Two Words: INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

It's that time of the year again when you have stress and fun at the same time. Investigatory Project period na dito sa amin. Ngunit medyo mahirap yung napili namin ngayon but we decided na mag-pusigi kami. Isa pa, we don't have enough money to hire a statistician, you know. We're just going to stick to what we have. The good news is I found an IP for my Review of Related Literature. That's right, no more awkward moments for us! Ang problema lang kasi, the abstract is too short. I just need to add more words to it or something but I'm not gonna plagiarize it or something naman, eh.  

In the other news, kakaalis lang ni Paris Hilton sa Pinas and she had fun here, she even learned a bit of Cebuano, an achievement for foreign celebrities that she might have done first. (most foreign celebs who come here in the Philippines greet their fans in Filipino and they usually do it once or twice during their visit) Paris should totally bring Britney with her the next time she sneaks away to the Philippines. 

'Till the next post

-Therese

Austin Powers 4 is Confirmed!

Good news to the Austin Powers fans! The 4th installment of Austin Powers 4 has been confirmed:

It was inevitable.

Mike Myers had a small part in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," and he's reprised his role as Shrek for both a sequel and a TV special in the last few years, but as far as live-action movies where he's the star, the last one was the disastrous "The Love Guru" in 2008, and the response to that nearly drove him out of the business.

Myers is a very particular talent, a guy who likes to workshop a character for a while before he actually makes a movie.  He has not made that many films, all things considered, and a few times over the course of his career, he has actually pulled the plug on things that probably could have gotten made because he didn't feel they were ready.  That happened most famously with "Sprockets," the feature-film version of one of his SNL characters.  I liked the script he co-wrote with Mike McCullers, but Myers bowed out just before it was supposed to start, killing the film in the process.

His most successful bigscreen character, of course, is the hyper-horny snaggletoothed secret agent Austin Powers, and there has been much talk about the possibility of a fourth film in that series over the last few years.  For a while, there was talk of a Dr. Evil spin-off film, but I think all of those weird characters need to share the same universe.  Taking one of them into a solo film just seems odd.  Whatever the case, we haven't' seen the character since 2002's "Goldmember."

That's about to change, as HitFix can now confirm that Mike Myers just closed his deal to return to the role.  Yep.  "Austin Powers 4" is coming, officially.

No word yet on who will be directing.  I would hope Jay Roach returns as well, since I think a lot of the kick of the films is the '60s pop aesthetic, and Roach has been a big part of that since day one.  There's also no word yet on a proposed storyline, but I will certainly start digging to see what I can come up with.

Right now, all that's sure is that someone's going to get shagged, and for the first time in a decade, Austin Powers fans are going to have new material to get excited about.  We'll update you as more details become available.

Source 

What do I expect from the movie? Britney should star in it again, maybe this time, she could be a leading lady or something closer to that, that is if they decide to keep the Foxy character. What Britney song should be in it? How I Roll, Drop Dead Beautiful and Inside Out are my bets. Other people who should be in the movie, Lady Gaga, Lea Michelle (of Glee) and The Black Eyed Peas. (who said they can't appear in movies)

What do you expect from Austin Powers 4?

Leave your comments in the comments section below!

Britney Spears Toxic Dance Gone Wong

This is probably the result of Britney Spears addiction. Nah! Just kidding! This video was uploaded about 3 years ago. I found it on eBaumsWorld.com and I uploaded it to my Youtube account 'coz it seems that it is a rare video in the Youtube universe. Anyways, here's the video:

What's your thoughts on this video? Is it amusing or sick? Post your reactions in the comments section below!

FUNNY SIGNS (FROM A RESTAURANT IN TAGAYTAY)

Here are two pictures of funny signs that I found in a restaurant in Tagaytay City. I took them last March 19, 2011 but I didn't decide on uploading these photos until I saw these photos while browsing photos in my phone. Anyway, here are the pictures:

Do not use these photos on your site unless you link back to my blog or ask for my permission or both. These photos are also on my photography portfolios (link is on my About Me page) under "The Oddity Section" album.

'Till the next post!

-Therese

New theme!

It's a brand new month! I just changed my theme. Notice the Britney background? Found it somewhere online and I thought it was perfect on my blog so I used it as a background. I didn't make it anyway. A shoutout to whoever made the background: Your Britney background is so awesome! Love it! 

It's also Saturday today so enjoy your weekend!

'Till the next post!

-Therese

An open letter from a 16-year-old High School Student expressing her concern on the RH Bill

I saw this on a post on the PRO-PINOY COMMUNITY group on Facebook and I decided to share this. It's an open letter from a 16-year-old high school student on her concerns on the RH bill. 

February 14, 2011 

Dear Sir or Madam, 

The Reproductive Health Bill is a breach in collective national reason. It is common knowledge that this country has stumbled over many bad decisions over the span of its existence, but the Reproductive Health Bill is on a par all its own. While it is true that the Reproductive Health Bill does have some good points and intentions, my reason has led me to believe that the RH Bill will lead us nowhere but miserable failure. Unfortunately I am an underage student in high school with no political power whatsoever, and what I can do to influence the decisions made in this country is infinitely smaller compared to the power held by you. That is the reason why this letter is being written, because I know you yourself would encourage a young citizen like me to take action, although my opinion and yours seem to contradict each other. I do not see anyway around that problem so you might as well deal with it and read what I have prepared for you in this letter. 

In the Reproductive Health Bill, with its paragraphs and statements and endless definitions, one simple goal is blatantly expressed: to curb national overpopulation. This dilemma of ours is supposedly an obstacle in the way of national progress, because apparently a country only needs a certain number of people to succeed. This country, so it is said, has too many mouths to feed, too little space to build houses on, and too little money to accommodate everybody. It is a very simple concept that seems true. We need a fewer amount of people so that we can make the most out of the money we have. We will not try to make more money. We will try to have fewer people.Obviously there is a lot of fallacy in this. First of all, poverty is not caused by overpopulation. Poverty is caused first and foremost by inefficient leadership. If you take the root of it all you will see that the ruin of a society has never been caused by the people. It is atrocious how people, especially the poor ones, are seen as the stumbling block to this country’s progress. Is it the poor who steal billions of pesos of taxpayer’s money? Is it the poor who do not provide sufficient infrastructure? Is it the poor that continually makes one bad decision over another? Maybe instead of blaming the innocent, you should be pointing your finger in the other direction. It is so easy to manipulate words to justify one’s actions and incapability, and then put the blame on the victims, instead taking the responsibility for one’s own.In fact, the single most important resource in a country is the human resource. It is the Filipino people who make up this country’s workforce. The bigger the population, the more people there will be to work. The more people there will be to consume. Correspondingly, if you have nobody to work, there will be less output. There will also be less people to consume products. Consumers are needed for this country to thrive. What will happen if there are not enough Filipinos?Overpopulation is nothing but a myth used as a scapegoat by powerful people as a way to continue their inefficient agenda. The mentality of overpopulation will destroy the Philippines just as it is destroying the world as we speak. When perhaps we have a population that is suitable enough for you, you will realize that you actually need people to work and to produce in order to keep a country on its feet. Perhaps maybe then it would be too late, and the economy is struggling to keep alive because the small population of young workers is also trying to handle the burden of large aging population. Then you would have to switch things around and do what countries like Singapore are doing, and that is to actually pay a couple to have children. But does the Philippines have enough budget for that kind of plan?I would also like to take this opportunity to inquire if the government is actually doing something to assess the high density of people in the urban centers. The reason that the cities are so cramped is because there no jobs to be found in the rural areas. Is the government looking for ways to make new jobs so that people would not go to the city? Perhaps the problem of overpopulation would not be so bad if the Filipinos could be more spread out. This is just a suggestion. 

Second of all, I am against this bill because it states that I will go to jail if I say anything bad about it, supposing that it is passed. Never in my life have I encountered a bill with such insecurity. What is so wrong about speaking out against some law? If you have an answer, then please enlighten me. I do not understand. I thought that our Constitution defends my right to express my opinions. Apparently I can express my opinions about anything except this certain topic. I did not realize that such things are allowed. Of course I would not know about these very well, since I am only in high school. However, you are politicians and you should know a lot about laws and rights. Please reply back so that I can settle this in my mind and tell my friends about it.

Thirdly, the Reproductive Health Bill speaks a lot about defending women by giving them access to artificial birth control methods. I understand how having clinics is good for women, as it is mentioned in the RH Bill, but what are you defending them from when you give them birth control? From babies? Since when have babies become vicious pests that women need defense from? As a young woman myself, I personally find condom use degrading. Artificial birth control methods encourage men to see women not as persons but as objects to derive pleasure from. Widespread condom use will raise the number of prostitutes in this country. Now that young girls know how not to get pregnant, they can sell their bodies as much as they wish without the risk. How does this empower womanhood? That is one more thing I do not understand. 

One’s stance on the Reproductive Health Bill is not an opinion. This Bill is not something that I can compare to a favorite color or a favorite pop tune. Your stance on the RH Bill is yes or no, wrong or right. Perhaps for simple folks like me, the say on the RH Bill has no consequence. But for you, it is a matter of progress or regress for this country. Important Political Person, I am pretty sure that you know more than I do, and you have very good tastes and opinions on a vast array of subjects. But on this issue I am afraid to say that you are wrong. You have been deceived by the popular opinions of the western world and you are leading everyone in a dangerous direction. When you are making your decision you are not siding with the church or state, the masses or the elite. You are making a decision as a service to your country, which is what your occupation demands you hold in utmost. 

I have brought forth what my mental power can come up with, and hopefully it has caused you to think about the Reproductive Health Bill even just a little bit. 

Yours patriotically, 

Maria Inez M. Barrameda

Spread the word to everyone! You may repost this on your blog. We have to stop the RH Bill from ever being passed. 

'Till my next post!

-Therese 

Friends of Manila Zoo

After a few days of not blogging, I'm back again! This time, I would like to introduce you to a new cause that I support, Friends of Manila Zoo. We all heard that activists from PETA are trying to close down Manila Zoo pero hindi ako sang-ayon sa kanila, Friends of Manila Zoo is an unofficial site maintained by a volunteer of the zoo. 

About Manila Zoo

The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is a 5.5-hectare zoo near Manila Bay. It was the first zoo established in Asia. In addition to animal ambassadors such as Maali the elephant, the zoo also has many activities friends and families can share: row-boats, photography shoots, animal shows, and more.

What you can do to help?

Clean surroundings with no litter                                                                                                      How we can help make it happen:

• Companies can sponsor trash cans so that people always see one nearby.
• Volunteers can organize cleanup drives, particularly on weekends, so that people can see what a zoo without litter looks like.
• Students and designers can make posters and emotionally-intelligent signage that show people why it’s important to keep the zoo clean – some animals have died because they ate the plastic bags thrown into their enclosures
• You can model the behavior by visiting the zoo, disposing of your trash properly, and reminding others to do so.

Visitors respect the animals and don’t tease them

• You can model the respectful behavior and remind people why they shouldn’t tease the animals.
• You can help design signs or posters to help people learn how to behave in a zoo.
• The zoo and committed volunteers can host regular short orientation sessions to help first-timers learn about the zoo and what visitors’ responsibilities are.

Well-fed, healthy, happy animals

• Organizations and people can donate fruits, vegetables, meat, and other kinds of food.
• Volunteers can help prepare and give food.
• Student veterinarians can help with checkups.
• Committed volunteers can work with veterinarians to create enrichment toys (seewww.enrichment.org).

Lots of educational programs that help people learn more about the zoo

• You can choose an animal you want to learn more about and share what you’ve learned – general research and maybe that specific animal’s stories – with zoo visitors or online.
• Zoo staff and committed volunteers can put together regularly-scheduled talks or programs.
• Volunteers and corporate sponsors can give special talks and workshops (ex: photography).
• Students can make posters that share more stories and facts about the animals.
• Committed volunteers can work with veterinarians to organize close encounter programs (shows, outreach, etc).

People know about the good things at the zoo

• Writers, photographers, and videographers can share their stories in print or online.
• Students can do class projects on the zoo.
• You can share the zoo with family and friends.
• Upcoming events can be announced on http://friendsofmanilazoo.org and other sites.

People show their support of the zoo

• You can visit the Facebook page for Friends of Manila Zoo and click on Like to be counted.
• You can share stories, links, and photos with your social networks on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, and others.
• You can take special interest in an animal at the zoo, like the way John Chua has volunteered to help take care of Maali. There are many interesting animals at the zoo. Research one that touches your heart and look for ways to help. The zoo can also organize a “Friends of ….” program to allow individuals and companies to sponsor specific animals.
• The zoo can publicize their list of sponsors, with different contribution levels to make it easier for everyone to help out. It can also encourage more people to donate by showing where the donations go (ex: food, medical care for animals, etc.)
• Designers and developers can help build an official website for the Zoo or improve this one as a way to help people connect. For example, it would be great to have a badge that people can put on their profiles to show their support.

Source: friendsofmanilazoo.org

Show your support on Friends of Manila Zoo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Manila-Zoo/145341375546816?sk=wall

Add the Friends of Manila Zoo PicBadge to your profile pic: http://www.picbadges.com/friend-of-manila-zoo/2017588/?fb_comment_id=fbc_5006623884128_672051_5006628743128

Stay tuned for my next post!

-Therese