Yesterday, I was moved (in a sad, bad way) by three different people who regarded homosexuals/ gays as people who are..lesser than human beings. Here are the different encounters:
Encounter # 1:
I was waiting for someone who purchased the gift items I sell online. My customer was a lesbian. She was running really late and someone who wanted to have dinner with me was getting pissed because I was also running late. And then my friend said, “Niabot na ang tomboy? Buang na tomboy dugayan kaayo, madamay ta.” (Did the dyke already arrive? Crazy dyke, she’s delaying us.)
Encounter # 2:
I haven’t heard from Carlisse* for a long time and when I ran into Bryan*, I asked how Carlisse was doing. (They’re childhood friends.)
Me: How is Carlisse? Is she using a new number? She didn’t reply to the Christmas greetings I SMS-ed her.
Bryan: Oh, nothing’s new about her. She’s still the same old tibo (lesbian) that she is.
And then Bryan snickered.
Encounter # 3:
We’ll this wasn’t an exchange really. I just heard a song from Katy Perry, a new artist, someone who’s tagged by most music reviewers as “sassy and cool”. The lines of the song are:
You don’t eat meat
And drive electrical cars
You’re so indie rock it’s almost an art
You need SPF 45 just to stay alive
You’re so gay and you don’t even like boys
For every encounter, I got startled. Disturbed, even. If you examine all the encounters, you will notice that the word “gay” or any other term that pertains to a homosexual was used a derogatory term. Well, it may not be intended, really, to malign a person or a subculture but it was derogatory. In fact, if you review the way the gay words were used, add a little angst to the tone and you’ve got something that stands at the same stage with “piece of sh*t” or “freak of nature”.
Something that’s casually derogatory is, for me, the worst form of discrimination. It is the kind of oppression that seeps through one’s bones and is being imprinted at the discriminator’s soul. Sure, it may not hurl hurting words in loud voices and finger-pointing but it hurts the minority all the more. The thing with this form of subtlety is that it defines the heart of discrimination—privilege presumption. Discrimination doesn’t really have a purpose; most people discriminate without intending to, without thought, without reason. Discrimination happens because people think they can get away with it. People think it’s a privilege and they know that it’s “acceptable”. And this mindset is dangerous, when it snowballs, because it normalizes discrimination.
It’s just like jaywalking in Davao. People don’t just wake up and tell themselves “Oh I feel like I want to jaywalk today!” People jaywalk because they know they can do it and subsequently get away with it.
See how far casual could go? And I thought “casual” was a fashion theme. Bah. Tell me what you think.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Bitches Celebrate Christmases Too
Dear Varsity,
Have a meaningful Christmas.
After all, what's merry without meaning? =)
I'm very busy. As usual, my calendar is packed. Where do I buy extra hours for the day? Extra days in a week? Extra weeks in a month? Bah. Let's enjoy the break for all it's worth...or not.
♥
Have a meaningful Christmas.
After all, what's merry without meaning? =)
I'm very busy. As usual, my calendar is packed. Where do I buy extra hours for the day? Extra days in a week? Extra weeks in a month? Bah. Let's enjoy the break for all it's worth...or not.
♥
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Seriously, Singlehood Rocks!
Recently, the single bug bit me…hard. I’ve read a number of write-ups and blog entries which feature people who rant about their being single, how “time is running out” and how finding “The One” gets harder and harder each day.
I have a problem with this mindset. See, society (plus media) have always led us to believe that we are part of a “whole” and to be “whole” is to find one’s “significant other” (also commonly referred to as “the other half”). This assumes that we are born lacking something, and everything we do must be geared towards finding that something which we lack.
The thing is, one is born complete. We are not in a search for The One but we are The One. We are a pixel in this world and we have individual missions, passions and contributions. If you are in a romantic relationship now and still achieve the same fullness, Kudos.
One reason for the pressure in finding “The One” is how we understand the word “single”. Oftentimes, we connect the word single with being solitary, lonely and simply alone. In fact, the term “matandang dalaga” can be a valid societal insult because of its connotations (that perhaps, that person is so unlovable, unattractive or not rich enough). It’s hard but, we have to take a 180-degree turn. To be single or being in a relationship doesn’t really mean anything…unless you experience growth in it.
I remember Samantha Jones from Sex and the City throwing an I-don’t-have-a-baby shower and Carrie Bradshaw giving herself a pair of good-looking shoes because she is celebrating a marriage to herself. That she will cherish herself and take care of herself as much as she would to a lover. Sure, let’s do that.
So a Spouse Hunt is not really necessary.
However, this Spouse Hunt has poisoned a lot of youth’s minds today! Networking sites are getting bigger and bigger, dating columns have gotten longer, tips on how to “catch his eye, “snag the perfect guy” and “keep the fire burning” are constant bestsellers. Bah. Makes the Spouse Hunt a full time job! And what’s more annoying is that society also has dictated gender assignments. Woman should wait for the man to make his move, woman should keep the man in the relationship and understand when he cheats because “boys will be boys”. Etcetera, etcetera.
Let’s take a breather and step back from the poison of society’s impositions.
Truth is, after break-ups, people realize how much they’ve missed when they were in a relationship. Conversely, when they WERE in the relationship, they didn’t think they were missing a lot because they were having the best time of their lives. Singlehood brings you back to where you want to be, where you intended to be and what you have worked for all your life. Singlehood is insulated from the complications of hormonal floods, provides spaces for self-assessment and “catching up” with friends and family.
Dearest, rest your heart for a while and enjoy your life. Lover or no lover, you are The One. Tell me about you. Who’s in a hurry?
I have a problem with this mindset. See, society (plus media) have always led us to believe that we are part of a “whole” and to be “whole” is to find one’s “significant other” (also commonly referred to as “the other half”). This assumes that we are born lacking something, and everything we do must be geared towards finding that something which we lack.
The thing is, one is born complete. We are not in a search for The One but we are The One. We are a pixel in this world and we have individual missions, passions and contributions. If you are in a romantic relationship now and still achieve the same fullness, Kudos.
One reason for the pressure in finding “The One” is how we understand the word “single”. Oftentimes, we connect the word single with being solitary, lonely and simply alone. In fact, the term “matandang dalaga” can be a valid societal insult because of its connotations (that perhaps, that person is so unlovable, unattractive or not rich enough). It’s hard but, we have to take a 180-degree turn. To be single or being in a relationship doesn’t really mean anything…unless you experience growth in it.
I remember Samantha Jones from Sex and the City throwing an I-don’t-have-a-baby shower and Carrie Bradshaw giving herself a pair of good-looking shoes because she is celebrating a marriage to herself. That she will cherish herself and take care of herself as much as she would to a lover. Sure, let’s do that.
So a Spouse Hunt is not really necessary.
However, this Spouse Hunt has poisoned a lot of youth’s minds today! Networking sites are getting bigger and bigger, dating columns have gotten longer, tips on how to “catch his eye, “snag the perfect guy” and “keep the fire burning” are constant bestsellers. Bah. Makes the Spouse Hunt a full time job! And what’s more annoying is that society also has dictated gender assignments. Woman should wait for the man to make his move, woman should keep the man in the relationship and understand when he cheats because “boys will be boys”. Etcetera, etcetera.
Let’s take a breather and step back from the poison of society’s impositions.
Truth is, after break-ups, people realize how much they’ve missed when they were in a relationship. Conversely, when they WERE in the relationship, they didn’t think they were missing a lot because they were having the best time of their lives. Singlehood brings you back to where you want to be, where you intended to be and what you have worked for all your life. Singlehood is insulated from the complications of hormonal floods, provides spaces for self-assessment and “catching up” with friends and family.
Dearest, rest your heart for a while and enjoy your life. Lover or no lover, you are The One. Tell me about you. Who’s in a hurry?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Dear Varsity, (Dec. 4, 2008)
I started being acquainted with poetry again. And I found this very beautiful poem.
THIS WAS ONCE A LOVE POEM
by Jane Hirshfield
This was once a love poem, before its haunches thickened, its breath grew short, before it found itself sitting, perplexed and a little embarrassed, on the fender of a parked car, while many people passed by without turning their heads. It remembers itself dressing as if for a great engagement. It remembers choosing these shoes, this scarf or tie. Once, it drank beer for breakfast, drifted its feet in a river side by side with the feet of another. Once it pretended shyness, then grew truly shy, dropping its head so the hair would fall forward, so the eyes would not be seen. It spoke with passion of history, of art. It was lovely then, this poem. Under its chin, no fold of skin softened. Behind the knees, no pad of yellow fat. What it knew in the morning it still believed at nightfall. An unconjured confidence lifted its eyebrows, its cheeks. The longing has not diminished. Still it understands. It is time to consider a cat, the cultivation of African violets or flowering cactus. Yes, it decides: Many miniature cacti, in blue and red painted pots. When it finds itself disquieted by the pure and unfamiliar silence of its new life, it will touch them—one, then another— with a single finger outstretched like a tiny flame.
I managed to hide my tears for a while...but then I eventually gave in. Ta ta! Can't show up tomorrow with eyes which look like coinbank holes. haha. Good night! =)
♥
THIS WAS ONCE A LOVE POEM
by Jane Hirshfield
This was once a love poem, before its haunches thickened, its breath grew short, before it found itself sitting, perplexed and a little embarrassed, on the fender of a parked car, while many people passed by without turning their heads. It remembers itself dressing as if for a great engagement. It remembers choosing these shoes, this scarf or tie. Once, it drank beer for breakfast, drifted its feet in a river side by side with the feet of another. Once it pretended shyness, then grew truly shy, dropping its head so the hair would fall forward, so the eyes would not be seen. It spoke with passion of history, of art. It was lovely then, this poem. Under its chin, no fold of skin softened. Behind the knees, no pad of yellow fat. What it knew in the morning it still believed at nightfall. An unconjured confidence lifted its eyebrows, its cheeks. The longing has not diminished. Still it understands. It is time to consider a cat, the cultivation of African violets or flowering cactus. Yes, it decides: Many miniature cacti, in blue and red painted pots. When it finds itself disquieted by the pure and unfamiliar silence of its new life, it will touch them—one, then another— with a single finger outstretched like a tiny flame.
I managed to hide my tears for a while...but then I eventually gave in. Ta ta! Can't show up tomorrow with eyes which look like coinbank holes. haha. Good night! =)
♥
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Dear Varsity, (Dec. 2, 2008)
Today I just got my heart broken. It's for something that you might not understand. It's not the usual L-word. Bitches operate differently. But we still got hearts. Here, right in the middle of our chests.
Oh well. What a delightful way to start the Christmas season. (at least for me, it's still starting for me.) Where can I buy some cheer? I mean, beer?
Catch ya later.
♥
Oh well. What a delightful way to start the Christmas season. (at least for me, it's still starting for me.) Where can I buy some cheer? I mean, beer?
Catch ya later.
♥
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
In Defense of the Gamers
You probably have heard about Ragnarok, DotA, Generals or Flyff. One way or another, these things are being looked down upon by a lot of people because of the way it poisons the minds of students. Yeah, we hate gamers and we view them as no-good individuals because they are always locked to a keyboard and marveling in their own little (violent?) worlds.
Actually, gaming has a lot of benefits. In fact, it may even be a viable alternative to formal education! Just kidding. However, seriously, it can reap major benefits. Let’s start.
It’s Still a Game
Competition fuels gamers. Just like how dean’s -listers vie for the Valedictorian award and those dance sport varsity members. The goal is always to outwit the enemy, to destroy his laid-out plans and to come up with the best position in the game possible. There’s even bargaining of items and tactic reading! Dedicated gamers are equipped with the competitive spirit, something that’s not very encouraged as aggressively in schools. (Hey, that’s the reason why we have more employees than entrepreneurs. Shh.)
Skill is King
Simply put, skill is the most important asset in gaming. The rules of the game are learned, familiarized and most of all mastered. One can’t possibly let themselves invest time and efforts in the game if it doesn’t come with a ladderized goal. Basically, the stages get harder and harder and your enemy also gets better and better. So, one has to really keep up.
Moreover, the variety of games available also improves the skill of faster learning for the gamer. I remember how my gamer classmates in high school know more than ten different games in different natures and master at least 3 of those games. According to them, gaming improved the way they learn and master new things, and again, that’s probably something that our educational system should develop further.
Camaraderie Improvement
Most people who like spending time in the Internet are often regarded as people who may not have very good social skills because they’re hiding behind a monitor. In gaming, people (virtual or real) get to team up with each other and they work out a strategy. It still has the basics of a real-life team like accountability for the team mate and matching of skills.
Also, studies show that the people who “game-up” in the virtual world most likely end up real friends. They are the ones who see each other frequently in Internet Cafes. So after they play, they end up talking. Although they just talk about the game at the start, as the ball gets rolling, eventually they’ll become comfortable with each other. Remember that frequency in exposure brings normalcy, which brings ease.
I just think that gamers should not be perceived as “lazy” at all. Or dumb. I know a gamer who is a Mindanao Champion in debate. I know a lot of gamers who belong to their honors classes. Excess is bad, and that’s a known fact. However, it doesn’t only apply to gaming. If you like dancing or painting and if you spend a lot of time on those things and forget your studies then that’s just as bad.
So that’s it for gamers (and their parents). I mean, I think anyone would pick gaming over drugs any day, won’t he? You may email me your views through live_out_loud@ymail.com.
from www.mindanaotimes.com.ph written by Bitch Varsity coach
Actually, gaming has a lot of benefits. In fact, it may even be a viable alternative to formal education! Just kidding. However, seriously, it can reap major benefits. Let’s start.
It’s Still a Game
Competition fuels gamers. Just like how dean’s -listers vie for the Valedictorian award and those dance sport varsity members. The goal is always to outwit the enemy, to destroy his laid-out plans and to come up with the best position in the game possible. There’s even bargaining of items and tactic reading! Dedicated gamers are equipped with the competitive spirit, something that’s not very encouraged as aggressively in schools. (Hey, that’s the reason why we have more employees than entrepreneurs. Shh.)
Skill is King
Simply put, skill is the most important asset in gaming. The rules of the game are learned, familiarized and most of all mastered. One can’t possibly let themselves invest time and efforts in the game if it doesn’t come with a ladderized goal. Basically, the stages get harder and harder and your enemy also gets better and better. So, one has to really keep up.
Moreover, the variety of games available also improves the skill of faster learning for the gamer. I remember how my gamer classmates in high school know more than ten different games in different natures and master at least 3 of those games. According to them, gaming improved the way they learn and master new things, and again, that’s probably something that our educational system should develop further.
Camaraderie Improvement
Most people who like spending time in the Internet are often regarded as people who may not have very good social skills because they’re hiding behind a monitor. In gaming, people (virtual or real) get to team up with each other and they work out a strategy. It still has the basics of a real-life team like accountability for the team mate and matching of skills.
Also, studies show that the people who “game-up” in the virtual world most likely end up real friends. They are the ones who see each other frequently in Internet Cafes. So after they play, they end up talking. Although they just talk about the game at the start, as the ball gets rolling, eventually they’ll become comfortable with each other. Remember that frequency in exposure brings normalcy, which brings ease.
I just think that gamers should not be perceived as “lazy” at all. Or dumb. I know a gamer who is a Mindanao Champion in debate. I know a lot of gamers who belong to their honors classes. Excess is bad, and that’s a known fact. However, it doesn’t only apply to gaming. If you like dancing or painting and if you spend a lot of time on those things and forget your studies then that’s just as bad.
So that’s it for gamers (and their parents). I mean, I think anyone would pick gaming over drugs any day, won’t he? You may email me your views through live_out_loud@ymail.com.
from www.mindanaotimes.com.ph written by Bitch Varsity coach
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Dear Varsity, (Nov 10, 2008)
Today is Monday. As usual, it is very hectic. I had to choose between three different lunch offers. (Sucks to be perfect, ain't it?)
Anyway, I can't wait to get out of school, own a laptop, and earn endless kaching. The more I write, the more I realize that I should have taken college waaaaaay later. Oh well. At least I met a lot of cuties along the way, and learned about, erm, synthetic division(?)
My friends and I in the Young Writers Guild (under the umbrella of the Davao Writers Guild) will be organizing a poetry-reading event prolly this December at MTS. Just drop a line if you wanna come. =) Ta ta! Gotta get back to my to-do list!
♥
Anyway, I can't wait to get out of school, own a laptop, and earn endless kaching. The more I write, the more I realize that I should have taken college waaaaaay later. Oh well. At least I met a lot of cuties along the way, and learned about, erm, synthetic division(?)
My friends and I in the Young Writers Guild (under the umbrella of the Davao Writers Guild) will be organizing a poetry-reading event prolly this December at MTS. Just drop a line if you wanna come. =) Ta ta! Gotta get back to my to-do list!
♥
Friday, November 7, 2008
One Lucky Bitch!
Come to think of it, in this lifetime, I was able to experience/hear about (because they actually happend):
*The Philippine Centennial--which was uber fun. Suddenly the flag was cool. Haha.
*The Millenium--which was silly, because everyone thought it would be the end of the world.
*The First Female Bishop in the Developing World--which broke the glass ceiling for a lot of women who shone in the Church.
*The First African-American US President--which was supposed to signal the triumph of the minorities in US. But no, Proposition 8 also won. =(
*The L Word--controversial. realistic. hot.
*Kris Aquino--Now I can easily connect with a Filipino stranger. Everybody hates(if not "dislikes") her.
Wow. Ain't I one lucky bitch? =)
*The Philippine Centennial--which was uber fun. Suddenly the flag was cool. Haha.
*The Millenium--which was silly, because everyone thought it would be the end of the world.
*The First Female Bishop in the Developing World--which broke the glass ceiling for a lot of women who shone in the Church.
*The First African-American US President--which was supposed to signal the triumph of the minorities in US. But no, Proposition 8 also won. =(
*The L Word--controversial. realistic. hot.
*Kris Aquino--Now I can easily connect with a Filipino stranger. Everybody hates(if not "dislikes") her.
Wow. Ain't I one lucky bitch? =)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Cheating in a Rush
There are days when we are rushing to get out of the door and so we throw a lot of things in our body, praying that it will all turn out to be fashionably acceptable and erm, decent.
Actually, there are ways when we can cheat looking made-up when the truth is, wardrobe management is an alien idea to us.
1. Match your shoes with your bag. Have a fashionable bag and shoes in the same color by your side whenever you're in a hurry. If your bag matches your shoes, you will instantly look made up. It won't matter if your jeans are green and your shirt is purple. If your bag and shoes are both red, you'll look fine. I advise that the color of the shoes and the bag be neutral so they're sure to tone down whatever mayhem you got in our outfit going.
2. Wear a cool hat. This is most useful when you're having a bad hair day or if you forgot to tweeze your brows. It makes for a brave fashion statement and oftentimes, girls look awfully cute in them. It is also useful if you are not so confident about your choice in footwear or bottoms since a hat will drive the attention towards your face.
3. Go monochrome. The easiest way to steer clear of being a fashion disaster is to go monochrome. One color only. Zip. Nada. This way, it wouldn't matter if a tank top goes well with a skirt or jeans or shorts. As long as they're the same color, they're designed to "belong to family". At least you won't have to think which patterns match.
4. Back to basic. Have a ready stash of white tees, black tees, denim jeans and everyday shoes which are clean. They help in putting up a decent outfit during days when you've been ambushed by your friends for an instant shopping day or an on-the-spot date-me technique. It's also easier to experiment with accents (a big flower clip, a colorful scarf, gypsy necklaces, etc.) when you're wearing neutral-looking clothes.
I made this article for me. I dunno why I always fall under the waking-up-too-late-30-mins-left-to-leave-home spell. =)
Actually, there are ways when we can cheat looking made-up when the truth is, wardrobe management is an alien idea to us.
1. Match your shoes with your bag. Have a fashionable bag and shoes in the same color by your side whenever you're in a hurry. If your bag matches your shoes, you will instantly look made up. It won't matter if your jeans are green and your shirt is purple. If your bag and shoes are both red, you'll look fine. I advise that the color of the shoes and the bag be neutral so they're sure to tone down whatever mayhem you got in our outfit going.
2. Wear a cool hat. This is most useful when you're having a bad hair day or if you forgot to tweeze your brows. It makes for a brave fashion statement and oftentimes, girls look awfully cute in them. It is also useful if you are not so confident about your choice in footwear or bottoms since a hat will drive the attention towards your face.
3. Go monochrome. The easiest way to steer clear of being a fashion disaster is to go monochrome. One color only. Zip. Nada. This way, it wouldn't matter if a tank top goes well with a skirt or jeans or shorts. As long as they're the same color, they're designed to "belong to family". At least you won't have to think which patterns match.
4. Back to basic. Have a ready stash of white tees, black tees, denim jeans and everyday shoes which are clean. They help in putting up a decent outfit during days when you've been ambushed by your friends for an instant shopping day or an on-the-spot date-me technique. It's also easier to experiment with accents (a big flower clip, a colorful scarf, gypsy necklaces, etc.) when you're wearing neutral-looking clothes.
I made this article for me. I dunno why I always fall under the waking-up-too-late-30-mins-left-to-leave-home spell. =)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Boys Like Girls
*was published in Edge
Trends have always amused me. Trends have the power to change the mindset of an individual and in fact, redirect his goals/priorities. There are trends which I’ve embraced (e.g. the pixie haircut, skinny jeans, bangs) and trends which I resist no matter how strong their influences are (e.g. one-length bangs, ipod video, emo). Basically, when I evaluate a trend, it’s goes beyond LOOKING GOOD ON ME but its impact on how I feel, and how I behave in light of that trend. Hair straightening is by far the strongest trend I’ve resisted. My hair is unruly at times and I hate it when it flies away (wow, fly-away is a verb?). However, I didn’t want to erase the “life” it has on days when it curls inward..and it’s really adorable.
But I gave in, eventually.
Okay, I’m losing myself in this hair discussion. Let’s get back to trends. In this post, I will be discussing AND EVALUATING fashion trends which are shared by both sexes. So let’s start.
CHECKERED/PLAID SHORTS
These shorts usually look good on women, especially those which are designed like Bermuda shorts or those which are uber short, they ought to consider exposing your, um, Bermuda Triangle. Women who wear these shorts are tagged as cool or chic. Men, on the other hand, when they wear this trend, they are automatically tagged as metrosexual (or approaching queer radius). Sad. I know a lot of guys, usually mocha-skinned, who look good enough to eat when wearing plaid.
CHUCK TAYLORS
Or also widely held as “Chucks”. Hands down to this trend. This is, by far, the most timeless trend that boys and girls should embrace alike. In fact, if you look at your pictures growing up, you would see yourself somewhere fun and wearing Chucks. It’s simple, classic and most of all, versatile. You can wear it with shorts, skirts, jeans, cropped pants and even dresses!
BRIGHT-COLORED JEANS
If you’re born with the XY chromosome, steer clear from this trend if you don’t wanna be called GAY. I’ve always regarded bright-colored jeans as eyesores. Primarily because when a group of girls wear bright –colored jeans and huddle together, they look like a bilao of Good-Morning kakanin. BCJ(bright-colored jeans) look good on women, especially those with fair complexion, but they shouldn’t be overdone by wearing equally bright tops. (Ever heard of early warning devices?) Regarding men wearing bright-colored jeans, this trend is too delicate that men who want to wear this must really be widely known as straight. (You know what I mean.) It sucks right? However, there’s a proper way of wearing this trend. Pair it with a neutral-colored shirt and accessories. This way, you look more like a person, not like Christmas gone wrong.
PINK!
I’m so glad that men who wear pink nowadays are not anymore regarded as gay. I’ve read somewhere that before the 1940s, pink was a really “manly” color until capitalism struck. Pink and baby blue was hailed by media as the official his-and-hers baby colors, thereby imposing gender-exclusive expectations on colors. Until now, pink and baby blue are still his-and-hers colors; however, pink has become more dynamic. I remember when pink was so cool because it was so girly. That, guys who don’t usually wear pink challenge their machismo by wearing pink. And when they do wear pink and still maintain their usual “manly” selves, it was a form of achievement. Amen!
Trends have always amused me. Trends have the power to change the mindset of an individual and in fact, redirect his goals/priorities. There are trends which I’ve embraced (e.g. the pixie haircut, skinny jeans, bangs) and trends which I resist no matter how strong their influences are (e.g. one-length bangs, ipod video, emo). Basically, when I evaluate a trend, it’s goes beyond LOOKING GOOD ON ME but its impact on how I feel, and how I behave in light of that trend. Hair straightening is by far the strongest trend I’ve resisted. My hair is unruly at times and I hate it when it flies away (wow, fly-away is a verb?). However, I didn’t want to erase the “life” it has on days when it curls inward..and it’s really adorable.
But I gave in, eventually.
Okay, I’m losing myself in this hair discussion. Let’s get back to trends. In this post, I will be discussing AND EVALUATING fashion trends which are shared by both sexes. So let’s start.
CHECKERED/PLAID SHORTS
These shorts usually look good on women, especially those which are designed like Bermuda shorts or those which are uber short, they ought to consider exposing your, um, Bermuda Triangle. Women who wear these shorts are tagged as cool or chic. Men, on the other hand, when they wear this trend, they are automatically tagged as metrosexual (or approaching queer radius). Sad. I know a lot of guys, usually mocha-skinned, who look good enough to eat when wearing plaid.
CHUCK TAYLORS
Or also widely held as “Chucks”. Hands down to this trend. This is, by far, the most timeless trend that boys and girls should embrace alike. In fact, if you look at your pictures growing up, you would see yourself somewhere fun and wearing Chucks. It’s simple, classic and most of all, versatile. You can wear it with shorts, skirts, jeans, cropped pants and even dresses!
BRIGHT-COLORED JEANS
If you’re born with the XY chromosome, steer clear from this trend if you don’t wanna be called GAY. I’ve always regarded bright-colored jeans as eyesores. Primarily because when a group of girls wear bright –colored jeans and huddle together, they look like a bilao of Good-Morning kakanin. BCJ(bright-colored jeans) look good on women, especially those with fair complexion, but they shouldn’t be overdone by wearing equally bright tops. (Ever heard of early warning devices?) Regarding men wearing bright-colored jeans, this trend is too delicate that men who want to wear this must really be widely known as straight. (You know what I mean.) It sucks right? However, there’s a proper way of wearing this trend. Pair it with a neutral-colored shirt and accessories. This way, you look more like a person, not like Christmas gone wrong.
PINK!
I’m so glad that men who wear pink nowadays are not anymore regarded as gay. I’ve read somewhere that before the 1940s, pink was a really “manly” color until capitalism struck. Pink and baby blue was hailed by media as the official his-and-hers baby colors, thereby imposing gender-exclusive expectations on colors. Until now, pink and baby blue are still his-and-hers colors; however, pink has become more dynamic. I remember when pink was so cool because it was so girly. That, guys who don’t usually wear pink challenge their machismo by wearing pink. And when they do wear pink and still maintain their usual “manly” selves, it was a form of achievement. Amen!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Find Unique Gifts
Make someone smile in a very special way.
If you have a multiply account, kindly add up www.giftsdavao.multiply.com. If you don't have a multiply account, kindly check it anyway.
It is a Davao-based home business and they are selling unique gift items for reasonable prices. =)
If you have a multiply account, kindly add up www.giftsdavao.multiply.com. If you don't have a multiply account, kindly check it anyway.
It is a Davao-based home business and they are selling unique gift items for reasonable prices. =)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Why Great Love Stories Happen in College (Part 2)
A Wider Market
College is our social debut. We become exposed to different circles, mostly circles which feed our interests. If you study in a university, there are numerous clubs where you can entrench in. Moreover, there’s the everyday cycle of meeting A LOT of people at the same age bracket as yours. There’s the presence of irregular students, friends of friends, and even young and available professors! Basically, one gains a statistical advantage in the opening of a wider prospect pool for that one great love.
Perfect Timing
The normal college age bracket is 16-23 years old. If you examine this bracket, this is the point of your life when you have to be definitive of the decisions that you make about your life. It is the transitionary phase from dependence to independence. When we find significant others within this age bracket, we tend to align our futures with them. In effect, our love stories become as definitive as our chosen careers.
Say, when we have a lover at our junior year, we plan our senior year with that person factored in and when we reach senior year, we leave school in line with the plans of this lover. This is one of the reasons why a lot of couples who ended up in the altar met during college. Notice also that when married couples are asked where they met, when they answer “college”, people tend to understand why and don’t bother asking other questions.
College Celebrates YOU!
Remember when you were in high school you viewed college as a freer arena? Well it’s true. In college you can choose your schedule, wear-as-you-wish your clothes, your hair and your accessories. College offers avenues where you can practice AND exhibit your skills (speech, dance, music, literary, etc.). College also trains you to become what profession you intend to take. All of these things define you as a person. And college, as an institution, celebrates the heart of every person.
When YOU are being celebrated for being YOU, you become more confident about who you are. You tend to be at your best, and you are willing to showcase your being. When you are at your best, you are easy to love. When two “bests” find each other and cherish each other, anybody can bet they can last forever…or at least half of it. LOL.
Have you found your own great love story? Go to college and tell me about it. live_out_loud@ymail.com
College is our social debut. We become exposed to different circles, mostly circles which feed our interests. If you study in a university, there are numerous clubs where you can entrench in. Moreover, there’s the everyday cycle of meeting A LOT of people at the same age bracket as yours. There’s the presence of irregular students, friends of friends, and even young and available professors! Basically, one gains a statistical advantage in the opening of a wider prospect pool for that one great love.
Perfect Timing
The normal college age bracket is 16-23 years old. If you examine this bracket, this is the point of your life when you have to be definitive of the decisions that you make about your life. It is the transitionary phase from dependence to independence. When we find significant others within this age bracket, we tend to align our futures with them. In effect, our love stories become as definitive as our chosen careers.
Say, when we have a lover at our junior year, we plan our senior year with that person factored in and when we reach senior year, we leave school in line with the plans of this lover. This is one of the reasons why a lot of couples who ended up in the altar met during college. Notice also that when married couples are asked where they met, when they answer “college”, people tend to understand why and don’t bother asking other questions.
College Celebrates YOU!
Remember when you were in high school you viewed college as a freer arena? Well it’s true. In college you can choose your schedule, wear-as-you-wish your clothes, your hair and your accessories. College offers avenues where you can practice AND exhibit your skills (speech, dance, music, literary, etc.). College also trains you to become what profession you intend to take. All of these things define you as a person. And college, as an institution, celebrates the heart of every person.
When YOU are being celebrated for being YOU, you become more confident about who you are. You tend to be at your best, and you are willing to showcase your being. When you are at your best, you are easy to love. When two “bests” find each other and cherish each other, anybody can bet they can last forever…or at least half of it. LOL.
Have you found your own great love story? Go to college and tell me about it. live_out_loud@ymail.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Why Great Love Stories Happen in College (Part 1)
Why Great Love Stories Happen in College
If you’ve found that one person who completes you, who lights up your day and most of all, who promises to cherish you for the rest of his/her life, you might have met him/her during college. If you didn’t, I’m certain you’ve met someone who fit in the same profile when you were still in college. What’s with college?
In this article I will be discussing about why the college environment is most conducive for great love stories and of course, why you never noticed.
Maturity Spurs
When we were still in the process of choosing our college course, we were faced with the threat of changing the itinerary of our lives. Through this, we are pushed to think, act and behave maturely so as to make the best decision possible. This is the first form of forced maturity that we learn to wear as we approach college life.
As we go through college we are confronted with everyday social evils (e.g. an overconfident pal, monster profs, but-I-was-drunk! incidents, etc.). Through these evils, we become emotionally polished as individuals and then we keep on learning about life in such a short span of time. Love demands maturity and maturity is a free enterprise in college.
Your Heart is at its Prime
In line with being mature, great love stories happen in college because college shapes our personality in such a way that we reach a full circle, that which declares us “whole”. Notice that debut parties happen in college and it is at this point when a “girl” becomes a “woman”. And jeeringly, “boys” become “men” through informal rites such as losing their virginity or downing a liter of beer. Men and women are terms which connote wholeness.
When we feel whole, it is at this point when we are most willing to share our wholeness with another person. It is with such maturity that we become ready to give ourselves to a significant other. College, as a mosaic of emotional, social, mental and physical pressures, facilitates the achievement for such wholeness.
The Element of Definitive-ness
Moreover, college has a feel of “definitive-ness” in it. We are forced to look ahead, to know ahead and to move ahead. In college, we determine WHAT WE REALLY WANT. When we know what we REALLY WANT, we look for it. When we are in this level of certainty, it’s easy to weed out that one person whom we desire for reasons which we may or may not know.
(watch out for Part 2. This article is longer than a footspa and pedicure.)
If you’ve found that one person who completes you, who lights up your day and most of all, who promises to cherish you for the rest of his/her life, you might have met him/her during college. If you didn’t, I’m certain you’ve met someone who fit in the same profile when you were still in college. What’s with college?
In this article I will be discussing about why the college environment is most conducive for great love stories and of course, why you never noticed.
Maturity Spurs
When we were still in the process of choosing our college course, we were faced with the threat of changing the itinerary of our lives. Through this, we are pushed to think, act and behave maturely so as to make the best decision possible. This is the first form of forced maturity that we learn to wear as we approach college life.
As we go through college we are confronted with everyday social evils (e.g. an overconfident pal, monster profs, but-I-was-drunk! incidents, etc.). Through these evils, we become emotionally polished as individuals and then we keep on learning about life in such a short span of time. Love demands maturity and maturity is a free enterprise in college.
Your Heart is at its Prime
In line with being mature, great love stories happen in college because college shapes our personality in such a way that we reach a full circle, that which declares us “whole”. Notice that debut parties happen in college and it is at this point when a “girl” becomes a “woman”. And jeeringly, “boys” become “men” through informal rites such as losing their virginity or downing a liter of beer. Men and women are terms which connote wholeness.
When we feel whole, it is at this point when we are most willing to share our wholeness with another person. It is with such maturity that we become ready to give ourselves to a significant other. College, as a mosaic of emotional, social, mental and physical pressures, facilitates the achievement for such wholeness.
The Element of Definitive-ness
Moreover, college has a feel of “definitive-ness” in it. We are forced to look ahead, to know ahead and to move ahead. In college, we determine WHAT WE REALLY WANT. When we know what we REALLY WANT, we look for it. When we are in this level of certainty, it’s easy to weed out that one person whom we desire for reasons which we may or may not know.
(watch out for Part 2. This article is longer than a footspa and pedicure.)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Growing Up Not So Beautiful
Growing up, I was made to believe that I'm not beautiful (except siguro sa akong pamilya hehe).
I remember when I was still in my 2nd Grade, I was elected as the Muse simply because they wanted to pair me up with a "funny looking" guy. Fast forward til 6th grade, every boy I liked didn't like me back. (And crushing was highly highly 99.9% physical.) Well, it was because I really didn't care about how I looked. I played a lot, ran a lot, read a lot. I was buringit. Haha.
I didn't really behaved "femininely". I played pogs with guys, didn't bring a comb, ate junkfood a lot and loved mangga+bagoong sold outside Holy Child. Looking back, I think it was the reason why no boy ever liked me. Haha. I was chinita, but back then, by some cosmic whim, chinitas weren't really beautiful. The "beautiful" ones were those who are tisay, the Caucasian tisay.
I tried to excel in arts, academics and sports (because I can't excel in the "beauty field" anyway). I was so good at math, I was member of the dance troupe for 5 years, I learned how to play table tennis and I wrote. I did all of those because I felt that I had to compensate for not looking good enough. Even my friends never regarded me as beautiful. Haha.
When I was in Grade 6, I super duper liked this boy. I was gushing about him for a whole year. I levelled up in my arts, academics and sports...just so he'd like me. Then by March, I gave up.
During the summer, ongoing high school, a close friend told me that that guy was eyeing me for a very long time. I asked why. She told me he "thinks I'm beautiful".
I remember when I was still in my 2nd Grade, I was elected as the Muse simply because they wanted to pair me up with a "funny looking" guy. Fast forward til 6th grade, every boy I liked didn't like me back. (And crushing was highly highly 99.9% physical.) Well, it was because I really didn't care about how I looked. I played a lot, ran a lot, read a lot. I was buringit. Haha.
I didn't really behaved "femininely". I played pogs with guys, didn't bring a comb, ate junkfood a lot and loved mangga+bagoong sold outside Holy Child. Looking back, I think it was the reason why no boy ever liked me. Haha. I was chinita, but back then, by some cosmic whim, chinitas weren't really beautiful. The "beautiful" ones were those who are tisay, the Caucasian tisay.
I tried to excel in arts, academics and sports (because I can't excel in the "beauty field" anyway). I was so good at math, I was member of the dance troupe for 5 years, I learned how to play table tennis and I wrote. I did all of those because I felt that I had to compensate for not looking good enough. Even my friends never regarded me as beautiful. Haha.
When I was in Grade 6, I super duper liked this boy. I was gushing about him for a whole year. I levelled up in my arts, academics and sports...just so he'd like me. Then by March, I gave up.
During the summer, ongoing high school, a close friend told me that that guy was eyeing me for a very long time. I asked why. She told me he "thinks I'm beautiful".
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A SHOUT OUT!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NICK JONAS,
the nth love of my life.
i do not love you as if you were
a boy, a real boy, an alive human being
i love you as certain superficial (cute) things are to be loved
in shallowness, between the IQ of
a doorknob and the personality of a vacuum cleaner
i love you as the plant that never blooms
which i never care to water anyway
and thanks to your love, darkly, in my body
is an alarming mental catastrophe.
i love you without knowing how
when, or from where
i love you straightforwardly,
without complexities and logic
i love you this way because i am a deranged woman
with a severe case of reverse aging.
(Sorry Neruda.) haha.
the nth love of my life.
i do not love you as if you were
a boy, a real boy, an alive human being
i love you as certain superficial (cute) things are to be loved
in shallowness, between the IQ of
a doorknob and the personality of a vacuum cleaner
i love you as the plant that never blooms
which i never care to water anyway
and thanks to your love, darkly, in my body
is an alarming mental catastrophe.
i love you without knowing how
when, or from where
i love you straightforwardly,
without complexities and logic
i love you this way because i am a deranged woman
with a severe case of reverse aging.
(Sorry Neruda.) haha.
Friday, September 12, 2008
When Numbers Hurt
How to Fight Aging Like a Wise Business Student
By: Brunx
Edited by: bitchvarsity
Many people do not know what to do the moment they see those wrinkles around their eyelids, those cursed age spots and even feel that aching sensation somewhere below their backs. People, the world over, fear this phenomenon of getting old; a sign of supposed great knowledge and wisdom is now nothing more than a mere numerological anomaly. And for us business students, numbers are not always good news.
Experts in various fields have been in and about the whole situation in trying to look for cures to this misguided notion of “age”. Products such as anti-aging creams that promise to bring back your youthful ray, different medications that swear they can make you five years younger have, indeed, gone a long way. Some even go as far as to opt for operation just to knock off a few years off their look.
Here are but some of the many ways on how to get a grip with your age (minus the overspending):
1. Shape up or Ship out!
Changing the way you feel on the outside is always most direct way! Many people think that just because you gain that belly, you age a decade more into your look. So work loving your PE class, forego the elevator use, or play outdoor sports with your clique for dozens of hearty work-outs! Plus, you could use some natural blush when the worksheets start to haunt you!
2. Change is always great!
Don’t settle for the same look you had for ages- no wonder you feel old! Play around with your look! This allows you to explore your flexibility in the many ways you can carry yourself. Go wild! Whatever you feel is holding you back in the way feel about yourself- do away with it and fast! Remember that the beauty of youth is also being unpredictable and original. The quicker you change those irritating drapes the sooner you’ll feel the change!
3. Hang out with the people YOU actually like.
Always think of it this way; there are people you have to hang out with, but never forget the people you want to either. After dealing with the not so fun people around you, give yourself time to vent! Hang out with your “old” high school friends, call a club buddy and hang out in a bar, you can even ring your neighbor next door and go to the nearest garden expo all night; anything to keep your mind away from being the “old” you!
4. Balance things out.
Whether it’s being with your friends, your latest Philo paper or your club’s next G.A., always keep things in the way you like to deal with them! It doesn’t mean that because you’re hurdling with 29 units this sem that you’re justified to forget to update your Multiply account or at least text your best friend good night. It’s all about time management. I know many people who are good at this---even when they don’t have management subjects!
5. Think positively- NUMBERS LIE!!!
Yes, don’t take it seriously! The one thing you need to remember (and maybe fear) is the word “stagnation”. Keep yourself busy and have fun doing it because it doesn’t really matter what they think- its all about you. Business students are always accused of taking their studies too seriously. Remember to have fun ALL THE TIME. And don’t forget to smile! Studies show that the mere act of curving your lips upward releases endorphins (a get-happy hormone) throughout your body. Trust me, it’s better than any drug in the world.
At the end of the day, you may predict market shifts or inflation. However, you really cannot predict every aging feature that’ll eventually come out. The fact is everyone gets old. It’s all about how you deal with the “problem” that makes you age a lot less faster!
By: Brunx
Edited by: bitchvarsity
Many people do not know what to do the moment they see those wrinkles around their eyelids, those cursed age spots and even feel that aching sensation somewhere below their backs. People, the world over, fear this phenomenon of getting old; a sign of supposed great knowledge and wisdom is now nothing more than a mere numerological anomaly. And for us business students, numbers are not always good news.
Experts in various fields have been in and about the whole situation in trying to look for cures to this misguided notion of “age”. Products such as anti-aging creams that promise to bring back your youthful ray, different medications that swear they can make you five years younger have, indeed, gone a long way. Some even go as far as to opt for operation just to knock off a few years off their look.
Here are but some of the many ways on how to get a grip with your age (minus the overspending):
1. Shape up or Ship out!
Changing the way you feel on the outside is always most direct way! Many people think that just because you gain that belly, you age a decade more into your look. So work loving your PE class, forego the elevator use, or play outdoor sports with your clique for dozens of hearty work-outs! Plus, you could use some natural blush when the worksheets start to haunt you!
2. Change is always great!
Don’t settle for the same look you had for ages- no wonder you feel old! Play around with your look! This allows you to explore your flexibility in the many ways you can carry yourself. Go wild! Whatever you feel is holding you back in the way feel about yourself- do away with it and fast! Remember that the beauty of youth is also being unpredictable and original. The quicker you change those irritating drapes the sooner you’ll feel the change!
3. Hang out with the people YOU actually like.
Always think of it this way; there are people you have to hang out with, but never forget the people you want to either. After dealing with the not so fun people around you, give yourself time to vent! Hang out with your “old” high school friends, call a club buddy and hang out in a bar, you can even ring your neighbor next door and go to the nearest garden expo all night; anything to keep your mind away from being the “old” you!
4. Balance things out.
Whether it’s being with your friends, your latest Philo paper or your club’s next G.A., always keep things in the way you like to deal with them! It doesn’t mean that because you’re hurdling with 29 units this sem that you’re justified to forget to update your Multiply account or at least text your best friend good night. It’s all about time management. I know many people who are good at this---even when they don’t have management subjects!
5. Think positively- NUMBERS LIE!!!
Yes, don’t take it seriously! The one thing you need to remember (and maybe fear) is the word “stagnation”. Keep yourself busy and have fun doing it because it doesn’t really matter what they think- its all about you. Business students are always accused of taking their studies too seriously. Remember to have fun ALL THE TIME. And don’t forget to smile! Studies show that the mere act of curving your lips upward releases endorphins (a get-happy hormone) throughout your body. Trust me, it’s better than any drug in the world.
At the end of the day, you may predict market shifts or inflation. However, you really cannot predict every aging feature that’ll eventually come out. The fact is everyone gets old. It’s all about how you deal with the “problem” that makes you age a lot less faster!
Friday, September 5, 2008
10 CONYOmmandments
by Gerry Avelino and Arik Abu
1. Thou shall make gamit "make+pandiwa".
ex. "Let's make pasok na to our class!"
"Wait lang! I'm making kain pa!"
"Come on na, we can't make hintay anymore! It's in Andrew pa, you know?"
2. Thou shall make kalat "noh", "diba" and "eh" in your pangungusap.
ex. "I don't like to make lakad in the baha nga, no? Eh diba it's like, so eew, diba?"
"What ba: stop nga being maarte noh?"
"Eh as if you want naman also, diba?"
3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It's SO pang-uri!"
ex. "It's so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"
"I know right? So sarap nga, eh!"
"You're making me inggit naman.. I'll make bili nga my own burger."
4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude", 'tsong" or "pare"
ex. "Dude, ENGANAL is so hirap, pare."
"I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh"
5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!
ex. "My bag is so bigat today, you know"
"I know, right! We have to make dala pa kasi the jumbo Physics book eh!"
6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like in English or Spanish.
ex. "I have so many tigyawats, oh!"
7. Like, when you can make kaya, always use like. Like, I know right?
ex. "Like, it's so init naman!"
"Yah! The aircon, it's, like sira!"
8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know, your pangungusap?
ex. "Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?"
"It's so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?"
9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, daglat?
ex. "Like, OMG! It's like traffic sa LRT"
"I know right? It's so kaka!"
"Kaka?"
"Kakaasar!"
10. Make gamit the pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!
ex. "I'm, like, making aral at the Arrhneo!"
"Me naman, I'm from Lazzahl!"
1. Thou shall make gamit "make+pandiwa".
ex. "Let's make pasok na to our class!"
"Wait lang! I'm making kain pa!"
"Come on na, we can't make hintay anymore! It's in Andrew pa, you know?"
2. Thou shall make kalat "noh", "diba" and "eh" in your pangungusap.
ex. "I don't like to make lakad in the baha nga, no? Eh diba it's like, so eew, diba?"
"What ba: stop nga being maarte noh?"
"Eh as if you want naman also, diba?"
3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It's SO pang-uri!"
ex. "It's so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"
"I know right? So sarap nga, eh!"
"You're making me inggit naman.. I'll make bili nga my own burger."
4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude", 'tsong" or "pare"
ex. "Dude, ENGANAL is so hirap, pare."
"I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh"
5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!
ex. "My bag is so bigat today, you know"
"I know, right! We have to make dala pa kasi the jumbo Physics book eh!"
6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like in English or Spanish.
ex. "I have so many tigyawats, oh!"
7. Like, when you can make kaya, always use like. Like, I know right?
ex. "Like, it's so init naman!"
"Yah! The aircon, it's, like sira!"
8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know, your pangungusap?
ex. "Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?"
"It's so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?"
9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, daglat?
ex. "Like, OMG! It's like traffic sa LRT"
"I know right? It's so kaka!"
"Kaka?"
"Kakaasar!"
10. Make gamit the pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!
ex. "I'm, like, making aral at the Arrhneo!"
"Me naman, I'm from Lazzahl!"
Monday, September 1, 2008
Fun and Straight!
So I straightened my hair. Big deal.
It's my first time to have my hair relaxed, because I always believed that women with straight hair are boring. (It has a lot to do with the its ease, organization and cruise-through texture.) I always regarded women with wavy or curly hair as women with a spunky attitude and spontaneity.
Yesterday, I went to Bunawan for my Theology community immersion. We rode a jeepney back and forth, and when the day ended, my hair needed a rake for a comb. I went to a nearby salon to get a hot oil (and shampoo). When I got there, I felt the urge to be more adventurous and decided to get a Hair Relax. The result was good. When I left the salon, I was a different person.
Not really.
The new hair is good, it takes less time to style. The only downside of getting your hair straightened is the 3-day-no-washing-of-hair-after-the-treatment thing. This morning, I was staring at myself in the mirror and thinking about the treatment. At first, I regretted it because I am now one of the women I used to describe as "no-fun". And then I realized, hey, I'm almost 19, I lived with so much fun, perhaps too much, that if I am no-fun now, the fun quota in my life will still be compensated! (Weird principle huh? LOL.)
But I'm not no-fun. And so are the other girls out there who have straight hair. Who you are is louder than what you say. Whatever empowers you, that's fun.
It's my first time to have my hair relaxed, because I always believed that women with straight hair are boring. (It has a lot to do with the its ease, organization and cruise-through texture.) I always regarded women with wavy or curly hair as women with a spunky attitude and spontaneity.
Yesterday, I went to Bunawan for my Theology community immersion. We rode a jeepney back and forth, and when the day ended, my hair needed a rake for a comb. I went to a nearby salon to get a hot oil (and shampoo). When I got there, I felt the urge to be more adventurous and decided to get a Hair Relax. The result was good. When I left the salon, I was a different person.
Not really.
The new hair is good, it takes less time to style. The only downside of getting your hair straightened is the 3-day-no-washing-of-hair-after-the-treatment thing. This morning, I was staring at myself in the mirror and thinking about the treatment. At first, I regretted it because I am now one of the women I used to describe as "no-fun". And then I realized, hey, I'm almost 19, I lived with so much fun, perhaps too much, that if I am no-fun now, the fun quota in my life will still be compensated! (Weird principle huh? LOL.)
But I'm not no-fun. And so are the other girls out there who have straight hair. Who you are is louder than what you say. Whatever empowers you, that's fun.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Are Women Candidates for Hair Transplant?
If you think of the word “balding”, you may immediately imagine middle-aged men with receding hair lines. Although there are more men turning towards hair restoration procedures, women are also candidates for hair transplant. Women also have the threat of losing their hair more rapidly than the normal way because of the different chemicals they wash and style their hair with.
Answering the Question
So yes, women are actually candidates for hair transplant. In fact, studies show that 6 out of 10 women suffer from balding or hair loss/ thinning of hair. As there are newer methods of hair transplant which appear more natural and long-lasting, women have a lot of options to looking good (with hair!) again.
Hair Loss/ Thinning Vs. Balding
Balding is the process where hairs fall off and no new hairs will grow in their place. Hair loss/ thinning is simply the loss of hair in certain areas of the head and the possibility of other hair “replacements” is possible, however, may be achieved after quite a long time. This nuance is something that you should remember so that you will know how to properly deal with your situation.
Also, hair loss is different for women. While men lose their hair by becoming bald and the baldness starting from their foreheads or at the crown, women’s hair just thins out and the hairs in the front and the sides usually remain intact. It’s like a Barbie doll-look.
When women start seeing stray hairs in their pillows, they easily become shaken. This is because of women’s fear of becoming bald. You know how the hair is paid much attention when it comes to judging a woman’s beauty. In fact, the words “crowning glory” are directly associated with the hair. So, when something unusual is happening to a woman’s hair (e.g. become burnt by hair iron, has the wrong cut, “died” because of a hair treatment gone wrong), it is utterly heartbreaking for the woman. Yes, even hair loss/thinning.
The Social Battle
Whenever the quality of the hair is being threatened, a woman easily loses her confidence. There will be even more dangerous psychological results in this losing of self-confidence. In fact, there have been cases of suicide which were directly linked to a woman’s hair loss. A lot of people think about a woman’s hair loss as a symbol of femininity voidance.
If you’re one of these women who suffer from hair loss, if it’s not that grave yet, don’t overanalyze things. You need to quantify first what’s “hair loss” and what’s not. This is because it is normal to shed off 50-100 strands of hair every day. They just, naturally, fall off. They fall off when you brush your hair, when you walk around, when you do and undo your hairstyle and even whenever you tuck hair behind your ear. However, if you think the number that you see in your hairbrush + the bathroom + your pillow is abnormal, perhaps you’re suffering really from hair loss/ thinning.
What you need to remember is that sometimes, it’s only you who is being paranoid about the thinness of your hair. If it’s not really that obvious, do not lose confidence in yourself. There have been a lot of stories about patients overrating the mere thinning of their hair and directly concluding hair loss. Because of this, they skipped attending a lot of social gatherings and missed out on a lot of things. Do not fall into this trap. The best thing that you can do is to simply see a specialist.
Finding the Right Cure
There are a lot of things in the market which promise thicker hair, a healthier scalp and some creams which encourage hair growth. However, these things are not really curable especially if the case is really grave. Take for example women who have clumps of hair falling when they brush their hair. It’s as if they’ve undergone Chemotherapy! The superpower shampoos and wonder creams won’t be able to cure these things, and you should remember that. Only a hair transplant surgery or any other medical hair restoration procedure will solve that problem.
For women, there are a lot of options to choose from. First, there is a cosmetic procedure known as “extensions installation” where the there is a semblance of “grafting” but it doesn’t really include having donor tissues. It just “extends” the hairs and thus make it look fuller and longer. Second, there is an anti-baldness pill called Propecia. It has recently been proven safe for women. Third, there is always the option of a hair restoration procedure or a hair transplant, which costs relatively higher but, with good research, will give you a better result.
Answering the Question
So yes, women are actually candidates for hair transplant. In fact, studies show that 6 out of 10 women suffer from balding or hair loss/ thinning of hair. As there are newer methods of hair transplant which appear more natural and long-lasting, women have a lot of options to looking good (with hair!) again.
Hair Loss/ Thinning Vs. Balding
Balding is the process where hairs fall off and no new hairs will grow in their place. Hair loss/ thinning is simply the loss of hair in certain areas of the head and the possibility of other hair “replacements” is possible, however, may be achieved after quite a long time. This nuance is something that you should remember so that you will know how to properly deal with your situation.
Also, hair loss is different for women. While men lose their hair by becoming bald and the baldness starting from their foreheads or at the crown, women’s hair just thins out and the hairs in the front and the sides usually remain intact. It’s like a Barbie doll-look.
When women start seeing stray hairs in their pillows, they easily become shaken. This is because of women’s fear of becoming bald. You know how the hair is paid much attention when it comes to judging a woman’s beauty. In fact, the words “crowning glory” are directly associated with the hair. So, when something unusual is happening to a woman’s hair (e.g. become burnt by hair iron, has the wrong cut, “died” because of a hair treatment gone wrong), it is utterly heartbreaking for the woman. Yes, even hair loss/thinning.
The Social Battle
Whenever the quality of the hair is being threatened, a woman easily loses her confidence. There will be even more dangerous psychological results in this losing of self-confidence. In fact, there have been cases of suicide which were directly linked to a woman’s hair loss. A lot of people think about a woman’s hair loss as a symbol of femininity voidance.
If you’re one of these women who suffer from hair loss, if it’s not that grave yet, don’t overanalyze things. You need to quantify first what’s “hair loss” and what’s not. This is because it is normal to shed off 50-100 strands of hair every day. They just, naturally, fall off. They fall off when you brush your hair, when you walk around, when you do and undo your hairstyle and even whenever you tuck hair behind your ear. However, if you think the number that you see in your hairbrush + the bathroom + your pillow is abnormal, perhaps you’re suffering really from hair loss/ thinning.
What you need to remember is that sometimes, it’s only you who is being paranoid about the thinness of your hair. If it’s not really that obvious, do not lose confidence in yourself. There have been a lot of stories about patients overrating the mere thinning of their hair and directly concluding hair loss. Because of this, they skipped attending a lot of social gatherings and missed out on a lot of things. Do not fall into this trap. The best thing that you can do is to simply see a specialist.
Finding the Right Cure
There are a lot of things in the market which promise thicker hair, a healthier scalp and some creams which encourage hair growth. However, these things are not really curable especially if the case is really grave. Take for example women who have clumps of hair falling when they brush their hair. It’s as if they’ve undergone Chemotherapy! The superpower shampoos and wonder creams won’t be able to cure these things, and you should remember that. Only a hair transplant surgery or any other medical hair restoration procedure will solve that problem.
For women, there are a lot of options to choose from. First, there is a cosmetic procedure known as “extensions installation” where the there is a semblance of “grafting” but it doesn’t really include having donor tissues. It just “extends” the hairs and thus make it look fuller and longer. Second, there is an anti-baldness pill called Propecia. It has recently been proven safe for women. Third, there is always the option of a hair restoration procedure or a hair transplant, which costs relatively higher but, with good research, will give you a better result.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Why We Love Coffee Shops
Davao City is famous for it's livability. One reason for such fame is Davao's "relaxed" atmosphere. Meaning, Davaoeños prefer a more "relaxed" lifestyle. Notice that there are less night clubs and bars in Davao than in Cebu or Manila. Also, there is the budding of spa stations, salons and massage parlors; nameless or franchised.
What I will be discussing in this blog post is the trend which plagues Davao city: the rise of coffee shops. If you stand somewhere in Claveria, San Pedro or Bajada, for every coffee shop, there is another coffee shop within a 5 meter radius. What's with the coffee shop craze?
It's Luxurious
People just love the G-L-Amourous life...yes, even if it's something that they don't really have. Coffee, tea, pasta and meals served in coffee shops are expensive. And at times, they're not even gastronomically worth it! However, people hang out at coffee shops (and even dine there!) because they're expensive. It makes them feel rich and luxurious. Hanging out at a coffee shop is a "lease" for Class A life.
It's Relaxing
Coffee shop interior design and architecture are designed to relax a person. From the shapes (Zen, Asian Tropical, whatever you call it) to the colors to the materials being used to put together a coffee shop atmosphere provides ease to our senses, which evokes relaxation from within.
Lately, technology forces us to do things which we were not capable of doing before. Technology pushes us to achieve things which we may have not thought of before. In effect, because of technology, people are actually doing MORE than they used to. So, a little form of relaxation is something that we are willing to pay for even if it costs us a lot. Coffee shops provide relaxation. And I'm often guilty of being under this spell.
It's the Coffee
Okay, okay. Sometimes, it's just the coffee. Brewing coffee at home everyday is tedious. If you're the kind of person who is (a little) impatient, then of course, you'd just prefer dropping by a coffee shop near your office/school. Moreover, maybe the beans which coffee shops use are better, or that their machine is better. So, yeah, sometimes, it's the coffee.
It's the In-Thang
Everybody does it..Sure. The rise of coffee shops have literally raised the bar on drinking-coffee activities. Before, first dates were dinner-and-movie. Now, first dates are "coffee"! Today, more and more business transactions are even closed in coffee shops! (Talk about real estate, buy-and-sell products and even business interviews!) The coffee shop as a rendezvous have been normalized because of it's massive exposure and frequency of this exposure towards us. Through this normalization people "expect" to do certain things at coffee shops because everybody does it anyway.
It's the Experience
To sum it all up, the reason why we love coffee shops is because of the experience that comes with it. We recognize that having coffee, "hanging out" and dining at coffee shops is expensive but we still choose to do so because of the feelings that the experience gives us. Whenever we decide whether to go or not to go to a coffee shop, these feelings push us into a position that we are WILLING TO PAY for the experience and the coffee, food and other drinks will just become tangential.
It's kinda like going to Timezone, spending P100 and getting a pencil case from the tickets you've earned. What's different is that Timezone doesn't hide under the cloak of being a school supply store or a toy store. It IS a recreational center. So you pay for the experience. Coffee shops pretend to sell coffee, pasta and homemade drinks.
We're doomed!
What I will be discussing in this blog post is the trend which plagues Davao city: the rise of coffee shops. If you stand somewhere in Claveria, San Pedro or Bajada, for every coffee shop, there is another coffee shop within a 5 meter radius. What's with the coffee shop craze?
It's Luxurious
People just love the G-L-Amourous life...yes, even if it's something that they don't really have. Coffee, tea, pasta and meals served in coffee shops are expensive. And at times, they're not even gastronomically worth it! However, people hang out at coffee shops (and even dine there!) because they're expensive. It makes them feel rich and luxurious. Hanging out at a coffee shop is a "lease" for Class A life.
It's Relaxing
Coffee shop interior design and architecture are designed to relax a person. From the shapes (Zen, Asian Tropical, whatever you call it) to the colors to the materials being used to put together a coffee shop atmosphere provides ease to our senses, which evokes relaxation from within.
Lately, technology forces us to do things which we were not capable of doing before. Technology pushes us to achieve things which we may have not thought of before. In effect, because of technology, people are actually doing MORE than they used to. So, a little form of relaxation is something that we are willing to pay for even if it costs us a lot. Coffee shops provide relaxation. And I'm often guilty of being under this spell.
It's the Coffee
Okay, okay. Sometimes, it's just the coffee. Brewing coffee at home everyday is tedious. If you're the kind of person who is (a little) impatient, then of course, you'd just prefer dropping by a coffee shop near your office/school. Moreover, maybe the beans which coffee shops use are better, or that their machine is better. So, yeah, sometimes, it's the coffee.
It's the In-Thang
Everybody does it..Sure. The rise of coffee shops have literally raised the bar on drinking-coffee activities. Before, first dates were dinner-and-movie. Now, first dates are "coffee"! Today, more and more business transactions are even closed in coffee shops! (Talk about real estate, buy-and-sell products and even business interviews!) The coffee shop as a rendezvous have been normalized because of it's massive exposure and frequency of this exposure towards us. Through this normalization people "expect" to do certain things at coffee shops because everybody does it anyway.
It's the Experience
To sum it all up, the reason why we love coffee shops is because of the experience that comes with it. We recognize that having coffee, "hanging out" and dining at coffee shops is expensive but we still choose to do so because of the feelings that the experience gives us. Whenever we decide whether to go or not to go to a coffee shop, these feelings push us into a position that we are WILLING TO PAY for the experience and the coffee, food and other drinks will just become tangential.
It's kinda like going to Timezone, spending P100 and getting a pencil case from the tickets you've earned. What's different is that Timezone doesn't hide under the cloak of being a school supply store or a toy store. It IS a recreational center. So you pay for the experience. Coffee shops pretend to sell coffee, pasta and homemade drinks.
We're doomed!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Men are insensitive. (giggles)
Funny anecdotes about men's usual lack for detail-minding and sensitivity (sometimes).
Shirt Change
Last week, I went out with a guy for a movie. We both wanted to enter the movie house just before the trailers start so we walked around the mall for awhile to target the movie schedules good. I wore a bright orange blouse. (So bright I looked like an early warning device.) After the movie, I told him I wanted to go to the CR. I changed into a blue-and-gray striped blouse and when I got back, HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING! He did not even react. His face was like, normal. I rolled my eyes many times that day.
A Clueless YM Conversation
Bitchvarsity: My head is aching and my PC unit is screwing up. I might not be able to finish my work. Gawd!
Guy: Okay. Just buzz me when you're done.
Haha. Eh "Guy" can totally do my work for me. He's a writer too. And that time, I only needed 120 words more. However, it took very long for him to offer. Haha. It was a crazy experiment. But my headache was a killer too.
Did You Cut Your Hair?
I cut my hair once a month and the guy I'm going out with for almost a year doesn't realize 80% of the time. Also, when he thinks there's something "different with the way I look", he assumes it's the earrings. Naivete at its finest.
"Why do you like shopping so much?"
Irrelevant question. Zip.
Shirt Change
Last week, I went out with a guy for a movie. We both wanted to enter the movie house just before the trailers start so we walked around the mall for awhile to target the movie schedules good. I wore a bright orange blouse. (So bright I looked like an early warning device.) After the movie, I told him I wanted to go to the CR. I changed into a blue-and-gray striped blouse and when I got back, HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING! He did not even react. His face was like, normal. I rolled my eyes many times that day.
A Clueless YM Conversation
Bitchvarsity: My head is aching and my PC unit is screwing up. I might not be able to finish my work. Gawd!
Guy: Okay. Just buzz me when you're done.
Haha. Eh "Guy" can totally do my work for me. He's a writer too. And that time, I only needed 120 words more. However, it took very long for him to offer. Haha. It was a crazy experiment. But my headache was a killer too.
Did You Cut Your Hair?
I cut my hair once a month and the guy I'm going out with for almost a year doesn't realize 80% of the time. Also, when he thinks there's something "different with the way I look", he assumes it's the earrings. Naivete at its finest.
"Why do you like shopping so much?"
Irrelevant question. Zip.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Instant Pick-me-Uppers
1. Chocolate Mousse
When I was in Iloilo, participating at the most stressful tournament I ever had (I was sick and weak), Bruneson always wanted to eat Chocolate mousse everytime a day ends. I always brushed his request off my shoulder because it sounded pathetic. I mean, how can a sugarful dessert scoop me out of that dirt? I kept feeling worse each day. I got 2 rounds of full body massage and still I'm not feeling better. When we were at the Iloilo airport for our flight back to Davao, Ria bought a slice of Chocolate Mousse. I took one bite off, and man, it's like a wave crashed towards me, tipping me over, breaking me apart and bringing me back in one piece...as if I was whole from the start. It made me forget that my breakfast was inadequate. It made me feel good about coming back home. It made me realize that I have other chances of improving myself in other tournaments. From now on, I will be associating Chocolate mousse with positive stimuli. I hope you do to.
2. Uptown Girl
There's something so happy, inviting and relieving with this song. If you listen to it (the Westlife version), it shows traces of theatrics, the way the voices blend and how the words being used can easily paint images. Moreover, what I like about this song is that it talks about love/infatuation at its simplest sense, using the simplest words and expressions.
3. Wearing Super Light Blush On
Everytime I feel sick, I feel like I look like a mess even if I dip my head in conditioner. What I do to feel better is that I wear light blush on, a shade which blends perfectly with my skin. It's the classic no-make-up makeup, and it works everytime. People come up to me and say there's something that looks "pleasant" in my face but they can't really pinpoint which. When they finally give up, I just tell them I tweezed my brows. Neat, huh?
4. Hannah Montana
I just love this kid. A lot of people think Hannah Montana is a "shallow" show; it's satirical, tween-focused and West-hugging. With these in mind, it makes watching Hannah Montana (and loving her!) one of the easiest things in the world. Nonetheless, it's funny! The characters and circumstances are exaggerated, yes, and that's just the perfect break you need in a haste-driven world. Give it a try. I got two seasons down already.
When I was in Iloilo, participating at the most stressful tournament I ever had (I was sick and weak), Bruneson always wanted to eat Chocolate mousse everytime a day ends. I always brushed his request off my shoulder because it sounded pathetic. I mean, how can a sugarful dessert scoop me out of that dirt? I kept feeling worse each day. I got 2 rounds of full body massage and still I'm not feeling better. When we were at the Iloilo airport for our flight back to Davao, Ria bought a slice of Chocolate Mousse. I took one bite off, and man, it's like a wave crashed towards me, tipping me over, breaking me apart and bringing me back in one piece...as if I was whole from the start. It made me forget that my breakfast was inadequate. It made me feel good about coming back home. It made me realize that I have other chances of improving myself in other tournaments. From now on, I will be associating Chocolate mousse with positive stimuli. I hope you do to.
2. Uptown Girl
There's something so happy, inviting and relieving with this song. If you listen to it (the Westlife version), it shows traces of theatrics, the way the voices blend and how the words being used can easily paint images. Moreover, what I like about this song is that it talks about love/infatuation at its simplest sense, using the simplest words and expressions.
3. Wearing Super Light Blush On
Everytime I feel sick, I feel like I look like a mess even if I dip my head in conditioner. What I do to feel better is that I wear light blush on, a shade which blends perfectly with my skin. It's the classic no-make-up makeup, and it works everytime. People come up to me and say there's something that looks "pleasant" in my face but they can't really pinpoint which. When they finally give up, I just tell them I tweezed my brows. Neat, huh?
4. Hannah Montana
I just love this kid. A lot of people think Hannah Montana is a "shallow" show; it's satirical, tween-focused and West-hugging. With these in mind, it makes watching Hannah Montana (and loving her!) one of the easiest things in the world. Nonetheless, it's funny! The characters and circumstances are exaggerated, yes, and that's just the perfect break you need in a haste-driven world. Give it a try. I got two seasons down already.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Habits which can make you FAT
-from healthassist.net
TV Watching
Prolonged TV watching is a strong predictor for obesity1. Recent research2 has proved that people who watch around two hours of TV per day are much more likely to be overweight than those who watched only half an hour per day. When you watch TV you are virtually motionless. Your heart rate, blood pressure and metabolic rate decline, resulting in burning 20 to 30 calories less per hour. Research by Harvard University4 has shown that there is a link between the amount children eat and the amount of television they watch.
Eating Too Fast
It is a habit of most people living in a fast paced society. Eating fast lets you eat too much before you are fully aware of it. It takes the brain about 15-20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Scientists suppose that fast eating is a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome3, a combination of the symptoms such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
Task Snacking
Task snacking refers to eating while doing other activities. if you often eat meals or snacks while working by yourself in front of your computer, while driving, watching TV, or standing at the kitchen counter, shopping with a friend, or talking on the phone, it's likely that the "task snacking" eating style is increasing your odds of becoming overweight or obese.
Frequent Fast Food Consumption
One of the big reasons we’re seeing more obesity in our society these days is that we are too stressed and busy to make healthy dinners at home, often opting to get fast food at the nearest drive-thru instead. Fast foods compromise the quality of the diet by replacing more healthy foods. Fast foods are known for having high content of saturated and trans-fat, low content of fiber and massive portion sizes, which leads to obesity.
Eating To Manage Feelings
Emotional eating is the practice of consuming large quantities of food (usually "comfort" or junk foods) in response to feelings (such as depression, anxiety, or loneliness) instead of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions. How many times have you found yourself scouring the kitchen for a snack, or absently munching on junk food when you’re stressed, but not really hungry?
Too Busy To Exercise
With all the demands on your schedule, exercise may be one of the last things on your to-do list. If so, you’re not alone. Americans live a more sedentary lifestyle than we have in past generations, yet our minds seem to be racing from everything we have to do. Unfortunately, from sitting in traffic, clocking hours at our desks, and plopping in front of the TV in exhaustion at the end of the day, exercise often goes by the wayside. Your Friends Can Make You Fat If you're putting on weight, you might want to take a look at who you're hanging around with. A study7 published in the July 26, 2007 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that obesity may be "socially contagious." The study was conducted on more than 12,000 people over 32 years, and concluded that having an overweight friend, sibling or spouse increased one's risk of obesity by 37 to 57 percent.
Lack Of Sleep
Sleep deprivation can increase your risk of obesity by boosting ghrelin (an appetite stimulating hormone) and lowering leptin (an appetite suppressor). The study5 from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom found that, compared to an eight hours of shut-eye, each one-hour decrease in sleep duration was linked to almost 3% more body fat. Unaware Of Calories And Fat Many people eat foods with no idea of the calorie or fat value. This leads to weight gain and unhealthy eating habits because you can easily consume twice the normal calories required to maintain your weight, let alone lose weight, if you don't know how many calories you are eating.
Credit Cards
Your plastic may be affecting more than just your credit score. Visa conducted a study of 100,000 fast-food restaurant transactions and found that people who pay for their food with a credit card spend 30% more than those who pay with cash. For the average woman, who visits a fast-food restaurant once a week, that adds an extra 17,160 calories, or 4.9 pounds, per year.
Missing Meals
Research shows that people who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight, and that morning meals seem to help those who've lost weight keep it off. Denise Bruner, MD, obesity specialist and former president of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, says that skipping meals of any kind results in a "tremendous bout of compensatory hunger."
Uncomfortable Clothing
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse6 found that casual and comfortable clothing workdays promote increased physical activity. Specifically, study participants took an average of 491 (or 8%) more steps on Jeans Day than on those days in which they wore normal business attire. It is also estimated that study participants burned an average of 25 additional calories on Jeans Day with the extra steps and miles walked. Wearing casual clothing every day for 50 weeks of work translates into burning an additional 125 calories per week and 6,250 calories per year.
Neglecting Scales
Recent study from the University of Minnesota found that dieters who weighed themselves daily lost about 12 pounds over two years, while those who never did shed only four pounds. Other research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that those who have daily weigh-ins (along with face-to-face support) are 82% less likely to regain five pounds than a control group without weigh-ins or support. Boredom A survey by the Priory Group in the U.K. found that more people ate when bored than when stressed.
---------------
I'm done with people saying they can't do it. You can do it! Be sensitive of these habits, shake them off you and make me your benchmark. *insert wicked laugh here* I'm only guilty of eating fast. hehe
TV Watching
Prolonged TV watching is a strong predictor for obesity1. Recent research2 has proved that people who watch around two hours of TV per day are much more likely to be overweight than those who watched only half an hour per day. When you watch TV you are virtually motionless. Your heart rate, blood pressure and metabolic rate decline, resulting in burning 20 to 30 calories less per hour. Research by Harvard University4 has shown that there is a link between the amount children eat and the amount of television they watch.
Eating Too Fast
It is a habit of most people living in a fast paced society. Eating fast lets you eat too much before you are fully aware of it. It takes the brain about 15-20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Scientists suppose that fast eating is a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome3, a combination of the symptoms such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
Task Snacking
Task snacking refers to eating while doing other activities. if you often eat meals or snacks while working by yourself in front of your computer, while driving, watching TV, or standing at the kitchen counter, shopping with a friend, or talking on the phone, it's likely that the "task snacking" eating style is increasing your odds of becoming overweight or obese.
Frequent Fast Food Consumption
One of the big reasons we’re seeing more obesity in our society these days is that we are too stressed and busy to make healthy dinners at home, often opting to get fast food at the nearest drive-thru instead. Fast foods compromise the quality of the diet by replacing more healthy foods. Fast foods are known for having high content of saturated and trans-fat, low content of fiber and massive portion sizes, which leads to obesity.
Eating To Manage Feelings
Emotional eating is the practice of consuming large quantities of food (usually "comfort" or junk foods) in response to feelings (such as depression, anxiety, or loneliness) instead of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions. How many times have you found yourself scouring the kitchen for a snack, or absently munching on junk food when you’re stressed, but not really hungry?
Too Busy To Exercise
With all the demands on your schedule, exercise may be one of the last things on your to-do list. If so, you’re not alone. Americans live a more sedentary lifestyle than we have in past generations, yet our minds seem to be racing from everything we have to do. Unfortunately, from sitting in traffic, clocking hours at our desks, and plopping in front of the TV in exhaustion at the end of the day, exercise often goes by the wayside. Your Friends Can Make You Fat If you're putting on weight, you might want to take a look at who you're hanging around with. A study7 published in the July 26, 2007 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that obesity may be "socially contagious." The study was conducted on more than 12,000 people over 32 years, and concluded that having an overweight friend, sibling or spouse increased one's risk of obesity by 37 to 57 percent.
Lack Of Sleep
Sleep deprivation can increase your risk of obesity by boosting ghrelin (an appetite stimulating hormone) and lowering leptin (an appetite suppressor). The study5 from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom found that, compared to an eight hours of shut-eye, each one-hour decrease in sleep duration was linked to almost 3% more body fat. Unaware Of Calories And Fat Many people eat foods with no idea of the calorie or fat value. This leads to weight gain and unhealthy eating habits because you can easily consume twice the normal calories required to maintain your weight, let alone lose weight, if you don't know how many calories you are eating.
Credit Cards
Your plastic may be affecting more than just your credit score. Visa conducted a study of 100,000 fast-food restaurant transactions and found that people who pay for their food with a credit card spend 30% more than those who pay with cash. For the average woman, who visits a fast-food restaurant once a week, that adds an extra 17,160 calories, or 4.9 pounds, per year.
Missing Meals
Research shows that people who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight, and that morning meals seem to help those who've lost weight keep it off. Denise Bruner, MD, obesity specialist and former president of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, says that skipping meals of any kind results in a "tremendous bout of compensatory hunger."
Uncomfortable Clothing
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse6 found that casual and comfortable clothing workdays promote increased physical activity. Specifically, study participants took an average of 491 (or 8%) more steps on Jeans Day than on those days in which they wore normal business attire. It is also estimated that study participants burned an average of 25 additional calories on Jeans Day with the extra steps and miles walked. Wearing casual clothing every day for 50 weeks of work translates into burning an additional 125 calories per week and 6,250 calories per year.
Neglecting Scales
Recent study from the University of Minnesota found that dieters who weighed themselves daily lost about 12 pounds over two years, while those who never did shed only four pounds. Other research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that those who have daily weigh-ins (along with face-to-face support) are 82% less likely to regain five pounds than a control group without weigh-ins or support. Boredom A survey by the Priory Group in the U.K. found that more people ate when bored than when stressed.
---------------
I'm done with people saying they can't do it. You can do it! Be sensitive of these habits, shake them off you and make me your benchmark. *insert wicked laugh here* I'm only guilty of eating fast. hehe
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Little things that make bitches happy
-Getting a new haircut. There's just something so liberating about changing the way you look, your morning routine, your shampoo budget.
Tip: Don't shampoo everyday. It strips off the natural moisture in your hair. Instead, condition everyday. It's milder than shampoo and relatively has more nutrients.
-Buying new shoes. No explanation needed.
Tip: Buy shoes in the afternoon. We have bigger feet during the afternoon.
-Flirting harmlessly. Now, now. Continue reading without that goofy smile on your face. I know, right? It's the rush we're after! It's the electricity flowing up and down your spine, in a zigzag manner, in meek explosions. It's a re-affirmation of your power over the opposite (or same!) sex. Ahlavet! Hahaha!
Tip: Eyelash-batting is so old school. Start a witty conversation instead.
-Curling up with a good (bitchy or non-bitchy) book. The normal life of a bitch is usually hectic, so reading a good book with 0% disturbance is equivalent to New Year celebration.
Tip: Reading girl-y classics (e.g. Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, The Feminine Mystique) gets you in touch with your inner goddess.
-Having a nice conversation with a long-time girlfriend over a mixed drink. The simple act of holding a glass on your hand while chatting is ultimately relaxing. It's like time never existed. Catch up with your love lives, your careers and whatever's hot. Yes, even the bartender.
Tip: Beware of getting drunk. Be sure that when you go home, the flush on your face should be composed of 90% sheer joyand 10% alcohol.
-Blogging. Total empowerment. The most pitiful thing in the world is a person without an opinion.
Tip: Write and rewrite! You're posting in an invisible world, I know. But don't give us bullshit. Hitting the X key at the upper right corner just takes 0.5 seconds.
Tip: Don't shampoo everyday. It strips off the natural moisture in your hair. Instead, condition everyday. It's milder than shampoo and relatively has more nutrients.
-Buying new shoes. No explanation needed.
Tip: Buy shoes in the afternoon. We have bigger feet during the afternoon.
-Flirting harmlessly. Now, now. Continue reading without that goofy smile on your face. I know, right? It's the rush we're after! It's the electricity flowing up and down your spine, in a zigzag manner, in meek explosions. It's a re-affirmation of your power over the opposite (or same!) sex. Ahlavet! Hahaha!
Tip: Eyelash-batting is so old school. Start a witty conversation instead.
-Curling up with a good (bitchy or non-bitchy) book. The normal life of a bitch is usually hectic, so reading a good book with 0% disturbance is equivalent to New Year celebration.
Tip: Reading girl-y classics (e.g. Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, The Feminine Mystique) gets you in touch with your inner goddess.
-Having a nice conversation with a long-time girlfriend over a mixed drink. The simple act of holding a glass on your hand while chatting is ultimately relaxing. It's like time never existed. Catch up with your love lives, your careers and whatever's hot. Yes, even the bartender.
Tip: Beware of getting drunk. Be sure that when you go home, the flush on your face should be composed of 90% sheer joyand 10% alcohol.
-Blogging. Total empowerment. The most pitiful thing in the world is a person without an opinion.
Tip: Write and rewrite! You're posting in an invisible world, I know. But don't give us bullshit. Hitting the X key at the upper right corner just takes 0.5 seconds.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Bastards on Commute
I like taking the public utility jeepneys because I enjoy the experience. The feeling of the wind on your face, of "meeting" ten different people in one sitting and of course, the feeling of helping cut down the carbon emissions. *Duh*
However, there are certain people which turns the experience sour.
1. Slimy Lovebirds - Nah-ah. I'm not jealous. I've been going out with the same guy for about ten months and we're fine. There are just some lovers who take the jeepney and then crawl over each other as if they're at their own living rooms. They're pains in the eyeballs. Instead of them being ashamed of themselves, you become ashamed of "intruding" something. Bah. I hope they don't forget to pay their fares.
2. Ms./Mr. Loudspeaker - It's okay to talk; it's not okay if you're heard for about five seats away. I hate having to share the jeepney with someone who talks and talks and talks all throughout the ride and competing with the noise of the midday streets. These are the times when I'd wish I had an MP3 player with me.
3. Open-SesaMEN - These are men who refuse to shut their legs together even when the jeepney is too crowded and the people who just arrived sit uncomfortably. Let's be sensitive guys. The jeepney is designed for a certain number of people WHO ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP THEIR LEGS SHUT. To all the males reading this post, keep your legs shut for Goddess' sake. But if you don't want to, I hope your balls will get hit during the ride.
4. Ms./Mr. Head-to-Foot - Although I am confident that whenever I go out of the house I always smell good and look fine, there are just some people who fail to maximize their free time wallowing in their ugliness that they just have to want to make you feel it too. I'm talking about those people (mostly girls) who spend the whole ride staring at you, from your hair to your toenails to your bag to your cell phone model. I don't really know what's wrong with them. Or is it their first time to see a real, live human being?
5. The Classic Manyakis - Oh you know them. They're the ones who will stare at you and automatically commit simulated rape. They will salivate with just a peek of your toes and they love staring at your lips. Tip: Dress comfortably when taking the jeepney. Spare your skin from the prying eyes of these psycho-sexual predators.
However, there are certain people which turns the experience sour.
1. Slimy Lovebirds - Nah-ah. I'm not jealous. I've been going out with the same guy for about ten months and we're fine. There are just some lovers who take the jeepney and then crawl over each other as if they're at their own living rooms. They're pains in the eyeballs. Instead of them being ashamed of themselves, you become ashamed of "intruding" something. Bah. I hope they don't forget to pay their fares.
2. Ms./Mr. Loudspeaker - It's okay to talk; it's not okay if you're heard for about five seats away. I hate having to share the jeepney with someone who talks and talks and talks all throughout the ride and competing with the noise of the midday streets. These are the times when I'd wish I had an MP3 player with me.
3. Open-SesaMEN - These are men who refuse to shut their legs together even when the jeepney is too crowded and the people who just arrived sit uncomfortably. Let's be sensitive guys. The jeepney is designed for a certain number of people WHO ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP THEIR LEGS SHUT. To all the males reading this post, keep your legs shut for Goddess' sake. But if you don't want to, I hope your balls will get hit during the ride.
4. Ms./Mr. Head-to-Foot - Although I am confident that whenever I go out of the house I always smell good and look fine, there are just some people who fail to maximize their free time wallowing in their ugliness that they just have to want to make you feel it too. I'm talking about those people (mostly girls) who spend the whole ride staring at you, from your hair to your toenails to your bag to your cell phone model. I don't really know what's wrong with them. Or is it their first time to see a real, live human being?
5. The Classic Manyakis - Oh you know them. They're the ones who will stare at you and automatically commit simulated rape. They will salivate with just a peek of your toes and they love staring at your lips. Tip: Dress comfortably when taking the jeepney. Spare your skin from the prying eyes of these psycho-sexual predators.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Dissected Movie + Dinner Date
THE MOVIE
The movie's purpose is to know how smart your date is. If s/he picks a "mababaw" movie or an action movie, a love story, it's up to you to judge. It may either a.) reflect his/her real taste in movies or b.) reflect HOW S/HE WANTS YOU TO PERCEIVE HIM/HER. After you pick the movie, you also buy food. When buying food, you can judge if s/he's a healthy eater or not.
While you are watching the movie (1 1/2 hours on average), you can gauge if s/he's talkative or quiet and more importantly, if s/he understands the plot well. If s/he keeps on asking you questions, I suggest an IQ test. You can also gauge how comfortable s/he is with you by the way s/he laughs along or tells you about his/her little ideas/comments.
Lastly, the purpose of the movie is to make sure that you will have something to talk about during dinner.
THE DINNER
While choosing which place to eat, you can gauge the likes(and dislikes) of your date. You may even predict his/her typical order there. Aside from that, you will also find out how high- or low-maintenance s/he is.
If your date is already comfortable with you, s/he will sit next to you in a four-seated square table. If s/he wants to know you more, s/he will sit across you. If it's the first date, most likely, s/he will sit across you.
This is the gala. During the dinner, you will get to know your date more. You can judge the if s/he has good manners (calling the waiter, not staying too long in the CR, saying sorry if s/he stepped on your toe). You will also find out what makes him/her tick. How? Well, it's sure that the first few minutes of your date will be devoted to discussing the movie. However, there will be sparks of interest somewhere, and then the talk will be taking detours.
What is important is that you enjoy yourself no matter what. After all, you've invested in it! However, if you feel like calling 911 everytime s/he starts talking, by all means, consider my IQ test suggestion. (Drug test is optional.)
The movie's purpose is to know how smart your date is. If s/he picks a "mababaw" movie or an action movie, a love story, it's up to you to judge. It may either a.) reflect his/her real taste in movies or b.) reflect HOW S/HE WANTS YOU TO PERCEIVE HIM/HER. After you pick the movie, you also buy food. When buying food, you can judge if s/he's a healthy eater or not.
While you are watching the movie (1 1/2 hours on average), you can gauge if s/he's talkative or quiet and more importantly, if s/he understands the plot well. If s/he keeps on asking you questions, I suggest an IQ test. You can also gauge how comfortable s/he is with you by the way s/he laughs along or tells you about his/her little ideas/comments.
Lastly, the purpose of the movie is to make sure that you will have something to talk about during dinner.
THE DINNER
While choosing which place to eat, you can gauge the likes(and dislikes) of your date. You may even predict his/her typical order there. Aside from that, you will also find out how high- or low-maintenance s/he is.
If your date is already comfortable with you, s/he will sit next to you in a four-seated square table. If s/he wants to know you more, s/he will sit across you. If it's the first date, most likely, s/he will sit across you.
This is the gala. During the dinner, you will get to know your date more. You can judge the if s/he has good manners (calling the waiter, not staying too long in the CR, saying sorry if s/he stepped on your toe). You will also find out what makes him/her tick. How? Well, it's sure that the first few minutes of your date will be devoted to discussing the movie. However, there will be sparks of interest somewhere, and then the talk will be taking detours.
What is important is that you enjoy yourself no matter what. After all, you've invested in it! However, if you feel like calling 911 everytime s/he starts talking, by all means, consider my IQ test suggestion. (Drug test is optional.)
Sunday, July 6, 2008
(Bitchy) Quotes to live by..
Be sexy;
Even if others are not
Even if others will not
Even if others can not
Life is not a matter of chance but a matter of boys.
Flirt your best and he will do the rest.
Believe in love at first bite.
Simplicity means poverty.
and my favorite,
Beauty is the best publicity.
Lol. (Laugh out loud.) That's a command.
Even if others are not
Even if others will not
Even if others can not
Life is not a matter of chance but a matter of boys.
Flirt your best and he will do the rest.
Believe in love at first bite.
Simplicity means poverty.
and my favorite,
Beauty is the best publicity.
Lol. (Laugh out loud.) That's a command.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Most Commonly Misused English Words/Phrases
Stuffs
"I love music, movies and all those stuffs..."
I've heard (and read) a lot of people who use this word to mean "those things". It's so, so annoying. I can't even fathom how annoying it is to hear this word. Stuff is already a "collective" noun used to refer to different things such as
"She knows her stuff."
"A bed filled with the softest stuff." Etcetera etcetera.
You will only use "stuffs" when you refer to it as verb. Get it? A.Verb. Like, "Kyle stuffs the pizza down his throat."
Tuck In/ Tuck Out
"Tuck in your shirt; it looks so ugly tucked out."
Hello?! If something is already tucked, it's in! The word tuck is a verb which means to put into a small, close and concealing place. And tuck out is an oxymoron. How do you make something put into a small, close and concealing place look like it's outside? Oh, you get it.
Irregardless
"It's final. You will come with me irregardless of the circumstances."
It's utterly redundant. The prefix ir-means something "not" (example: irresponsible, irregular). The suffix -less also mean something "not" (example: careless, powerless). The correct word is regardless; since there is no word such as irregard. It's pains to hear this word uttered in movies and even in debates. Sigh.
Equipments
"The equipments are ready. You can start bulldozing now."
Like stuff, equipment is also collective. When I say equipment, it means the whole assisting machines. Simply put, there is no such word as equipments. Remember that.
"I love music, movies and all those stuffs..."
I've heard (and read) a lot of people who use this word to mean "those things". It's so, so annoying. I can't even fathom how annoying it is to hear this word. Stuff is already a "collective" noun used to refer to different things such as
"She knows her stuff."
"A bed filled with the softest stuff." Etcetera etcetera.
You will only use "stuffs" when you refer to it as verb. Get it? A.Verb. Like, "Kyle stuffs the pizza down his throat."
Tuck In/ Tuck Out
"Tuck in your shirt; it looks so ugly tucked out."
Hello?! If something is already tucked, it's in! The word tuck is a verb which means to put into a small, close and concealing place. And tuck out is an oxymoron. How do you make something put into a small, close and concealing place look like it's outside? Oh, you get it.
Irregardless
"It's final. You will come with me irregardless of the circumstances."
It's utterly redundant. The prefix ir-means something "not" (example: irresponsible, irregular). The suffix -less also mean something "not" (example: careless, powerless). The correct word is regardless; since there is no word such as irregard. It's pains to hear this word uttered in movies and even in debates. Sigh.
Equipments
"The equipments are ready. You can start bulldozing now."
Like stuff, equipment is also collective. When I say equipment, it means the whole assisting machines. Simply put, there is no such word as equipments. Remember that.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Hello World
This blog is all about the face of the 21st Century Bitch.
The meaning of the word "bitch" has evolved through time. Before, it was merely used to refer to a female dog. After that, it became a derogatory term to connote something disgusting, abnormal or deviant.
According to http://www.wikipedia.com/, It is also frequently used as an offensive term for a malicious, spiteful, domineering, intrusive, or unpleasant person, especially a woman. This second meaning has been in use since around 1400. When used to describe a male, it may also confer the meaning of "subordinate", especially to another male, as in prison. Generally, this term is used to indicate that the person is acting outside the confines of their gender roles, such as when women are assertive or aggressive, or when men are passive or servile. More recent variants of bitch are bitchy, ill-tempered (1925), and to bitch, to complain (1930).
As I write, the term bitch will be used to refer to the smart, strong and assertive woman who ventures the world with mascara on.
Cheers. =)
The meaning of the word "bitch" has evolved through time. Before, it was merely used to refer to a female dog. After that, it became a derogatory term to connote something disgusting, abnormal or deviant.
According to http://www.wikipedia.com/, It is also frequently used as an offensive term for a malicious, spiteful, domineering, intrusive, or unpleasant person, especially a woman. This second meaning has been in use since around 1400. When used to describe a male, it may also confer the meaning of "subordinate", especially to another male, as in prison. Generally, this term is used to indicate that the person is acting outside the confines of their gender roles, such as when women are assertive or aggressive, or when men are passive or servile. More recent variants of bitch are bitchy, ill-tempered (1925), and to bitch, to complain (1930).
As I write, the term bitch will be used to refer to the smart, strong and assertive woman who ventures the world with mascara on.
Cheers. =)
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