Shyamalan's The Village

The Village Synopsis from IMDB: The Village depicts the thrilling tale of an isolated town confronting the astonishing truth that lies just outside its borders. At first glance, this village seems picture perfect, but this close-knit community lives with the frightening knowledge that creatures reside in the surrounding woods. The evil and foreboding force is so unnerving that none dare venture beyond the borders of the village and into the woods. But when curious, headstrong Lucius Hunt plans to step beyond the boundaries of the town and into the unknown, his bold move threatens to forever change the future of the village.


SPOILERS!!!

SPOILERS!!!

SPOILERS!!!

(highlight to read)



I watched "The Village" earlier and I must say it's one of Shyamalan's best film yet, plot-wise that is.

What with the film's spooky trailers and ultra-secretive marketing, one could only watch the movie out of curiosity. Well I dont think your money's going to waste. This film delivers it, unless of course you never enjoyed Shyamalan's other films. Much like "Unbreakable," the way Shyamalan wove the story is definitely amazing. He makes you believe that you got it all figured it out only to surprise you with a totally wicked twist, totally not what you would expect, given the story he's been giving us for the last hour and a half. The story is set up about the relationship between the creatures and the village: what are these creatures, why are they breaking the truce, why wont the villagers do something, cant they get help from nearby towns, etc. He made us think that that's all there is to it--a typical horror movie. We were played like a lyre. Not until the last 10 or 15 minutes did it become clear. Weird concept but hey it worked. Excellent story-telling and camera work! The movie was really great. Adrian Brody and Joaquin Phoenix were amazing! Even Ron Howard's daughter did a terrific job. Ok talaga tong movie na to.


BTW Shyamalan might produce and direct Yann Martel's Life of Pi. Cool.

5 comment(s):
At 2:49 PM, Dr. Emer commented...

The last movie I saw was Catwoman, and I saw it not because of Ms. Berry but because of Ms. Sharon Stone. Yes, I'm also looking forward to the Village. I just don't know when it will open here. Collateral opens next Wednesday here so I guess I'll watch that if I have time. I'm a fan of Mr. Night myself, having been impressed with the 6th sense, unbreakable and the signs. I was disappointed with "signs" though; I thought it was more of a comedy than a horror film. Thanks for the review. I will definitely try to watch the village.

 
At 9:03 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

I will definitely watch this. I never missed a Shyamalan movie yet and I am not going to miss this one. :)

 
At 1:30 AM, loryces commented...

doc emer: same here. was very disappointed with signs too although i love unbreakable. natuwa ako sa ending eh. :)

karen: yeah you'd better not miss it. you'll love it! :)

 
At 11:22 PM, Daryl commented...

I LOVE THE VILLAGE! Definitely one of the best films I've seen this year.

Though not as scary as many might expect, it is, however, well-plotted, suspenseful, and sociologically thought-provoking. In this time of crime and terror, one might do anything just to escape this horrible reality. ONe might remake his world into a "perfect" albeit limited one---where borders are not to be breached and non-existent "carnivorous" creatures keep him from the greater evils beyond the woods.

 
At 11:43 PM, loryces commented...

yeah me too! i love this movie! although some people are not thrilled about it. :( oh well.

 

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Public Libraries

I love public libraries, especially our town's. I never had this much fun browsing and borrowing books. Sa Pilipinas, hanggang tingin lang ako, especially if I'm not sure if the book's good or if it's too pricey. When I buy books, I either have to shell out money from my savings or go to Booksale and pray to the gods that it's available. No wonder my mom won't let me buy books; it's way too expensive to be considered a necessity. For her, it's just a vice. Sad, that. However, here in the US, borrowing books is never a hassle--not on your pockets anyway. Fall in line, tell whoever's on duty that you want to apply for a library card, fill out an application form, and that's it. You can borrow unlimited number of books for three weeks, music CDs for two weeks, and DVDs/VHS tapes for a week. How cool is that?



my library card!


Library card ko... finally!



online catalog

(Di ako marunong magtake ng screenshot hehe.)

One of the most amazing things I discovered is the library's online service. Holding/reserving a book/DVD/CD online has never been this easy (and fun!). All you have to do is type in your card's barcode number and password and viola... you're logged into your very own online library account. You can search for books or movies if available in your local library or in other libraries in and around your area. You can certainly reserve the title and the library will contact you (email or phone) if it comes through. As of now, I have 68 holds and 75 check-outs--including music CDs, VHS, and DVDs. Pwede rin i-renew ang books and CDs.


Basta reserve lang ako ng reserve. It takes time to take ahold of some of the titles so I had to reserve it as early as possible. Besides some of them have been checked out so pila na ko agad. Here are some of the stuff I borrowed.






That's the Peter Pan OST, Spider-man OST, CSI OST, albums by Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Dashboard Confessional, and a LOTR-inspired CD. On hold titles include Six Feet Under OST and Alanis album. :)








Eto naman mga librong hiniram ko: T.H. White's The Once and Future King, Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven, George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm, Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, and some anthologies with Neil Gaiman stories. I also borrowed some LOTR tapes that I plan to give to my friend. As of this moment, available na daw sa lib ang hinold kong Eintein's Dreams by Alan Lightman, Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, and I Know This Much is True by Wally lamb. Aaack! Hay daming babasahin. Almost 20 books in 3 weeks--heaven! Makes me want to curl up in bed and just read everyday. Nakahiram na rin ako ng mga rare stuff na gusto kong basahin/panoorin: PT reviewer books, Six Feet Under Season 1, Sex and the City Seasons 1-6, Xena-related stuff, and Edward Hayes's books. Hay I love public libraries!

10 comment(s):
At 2:53 AM, ina commented...

wow that is a lot of stuff. :) that reminds me to check out the public libraries here, now that i'm done with studying.

you can borrow currently popular CDs? that is so cool. last time i checked, you could only borrow really really old CDs from the libraries here.

oh and, PT reviewers? how exciting. ;)

 
At 10:43 AM, Anonymous commented...

ay, kainggit naman! i wish libraries here were as nice. =(

-- rej

 
At 3:00 PM, Dr. Emer commented...

Pathetic library dito sa atin. Yung National Library nga mas lalong nakakaawa. Tama. Nakakainggit ka nga dyan ngayon.

 
At 9:01 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

Wow! Buti ka pa. Me? I am actually waiting for the bookstores here to go on sale coz I have about 5 books on my must-read list. Then I have to save up for esch and every one of them. *sigh*

More LOTR music for me! Yay! :)

 
At 1:21 AM, loryces commented...

ina: yep you can borrow currently popular CDs and DVDs. :) basta hintay ka lang kasi most of the time, nasa hiraman eh.

rej: i know. pathetic lib sa atin eh. kainis.

doc emer: tama! kakaawa tlga natl lib natin. :(

kare: nope it's not lotr music. it's... well just wait and see. :)

 
At 12:30 PM, liann commented...

So that's why you have so many books in your Reading Room! Kala ko you have (or planning to buy) each and every one of those gems in your keeping. The public library's heaven! Good for you! (:

 
At 8:17 AM, u l a n commented...

hey lau-- so how did you get a shot of that website? =) to take a screenshot:

1) open the site you want to get a shot of;
2) press the Print Screen button;
3) Open Photoshop;
4) Open a new file in photoshop (1024x768);
5) Click Edit >> Paste. (or CTRL V)

Tadah!

=)

 
At 12:29 PM, loryces commented...

liann: hehe. basta pag sa reading room, yan yung mga books na hiniram ko sa lib and are currently in my possession. i just have to bide my time in reading 'em.

ulan: ngek! well kala ko naman literal na screenshot -- so using my cam, i took a SHOT of the SCREEN. hmm di ko alam yang tip na yan. ma-try nga. thanks bunch!

 
At 9:10 AM, Raych commented...

pwede bang magteleport at mapuntahan yang town library niyo?

*toottoot* ng mga library dito sa Pilipinas eh, inaanay na mga libro. inggit tuloy ako sayo! dati nong mga nasa gradeschool pa ko, naisip ko na bakit walang nagpapahiram ng mga (cassette tapes noon) VCDs/CDs, ngayon may sagot na sa tanong ko!

sana makapunta na ako ng Amerika.

bisyo ba ang pagbili ng libro? kung ganon,may bisyo na ko :D

ok lang, para sa akin ang library ko dito sa Pilipinas ay Powerbooks :p

 
At 1:16 AM, loryces commented...

hi raych! aba kung pwede lang dalhin ko kayo dito sa lib eh ginawa ko na noh! :)

 

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Self-Imposed Ban... Again

Loryces Online will resume on Thursday.




Two more days left until classes are over. Well suffice it to say, it's finals/deadlines time so I'll be off doing whatever needs to be done. See you on Thursday!


Yey summer classes are done! I still have 3 weeks of vacation tapos sabak ulit sa aral. Better take advantage then.

6 comment(s):
At 6:51 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

u take care! goodluck sa studies and see ya soon! *hugs*

 
At 12:21 AM, loryces commented...

thanks! oops banned nga pala ako. gotta go!

 
At 8:06 AM, Jet commented...

Hi Loryces. Goodluck on your exams! Will say a prayer for you. :)

 
At 12:57 PM, Anonymous commented...

bweh! d makatiis. jk. kakatuwa ka naman. << dane

 
At 6:25 PM, loryces commented...

thanks everyone!

dane: tapos na! har har!

 
At 1:30 AM, Anonymous commented...

wuhoo!!! six flags tayo :) << dane

 

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Antisocial Me






alt="Thoroughly Antisocial Icon" />

Thoroughly Antisocial


You think people suck and that they are fairly stupid. You avoid large social gatherings like the plague. Maybe you tolerate a friend if they drop by to say hi. Congratulations, we might like you!


How
antisocial are you?





That's me today. I think I uttered less than 100 words the whole time I was in school. I was in antisocial mode. I'm weird that way. I think my professor thought it odd that I said "uh-huh" and nodded to her, in response to her question "what do you think about Michael Moore's film?" Haha. I don't know if I was daydreaming or if it was me being antisocial.

2 comment(s):
At 1:01 PM, Anonymous commented...

pareho tayo... Thoroughly Antisocial din daw ako. har har
just dropping by. ehem! pers taym kong mag-post dito.
good luck sa mga exams. << dane

 
At 12:20 AM, loryces commented...

hi dane! nice of you to drop by! :) gawa ka na kasi ng blog. :)

 

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Wishing for Calista Flockhart's Figure

As part of my fitness regime, I incorporated 4 3-minute-high-intensity periods of jog or brisk walk (whatever suits me at the time) at 4mph in between my usual 30 minute cardiovascular program. When I was at the gym earlier today doing a 4mph-jog, I almost didn't make it through. Both of my legs were cramping, my knees were hurting, and I was out of breath and was extremely thirsty. However, I made it through and in fact, increased my jog time from 3 to 4 minutes. I wouldn't deny that during this 3 minutes, I envisioned myself having a body like Calista Flockhart. Image Hosted by ImageShack.us Haay so much for my goal of being healthy. Mas lalo ata akong mapapariwara if I keep envisioning myself as a Calista Flockhart. Hehe.

3 comment(s):
At 7:39 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

oist! di ba bulimic si Calista? :p

 
At 11:06 PM, loryces commented...

hehe kaya nga lalo akong magiging unhealthy kung si calista yung i-e-envision ko eh. *snicker*

 
At 2:20 PM, liann commented...

Thumbs up to your fitness regime Lau! Tama yan, mas maganda ang mag-workout kesa sa mag-crash dieting. Exaj si Calista Flockhart noh! Hey did you know na pati fellow cast members nya sa Ally McBeal naiinsecure sa kanya kasi sobrang thin nya? May isang actress na nag-quit ng show kasi she just can't take anymore spending every waking day thinking about food and her weight. Eto effective weight loss tip: tuna and wheat bread for dinner then Nesvita (rich in fiber) before hitting bed. (; Oh and never skip breakfast kasi it really does help you control your appetite later in the day.

 

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Guaranteed Time-wasters

Wala akong magawa kaya eto kung anu-ano na lang ang ni-link ko.


News about Stephen Hawking's new concept about black holes. (BTW his official site is at http://www.hawking.org.uk.) Kaka-miss basahin si Hawking.


News regarding George Eads and Jorja Fox's return to CSI. Buti naman. CSI wouldn't be the same without them.


News regarding the title of the 3rd and last installment of the Star Wars prequels has finally been confirmed: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Erm ok. Cheesy pa rin as usual. Oh well at least matatapos na sya.


Michael Moore's film-entary has garnered $100M in sales. Good for him and for the film. If you have to watch one movie this month, this would be it. Medyo far-fetched, but then what if it's true? Michael Moore has shown us some of the things that might have happened during Bush's last three years of administration


News about a rabid LOTR fan who constructed a 10-foot sand castle complete with the Lord of the Rings characters right on his front lawn! Cool di ba!


News about the new Keanu Reeves movie. He's playing Constantine?! The Constantine? In Sandman? Oooh I'd definitely watch out for this!


Also rumor has it that New Line will be producing a Death-related movie with Neil Gaiman making his debut as a film director on the project. I don't have the exact link since I saw it in passing in Peyups. Sa wakas!


And here is something very cool. I can't describe it, basta cool sya.

4 comment(s):
At 12:02 AM, ina commented...

i was at the comic convention at san diego this weekend, and i saw keanu reeves AND a preview of constantine. i'm definitely going to watch out for that movie.

neil gaiman was also there, and he was promoting Mirrormask, where he wrote the screenplay and Dave McKean directed it. we saw previews of that, too.

i haven't blogged about all this yet since i'm still gathering my thoughts. but it was grand fun. :D

 
At 12:11 AM, loryces commented...

wait!! comic-con in san diego?!? aaaack!!! you HAVE to tell me all about it... PLEASE!!! will email/pester you about this!!!

 
At 1:35 AM, u l a n commented...

"News regarding the title of the 3rd and last installment of the Star Wars prequels has finally been confirmed: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Erm ok. Cheesy pa rin as usual. Oh well at least matatapos na sya."

the title reminds me of revenge of the nerds! :))

 
At 10:51 AM, lifecafe commented...

ooh... must see Constantine, then. when i saw the trailer, i found it a little too Matrix-y. maybe it's the font they chose.

you do realize that Return of the Sith will be referred to as Episode 3: ROTS ... wehehehehehehe

 

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If I had the cash...

... I'd buy a house for my parents.


... I'd buy this for my sister and this for my brother.


... I'd give this and this to Karen.


...I'd buy this or this for Ulan.


... I'd give any of these books to Joan; I'm still thinking of what I should give to Joy.


...I'd send my aunt and her family on a month-long trip to the Philippines and take care of the bills while they're gone.


... I'd order round-trip tickets to Chicago for Giz, Tin, and Angel.


Any requests?

6 comment(s):
At 4:16 PM, Dr. Emer commented...

Wishful thinking lang ito, ha. Since I'm a big fan of comic books, I'd love to get Avengers#500-#503. Are you in Chicago? I have a favorite eating place there --- malapit sa loop --- Keefer's. I know its utterly sinful but I can't forget their lunch rib-eye, cost 'bout 12dollars when I was there. 'Probably a lot more expensive now. But I miss the way they cook their steaks. =)

 
At 9:10 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

Hey, thanks! =)
Any chance I can get roundtrip tickets too so I can visit you there? Hehehe.

 
At 12:05 PM, loryces commented...

Doc: Sige pag may pera ako, bilan kita ng comic books. Libre na rin kita sa Keefer's although I dont know that place. Hehe.

 
At 12:06 PM, loryces commented...

Karen: Sige ba! Haha!

 
At 1:33 AM, u l a n commented...

cool! sana may pera ka hehe. pero meron na kong 'how to make a journal of your life' =) so yung oktomat na lang ;-) hehehe

 
At 6:35 AM, Anonymous commented...

wish ko lng toh ha, but soon i'll fulfill these,hehehehe: carribean cruise with my family, sympre kasama ka na dun ate... :) a resort, somewhere north....a mansion with swimming pool... hehehehe

 

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Spyware Beware

I've had my suspicions the month after we got DSL. Slow connection (well, slower than usual), dozens of pop-up ads, new software in menus that I don't remember installing -- these are some of the irritating things I noticed over the last few months. This article explained that this may indicate that spyware exists on my computer. Some of the symptoms my PC have include the ff:


Your computer is acting slower than usual: One of the most commonly noticed symptoms of spyware is that your computer may responding much slower than usual.

Your Internet connection appears slower than usual: Spyware can use significant computer memory resources. Multiple instances of spyware running at the same time can create “memory leaks,” which can give you the impression that your Internet connection is much slower than normal.

Advertisement pop-ups appear when you're not browsing the Web: Spyware can also serve you pop-up advertisements that appear while you are not surfing the Web--even if you don’t have a Web browser open.

Your homepage has changed, or keeps changing: Sometimes spyware will change your default homepage, or render your computer incapable of changing your homepage again.

Redirecting Web sites: Spyware can cause your browser to automatically redirect to different Web sites. This symptom is especially common with Internet search engines.
Search tool bars appear in your browser: You may notice that search bars appear directly in your browser. These bars, also known as plug-ins, can sometimes be installed by spyware programs.

Spyware software appears in menus: Another indication that spyware has been installed on your computer is when suspicious programs and folders appear in your Start menu, startup menu, or system tray.


Demit. I definitely have spyware on my PC.


The article also provided links to download free spyware scanners (for spyware removal):

Ad-aware

SpyBot Search & Destroy


and links to download free spyware prevention utilities (to help protect your computer):

SpywareBlaster

SpywareGuard


For more info, read this article or this audio-visual walkthrough.

2 comment(s):
At 4:21 PM, Dr. Emer commented...

Thanks for these tips, Loryces. :) I'd be more careful, now.

 
At 12:04 PM, loryces commented...

no prob doc! ingat lang tlga sa spyware. ;)

 

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Littman Steth

Saw this on the Internet.



Napakaganda naman neto. Malamang pati presyo maganda din.

3 comment(s):
At 3:54 PM, Jet commented...

Sa sobrang interes ko, napa-search tuloy ako. When you purchase it online, it's $495. Pero tama ka, napakaganda nga niya. Hmmm... wish ko lang. hehe :)

 
At 6:16 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

convert that to Philippine peso and that's about 2 and a half months worth of my salary. *sigh* ang ganda nya...

 
At 9:02 PM, loryces commented...

$495?!? eeep! buti sana kung doctor ako na sobrang expert, say, in cardiology, magandang investment yan. ang mahal-mahaaaaaal!!! :(

 

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Pictures from Gmailswap

Remember my post about the Gmail-swapping-for-whatnots entry? Well I got these stuff from Gmailswap.







Ganda noh? Sarap tuloy pumunta sa Arizona and Finland.

0 comment(s):

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Loryces 101

Nakakasawa na ang sumagot sa mga surveys at mala-Miss U na questions sa Friendster kaya eto, ibang style ang naisip ko.  Parang profile ko na rin pero gagamitin ko ang mga subjects natin nung elementary, high school, at college.

History

Even when I was in school, History wasn't my thing. I'm not at all good with dates and places. The same is true with real life--I'm not at all adept in memorizing dates. I forget appointments, friends' birthdays, heck even my parents' birthdays and anniversary! Someone else, whether a sibling or a friend, has to remind me if there's a special occasion for that day. Furthermore, in my opinion, there's no point in stressing over the past. What's done is done, right? Although of course, I'm thankful for it. I wouldn't be what I am right now if not for my past.

Geography

Are you kidding?! I am what you call 'geographically challenged,' if there is such a thing. I couldn't even walk outside the 5-mile radius I imposed on myself without hopelessly getting lost. I suck at giving directions and sometimes I even have trouble identifying my left side from my right. Any friend of mine can attest to that. I have spent the first 16 years of my life in Marikina, under lock and key and my mom's eagle eyes and strict rules. I haven't had the pleasure of going to the mall and watching a movie until I was about 16 or 17. Nakawala lang ako when I went off to college and stayed in a dorm for about 2 or 3 years. But of course, I haven't seen any improvements in my geographical skills during that time. On the other hand, at least I know what Manila or Quiapo looked like and as far as I'm concerned, as long as I know how to get to Taft Avenue, I'm fine. Nakapunta na rin pala ako ng Batangas and my province is in Iloilo. I guess that's not so bad for someone like me (ha!). However, even though I'm hopelessly 'geographically challenged,' I would love to travel around the world.

Math

8 * 3 = my age (in one month's time); Weight = don't ask Image Hosted by ImageShack.us ; Height = 5'2"; Vital statistics = none of your gadem business; Having me as a friend = priceless (hehe)



Science

I love anatomy, especially neuroanatomy. I hate studying about the spinal tracts though. Gives me a headache just thinking about how they decussate and what levels would be affected if the spinal cord is injured. I also don't like memorizing hormones or enzymes or other stuff that I won't be needing in my career. Such a waste of time and neurons, if I might add.

Technology

I love gadgets although I think they consider me their doom. Di kasi sila tumatagal sa kin eh. Ewan ko ba kung anong meron ang kamay ko. Nakasira na ko ng camera, videocam, computer, printer, TV, DVD player, VCR, headphones (numerous times), and even a calculator. I should be buying insurance for them, I tell ya! Of course that doesn't stop me from daydreaming and oggling them nifty gadgets!

Music

I know how to play the piano but I can't say I enjoy playing it. I'm interested in playing the guitar or the violin but the funny thing is, I'm tone deaf. Current obsession = Vienna Teng + Dashboard Confessional + Jason Mraz + Our Lady Peace

Physical Education

I'm the girl who would get picked last in team games. I'm the girl who dreads PE classes. I'm the girl who hates wearing bathing suits. I'm the girl who doesn't care one bit about appearances. Needless to say, I think I'm one of those unfit people who absolutely detests PE. That's going to change though. I am now enrolled in a gym and I am trying real hard in choosing healthy foods (although sometimes I just couldn't help but reach for that last piece of chocolate cake). I know it's going to be one difficult journey but I'm going to face it and finish the race. At the end, I know it's going to be all worth it.

Finance

No job = No moolah therefore bankrupt. I love reading Robert Kiyosaki's principles on finance and I can't wait to put those principles into practice but heck, I gotta have some money first. I'm willing to learn everything there is to know about personal finance and real estate, however, I guess I have to wait a little bit more. Meanwhile, I'm still on the process of strengthening my financial literacy/education. Although sometimes studying about stock options, mortgages, and equities can be pretty boring.


Psychology

Self-diagnosed autistic and manic-depressive suffering from paranoia and obsessive-compulsiveness; Has low self-esteem and a bad case of inferiority complex; Been bullied so many times as a child but is not going to take anymore of that crap out of people; Realizes that it's time to stand up for herself because no one else is going to do it for her --> GO ME!

Humanities

I just got introduced in literature when I was in my later years of high school. Mommy ko kasi ayaw kaming ibili ng books. She's weird that way. Sometimes I regret not being exposed to books early in life. That's ok though. Being here in the US and having FREE access to thousands of books kinda makes up for that. I think I've read a lot of books far more than what I've read during my high school and college days.

Religion

Well, I used to think I was agnostic but I realized that's just silly. I guess I never really believed any of that. I'm praying at night now and I have a certain smile reserved just for Him who makes life bearable for me.


Sex Education

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us



Class dismissed!

5 comment(s):
At 11:22 AM, james commented...

Oh sure, spare us the juicy one!

 
At 7:04 PM, Jet commented...

Kakatuwa naman itong blog mo hehe. Enjoy talaga ako. Really ingenious. Makes me think, now why didn't I think of that? haha!

Hey Loryces, thanks so much for the links. I'm getting so much out of the k link I really can't thank you enough.

God bless you and your nightly prayers. Have a good week, dear. :)

 
At 9:34 PM, Dr. Emer commented...

Yes, I agree with BatJet. This is a great blog. I like your choco post, too. =)

What is your chosen field of dicipline? I felt bad when you said you hated neuroanatomy. Neuroanatomy is more like geography of the human nervous system. You can't solve a problem if you don't know where it is. Well, I do agree if you don't get into the health sciences, you would hardly have a use for it. Siguro, magiging FYI-kind of knowledge na lang ito. But it would be good and I know you will appreciate it when you see God had a purpose for all those decussations. =)

 
At 10:39 PM, ina commented...

i like your style. at least it's a novel way of doing the whole profile bit. :)

 
At 9:49 AM, loryces commented...

salamat po! :)

 

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My Unrequited Love

Chocolate.


That's it. That's my unrequited love. You too? Well it's guaranteed to be a doomed relationship, don't you think? All those calories and guilt. Hmph.


Forbidden and unrequited. What could be more sinful? Tragic and unhealthy too, some would say. Sigh.


However, an article from Yahoo's Health News reported that we could make our relationship with chocolate work if we choose those that contain more heart-healthy fats:


  • Cocoa (and thus chocolate) contains flavonoids - the same headline-grabbing health-promoting substances found in tea, red wine and soy foods.

  • Studies suggest that chocolate's flavonoids may help protect against heart disease and stroke by slowing blood's ability to clot, and by reducing the potential for plaque build-up inside artery walls.

  • Cocoa's main fat, stearic acid, may be heart-healthy. Our bodies convert it to a monounsaturated fat.

  • For an occasional treat, choose dark chocolate. It's got slightly more flavonoids and proportionately more stearic acid than milk chocolate.

  • A 3/4-oz. bar of milk chocolate has a whopping 15 grams of fat, with less than 4 grams of it from stearic acid. The equivalent dark bar has about the same amount of fat with 6 grams of stearic acid. Still no health bargain, but a little better!

  • For a more common indulgence, try real cocoa. Make hot cocoa with skim milk or low-fat soymilk - and use it in cooking.



My darling chocolate here I come!

2 comment(s):
At 9:17 PM, Dr. Emer commented...

Love can be requited if you choose your chocos. If you have problems about weight gain, do not worry. Dark chocolates are best. They contain less fat. Fat in chocolates tends to be more when they are mixed with milk like white chocolates or chocos with milk fats in it. You can always check the wrapper and the fineprint. And yes, a hot cup of true cocoa is best. Max Brenner is my Starbucks. Chocolate is good for your heart and mind. =)

 
At 9:48 AM, loryces commented...

hehe salamat po sa tip! pero minsan inaabot ng kamay ko ang kitkat eh. hehe.

 

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Stem Cell Research

The topics covered for our investigative essay in English 101 included stem cell research. Frankly, I know nothing about this until today. After reading a lot of websites and articles about it, I definitely say it's interesting. No wonder it's laden with controversies. Just look and read what is it about.


Stem cell research involves the study of how an organism develops from a single cell to an adult organism. This promising area of biology has led scientists to believe and investigate the possibility of treating diseases using cell-based therapies, among other uses. However, like many scientific fields, stem cell research has generated more scientific inquiries as well as ethical and moral questions. Some people believe that using and destroying an embryo for research is tantamount to killing a human being. Supporters of stem cell research, on the other hand, argue that the scientific consequences of stem cell research far outweigh the moral and ethical problems the
opposition has raised.


For a simple explanation of what stem cells are, click here for an animated look. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division. They also have the remarkable potential to differentiate into many different cell types in the body. They serve as a sort of repair system in the living body of a plant or animal. These unspecialized stem cells can come from either the embryo or adults. Stem cells that come from embryos are termed embryonic stem cells or ESC; those from adults are adult stem cells or ASC.


Proponents of the stem cell research would like to study the behavior of ESC because it has shown great potential for research and treating diseases. These diseases include Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and cancer -- a pretty heavy list of degenerative and debilitating diseases. Just reading about the remarkable potential of stem cells is enough for me to say "Fund the research! Support it! " However, to do so would involve the destruction or harvesting of embryos. Now, we all know what an embryo is right? That's where the opposition comes in. According to them, harvesting them for research is like murdering people.


Pretty heavy stuff. So what do you think: are you in favor or not of stem cell research?

4 comment(s):
At 12:04 AM, Anonymous commented...

Totally not in favor of killing embryonic children to get their cells just because their cells happen to show the potential of saving thousands!!! Life starts at conception! Who are we to play GOd?

http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=2&art_id=24196

 
At 5:33 AM, Pia commented...

Wow ha.. nalito ako dun.. hehe.. now you know why I'll never take anything medical-related! :) hehehe... hanggang web design and programming lang ako! ;D

 
At 10:20 AM, Manang commented...

Hi loryces, I'm Lory, a Filipina doctor now a stay-at-home mom in US.
I have always been interested in that topic so I clicked on it in the Phils accd to blogs link.
I am never comfortable about playing God. Aside from that, who would benefit from this science? Only those who has the money for the studies related to it, those who have the money to undergo treatment using that technology, and it will be a profitable business indeed. It will just widen the gap between the poor and the rich. I can foresee something in the likes of kidney transplant where the rich countries look for "donors" from the poor countries (they earn a lot being middlemen, the poor people suffering the consequences of selling their body parts just to get food on the table).

 
At 12:52 PM, loryces commented...

thanks guys for the input! :)

 

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Just my luck

After this incident, I thought my spell of bad luck is over. I should have known that luck, whether good or bad, comes in threes. I went to my (supposed) supervisor and asked her about my situation regarding my job status in her department, whether I'm out or in. She told me she still wanted me for the job. However, they badly needed an assistant right now and the solution she came up with is to hire somebody until the end of September. If, by that time, I have my SSN, then the job is mine. Until then, it belongs to someone else.


I also checked my email today and found this:


I'm very sorry about this mix-up. I have no record of having received your order. However,I checked my Amazon account and find that you DID INDEED order it. I have the book in hand and will put it in the mail to you tomorrow, July 13, 2004. Again, I'm very sorry about this.

Apparently that's the reason I never got my book I ordered from Amazon. I kept waiting 'til past the scheduled delivery date and still no book. I thought that's just how it is. Oh well. The summer is almost over and now the powers that be are telling me that I have no job and no book (which I really needed for this subject I'm taking).

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The Day I Ditched Classes

I did it. I really did.



I've been thinking about it for a while now. Not to get away from anything or anyone. More like a dare on whether I can do it or not. One of those crazy ideas that required guts, of which I don't have... until now. So anyway, last Thursday, after completing some of my requirements on my classes, I headed off to the mall. Saw Spiderman (which was good) and bought some much-needed (and other uncalled for) doodads. Bought 2 blouses from Gap (at low prices of course), a book, a Spiderman OST (I love the songs!), sandals ($9.99 lang eh -- this is cheap actually), and some not-necessary-but-I-want-it accessories. Oh to shop is such a nice way to unwind! Haha.


P.S. Dar, sorry di na kita nasabihan. Spur of the moment eh. Lam mo naman ako baliw.

4 comment(s):
At 4:11 PM, lifecafe commented...

hahaha...
viva la résistance!

...or something to that effect. hehe. :)

 
At 6:28 PM, loryces commented...

hehe. hay sarap magrebelde! har har.

 
At 11:19 AM, Tanya commented...

hehehe.. i know how you feel.. shucks i remember my cutting days. hehehe! especially the my last year in college, those were the "ay bahala na.." days. hehehe! :-p

 
At 7:54 AM, Anonymous commented...

Funny you need to acquire guts to ditch a class. The desire and the guts to desert a class is like something that comes from within you. It does with me, atleast.

 

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Calling a Friend

It's hard bonding with your friends when you're miles apart from each other. Sometimes it could pretty hard talking to them over the phone, what with the static and the not-so-clear lines. It's also irritating to listen to the "you have one more minute remaining" or the abrupt and familiar ding, signifying the end of the call. However, at times like these, calling them over the phone is the next best thing.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!


Padala mo na lang dito yung libre mo hehe.

2 comment(s):
At 12:22 AM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

Thank you! :) Kung meron lang, why not? Hehehe. Kaso wala eh. :p

 
At 6:29 PM, loryces commented...

happy birthday uli! sana maging masaya ang ika-24 na taon mo sa mundo. :)

 

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Spider-man and Matrix Finds

Spider-man 2 is definitely better than the first one. The way they combined action and drama with subtle hints of comedy is very effective. Although sometimes, Tobey can be a little bit stoic, but then, it fits the theme of the movie. Kirsten Dunst is impeccable. Same goes with Alfred Molina, J.K. Simmons, and Rosemary Harris. However I had the surprise of my life -- not on the way the movie ended or any Spidey-related scenes -- when I saw two actors who have been part of one of my fave TV Shows. I'm talking about Ted Raimi (Hoffman) and Bruce Campbell (snooty usher). They have been guest stars in the now-defunct Xena: Warrior Princess as Joxer and Autolycus, respectively. BTW Sam Raimi, director of the Spidey movies, developed XWP and is Ted Raimi's older brother. No wonder they were part of the cast huh?


Some trivia from IMDB.com:


  • Ted Raimi added the line to the Spider-Man 2 script where Spider-Man complains about his back.

  • Bruce Campbell baby-sat Ted Raimi and Sam Raimi

  • Producers of Spider-man actually wanted Heath Ledger to play Peter Parker, but Sam Raimi insisted on Tobey Maguire. Mary Jane Watson was initially offered to Kate Hudson, who refused the role in favor of the epic flop The Four Feathers. Ironically, Ledger also starred in that ill-advised project.

  • Daniel Gillies (who plays the astronaut-fiance of Mary Jane) is the real-life fiance of actress Rachael Leigh Cook.

  • Lastly, Spider-man 3 is scheduled for a May 2007 release!



Also, the lines Peter recited to MJ were taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha, Chapter 2 The Four Winds:


In his life he had one shadow,

In his heart one sorrow had he.

Once, as he was gazing northward,

Far away upon a prairie

He beheld a maiden standing,

Saw a tall and slender maiden

All alone upon a prairie;

Brightest green were all her garments,

And her hair was like the sunshine.

Day by day he gazed upon her,

Day by day he sighed with passion,

Day by day his heart within him

Grew more hot with love and longing

For the maid with yellow tresses.

But he was too fat and lazy

To bestir himself and woo her.

Yes, too indolent and easy

To pursue her and persuade her;

So he only gazed upon her,

Only sat and sighed with passion

For the maiden of the prairie.


*sigh*


Oh don't you just love the artworks featured at the start of the movie? Here's the official website of the artist, Alex Ross.


On an another note, here's a Matrix find:




A 10 DVD Collector's Set to be released on December!!! Eeep!


Thanks Rej for the link.

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Daddy

That's what I call my father... Daddy. I miss saying that name and I miss my dad. I wonder how's he doing right now. You know, I never knew much about my dad. What I know is I love him so much that I'm willing to forgive him for not being there for us. He's a good man, my dad. We're always on his mind, I know and feel that. He provides for our needs and wants. But sometimes I feel he's distancing himself from us intentionally. For years, we would be lucky if we could see him once a year (he's a seaman, you see). After his contract, he'll stay for a month or two. However, if he stayed more than that, he'll start to drink and get hot-tempered. He'll look for a job then and once he has one, he's off to Japan or Paris for months and sometimes, years. Our only communication was, and still is, through phone. How much can you say in one phone call anyway? Not much. We would patiently wait our turn to talk to him and for how long? Just a measly 2 minutes. But I treasure those 10-minute phonecalls. Why wouldn't I? It's our only connection to him, whether we like it or not.


I wonder what it would be like to have a father who's both physically and emotionally present? I wish that... so much. I don't know if it's too late for us -- my mom, my sister, my brother, me and my dad. I want us to talk, to cry, to laugh over trivial things, to bond. I want to spend some time with my dad. I've waited all my life for that, and still waiting.


Now that I think about it, I might have gotten my stay-distant-or-you'll-get-hurt attitude from my dad. *snicker*

3 comment(s):
At 8:23 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

you know what? you're right. it's great to have a father in the family who is always present. i should know, i have one. i'm grateful for that too. but you also know what? we're BOTH lucky. why? because we both still have fathers who love us, whether physically present or not. :)

 
At 10:12 PM, bibeduck commented...

when i say "i know how you feel", i mean it--my father's a seaman, too (and i call him "daddy" as well)! kakauwi lang nya this mid-june and i'm cherishing every moment that i spend with him.

i hope you also see your dad again very soon. :-)

 
At 4:53 AM, Anonymous commented...

before the mess that is our life now, my dad was there all the time, ever-loving, ever-caring. it's a little dificult thinking back to those times now, when things are so bleak.

--rej
http://sunshinysarcasm.blurty.com

 

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Bye Mattie

A friend introduced me to Mattie Stepanek's works when we went to Barnes and Noble the other day. I didn't know who he was then and was not really interested. However, my friend explained that Mattie has been considered one of the best-selling poets in recent years, only, he was 13 and a muscular dystrophy sufferer. That got my attention. Muscular dystrophy is one rare and very crippling disease. Para syang ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) version para sa mga bata. It's just not right for children to undergo the symptoms of muscular dystrophy. Just breaks your heart. What Mattie had was dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a genetic disease that impaired almost all his body systems. I think his mother has the adult version of it and three older siblings died of it in early childhood. Anyway I read in an article by CNN that Mattie died last June 22. Well, goodbye Mattie. Thank you for the inspiration.



Read the full article here.

2 comment(s):
At 4:02 AM, ina commented...

yeah, i heard about Mattie Stepanek's death din. parang ang dami niyang na-accomplish in his short time in this world.

 
At 12:55 PM, loryces commented...

onga eh. well i'm glad he's in a better place. :)

 

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Darn

After a number of job applications (which literally ended in the trash can), I got my break when I was hired as a student assistant in the Nursing department. I diligently filed for my SSN because I still haven't got one and it's the major requirement before I am allowed to work. Days have passed into weeks but it was still ok. They told me the process will take at least 2-3 weeks so I sat tight and waited. When the 3rd week has passed, I started to worry but not enough to merit a call to the SSS office. Weeks turned into months and I was near hysteria. I ditched classes one day and called the SSS main office. They, in turn, told me to go to the office from which I applied months ago. And so the next day, with all grogginess and my papers at my back, I stormed through their office and, as respectfully as I could, asked them what the heck happened to my application. It seems the Immigration hasn't corresponded with them yet regarding my official documents hence SSS can't and won't process my application. They also explained that usually, in this kind of situation, the processing will take about 6-8 weeks. Now they tell me?!? Sigh. No SSS = No job. I called my instructor (actually her answering machine) and explained what happened. Tomorrow I'm going to see her about it. I'm prepared to "resign" (weird I didn't even have a job and I call it resign haha) since it's very unfair towards my instructor. She badly needs an assistant and I badly need a job and yet look what fate has given us. Sigh. Just my luck.


Kainis talaga. Kakagigil. Maya-maya nyan, nakakuha na yung instructor ko ng kapalit ko tapos after a week or so, saka ko makukuha ang SSS ko. Yan ang swerte. *insert uber sarcasm*

6 comment(s):
At 3:26 AM, Pia commented...

That just sucks man. I'm sorry to hear that you have to resign from a job you haven't started yet. That terribly terribly sucks! :(

 
At 8:38 PM, ~*galenlondeien*~ commented...

ok lang yan. if it's not meant for you, wala na tayong magagawa. but then, there's going to be something better in store for you! :)

 
At 10:43 PM, ginnyskywalker commented...

hi, lau. kainis nga ang pop-ups. but i have no choice. darned tripod. baka gusto mo ako i-host? HAHAHAHAHA! good luck sa job hunting. =) miss na kita. mwah!

 
At 6:36 AM, Anonymous commented...

hi ate, okie lng yan, remember, ganyan din ako for almost 3 months, pero sa tyaga ko, awa ng diyos nakakuha din ako ng work, may nagkamali ding kumuha,hehehehehe don't worry, be happy,hehehehe mwahhh :)

 
At 3:48 AM, ina commented...

hayy, i know how you feel, i'm in a similar situation. waiting and waiting before i can get work...

 
At 12:26 PM, loryces commented...

nakakaasar tlga. :(