Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Update

Partial unofficial medal tally results as of February 25,2010

Winter Games 2010 Drama and Celebrations

       The Winter Olympics is making waves for a two week run in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada’s second largest city after Toronto. As the games brings to a close, there is so much beautiful and precious moments we will cherish about the games. Inasmuch as I want to watch and cover the Games myself for my blog I can’t for financial reasons. Unfortunately, I am not in Vancouver, at the courtside to watch the events as it happens though I have a few relatives and friends half an hour outside Vancouver and they must be watching the games. Even though I am living in a hot tropical country but still I love the Winter Games and just enjoy watching it from the comforts of my home.

       In just a short span of the games, we’ve seen dramatic twist and turns as the events unfold. The glitzy opening ceremony has been highlighted by the tragic death of a Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvilli as the sporting spectacle is about to begin – this should remind us no matter how cool the games were, safety and security measures should be at utmost priority.


      On the main feature that caps the glory of the games, we’ve seen the meteoric rise of bemedalled athletes in the likes of Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller, Julia Mancuso, Maria Riesch, Anja Paerson, Evgeni Plushenko, Apollo Anton Ohno, Simon Amman, Shani Davis, Shaun White among others while we also been treated to a glance of the rising stars in the person of Evan Lysacek, Lydia Lassila, J.R. Celski, Lee Jung-su, Mark Tuitert, Andrea Fischbacher, Marcus Hellner, Adam Malysz, Ksenia Makarova among others. We also join the celebration when Tora Berger reached a milestone in giving her native country Norway their 100th gold medal and later, Emile Hegle Svendsen contributed the 101st. Who would’ve imagine Alexandre Bilodeau touted as “Alexandre the Great” touted as “Alexandre the Great” would be hailed as a hero for giving the first gold medal for Canada as a host country when it failed to deliver a single gold in the two previous Olympics hosting of Canada. Vancouver Winter Games is not complete without the forlorn acts when a Danish curler cries out for her poor performance due to poor concentration caused by the raucous, rowdy and jeering audience and the Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer’s coach forgetfulness which annoys or even makes us laugh. These heroes or rising stars gives us new hopes and inspiration, gave us valuable lessons like the possibilities of impossible, shattering failures but unwavering faith in success and victory yet they remain ordinary individuals humble before and after the games. It also shows us that Winter Games can gave us as much intense drama and action as the Summer Games can deliver and hooked us all in the “REAL” hit reality series whether we can watch it on television or on the sporting venues watching it live and on real time.


       I hope that by the succeeding Winter Games in the future, I would be present in the sporting venues watching as the events unfold covering the games for this blog or just having fun watching it!

Ripley's Believe It Or Not

Abraham Lincoln’s coffin was moved 17 times after his funeral, and was kept for a time under a pile of lumber to hide it from potential grave robbers.

More than half of The Netherlands lies at or below sea level.


There is a surgical procedure for sawing a person in half: a hemicorporectomy.


The 1,182 foot long Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest passenger ship, has its own green park with dozens of trees.


The Vatican held a meeting of scientists from around the world in November 2009 to discuss the possibility of extraterrestrial life.


In November 2009, a female school shark was bitten by another shark at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand, and 8 healthy pups emerged from the injured shark’s wound.

Quotes of the Day

“As no roads are so rough as those that have just been mended, so no sinners are so intolerant as those that have just turned saints.”

- Charles Caleb Colton


“To succeed means that you may have to step out of line and march to the sound of your own drummer.”
- Keith Degreen


“Never practice two vices at once.”
- Mike Binder


“No more duty can be urged upon those who are entering the great theater of life than simple loyalty to their best convictions.”
- Edwin Hubbel Chapin


“To resist the frigidity of old age, one must combine the body, the mind and the heart – and to keep them in parallel vigor one must exercise, study and love.”
- Karl Von Bonstetten


“It’s great to work with somebody who wants to do things differently.”
- Keith Bellows

“When people talk, listen completely, most people never listen.”
- Kin Hubbard

Feed Your Mind

Idioms


To warm the cockles of one’s heart
To raise someone’s spirit

It warmed the cockles of their hearts to know that their son was safe after the bomb blast at his work place.

Miss Philippines Representative for Miss Universe pageant, 1952 – 1963

From 1952 to 1955, winners were declared through ballots. Edith Nakpil, Chuchay Tuason and Cristina Matias did not pursue their Miss Universe stints due to personal reasons. Selection of Miss Philippines was not held in 1960 and 1961.

1952: Miss Philippines, Teresita Torralba Sanchez, Miss Luzon Carmen Ortega, Miss Visayas Jean Arquiza, Miss Mindanao Emma Nepomuceno and Miss Manila Carmencita Fernandez. There were 14 finalists including the late actress Nida Blanca and Maria Norma Mendoza. Sponsored by Pan American Airways, Catalina Swimsuits, Universal International Pictures and Khan Cigarette Co., the coronation night was held on April 26, 1952 at the Fiesta Pavilion of Manila Hotel. Teresita was Maria Norma’s runner up in the Silvana Mangano of the Philippines 1952 contest. Emma also joined the search for Miss Philippines of 1953 PI World Fair (won by Cristina Galang), Loveliest Dalagang Filipina and Miss Valentine of the Philippines, both in 1954. Nida’s film Korea was shown a month before the pageant finals. The movie gave Nida her first acting award, the first ever Best Supporting Actress of FAMAS, the first film award-giving body in the Philippines.


1953: Miss Philippines Cristina “Tinang” Monson Pacheco, Miss Luzon Janet Hart, Miss Visayas Eleanor Medina, Miss Mindanao Gloria Tupas and Miss Manila Amelia Crame. There were 14 finalists. The pageant was sponsored by Poulex Department Store and the coronation night was held on June 28, 1953 at the Fiesta Pavilion of Manila Hotel. Cristina did a movie, Saigon (1956, filmed entirely in Vietnam), with Leopoldo Salcedo and played of the role of Veronica in the Lenten stage play Martir sa Golgota (1956) with Cecilia Lopez as the Virgin Mary, staged in Manila Grand Opera House. Eleanor won as Silvana Mangano of the Philippines of 1953 and second place as Scoty’s Girl of 1953, freelanced in LVN and Premiere studios and top billed Babaing Kalbo (1953).


1954: Miss Philippines Blesilda “Bessie” Mueler Ocampo, Miss Luzon Baby Vergel de Dios, Miss Visayas Monette Tambunting and Miss Mindanao Maja Fernandez. Bessie was crowned on December 19, 1953 at the Boys’ Town Carnival Auditorium. Bessie also joined the Miss Valentine of the Philippines 1954. Monette joined the Miss Philippine Red Cross 1952, Queen of Mardi Gras 1953 and was selected as one of the Outstanding Teenagers of 1953. Imelda Romualdez, Muse of Manila 1953, was one of the candidates.


1955: Miss Philippines Yvonne Berenguer de los Reyes, Miss Luzon Lucy del Prado, Miss Visayas Annie Gonzales and Miss Mindanao Annie Corrales. There were 16 finalists including Elaine Gamboa (mother of Sharon Cuneta). Since the pageant was held in conjunction with the Cavalcade of Industries Exposition, Yvonne was bestowed the title Queen Yvonne I, Miss Philippines, Queen of Industries during the coronation night on March 12, 1955 at the Cavalcade Hall Auditorium of United Nations Plaza. Yvonne came from a family of beauty queens. She is the sister of Simonette de los Reyes, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1970, and the cousin of Pacita de los Reyes, Carnival Queen 1929, and Bessie Ocampo, Miss Philippines 1954. Baby joined the Gypsy Princess tilt in 1953.


1956: Miss Philippines Merced Edith Noble Nakpil, Miss Luzon Fely Gonzales, Miss Visayas Helen Paulino and Miss Mindanao Sylvia Rodriguez. The winners were chosen by a 15-member jury on December 18, 1955 and were crowned on December 23, 1955 at the Boys Town Auditorium. Edith was a pageant veteran. She also joined the search for Miss Philippine Red Cross 1952, Queen of Charity 1953, Queen of Mardi Gras 1953, Loveliest Dalagang Filipina 1954 and Miss Valentine of the Philippines 1954. She was the daughter of Anita Noble, Carnival Queen 1926, and Juan Nakpil (declared National Artist for Architecture, 1973). Edith played the role Maria Magdalena in the stage play, Martir sa Golgota (1956). Edith passed away at 74 last year.


1956: Miss Philippines Isabel Rodriguez bested 15 other candidates including Annie Corales and Sonia Aldeguer who made it as finalists, clinching the title of Miss Benevolence. Isabel, who quit a convent school to join the contest, was chosen by a panel of judges including prominent socialite Chona Recto-Kasten and Cesar Legaspi (later named National Artist for Visual Arts, 1990). The search was conducted when Edith Nakpil forfeited her right to compete in the 1956 Miss Universe pageant. The coronation night was held on June 23, 1956 at Fiesta Pavilion of Manila Hotel during the Fashion Impressions show for the benefit of the Elks Cerebral Palsy Educational and Fund Campaign Drive.


1957: Miss Philippines Mary Ann Carmen “Annie” Philipps Corrales. After three attempts, Annie finally won the coveted crown and title which she received on June 23, 1957 during the Holiday in Manila festival at the Jai Alai Sky Room. The pageant was jointly sponsored by Casino Espanol of the Philippines and Elks Cerebral Palsy Educational and Fund Campaign Drive. Annie was also Miss Aviation 1955 and Miss Mindanao to Miss Philippines 1955 Yvonne de los Reyes. Carmen Soriano, Martine Carol of the Philippines 1957 and Miss Manila 1957, competed in the pageant.


1958: Miss Philippines Carmen “Chuchay” Remedios Tuason, Miss Luzon Belinda Mendrano, Miss Visayas Rosalinda Yulo and Miss Mindanao Esmelita Aniban. In a field of 35 aspirants, the winners were selected by an all-male panel of judges composed of Senator-actor Rogelio de la Rosa, Congressman Jose Laurel, Napoleon Abueva (later declared National Artist for Visual Arts – Sculpture, 1976), head of Sampaguita Studios Dr. Jose Perez (one of CCP’s 100 Centennial Honor for the Arts awardees, 1999) and businessman-stage / film actor Virgilio Hilario (husband of the first Miss Universe Armi Kuusela). They were proclaimed on January 30, 1958 and crowned on February 7, 1958 at the Philippine National Exposition Auditorium. As part of her prize, Chuchay attended the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair in Belgium. She was also Muse of Art Directors Club of 1958. Recently, Chuchay represented our country in the first International Mind Sports Game held in Beijing, China, in October 2008, and in the 31st ASEAN Bridge Club Championship in Kuala Lumpur in December 2009.


1959: Miss Philippines Cristina “Cristy” Matias, Miss Luzon Encarnita Abierra, Miss Visayas Amelia Bucoy and Miss Mindanao Corazon de Jesus. Cristina won over 40 other candidates from different regions of the country. Winners were selected by a 15-member board of judges and were proclaimed on January 18, 1959. Cristina was crowned as Queen Cristina II on February 6, 1959 at the Philippine National Exposition Auditorium. During the coronation night, a production number called Trip to the Stars, personifying gods and goddesses, was rendered by Susan Roces (Goddess of Mercury), Amalia Fuentes (Goddess of Neptune), Paraluman (Goddess of Venus), Marlene Dauden (Goddess of Saturn), Ric Rodrigo (God of Mars), Juancho Gutierrez (God of Uranus) and Romeo Vasquez (God of Neptune). Corazon was also Miss Manila Youth of 1959. Cristina and Corazon appeared in LVN Picture’s Bayanihan (1959) topbilled by Nestor de Villa and Bernard Bonnin.


1962: Miss Philippines Josephine Brown Estrada was chosen by Boys Town of the Philippines Committee in coordination with Ken Snell, Manila representative of the Miss Universe contest. Her launching movie, June Bride (opposite Eddie Gutierrez, was shown on June 23, 1962) days after her appointment as Miss Philippines. She joined the Dream Girl contest in 1959, won as Miss Luzon to Miss Philippines 1960 (for Miss International) Editha Vital and Miss Aviation 1961. Josephine is married to H.E. Jose E. Brillantes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary of the Philippines to Canada. An active volunteer of a national non-governmental organization, Josephine is deeply involved in numerous activities that address the growing needs of Filipino migrants in the USA.


1963: Miss Philippines Lalaine “Bingbing” Betia Bennett, Miss Luzon Vida Hernandez, Miss Visayas Carmencita “Chiqui” Somes, Miss Mindanao Lirio Arkoncel and Miss Manila Virginia Sicat. In cooperation with Manila couturiers and designers, the pageant was sponsored by General Textiles. Lalaine and Chiqui were already in showbiz when they were crowned on June 9, 1963 at the Philamlife Auditorium. Dubbed as the Paula Prentiss of the Philippines, Lalaine received a Best Actress nomination from FAMAS for Ligaw na Daigdig (1962)/ She also placed first runner-up (Miss Luzon) to Miss Philippines 1962 (for Miss International) Cynthia Ugalde. Lalaine is the niece of Helen Bennett, former social secretary of President Elpidio Quirino and Miss Visayas to Carnival Queen 1936 Guia Balmori. Chiqui, daughter of character actor-police detective Jose Vergara, was one of the 15 finalists in the first Bb. Pilipinas pageant in 1964.

Kosovo's Marigona Dragusha Should've Been The 2009 Miss Univers

It would have been a fateful night of August 23, 2009 for the 19 year-old Gona Dragusha of Kosovo. She would’ve made headlines all throughout the world as the first woman of her newest country to win the Miss Universe title on their debut on the pageant. A beautiful question was asked to her by the television actor-host Dean Cain which she answered with difficulty. This is the question asked and I suggested an answer which cost her the title.

Justine Timberlake once said “The worst thing about being famous is invading your privacy,” but what about being famous that people are craving for?

Being famous is what most people desire. The things about fame that most people aspire for is that first, is the advantage and opportunity to push through your plans and platforms by championing your causes, the power to influence other people’s lives and last the opportunity to empower the less privilege, the unfortunate and the low in self-esteem.

Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 2010

Unofficial Partial Medal Tally Results as of February 21, 2010

Boots Images

The two guys hot in shorts and wearing boots... I felt perspiring! The soldier guy is on his back but I felt his boots, lol!a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZKwLLW6RoDo1bPX36XJHFhkSTfgs0WqJl7Zn64rxnh4lGpKjTpM0Ao7twpug-zd0Fc8Oe1cgmjLyO-hgS1ePSjtJyERr4yTeEJNq_uSgerTVqokWKhzOM4yvWVJk9C7iEOPmE63LKlg/s1600-h/soldierboy.jpg"> he is half kneeling while talking to someone but I like his all leather black boots. he looks so masculine at one side but gay on the other side. he is on practice pointing his gun towards the earth. What do you think is he doing? smoking hot handsome guy but I think I doubt if he is masculine or effeminine within!

My Sims 3 Images Stories

The dying has his soul being taken from his body with his brother and the grim reaper as witness.The soul is taken by the grim reaper.
Lots of boggling thoughts of what they wanted during the party.
All the guests left the party already but not this hot chic who still haven't had enough of the night and pass out in one of the outdoor seats.
a gay couple is making out passionately while their family is watching tv.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

Latest Medal Standing as of February 18, 2010

My Sims 3 Images and Stories Behind

See what kind of love the gays are doing, special and extraordinary!
The aerial view of my town, SunValley!
She is growing up well into a kind of lady she wants to be and fulfilling her dreams after pursuing a degree in college!

Winter Olympics 2010 Started With A Grim News

As the flames ignited to signal the start of Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, we are been chilled by the tragic death of a Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a fatal crash during his practice at Whistler Sliding Center in Vancouver. We know how dangerous the sports is and extra safety and security should be at utmost importance before, during and after the conduct of the games. We are saddened by the death of this young and goodlooking young man, a promising athlete who has lots of dream cut short by his death. I hope this is a reminder for everyone. Rest in peace to you bro and hope you guide the athletes in the games.

Feed Your Mind

Riddles

If two tomatoes are on the plate, which one is the cowboy?
Answer: None- both are redskins


Tongue Twister

Four fat friars frying fat fish.

Quotable Quotes

“Never hurry, take plenty of exercise, always be cheerful, take all the sleep you need, you may expect to be well.”

- James Freeman Clarke

“One ought every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words.”
- Sidney Goff

“When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor were hungry, they called me a communist.”
- Dom H. Camara

“Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”
- Bruce Jay Friedman

“Vice is a creature of such hideous mien…that the more you see it the better you like it.”
- Finley Peter Dunne

“Every hardship; every joy; every temptation is a challenge of the spirit; that the human soul may prove itself.”
- Elias A. Ford

Ripley's Believe It Or Not

Bites from the World’s Most Venomous Spiders will kill a human being less than 10% of the time.

A van stolen in 1974 was discovered on October 19, 2009, by customs officials in Los Angeles, California, USA.


When ferry service stopped in late 2009, the school children of Papa Westray in Scotland’s Orkney Islands were forced to take a 96-scecond air flight to school each day.


In 2009, The Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy was given two of Galileo Galilei’s fingers and a tooth, taken from the body in 1737 and missing since 1905.


In competitive anvil shooting, participants use black gunpowder to launch 100-pound-anvils into the air.


An uncovered outdoor parking space in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, was sold for $300,000 in June 2009!


Common Kingfisher can drive through thin ice to catch fish.


Born in 1927 in Cambridge, Massachussetts, USA, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is one of the world’s few foreign-born monarchs.


In Spring 2009, The Elephants of the Wildlife Safari Park in Winston, Oregon, USA, began washing cars as a fundraiser.


Some tubeworms living on the sea floor survive only on the byproducts of decomposing oil bubbling up from the earth.


Hair you go! When Paula Sunshine of Lawshall, Suffolk, England, decided to add an expansion to her 16th century home in 2009, she used hair from local hairdressers, her dogs and herself to reinforce the daubed walls.


Anyone for Calcio! Calcio Florentino, a 16th century Florence ball game for noblemen, is still played today with no timeouts and no substitutions. No kicking or sucker punches are the only rules.


“Aachi” Manorama, a veteran of India’s Tamil film industry has appeared in more than 1500 movies and 1000 stage performances.


Bracken cave, near San Antonio, Texas, USA, is home to 20 million bats, which feed on more than a hundred tons of insects each night.


Canada, Jamaica, Australia and 12 other United Kingdom commonwealth countries are officially owned by The Queen of England.

Quotable Quotes

“ They say that blood is thicker than water, maybe that’s why we battle our own with more energy and gusto than we would ever expend on strangers.”

- David Assael

“What I am actually saying is that we need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly.”
- Shakti Gawain

“What I am actually saying is that we need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly."
- Shakti Gawain

“Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar”
- William Wordsworth

“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.”
- William James

“You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.”
- Eric Hoffer

“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”
- Author Unknown

“A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad.”
- Bob Edwards

“Experience is the only prophecy of wise men.”
- Alphonse de Lamartine

Ripley's Believe It Or Not

In 1909, hundreds of people were arrested and put in jail in Spokane, Washington, USA before a city ordinance prohibiting speaking on city streets was rescinded.

In September 2009, a nurse in Norbotten, Sweden, caught fire when static electricity from a pushcart ignited alcohol disinfectant on her hands!


Diasan Shinso-Maru, a Japanese fishing trawler, capsized in 2009 when its net filled with dozens of Giant Nomura’s Jellyfish!


In South Korea, professional video game matches are the second most popular television spectator sport after soccer.


Nullarbor Links Golf Course runs through both Western and South Australia, with a distance of nearly 850 miles between the first and last hole.


Born with 3 legs, 4 arms and 2 heads, conjoined twins Ganga and Jamuna Mondal have lived in West Bengal, India for 40 years!


Technetium, an important element in a nuclear medicine, only exists on earth as a byproduct of atomic reactions!


The United States Constitution is both the oldest and the shortest written constitution in the world.


The Maldives’ President Mohamed Nasheed and his ministers donned scuba gear for a cabinet session held underwater on October 17, 2009.


Doctors removed 78 pieces of cutlery from the stomach of Margaret Daalman in Rotterham, Netherlands.


The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a mutilated currency division that determines the value of damaged paper money.


The 1899 Horsey Horseless car was designed by Uriah Smith of Battle Creek, Michigan, USA. With a wooden horse head on its front, in an effort to not frighten the real horses it shared the streets with.


Some corals begin to glow after suffering injury.


During the mid 19th century , 80% - 90% of the population of the Caribbean Islands were slaves.


On May 3, 1999, a single storm system caused $1.5 billion in damage when it spawned 74 tornadoes across the states of Kansas and Oklahoma, USA, damaging or destroying more than 8,000 homes.

Song lyrics

      This is one of my favorite songs these days. This is a love song about two uncommon but unique individuals who have been coupled with their odds clashed with their differences and complimented by their likeness and attraction. You can search youtube for the tunes of the song. It was also a theme song of the Filipino version of the hit Korea’s tv series Shining Inheritance.

I Will Take You Forever

Kris Lawrence feat. Denise Laurel

I was a man who always played around in love

So quick to take but so afraid to give enough

But now I’ve found the one

And heaven will only know

What only my eyes can say

And time can’t take away

I was a girl who trusted no one with my heart

And the dreams that young girls dream

Were just vanishing in the dark

But now I’ve found the one

And heaven will only know

What only my eyes can say

They say

That I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else in my heart but you

And I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else but you

Anyone else but you

Now my heart belongs to you

And I will always be your best friend

Now my secrets are safe with you

And the magic will never end

Now you are the one

And heaven will only know

What only our eyes can say

They say

That I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else in my heart but you.

And I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else but you

anyone else but you, anyone else but you.

You (you)..oohhh.

That I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else in my heart but you.

Now I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else but you

anyone else but you.

I will girl take you forever

By your side I won’t leave you never

I don’t need anyone else but you

And I will take you… ohhh…forever. Ohh…

I will (I will) take you forever.

Social Vibe: Help Protect The Endangered Animals For FREE

Help me with my cause in protecting the endangered animals under World Wildlife Fund by doing some fun activities on social vibe. Just click my social vibe widget on World Wildlife Fund on the left side of this blog and you can see that I have 18 points earned helping the charitable institution and complete the activities. You can sign up for your own charities to help after you completed the activities. Thanks for the support!

Asia's Wildlife Quiz

Where does the world’s largest butterfly live? Which mammal holds the record for gliding? What rainforest bird uses “cosmetics”? Explore the wildlife on this quiz.

1. The world’s largest salamander grows up to six feet long and is native to parts of Asia. Where is it found?

The mountains of northeastern, central and southern China. Go to 4.
On a few small, arid islands east of Bali. Go to 9.
2. Correct. The deadly king cobra, which is widely distributed through Southeast Asia, often grows to 12 feet long – the longest on record was 18 feet. It is also one of the few nest-building snakes. If you haven’t caught any red herrings, you’ll have followed the faster route through our quiz – only 18 steps (1-4-15-10-11-18-7-16-13-6-20-12-21-27-25-26-28-2).
3. Wrong. Found in Southeast Asia’s forests, the flying lemur has a broad fold of skin extending from the forelegs all the way to the tail. However, this membrane wasn’t enough to give the flying lemur the record. Flap back to 13 and try again.
4. Correct. The Chinese giant salamander is an amphibious creature resembling a lizard but with smooth, moist skin rather than scales. It feeds on small animals. Now slide on over to 15 for another discovery.
5. No. Though the reticulated python, found in Indonesia and the Philippines, is the world’s longest snake – regularly exceeding 20 ½ feet, according to The Guinness Book of Animal Records – it’s not venomous. Ssssssslither back to 28.
6. Correct. This two-foot-long animal, which is found in many parts of Asia, has a fold of skin connecting the forelegs to the hind legs, enabling it to glide for remarkable distances through the hillside forests it inhabits. According to The Guinness Book of Animal Records, the giant flying squirrel made the longest recorded glide of any mammal with a distance of 1476 feet. Leap over to 20.
7. Coral reefs stretching from the Maldives in the Indian Ocean to the Solomons in the South Pacific cover a quarter of the globe. This area is among the most biologically rich in the world; conservation experts call it the “rainforest of the sea” because a staggering diversity of sea life depends on the corals for housing, breeding grounds and food. But this stretch of reef is suffering massive destruction by a deadly enemy. What is it?
Starfish infestations. Go to 24.
Global warming. Go to 30.
Fishing practices. Go to 16.
8. No. The flying fox, distributed widely across the region, is a flapper rather than a glider, undertaking powered flight. With a maximum wingspan of 5 ½ feet, it is actually the world’s largest bat. It is also known as the fruit bat. But for the gliding distance record, try another mammal. Back to 13.
9. Wrong. That’s where the Komodo dragon lives. A huge lizard first discovered in 1912, it typically grows up to ten feet long and weighs around 300 pounds. It feeds on such animals as deer and pigs, and has even attacked humans. Flee to 4 to find the salamander.
10. You’re right! Fly down to 11.
11. In the early 1900s, butterfly fanciers were startled to hear that a previously unknown specimen had been found in New Guinea. What was it?
Queen Alexandra’s birdwing. Go to 18.
Queen Carola bird of paradise. Go to 23.
12. Correct. Although the pale blue gray baiji, with its long, narrow beak, is officially a protected species, its numbers have plummeted because of pollution, overfishing, collisions with boats and injury by fishing hooks. During the past five years, biologists have tried to capture baiji for breeding programs, but have caught just one – which has since died. A survey of a 430-mile stretch of the Yangtze in 1995 located just five baiji, and the total population is believed to number fewer than 100. Head to 21.
13. What mammal holds the record for the longest unassisted glide?
Giant flying squirrel. Go to 6.
Flying fox. Go to 8.
Flying lemur. Go to 3.
14. Wrong! Back to 15.
15. The great hornbill, a large black and white bird that lives in Asia’s rainforests, has been said to use “cosmetics”. This is because:
It stains its head feathers and huge curved bill with the purple and red juices of fig and palm fruits. Go to 17.
It paints its bill, casque, head and wings with a yellow oil from a gland at the base of its tail. Go to 10.
It forages for food in the grass, which stains its bill green. Go to 14.
16. Sadly, true. Fishing practices have severely damaged corals. Since nets snag and tear on coral, and using lines with baited hooks is time-consuming and difficult, fishermen in many parts of Southeast Asia have adopted two ways of stunning fish. One is dynamite fishing, but even more widespread, especially in the Philippines and Indonesia, is cyanide fishing. Typically, divers squirt into the water cyanide solutions that stun the big reef fish popular with affluent diners in places like Hong Kong but kill corals and smaller marine life. Swim upstream to 13.
17. Sorry. Back to 15.
18. Correct. This brilliantly colored creature is the world’s largest butterfly, with a wingspan of up to 11 inches. Its survival is threatened by deforestation, but its fortunes have recently been boosted by schemes to “farm” the birdwings for sale to international collectors. Flit over to 7.
19. Wrong. One of the world’s smallest primates, at just four to six inches long, the Philippine tarsier is quite common. With large, google-like eyes, it is unique to the Philippines. Go to 26 for the right answer.
20. Of the 40 or so kinds of dolphins in the world, one Asian species looks destined to become the first known to be wiped out. Which is it?
The Irrawaddy dolphin. Go to 22.
The Chinese white dolphin of the Pearl River mouth in and near Hong Kong. Go to 31.
The baiji of the Yangtze River. Go to 12.
21. What long-snouted creature has been described as the “the grotesquehonker of the Bornean swamps”?
The tapir. Go to 29.
The proboscis monkey. Go to 27.
22. No, this gray to slate-blue, beakless dolphin – which ranges from the east coast of India, through Indo China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to northern Australia – is thought declining. But with over 1000 known Irrawaddy dolphins, this species is in good shape compared to the bai… OOPS! Take your clue back to 20.
23. No. Though the name “bird of paradise” refers to an African flower and a New Guinean bird, it does not refer to a butterfly. Look to 18 for the answer.
24. Wrong. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has suffered extensive damage from infestations of Crown of Thorns starfish, which feed on living coral. But starfish have had relatively little impact elsewhere. Back to 7.
25. Which Philippine species was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in February 1992?
The Philippine tarsier. Go to 19.
The Cebu flowerpecker. Go to 26.
26. Correct. This tiny bird – one of the 170 bird species that are unique to the Philippines – was discovered in 1906 and described as “rare and strictly confined to forest.” Deforestation of country including Cebu and Panay was severe over the next few decades, and an ornithologist who surveyed the island in the 1950s concluded the flowerpecker was extinct. It was rediscovered in 1992, living in less than one square mile of forest. It is regarded as critically endangered. On to 28.
27. Right on the nose! This large monkey has a nose that can grow to seven inches long. Zoologists are puzzled about the nose’s function, but it has been suggested that it amplifies the male’s long drawn out honking call. Swing over to 25.
28. What’s the world’s longest venomous snake?
The king cobra. Go to 2.
The reticulated python of Southeast Asia. Go to 5.
29. A large, hoofed, hog-like mammal with a long flexible snout, the tapir sounds like a good candidate for this title but unfortunately it’s the wrong answer. First, it lives in forests, not swamps; second, its home in Asia is peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, not Borneo; and third, it doesn’t honk. Back to 21.
30. No. Corals are sensitive to even small temperature changes – bleaching and eventually dying if the water is too warm – and the World Wide Fund for Nature is concerned corals worldwide could one day suffer due to global warming. However, Asia’s corals face an even deadlier problem at the moment. Go back to 7 and try again.
31. No. This dolphin, which is slightly pink in color and also known as the Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin, is scarce, but with an estimated population of between 100 and 200, it is less threatened than its cousin further north… but enough clues already! Leap back to 20.

2010 Poll Automation in the Philippines: Will It Be Free From Sabotage and Dishonest Election

         In a country where Politics is business and a source of income, corruption is at worse and is a common activity in the Philippines from the national post to the lowest community position. People of all ages still consider corruption as their main concern. Every election, cheating is a politician way of getting into service thereby pocketing millions of people’s money. This 2010 election, automation of polls will be conducted for the first time in the country to ensure a clean and honest election and to accelerate the speed of the election result. But no matter how noble the intention of poll automation is, several individuals or groups are trying to demolish the reputation of it so as to force the Commission on Election, the poll governing body, to reverse to the primitive way of voting and counting of election returns. From politicians to the clergies to the leftist group to the media outfits and broadsheet columnist are trying to sabotage the automation and recommend to return back to manual elections vulnerable and susceptible to cheating favorable to the politicians whom they are patronizing and who bribed them.

         Several mechanisms, tactics and strategies have been employed by the desperate people to sow their selfish interests and motives in this hopeless country of opportunistic and ignorant citizens. One of the newer methods of sabotaging the automated election is the use of signal jammers to avert or thwart the transmission of data and information and in this case, transmission of election results to the provincial and national tabulating board – another ploy to destroy the reputation of automated election and shift back to manual elections. Would there be any good things that will happen in this country?

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