Project Runway Season 5--Up!

Thank God for YouTube!

To Be Surprised - Sondre Lerche

Tummy Problem?

Letting everyone know...

"Hi Ate!

If you know anybody needing colonoscopy or gastroscopy for colon cancer or stomach cancer/ulcer screening, please refer to me.
I have a new endoscope system coming in for testing before we buy it.
I will only charge half of my usual professional fee.
Sayang kasi ito, 1 week lang sa clinic namin. Para makatipid yung mga ibang may kailangan ng colonoscopy/endoscopy.

My clinic is in Katipunan in front of La Vista and Petron.

Mark"

Dr. Mark Anthony de Lusong
Loyola Multispecialty Clinic,
Katipunan ave. QC
Mon/Wed 2-6 pm
Tue/Sat 4-6 pm
4355462/ 9255462

Death by MSG

After a client presentation in Binondo, we did the usual ritual of having lunch at Sincerity. After the hearty Sincerity chicken, oyster cake, siomai, kangkong and shrimp nuggets lunch, we were on our way back to Makati.

And yes, Paolo, Shash, Elaine, Johanne and I fell asleep. Eeks.

P.S. Our client, who looks like an even miniature version of Lucy Liu, wore a really vavavoom mint green blouse with volume galore in the shoulders and neck. At may slit pa sa likod. Si Shash, inspired. Bibili daw sya ng blouse na ganun.

Naalala ko si Julette and her ruffled blouses.

Walang Kwentang Cool Shades

The exact sames ones we bought for an event at Divi for P450.00....worn by Paris.

Guess Who Else Loves Mad Men?

Michael Kors!

Tests Results In

Gist: I have two formations on my left breast, both benign. Yay! Whew.

BUT need to monitor for changes in size/shape. And another set of tests after my period and after 6 months.

This experience has been a good thing. Puts everything into a larger perspective and reminds me of the more important things in life. PLUS that I have to be extra vigilant about my health. Thanks to all who've expressed concern.

Bakla Comedian/Singer

The Dan Band. Hehehe

NIN "The Slip" CD Release Soon

Why will you buy it when you've donwloaded the songs? It has a "bonus DVD"! Smart marketing.

"The physical release of Nine Inch Nails' The Slip will be available
worldwide in the upcoming days as a limited edition CD with bonus DVD
through the Null Corporation label.  Release dates as follows...

Australia: July 19
Europe: July 21
US: July 22
Canada: July 22
Japan: July 22
UK: July 28

http://theslip.nin.com/physical

This CD with bonus DVD edition will be a one time only worldwide run of
250,000 individually numbered digipacks.  Each digipack features a
six-panel layout, 24 page booklet and an exclusive three sticker set.  Art
direction
by Rob Sheridan.

The bonus DVD includes 5 live performances filmed during rehearsals for
Nine Inch Nails' upcoming tour, including album tracks Echoplex, 1,000,000
and Letting You.

A gatefold vinyl version of The Slip which contains one 180gm vinyl LP and
a 24-page booklet will also be released in the US and Canada on August 12
and in the UK on August 18.

The Slip, written and performed by Trent Reznor, with Josh Freese, Robin
Finck and Alessandro Cortini, has been downloaded 1.6 million times
worldwide since its online release on May 5, 2008.

NIN's Lights in the Sky Tour opens in Pemberton, Canada on July 25, 2008
with support slots from Crystal Castles, Deerhunter, Does it Offend You,
Yeah and A Place To Bury Strangers.  Visit http://tour.nin.com/ for the
latest tour information."

This was sent to me because I signed up for the free download of the songs.
Sweet.

Weird Message from Friendster

Munster this is for you...

I got this message from Friendster:

"i see that maganda ka and i have a new business lingerie and bra and panty , we can show you the samples and we want more girls, these real.. and maybe you interested to be one of the model, and we will pay you if u have mobile number let me know, thanks by the way the business will be in angeles so i think you are from there thanks"

weiiiirdd. what do you think? medyo mali pa grammar hahaha

Blahnik Collaborates and Listens

Fresh takes on the Blahnik stilleto with collaborations with Thakoon, Christopher Kane, Rag & Bone and Alexander Wang.

Tough Love

My dad always told us that kids need to go through suffering and hardship so that they will succeed later in life. I always wondered why he said that. As a child, I couldn't understand why he was so hard on us. Whereas my friend's parents were caring and supportive, he was cold and harsh. He always encouraged us to "fight for what we wanted." He didn't want us, he said, to grow "soft."

Why he was demanding and to my young mind, cruel sometimes, I didn't understand. Why couldn't he be the cookie cutter gentle caring father who tucked us in before going to bed? Why didn't he cuddle us or become the kind of parent who was always there to give the motivational speech or the gentle hand of support? No, he let us fall, fail and learn from failure. He let us stumble and stand up on our own. He let us get hurt and from the scars, learn and remember what not to do.

Now, older, and hopefully wiser, I understand why. I realize now that when we suffer, there is a deep ingrained habit of trying to eliminate that suffering. If you are deprived fof anything and can't have everything, you tend to work harder than anyone else to excel and survive. You strive to get what you don't have and work hard to change things so you can be treated better. And he taught us by example: By rising early for work, arriving home late; bringing home work. Setting us a living example of hard work, discipline and focus.

I remember all this now as I realize how far I have come and how hardy and tough I've grown. No problem or obstacle, it seems, is too big or too difficult. I know, there is nothing that can stop me. That utter confidence (some say fearlessness) is something I have to thank my father for.

New Model for Music Business

From Yahoo:

"Canadian music mogul takes on China, pirates welcome

Terry McBride, the Canadian best known as the manager of pop megastar Avril Lavigne said the music industry's obsession with stemming the flow of illegally downloaded material is futile and short-sighted.

"I do not believe that the record label owns the song, the publisher does not own the song, even the artist does not own the song," McBride told AFP in an interview.

"It is the emotion that a fan attaches to that song, to that lyric that makes it popular. What the record business needs to do is to monetise the behaviour of that fan."

McBride said record companies need an alternative to what he sees as an outmoded business model that relies on a few mega-selling artists and copyright protection.

In almost every global market record sales are plummetting as people turn to the Internet for music, increasingly downloading it for free.

A recent survey by MTV of consumers in 12 Asian countries found that 77 percent of people aged between 15 and 24 had illegally downloaded music in the past month, while 59 percent had also made legitimate purchases.

The rampant piracy -- particularly serious in China where the rate of illegal downloading was put at more than 80 percent, which some see as conservative -- has led to aggressive legal action.

China's largest search engine, Baidu.com is currently being sued by major labels for providing free links to illegal material, and then taking the lucrative advertising revenues for itself.

The Baidu model may also be the template for others as earlier this year the Wall Street Journal reported that Google wished to partner with major record labels to release free music in China.

McBride said this approach is much more effective than the fervour for litigation, and cited the example of Napster, the hugely popular US music sharing site that was sued into oblivion instead of being harnessed as a new revenue stream.

For him, the solution has been to hold copyright in one place, on the artist's own record label or "imprint," and while he welcomes free exchange of music, copyright remains at the centre of his strategy.

"If you have collapsed copyright sitting in one place it has more value than if it is fractured," he said on the sidelines of the recent MusicMatters conference in Hong Kong.

"(Then) you can give one part of the copyright away gratis in order to monetise another part of the copyright."

In this way, the song becomes a loss-leader that advertises other selling opportunities, he said.

Success follows from innovative use of the song's long-term value -- as background music for advertisements or television shows; sales through protected technology such as mobile phone ringtones; or website advertising.

McBride said this business model, which he set up three years ago, has already begun to work for his company, Nettwerk Music Group, with seven of the eight "imprints" he started now showing profit.

Artists on his roster, including singer-songwriter Sarah McGlachlan and the band Barenaked Ladies, are making as much money as they would selling many more records, he said.

"We are layering year after year of valuable copyright on top of each other and creating a very good model," he said. "We are signing more artists while the rest of the business is shrinking."

McBride said he hopes that Lavigne, one of the few Western artists with a high profile in China, will help him crack the world's biggest market.

"Avril is the spearhead of what we intend to do over the next 10 years," he said. "She is by far the biggest Western artist to hit China."

While the 24-year-old is signed to recording giant RCA, she controls much of her output as well as moneyspinners such as her website.

She plans to tour China later this year and McBride's company is setting up a Chinese-language website for her, based in Canada, which he said will take advertising from China.

McBride said she sold 225,000 CDs in China -- significant in a market where piracy often overtakes legitimate sales -- and 2.5 million callback ringtones which replace the ringing sound when a mobile phone is called.

McBride regards free downloads of Lavigne's music as advertising for other revenues -- something he says the major labels need to learn.

"Every major label record exec has broken the copyright law. When they were a teenager they recorded a song and gave it to a girl," he said, pointing out that record labels originally tried to ban their songs from radio, fearing they would never sell again.

Shopping at Divi....

....breaks your heart. Reminds you of how many times Makati malls overcharge you by as much as 200%.

E-Jeep in Manila

Was on my way to work the other day. The light turned red and on the right of the cab I was riding was this e-jeep.

Nice name. Would be funnier if it were in Cairo. . . get it, get it? :P From a design standpoint, it could've been a little less cluttered....I mean, if they were gonna make it this colorful, might as well go OTT, the authentically-jeepney kind of way.

Anyway, this is a nice move for the city of Makati what with gas prices going up and the quality of air getting really bad everyday. This is one good thing that came out of this. Plus the fact that according to the MMDA, traffic has been reduced in Metro Manila by 10%. Plus carbon emission has lessened because more people are taking public transport instead of driving.

Firsts

First mammogram. First breast ultrasound. First ____. First ____.

Well, I can't say my life is ho-hum this week.

Are All the Hot Stylish Men Gay?

Tyler Brule, former editor and founder of Wallpaper.

Sara Bareilles "Morningside"

Love Song - Sara Bareilles

Head under water,
And they tell me to breathe easy for a while.
The breathing gets harder, even I know that.

You made room for me but it’s too soon to see,
If I’m happy in your hands.
I’m unusually hard to hold on to.

Blank stares at blank pages.
No easy way to say this.
You mean well, but you make this hard on me.

I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's, 
Make or breaking this.
If you’re on your way,
I'm not gonna write you to stay.
If all you have is leaving,
I’m gonna need a better reason to write you a love song today.
Today.

I learned the hard way,
That they all say things you want to hear.
My heavy heart sinks deep down under you,
And your twisted words, your help just hurts.
You are not what I thought you were.
Hello to high and dry.

Convinced me to please you.
Made me think that I need this too.
I’m trying to let you hear me as I am.

I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's, 
Make or breaking this.
If you’re on your way,
I'm not gonna write you to stay.
If all you have is leaving,
I’m gonna need a better reason to write you a love song today.

Promise me you'll leave the light on,
To help me see with daylight, my guide, gone.
'Cause I believe there's a way you can love me because I say,

I won't write you a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's,
Make or breaking this.
Is that why you wanted a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I’m not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's,
Make or breaking this.
If you’re on your way,
I’m not gonna write you to stay.
If your heart is nowhere in it,
I don’t want it for a minute.
Babe, I’ll walk the seven seas when I believe that there's a reason to,
Write you a love song today.
Today.

Gravity - Sara Bareilles

BookCrossing on Youtube

Set Your Books Free

Want to share/get rid of your books? Or just want to pass it on/save the environment? This is one cool way: BookCrossing.com.

"The idea for BookCrossing came to Ron Hornbaker back in March of 2001, as he and his wife Kaori were admiring the PhotoTag.org site, which tracks disposable cameras loosed into the wild. He already knew about the popularity of WheresGeorge.com (which tracks U.S. currency by serial number), and that got him thinking: what other physical object might people enjoy tracking? A few minutes later, after a glance at his full bookshelf, the idea of tracking books occurred to him. After two hours of research on the Internet, Ron realized, to his surprise, that nothing like BookCrossing had been done on any significant scale. And so they went to work. By 3 A.M. that morning, they had decided on the name (zero hits for "bookcrossing" on Google), registered the domain, and Kaori had sketched the running book logo on a crossing sign. The rest was merely execution.

With the backing of his partners, Heather and Bruce Pedersen, Ron went to work programming the site from scratch the next day, and about four mostly sleepless weeks later, on April 17, 2001, www.bookcrossing.com was launched. Members trickled in at the rate of 100 or so per month until March of 2002 when the Book magazine article was published. Since then, BookCrossing has been the focus of countless TV, radio, and newspaper features around the world, gets about 300 new members every day, has its own category in the human-edited Google Directory, in Wikipedia, and has been added to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary as a new word. Since 2007, with Scott Sorochak on board as CEO, BookCrossing has continued to grow, and move closer to making the whole world a library. It has captured the passion and imagination of over (680,750) people worldwide who to help spread the bounty of books through www.bookcrossing.com. Read and Release!"

More about it here.

For the Cleansing Nerd in You

An alternative to making kulit your mom for Method stuff from the US:
Messy Bessy! It's made locally, is affordable, environment-friendly and helps support disadvanteged kids. Am ordering like...right now!

Oops

Was reading the latest ish of Preview with Angel Aquino on the cover. Apparently, Lipstick Jungle is already being ared locally! There were 3 ads about it spread out on three consecutive lefthand pages.

But they made a mistake: They exchanged the pictures of Kim Raver (Nico) with Lindsay Price (Victory)! Anobear ang laking mistake naman nun cause the block of copy below each picture clearly describes a different character.....

Keeping You Abreast of My Health

Ok so for those of you asking .....

Saturday night, I discovered a lump in my left breast, just above the nipple. It was about the size of a pea, which alarmed me.

Sunday, over family dinner, I tell my brother about it. He is a gastroenterologist so suggests I consult an OB-Gyne the next day. I told him I will. He assures me that since it feels round and not irregularly shaped, it most probably not cancerous. At this point, it is just a lump. I don't feel anything.

Tuesday morning, I go to my HMO's clinic (I-Care). The OB Gyne is out and a general practitioner, after feeling the lump, which has progressively grown in size and tenderness, fills out forms for a mammogram. She, however, asks me to come back to get the OB Gyne's opinion just to make sure.

I walk on to the Makati Med Breast clinic in a daze to make an appointment for a mammogram. I navigate my way through, find it and make an appointment for the next free slot: 230 pm on Friday.

That night, I couldn't sleep well. My friend Gino calls and distracts me from thinking too much about it. Around 11 pm, my mom calls from the US and we talk for about half an hour. I am comforted hearing her voice and wish she were home to accompany to all my checkups and tests.

This morning, I wake up and feel pain where the lump is. It has become the size of a fifty centavo coin and it hurts when I touch it a bit. I am reassured yet again by Dra. dela Rosa at ICare that it is most probably related to my period. But since my period is irregular, she will require me to take tests before and after my period. Hopefully, when my period arrives, she says, the cyst will disappear on its own. If not, she will have to *gulp* drain it. *Eeks*

I call the Breast Lab at Makati Med from the office to add on the requested ultrasound test on top of the mammogram test for Friday, 230 pm. I feel a bit better after talking to friends from work: Joan, who had cysts removed from her breasts and is fine now; and Kris (Yabes) who had what I have now. She assured me I have nothing to worry about. Worse case is that it will be 'aspirated'. I ask what that means. She says it willbe "drained' using a syringe. Oh my Lord.

I googled and discovered that what I have is the result of increased estrogen production (ovulation!) which occurs before a period and is exacerbated by intake of dairy, caffeine (coffee and chocolates) and hormones in meat products. Hmmm. I have been eating a lot of coffee and Raisinets lately....

More reason to REALLY stick to free range, hormone-free chicken. Does this mean Magnolia chicken isn't hormone free? It's what I've been buying for the past few months cause it's easier to find and definitely cheaper than Pamora's free range, "happy" chicken. Plus, I have been eating a lot of Hungarian and Beer sausage. Plus inorganic eggs.

So I wait for Friday with my sore left breast. I want this over and done with as soon as possible.

Ur So Gay - Katy Perry for the Baklas

Current Input

High-concept refinement.....and street. Nice combination for this rainy weekend.

Far Away

Eerily Accurate

Pisces horoscope for the day:

"There is a wonderful opportunity knocking at your door, so why don't you answer it? Being intimidated by a new challenge is understandable, but not when it's something right up your alley, like this! You need to get a boost of confidence, and the best place to find it is with your closest friend. Call them up and tell them what's going on. Share your concerns with them and see what they say. They will not only help you see that you can do this, they will help you see that you can succeed."

Wow Sikat: Watch "Prank Sinatra" at Mag:Net High Street Tonight!

My Team X Mate. Kumpare. Kakulitan. Aba may video na.


Iman Leonardo aka "Prank Sinatra"

Rowr

Splurge and Steal: Prada vs. Figlia

Hurt-Johnny Cash

Thakoon Looks so Pinoy; Dries is Lolo-Cute

Thakoon Panichgul. With that scarf thing. Para lang syang college student.

Dries is cute, in a classy, European older guy kind of way. He's looking older na. You can't tell from what he's wearing that he is a master in combining prints and color.

Both with different fashion aesthetics. Both wayyy talented.

Acetone Used in Drugs?

The other day, needed to buy acetone to remove my chipped nail polish. It was OPI Lincoln Park After Midnight, and you can SEE every tiny chip. I HAD to take it off.

Went to Landmark. No acetone available. In HBC in Makati Cinema Square, wala rin daw. They needed to attend a PDEA seminar daw before restocking. They said it was 'out of stock'. I went to Watson's in SM Makati. They simply said "out of stock." Out of stock ng acetone sa mundo??? Anobear?

Whatever happened to all the acetone in the world?!

Jeez. Two days ago, I finally found a bottle in the Watson's in Waltermart.

Then I found this article. Apparently, the PDEA seized someone who sold gallons of it in Quiapo. Acetone, apparently, is a regulated substance because it is used in making methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu). Yikes didn't know this.

I Love the Weather!

It's so nice to stay in bed, snuggle in my sheets. But it would be a waste to stay in bed when you can go out and sashay in your .........................


trench coat!

Gigil

1. Who is the last person you think about before you sleep?
I will dig my own grave again but I usually think about......me.

2. If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?
Yes. I would make everyone happy. I can cook from scratch and make new outfits out of fatigue.

3. Do you sleep with the TV on?
I don't have a TV (by choice). I'd rather read, write or cook.

4. Have you ever drank milk straight out of the carton?
Yes. It's my carton WTF.

5. Have you ever won a spelling bee?
Yes! Prep. May somesortuva politics going on--kahit bata pa ako, alam ko na kung ano ito. I was supposed to win. The daughter of one of the PTA officers flubbed the last question (I think it was the word "rhythm"). I spelled it correctly. THEY FUCKING GAVE HER ANOTHER TRY.

Wala kasi ako parent na nanuod noon to defend me. Sniff. So 2nd prize lang ako.

6. What is your longest fight with one of your friends?
6 years.

7. Are you a fast typer?
Yup. But I flub and edit fast after.

8. Are you afraid of the dark?
Only after watching scary movies. So I try not to watch scary movies.

10. Who can you always turn to?
My mom. Gino. Myself. God.

11. When's the last time you chose a bath over a shower?
Can't remember. I'd rather shower.

12. Do you knock on wood?
Nah.

13. Are you drinking anything right now?
Coffee from the awesome coffee machine from the office pantry that looks like a robot.

14. Do you think you're attractive?
I've been told. So I guess I could be. To some people.

uy asan yung 16?

17. What do you want for Christmas?
A trip to Kathmandu. Or Ecuador.

18. Do you know the muffin man?
I know muffin girl. Which means someone having that ring of fat above the pants. So I guess not. Cause Paolo A is not a muffin man. He is a siopao man.

19. Do you talk in your sleep?
My roomies say I do.

Ba't wala ang 20????

21. Have you ever flown a kite?
Yes

22. When was the last time that you went swimming and where?
Batangas. Sa Leisure Farm thanks to the Gallardo tagal na. How sad. Gusto ko mag beach ulet.

23. Do you consider yourself successful?
Minsan.

24. How many people are on your contact list of your cell phone?
I can't count.

25. Have you ever asked for a horse?
No. Kick a horse, yes.

26. Plans for tomorrow?
Get a massage and a mani-pedi. Maybe drop by Carolina's to look for pink organza flowers. May project ako.

27. What's your middle name? and why?
Middle first name wala. Middle name as in maiden name ng Nanay ko of course meron duh.

28. Missing someone right now?
Hmmmmm no.

29. When's the last time you told someone you loved them?
Yeaaaaaaars ago. Lately, I always say it in the third person. "Love ko si....."

Hey where did 30 go?

31. How are you feeling today?
Great 'cause I've had enough sleep and I've been able to pay my bills. Whew.

Hey where did 32 go?

33. Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
Nope. Never.

34. What are you looking forward to?
Seeing the world. Achieving my dreams.

35. Have you ever crawled through a window?
No.

36. Have you ever performed onstage?
Yes with the Rage Band in UCC front of 6750 harhar. Recently.
And with The Ladies and Gentlemen in college, Sophomore Year, college fair.

37. Have you ever eaten dog food?
A dog, yes. Harhar.

38. Can you handle the truth?
Usually.

39. Do you like green eggs and ham?
The book, yes.

40. What 3 things you always bring with you to places?
Cellphone, apartment keys, wallet.

41. Any cool scars?
No not cool. Just stupid and reckless. :P

42. Do you like or have a crush on anyone?
Yup.

43. Who was the last person you kissed?
Sikret. Malalaman nya. Hahahaha

45. How often do you talk on the phone?
Often with my best friend.

46. Do you talk to yourself?
No. That's weird.

47. Is there something you want that you can't have?
Yes.

48. Three things about the preferred sex that you first notice?
Smile. Humor. Diction. Pwedeng isa pa? Shoes.

49. Who are u thinking of right now?
M.

50. Who did you last hug?
Julette kasi alis na sya waah.

52. Where is your phone?
Beside my laptop.

53. What was the last thing you ate?
Lunch: Chicken Pandan and Squash Salad (na naging puree pero masarap pa rin)

54. Favorite Color/s?
Gray, white, black, cobalt blue, Tiffany blue, turquoise, silver, pink.

55. Last movie you watched in the cinema?
"Get Smart" with my dad in SM The Block.

56. What song are you currently listening to?
Beds are Burning (pinapatugtog ni Johanne)

57. What do you want?Now?
To SHOP in Century 21 in New York. Gusto ko balikan yung Chloe dress. Shet.

59. What t.v. show are you watching?
Lipstick Jungle on pirated deebeedee.

60. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Gino.

Eto Para sa 'Yo

E ba't ka nagbabasa? Kaw talaga.....


"FIRST REACTIONS QUIZ". You have to type the 1ST thing that comes to mind whenever you hear these 38 things. You can't think and go back and change your answers.

1. Beer: Bottle
2. Anorexic: Sheryl
3. Relationships: Been there done that
4. Purple: Grapes
5. Power Rangers: Pow!
6. Weed: Suka with Dave eeks
8. Cartoon: Johanne
9. The President: Small
10. Tupperware: Baon
11. Florida: Old people
12. Santa Claus: Doesn't exist
13. Halloween: Rocks
14. Bon Jovi: Hayop
15. Grammar: Pays for my bills
17. Worst fear: Regret
18. Marriage: Papel
19. Paris Hilton: Lucky
21. Red head: Tilda Swinton
22. Beach Blondes: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
23. Pass the time: Read
24. One night stands: Ubo ubo ubo
25. Donald duck: Daisy
26. Neverland: Peter Pan
28. Vanilla Ice cream: Regular
29. High School: Musical
31. Pajamas: Bananas in
32. Wood: Pecker hahaha
33. Wet Sock: Eeeeek mildew
34. Alcohol: Kanta ng CSS
35. Love: Masarap
36. My best friend(s): Gino
37. The Bible: Guide
38. Heartache: Physical

Joy is an Understatement

When Iya dropped me off Yulo last night, she pointed out something bright, beautiful and amazing, it's lighted sign beckoning one and all to partake of consumer goods any time, day or night. And it was right in front of our building.

A 7-11! Hallelujah!