Final piece of a puzzle

I find these article from Philippine Daily Inquirer and yes, the article reflects the reality for some Filipinos who were born abroad (ie. not in the Philippines) to have their identity crisis and Filipinos working abroad, feeling the longing to return to their home country. I am one of those who long to return to my home country but opportunities to earn a decent living and safety for my family in Philippines remains the main concern that I still feel that staying put to where we (I and my family) are living now is still the best place. Hopefully, the time to return home would be in the near future.

Final piece of a puzzle
by Krisanne Alcantara
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:57:00 02/09/2008

The great Filipino Diaspora has resulted in countless Filipinos settling down all over the world, in countries such as the United States , Canada and Australia . These Filipinos are admired for uprooting completely and attaining the coveted Western dream, all-inclusive of the dollar-earning corporate job, Mercedes-Benz, shiny Gap-clothed offspring and glittering palatial homes in the suburbs.
But let me tell you, all that glitters is not gold.  
 
I know, because I am one of those Filipino-Australian /American offspring, part of an entire generation of young Filipino adults who have lived and been raised "abroad," a generation who, despite being born into the Great American Dream of their progenitors, cannot help but suffer from some form of identity crisis.
I am the perfect case study. Born in Manila , shipped to Australia for 10 years, only to be relocated in America , then back in Australia during my adolescence, I had completely given up finding a place to call home. Consequently, for years I insisted on calling myself a "citizen of the world." By the ripe old age of 21, I was jaded and slightly defiant, if not a little confused.  
 
That was until a week ago, when I found myself standing in the middle of a traffic-congested road with no distinct lanes, poorly attempting to "para" [halt] a jeepney in the thick of the Manila heat, knowing a total of 12 words in Tagalog and not knowing the difference between a P5 and a P10 coin -- and feeling right at home.
Coming back to the Philippines in my adulthood is akin to the satisfaction of finding that final piece of the puzzle and placing it snugly where it belongs. It is like filling an empty space that you never knew existed. "Where have you been all these years?" I wondered, as sweat poured down my brow and I was almost killed by a reckless taxi driver.  
 
Ironically, I have lived the "dream life" abroad like so many Filipinos constantly tell me they are desperate for. Whenever I mention that I currently reside in Australia , this revelation is always immediately followed by something along the lines of "Ay, Australia , gusto ko 'dyan!" [" Australia , I want to be there!"]
And with good reason. Me too, I like it in Australia . It's practically impossible not to like the country. It is so clean and so green, there is hardly any traffic and the weather obeys the seasons: winter means "cold" and summer means "hot."
Yet, now, after years of desperately trying to find this elusive place called home and instead being offered breathtakingly beautiful substitutes, I find myself loving a country where winter means "hot," and summer means "heat so excruciating you may as well be living inside a furnace." It's a country where people stare at me like an alien when I attempt to speak Tagalog (and oh, I try so hard), and a country where the skyline is defiled by billboards of heavily airbrushed superstars advertising anything, from hair products to coffee creamer.  
 
What many people don't know about we "lucky" Filipinos who have lived abroad our entire lives is that there is a tug-of-war that happens beneath the surface for many of us. There is an entire generation of Filipino young adults who have been brought up in another country, who experience a constant, underlying struggle between the culture that runs in their blood, and the culture that they live and breathe on a daily basis.
We are the young people who have been forced by our parents to adopt English as our first language and eat Weetbix and Cornflakes for breakfast. We nonchalantly take our SATs or HSCs, knowing that getting into universities is no drama, and neither is finding some form of employment if we fail.
Yet there is some kind of inexplicable emptiness that is hard to fill, or even admit, that is common among many of us Fil-Oz and Fil-Am youngsters.
I know this, having Filipino cousins and friends in both America and Australia . Within many of us lies the similar, disjointed feeling of being neither here nor there, being neither wholly American/Australian nor wholly Filipino.  
 
Please don't misunderstand me. I love Australia . It has been very kind to me, and I would not be sitting here had it not generously awarded me a free education at one of its most prestigious universities and then sent me to work here, expenses paid. And I know it sounds shallow, but boy, is Australia beautiful.
But the Philippines possesses a different kind of beauty that does not have to do with immaculate greenery, flawless stretches of golden desert and glittering turquoise ocean. In my opinion, the Philippines is beautiful because of its irony and its endearing imperfection.
A Third World country with gargantuan shopping malls to rival the world's best. A country with the most shopping malls, and also the most slum areas and poverty. A country so devoutly Roman Catholic yet also one of the most destitute and plagued with the most problematic of governments. And a country whose citizens are labelled "the happiest people in the world," according to the Chinese Asiaweek.
I have witnessed firsthand the breathtaking opulence of Malacañan Palace during vin d'honneur, and I have visited slums where shanties are packed so tightly together that the tiny doors can only open inwards and children run around barefoot and naked. I have witnessed both Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo' s presidential address beneath a glittering crystal chandelier and the heartbreaking sight of a sweating man standing in between two lanes of traffic, balancing a stand of peanuts on one arm and his toddler in the other..  
 
The Philippines is such a charming, enchanting, endearing mess of a country. Nothing really seems to fit, yet it all does.
And it reminds me a bit of myself. Perhaps that's why I feel like I fit right in. Perhaps that's why after all these years I can say I have finally, thankfully, found my home.
So, for all you fellow Filipinos here in the Philippines who dream of a life abroad, I am not telling you to stop dreaming. Explore your horizons.. Go to college, apply for scholarships, and work abroad. Just know where you came from, and feel blessed to have what you have. And never forget to come back to help your fellowmen, your people.
And to the lost souls, the confused "citizens of the world" like me who may be reading this: Don't lose hope. As the famous saying goes, "Life is a voyage that's homeward bound." In other words, no matter where or how far you wander, don't fret -- you will one day end up where you belong. Take it from me.

Krisanne Al cantara, 21, is a journalism student at the University of Sydney . She won the Myer and AKF journalism scholarship and is currently an intern at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Go Back To Main Page

Dolphy At 80

Got this from my email. I am a fan of Dolphy when I was a kid and I love watching his movies. So to all Dolph's fan, read more about him below.

Rodolfo Vera Quizon, lovingly known as Dolphy, turned 80 on July 25. To celebrate his being "weighty at 80," his son Eric published Dolphy's biography entitled "Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-Isa", as told to Bibeth Orteza.  

Comedy King...

Woman-lover and Ladies' Man...

Bombilya King...

Dolphy is all that - and more...

As a nod to his birthday, Conversations is giving you "80 snippets" as a preview to the predicted best-seller. Here it goes:

1. I was born on Calle Padre Herrera on July 25, 1928. Orig na Tondo Boy. I was about 13 when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

2. M y father was Melencio, son of Modesto Quizon and Adorable Espinosa. He was earning well as tagagawa ng makina sa bapor at the Atlantic Gulf .

3. M y mother was Salud, daughter of Maximo Vera and Ninay de la Rosa . She owned a tailoring shop at home. She was the
first cousin of Rita Vera Avellana, mother of Lamberto Avellana. M y siblings and I called our parents Papang and Mamang.

4. At that time, I could wat ch movies for free because I sold peanuts and butong-pakwan inside, and also
singkamas malamig.

5. Radio was a hit at that time. The couple Dely Atay-Atayan and Andoy Balunbalunan were the pioneers of radio shows..

6. I am the second of 10 children - Corazon, Rodolfo, Josefina, Mel encio Jr., Laura, Aurora, Jorge, Jaime, Teresita and Jaime.

7. I was circumcised by a barber at the bathroom under our house. When I saw blood, I swallowed the guava leaves I was
chewing, which was to be used to cover the wound.

8. Pre-war. I started studying in a public school when I was six. My right hand could reached my left ear so I was accepted in Grade 1.

9. My allowance was two centavos when I was in elementary and 10 centavos in high school. At the Chinese store, you could buy a cup of coffee for one centavo and tinapay na may laman for another centavo.

10. My favorite subjects were History and Arithmetic. Augusto Chico, 'yung nakalaban ni Asiong Salonga, was my classmate.

11. Japanese Time. I did odd jobs, including shining shoes, pagkakabit ng mga butones ng pantalon sa pagawaan (fixing pants buttons),
taga-salansan ng mga bote na ika-classify mo according to size (put the bottles in an orderly stack & classify according to size), taga-karga ng bigas na mas mabibigat pa sa akin sa pier, nag-buy-and- sell at naging kutsero.

12. I watched stage shows at the Life Theater and Avenue Theater starred by Pugo at Tugo, at Bayani Casimiro (Life) at pambato sa drama si Rogelio de la Rosa ; at sina Patsy, Lupito, Lupita and Gregorio Ticman (Avenue), at pambato sa drama si Leopoldo Salcedo. May shows din sa Lyric at Majestic.

13. My idols in comedy were Pugo and Tugo; sa sayaw (dance) were Bayani Casimiro at Benny Mack.

14. I was turning 17 when Benny Mack got me as a chorus dancer, one month at Avenue and then I moved to Lyric. When
there was an air raid, we would interrupt the show and run for cover at the air-raid shelter in orchestra, kasama ang
audience. Kapag walang bombang bumagsak, tuloy uli ang show.

15. I was also in the shows at Orient Theater. Golay was my first stage name. My dream was to have a solo dance na gaya ni (like) Fred Astaire.

16. My first love was Aida Javier who came from a family of musicians. Mahusay siya mag-piano.

17. During my first roadshow, nakasama ko si Carlos Padilla Sr., lolo ni Zsa Zsa.

18. I met Engracia Dominguez - si Gracia - sa stage show. In our skit, she stood motionless, kunwari portrait, habang kinakantahan ko ng Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa. Nagkaroon kami ng anim na anak - Manny, Salud, Rodolfo Jr., Freddie, Edgar and Raul. Gracia and I separated in 1963.

19. I was among the original OFWs. M ga 1950 'yon. Nag-show kami sa Hawaii , sa Hong Kong . And then, Japan where I saw snow for the first time. It was also in Japan where I met Bimbo Danao, tatay ni Laura Danao at dating artist sa LVN na naging singer. Sikat na sikat siya sa Japan.

20. It was Conde Ubaldo who got me into radio in the late '40s. He was a popular radio writer, director and producer. Isinama ako sa Wag Naman, starring Pancho Magalona, Tessie Quintana and Baby Jane.

21. It was Pancho Magalona who recommended me to Dr. Jose "Doc" Perez, the starmaker of Sampaguita Pictures. That was in 1952.

22. My first movie was Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita, with Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. And then came Jack and Jill. Mga bida sina Rogelio de la Rosa at Lolita Rodriguez. I wasn't the first choice. Sina Batotoy at Bayani ang unang kinonsider.

23. Jack and Jill was a komiks serial by Mars Ravelo. After that, I did other komiks characters - Silveria, Captain Barbell, Facifica Falayfay, all by Mars Ravelo.

24. The first time I did drama was in a 4-in-1 movie, with Barbara Perez who played a blind girl. 'Yung episode namin was inspired by the Charlie Chaplin's movie City Lights.

25. When I joined Sampaguita, my fee was P1,000 per movie. When my contract expired, P7,000 per picture na ako.

26. I fell in love with a fellow Sampaguitan but I'd rather not reveal who she was. Sa amin na lang 'yon. She's now in America .

27. It was also in Sampaguita where my team-up with Panchito became popular. Actually, our tandem started on radio, sa mga shows ni Conde Ubaldo.

28. 'Yung song-translation gimmick namin ni Panchito started in Tawag ng Tanghalan, the amateur talent search that produced Pepe Pimentel, Ric Manrique Jr., Diomedes Maturan, Nora Aunor and Edgar Mortiz. Panchito and I stayed in Tawag for six months, then sinimulan namin ang Buhay
Artista where we continued the song-translation portion. Click na click sa audience 'yon.

29. It's not true na naging girlfriend ko si Miss Aruba ( Maureen Ava Viera). Sumali siya sa M iss Universe pageant dito noong 1974. Muntik lang naging kami.

30. I met Gloria Smith in 1956. Nagkaroon kami ng apat na anak - Mariquita, Carlos, Geraldino and Edwin.

31. As a father, I couldn't give my children all my attention when they were growing up. I was really working full time.

32. I was practically jobless when I left Sampaguita. It was Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr., na kung tawagin ay si Kapitan, who got me into television. Channel 3 pa noon. Sa kanila nagsimula ang Student Canteen. Hosts sina Eddie Ilarde, Leila Benitez, Pepe Pimentel at Bobby Ledesma.

33. M y first TV show was Buhay Artista, sa ABS-CBN, idea nina Geny at Ading Fernando. Sa radyo, my talent fee was P250-P300 per program. Sa TV, mas mataas ng kaunti, P500 per show.

34. I met Baby Smith. Artista rin siya, Pamela Ponti ang screen name. She was 17, I was 36. Nagkaroon kami ng apat na anak - Ronaldo, Enrico, M adonna and Jeffrey.

35. I began doing movies for independent studios - LEA Productions, Balatbat Productions, Filipinas Productions, Zultana Productions and D'Lanor ni FPJ.

36. FPJ got me to star in two movies in 1964, Captain Barbell and Daigdig ng Fantasia (with Nova Villa), both directed by Herminio "Butch" Bautista, tatay ni Herbert.

37. I put up RVQ Productions in 1965. M y first venture was Buhay Artista, released in 1966. Kami ni Panchito pa rin, kasama sina Susan Roces at Ronaldo Valdez.

38. Ronaldo Valdez's real name is Ronald James Gibbs. He's my discovery, for Pepe en Pilar, pelikula namin ni Susan. We wanted a new face as Susan's partner. I saw Ronaldo in a basketball court and brought him to the presscon so Susan could see him. "Wala bang iba?" Susan said. I brought Ronaldo to the barber shop, bought him a pair of boots at Glenmore and lent him my terno. When I presented him to Susan again, she said, "Iyan pa." She didn't know that he was the same guy I introduced to her earlier. Then I changed his name to Ronaldo Valdez.

39. Because of Jack and Jill, I was typecast in gay roles. My biggest hit is Facifica Falayfay, directed by Luciano "Chaning" Carlos. I did 23 other movies with Chaning.

40. When agent movies were the fad, I also played a secret agent, Dolpinger 1-2-3. Si Chiquito naman, Agent 0-2-10.

41. It's not true that Chiquito and I had a rivalry. May gumawa lang ng ganoon because at that time mayroong Nora-Vilma rivalry.

42. In the '60s, naging fad ang bomba films nina Merle Fernandez, Rossana Marquez, Rosa nna Ortiz at Yvonne. Nag-lie low ako for a while.

43. In 1978, balik ako sa gay role, sa Ang Tatay Kong Nanay where I played a parloristang bakla, directed by Lino Brocka. Kasama ko sina Niño Muhlach as the son of my boyfriend, si Phillip Salvador. Si Jessie Yu ang producer, brother ni Mother Lily.

44. RVQ produced more than 100 films. It had sister companies, Rodzon Film Organization and Rodessa Films.

45. The tsismis was that I had a relationship with all my leading ladies. Hindi naman po lahat. Mayroon ding hindi natuloy.

46. Did I court Nida Blanca, my leading lady in John en Marsha? Hindi po. Ni minsan hindi ko naisipang ligawan siya.

47. John en Marsha started in 1971, a year before Martial Law, on Channel 9. It was the idea of Kitchie Benedicto, head of the station. Before Nida, who was doing Wala Kang Paki with Nestor de Villa, Boots Anson-Roa and Helen Gamboa were considered as my wife Marsha. Before Dely Atay-Atayan, kinonsider din si Chichay as my mother-in-law na mayaman at matapobre. Mga anak namin sina Rolly (Quizon) at Maricel Soriano.

48. John en M arsha was such a big hit that it was made into a movie eight times.

49. I don't need Viagra. Zsa Zsa is my Viagra.

50. Ang type ko sa babae 'yung mestisahin at siempre, maganda.

51. I am known as a Bombilya King, pero imposibleng dahil "doon" sa, alam mo na. Kumalat 'yon after I did El Pinoy Matador. As a torero, my costume was tight, no underwear. Kapag nakaharap ako, naka-marka talaga 'yung akin, parang bombilya.

52. I am shy with women. I start with touching her hand. Pag hindi inalis, may gusto. Pag inalis na may kasamang gulat, medyo ayaw. Pero pag dahan-dahang inalis, ok-ok pa, nagpapakipot lang.

53. In the late '60s while we were shooting in a hospital, I met a nurse, Evangeline Tagulao. Nagkaroon kami ng isang anak. Nasa States na sila ngayon.

54. I met Pilar Pilapil i n 1969 when we shot Tayo'y Mag-Up, Up and Away in Rome, Paris, London, New York, Hawaii and Las Vegas . That was two years after she won the Bb.Pilipinas-Universe title. We almost got married. Ayaw ng parents niya.

55. Then, I fell in love with Lotis Key. I also almost married her. Ang mga babae ko, kadalasan nagkakasabay-sabay, nag-o-overlap sila.

56. In 1981, I met Alma Moreno. We have a son, Vandolph. Why did we break up? Ayoko na lang mag-elaborate. Basta, nahirapan ako sa lifestyle niya.

57. Nang naging kami ni Zsa Zsa, nabulabog ang buhay namin. Nawalan ako ng show; tinanggal ang mga commercials ko. At that time, we seriously thought of living in the States. Nakabili na nga kami ng bahay doon, eh.

58. Zsa Zsa and I have a daughter, si Zia. We also have an adopted daughter, si Nicole who was just a few months old nang ibigay sa akin ng nanay niyang Amerikana. Nasa Hizon's ako noon.

59. Hizon's is my favorite restaurant, sa Ermita'yon. Masarap ang ensaymada nila. 'Yon ang pang-regalo ko sa mga friends ko.

60. When Nicole was baptized, the priest asked me, "Ang dami mo nang anak; bakit gusto mo pang mag-adopt?" Sabi ko, "Tingnan n'yo, padre,
parang anghel. Kung sa'yo ibinigay, hindi n'yo ba tatanggapin? "

61. One of my embarrassing moments...Sa Orient, sumasayaw kami. May lifting-lifting. E, may colds ako. Lumobo ang sipon ko habang binubuhat ko ang partner ko. Palakpakan ang audience.

62. I love shirts by Italian designers. Armani. Gusto ko rin ang Gap at Banana Republic.

63. Sa perfume, Angel.

64. Sa kotse, Mercedes Benz.

65. Sa books, biography. Nabasa ko na 'yung books tungkol kay Frank Sinatra at Charlie Chaplin.

66. Sa color, partial ako sa white. At red na nakuha ko sa Chinese Feng Shui. Red daw is good luck to wear on a Monday.

67. Sa music, ballads. Fan ako nina Frank Sinatra, Doris Day at Ella Fitzgerald.

68. Gone With The Wind was the first color movie that I saw. Other movies that I love are Singing in the Rain and all the Chaplin movies.

69. I also like musicals, 'yung starring Fred Astraire and Gene Kelly. Oo, Sound of Music.

70. My other favorites: Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Jack Lemmon, Hedy Lamarr, Ingrid Bergman, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Hilary Swank at marami pang iba.

71.  Sa local, 'yung mga paborito ko namayapa na -Leopoldo Salcedo, Rogelio de la Rosa , Jose Padilla Jr.

72.  Ay si FPJ siempre. Alaga ako noon ng tatay niya, si Fernando Poe Sr. Ayoko sa pulitika pero nag-kampanya ako para kay FPJ.

73.  Oo nga pala, I started in the movies in 1946, kay Fernando Poe Sr. Nanding ang tawag namin sa kanya. I was only 19 then.

74.  My zodiac sign is Leo.

75.  Mahilig si FPJ sa jacket, so everytime I traveled, ang pasalubong ko sa kanya ay jacket na ginagamit naman niya sa kanyang mga pelikula.

76.  Yes, it's true. Mayroon na akong kabaong, bronze. Matagal na. I was among the first to buy a family estate sa Loyola Memorial Park sa Marikina ..

77.  Totoo. Madasalin akong tao. Habang nagtre-treadmill, nagro-rosary ako.

78.  Do I have any regrets? None. I may not be a multi-millionaire but I feel like one dahil marami akong kaibigan.

79.  How do I want to be remembered? As a good person.

80.  At 80, of course hindi na ako bagets. Na-kidney operation na ako. Na-bypass. Nagka-tubig.

Go Back To Main Page

LASIK

With the advancement of technology today, eye surgeons are now better equipped to provide medical eye treatment to their patients through the use of LASIK. So you might ask, what is LASIK ? Lasik is the most commonly performed refractive surgery procedure today which helps improve eye focusing power and enhances patients visual acuity. LASIK is actually short for "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis." .


Why is it so popular? Its because LASIK has the advantages over other procedures, including a relative lack of pain after the surgery and the fact that good vision is usually achieved. This would mean that those who are nearsighted, farsighted or with astigmatism can now eliminate or reduce their dependency on wearing their contact lenses or thick eyeglasses. They could immediately enjoy the freedom of clear vision at all times and could even engage in sports activities.


Is LASIK for you then ? To determine whether LASIK is right for you, you should have a thorough eye examination from a qualified eye care professional, including several eye assessments such as measurements of corneal thickness, corneal topography and pupil size etc. These assessments will help determine whether or not you are a right candidate for LASIK. During your examination and consultation, you may discover factors of which you were unaware at the time you took this test, which make you a poorer, or a better, LASIK candidate.


If you are considering LASIK and worried that something could go wrong, you might take comfort in knowing that it's extremely rare for complications from this procedure to cause permanent, significant vision loss. Also, many complications can be resolved through re-treatment or enhancements of the eye.


Selecting the right eye surgeon probably is the single most important step you can take to decrease any risks associated with LASIK. An experienced, reputable surgeon will make sure you are properly screened to let you know up front if you aren't a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.


For a range of LASIK information please visit Eye Surgery Education Council.

Why Men Are Never Depressed

Received this email and want to share it to others. You could add your comments and provide your reasons too on why men are never depressed.


Men Are Just Happier People--

Their last name stays put.

The garage is all his.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

Men can never be pregnant.

Car mechanics tell him the truth.

Men never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky.

Men don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

People never stare at a man's chest when Men're talking to them.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle their feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

Men know stuff about tanks and engines. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

Men get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. Men never have strap problems in public.

Men are unable to see wrinkles in their clothes.

Everything on Men's face stays its original colour.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

Men only have to shave their face and neck.

Men can play with toys all their life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons.

Men can wear shorts no matter how their legs look.

Men can "do" their nails with a pocket knife.

Men have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

Men can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.


No wonder men are happier.

Go Back To Main Page

Banzai Fix. Get Your Chopsticks Ready !

Have you heard about the new game by SreenLife Games ? The new game is called "Banzai". Well, the game's name would have been quite familiar to you as this new game is based on the hit TV show "Banzai". Good news is that the game is now on DVD and could be purchase online. Interested in buying ? Then head over to http://www.banzai.com. Also, you may want to note that that Tako even has his own Myspace page. Here's the URL www.myspace.com/takotheocto.

I am thinking of buying this game so that when some of my friends would come to our house, we can enjoy and have great fun playing this new game together. I even discovered that there are cute wallpapers that could be downloaded. Here's the screenshot of the Tako-gotchi or screensaver that I have downloaded :



Here's a brief summary of how the game is played :
The SHOGUN selects Play Banzai on the DVD menu. A premise for a stunt will appear on screen. After the premise, players have 15 seconds to make their Sushi wagers. Using only Chopsticks, players transfer Sushi from their individual Sushi Bowls to their section of the Community Betting Bowl without touching the Sushi or Sushi Bowl with any part of their bodies! Getting the most Sushi into the Betting Bowl gives you control of the bet and the best odds of winning the round. You could watch the video below to learn more about the game rules of this very exciting game.

ScreenLife Games is at it again. They launched a new Banzai game. Check it out:

Cursor Moves by Itself

Last night while surfing the net using my ever reliable Dell Latiude D410 laptop, something strange happens. I have seen my mouse moves by itself as if someone had hack to my computer and is trying to manipulate my laptop. So I did try to shutdown my computer and reboot but still the problem persisted. Since I am using a wireless router, I suspected that it maybe caused by some interference or something, so I tried to just ignore it, but then, the problem still persisted that its quite annoying seeing your cursor moving by itself. The cursor moves up by itself to the left of the screen, heading for the topleft corner and then slowly along the top edge to the left corner or sometimes it moves diagonally up or down the corner of the screen.

Does anyone know what could be causing this, I have run a virus scan and adaware and spybot and these programs did not found any virus or malwares. Any ideas ?

Would be grateful if anyone could suggest a fix to this problem.


Go Back To Main Page

Top 10 Email Mistakes

I received this info from my friend and would like to share this very good tips regarding emails.  

Top 10 E-mail Mistakes
Robert Half International

If you're like most professionals, you use e-mail in the office on a regular basis. Because of its immediacy and relative lack of intrusiveness, it's the communication method of choice for many workers, including, chances are, your boss. According to a Robert Half International survey, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of executives polled prefer e-mail over other forms of communication.


While hitting "send" may be an effective way to get your ideas across, doing so too quickly or without a lot of thought can send the wrong message. Here are 10 common e-mail mistakes and tips for avoiding them:


1. A vague subject line.
The subject line not only lets the person receiving the message know what it's about but also provides him or her with a reason to read it. Some people -- and your boss is probably one of them -- get hundreds of e-mails each day and may not have the time to open each of them. The subject line acts as the window into the message and can also indicate its urgency, so be specific with what you write there.


2. No sign-off.
A weak signature is almost as bad as a weak handshake: Both convey a lack of professionalism. A signature at the end of your e-mail should include your e-mail address, physical work address and phone number. Including these details gives recipients multiple means of contacting you. This information is especially important for people to whom your e-mail might be forwarded or individuals either outside the company or in another office.


3. "Im writing re: the meeting @ 3."
Many people take a casual approach when using e-mail. But what you write is a reflection of your professional self, so take the time to craft complete sentences, use proper grammar and check your spelling. And don't depend solely on your computer's spell-check function, which won't find misused words; review your e-mail carefully before sending it.


4. Going on and on and on.
This strategy might work for the Energizer Bunny, but your goal when crafting a message should be to keep it short. You don't want to write the e-mail equivalent of a novel, so get to the point as quickly as possible, using both short sentences and paragraphs. At the same time, you don't want to write too brief of a message, which could make you appear curt.


5. SHOUTING IT OUT.
Some people like the ease of typing in all capital letters. What they may not realize is this is the online equivalent of shouting, so avoid the temptation of using the caps lock button.


6. Striking the wrong note.
Unfortunately, it's easy for tone to be lost with the written word, especially in shorter messages. An attempt at humor, for instance, may be read as something offensive or inappropriate. If you're not sure how something you wrote will be interpreted, err on the side of caution and leave it out.


7. Weighing others down.
If your e-mail inbox is continually clogged, you know how frustrating it can be to receive large attachments, especially when you don't want them. And, according to a survey we developed, executives agreed, ranking the receipt of large, unsolicited files as the most annoying aspect of communicating via e-mail. Limit the distribution of massive files to people who absolutely need them.


8. Sending to the wrong box.
Before you send a message, always double-check the list of recipients. Many e-mail programs automatically fill in information you've previously typed, such as the e-mail addresses of frequent contacts. If you have multiple people in your address book with similar names, you could mistakenly choose the wrong person and send him or her a message intended for someone else.


9. Mixing business and pleasure.
When the information is confidential or sensitive, this move could limit your career. Any time you use your work e-mail account, the message should be business-related. After all, you are using your firm's resources, and the company has the right to monitor your communication. Get to know your organization's e-mail policy, and have your friends send non-work-related e-mail to your personal account, which you can check at home.


10. Over e-mailing.
Do you find yourself typing a long message in order to avoid confusion on the recipient's part? Do you hesitate to click Send because you think your contact might forward your message to someone who shouldn't see it? E-mail is best suited for quick communication, and, in situations like these, it's wise to call your colleague or speak to him or her in person instead.


With e-mail correspondence becoming increasingly important in the workplace, you can only benefit from learning how to craft an effective message. So keep the above tips in mind the next time you sit down at the keyboard.




Robert Half International Inc. is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.


Go Back To Main Page

Gas Saving Tips

Gasoline is very expensive these days. Here are some some tips to save money on gas.

Don't top off:
Don't bother topping off when filling your car's gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.

Pump up your tires:
Don't get caught driving on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage.
Your car's gas mileage may plummet by as much as 15 percent. Driving on underinflated tires may also reduce the life of your tires by 15 percent or more.

Keep your engine in tune:
Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Remove weight:
Remove excess weigh from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines.

Avoid rough roads:
Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.

Windows:
Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

Drive steadily:
Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.

Hang with the trucks:
Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum -- important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions -- but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel (and aggravation).

Air filters:
Replace your air filter when you need to, or your mix won't be right. However don't replace it every time the mechanics tell you to (they make money with it). Try to find out how often you need a new filter.

Combine Trips:
Try to combine trips. If you live outside of town, try to go into town only once and get everything you need done.

Fill your tank at the coolest time of day:
Fuel is denser when it's cool in the early morning or late night.. Your engine consumes fuel by weight but gas pumps dispense fuel by volume. The colder the fuel is when you pump it, the more of it you get for the same money.

Plan your route to avoid traffic jams:
Because you can't avoid excessive idling, braking and acceleration while in a traffic, traffic is usually responsible for a big chunk of your gas consumed. You might avoid jams sometimes however, if you learn traffic patterns in your area and use them to your advantage.

Carpooling:
Sure, it's inconvenient sometimes, but it's the single most efficient way to save money on your daily commute.

Use discount cards:
use it for all your fuel purchases and guarantee yourself an automatic 5% savings.

Lowest gas prices online:
A great site for tracking the lowest gas prices in your area is GasBuddy.com

Walk or bike:
Walk or ride a bike instead of driving your car to school, work, or nearby destinations, if you're able to.

Stop Aggressive Driving:
In their road tests this was the most important factor in saving gas. They found up to a 37% savings with an average of 31% savings. That is like getting $4.00 gas for $2.69. If you slowed your 0-to-60-mph acceleration time down from your current 10 seconds to a more normal city pace of 15 seconds, you’ll feel the savings immediately.


This article is a reprint from widgia site
Go Back To Main Page

Dila Dila

Dila Dila (or Palitaw in Tagalog) is a Filipino delicacy I used to enjoy eating as snacks when I was growing up. It is made up of sticky rice, coated with grated coconut and sprinkled with sugar and sesame seeds. Its quite simple to prepare. Here's how :

Ingredients
2 cups glutinous rice flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
Dash of salt
3/4 to 1 cup water
2 cups freshly grated coconut
Sugar
Sesame seed (optional)

Instructions
a. In a bowl, combine glutinous rice, sugar and salt.
b. Slowly add enough water to make a dough.
c. Shape the dough into balls about (1" to 1.5 inches) then flatten it to the shape of a tongue (where this ilocano delicacy got its name as "Dila" means tongue).
d. Bring a pot of water to boil
e. Drop several pieces of flatten dough into the boiling water
f. When the flatten dough floats, remove and place in strainer.
g. Drain the water and let it cool a little bit.
h. Coat it with coconut by rolling it in a plate with grated coconut
i. Sprinkle with sugar and sesame seed.

Enjoy your snack with your favorite drink.


Go Back To Main Page

Beijing Olympic Games 2008 Fever

4 days to go before Beijing Olympics 2008 starts and a picture of a twins in Wu Han Hubei province, just showed how the Olympic games fever had gotten on their heads.



New hair cut craze ?

Go Back To Main Page