Curiousity ultimately got me viewing all (with the Brazilian, the Ponds model, and Katrina). Too much porn you say? Well, there’s hardly anything to see in them.

With the first two, it’s clearly without the knowledge and consent of the women (it’s a hidden cam). With Katrina Halili, it’s a series of three vids with the first two reportedly pre-sex (and I assume, with her permission). I don’t know about the third and actual sex video if she knew about it. She must have.

Things such as these are private. Hayden may have meant to keep it private. If we are to point fingers, the culprit is him/them who stole them and first downloaded online. I heard it’s an ex-best friend whose GF has been wronged by Hayden. True, the guy is a jerk and the girls were the casualties here. But to an extent Hayden is a victim, too.

It’s about time we have more stringent and comprehensive measures to control the spread of these online and elsewhere. Which can actually be tricky, as it could encroach on liberties. As I’m clueless about existing Philippine IT law, I thought Google could be of help. Hardly. I found two interesting sites though.

One describes these and similar issues, and prosecution in Philippine context. the other took me back to the problem over boybastos.com

Quite interesting that Katrina’s woe has gotten the ire of Senator Bong Revilla, Jr. Yes, him. Superman. What do you say, Lani?

Yes, you. Fellow blogger Jonas earlier gave the heads-up about the AXE Mr. Choco Lovah Photo Contest, and you might be interested. Of course you know AXE… you were at least once enticed into trying out any of its deo-colognes, thanks to its witty ads on media. I used to wear one in college (my favorite then was named Oriental (?), which has long been out of the market. For what reason I don’t know because back then, I thought it was part of my mojo).

This time around, they’ve got the new AXE Dark Temptation which promises to be the next best thing to feeding girls chocolate. Here’s how it’s website describes the new scent:

“An addictive fragrance combining the sensually provocative oriental back notes of dark patchouli, vanilla and amber with a rich, luscious gourmand center. The chocolate therapy heart is a melt in the mouth sensation, providing irresistible to ALL the girls.”

It’s a welcome diversion from the usual, in my opinion. I’m used to designer scents, thanks to a generous OFW bro. But the choco lover in me thought I must not let this one pass. And try I did. It’s not bad at all, in fact I love it. I have yet to know what people think of it though. I can’t keep smelling myself, can I?

But I digress. This blog is supposed to be about the photo contest, which is open to all, whether professional, hobbyist, or just plain camera phone trigger happy. One needs to capture and show through the pic/s how as irresistible as chocolate he is with AXE Dark Temptation. I’ve been to the site, and so far those who have posted their pics have totally missed the mark. So YOU have better chances of winning! The loot? A trip for two to VEGAS, baby…

Mr. Choco Lovah Photo Contest site

I am not in the mood for cam-wh*ring just yet, but who knows….

“…For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him..” – from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV)

I was having dinner when an acquaintance from uni saw me and asked to join. It was awkward not to engage in a bit of chat, and so we talked about anything we can muster… the weather, the ongoing intramural games, some insider gossip (he works at admin), and then his studies. I was taken aback when he told he is barely passing in some courses he is taking, not because he has too much to handle. He says he just isn’t interested in most, and a passing grade will be enough.

I am not totally guilt-free, but considering how the better things in life are so hard to attain these days, a chance at these should prod us to excel. In doing so, we are at a better position to give what people need. Otherwise, we are useless. To be mediocre is to put to waste what has been given in grace.

I wish I can tell my students this, without sounding too preachy. Which I was to the poor guy I am referring to.

I joined the rush for Christmas shopping this afternoon, mainly for gifts to give the inaanaks (godchildren) and the kids back home. It used to be such a simple task. I have always opted to buy toys as these are what kids get excited about. Giving them something more utilitarian will only please the moms.

Toys don’t have to be expensive. Instead I choose cheaper ones so each kid gets several. Mas masaya. And it spares me from heartache should I find that it didn’t take much time to dismember an expensive one.

Now that they have grown a bit, I find it harder to look for something more suitable. I should have planned ahead. I don’t even have a clue what kids their age like nowadays. It seems only last year when I gave a couple of them dolls, and now when I asked the sales clerk for suggestions, she referred me to beauty and makeup. So, to at least three stores I went, yet still unfinished.

While thinking about these that transpired earlier, I was reminded of this song which a niece sang in her Christmas program. I can only recall a bit of the lyrics, and googling didn’t do much help in finding its origins. Just the complete lyrics. I find it most apt for this season of giving.

lyrics copied from choose-joy.blogspot.com

I had the chance to drop by and preview the exhibition for Friday’s contest this afternoon. This year’s theme is trees made of recycled materials, and identifiable with the colleges they represent. If judging will go by the guidelines, only few can actually qualify for a prize, out of the eleven entries, IMHO. People seem to confuse “recycled” with “native”, or indigenous. You know… materials from palm, corn, etc. So most of the trees are either made of these, if not lacking in visual appeal. I think the competition is only between these two: from the College of Dentistry, empty anesthetic cartridges refilled with colored water and made into florets using tie wire, then tied to a conical wire frame. My pictures don’t give justice to its optical effect. They also went OA over the recycled theme, using only empty dental alginate bags in lieu of tinfoil to cover the frame beneath, and the legs. The second one comes from the College of Computer Studies obviously. In pictures, it looks more like a robot than for it to be seriously considered a tree. But its whimsy is in the mechanical rotating “star” on top.

*crossing my fingers for my college’s entry*
click on the pictures for better views.

Having less than a month to prepare for a city-wide charity event such as the Alay Lakad should have given me enough fodder to blog about. But to whimper and whine was not my cup of tea, at least for the time being — as working with the execom (the real one, which did most if not all of the leg work as well as decisions, and not them pseudo committee members whom I only recognize by name and whose only role in the credits list at the back of the program is to make it look “important”) has been a breeze. Besides, it left me very little time for my blogs.

In fact, working on it was a more than welcome diversion from the daily humdrum. Perhaps we were one in treating it as an exercise in event organizing, fund raising and the art of charming the powers-that-be (never mind the prospect of getting face to face with some you actually loathe being associated with). And the almost daily, short trips to the City Social Welfare and Development office were rewarded with good “biko” and light gossip. The ladies there knew what they were doing. It, too, got us JCI Misamis important linkages, and I can safely say it re-introduced our group back into the city’s esteemed socio-civic circle.

So all systems should have gone smoothly, with only very minor glitches, such as the coffee for the VIPs not being served on time because somebody forgot the water dispenser, and having to deal with the collective morning breath (it started after a comfortable delay from the planned 4:30 AM kickoff). Up until the mechanics for the Miss Alay Lakad search was explained.

Traditionally, the declared winner comes from the delegation with the biggest collection of money from sold tickets. With the system, the outcome has become as predictable as the morning sun, through the years. Which we, the hosting organization, found as rather unfair, if not boring. No wonder, participation to the event has been dwindling over time. The smaller computer colleges, who are just as generous,  do not stand a chance with the compulsory participation in the bigger universities. And we had wanted to extend participation from groups other than schools. So the think tanks came up with a solution: disregard the tickets and get the muses to collect cash from within the venue. She who gathers the most amount wins.

All seemed to agree, except for one — for the simple reason that they were not informed of the change. Of which we intentionally did (or didn’t do?) because telling them earlier could (and will ) drastically affect contributions coming from the tickets. So explain we did, albeit awkwardly, as the guy, who represents an educational institution we have our highest respects on, was unnecessarily fuming mad from indignity and disenchantment.

We yielded, changing once again the rules: add the collection to the ticket sales and we have a winner. What made us change our minds? He actually, to our face, and within hearing range of not just a few students, threatened NOT to remit their delegation’s ticket collection. The gall! It was a bluff, obviously, but in doing so, he had impressed on us that he, or his institution (which I hope not), fails to grasp the very essence of the entire affair: CHARITY. Wholehearted, openhanded aid, without having to expect much in return, the honor of having the Miss Alay Lakad crown for the nth time included.

They won, anyway. And win they did in the other side events too. Am I proud? I should be, as without my JCI t-shirt, I categorically belong with them. But given this, I am not. This is my personal oipinion of course, and not of the JCI Misamis.

All in all, it was a success. According to the CSWD, we might surpass the recorded highest collection. More money means more projects for the city’s out-of-school youth, or more beneficiaries of the skills trainings on offer.

A disappointing weekend, this.

I went Friday night with the gang to the Area Conference of the JCI Philippines, just to show up and greet and not intending to participate, as we have our eyes (and budget) set on the upcoming National Convention in Dakak instead. I ended up shelling out the only cash I had brought with me to register, if only to be able to take part in the plenaries the following day. While on our way there, somebody started giving ideas about our chapter hosting next year’s Area Con, and by the time we got to Pagadian City, we were all so psyched up about actually bidding for it.

Our LOM/chapter president happens to be a municipality mayor, and had other things set on his calendar. Being next in line, I went back. Three hour-long commute on a very rainy day. With nothing else for support but text messages from the rest of them, telling me they’re 100% for it. From the rest of JCI Misamis, that is.

While I was prepping to present, the other party saw to it that they’ve conveyed to me that losing was not an option to them. Expressly, and non-verbally. They even have some of the higher-ups allying with them. It was all too obvious. They kept telling there is a non-refundable bidding fee. And other such stuff they may have thought which might deter.

And I was alone.

Sensing we stand to lose both (the bid and the fee), we had to concede.

This was fodder tonight while at our president’s birthday party. Other than the Alay Lakad we are sponsoring in two week’s time, and the lovely cake we brought him.

… actually, just having fun jazzing up my personal pictures with photofunia. I got the idea from cercus at Multiply.

Dingdong Dantes, eat your heart out!

swerti!

cool enough to be in street art

meow...

"Tom Brady is like, so 5 minutes ago!" - Gisele Bündchen

frontpage!

...and you thought she was SO into Beckham?

I discovered a strange behavior of the family pet last night. Earlier, I have observed that she prefers to sleep on top of a couple of unused yarn dusters, instead of the soft and warm nook we wanted him to settle in. So I thought maybe it’s just because it looks and feels like fur.

But then totally unexpected, I saw her transfer from the cozy cloth I laid her on and on to the dusters where she immediately started suckling and kneading them like she was feeding on her mother’s milk! Animal instinct right before my eyes. She was just a few days old presumably when she was abandoned, and I thought by now at more than four months, she’d have forgotten about suckling. And she was purring too! Loudly.

I just had to google, and here’s what felinexpress has to say:

The first instinctive action that kittens perform is suckling the queen’s nipples to obtain food. Guided by her purr, hours old, sightless kittens make their way up to the milk bar to find their place. Once they are suckling on the nipple, their tiny paws come up and begin kneading the queen’s belly. They answer her purr with one of their own, in hours old kittens, this purr is underdeveloped and not able to be heard by humans.

The kneading releases the kitten’s own scent “marking” the nipple for later. This marking is why you see a lot of jostling and wrestling within a litter of kittens while nursing. Taking one kitten off a nipple will result in an indignant meow, and if the kitten is placed on another nipple where his scent cannot be found, he quickly finds his way back to “his” chosen nipple.

Kittens removed from the queen earlier than before they are weaned (no earlier than 6 weeks old) will revert back to instinctively needing to suckle. Bottle feeding doesn’t compare to replacing a soft nipple on a milk-filled belly. Kittens will begin to find other objects to suckle; a blanket, a bathrobe, a sock, a stuffed animal or even your arm.

… Suckling is a way for kittens and cats to obtain comfort. Similar to the way a human baby reacts to a pacifier the kitten will react much the same way to the substitute object.  Most kittens will outgrow the behavior, reverting back to suckling when they are scared or ill. The action calms them down and they will purr as they suckle and knead.

Could our Ming-ming be unhappy? I picked her up to snuggle between my trunk and an arm, and to pat and stroke… but it didn’t take long before she started biting. She seems to associate my presence with play, which always involves biting and clawing. So, back to her favorite dusters she went.