Citizen of the Earth

200 Years of World History in 4 Minutes (Amazing Video)

2011-02-22T06:49:00.000-08:00

Han Rosling attempts to graphically show the history of the world in the past 200 years in this 4 minute video. Interesting presentation of facts demonstrating over 120,000 statistics in 4 minutes. This video is part of the BBC Project: The Joy of Stats.

Image Source: BBC

Newly Wed 13 Year Old Girl Dies of Bleeding

2010-04-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

A 13-year-old Yemeni young lady coming from SAN'A, Yemen has died due to wounds found to her genital area 4 nights following a family fixed matrimony, according to a human rights group.

The concept of marrying very young girls is actually common within Yemen and seems to have drawn the eye of worldwide legal rights organizations wanting to demand the authorities to support ban on child marriage. Legislation that could allow it to become against the law for all those younger than 17 to be able to marry is at critical spot following solid resistance coming from a number of Yemen's most powerful Islamic frontrunners.

The 13-year-old lass from Hajja province, northwest part of the capital of Yemen, passed away on April 2, just only four days after the girl's marriage with a 23-year-old man. A medical statement coming from al-Thawra infirmary stated the young girl suffered a laceration to her genital area as well as excessive hemorrhaging. Respective authorities held up the spouse for questioning.

The Yemeni legal rights group mentioned the young girl ended up being wedded away in an arrangement involving 2 men to wed each other's sisters in order to avoid recompensing costly bride-prices. The human rights group asserted that this is a typical set up in the profoundly poverty-stricken country.

Yemen's riveting impoverishment takes on a part in blocking initiatives to expel this practice, as very poor households end up incapable to say no to high-priced bride-prices.

A lot more than a quarter of this country's females get married before age 15, based on a record this past year from the Social Affairs Ministry. Tribe cultures furthermore plays a part, such as the perception that a younger bride-to-be could be shaped towards becoming a submissive wife, give birth to more children and also be held from enticement.

In the previous month, several of the nation's highest Islamic government bodies announced all those promoting a ban on child marriages as renegades.

A February 2009 legislation established the bare minimum age for marriage at 17, however it had been repealed as well as re-sent to parliament's constitutional committee for evaluation immediately after several members of the congress referred to it as un-Islamic. The committee will be likely to come up with a final verdict for the legislation this month.

Additional blockading the attempt is the government's weak unwillingness to face the clerics along with other traditional tribal authorities, whose backup is crucial.

The matter of Yemen's child brides received popular interest 3 years in the past when an 8-year-old girl bravely resolved to go by herself to a courtroom and called for a judge to break-up her marriage with a man in his 30s. The kid at some point gained a divorce, and legislators started investigating solutions to restrain the practice.

Around September, a 12-year-old Yemeni bride died just after having difficulties for 3 days in birth labor.

Yemen at one time set the age of 15 as being the minimum age intended for marriage, however parliament nullified that legislation during the 1990s, declaring parents must determine when a girl marries.

There are some deeply rooted cultures together with impoverishment that provides insalubrious environment for some of us.

Singing Could Actually Help Stroke Patients to Speak Again

2010-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Scientists from the United States discovered that singing can help stroke patients having speech troubles. Medical doctors from 2 medical universities explained that they had positive results with helping stroke patients to sing words and phrases rather than speak them.

The groundbreaking method was tested with success during continuous and monitored sessions for stroke patients who are left struggling to speak after enduring injury to the left part of their brain.

The therapy is termed Music Intonation Therapy (MIT). One of many doctors, Gottfried Schlaug, provided an instance where this theraphy for stroke patients showed a favorable outcome. The doctor recorded a video of an individual who had a stroke and couldn't say the lyrics of a birthday song. The patient can just pronounce the albhabets N and O. As soon as Dr. Schlaug requested him to sing the birthday song, the phrases "happy birthday to you" came out easily. Schlaug explained: "This patient utters meaningless sounds when we ask him to say the words but as soon as we asked him to sing, he was able to speak the words."

It Is Not a Coincidence
Whenever parents talk to kids, it is usually in a singsong or melodic manner. That may be no coincidence, experts point out, considering the fact that music along with language tend to be so elaborately associated within the human brain.

Experts are utilizing this essential link concerning song and speech to treat sufferers who have lost their capability to talk. There is proof that music may be used to assist people who have critical brain problems be able to talk again, researchers stated during the yearly conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The investigation team remains to be unclear on exactly how MIT helps these stroke patients. Dr. Schlaug provides one particular explanation. He said that our brain processes music in a different section from that which handles speech, however there are parts that overlap. "Music-making is a multisensory experience that simultaneously activates several systems in the brain and links and loops them together. It engages many regions of the brain," he explained. Music Intonation Therapy could be a very lengthy treatment. It could carry on for about 16 years and also involves by the hour therapy five days per week. What's promising is actually the advantages of MIT are often irreversible.

Medical practitioners have acknowledged for over a century that stroke patients who are unable to converse will often sing distinctly. The reason being is that the area of the human brain that processes language is actually independent from the part of the brain that deals with music.

This approach originated during the seventies, however it was overlooked, Dr Schlaug told the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 'We took the method another step by taking this therapy and really proving the efficacy of this,' he said.

Resources here, here and here.

Gadgets to Watch Out for in 2010?

2010-02-11T03:56:00.000-08:00

With 2009 past behind us, you are definitely on my side that there are some useless gadgets from last year that were not so much a hit (and a not so good idea to start with), and we're hoping that new gadgets this year would be better enough to wow us (at least... if we can't buy).

Here are some gadgets “now showing” for 2010:

1.Amazon Kindle 2 International Version

This e-reader has it's second generation released in 2009, but during that time it was only released in the US, and after releasing an international version (which could work in over 100 countries), the world is now starting to catch up on this e-book reader.

2.Pandora

A standalone online radio that allows you to listen to thousands of radio stations without the need to connect using your laptop or PC. Pandora music radio also allows you to customize your music and programming by utilizing dedicated “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” button on the device. You don't have to access your computer or setup a software through your PC or phone to connect and listen. It has its own speaker, a remote, connects online using wi-fi, works pretty well with any audio source and can also be used as an alarm clock.

3.Optimus Tactus Keyboard

Imagine your keyboard – without keys. That's what Optimus Tactus Keyboard is all about. It's a touchscreen flat surface “touchboard” (I can no longer use “keyboard” because now it has none). That allows you to program each individual keys on wherever you like it. The cool thing about this keyboard is after pressing here and there, just wipe up those sweat and smudges and you can turn it to a video screen.

4.Nikon S1000PJ

A not so typical compact digital camera that you can bring during a presentation. This 12.1 megapixel camera has a built-in projector. Point and shoot and just press a little button and it will show you your favorite pics and your latest shoots on any flat surface that's up to 40 inches in size. You can also add some music aside from numerous transitions you could do to make your presentation aplomb. (Nikon S1000pj)

5.Apple Tablet

No official news about its release yet but Apple Tablet (iPad) is now getting a lot of attention online. This sleek and thin device is again a multi-touch screen that would enable a user to get online, browse websites, send emails, flick photos and pretty much everything you do online.. (for Apple it means to point and touch). Although there have been a lot of rumors about how this product would fare, there has been a growing criticism about iPad saying it's an iPhone, only it is oversized.

Urine As Source of Energy?

2009-07-10T03:54:00.000-07:00

You’ll never look at pee the same way again. According to a study and technology developed by researchers and scientists in Ohio University, in six months time, urine can now be used to fuel cars, electric devices and can also be a source of electricity for homes.

Researchers and scientists discovered that finally, it can be made possible to get cars, and electric devices working up with the use of hydrogen, and started “greening the ride” by creating prototype hydrogen fuel bus, a transportation vehicle to operate using only water.

Hydrogen is one of the most common element found on Earth, but one that is hard to store, transport and expend, however, scientists have developed a machine that will enable to mix oxygen and hydrogen (water) and then use the device they called the “electrolyzer” to release hydrogen to power up cars and electric devices.

Hydrogen is everywhere around us but there should be a way to collect this element, put it in one container and make use of its energy. And scientists are working to develop a way to store hydrogen in a commercial way.

However, the study and development did not stop there.

They found out that the liquid waste, urine, which is chemically composed of water and sodium chloride or salt, contains a good amount of hydrogen, the source of green energy.

Hydrogen found in urine is bonded with nitrogen, and scientists found out that bonding hydrogen with nitrogen makes it easier to store and transport hydrogen and releasing this chemical element from the bond also requires less amount of electricity, compared when hydrogen is bonded with oxygen (water).

Scientists further indicated that using the urine of a single cow can provide enough energy supply to provide hot water for 19 houses. This is what we call “pee power.”

Scientists carry on however, that consumers shouldn’t save their pee just yet.

Scientists’ prototype device that would enable to store and convert pee to energy is still in the labs yet. And they are targeting farms, using animal urines, to develop a livestock farms powered by their own waste.

Pee as source of energy? Hmm, about the smell? I sure won’t complain.

This idea starts to make me think that God made no waste material at all in this world.

Everything can be used up again and again. We just have to use our abilities how.

Day Planner Clock? - Talk About Pressure

2009-07-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Having a hard time scheduling your activities for the day? Then get this day planner clock.

If you're a very visual kind of person, you'll never look at clocks the same way again with this clock aka planner. This "Trace of Time" clock has the hour hand smartly incorporated with a whiteboard eraser. And you can pretty well write your activities for the day on the clock surface. Neat? Huh?

Just make sure that you write all you activities pretty small to fit the tiny space of each hours. Funny. This clock literally shows you that once the time passed, well it's totally erased!

Interesting Environmentalist Video

2009-05-19T17:06:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine created this very interesting video.

Watch this and ask yourself. "What am I doing?"

We're not that big to do immense changes to our planet, but what we can do, small things or even close to being small things to help save the environment. And if all of us contribute our pocket sized concern, it will definitely bring about a huge difference.

Swine Flu Pandemic - A Hoax?

2009-05-03T01:24:00.000-07:00

Recent reports say swine flu pandemic may not be a real pandemic at all.

For the past few weeks we have been alarmed and perplexed by news alerts about a threat of pandemic on its way to our doorstep . We have been bombarded in the last few weeks with 24 hour news coverage about the swine flu virus and the risk of influenza A Virus pandemic on its way.

As I’m writing this, the WHO (World Health Organization) has raised the Swine Flu Pandemic alert level to 5 out of its 6-Level threat scale. By doing this, WHO has just set PANIC to our hearts and minds.

However, looking back to previous outbreaks or pandemic occurrences in the past, (this is not first time there had been a “swine flu pandemic”) we can be better informed about this swine flu pandemic that is emerging.

Being alarmed about this, I have searched the internet to get more updates. But instead I come across from the mail, a very informative article which has shed light in my panic-stricken mind.

Read the article here: Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic - Fact or Fiction?

Here’s another eye-opening video. Most scientific researchers think that this video poses an answer to what may be the cause of the swine flu outbreak.

A Tribute for Samuel Morse: Morse Doodle for Google

2009-04-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

A cute Google Doodle for Samuel Morse.

Cute isn't it?

I really enjoy the creative designs and makes me remember holidays simply by opening my homepage. =)

Check out for more Google Doodles.

Objectum Sexuals and Mecaphiles – True Love for Inanimate Objects?

2009-04-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

Woman Marries Eiffel and More

A woman declares her intense feelings to a tall, dark and erect… object. The Eiffel Tower.

Photosource: Independent.co.uk

Ex-US Army pilot Erika, now known as Erika La Tour Eiffel (she married the thingie 2 years ago), formally tied the knot with the famous 1,000 ft iron tower located on Champ de Mars near the Seine River in Paris.

We are all astounded by the tower’s magnificent beauty but for her, it was true love at first sight. Erika is one of the few people who call themselves “Objectum Sexuals,” or those who feel emotional desire for particular inanimate things, their intense feelings towards objects varying from a regular home furniture, electrical appliances, to a towering edifice like the Eiffel or Berlin Wall. (Objectum Sexuality or Objektsexualität in German was first coined by a woman named Eija-Riitta Eklöf Berliner-Mauer who married Berlin Wall 29 years ago.) It was a smooth relationship so far. They never had a fight whatsoever.

According to Mrs. Eiffel, her desire for objects didn’t happen overnight. As a former world champion in archery, she confesses that she had an ex-love, and that was her bow she calls Lance. They broke up years ago and she’s now having a hard time shooting arrows because she and Lance never had a formal break up. It was complicated.

To date, there are at least 40 self-confessed Objectum Sexuals and most of them are women. Others think they are crazy but they think they are just following their heart. More than half of these Objectum Sexuals are Europeans and most of them suffer from Asperger Syndrome which is a condition when a person has a difficulty interacting with others and has limited empathy with his or her peers.

According to an interview with psychotherapist from New York named Jerry Brooker: “"It is not that an Asperger person does not long for human relationships; they do, desperately. But someone who falls in love with objects can control that relationship on their own terms. Their objects will not let them down. That is extremely attractive for a person who is otherwise often desperately lonely."

For Erika, Mrs. Berlin Wall and other Objectum Sexuals, they want more control in their relationships and loving and inanimate object is just the perfect commitment. They won’t be rejected and they will be loved no matter what.

Mecaphiles - Strange Love

Moving on, have you guys heard of Mecaphiles? Hmm, I guess you’ve already heard about guys falling in love and making L-O-V-E with their cars right? Not yet? Mechapile is a new coined word (it doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page yet.)

You may find it interesting to watch a documentary about this strange love for CARS on YouTube. Two guys confess intense eherm, sexual feelings of desire to their sleek and sexy… car. Nasty enough, you can opt not to watch the videos, some say it’s just for fun, but see for yourself… if you like. =)

My Car is My Lover Part 1

My Car is My Lover Part 2

My Car is My Lover Part 3

(Embedding disabled.)

My Car is My Lover Part 4

My Car is My Lover Part 5

My Car is My Lover Part 6

We may find the idea unsettling, but for these groups of people, who knows, maybe it’s just a reaction for this world where people starts to lose their human touch thus more people are less motivated to trust others. (I guess this is better than locking up your daughter inside your cellar for 24 years… or thrusting sharp knives to other people’s head or eating a fetus. Urgh.

15 Most Unbelievable X-ray Images

2009-04-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

After my post about interesting x-ray images, here's the latest collection of 15 most unbelievable x-ray images.

1. Lance Armstrong “screwed”
This is an x-ray image of Tour de-France champion Lance Armstrong’s collarbone. His bones were severely dislocated orthopedic surgeons had to “screw” him with 12-inch long screws. (March 009)

2. Pierced by a fishing spear
Emerson de Oliveira Abreu encountered a very dreadful experience while diving off the coast of Rio de Janeiro when his brain was strucked with a 6-inch spear. Reports say, he himself owns the spear that pierced him, fired it towards the coral but bounced back striking his skul so deep. He was under the knife for 5 hours before he was surprisingly declared out of danger. Whew. (March 29, 2009).

3. Jabbed in the skull
Michael Hill of Jacksonville Florida was stabbed in the head with a 7-inch knife by an unknown person who appeared infront of his door last 2007. He currently holds the Guiness World Records Title: “Largest Object Removed From Human Skull.”

4. Poor Chinese Girl
X-ray of Luo Cuifen, a 29 year old Chinese girl who was discovered to have 23 sewing needles inside her body. Cuifen was complaining about blood in her urine last 2007 and when doctors did an x-ray on her, found out sewing needles floating and scattered in her body, piercing her kidneys, liver, lungs and other vital organs. There has been a speculation that the needles were inserted when she was still a baby, because some of the needles had already broken off to pieces. She said that her grandparents must have been the ones responsible for this because they were expecting a boy when she was born. This however will never be confirmed because her grandparents are both deceased. OUCH!!! Her feelings must have been hurt knowing this…

5. Afghan Boy Stabbed
X-ray of a 10-year old Afghan boy stabbed deeply in the head as he was trying to protect his father from a customer who had gone berserk. He was saved and operated by the Britain’s Reserve Territorial Army and had survived the chilling incident.

6. Leg of chair inside the eye socket
Atrocious x-ray images of the skull of Shafique el-Fahkri, a 19-year old teenager from Melbourne, Australia. He was rushed to the hospital last Febuary 2007, after he was attacked by another 19-year old teenager in a bar brawl at nightclub in the city. He was strucked with a chair and one of its leg piercing through his head, just below his eyes straight to his neck. It was a metal chair.

The metal was successfully removed from the teens head after a three-hour complex operation.

7. Nail Gun Accident
X-ray of Patrick Lawler, 23 showing a four-inch nail embedded into his head, taken last January 2005. The accident happened 6 days earlier when Lawler had a construction accident where a nailgun backfired and one nail pierced through his mouth. He didn’t notice the nail in his mouth only until he felt an extremely painful toothache accompanied with a blurry vision.

After a visit to the dentist only did he realize what he was keeping inside his head. It was removed after a 4-hour operation leaving him with less than $100,000 hospital bills. Oh no, he had no medical insurance.

8. Toddler with Car keys lodged in his brain
Horrifying x-ray image of Nicholas Holderman when he was 20 months old. He was accidently stabbed with keys in his eye while playing in the living room with his elder brothers. Doctors removed the keys from his eyes, without any damages to the brain. Amazing. Amazing.

9. Terrible nail gun accident
Construction worker, Isidro Mejia, fell from a roof, unfortunately falling on top another co-worker using a nail gun. 6 nails drove into Mejia’s head, penetrating his brain and the base of his skull. He survived the operation.

10. Steel Balls swallowed
8 year old girl from Indiana was rushed to the hospital after she accidentally swallowed steel balls and magnet from her toy set. She had immediate surgery, survived the operation after being hospitalized for 2 weeks.

11. Dog swallows a knife
A Saint Bernard swallowed a 13-inch knife last 2005. He was fine after the operation and the incident only left him with an 8-inch scar.

12. Comb stabbed in the skull
X-ray of Louis Pepe, when he was stabbed by comb in the skull last 2000. He lost his left eye and affected his right eye as well. The comb caused him much damage paralyzing his right arm and leg and his ability to speak. The attacker was sentenced 23 years imprisonment.

13. Risk of having a surgery
A pair of 6-inch surgical scissors was left inside a woman’s abdomen after her operation. Pat Skinner, had an operation last 2004 to remove her colon at a hospital in Sydney, Australia. 18 months after the operation, she suffered excruciating pain in her abdomen. When she had an x-ray, they found a 6.7-inch surgical scissors. Traumatic.

14. Another knife misuse
A 16-year old boy was stabbed in the head by a knife last 2007. An unusual supermarket incident.

15. Korean man with a nail in the skull
A South Korean complained about a very bad headache and doctors discovered a rusty nail resting inside his head. Doctors say that the nail was embedded inside his skull four years earlier. That’s a looong, agonizing headache.

Josef Fritzl is a Monster

2009-03-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

I’m glad I let that off my chest. After my first post about Josef Fritzl incest and sex-slavery to his very own daughter Elizabeth Fritzl, downright anger and grief surfaced on my mind, thinking that there is actually a monstrous man capable of doing this form of evil act and to his own flesh and blood for that matter.

News shows photos of him covering his face with a blue binder to save some dignity if there’s something left, but no cover or any form of concealment would make me forget his face. Who would forget about this man’s despicable eyes, agelong roguish eyebrows, twitched moustache and a displeasing face oozing with evilness and immorality?

He truly is a monster. He doesn’t deserve the air he breaths and he doesn’t even deserve the body he was given. He’s too old to suffer the consequences and though criminal law enforcers and the Austrian court would make him pay for all his malevolence, they would not be able to turn back the years spent and wasted by Elizabeth Fritzl and her children in the cold and dark cellar they were in for 2 decades.

Elizabeth describes her life in 24 years in a few words. Lights out. Rape. Lights on. Mouldy walls. Lights out. Rape in front of children. Lights on. Mouldy Walls. Birth. Lights Out. Rape.

According to Elizabeth’s 11 hour video testimony that was not released in public, she was already being sexually assaulted by his father at age 11. And when she was 18, Josef Fritzl lured Elizabeth to the underground prison by pretending to need Elizabeth’s help in fixing the cellar door. He forced her inside, handcuffed her and the rest is 24 years of undeserved, unjust and utterly unforgivable slavery to his own daughter.

Elizabeth and her children are kept away in a safe place and were given new identities to help them start over and have a new life. They will be masked, given their new names, a new life, but what happened in the past will never be erased and all we could hope is for the unfortunate Elizabeth and her kids to move on, get all the support they could get, enjoy the sun and pray that this would never happen again.

Read news here, here and here.

Older Dads Cause Lower Child’s IQ

2009-03-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

After being surprised reading the news about the youngest father of Britain, here’s a new scientific finding for those 40+ year old husbands who don’t feel like having a baby yet.

New findings reveal that children who have older dads tend to have lower IQ performance than those children who have younger fathers.

In a research study conducted to 33,000 children with ages ranging from 8 months, 4 years and 7 years old, those children who have fathers aged 50 and above, scored 6 points lower compared to children with fathers in their late 20s and early 30s. This is based on the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale. Though it has been assumed before that children with older parents tend to have higher or advanced skill set, the scientific study proved otherwise.

The study suggested that this may be because of the age-related genetic mutation of the sperm wherein aside from the high risk possibility of fathering to children with dwarfism, men are also more likely to produce offspring with lower IQ if they have babies later in life.

Aside from this discovery, the test also showed results that children with older mothers tend to have a higher IQ level if paired with younger dads. Hmm. The intelligence test results showed that children of older women scored higher compared to children with teenage moms.

According to the study this is due to the fact that older mothers tend to be more mature and spends time more on their children, and therefore nurtures the child’s mental growth.

However, for very old mothers still planning pregnancy, you can put your plans on halt because they still suggest that the optimal age for fathers and mothers to have a baby is the same.

Researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia stated that the ideal age to for having children is in the 20s and early 30s.

Alfie Patten: Britain’s Youngest Father

2009-02-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

The world was taken aback by this quite surprising news about a 13 year old boy coming out of the public saying he has fathered a child. Alfie Patten, 13 and his partner Chantelle, 15 showed their baby to the world last February 12, 2009 leaving viewers in awe. Seeing Alfie Patten who looks more like an eight year old kid, I was having a hard time seeing a father image in him.

Chantelle gave birth to cute little girl, they named Maisie at a local hospital in Eastbourne. Patten was 12 when he was said to have fathered the baby.

Picture source: TheSun.co.uk

He was even interviewed, and I’ve copy pasted some excerpts on how he answered the interview.

When asked if he loved Chantelle he said: ‘Dunno.

Did you get her a Valentine's card? ‘No!’

Did you know how babies were made before you had sex with Chantelle? ‘Course’.

Do you like changing the baby's nappies? ‘It's OK but getting it back in the clothes is hard - the arms are the worst bit.’

Are you looking forward to getting back to school soon? ‘No, school's dead boring.’

What are your favourite subjects? ‘Dunno. Haven't got any. Not maths.’

What would you like to do when you grow up? ‘Go in the Army, but Mum says she won't let me.’

This may not be the first time that we heard of young fathers or young birth mothers but somehow we can’t help but picture what will come out of this situation after the media buzz is over.

News said that Alfie’s family sold his story for a five figure amount and even some his relatives said that his father is to be blamed about this surprising teenage oddity if I must say.

Seeing some of Alfie’s pictures I was concerned and a little bit distraught. I can say I was deeply troubled on how such a kid got capable of doing this “grown up thing” and made a baby out of it. Should the media be blamed, or should sex education be taught to kids earlier?

I just imagine this kid would now have to think about changing diapers or mixing baby’s formula than play outdoors and spend time with other kids his age. It’s sad to imagine that his childhood memory will be all about having a baby at such an early age with all the papers and reporters taking pictures of his clueless face and that tiny little baby in his arms.

Teenage sex has gotten quite more uncontrollable nowadays and we keep on hearing news of younger teens being forced to parenthood and losing their innocence at a very young age. Somehow adults should take responsibility on how to control this matter.

Read more about Baby faced daddy Alfie Patten, here, here and here.

Men More Attracted to Women in Red

2009-01-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

Red Alert: Men more attracted to women in red

Forget the saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Lady in red gets more points. Wondering what dress to wear on a date? Here's a quick tip on what color to pick! A new psychological study conducted at the University of Rochester found out that men are more physically attracted to a woman if she wears red. The report from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reports that the impact of color red to man's emotion are more positive and they tend to be more attracted and "smitten" to ladies in red.

Previous study showed that wearing red lipstick can prove to be a woman's secret weapon to attract men, but new studies show that wearing red dresses or clothing aside from your luscious red lips can add more attractive points to women.

WHY is red such a potent color, well that would be another topic but the study and various experiments conducted to 100 men show this "scarlet" results. According to study conducted by the American Psychological Association, Men were asked to give grades to pictures of women. Rate the pictures based on good looks, how much they would like to kiss them, their intelligence and how kind they look. They were also asked to provide in details on what type of date they would like to take each woman. Results showed that those women wearing in red scored higher points and are most likely to get an expensive date from men. According to a psychology professor Andrew Elliot, "It is attractive to find something like [ever-present] that the color has an impact on our behavior without our awareness."

And from another study conducted last October 2008, a red shade on surroundings can change how men perceive a woman. The study asked men to see pictures of women and this time, women are not wearing red but selected women are placed on red frames. And these women scored higher and men are more willing to spend twice on a date.

With these results APA added that men are genetically programmed to be attracted to the color of love and passion. Even primates or apes are said to display such behavior.

Well, another reason why men are like monkeys? Oh no, that's just below the buckle. =)

Pigeons Can Be Used to Measure Pollution

2009-01-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

Studies conducted in pigeons in Jaipur City show that Pigeons can be used to measure a city of pollution. According to researchers at the University of Rajasthan, in Northern India, "Heavy metal in the home enter the pigeon's feathers, and remain even after the pigeon feathers are shed." New Delhi's Gobar Times explains that since pigeons usually live in a fixed area, the levels of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead detected in their feathers may be an accurate indicator of local pollution.

Pigeons have a 35 year maximum life span. They more adapt to living on coastal cliffs, buildings in towns and cities. Last 2006, a science project conducted in Northern California used Pigeons to monitor pollution in the Northern California skies. Attached with backpacks containing sensors, GPS and a cellphone they are released to monitor the air composition of a certain location.

Cool.

Heart Attack Alert: Bad Boss is Dangerous to Your Health

2009-01-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

This is a news worth sending your boss.

Heart Attack Symptoms

Tired of your job as well as you boss? Are you satisfied with your job? Recent findings show that having a bad boss can cause heart attack. This is the conclusion of a Swedish learning institute in management style and health. According to researchers, the poor treatment of managers can add risk of having heart attack symptoms to its employees. A study was conducted in Stockholm University where 3,000 male workers are asked to fill up a detailed list of questions about their working condition and about their boss. The questionnaire also includes if the employees are well treated by their boss, if their seniors communicate properly or if they provide positive feedbacks. Other questions looked at how much work bosses provided to workers and how well they outlined their goals. The research study discovered that workers who have good bosses have healthier condition and fewer heart problems.

"A manager needs to be sincere and care about his or her employees from an individual standpoint and know what motivates them, and understand what their skills and competencies are," said Dawn Hatterer, principal of the Consulting Authority in Frederick, Md. Managers, she said, also should know what employees "want to be when they grow up. That's what keeps people engaged at work, from a management standpoint."

Researchers said they found an unmistakable trend: The longer workers toiled for feckless bosses, the more likely they were to be ailed with heart disease. That was a greater negative effect than if the employee smoked, didn't get enough exercise, was overweight, or had high cholesterol.

The report is published in newspapers and professional Environmental Medicine. This suggests that companies should re-train bosses to improve the health of workers. A healthy workforce will improve the overall health of the company. Investing in providing leadership skills to senior managers can be a good long-term investment. The researchers said a more supportive and understanding boss will reduce the chance that the progress of workers high blood pressure and stress-related illness. Magnus Larsson, an engineer at a large IT company, agreed to report the findings. He believes in his heart attack last year was due to his boss: "The man is a monster. Working for him is a daily experience for eight years," Larsson said.

Sources: BBC News; Newser; Boston News; OEM

Paradox of Our Time

2008-10-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

An interesting poem written by Dr. Bob Moorehead, (actually some says it's George Carlin a comedian or Jeff Dickinson or someone unknown, but either way the Paradox of our Time is a very inspiring piece:

The Paradox of our Time

The paradox of our time in history is that…

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers.
Wider freeways, but narrow viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less.
We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families.
More conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees, but less sense.
More knowledge, but less judgment.
More experts, but more problems.
More medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly,
Laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly,
Stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little,
Watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk to much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make living, but not a life;
We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less;
We plan more but accomplish less;
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait;
We have higher incomes, but lower morals;
We have more food, but less appeasement;

We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever,
but have less communication.

We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
tall men, short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure; but less fun;
more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality,
one-night stands, overweight bodies,
and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico

2008-09-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Image Source

Have you guys heard of the Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico? This particular ecological nature is not just your ordinary bay. It is considered a very special tourist attraction in Vieques, Puerto Rico for its natural, amazing ecological feature.

The Bioluminescent Bay or Biobay for short is definitely a wonder in nature and taking a dip in it during moonless nights would give you the feeling that you’re like “bathing amongst the stars.”

This attraction caught my attention when I saw a photo on one of the travel catalogues we have at home. It was a really cool sight and just seeing the pictures made me want to visit.

Here are some pictures taken from tourists taking a dip at the Bioluminescent Bay:

Image Source

This bay is very special because it is concentrated with a certain living organism called Pyrodinium bahamense dinoflagellates. It is said that the bioluminescent bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico contains around 700,000 of this light emitting organism per gallon of water. (Now that’s population bomb.)

Image Source

These one-celled microorganisms, once disturbed, get nervous and emit a certain substance that causes their bodies to radiate like crazy. They are said to measure around 0.002 of an inch and once their tiny bodies burst light, it sorts of gives the bay a glowing, bright-green, twinkling appearance against the dark, moonless night.

For most tourists, the Biobay is where the shooting stars fall at night.

I sort of created an imaginary romantic scene on this bay inside my head.

This bay is a must see. Added on my list of travel destinations, page 112... Oh no, make that 113.

Aside from this spectacular bay, there's also a noted event of bioluminescent red tide on 2005 at Carlsbad, California, and here's a taken picture of the crashing glowing waves filled with billions of dinoflagellates.

Amazing isn't it?

Sources: here and here

Diet Pills to Replace Exercise: Could This Magic Pill Be the Answer?

2008-08-12T18:58:00.001-07:00

Scientists have recently discovered a “magic diet pill” that can help a person lose fat minus the exercise. Could this exercise pill be the answer?

A team of researchers and scientists stated on a press release that they have discovered a drug that provides a faster way to burn fats without the gym.

A Breakthrough Exercise Pill for Athletes?

The so-called “exercise pill” called GW1516 (not yet commercially available) was tested on laboratory mice and revealed dramatic results in just four weeks.

The said exercise pill increased treated animals’ resistance by 77 percent. And mice show no signs of fatigue from the strenuous regimen of 50 minutes of treadmill everyday.

Scientists from Salk Institute of Biological Studies stated that the drug activates a certain genetic switch called PPAR delta. When this PPAR delta hormone was activated, it can boost energy levels and improve body resistance against fatigue.

Surprisingly, activating this certain hormone to lab mice resulted more than that, it turned mice into inexhaustible runners with super-endurance (We’re talking about Super Mice here). The mice were fed with high-calorie diet and they showed no signs of gaining weight compared to untreated mice that gained weight fast and turned obese.

Diet Pills without Exercise

In the same study, untreated mice were given another drug called “AICAR.” This is what the scientists refer to as the “ultimate couch potato” test.

They fed untrained, untreated laboratory mice with AICAR and after 4 weeks of providing this drug, the mice where able to run 44 percent longer than normal mice, with no prior training.

It sorts of like fool the muscles to believe it is exercising. By chemically mimicking exercise, it reprograms the muscles causing it to burn fat and not tire easily.

AICAR: Magic Diet Pill Description

AICAR activates a protein called “adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase” or AMPK for short. When this protein is activated it produces signals to the body that it needs more energy and thus more energy boosting components are produced.

We need to exercise because this protein is only activated when the body is subjected to a muscle stretching workout.

However, this supercharging stamina booster is said to be more than that, its primary use is to cure muscular disorders and metabolic diseases.

I’ve searched the net and based on the searches per day on “diet pills” it seems like people who are desperate to lose fat are even willing to try “tapeworm diet pills” just to lose weight. Yeah, pills full of tapeworm. This is just an urban legend but the search results show that many consumers are willing to try one...

tapeworm diet pills? anyone?
(interesting number of searches per day...urgh)

Excited to try these magic pills? Don’t pop the magic beans right away, because other scientists argue that “rats are not humans.” Michael Rennie a physiologist from University of Nottingham in England says that “Rats and mice are much more metabolically unstable than human beings.”

The exercise pill and magic diet pill are not yet commercially available and still under further scrutiny and athletes on the Beijing Olympics shouldn’t get high hopes on trying the effect of these pills because scientists have already found a way to detect this drug on urine samples.

Sources: here, here, here and here.

Side comment:
Today sexy energetic rats... tomorrow... hmm..super cats? =)
But this is great news really!

Speaking of rat... I just wanna add this very cute picture... hope nobody would mind... =)

cutie!

Rare Philippine Eagle Killed and Eaten by a Local Farmer

2008-07-29T16:06:00.001-07:00

We’ll I have just received a very sad news about a juvenile Philippine eagle from the Philippines.

The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), named “Kagsabua” a male, 2 year old eagle, that has only been recently released by the Philippine Eagle Research Center Foundation, was killed after spending years of taking care of the giant bird.

Kagsabua was rescued from captivity last 2006 and was only released into the wild March this year after it was shot and wounded by game hunters in the Kitanglad Mountains, located at the southern part of the Philippines.

And on July 10, just a few months after its release, a local farmer from the Philippines has killed and eaten the rare Philippine Eagle. The farmer, a 22 year old local from the Southern part of the country thought the endangered Philippine eagle was an ordinary bird.

He shot it with an air-gun and saw the transmitter attached to its feet, frightened, he buried it in a ravine. He later changed his mind, dressed the eagle and cooked two kilograms of meat. He stated he cooked the eagle as “Tinola,” a Filipino broth.

The attack was only discovered when members from the Philippine Eagle Foundation noticed that radio tracking device of the said eagle was not moving for quite sometime. They started the search and found only the feet of the hapless eagle, with its radio tracking device still attached to it.

Wildlife officials say that the farmer is now detained and is facing 12 years of imprisonment.

“The Philippine environment secretary has called for the farmer to be punished severely to show that the authorities are serious about enforcing the wildlife protection laws,” local newspaper, Philippine Daily Inquirer noted.

“He shot and ate one of the world’s largest, tallest and rarest eagles.” Researchers and those who spent time with “Kagsabua” later on stated that it felt like the perprator, Brian Balaon, has killed their brother.

Kagsabua is just one of the remaining 250 Philippine eagle roaming the Philippine skies. It has a 2 meter wingspan, weighs 8.8 pounds and is only 2 years old and can only be found in the said country.

Aside from “Kagsabua”, “Tinuy-an,” another Philippine eagle, a female one, was also released last June. The team from the Philippine Eagle Research Center are focusing their efforts to track and observe the giant bird closely to avoid another shooting and eating of the endangered eagle.

This is just one of the many killings of endangered eagles going around the world. Last 2005, an immature eagle was killed in Pennsylvania, while 2 wedged tail eagles have been killed in Tasmania last 2007.

Check out more Philippine Eagle pictures and photos here and here.

Source: Philippine Eagle Foundation, BBC NEWS, NowPublic.Com, Philippine News, Inquirer.Net

Scientists Discover Amazing Use of Windows to Trap Solar Energy

2008-07-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Scienctists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT opens up a new window of opportunity with a “window.”

They have discovered that using windows can provide a better way in capturing solar energy.The MIT team have created a new technique that uses simple windows to capture sun’s energy and convert it into electricity.

Currently, with traditional solar energy systems, we are using quite a large number of “solar cells” (expensive semiconductor devices that changes solar energy to electricity) to gather electrical power.

In a home solar energy for instance, we need an entire solar panel or roof to be covered with these expensive solar cells to obtain the needed amount of electricity and power the entire house.

But with this new discovery, the MIT team believes that the “solar concentrator” will be able to minimize the cost because the solar cells will only be placed around the solar window’s edges.

By using special chemical dyes coated on the entire window surface, the solar concentrator window can trap light from the Sun without the need to cover the entire window with solar cells. The special dyes work together to gather light energy and then transport it to the solar cells located around the window’s edges.

"We were able to substantially reduce light transport losses, resulting in a tenfold increase in the amount of power converted by the solar cells." MIT engineer expert Jon Mapel said.

The MIT team expects that this new technology can be commercially available in three years time. That could also mean that buildings can be a good source of electricity and windows could start to power our homes and could fight further environmental or climate change.

So we need not just to look outside our window anymore, but start looking at the window closely.

Check this out! China Swimming Pools: World's Most Crowded

2008-07-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

The Great Pool of China: Take a Dip

This is a surprising photo taken recently in a swimming pool located in Penglai, Sichuan, Western China. Seems like China swimming pools are getting more crowded.

warning: Don't swallow.

Thousands of swimmers can only just thread with their rubber rings when people started to swarm the place. China swimming pools are back to business when it starts to become popular again after the earthquake tragedy last May.

Chinese families are now starting return to their normal lives and seems like taking a dip on swimming pools is one of those missed routines.

I'm just fascinated with how Chinese people could get close to one another while on a public bath. I can't imagine pushing elbows while enjoying a relaxing bath (or maybe not so relaxing) in a pool. But they seem to be having a good time while pushing their rubber rings with each other.

Source: Anyone seen my Rubber Ring? The world's most crowded pool

Breeding Humans? The Quest for Designer Babies

2008-07-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

I came across a very interesting article about the quest for perfect society. It’s pretty detailed and got me wondering about this topic.

So I blogged about it.

I don’t know, but you guys may be familiar with Eugenics. Actually I’m more used to hearing about human breeding program, human cloning and genetically modified bloggers nowadays than read about books or article that define eugenics.

Well as I quote Wikipedia, eugenics is “a social philosophy which advocates the improvement of human hereditary traits through various forms of intervention.”

When we hear of eugenics, usually it is often related with terms like genetic testing, genetic engineering, in vitro fertilization, test tube babies and selective breeding... but sadly, it is also often linked with discrimination, forced killing (cleansing), and immoral act.

Eugenics was first coined by a man named Sir Francis Galton. He even made up the phrase “nurture versus nature.” He believes that the human society deserves only the best breed. Based on what I’ve read about this guy, he’s described as one with prolific intellect. I had to scamper and find my dictionary to see what that means and one thing I found out was that I don’t actually fit the bill. *ugh*

Francis Galton studies lots of things, and well, he got to hang around frequently with Charles Darwin, so you could imagine what kind of conversation they must have... because he is, in fact, Charles’ cousin, so imagine that.

If Charles believes that we came from evolution, Galton was thinking way faster. With clenched fist (maybe) he asserted that “it’s high time we take control of our evolution.”

Okay, so he thought that if flowers and animals could be genetically modified through selective breeding, wherein the farmer can make a flower grow with certain desirable qualities with a little “help,” then why not use this for humans?

And there came eugenics. But actually, it wasn’t Galton who was considered the first eugenicist, I talked with Plato yesterday and told me a very useful quote for this article, "The best of either sex should be united with the best as often as possible, and the inferior with the inferior as seldom as possible."

So in simple math, it goes something like (Good + Good = Unquestionably Good, or Good 2x)... Hmm, I thought opposites attract... never mind.

The history of eugenics show that Galton’s idea was acknowledged and was well received (with an applause) during his time which lead to series of experiments, (era of the guinea pigs I should say), and where the term “forced sterilization” was coined.

Compulsory Sterilization is actually a big part of eugenics history because it was an attempt to minimize human imperfection by “sterilizing” mentally retard or mentally ill, people with physical deformities, blind, deaf, those who have epilepsy, and those with criminal violations. The history provides us some notes that there has been some serious eugenics movement in Britain and America.

How are these poor guys “sterilized”? By castrating males, and preventing women labeled as inferior or physically deformed, to reproduce. It was a bit tedious work, until Hitler came and thought there’s an easier way to do it... See Holocaust.

Okay so not so good background for eugenics right there. But after the buzz about this area of science died down, another scientific leap made its way on center stage.

Search for Designer Babies
Genetic engineering, molecular biology, human cloning these are just a few of the many scientific advancements that promise to provide the “perfect baby” we’ve always wanted.

If you would read certain articles about how they could improve life and the health of your baby, somehow, it does make sense. But thinking that you can have the power to customize your baby, decide whether you would like to have a blond child with blue eyes or a girl with straight hair... this could be really frightening.

Human breeding programs promise betterment with the help of science. But isn’t that playing God already?

Galton may be a prolific genius but he definitely doesn’t fit the bill to be tagged as perfect, doesn’t he?

So how do we define a perfect human? Out of the blue, Beethoven and Helen Keller came into mind. I don’t know. Maybe you know why.

Time Travel Machine: The Madeline Concept

2008-07-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Time travel? Time Machine? You may only heard about this on some sci-fi TV series like CSI or Dr Who but someone out there is really making serious attempts to bridge space and time with a time travel machine.

Charles Blanca presents a different and actually splendid design with his time machine model he called The Madeline Concept.

It’s a pretty fantastic wonder I should say. And it’s a real thing. The designer stated his belief that our sense of smell does have something to do with our memory. He believes that we might just go back our past simply by breathing in that certain smell that would refresh our memories. And he built this time travel machine with this idea in mind.

As I quote him, “So small and discrete molecules though so powerful when we come across them, odours are rooted in our memory and make us travel through time. Madeleine offers to help us find the smells we have lost because of the evolution of our living environment. In a convivial place, everybody will be able to experience a creative immersion in a time-travelling capsule. But more than a product, Madeleine is a community linked by olfactory experience and by the expression of their senses. Let’s wake our sense of smell up and share what inspires us…”

“Find the smell you lost.” I was caught on that one. Actually I have been fascinated with our physiological methods of perception especially with this particular sense. I’ll promise to post some other things that not everyone knows about sense of smell. I’m still gathering my notes on that still.

But this time travel model design is like something that came out of a MI movie!

Well, I guess the Earth is in dire need of a good, trusty time machine. Really. I could use a little time rambling myself. Find the smell I lost, hmm, maybe my ex's perfume? shucks.

I guess it only makes sense that we really do interact with our surroundings without us knowing it. We breath in episodes of our life, taste the sweet or bitter incidents and watch sorrow or happiness unfold. And that's all we do everyday.

Getting a Divorce? Read this first.

2008-07-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

Though there are a lot of reasons to consider when getting a divorce, there is one more thing that one should contemplate before actually filing for one.

Recent studies show that divorce is….err.. bad for the environment. Literally.

A research study conducted by ecologists in Michigan State University showed information on divorce that has never been considered. The published paper addressed the environmental impacts of divorce. Yep.

Divorce and the Environment

The published paper shows that the high divorce rate contribute strong negative impacts on our planet. Divorce rate in US shows that 0.74% of the entire population gets divorced every year.

And here are the straight facts:

-In 12 countries studied, divorced households are 27% to 41% smaller than married households. (Living alone after separation. Sort of)

-Houses with divorced couples have MORE rooms to spare than married households. (I did think about that.)

-Divorced households spent 46% to 56% percent more on electricity and water than married households. (Do divorced couples take a bath more often than married couple? Hmm.)

-And 42% to 61% percent of person who underwent divorce consumes more resources and produces more waste than a regular married person. (I hope they were able to check the gender of who consumes more.)

The paper continues that if divorced couples did stay together, the world could have saved approximately 73 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, 627 billion gallons of water in a year, less trash and less pollution. Wow.

These only suggest that the current lifestyle of a divorced person does not help save the environment at all. And staying married really does save money too.

Ok, so before you get those free downloadable divorce forms, or checking up online for do it yourself divorce, divorce made easy etc, try to contemplate the idea that saving your marriage could actually have a greater purpose. =)

I better tagline would be, “Save your marriage and help save the environment.” Well, this could be a better way to combat climate change right?

Funny Office Videos: Hilarious!

2008-06-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

I was watching some funny clips this morning and decided to compile these funny office videos that made me almost fall off my chair.

hmm, for some reason the first video i've embedded from College Humor has been removed. So i'll have to replace it...

1. Good clerks gone bad

An actual footage of a guy going totally berserk in the office...

http://view.break.com/513310 - Watch more free videos

2. Good clerk gone bad.. different angle

This is another shot of the same incident taken from a different angle. More action packed i should say. It was taken from another employee's cellphone...

Funny Videos

Raawwr.

3. Watching Porn at the Office (Tsk.)

4. Butt Naked. Copy-busted!

That hurts.

Ian Usher | Brit Sells His Entire Life on Ebay

2008-06-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

A Life for Sale?
“Hi there, my name is Ian Usher, and I have had enough of my life! I don't want it any more! You can have it if you like!”

Hmm, another one of a kind. A guy in the name of Ian Usher has decided to sell his entire life on Ebay after a failed marriage.

Ian Usher, a Brit who currently lives in Perth, Australia placed on Internet auction his three bedroom house, all his furniture, his job, even his friends are part of the deal.

Ian Usher sells his entire life after his wife of 12 years left him. This bid started last Sunday, June 22 and will end on June 29. He’s hoping to raise-up A$500,000 to start a new life as a toady of whomever who’d like to buy him off. And currently he has attracted 66 bids, with A$399,300 being the highest bid. This one big auction is now attracting thousands of users to his website. Not a bad idea getting web traffic.

As I’m putting this to writing, bidders still have 15 hours, 42 minutes and 22 seconds left to bid for his life.

He looks pretty good and fit. This 32 year old man comes with a jetski, a three bedroom house, a car, and a sensitive heart. He’s so sensitive that he’s willing to open his heart out to you and tell his entire autobiography, romantic story and the name and address of the woman who broke his heart for one-time payment of A$2.95.

The House (Price: A$420,000)

Jetski. (Price: Around $1,136)

Car. (Price: Around $4,000)

Ian Usher: (Price: )

I like this guy. I really do.

Hmm, by the way, this is not the first time someone has tried selling his dignity and entire self in Ebay. A guy named Adam Burtle also tried to sell his soul on Ebay last 2001. But poor guy fetched only $400 dollar for the bid. Ebay had to call it off.

Usher seems to be in mint condition with only minor head scratches.

Louis Vuitton's Most Expensive Bag - It's Absurd!

2008-06-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

Most Expensive (Pathetic) Bags

Do you think this bag is silly?

This is a Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag. I was laughing so hard when I saw this bag but I almost gagged when I saw how much it costs. It's a whopping $42,000 dollars!

This fugly (new term I learned while I was reading reviews about this bag) ridiculously looking bag designed with 15 different LV design samples is now available in Louis Vuitton Boutiques. And thank heavens they only made 24 of this bag! Four are available in the US and 20 are distributed in Asia and Europe LV boutiques.

Hold your breath, because it's on number 6th on the Most Extravagant Designer Bags Handbags List!

Okay, you can scream now.

I don't even find Louis Vuitton bags attractive and was wondering if I really don't have an eye for fashion, but this designer bag really proves that it wasn't me, it's Louis Vuitton!

Simply put, it's really ugly. Too many designs to appreciate creativeness, if there's any. But if there has been a lot of heated discussions about loving or hating this Louis Vuitton bag, check out Louis Vuitton's NEW RELEASE for 2008.

Ta-da! It's the Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel Bag! I have never expected to see anything like this!
It is totally ridiculous!

This Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel Bag is said to be handcrafted and is made of the finest Italian leather (yada yada yada) and was described as one-of-a-kind luxury(yawn).

You can only have nightmares of owning this one! But what's lunatic about this is that it is for sale for, check this out... $150,000!

This definitely belongs to the Collection of the Most Absurd. This Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel Bag is nothing but a nasty pile of trash pretending to be something like.... an elegant rubbish. Well, I guess no pretentious designs over here! It's a rubbish, period.

Unbelievably fugly, hideous and absurd. See the shrimp tails? Dirty band-aid? A plastic cap? It's all dirt glued in one sweet carry.

But here's more..

Ashley Olsen signed a multi-billion dollar contract to advertise for Louis Vuitton Urban Rubbish. And the Olsen are rumored to be in a heated argument on who gets to purchase the monstrous bag...

Fighting over one big joke. But with their current style and with the money they make, these twins could surely burn $300,000 so they could both each have this silly urban junk.

Just perfect.

What is going on? What's wrong with these people?! 24 of these have been made and all them are already reserved and paid for!

Well i just can't express how I feel about this total waste and I've compiled some brilliant comments from other people who seem to perfectly see that this is nothing but serious humiliation for mankind.

Comments:

"This look like something I would find in a pile of trash in New York City with a bulimic person stuck to it"

"Actually, I think your send up of this latest bit of ridiculous cultural ephemera is one of your cleverest yet....in the fact that the art world is every bit as pretentious and vapid as the celebrity scene, I'm sure you could parlay this idea into a gallery show..."

"What the hell is wrong with people??? 150K for a bag is a house for a family. 45K a small condo...this just goes to show how truly material these people are. I bet you after a few wears it will be in the back of some girl's closet...so last season. I wander what they will come up with next. I agree I hope the proud owners are giving 2 x the amount to a needy charity."

"What's really sad is that the same dumb bitches who buy this sort of ugly crap purse can't be bothered to plunk down $9.99 at Costco for a six pack of cotton undies.
And then they have to go find some paparazzi to take pictures of their naked cooches to prove it to us."

Best comment of all..

"Civilisations rise and fall. This one will eventually,(probably not as soon as soon as the present carbon farting war monkies seem to want it to), but it will end. My main worry is that future archaeologists won't unearth a copy of "The Theory Of Relativity", Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions", or even a really good computer (Mac or P.C,no preference)...

...instead they'll find , a DVD of the "Simple Life" (series one), David Hasselhof's mummified body and this fucking bag.

They will then declare this epoch as unworthy of study, and deserving of whatever fate befell it." - Christina T.

Would you strip for Spencer Tunick?

2008-06-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

Spencer Tunick. I saw his photography a year ago and I just can't help but admire his work. I admired it so much i tried to use a magnifying glass to look at each pictures closely.*yeah*

If you haven't heard about this guy, he's a guy that got arrested when he had his models pose in public. Naked. Thousands of 'em. He is always in hot water with police and he probably spends more time in jail than doing his work.

Spencer Tunick calls his art as "installations." His installations are pretty much a bunch of vulnerable, uncovered, au naturel bodies of thousands of people willing to pose 'all out' for the sake of art. Or for the heck of it. Or to see other naked bodies too...

He started last 2001 at Greenwich London and he's been taking pictures almost everywhere. Not yet in Asia though, but he's almost all around the West taking pictures of naked mommas, poppas, brothers, sisters and friends. He's been getting a lot of support from willing models. He has been to New York, UK, Germany, Mexico, Venezuela, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands and Ireland.

I suggest you get a magnifying glass too. lol. here some of his selected 'installations.'

Run, grandpa, run.

hmm...

okay closer...

Calling school administrators, isn't a class picture like this lovely?
Cool. Cool.

after tea time.

there's a long haired guy there, i promise.

we come in peace...

this one's my favorite. remarkable.

the naked statue on top got shy..

amazing shot.

Take a butt... i mean bow.

that's a lot of smuggled humans..

someone must be really enjoying this.

reminds me of a Steven Spielberg movie..

Looks like a flock of naked sheep.

After a tiring stroll at the mall..

It's the look on their faces that made this picture look really artistic.

wow, nice angle.

a nice idea after a boring day in the office.

i like the chaos.

flowing bodies.

taking a bow. butt cleavage.

Would you volunteer as a Spencer Tunick model? He haven't been doing his installations in Asia yet thinking that not too many participants would join him to this artistic expression but I wouldn't mind seeing artistic brown butts and asian starkness in his next photos.

Here some of my favorites:

Cool isn't it?

See the baby?

Is his work art or pornography? Seeing all these pictures do you feel embarrassed or elated? Would you pose for Spencer Tunick?

More Spencer Tunick pictures. And here also.

Advantages of Using Public Train Transportation

2008-05-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of advantages of using public train transportation to get around to your office, business or school. It's fast, affordable and people in rural or suburban areas will be able to take the train in a daily basis.

Here are the following advantages of Using Public Trains as your form of Transportation:

Cheap. You'll definitely save money by commuting daily using public trains. The cost for ticket pass or train ticket is very low compared to the costs you have to pay for gas, car maintenance, if you own and drive your own car.

Environment-Friendly. Not only will you save some money but you have your share in saving the earth by not emitting daily smog to our foggy atmosphere. You avoid providing your individual share of air pollution.

Convenient. This could be a fetching factor since you'll definitely reach your office before the clock strikes your call time. You can avoid traffic and arrive early to your school or office.

Disadvantages of Riding Public Train Transportation

Well, it's not that too many. Only this one.

Are You a Rich Woman? Give this guy a holler!

2008-05-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Ladies! Eherm, "rich" ladies! Should you consider looking for a partner in life. For better or for richer... this guy might just be "your guy." Yup he seems pretty harmless. He only needs some coins to keep him standing there. He forgot to say "Please" though.

Funny guy indeed.

Cool Guitar Slapping Video

2008-05-14T00:29:00.000-07:00

Check this video out.

Nice impressive cool guitar slapping. I really like his style. Cool isn't it?

Very Inspiring Quotation

2008-05-14T00:22:00.000-07:00

A very inspiring quote from Aristotle.... his picture looks a little creepy though.

"No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness."

Quotes by Famous People

We need to strike the perfect balance of being and sane and being mad... and that's being genius.
Check out a pretty detailed list of quotations and sayings from literary greats and famous historical figures and philosophers at Carpe Diem | Make Your Life Extraordinary

Odd Stuff: Interesting X-Ray Pictures

2008-05-12T04:04:00.000-07:00

X-ray pictures. Painful to imagine. This is an x-ray of a severed toe.

A broken skull image.

Image of a broken spine. Arrrgh.

Severed hand x-ray. Ouch!

Pin at the rectum? Yaiks.

Is that a glass? Whoa! How did it get there? Disturbing x-ray image.

Shocking News: Fetus Soup Being Served in China!

2008-05-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Baby Eating in China

Very disturbing pictures are now spreading across the internet about a certain delicacy which could be found in China. A town in Canton is now on trend making baby herbal soup to
increase health and sexual performance/stamina. The cost of the fetus soup in China currency is approximately $ 4000 (around RMB 2000).

A factory manager was interviewed and he testified that it is effective because he have tried it and is a frequent customer. It is a delicacy whereby expensive herbs are added to boil the baby with chicken meat for 8 hours boiling/steaming. He was interviewed with his second and very young wife, who is only 19 while he is now 62. He testifies the potency of the fetus soup and he was able to make love with his wife everyday.

"Spare rib soup" local code for fetus soup is being served to local restaurants in Canton. Couple who would like to abort their babies, could just go to these local restaurants and sell the aborted baby for 2,000RMB (China currency). These local restaurants also accepts placentas for several hundreds if couples do not want to sell their babies.

It is very disturbing to mention that most fetus served in these local restaurants are female babies. This is due to the fact that majority of Chinese prefers to have male babies and those poorer families usually end up selling their female babies.

You can find more information on Baby Eating in China and Fetal Soup Served in Chinese Restaurants.

Unbelievable Story: Austrian father confesses he held daughter prisoner for nearly 24 years

2008-04-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

Chilling confession of a vicious father sets Austria and the whole world in remarkable disbelief.

A 73-year-old father named Josef Fritzl has been arrested after police in Austria found out that he has raped and kept his own daughter imprisoned in their house in 24 years.

It was said that detectives found out about the House of Horror, when Elizabeth’s eldest daughter Kerstin fell unconscious and was brought to the hospital by her grandfather/father. Kerstin, who also grew locked up in the house basement, secretly carried a SOS letter written by her mother as she went to the hospital.

With media people and police asking so many questions, Fritzl was forced to bring Elisabeth out of the cellar, telling his wife that she had returned home with her two children after a 24-year absence, police said.

The Story

Elizabeth Fritzl, who has never seen daylight in 24 years and had been missing since August 29, 1984, told the police that she was held captive in a windowless cellar by her father and was raped repeatedly for 24 years resulting to seven children.

Elizabeth, now aged 42, has six surviving children with three kids who for the day they were born stayed inside a very low, less than five-and-a-half feet cellar and had never seen daylight.

During the 24 years that she stayed in the ghastly basement, Elizabeth said that she had 6 children with him. When she gave birth to their seventh child, the child turned out to be a twin and died shortly after being born. Josef Fritzl burned the twin’s bodies and threw them.

Among the six children, only 3 lived a normal life after Josef Fritzl plotted out to leave the babies in their doorstep and made his wife believed that the babies were from Elizabeth. Her mother, Josef Fritzl’s wife and grandmother of the six children was unaware of all this since she said there was a letter from Elizabeth saying she went away and asking not to look for her anymore.

Supported with “forced written letters” by Elizabeth stating that she can’t take care of her babies and begging her parents to take care of them, the 3 children were taken by Rosemarie and Josef and grew up as normal kids.

As for the other 3 kids that stayed with Elizabeth in the basement, these poor kids were kept underneath the family’s basement the whole time. These three children are Kerstin which is now 19 years old; Stefan, 18 and Felix, 5.

Elizabeth and the 3 children are now being treated by a team of psychologists. Elizabeth was described to be “very disturbed” and was having trouble stating her ordeal to the police. She was only 18 when her father kept her locked up inside their basement.

Watch a video of this news here.

The main question reverberating from the small Austrian town: How could a man keep his daughter locked in his basement for 24 years, where she gave birth to seven of his children while her mother and three of those children lived upstairs without an inkling of the horrors in the cellar?

Lost Season 4 Episode 9: The Shape of Things To Come

2008-04-24T23:52:00.000-07:00

For those who just love the Lost TV series, I have written a short update about the latest episode of the fourth season.

The Shape of Things to Come is really superb! Benjamin Linus shows what he's got and you'll understand him more in this episode!

Those "Lost" writers were pent up! The episode will be Ben-centric, including what is supposed to be an awesome flash forward. "The Shape of Things to Come" is the most high-octane action episode in series history, I am interested to see if we find out what happened to Rousseau and obviously, who washes ashore. I have to say I thought this was a really good episode.

A quick run-down of some of the main points. There are a ton of other questions to be answered since the last EP (like always), so hopefully these last 6 weeks will deliver!

And interestingly enough, the ample action paled next to the One Big Plot Development at the close of the show: featuring flying bullets, dead time-shifted freighter doctors, exploding Other condos, dead adopted daughters, castaway-on-castaway gunplay, and just for flavor, a coordinated smokey attack.

The history between Benjamin Linus and Charles Widmore goes back much, much further, apparently Ben can time travel and he's a badass with a club. The future certainly won't be marked anymore by Sunday barbecues on the Widmore estate.

Ben's Tunisian escapade is cut short when he discovers Sayid has lost his lady-love. We saw how and why Sayid began working for Ben. Their epic love story gets prematurely snipped when Nadia is murdered.

In the lighter mood, Ben sneaks in to Charles Widmore's London penthouse and pays his nemesis a midnight visit. Ben can summon the smoke monster to do his bidding. Apparently the island use to belong to Widmore and Ben took it away from him. He also plans to take his daughter from him in return for what was done to Alex.

You can find more spoilers about The Shape of things to come and the next episodes on the Lost TV Fans site.

Strange Sightings, Odd Creatures

2008-04-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

Famous Odd Creatures List

The world is getting more and more strange. Everyday, bizare, odd and creepy events materialize before our eyes. Watching the world, you can either believe everything and appreciate these things with utter amazement or doubt everything and think that these things are all made-up. Either way you go, I provided a list of the strangest creatures found on the face of the earth. There are absolutely a lot of these creatures but the list that I made are those odd creatures that made the news and world wide web exposure. With all these strange creature piling up these days, it is not strange news anymore to hear about these unknown beings.

1. Mothman

Mothman sightings was first reported in 1966. According to some reports, it is one of the strangest, most terrifying mysterious creatures in America. Reports from sightings describe this creature as roughly man-shaped, grayish brown in color, between 5 feet and 7 feet tall and has a chest wider than that of man's. Various accounts similarly state that this creature did not appear to have a head and it's fiery red eyes were set on its upper chest. Famous account about the Mothman creature sightings is the Point Pleasant Mothman Sightings.

2. Loch Ness Monster
A mysterious creature believed to have been lurking in the deep waters of Loch Ness, Scotland, this unknown creature often nicknamed "Nessie" became widely known due to thousands of reported sightings and alleged photos of it. Recently, "monster hunters" used sonar to see through the waters of Loch Ness and take pictures under water. They also used special cameras to take pictures even to Loch Ness' deepest and darker parts. Here are some underwater photos taken:

3. Chupacabra

A deadly blood-sucking creature. Chupacabras first came on the scene in the summer of 1975when several farm animals in Puerto Rico werefound dead. The stories of this creature have become something of a legend in recent years, and there is now quite an interest worldwide. Video about this creature can be viewed here.

4. Mermaid In Florida

This could be one of those creatures possibly made up and was made popular through the internet. A lot of allegations and questions surround the authenticity about this merman sightings but it got popular anyway.

5. Unknown Creature

A carcass of an unknown creature found by Russian soldiers in 2006. It appears to have an alligator/crocodile jaw and teeth structure but its whole body seems to be covered with fur. No further details are known about this creature.

6. Mythical Giant Turtle Found In

Vietnam

A huge turtle was found last December 2007 at the Hoan Kiem Lake, Vietnam. Locals believe it to be the mythical golden turtle from the country's popular mythical account, "The Legend of the Turtle Lake". It weighs 400 pounds, soft-shelled and seemed to be the last of its kind.

Famous YouTube Videos

2008-04-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

So are there really anybody who got famous out of You Tube videos? It's really surprising and amazingly impressive that there are actually people who stayed locked up inside their rooms, talking in front of a small, motionless camera and getting incredibly famous.

But hey, haven't you received from your Podcasts and RSS yet? It's the "in vogue" today.

I can say I had watched over a dozen lame, annoying and time-wasting videos on You Tube, but I can honestly write on cyber-record and save on Google cache that if you really looked, I mean really looked, and clicked these free videos, they offer superb entertainment, wonderful opportunities for learning and great way to spend the day after losing your job.

I have compiled some of the best You Tube videos ever and the corresponding list of You Tube celebrities who made these videos. These are not ranked I just posted them randomly.

1. Esmee Danters
With her prety face and angelic voice, she started to get attention on You Tube by imitating some famous singers. After sometime of posting her videos on tube, she now sings with Justin Timberlake on some music video.

2. Tay Zonday (Adam Bahner)
This young fellow sings original songs and made impact to his viewers with his croaky voice. His video "Chocolate Rain" has 19 million page views. And you can now download his mp3 for free! Sounds guureat.

3. Tom Dickson
He's the man behind Blendtec. With his famous quote, "Will it blend?" he received a lot of attention because this man literally blends everything! He blends golf balls, crowbars, glow sticks, marbles, rake handles, hockey pucks and recently an iphone.

If you have any ideas or suggestion on what else to blend, give this man a holler or dig him somewhere near his house... who know's maybe he's blended his car and house. Don't breathe this!

4. Chris Crocker

Oh well, who haven't seen this guy? Or maybe the right question is, who haven't send his videos to friends yet? Err, it seems like this "Leave Britney Alone" guy, uh, I mean gay, is getting a lot of not so positive feedback (deathreats) from his fans. But feel no gloom Chris, though this is not your real name...you're the 18th most viewed of all time on You Tube, in all categories!

This guy, I mean, gay had created a history of over 72 million page views on his "Leave Britney Alone" video. I didn't post the video - you've seen this guy., i mean gay.

5. Happy Slip
Happy Slip or Christine Gambito in real life is a Filipina with entertaining videos about her family. Only she does all her family, she spoofs her mom, dad, her cousin, aunt and herself. (Sounds a lot of work.)

Her video "Mixed Nuts" got over 4 million pageviews but "Dancing With the Stars- OhNo!" is my favorite. Check it out. Hilarious.

"Christine, Don't forget your Hap-e Slip!"

6. Judson Laipply
This comedian was the man behind the video "Evolution of Dance" - 6 minute video of this guy dancing freaky and familiar dance steps of the 80s and the 90s. Funniest 6 minutes you'll ever watch. His video got the highest number of views, that is according to my list. He already received 82 million views already! Did I just repeat already?

But do you think only humans take the centerstage on You Tube?
Check out this video. Animals are taking the scene with this video that has already garnered 7 million views.

Other famous celebrities in You Tube include Lonelygirl15, Andy Mckee and

And finally, check out this new video, it was added only last March 5 and now it has gotten 4 million hits!

Ready to get famous?

Blogging Lessons 101

2008-04-12T04:18:00.000-07:00

Blogging Challenges and Some Surprises!

Finally, I decided to create a blog that I would uphold, preserve and look-after.
I took several attempts to blog before but it's only recently that I decided I want to be a serious blogger.

And so, I got ahead and started reading helpful articles available online for some basic tips and guidelines on what to do.

I have some basic technical knowledge on how to start my computer and browse the net, but doing my own customized blog header would require a little couple of hours (the whole day!) of facing the computer, experimenting things and swearing a little bit when realizing I haven't saved a backup.

But even before my struggles in coming up with my very own header, it was very interesting to note the time I spent (which is nearly five hours) just searching for my own blogger URL.

I never really expected it was really hard to get one!

Getting My URL! Yaiks!

I already have a previous blog in Blogger (which I rarely update) so starting my account wasn't that bad, but creating another blog was another story.

Of course there was a box that looks something like:

And so, i typed the very first thing that came to mind, "everydaylife." I want my url to look like everydaylife.blogspot.com, which is very easy to remember and pretty much sums up how I want this blog to be. Well, of course, it said "Sorry, this blog address is not available."

I typed another keyword, this time it's "downtoearth", I kinda like the idea of my blogspot being modest and unpretentious so I really want my URL to be "downtoearth". Well, too bad, this too was already taken.

So I went ahead and continued on my search. I tried "fatamorgana" but still, to no avail. I started to get curious. I searched each url and tried to see what posts or contents these blogs have. I was shocked.

The first three blogs have next to nothing. They are almost blank. I checked some of the posts and the most recent was dated last 2006. I was really sad. I really want their URLs. (sob.)

So I looked around my room to get more inspiration and proceeded typing in thinkingmind and moderncinderella, (yeah I know, I'm already desperate this time) which I typed with fingers crossed but of course, they were also already taken.

But what got me a little more curious was that when I typed these other keywords and searched on these blogs... well, guess what, just like the other blogs I've visited, they pretty much look the same, and moderncinderella just shows a blank white space just like everydaylife.

I really hope Blogger/Blogspot could really do something about freeing URLs once they're not updated for let's say 6 months or a year, right? Especially if it has little to no contents.

Or maybe they're saving these URLs under their wing? These URLs are really simple and catchy and I'm sure many bloggers would want keywords like these as much as I do. Specially now that the internet becomes more and more "niche focused" and targeted.

Well after a couple more attempts, like typing in "whoosh," "oops," "pieceofcake" and "ohno" which are obviously taken, it made more curious about the blogger because he/she thought about interesting and funny url titles which I only thought of today, well maybe except for "ohno" which has this funny description "Hello there. I don't know what I'm doing".

So, after five hours, I finally found some free urls which made me a little fickle minded on which of them I'd have to use. Before I will eat up another 5 hours just for choosing a URL address, I decided I have to pick from these 3 which I randomly typed in the URL box out of desperation.

onelonelyumbrella
earthdownunder
womanoftheearth

Whoala, they are available and ok so I picked womanoftheearth.blogspot.com... yep that's me. Yey me.

I spent another 5 hours customizing my template which hardly made any difference. But after trying out a couple of things, I found out that Blogger has this new way of customizing your blog and it made my life less miserable, thank you.

You can watch a tutorial on this new Blogger Feature here.

This new Blogger feature enables you to add a picture to your header which of course what I did for this blog. Cool right?

Well, so far, I feel pretty good about my achievement today. Yaiks.