make it four. If you are eating one handful of nuts, then make it two. If you are using only two scoops of protein powder, then make it four.

Most likely you are only a few dozen meals short of filling out your underdeveloped body parts and attracting the attention of that sexy girl at your gym. I assume you are already in the kitchen and have the food out. So would you agree, you really have no good excuse not to shovel down a greater percentage of calories by doubling it up?


2. Live Your Life Around Food

Sure, you know that you must eat every 2-3 hours, but how well do you execute? Set your clock on a countdown timer to go off every 2 and ½ hours so that you reinforce the habit of eating literally not a second late for each meal! Don't turn off the damn beeper until you start chowing down.

Ensure you are eating your first meal within 15-30 minutes of waking up - absolutely no later. This first meal of the day should always consist of REAL food to flood your body with quality nutrients. I question anybody’s commitment to gaining weight if they are too lazy to wake up 15 minutes earlier to eat a real meal.

Lastly, don’t be surprised if you are not gaining weight if you do not find yourself spending more time preparing food, more time eating food and more time cleaning your kitchen. You should notice you are spending more time in the grocery store and you should also notice a larger grocery bill each week!


3. Use BIG Eating Equipment

If you want to bulk, then you have to eat like Hulk. Do you think Hulk eats out of a small plate, or a small bowel, or a small cup? If you are aiming to get big and huge, you are going to require large amounts of food, most likely close to double of what you are currently eating.

So get BIG eating equipment! Get a BIG cup, get a BIG bowel, and get a BIG plate. Surround yourself with BIG. Most of the time hard gainers are nothing more than “under eaters.” If you struggle to complete a meal, then a bigger serving on a bigger plate will look small!


4. Never Train Hungry

How many times have you woken up, whipped up a protein shake and than headed off to the gym? Or maybe you had a long afternoon and missed a few meals and then attempted a weight training workout after work?

I thought this was common sense to avoid, until a few of my skinny clients confessed that they were showing up for their workouts having only eaten a piece of fruit and some crackers within the entire day!

After dropping the 45-pound plate on my foot out of shock, they reassured me: they were not hungry. I sometimes screamed back, “Yeah, that’s because your metabolism is in starvation mode and shut right down, you skinny pencil neck!”

I understand that training in the morning is the only time for some, however, I recommend to aim for a minimum of at least three solid meals in your system prior to training. Or eat the biggest meal of your day immediately after your AM workout. Would you take your car out on a long trip with a half empty fuel tank? Not unless you wanted the car to die and you push it the rest of the way. So why would you take your body through a grueling training session on an empty stomach?


5. Eat Nutrient Dense Foods

Focus on caloric-rich foods that are loaded with nutrients. Avoid foods with empty calories, which means there is little or no nutrient value in the calories you are eating. Why would you consume a 500-calorie plus meal that is loaded with fat and sugar which does nothing but make you feel sluggish and soft? Instead, eat a high caloric meal loaded with slow releasing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Here are some of the best choices:

Carbohydrates – Oatmeal, rice, breads, yams beans, potatoes, fruits and veggies.

Proteins – Steak, chicken, lean beef, cottage cheese, whole milk, eggs and salmon.

Fats – Olive oil, flax oil, avocados, nuts and peanut butter.

Extras (high calorie cheat food) – Ice cream, raisins, dried fruit and trail mix.


6. Drink A Carb And Protein Drink While You Workout

How hard is to sip on a calorie-rich drink during your weight training sessions? Simply mix up a 2:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein with one liter of water and you instantly have a few extra hundred calories per day. Now have an extra workout drink before your workout and extra workout drink after your workout and that's easily an extra one pound per week. Only use this technique if you are weight training at a very high intensity.


7. Live the motto, “Never Stop Eating”

Did I hear you say, “But I'll throw up if I eat all day?” Maybe... Is it necessary? Of course not. But this is a part of pushing your body’s threshold. Don't worry, you will get used to it and your body will require more food as you gain more muscle on your body and your metabolism increases. Just think that if you are not eating, then you are not growing, and if you are not growing then you are staying the same. Is that what you want?


Conclusion

There you have it and as I promised, learning how to gain weight fast is quite simple. Executing is a whole different story. It will really come down to how truly committed you are to defeating your skinny genetics and gaining the muscular body you deserve!

Here is my promise to you. You have the ability to gain at least another ten pounds of solid weight in the next four weeks by simply applying the advice above. If you are truly committed to your goals of gaining muscle weight and no longer being known as underweight, then I believe you will rise to the challenge and take action! Are you with me?

Source: .vincedelmontefitness.com

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Gaining Weight Boosts Your Self-esteem

Do you feel good about yourself? Do you feel confident? Do you feel shy? Are you tired of being a skinny? Do you want to gain weight?

Psychologically speaking, gaining weight can help boost your self-esteem. If you are skinny and don't feel good about yourself all the time then that's an indication of having a poor self-esteem.

What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is respect you give to yourself. It refers to your feelings and opinion on how you will evaluate yourself. The main problem here is, what's the relationship of having a healthy self-esteem to gaining weight?

Studies show that having a good physique can elevate the level of your self-esteem. Forget those old days that say the real beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This may be true but in many cases, looking good is essential to make you feel good, right?

As a matter of fact, there are many reasons why you are having a poor self-esteem. If you regularly feel shy when talking to people as if they are gonna laugh at you because you are skinny, evidently, your self-esteem is shattered.

I know how it feels and being skinny sucks! You don't feel confident. You always feel paranoid. You regularly think you are in the center of gossips. There are also times that you just want to kick the mirror in front of you.

But, the world doesn't stop there. As an ectomorph, you can always have a choice to be happy. Truth is, one effective way to make yourself happy is to increase the level of your self-esteem.

Increasing your self-esteem is a lifetime process like gaining weight. When you gain weight, there's a huge possibility that you will feel confident about yourself. And, once you feel confident about yourself, embarrassment melts away!

The Solution

If you think you have a poor self-esteem, you need to start to gain weight and be one of the hottest guy or gal in town. You need to find a mentor who will teach you the exact information on how you can gain weight.

Find yourself a mentor who you think can tell you the exact information on how you can gain weight without the use of drugs, pills or anything that can only exacerbate the situation.

These days, you can find hundreds of fitness mentors online but make sure you select the very best among the rest. Once you find one then begin rolling the ball. It's really hard at first but no matter what, always remind yourself that you alone will earn the good benefits in the long run.

These good benefits include having a healthy self-esteem and having an attractive physique. When you have these two assets, what's more in the world can you ask for?

Gaining weight and having a good self-esteem must go hand-in-hand. No matter how skinny you are, you deserve to look good and feel good inside and out.

Friday, August 1, 2008

The Magic Behind Consistency

Consistency- this is the number one top-secret tip to gain weight. As an ectomorph, there's a lot of issues you need to overcome. In some ways, you tend to feel you're like an idiot who is simply existing in a world of uncertainty. Your low self-esteem is killing you. You want to become the most fascinating person next door but how would you do it?

Like I said, it's about consistency. What this "consistency" really means? That's simple. It simply means you need to eat the right food, live healthy and exercise regularly.

These days, you can find several "how-to" articles in the net teaching you how to gain weight. The truth behind these "how-to" articles is not all them are true. Truth is, some of them are only trying to dupe you. These articles are written just to give you the short-term satisfaction and after that, whoa! you're screwed.

Be glad that there's Vince DelMonte, the fitness online mentor, who will give the exact and fearless information on how you can just gain weight. To him, gaining weight is a lifetime decision. If you really want it, you need to do it- no excuses! In fact, gaining weight means you need to lift weights and start living a healthy life. Forget the booze and ignore the cigarette.

I know it's hard and exhausting but it's for your own benefit anyway.

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So, you want to gain weight and start building muscles? Watch this 3:08 video and Vince DelMonte teach you the six simple steps on how you can build muscles.




Vince DelMonte:
"It has nothing to do with changing the program you are currently using. Just apply these tips to whatever workout you have next on your schedule."

Exercise and Disability

In this video, "People living with disability talk about how they exercise and how it improves their lives."


Exercise and disability: Physical activity is within your reach

Perhaps you have a physical disability. Or maybe you have a chronic condition that limits your mobility. You're adjusting to your disability - but your doctor recommends you get more active.

Take the recommendation to heart. Exercise can help you manage your weight, maintain your independence and improve your quality of life. Here's help exploring your options.

Start slowly
Check with your doctor before you begin to exercise. Once you have your doctor's OK, start slowly. Begin with gentle activities, such as stretching. Gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts. Stop exercising if you experience pain, discomfort, nausea, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Get creative

Walking through your neighborhood or wheeling yourself in your wheelchair counts as exercise. But you have plenty of other options, too. For many activities, minor modifications - such as slowing down the pace, using modified equipment or playing in a wheelchair - are all that's needed.

Strength training
Strength training can make it easier to complete everyday tasks, which can help you maintain your independence. If you have trouble using your hands, consider wrist cuffs that secure free weights to your hands. If you have involuntary movements of your arms or legs, you may want to use strength training machines for enhanced stability when you exercise. Many cable-based strength training machines can be used from a wheelchair.

You can even build muscle strength without special equipment. Soup cans, water bottles, resistance tubing or your own body weight may work just as well as free weights or strength training machines.

If you have a condition that directly affects your muscles - such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis - your doctor may recommend specific strength training exercises or modifications to your technique.

On the road
Handcycles have three wheels. You pedal and steer the handcycle using only your upper body.

If you can't ride a traditional bicycle because of paralysis or amputation, try handcycling. Handcycles have three wheels. You pedal and steer the handcycle using only your upper body. With a recumbent handcycle, your torso reclines and your legs are out in front of you. With an upright handcycle, you sit just as you would in a wheelchair. As with any type of bicycle, remember to wear a helmet when you ride.

In the water
A special seat can be mounted to a wakeboard, allowing you to ride behind a boat. Side skis help keep you upright on the water.

If you need to go easy on your joints, try swimming or water aerobics. If you're feeling adventurous, check into a custom-made canoe or raft seat with padding to protect the buttocks and legs. Riding behind a boat on a specially designed wakeboard may be another option. You sit on a special seat mounted to the wakeboard, and side skis help keep you upright on the water.

On the slopes
Many alternative skis are available, including three tracking, monoskis, biskis and sit skis.

If you prefer winter sports, consider skiing. If you have one leg, downhill skiing may be possible with three tracking - one downhill ski and two outriggers for balance. The outriggers are adapted forearm crutches with ski tips mounted on the bottom.

A monoski or biski may work, too. A monoski has a molded seat attached to a single ski. You use hand-held outriggers for balance. A biski consists of a rigid seat mounted to two shorter, wider skis. Outriggers add even greater stability.
Another option may be a cross-country sit ski. Sitting in a molded seat, you push yourself along the trail using ski poles with tips that dig into the snow.

Other sports
Beyond the basics, keep an open mind. Maybe you could play volleyball with a larger, softer ball or in a seated position with a lower net. Tennis can be played from a wheelchair. Golf, too. Try a modified club, gripping aid or teeing device. You can use larger balls or shorten the distance to the hole as well. Yoga poses can be adjusted to meet your needs. You might find local wheelchair teams for soccer, basketball, floor hockey, bowling or other sports.

Keep it fun
Whether you go it alone or team up with friends, loved ones or others with disabilities, enjoy yourself when you exercise. The reward? Better health and an improved quality of life.

Source: Revolution Health